Nicholson Baker je známy svojim prenikavým postrehom každodenného života a schopnosťou premeniť zdanlivo obyčajné okamihy na hlboko rezonujúce zážitky. Jeho štýl sa vyznačuje precíznym jazykom a neúprosným zameraním na detaily, ktoré odhaľujú skrytú zložitosť nášho sveta. Baker skúma témy ako pamäť, čas a povaha reality, často s jemným humorom a iróniou. Jeho diela pozývajú čitateľov k zamysleniu sa nad neustálym prúdom existencie a podivuhodnou krásou každodenných vecí.
Having turned phone sex into the subject of an astonishing national bestseller in Vox, Baker now outdoes himself with an outrageously arousing, acrobatically stylish "X-rated sci-fi fantasy that leaves Vox seeming more like mere fiber-optic foreplay" (Seattle Times). "Sparkling."--San Francisco Chronicle.
Tato erotická groteska se odehrává v prapodivném fantazijním světě zvaném Libidárium, kde je možné splnit si jakoukoli touhu, byť za nemalou cenu: kupříkladu větší, tlustší úd je k mání za pravou ruku. Díky výměně pohlavních orgánů můžou pánové konečně poznat, jaké to je být přeříznut vlastním penisem, zatímco ženy kopulují s roztouženými stromy, holdují romantickým projížďkám na masturbárkách či klitorisurfují po jezeře, v jehož hlubinách se ukrývá chujochneská příšera. Nejedná se o typicky maskulinní pornoromán, neboť ženy nejsou v Libidáriu pouhými sexuálními objekty, nýbrž náruživými klientkami, jež se zde bezostyšně oddávají svým nejtajnějším erotickým fantaziím.
A man and a woman, strangers to each other, residents of distant cities, have both called an adult party line. Finding each other's voice attractive, they soon switch to a private, "one-to-one" connection. Their seduction-through-conversation begins hesitantly and then becomes erotic.
A seminal work by an artist whose drawings in The New Yorker, LIFE, Harper's Bazaar, and many other publications influenced an entire generation of American artists and writers. Saul Steinberg’s The Labyrinth, first published in 1960 and long out of print, is more than a simple catalog or collection of drawings. These carefully arranged pages record a brilliant, constantly evolving imagination confronting modern life. Here is Steinberg, as he put it at the time, discovering and inventing a great variety of events: "Illusion, talks, music, women, cats, dogs, birds, the cube, the crocodile, the museum, Moscow and Samarkand (winter, 1956), other Eastern countries, America, motels, baseball, horse racing, bullfights, art, frozen music, words, geometry, heroes, harpies, etc.” This edition, featuring a new introduction by Nicholson Baker, an afterword by Harold Rosenberg, and new notes on the artwork, will allow readers to discover this unique and wondrous book all over again.
In The Way the World Works, Nicholson Baker ranges over the map of life to examine what ails us, what eases our pain, and what gives us joy. Baker, recently hailed as "one of the most consistently enticing writers of our time" by The New York Timesmoves from political controversy to the intimacy of his own life, from forgotten heroes of pacifism to airplane wings, telephones, paper mills, David Remnick, Joseph Pulitzer, the OED, and the manufacture of the Venetian gondola. In one essay, Baker surveys our fascination with video games while attempting to beat his teenage son at Modern Warfare 2; in a celebrated essay on Wikipedia, he describes his efforts to stem the tide of encyclopedic deletionism. Through all these pieces Baker shines the light of an inexpugnable curiosity; The Way the World Works is a keen-minded, generous-spirited compendium by a modern American master.
From the author of the acclaimed Human Smoke comes a brilliantly funny and skillfully crafted new novel.
At a time when the West seems ever more eager to call on military aggression as a means of securing international peace, Nicholson Baker's provocative narrative exploring the political misjudgements and personal biases that gave birth to the terrifying consequences of the Second World War could not be more pertinent. With original and controversial insights brought about by meticulous research, Human Smokere-evaluates the political turning points that led up to war, challenging some of the treasured myths we hold about how war came about and how atrocities like the Holocaust were able to happen. Baker reminds us, for instance, not to forget that it was thanks in great part to Churchill and England that Mussolini ascended to power so quickly, and that, before leading the United States against Nazi Germany, a young FDR spent much of his time lobbying for a restriction in the number of Jews admitted to Harvard. Conversely, Human Smokealsoreminds us of those who had the foresight to anticipate the coming bloodshed and the courage to oppose the tide of history, as Gandhi demonstrated when he made his symbolic walk to the ocean. Praised by critics and readers alike for his gifted writing and exquisitely observant eye, Baker offers a combination of sweeping narrative history and a series of finely delineated vignettes of the individuals and moments that shaped history.
Nicholson Baker is recognized for his exceptional ability to capture the nuances of everyday life through sharp observation and elegant writing. His works, spanning both fiction and nonfiction, are celebrated for their wit and insight, earning him the National Book Critics Circle Award and a prominent place in contemporary literature.
The book features an engaging narrative that has captured the attention of readers, earning its place on the New York Times Bestseller list. It combines compelling characters with intricate plot developments, exploring themes of resilience, love, and the human experience. The author weaves a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences, drawing readers into a world that resonates with authenticity and depth. With a unique perspective and vivid storytelling, it promises to leave a lasting impact on its audience.