Salman Rushdie

 We're on to a new year in the Science Fiction/Fantasy reading. By request we're going to detour just a bit and read some Salman Rushdie. Given the horrific attack on him, this seems appropriate. 

Imaginary Interviewer: What should we know about Salman Rushdie?

Me: He's a very accomplished writer. That's the first thing you should know. His overall story is bigger than his writing, but we shouldn't let that overshadow his writing talent. 

II: And the overall story?

Me: In the late 80's he wrote 'The Satanic Verses'. Some people read parts of the book as an attack on Islam. A price was put on his head and some extremists wanted him dead. As a result, he went into hiding for many years. I'm not familiar enough with Islam to judge the anti-Islam criticism. I strongly feel that authors should be able to punish work that criticizes large subjects such as religion, sex, politics, etc. 

II: Have you read it?

Me: It was the first Rushdie that I read and it was some years back. My memory of it is favorable. 

II: Have you read any of his other books?

Me: Yes, six or eight of them. My favorite is 'Midnight's Children', which I've read three or four times. When it came out it was awarded the Booker Prize and then later judged as the best of the Booker Prize winners. 

II: And what are you reading this month?

Me: We're reading 'Haroun and the Sea of Stories'. It's a little easier than some of his other works and it's a pure fantasy novel, so it fits better with what we're reading. 

II: Anything you'd like to say about it?

Me: Sure. In some ways the book reminds me of 'The Phantom Tollbooth' where a young boy goes to a fantasy world and has to understand it in all of its allegorical wonder. The book is about stories and storytelling. It's about where stories come from and *most importantly* what threatens good storytelling. I highly recommend it.