Forgotten Science Fiction Classic - 'MERCURY': The Hidden "Sequel" to 'ICE' by ANNA KAVAN

#booktube #sciencefictionbooks #bookcollecting #sciencefiction #bookrecommendations #literaryfiction #fantasybooks
The author of '100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels' and '100 Must Read Fantasy Novels' takes you back in time to the early 90s, then the hidden half of the Cult Novel 'Ice' crept into print virtually without notice, covering the evolution and publishing process of Anna Kavan's now famous book...
Music: The Occupier (C) theoccupier.bandcamp.com/

[@robertriordan1823]

Thank you for highlighting Kavan, Stephen. Two of her seminal works - Eagle's Nest and A Bright Green Field are out of print, and cost a fortune. At the launch of Kavan's Machines in the Head anthology I asked Antonia Owen if these books could be done as print-on-demand; she was going to look into it. If you know her could you remind her? For sheer quality of writing Julia and the Bazooka is her best, and for imagination Sleep Has His House. I hope you are feeling better, and thank you for your infectious enthusiasm - you really get it across!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

yes, read all of those. I foolishly sold my copy of 'Eagle's Nest' a good while ago and wish I hadn't. In theory, the people who run Alma Classics have the Owen backlist, but seem to be doing nothing new with it, though I've heard someone else has bought the list now, so fingers crossed.

[@vintagesf]

Just happen to have 'Ice' coming in the mail. Looking forward to a challenging new wave read.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

'Ice' is a cardinal example of where SF meets Modernism, one of many such books I'll be discussing on the channel going forward.

[@thekeywitness]

Ice is on my TBR and now Mercury is too. Thanks as always for the insights and recommendations.

[@chocolatemonk]

Thanks for the deep dive. I am sold now on Ice. Sounds like we owe Owen a big thanks and gratitude

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

It's true- he went largely unsung in the last few decades. John Calder's book 'Garden of Eros' should be on your reading list, looking at the work of Calder's own press, Dial, Gorodias and Grove. Only by reading about these publishers can you get a grip on how Modernism became so predominant in our literary culture. Any understanding of New Wave and Post-New Wave SF had to be seen in the context of this to judge where it is now, what has gone wrong and maybe where it should go.

[@athoszubiaur2144]

really enjoy your channel, stephen. i found a copy of frontera in a used bookstore last weekend and had to pick it up based on your recommendation. i recall seeing or reading about ice many years ago but never got around to reading it. thanks for putting it and mercury on my radar. cheers

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

'Frontera' is like having sandpaper rubbed across your brainstem, I love it. It has the flinty, blood-drawing quality SF really lacks these days. Let me know how you get on with it!

[@zmihi]

Incredible video. I just love the width of your literary knowledge. The only guy I can trust when talking about prose by SF writers.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Well, the fact is there are few people out there with the frontline book industry experience for as long as me- plenty of widely read people on booktube, but my position and longevity in the trade does give me a quality uncommon outside it. Thanks very much- I hope to continue to surprise and delight.

[@user-mb9ll9wy6g]

We love tapping your knowledge.. Salute.

[@chocolatemonk]

indeed

[@themojocorpse1290]

Ice has been on my radar for sometime as has the castle . As always inspiring Steve you never cease to make me want to read new and old books . Took your advice ordered Martin macinnes gathering evidence . Now will have a look for ice.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

As I say 'Ice' is available in the UK as a Penguin Modern Classic in B Format, a Penguin Classic SF A Format and a handsome and relatively inexpensive Peter Owen octavo hardcover. Should be easy to pick up.

[@rickkearn7100]

Crikey, I feel like I've been living under a rock every time I watch an episode of Outlaw Bookseller, when new authors (new to me) are mentioned. Kavan? Jeesh. I'm still trying to get my hands on some Aldiss, Priest, Ballard and Beckett! Amazing perspective, Stephen, I cannot stress enough how intimidating that is, but also how much it's appreciated. Cheers.

[@kufujitsu]

I discovered Anna Kavan, & her novel Ice, in Brian Aldiss' Billion Year Spree Apart from a few excerpts of her work in the Aldiss book - which were enthralling - I've never read anything by her - but going by those excerpts, she appears to be one of those authors who really should be read - even her non-SF works invoke interest...

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I discovered Kavan - you have a typo there in yr post which would impede searches, by the way- via Aldiss and my friend Graham had already read her and we developed a passion for her work together. A surprising amount is in print, but not widely stocked.

[@kufujitsu]

@outlawbookselleroriginal Oops. You're right. I don't know where I got Klavan from. Her name is Anna Kavan, as you said. Thanks for the correction.

[@Paromita_M]

Enjoyed Ice, really liked Ice Palace. I didn't know Kavan wrote other books. 👀 Will check out Mercury after rereading Ice. Mishima has been hit or miss for me, favourite so far is Temple of the Golden Pavilion and Spring Snow tied.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

As I always say, you have to dig. Don't assume that any author only read one book. The internet- incorrect as it often is- is there, it's easy. I love Mishima, but faves of mine include 'Confessions of a Mask', 'The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea' and 'The Sound of Waves' (the latter being an untypical book by him, which shows his range). A few months back I reviewed his SF novel 'Beautiful Star' here (look for a video headed 'Japanese Science Fiction')

[@Paromita_M]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal Will do. 🙏🏽

[@leakybootpress9699]

It's never out of place to be reminded about Anna Kavan. I've only got about four of her books in Peter Owen first editions, all of them interesting, but Ice is the cream. I went to ABE after watching your video, Steve, there's not much available there, but someone has a first edition of Ice for a mere £2500, so you'd better hop over there quickly. It would be interesting to find some of her Helen Ferguson books, but I never have.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

My friend Graham has about a dozen of her books in Peter Owen hardcovers- he and I were buying her work late 80s early 90s when there was more around. Why I sold 'Eagle's Nest' on I'll never know. I sold my first of Leonora Carrington's 'The Stone Door' (Kegan Paul) on too, that's a £500 book now too...sigh

[@leakybootpress9699]

Ahh... the mistakes we make, Steve, I've made my share of them. I did pick up a first edition of A Thin Ghost by M. R. James a couple of years ago for £6, a 1919 book, in good nick, so there are still things to he found... that seems to be a £1500+ book now.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@leakybootpress9699 Yes, we've probably been more lucky than foolish, I'd say. I've found that continual, diligent searching bears bargain results very often!

[@paulcampbell6003]

I read _Ice_ early last year based on your video at the time. I don't know if I would say that I 'liked' it, but it was definitely a compelling read and the hallucinatory quality of the writing was amazing.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

It bears re-reading big time. I loved it first time around, but got even more out of it on a second go. She was pretty amazing and currently, Alma Classics seem to have the rights to her back catalogue and are claiming they are going to reissue many long OP Peter Owen books, but I've seen little evidence of this yet. So 'Ice' sells well enough on both sides of the atlantic now for Penguin to produce THREE editions, yet they fail to push the envelope by licensing 'Eagle's Nest' and 'Mercury'. So much for backlist publishing- when a company this big doesn't dig, you know someone is not doing thier job!

[@nathanhawkins902]

I have a hardcopy of Ice on my shelf and I know I'm going to love it when I get around to reading it soon... and then am going to be disappointed that I can't get my hands on this one (unless I want to pay hundreds). Hope they come out with new prints!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Hardcover, you mean? 'Mercury' is actually in print again now, I've discovered.

[@nathanhawkins902]

​​@@outlawbookselleroriginalOh, no. I thought hardcopy refered to physical copies generally. I might be mistaken. Saw your community post. I wonder if Amazon UK has it and US doesn't. The only affordable edition from my end is in Spanish.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@nathanhawkins902 Of course, I see what you mean, but why not treat us with the binding itself? Most books sold are still in codex form, not ebooks, we wanna know if you have a hardcover or paperback!

[@exit_libris]

Last year I read The Wind from Nowhere and Ice for the first time within a month of each other. There is so much in common with Ballard in there! I consider Ice the perfect unsanctioned fifth entry in the Disaster "Trilogy".

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yes, I can see where you're coming from. But a wider reading in Modernist texts on the edge of SF- novels by the Surrealists, Dada and after will show how Ballard is actually part of a tradition, arguably. I'll be revealing more books by outsider figures like Kavan relevant to the study of literary SF as we go on...

[@erikpaterson1404]

Just something out of deep mid-wicket and unrelated to this video - I'd love to see a review of Edward E. Smith's classic Lensman Series

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Highly unlikely, I'm afraid. I've not read any of it for many years, but I am planning a Space Opera video in which I will touch on it briefly, but am more likely to cover the Skylark series. Sorry. This channel is a lot more concerned with Literary SF that is under-exposed as opposed to the really famous trad stuff, though of course I do occasionally go there.

[@barrrie]

Managed to find a copy of Mercury online. Looking fwd to it. Cheers.

[@stephenwalker2924]

Linda Thorson fan, aye? Don't bloody blame you!

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Yeah- she was the girl when I first started watching the show and had the annual for Christmas, so....not that I'm dissing Diana Rigg!

[@user-mb9ll9wy6g]

If Burroughs did meet Kavan, it'll be in Miles' biography WSB - A Life

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

I've read that and I don;t recall it. I need to re-consult the definitive WSB bio, 'lIterary outlaw' by Ted Morgan, which I've not read for decades, but is actually the inspiration for the name of this channel.

[@user-mb9ll9wy6g]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal I think the Miles tome is more definitive, or at least more up to date.. I have both but not to hand. Anyway, another great vid. Thanks

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@user-mb9ll9wy6g I've read both and the Morgan is far more definitive I'd say- larger, more studied and nuanced. Miles is good, but it's a run-through rather than an in depth bio in my view.

[@user-mb9ll9wy6g]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal Miles also did an earlier, shorter one El Hombre Invisible, which I prefer.