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Einstein Intersection
Samuel R. Delany
Nebula 1967

Lyric, mythical speculations on the nature of reality disguised as an entertaining metaphysical journey. A journey based on a quote form Ortega y Gasset:

"It is not that love sometimes makes mistakes, but that it is, essentially, a mistake. We fall in love when our imagination projects nonexistent perfections on to another person. One day the phantasmagoria vanishes, and with it love dies."

On a more fundamental level, though, the theme revolves around the "Einstein intersection", the psychological experience where the "defined extent of the rational" meets the "vaster realm beyond the limits Einstein defined". And from this point of view, the story continually challenges us to know "what's inside the myths" and to "Bite through the shells of my meanings".

Many challenging questions ("Are nine thousand really that much better than ninety-nine?") and statements ("you're all trying to put on the limiting mask of humanity") unexpectedly pop into the story line. These mix with beautiful imagery ("Attacked by flowers, a dragon was dying. The blossoms jeweled his scales; thorns tangled his legs.") and insightful perception ("A jungle is a myriad of individual trees, vines, bushes; passing through, you see it, however, as one green mass. Perceiving a crowd works the same way").

Juxtaposed within the other-worldliness, we find quotes from the author's real-life journal and fascinating insights into the creative writing process. For example, before the concluding chapters the journal muses, "Endings to be useful must be inconclusive." And more esoteric reflections like, "...I can start the meticulous process of overlaying another filigree across the novel's palimpsest."

The depth of feeling, the poetic beauty, and the insight challenging speculations all merge and elevate The Einstein Intersection to true classic status.

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