Author uses absurd genre as social comment and a manifesto for a new world order
Brisbane author Davide Cottone ventures into the absurd with his book, Shriek, which puts readers into the shoes of a 21st century “idiot savant” confronting a maelstrom of social, political, economic, technological and religious upheaval.
The historical fiction novelist, poet and playwright chose the absurd genre to, in his words, “deliver a manifesto for a new world order”.
“I found a possible answer to the state of the world dilemma as I became immersed in the work of proponents of existentialism and nihilism in philosophy, and surrealism in art,” Mr Cottone said.
“Albee, Beckett, Camus, Kafka, Sartre, Heller, Ionesco and Pinter in literature, and Breton, and especially Dali in art coalesced as a Freudian tapestry called ‘absurdism’.”
The main character of the book, Aleph McNaught, is at a crossroads in what he sees as a meaningless life. Abused as a child, he turns to drugs and ends up locked up in an asylum before launching into a new and wild life populated by a host of multiple personalities.
Rejected in love, his only weapons against a society gone mad are his irrational thought patterns, absurd actions, and his projected versions of his own psyche.
McNaught, as narrator, takes the reader on a psychotic ride into his crazy headspace while commenting on the state of a fictitious society.
More on Shriek can be found at www.piebooks.net and the book can be purchased directly from the website, in book stores or online in print and eBook through Amazon KDP.
The author said he would welcome any correspondence with anyone who has an interest in the topic by email: piebooks@yahoo.com
PRESS RELEASE 2
Absurd parallel Trumps author
It could all be an exercise in mind games or a canny marketing ploy, but novelist, poet and dramatist Davide A Cottone is adamant that both suggestions are absurd.
“Anything you read in my book that might be a parallel to The Donald’s life is purely coincidental,” he said.
In his book Shriek: an absurd novel, Mr Cottone said the apparent parallels to Donald Trump were numerous.
“Aleph McNaught, the protagonist in Shriek, mirrors Trump as the archetypal businessman in real estate investment and development. He builds hotels, casinos and golf courses and drains swamps to help amass enough wealth to enter politics and lay the foundations of a new world order,” he said.
“Aleph’s Army for Armageddon (AAA Party) enters the election as the underdog and is swept into power on the backs of ‘the forgotten people’.
“One big difference is that Aleph has mental issues, is often delusional and has symptoms of a multiple personality disorder.
“Aleph McNaught becomes the face on the fantasy world Umbugumbuland’s cryptocurrency.”
Mr Cottone said the other big difference was that Aleph proposed a scenario that unravels the presidency in the aftermath of the election.
“That scenario may well provide a solution to the dilemma of the presidency as well as a foundation stone for the establishment of a new world order.”
More on Shriek: an absurd novel can be found at www.piebooks.net and the book can be purchased directly from the website, in book stores or online in print and as an eBook through Amazon KDP.
Any correspondence should be by email: piebooks@yahoo.com
PRESS RELEASE 3
Novel advocates a global change
Author Davide Cottone uses the absurd genre in his latest novel, Shriek: an absurd novel to advocate a new world order.
‘We need to elicit support for a new world order through the power of the written word in an absurd context to get subtle messages across to people so that they can prepare for the imminent meltdown of the old world order,’ he said.
‘I need someone to come on board with me to bring to the fore issues of social, economic, technological and political significance. The world can be a mad place and sometimes we need to proffer absurd solutions to confront or at least contain situations that are spiralling out of control.’
Mr Cottone said that writers in the past had written fables and parables to make a social commentary.
‘I prefer using the absurd genre just as others have like Albee, Beckett, Camus, Kafka, Sartre, Heller, Ionesco and Pinter in literature, and Salvador Dali, in art. ‘We are fast approaching a new norm where to be successful, influential and understood, you have to employ tactics that are beyond the constraining and intimidating tentacles of the law and the all-powerful.
‘There is a certain degree of safety and immunity from the influence of the rich and powerful in the realm of the insane.’
The novel’s protagonist, Aleph McNaught, lives in a fictional world with country names like Umbugumbuland, Elifafaland, Central Lilulaland and Woccowaccaland, yet there are many parallels to life in our world today.
Mr Cottone said these parallels were so compelling, you would have to question what defined sanity. His protagonist recalled Dali’s own words, that ‘There is only one difference between a madman and me – the madman thinks he is sane; I know I am mad’.
‘Aleph goes on to become president of Umbugumbuland by standing on the shoulders of “the forgotten people”, a phenomenon not unlike situations unravelling in the world today.
‘Any similarities to the rise and rise of Donald Trump or anyone else for that matter are purely coincidental,’ Mr Cottone said.
More on Shriek: an absurd novel can be found at www.piebooks.net, and the book can be purchased directly from the website, in book stores or online in print and as an ebook through Amazon KDP. Any correspondence should be by email: piebooks@yahoo.com
PRESS RELEASE 4
Politics of Envy plays out in absurd novel.
The Mob takes over the running of the country in Davide ACottone’s book ‘Shriek: an absurd novel’.
“Strategically, they employ the politics of envy which parallel those of the ‘eastern bloc’ countries after World War II,” he said.
“Their first priority after coming to power was to enact ‘Unexplained Wealth Laws’ so that they could take from the rich to fill the government coffers. It was all done in the name of equality.
“It was history certainly repeating itself but it could also be predicating a future scenario in world politics,” said Mr Cottone.
The Brisbane author of four novels and two volumes of poetry is not a stranger to political satire having written a musical “Bo” satirising the antics of Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen in the 70’s.
‘Shriek: an absurd novel’ brings other uncanny parallels to world politics with the protagonist Aleph McNaught mirroring the rise and rise of Donald Trump. The Mob reinventing the politics of envy used by past socialist leaders is the modus operandi of our own Opposition Leader as reported in the media.
“Any similarities to world situations today, are purely coincidental,” Mr Cottone insists.
The irony is that just when you think you are making sense of his absurd novel, he pulls you up every time with a denial like “No it isn’t!” or “Now you have it. No you don’t!”
Go figure.
More on Shriek: an absurd novel can be found at www.piebooks.net, and the book can be purchased directly from the website, in book stores or online in print and as an eBook through Amazon KDP. Any correspondence should be by email: piebooks@yahoo.com
PRESS RELEASE 5
Lend me your ears …
It’s all Shakespeare and Keats when it comes to Brisbane author Davide ACottone’s assessment of global issues today.
“The only difference is that there needs to be some pretty serious editing of some of their most sacred texts to address the concerns that I have,” said Mr Cottone.
“I come to bury reactionaries, not to praise them,” is his first edit referring to Shakespeare. “We need to explore solutions that on the first take might seem to be quite absurd. When the dominoes fall, it will be the lateral thinkers not the reactionaries who will triumph.”
He argues that technology has necessitated a seismic shift in thinking and the corresponding changes to the structure and organisation of society are inevitable.
“Now more than ever seems it right to change, to implement (solutions) before the midnight with no pain,” is his second edit; of Keats’ lines in ‘Ode to a Nightingale.’
No two quotes are more pertinent to his latest book ‘SHRIEK: an absurd novel’ where the cryptocurrency COIN trumps the international monetary system every time. As well, there is the world wide trend to strident nationalism. In Mr Cottone’s fantasy world of absurd scenarios, the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock shifts ever closer to midnight.
The main character of the book, Aleph McNaught, is at a crossroads in what he sees as a meaningless life. As narrator, he invites the reader to join him on a psychotic ride into his crazy headspace while commenting on and addressing the problems in his fictitious society head on.
More on ‘SHRIEK: an absurd novel’ can be found at www.piebooks.net and the book can be purchased directly from the website, in book stores or online in print and as an eBook through Amazon KDP.
The author said he would welcome any correspondence with anyone by email: piebooks@yahoo.com