Nova Express
Nova Express, the concluding novel in William S. Burroughs' avant-garde Nova Trilogy, continues the author’s exploration of experimental narrative techniques. First published in 1964, the novel employs the cut-up method to deconstruct traditional storytelling. Set in a dystopian world, it delves into themes of addiction, control, and the struggle against manipulative forces termed the Nova Mob. Burroughs weaves a disorienting tapestry of intersecting narratives and characters, portraying a society under siege by technological and linguistic control mechanisms.
Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, cloth. New York: Grove Press, 1964. Pringle, Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels (42). #10647.
Near fine in near fine dust jacket.
Published in 1964, Nova Express marks the culmination of William S. Burroughs' groundbreaking Nova Trilogy, following The Soft Machine and The Ticket That Exploded. This novel epitomizes Burroughs' experimental approach, utilizing the cut-up technique to challenge and dismantle conventional narrative forms.
In this final installment, Burroughs constructs a dystopian universe under the control of the Nova Mob, a group of alien entities embodying various societal ills and manipulative forces, from addiction and mind control to technological domination. The narrative, a complex mosaic of scenes, voices, and images, flits across different characters and perspectives, creating a sense of dislocation and fragmentation.
Nova Express critically examines the influence of language and technology on human thought and behavior. Burroughs posits that language itself is a virus, manipulating and reprogramming the human mind. The novel's disjointed structure mirrors the chaotic impact of these controlling forces on society, drawing parallels to the pervasive influence of media and technology in the modern world. The characters in Nova Express are agents in a battle against these invasive forces, seeking to resist and dismantle the mechanisms of control.
As a testament to Burroughs' unique literary style and profound critique of contemporary culture, Nova Express offers a challenging yet enlightening exploration of the human condition in the face of pervasive technological and linguistic control. Its impact on experimental literature and its critique of modern society cement its place as a seminal work of dystopian fiction.