Doris Lessing has won the Nobel prize for Literature. An 88 year-old self-educated writer, she is the author of an absolute monster load of books, exploring themes ranging from Communism, socialism, feminism, and Sufism. Ultimately she explored science fiction – the basis of a good bit of criticism from Harold Bloom as to her selection as this year’s Nobel Laureate. (Imagine the top of his head blowing off if a romance author won! HA!)
Lessing defended her choice of genres by saying, “What they didn’t realize was that in science fiction is some of the best social fiction of our time.”
Though I’m not a reader of much science fiction, I have to say, “Damn skippy, ma’am.” Congratulations!
Huzzah for Doris Lessing, Queen of the Admiralty! Harold Bloom can suck it. I mean, honestly, who died and made Harold Bloom, er, um . . . Harold Bloom?
About time, too.
I agree with the Harold Bloom can suck it philosophy – that man is all that many find condemnable about academia, right down to his solipsistic critical ego stroking (mostly of his own) and his reputation for consistently sexually harassing female students at his Ivy-league-school which-shall-remain-nameless. But do we hear about it? Nooo. Because he’s Harold. Fucking. Bloom!
Bastard.
And on to lighter things…Doris Lessing, you go girl!
Harold Bloom can suck my strap-on. Huzzah for scifi!
love her so what attitude
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071011/ap_on_re_eu/britain_lessing_reaction
Hah! SUCK IT, BLOOM! I once had an entire fourth-level seminar as to why, PRECISELY AND IN DETAIL, Harold Bloom Sucks. At a major university. It was pretty much the awesome.
Lessing, on the other hand, deserves many congratulations.
We are very happy for her. A woman and a writer…good shit.
Love, love, love Doris. The 11th woman to get it.
yes, harold Bloom can suck it. So can the whiny article starting with,“What does Phillip Roth have to do..”
I just saw Lessing’s reaction to getting the news about her Nobel win at Yahoo and just love her response of “Oh,Christ!”
Those reporters were pretty damn pushy;the woman’s just come home from the market and they’re bumrushing her on her bloody doorstep,wanting her to give interviews “in five minutes”. For goodness sake,let the lady get inside and put away her groceries,why don’t you?! Give the woman a breather there,geez!
And,yeah,Harold Bloom is an ass for saying that. I’ve read some of his books and while he has some good things to say about the classics,he’s incredibly dense about modern lit. I got sick of him after awhile.
I have to admit that I’ve read a half dozen books by Doris Lessing and none by Harold Bloom.
I haven’t read either Doris Lessing or Harold Bloom, but I have read a lot of science-fiction, and anyone who doesn’t know how much social commentary is in sci-fi simply does not read the field.
Larry Niven and Ursula LeGuin both leap to mind as authors who explore social issues in science fiction.
I loved this quote from the Reuters article about her win:
Lessing said an official connected with the Nobels once came up to her at a “very, very formal dinner” in Sweden and told her she would never win the prize.
“Can you imagine the cheek?” she said. “What am I to say? ‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry, why don’t you like me?’”
Guess she got the last laugh.
Can someone recommend one of Ms. Lessing’s books? I’d love to read one, but I can’t figure out which one to go with.