Bargain @ $1.99 each as part of Amazon's Kindle Daily Deals for July 11th, some really nice modern classic foreign literature in translation reprints from specialty small press New Directions who, in my admittedly limited experience, do excellent work (some prices available in Canada, others US-only; not discounted in other stores, though you can ask Kobo for a price-match):
- Labyrinths by the late Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges (Wikipedia), his 1962 collection of short stories with speculative fiction/magical realism elements (Wikipedia). The contained short “Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius” was up for a Retro Hugo last year. This edition has a new introduction by cyberpunk author William Gibson (Wikipedia). Discounted only in the US.
- Journey to the End of the Night by the late French author Louis-Ferdinand Céline (Wikipedia), his vintage 1932 semi-autobiographical novel (Wikipedia), which was apparently quite influential throughout the decades. This has a new introduction by National Book Award-winning novelist and journalist William T. Vollman (Wikipedia). Also discounted in Canada.
- The Rings of Saturn by the late German author W. G. Sebald (Wikipedia), whom Wikipedia says was considered as a Nobel Prize candidate. This is a literary novel which is one of those sorts of going-about meditations (not sfnal, despite the title), which its Wikipedia entry says was adapted into a 2012 film. Not available in the Amazon CA catalogue for some reason, even though it exists at Kobo and Google CA.
- New Seeds of Meditation by the late Thomas Merton (Wikipedia), a notable Catholic theologian who also explored other religions. This is some sort of mystical literary spiritual meditation which apparently transcends denominational boundaries in its insightful effect, with a new introduction by literary novelist Sue Monk Kidd (Wikipedia) who cites him as a direct inspiration. Also discounted in Canada.