The Absolute at Large

Written in the 1920s, this novel is set in the immediate future - the 1940s - where inventor Marek has just invented the Karburator. A sort of atomic engine, this features perfect combustion, where every scrap of matter is used: one kilogramme of coal, if it underwent complete combustion, would run a good-sized factory for several hundred hours. But despite the vast potential, Marek sells out to industrialist Bondy - he has become aware there is a massive price to pay... And here what starts out as a simple sci-fi story becomes a very clever look at war, politics and religion. Because as matter is combusted, it frees something else: Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that God is contained in all forms of physical matter, that He is, as it were, imprisoned in it. And when you smash this matter up completely, He flies out of it as though from a box ... immediately the whole cellar is filled with the Absolute. Its simply appalling how quickly it spreads. As religious mania takes over the world, and as the Absolutes powers have factories working constantly, creating more stuff than anyone can cope with, the economy is wrecked. And as different factions each promote their own take on the Divinity, it seems War is at hand... This is a really clever and thought-provoking work. Capeks view of a future War is certainly not far from what actually transpired; and his observations are very true: Everyone believes in his own superior God, but he doesnt believe in another man or credit him with believing in something good. People should first of all believe in other people and the rest would soon follow. The greater the things are in which a man believes, the more fiercely he despises those who do not elieve in them. And yet the greatest of all beliefs would be belief in ones fellow-men. A fairly quick read (168p) but both amusing in places and with a deeper message...

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

Reading the The Absolute at Large, and knowing what we know now and what Capek(the best Czech author of the 20th century) could only imagine in 1922 was fascinating. Here was a man who had just witnessed the crumbling of the Austria Hungarian, German and Russian empires and the enormous waste of human life, especially of young men. Life in Central Europe in the early 20s was bitter and people saw a bleak future and their view of God the Absolute was hardly positive. Looking 20 years into a future four years after the end of The Great War and foretelling The Greatest War between 1944 and 1953 was amazing, and unfortunately very close to what actually happened. But it was Capeks biting satire on how man always believes he is right and others are wrong, especially when it comes to religion, that was especially interesting. The failure of man to think broadly and see the world through others eyes is a story as old as man. Capek tells the story brilliantly. The book itself is poorly published and obviously photocopied from another source. Buy the paperbook instead of the hard copy.

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.

I know nothing of the book because I could not get that far. My copy was clearly a photocopied hunk of junk in a badly bound hard binding. There were multiple photocopy stray marks throughout the book (random blobs like you get with a photocopier). There was at least one page where the type was wavy like what happens when you photocopy something that is not totally flat. The margins were too big so it looks more like a photocopy of the actual book. The binding itself was actually uneven. The page that tells you who published it and when said 1944, and did not mention a more recent printing which indicates to me that it is possibly a pirate even. It is total crap. I had to send mine back.

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.

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.

Funny, but true? True, but funny.

I love this book. I read it in college, and had to read it again. Book was in great shape, and I received it in a few days.

Great read.