The Man Burns Tonight-Join the burner book club- Thoughts?

[gyre]

Have you read it? What did you think? I loved it. It felt like another burn, a different one, but it still felt like burning man to me.

There's a line I can't find, but something like-
This is one of the few places you can say,
"Wow, I've never seen anything like that in my life!"
And your friend says,
"Where? Which thing? Which unique thing?"

It helped me miss the playa a little less.
Then I finished it, and it was worse.

I know this group is shy about expressing opinions,
but let's give it a try.

[beachburner]

What are you talking about?

[gyre]

The book is a mystery which takes place in Black Rock City. I was wondering if the atmosphere rang true to anybody else.
Naturally, it's not exactly any one year.

[geekster]

Are you fishing to see if anyone has read something you wrote or not?

[gyre]

No. I wish I had written it. It is a little hard to ask what people thought without mentioning the title.
The writer was at burning man giving out copies of his book, including to any libraries he could locate. All he asked was that I share my copy with someone else. He did seem interested in my opinion, but I didn't read it until I got back and my eyes stopped spinning counter-clockwise.

[geekster]

Which reminds me, I need to write a book to give out on the playa. I think it will be just a short book with big type that includes little bits of wisdom I have picked up from others and anecdotes of experiances with others. I might call it Repent, Motherfucker! or something like that, I haven't decided.

It might include some playa tips too, like making sure your shoes are tied and your hydration pack bite valve is securely in your mouth BEFORE you enter the porta potty.

[Bay Bridge Sue]

I got a copy and devoured it before this years burn, and it... well... You could smell the playa dust from the words on the page. >>grins<< Talk about a literary recompression!!!

bb

[Tay]

I'd love to get a copy of it somewhere. I wrote a novella a few years ago that I gave out on the playa, though I couldn't afford to print many copies. I've posted about it before, but it's available, in blog form, here: http://burningnovel.blogspot.com/ if anyone is interested.

Tay

[mo_corleone]

i enjoyed the book. my gf and i actually took turns reading it aloud to eachother as we drove home from the playa this year. there are enough familiar bits in there to keep just about any burner entertained. i'm also considering loaning it to friends of mine that are thinking about attending in the future. it's a fictional account of a burning man experience, but i still think it would help shine some light on what to expect... or how you'll never really know what to expect.

here's some more info:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743476999/104-5263147-6213568?v=glance

[gyre]

Geekster, if that is your real name, the book actually sounds like a good idea. There must be a thousand things people could contribute that the survival guide misses.

Bay Bridge Sue, that's a great line about playa dust.
I wish I'd said that.

[gyre]

Corleone, let us know how your friends like the book who haven't been before.

Thanks, Tay, for sharing your book. Here's an excerpt about artists-

They create because they need to create. They create for the immediacy of creation and are content to let their creations drift away in the smoke and ash of eternity.

and...we camped next to this camp with statues of Elvis they planned to burn before they found out that the material they'd used to build them was toxic and being Earth Firsters got so depressed they spent the rest of the time sitting in center camp, drinking espresso (reusing the cups), and letting two guys juggle toasters over them.

And a line about a girl-

.....I shivered remembering Angelique sitting at the edge of darkness listening to us play.

Thanks, Tay.

If anyone else has written something, let us know. And if anyone has read any other books about burning man, feel free to post your thoughts here.

[Tay]

Gyre,

You're welcome - and thanks for the compliments and quotes!

Tay

[HughMungus]

I just started reading "This is Burning Man". I like it a lot so far.

[Tay]

"This is Burning Man" is a great book. I really enjoyed it and going to BRC after I read it was a different thing.

[Blue Jester]

"The Man Burns Tonight" is a terrific book. I had never heard of it before leaving for the man this year but my freind who I was driving with had a copy and I read the whole thing on the trip. obviously a burner wrote it. I actually saw someone in a pink darth vader suit.

[Oubliet]

I just finished reading "The Man Burns tonight". My bf knows the author from SF conventions. he'd been telling me about this friend of his who made notes for a book from his experiences from the 2003 burn (which was also my first BM).

I liked it.

It was a nice way to 'return to the Playa" for a little while.

[gyre]

Has anyone read any of the other books out there about burning man? Does anyone else have something they've written like Tay did?
Post a link to it here or write it here if it will fit.
I know somebody's got a story out there.

[Noir]

Any comments on these books:

1) Afterburn: Reflections on Burning Man
2) To Burning Man

[gyre]

Who wrote To Burning Man?

I'm waiting for the library to cough up the only burner book in the system-This Is Burning Man. I'm currently reading Shakedown, based on the Angel telly series, written by the same guy who wrote The Man Burns Tonight.

Have you read these books, Noir?

[gyre]

I finally got my hands on this book.
It has some rough spots and he uses a lot of twelve dollar words, but if you are interested in the background of burning man you must read it.
Documenting a group like this accurately is much harder than it looks. He deserves credit for even attempting a history. Does anyone know if the Cacaphony Society is still active?

I'm currently reading Body of Secrets which is the history of the NSA, at least the part they let you know about. I highly recommend it. Learn who wanted to commit terrorism against US citizens to start a war with a country that was not involved. Find out how Israel attacked US citizens with bombs, cannon fire and napalm, then torpedoes including shooting lifeboats out of the water-and got away with it. Learn the horror of why!
Your nightmares are only business as usual.


If anyone has written a story about burning man let us know.
Doesn't have to be perfect. You know, just like the real thing.

[affinity]

AfterBurn is very academic, a couple of the essays I found tedious and some of them I loved. I am a book person so I had to have it

[affinity]

Amazon describes "To Burning Man" as a book of poetry so I have not read it.

Eye of the Burning Man is getting good reviews from people who like the guys work but not Burners. think I will wait for the paperback.

[affinity]

Sorry for all the posts, I did not know I was going to speak to each different book until I did....

LOVED "the Man Burns Tonight" well crafted on the Burning Man side, great characteratures, very nice background. I emailed the author and got a very nice email in return from Captain Fun. I would say a fun must read for Burners who like fiction....

[montana wildhack]

i just started "the man burns tonight'...enjoying it very much!

[Bay Bridge Sue]

It only gets better. And better.

bb

[Dr. Pyro]

I haven't read it, but somebody mentioned to me that Barbie Death Camp was mentioned in passing in the book. BBSue, any truth to that?

[PlayaPetal]

just bought it on amazon for 3.99 - can't wait to read it

[Bay Bridge Sue]

Yer famous, hon!!

bb

[gyre]

I wanted to bring up these books again.
Has anyone else got a new story that isn't making it into Tales of the Playa?

If you're homesick, The Man Burns Tonight may help.
Or just make it worse.
It's the first book I recommend to people who haven't been, even though it's fiction.
If you folks buy enough copies of the Man Burns, the author will continue the series. I'd like to read another one myself.
(Was that too commercial? If you complain about it, I'll try to sell you a "No Commerce Zone" t-shirt!)

Anybody have a new story out there?

[Will]

I got a copy this past Christmas, and devoured it.
Excellent book, likely the closest I'll ever get to watching the man burn.
Especially liked thinking to myself as I read it, "Saw pictures of that... saw pictures of that..."
I'd love a sequel. Or the ability to rationalize the time and money to actually go.

Heh. Meets Kamp Apokalytica clone...
Yup, they'd be doomed.