The Absolute at Large

Funny, but true? True, but funny.

Capek was way ahead of his time (and way ahead of many today). Very witty, very sharp and very much on point. I really enjoy his style.

Great read.

Perhaps as a companion piece to War with the Newts this one should have been titled War with God, since this book attacks religious intolerance with the same gentle, sad, hilarious ridiculousness that he employed with devastating effect against racial intolerance in Newts. As a novel it violates most every rule of how a good novel should be written, in terms of structure, plot, cohesiveness, restraint, character development, etc and as such it is a fine book. And, of course, it is very very Czech.

First, buy the paperback instead of the photoprinted hardcover. Easier to read and much cheaper. Science fiction is at its best when well constructed with futuristic visions based on predicted fact and a novel point of view (no pun intended). The Absolute at Large was first published in the 1920s (remember Czech author Karel Capek was born in 1890), but uses remarkable futuristic telling that presages atomic fusion while commenting on the ethics and spread of power and mass production that Karel Capek saw in the technological and political revolutions occurring around him. In addition, he raises theistic-antitheistic arguments that are still going on today. And, lest I forget, he also includes comments on communism, national socialism, and free market capitalism. But the real kicker is that this book is funny. The novel is written with a tongue-in-cheek style that will often have you laughing out loud. Its only when you finish the book that you realize just how much philosophy was covered while you were having so much reading fun. Humorous science fiction wrapped in a thoughtful core - just the right thing for the thinking reader.

This book will entertain you and make you think. It is not for everyone but a great read. Try it