The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester REVIEW 

in the US, at least until recently, to define a book as Science Fiction is to immediately imply it can't be considered for entry into the top levels of literature...this would have been especially true during the time when Pynchon's reputation as a giant of literature was being solidified. Even now, if a writer is to be "elevated" you will start seeing critics doing their best to seperate them from the genre...

Great video! Bester doesn't get enough love nowadays.

Great review! I did not see the Pynchon connection before: fascinating insight.

Just finished reading The Demolished Man and loved it....maybe even more than Tiger Tiger. It happens by chance that I am reading Gravitys Rainbow next...good timing. Great review.

Can you do a video on magical realism?

Yes, this is a definition of a pageturner. Also, a perfect mix of science fiction and detective story(albeit Columbo-fashion rather than classic) to my mind. I haven't reread the thing in a long time. But the kind of joy I remember this book bringing me is always something I look back to when I think of why I like reading fiction and how I would like my stories to work the readers if I ever wrote one (more). Re you calling Bester Pynchonian: From what little I understand about Pynchon his novels are always more subversive with genre conventions than The Demolished Man - i.e. police investigations usually don't get a clear solution, historical fiction turns SFnal etc. In the light of this, it is interesting that Bester really wrote only two beloved classic science fiction adventure novels - this and Tiger! Tiger! All his later ones, as far as I've heard, are much weirder and much more of an acquired taste. It is interesting to know if they are even more similar to Pynchon, or not.

IMA read this (as well as _Berlin Alexanderplatz_ ) next month 📖👓📚

I will definitely be checking this book out! Have you ever read anything by Neil Gaiman? I’m really interested to hear what you have to say about him.

thank's for your up load😍

Borges has a short story on that paradox you talked about at the begining, I thought you would mention it, since it was way before Bloom. Anyway the story is called Kafka y sus precursores. You should read it if you haven't already, though I guess you have because you dwell in various of his ideas in your thoughts on literature. By the way I love your videos, they are very helpful to people like me who cannot access english literature easily, greetings from Colombia!

Hey Mattia, have you read Donald Barthelme's short stories?

Tremendous work! Good job,sir .....the conceptual similarities between Pynchon and Bester have not, in my recollection, been ever explored in this manner. I am admittedly mad for both authors, so I am a fairly soft critic.... but I feel you have nailed it.... Please share with us your thoughts on "The Stars My Destination", a piece that profoundly altered my thinking and writing...

Such a fantastic book. I prefer Stars my Destination, but both books are great.

Have you read Bester's The Stars, My Destination? An absolutely superb sci-fi revenge novel, in the manner of the Count of Monte Cristo. Another novel I wish you'd read, having searched all through your videos, is G K Chesterton's The Man who was Thursday. I am pretty sure it would blow your mind. All the best from Taiwan.

I 100% agree with you about the Pynchon connection and I'm happy to see you illustrate that point by referencing my favourite T.P novel ( The Crying Of Lot 49). I am not an avid reader of Sci-fiction however having finished Bester's The Demolished Man ( I also agree about it being a page turner, so much so I think I'll have to re-read it pretty soon!) The connection I drew was more about the pulse of narrative and the colour of the pose... I've got to Jet but keep up the great reviews!

Hey Mattia, love your videos. Are we doing Against the day this year?

Did you read this book as a result of your studying Pynchon or come upon it another way?

The nerve of Pynchon.

I hated this book and couldn't finish it.