The Absolute at Large

Great read.

handsome reprint of this satiric science fiction classic by Capek

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...

Have just started it, but I was immediately struck by the quirky, but wonderful English. However, I can find no mention of a translator. Did Capek translate it himself?

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.

I agree in part with both of the previous reviews. This was a very good book and Ill read more of Karel Capek. It has a very clever theme and is not only good fiction but a social commentary as well. However, I would buy the paperback instead of this hardback edition. It has obviously been photocopied and has many defects, including almost no periods at the ends of sentences, very strange spacing and a few duplicated paragraphs. Some pages were truncated at the edges (copy machine), and there were many extraneous marks. Note that the preview on Amazon is the paperback and does not display those defects. That being said, it was still readable. If you cant get a better print copy, get this one. It is still readable and the content more than makes up for the defects.