Description
Science Respects Nothing
Book Summary
Alphonse Allais, a forerunner of surrealism and master of absurd humor, deploys his most corrosive gaze against the scientism of the late 19th century in this anthology. Through a selection of short stories, satires, and witticisms, the Parisian author dismantles the clichés of progress with elegant and overflowing irony. The reader will find a feast of mocking intelligence where nothing remains safe: neither the academy, nor technology, nor the customs of his time. A rediscovered classic that demonstrates why Allais is an unavoidable reference in literary humor.
What is it about?
This collection gathers the sharpest texts by Alphonse Allais, a writer who turned irreverence into art. On every page, the author plays with taking the arguments of science and progress to their most absurd consequences, revealing the contradictions of a society fascinated by technical advancement. With a style that anticipates Boris Vian and Raymond Queneau, Allais builds small universes where the everyday becomes nonsensical. From impossible inventions to reflections on chance and logic, the book is a tour of the mind of a brilliant "fumiste" who knew how to portray the bohemian and popular Paris of his time with tenderness and mordacity.
Main themes
- Satire of 19th-century scientism and technical progress.
- Absurd humor and nonsense as a critical tool.
- Parisian "costumbrismo" and social criticism.
- Irony regarding academic and bourgeois conventions.
- Forerunner of surrealism and black humor.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in intelligent literary humor, social satire, and classics of the absurd. It is ideal for those who enjoy authors like Boris Vian, Raymond Queneau, Jules Verne in his more playful aspect, or the texts collected in André Breton's Anthology of Black Humor. It will also be attractive to lovers of turn-of-the-century French literature and those seeking an agile, provocative, and witty read.
What this book offers
- A critical and amusing perspective on blind faith in science and progress.
- The rediscovery of a key author in the history of literary humor.
- Short, autonomous stories, ideal for fragmented or continuous reading.
- A satirical portrait of Parisian society at the end of the 19th century.
- A demonstration of how the absurd can be a tool for sharp thinking.
Technical sheet
- Author: Allais, Alphonse
- Publisher: La Fuga Ediciones, S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, SHORT STORIES
- Collection: EN SERIO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: June 2018
- Number of pages: 180
- Weight: 170 g
Editorial assessment
Science Respects Nothing recovers the voice of an author whom time has turned into a cult classic. The careful, pocket-sized edition allows access to a representative selection of Allais's work, whose humor remains surprisingly relevant. For the contemporary reader, these texts offer both entertainment and a lucid reflection on the relationship between knowledge and credulity. A safe bet for those seeking literary quality and an intelligent smile.