Doris Lessing wins Nobel Prize

[segovius]

This years Nobel Prize has gone to Doris Lessing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7039100.stm) one of my favourite authors so I thought I'd start an appreciation thread for those who like her work (probably just me!).

She is 87 now and a fascinating character. She was my next-door but one neighbour when I lived in London and is very down to earth for such an icon.

I think my favourite books of hers are the Science Fiction series Canopus in Argos - which seem almost prophetic now. They are very Islamic/Sufi influenced (like Herbert's 'Dune' is also - but these are better - but in many ways are a re-writing of Biblical myth in an evolutionary context.

The 'Good Terrorist' is another classic - I heard Police were confiscating it from people's bookshelves when they raided them for other matters! Hah!

Anyone else a fan?

[Harald]

Anyone else a fan?

Me.

Once had the privilege of getting her a bowl of ice-cream.

Was a tongue-tied cretin.

She's a literary idol of mine.

[segovius]

Me.

Once had the privilege of getting her a bowl of ice-cream.

Was a tongue-tied cretin.

She's a literary idol of mine.

Heheh - she can be quite intimidating for a little old lady can't she?

She has about 30 cats....

[addabox]

Well, that's cool.

I love her work, and if you asked me about my favorites, I would have named the Shikasta stuff and The Good Terrorist.

I was also very much admire The Fifth Child and I've got Ben in the World on my list.

I love her utter lack of sentimentality.

[midwinter]

I very much enjoyed The Golden Notebook and Briefings For A Descent Into Heck (http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=79623).

[addabox]

I very much enjoyed The Golden Notebook and Briefings For A Descent Into Heck (http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?t=79623).

And the Nobel Prize for thread melding goes to.....

[hardeeharhar]

The NYTimes has an op-ed of hers from the early 90s up now...

[segovius]

More from Doris:

"I always hated Tony Blair, from the beginning," she said. "Many of us hated Tony Blair, I think he has been a disaster for Britain and we have suffered him for many years.

"I said it when he was elected, 'This man is a little showman who is going to cause us problems' and he did. As for Bush, he's a world calamity. Everyone is tired of this man.

"Either he is stupid or he is very clever, although you have to remember he is a member of a social class which has profited from wars."

Link (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/24/ndoris124.xml)