VoidPhil

J. G. Ballard's 1975 novel about an apartment building and its inhabitants is as disturbing as it is iconic. The particular aesthetic crafted by Ballard has found a receptive audience among the far-right and neo-reactionary sorts, who seem particularly drawn to Ballard's dark imagery. Ballard's works, and High-Rise in particular, are referenced in the writings of Nick Land and Mark Fisher, and Reza Negarestani has referenced his work on his blog.

Ingeborg Bachmann's novel Malina is an underappreciated gem of feminist literature. Bachmann's writing is authentic and original and leaves a strong impression. Her writing incorporates elements of stream of consciousness writing, although it's somewhat different from other writers in the genre. A couple of stylistic peculiarities are her method of recounting telephone conversations, sometimes writing only one half of the conversation and sometimes both sides, and her use of musical notation in portions of the text.

William Gibson's novel Count Zero, the sequel to Neuromancer and the second book in the Sprawl trilogy, is a thrilling and action-packed work of science fiction. While the action is still very much there, the novel doesn't feel as polished as Neuromancer and seems to have lost a little of that je ne sais quoi that Neuromancer had. The subject matter and plot are still great, but the prose doesn't have quite the same weathered, smooth feel that Gibson so carefully cultivated in his first novel.

Bright Lights, Big City is Jay McInerney's masterpiece about alienation and grief. The plot concerns Michael, a young professional in New York. McInerney's novel set the standard for discussing the phenomenon of yuppie despair and the hollowness of a purely materialistic, drug-fueled life. Along with books like American Psycho and films like Wall Street, the book tackled the apparent soullessness of the 80s. Michael, the protagonist, works in at a famous literary establishment, an unnamed magazine that has instant name recognition with most everyone he meets.

Steve Martin's novel The Pleasure of My Company is an entertaining and poignant story about a California man living with a mental disorder. The book is enjoyable and demonstrates Martin's ability as a writer. If you're looking for a light and enjoyable novel, The Pleasure of My Company is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. The book follows its neurotic protagonist, Daniel Pecan Cambridge, in his regimented and secluded life.