Diamond Nebula: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Certainly interesting, but not for everyone: Diamond Nebula
Review: As I read this book, I struggled to find some way to describe it to others, some appropriate comparison. I finally decided that this book was very much like a cross between _Naked Lunch_ (William S. Burroughs), _The Day of The Triffids_ (John C. Wyndham) and a long, drawn-out piece of David Bowie fan fiction. That was as close as I could get, barring hand gestures. This book is very interesting, very thought-provoking science fiction. It is also deeply weird.

The story opens on a post-apocalyptic, halluciantory version of a human city on Earth. Five survivors of the "change-over" live in the city, trying to cope with their new lives and pursue their ideas. The survivors, and the city itself, are obsessed with a trio of celebrities: J.G. Ballard, Andy Warhol, and David Bowie. The survivors, as they attempt to live their lives and take the final steps towards leaving Earth for the Diamond Nebula, break down due to the stresses of living in a world with no purpose and no sense. Throughout, David Bowie, led by his alien brethren, prepares for his own journey to the Diamond Nebula.

The plot is revealed indirectly, and must be extracted from the bizarre imagery and narratives of each character's actions. There is very little dialogue; rather, the author allows the reader to absorb what's going on by way of description and each character's thought processes. The book is written mainly in third person, allowing for a sense of detachment that is also evoked by the devastation of the setting and the character's fatalistic attitudes. The book is confusing at times, rather far-fetched, but not to the point of affecting the readability of the story. Occasionally the book seems repetitious because of the prominence of J.G. Ballard, Andy Warhol, and David Bowie, and the repetition seems like part of a paranoid delusion. But this is needed for the plot, and contributes positively to the book as a whole.

Diamond Nebula is certainly very good science fiction. There are flaws, of course. The bizarre details of the story will shock and annoy, perhaps bore, some readers. The obsessive attention to the life and work of the celebrity triptych may seem tiresome and repetitive. Basic knowledge of the careers of Andy Warhol and J. G. Ballard are important for understanding the work, although it is not necessary to be a huge fan of them. However, the life and works of David Bowie, and the folklore surrounding him, is explored in detail, and some readers may be left in the dark if they have never studied anything related to Bowie. If one is determined to read this book, he or she ought to read up on Bowie, or read it in the company of a knowlegeable fan.

In any case, this book is interesting and will provoke much thought about extraterrestrials, David Bowie, apocalypse, film, music, pop culture, and many other things. It is poetically written. If nothing else, Diamond Nebula is entertaining as bizarre science fiction. It's worth a chance.