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Description edit
A brilliant, unique, and completely realized work of fiction, "Riddley Walker"--first published in 1980--is set in a remote future in a post-nuclear holocaust England (Inland), where humanity has regressed to an iron-age, semi-literate state, represented by a language created especially by... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Riddley Walker: Add a description of this character.
- Goodparleys
- Eusa
- Mr Clevver
- Lorna Elswint
- Cambry
- Abel Goodparley
- Litt
- Greanvine
- Hart
- Belnot Phist
- Durster Potter
- Levvil
- Chalker Marchman
- Erny
- Jack Ketch
- Fister Crunchman
- Drop John
- Rightway Flinter
- Brooder Walker
- Mr Punch
- Granser
Setting & Locations edit
Show all 12 settingsFirst Sentence edit
On my naming day when I come 12 I gone front spear and kilt a wyld boar he parbly ben the las wyld pig on the Bundel Downs any how there hadnt ben none for a long time befor him nor I aint looking to see none agen.
Glossary edit
- The whole book is written in a sort of phonetic, early/old English sounding , bastardized, un-grammatical, vaguely chaucerian, intuitive, symbolic, myth-driven, bastardized, multi-leveled dialect which presumably evolved orally over time after some sort of horrific holocaust set in a very bleak future.: Describe this term.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- The fall: Describe this theme.
- rites of passage
- splitting the atom, the "little shining man," - mixed with Adam as in the first man, and sorry plucker from the fruit of the tree of knowledge. The Hart of the wood played as the heart of the atom, the heart of Adam, and the stag in the woods running from the spear...
Series & Lists edit
This is book 66 of 100 in 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction. (authoritative list)
Preceded by The House of Mirth, and followed by Three by Eastlake.
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This book is in Anthony Burgess's Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English since 1939 - A Personal Choice. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Russell Hoban (Author)
Awards edit
- John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1982: Best Science Fiction Novel)
- Nebula (Finalist, 1981: Best Novel)
- National Book Critics Circle Award (Finalist, 1981: Fiction)
- Ditmar Award (1983: Best International Fiction)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 813.54
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- The Head of Orpheus: A Russell Hoban reference page
More Books Like This edit
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