Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

A Voyage to Arcturus is a novel by the Scottish writer David Lindsay, first published in 1920. It combines fantasy, philosophy, and science fiction in an exploration of the nature of good and evil and their relationship with existence. Described by critic, novelist, and philosopher Colin Wilson as the "greatest novel of the twentieth century", it was a central influence on C. S. Lewis' Space Trilogy, and through him on J. R. R. Tolkien, who said he read the book "with avidity". Clive Barker called it "a masterpiece" and "an extraordinary work ... quite magnificent."

An interstellar voyage is the framework for a narrative of a journey through fantastic landscapes. The story is set at Tormance, an imaginary planet orbiting Arcturus, which in the novel (but not in reality) is a double star system, consisting of stars Branchspell and Alppain. The lands through which the characters travel represent philosophical systems or states of mind, through which the main character, Maskull, passes on his search for the meaning of life.

I'm very excited to start this one!!

PDF: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1329/...

Me too !!!

Surely Wilson, Lewis and Tolkien cannot all be wrong?

Not to give any of the plot away, but this was a very strange book indeed!

VERY strange! I'm looking forward to somebody telling me what it was about.

I hope not Bernard lol. I’ve been wanting to start this one for a while!

Started today! I'm on chapter 4 now. It's pretty interesting so far!

I also put the link to the pdf in the first post!

Book Nerd wrote: "VERY strange! I'm looking forward to somebody telling me what it was about."

I will do my best BN, but do not expect too much.

These new "organs" are very interesting...

Very interesting, Patrick. And weird!

I'm waiting for this book to come in so I'll start when I get it.

With regard to the influence of this novel on Lewis' Space Trilogy, to his friend, Ruth Pitter, he wrote: “From Lindsay I learned what other planets in fiction are really good for: for spiritual adventures. Only they can satisfy the craving which sends our imaginations off the earth. Or putting it in another way, in him I first saw the terrific results produced by the union of two kinds of fiction hitherto kept apart: the Novalis, G. MacDonald, James Stephens sort and the H.G. Wells, Jules Verne sort."

Yes! This book has inspired/intrigued many authors! I am very happy to be reading it!

Wow, can't imagine just living on water alone...

Re: the union of two kinds of fiction hitherto kept apart ….

Ah, dialectical literature. I blame Hegel …..

I really enjoy the philosophical themes in the book so far, but how they are delivered are very strange.

Is anyone else reading this too?

I am primed Patrick. I will start tomorrow.

You are in for an experience, Bernard.

I went to pick up the book today and the mail center was closed, the second time I've tried and it's been closed on Saturday for a holiday Monday. Aaargh! So since I have to travel all the way across the line (Canada to U.S. and back) it will probably be another two weeks before I go again. Sorry all! I'll eventually pick it up but it might not be until the end of the month!

That sounds frustrating, Cleo.

I hope its worth the wait!

Well that was a confusing ass hell of a book! Strange, futuristic, and not good writing, it was definitely an experience lol.

That pretty well sums up my thoughts, Patrick!

Me too.

Strange certainly. Of course, space is a good venue for philosophical musings, and I don't mind a bit of philosophy mixed in with the photon torpedoes and the dilithium crystals. But it didn't do much for me, except to make me appreciate the finely crafted work of writers like Bradbury.