Description
'A kind of magical realism for science fiction ... Quite, quite brilliant' Tor
Part pulp adventure, part otherworldly meditation, this is the story of Trafalgar Medrano: intergalactic trader and lover of bitter coffee and black cigarettes. In the bars and cafes of Rosario, Argentina, he recounts tall tales of his space escapades - involving, among other things, time travel and dancing troglodytes.
Cosmopolitan, philosophical and, above all else, pure fun, Angelica Gorodischer's Trafalgar is a unique blend of science fiction, magical realism and shaggy-dog tale from one of Argentina's most distinctive writers.
'A unique brand of science fiction ... unlike anything I've ever read' Los Angeles Review of Books
About the Author
Although born in Buenos Aires, Angelica Gorodischer (1928-2022) was most closely associated with the city of Rosario, her home since childhood and also the home of her famous character, Trafalgar Medrano. She wrote over twenty books, including Trafalgar (1979) and the fantastical Kalpa Imperial (1983-4), which was translated into English by Ursula K. Le Guin. Her work has been compared to that of Borges and Calvino, and she won numerous literary prizes as well as an award for her contribution to women's rights. In 2011 she received a World Fantasy Award for lifetime achievement.
Reviews
Both deeply thoughtful and immensely playful ... Here we have a kind of magical realism for science fiction ... What is at the heart of every incident, every interlude, is a luminous exploration of humanity: love, power, death, the known and the unknown ... Contemplative, provoking, bizarre - and brilliant. Quite, quite brilliant * Tor *
A novel that is unlike anything I've ever read, one part pulp adventure to one part realistic depiction of the affluent, nearly-idle bourgeoisie, but always leaning more towards the former in its inventiveness and pure sense of fun * Los Angeles Review of Books *
Understated and impressive ... Gorodischer takes well-worn tropes in entertaining directions that both evoke their golden age roots and transcend them with a layer of absurdism. A joy to read * Publisher's Weekly *
Gorodischer's tales are a perfect blend of Argentine reality and sci-fi fantasy. The reader can hear every word of the original whispered behind this translation by Amalia Gladhart
Book Information
ISBN 9780241804674
Author Angelica Gorodischer
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Penguin Classics
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Series Penguin Modern Classics
Weight(grams) 198g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 15mm
