I've been trying to read Dhalgren and I'm having a hard time because I'm not on drugs. This is a bizarre book with no real plot. It's not making much sense and I'm not finding any of the characters worth caring about. They just are plodding along. It's no wonder this book didn't even read 4 stars on Goodreads.

I'm beginning to suspect the author kept a dream diary. ;)

It was called Brass Orchids. :D

Interesting post from Fredrick Pohl about Delaney and Dhalgren. Pohl was the editor that purchased Dhalgren:

part 1 - http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/...1/chip-delany/
part 2 The Miracle of Dhalgren - http://www.thewaythefutureblogs.com/...e-of-dhalgren/

I'm wondering if Jon perhaps missed reading the foreword by William Gibson.
Which is right on target.

P.S. Gibson wrote a book I've never been able to read past the first chapter despite numerous attempts.

So it's a sex book and not a science fiction book. Well, it any case, it's crap.

Damn, third attempt to restart the first chapter. It's slow and confusing.

Read it like poetry....just keep reading....it's not (intended) to be all clear, logical, understandable. ;)

How do you really feel about it? :p

It gets better after the 1st chapter, at least there is a more coherent moment to moment plot, though what has happened to the city is still unknown.
I'm about a third of the way through.


Not sure if this would be a spoiler since I'm only guessing.

As someone mentioned somewhere in a review....Delaney particularly takes poetic and literary license in the open and closing chapters, there are other places throughout that are similar but yes it does have a bit more continuity once you get into it. :)

And I'm not going to say whether you spoiler is right or wrong but.....you'll just have to find out for yourself. :p

Thanks for encouragement, I have managed to move past the first chapter on the the way to office this morning. I am really hoping it gets better.

From some of the reviews I've read, it doesn't get better. On a good note, it doesn't get worse. It stays the same.

I think this is the sort of novel that James Joyce would have written had he decided to engage with science-fiction. ;)