Pfitz (The Dedalus Hall of Fame) - Softcover

Crumey, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1909232807 ISBN 13: 9781909232808

Publisher: Dedalus Limited, 2014

Synopsis

"Pfitz manifests the same healthy disdain for realism that made his first novel, Music in a Foreign Language, such a pleasant surprise. His borrowings from Borges, Calvino and Pavic are here just as shameless. But at this rate Crumey may yet become a hero to fans of the postmodern Euro-novel who wonder why we Brits seldom produce a homegrown variety.”

Jonathan Coe in The Guardian

" "In the manner of Flann O'Brien's classic At-Swim-Two Birds, Pfitz is a hilariously mind-boggling story within a story within a story, all of whose characters eventually intrude on one another as plot lines converge. Sf fans will want to join the literati in laughing over former theoretical physicists Crumey's brainy romp.”

Ray Olson in Booklist

"Andrew Crumey's novel is a clever, dazzling puzzle,intricately crafted...There are moments of real brilliance in this novel. The description of the layout of Rreinnnstadt's Museum and Library is an awesome piece of imagineering. The repugnant Frau Luppen, who lusts after Schenk and serves him up dinners of bristly pig flesh, is superb. and, as the action dances and plays towards its conclusion through the insubstantial realms of this imaginary world, the revelation of Pfitz's true identity is a glorious stroke of genius.”

Chapman's Magazine

About this title

About the Author:

Andrew Crumey was born in Glasgow in 1961. He read theoretical physics and mathematics at St Andrews University and Imperial College in London, before doing post-doctoral research at Leeds University on nonlinear dynamics. He is the author of seven novels: Music, in a Foreign Language (1994), Pfitz (1995), D'Alembert's Principle (1996), Mr Mee (2000), Mobius Dick(2004) Sputnik Caledonia(2008) and The Secret Knowledge (2013). His novels have been translated into 14 languages. Pfitz was selected as one of the books of the year in both The Observer and The New York Times.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Two centuries ago, a certain Prince sought immortality in a manner unusual even by the standards of his age. Whereas others might choose to fight glorious battles, raise monuments, or pass far-reaching laws, our Prince decided instead to devote himself to a lifelong career as the author of fantastic cities. It began with Margaretenburg. This cherished work of his early years - the outpouring of a broken-hearted youth - was created and named in honour of the woman to whom he had been betrothed, until smallpox robbed him of her. The idea came to him as she lay on her death-bed, and within six months of her passing, all of the initial plans had been laid for her memorial. A map of the city had been constructed, displaying the perfect geometry of his conception (his reaction to the meaningless cruelty of the world), and a competition had brought forth architectural designs of the utmost splendour. Every street and building, every park and fountain would be named in memory of the woman he had lost. Still unsure of the finer details of the proposed city, the Prince ordered a further set of charts which would show individual areas on a larger scale, and he also ordered the rendering of the intended buildings in a series of fine engravings. Landscape painters were brought from all over Europe to make illustrations of the city seen from the surrounding hills (which were themselves already being mapped, by a sub-committee of the cartographical division). At the end of this second stage (which lasted about eighteen months), the Prince felt he had come to know the city of Margaretenburg much better - to the extent that he could visit it now in his imagination, and discuss his walks with his courtiers. Nevertheless there remained many things during these hypothetical visits which were intangible and uncertain (and the Prince would not dream of commissioning any construction over which there hung the slightest uncertainty). How, for example, would the gardens smell? (a horticultural committee was formed). And would the smoke from the houses interfere with the air of the Royal Residence? (a team of eminent scientists was assembled). This period of consultation went on for another three years. The memory of Margarete still lay heavy in the heart of the Prince, and his determination to carry on with her memorial city was undiminished.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dedalus Limited
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1909232807
• ISBN 13: 9781909232808
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 164