Pixel Juice [Paperback]

Jeff Noon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2000

From the breakdown zones of the mediasphere and the margins of dance culture comes a selection of fifty stories, each one strange, telling, disturbing, or sometimes just plain weird: urban fairytales, instructions for lost machines, true confessions, word-dizzy roller-coasters, product recalls, adverts for mad gadgets, dub cut prose remixes. Throughout them all, Jeff Noon delights in the magical possibilities of language, creating a wholly new kind of storytelling. Ideas-per-page rating, dangerously close to the legal limit

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Acknowledged as one of the most exciting authors writing today, JEFF NOON is the author of four novels, Vurt, Pollen, Automated Alice and Nymphomation. In 1995 he won the John C. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Pub (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552999377
• ISBN-13: 978-0552999373
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,111,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best.... *thing* Noon has ever written, October 3, 2000

By 

James Wilkinson (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pixel Juice (Hardcover)

Pixel Juice is a collection of 50 short stories, all pulled screaming from the swirling psychadelicatessen that is Jeff Noon's brain. Actually, "stories" isn't right; certainly, some of them are straight narrative tales, but then there's the instruction booklet to "PIMP! - The Boardgame", (social satire disguised as a family game) or the memo titled "Product Recall: Marylin Monroe" (which combines futuristic sex toys with strange viruses). Noon uses just about every narrative construct under the sun: stream-of-conciousness, first-second-and-third person perspectives; poetry, prose, letters, journals - all are used by Noon to transcribe the apparently endless flood of ideas which collect in his brain.

Pixel Juice also rewards those who re-read the book; there are word games which ring a big smug smile to the face when they're figured out (see how quickly you decipher "Metaphorazine" or "Alphabox"). There are references between stories; the young lad in "Junior Pimp" mentions that pimping is just like a game - tying in to "PIMP! - The Boardgame". That story makes reference to "Fetish Booth #7" and the lead character of FB #7 is mentioned in several of the other tales. Things like this keep the reader darting back through the book and smiling every time they spot a connection. Heck, there's even a poem towards the end of the book which sums up the stories so far and takes the mick out of the author! Everywhere you turn, there's a surprise an a twist, from the almost conventional horror story to the dreamlike beginning and end tales.

And contrary to what some have said, prior knowledge of Noon's other work isn't entirely neccessary. Although there are some stories which are set firmly in the Vurt universe, it's pretty easy for the reader to catch up with what's happening.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spaceache and heartships!, April 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pixel Juice (Hardcover)

The first half of the book contains some very short stories. So short that they are almost experiments with words - not to everyones taste but fans of Vurt and Pollen will get a idea of where Jeff Noons amazing prose comes from.

The second half of the book couldn't be more different. Story follows story set in the Vurt universe that gradually draw you in. We get a glimpse of Celia Hobart starting out on her great journey, Shadow cops and Shadows mix and jeff Noons fantastic writing grips you to the end.

I enjoyed the humour and inventiveness of this book and would recommend it fans and non-fans alike.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, June 24, 2000

By 

Mr. M. J. Whitby "Music Fanatic" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pixel Juice (Paperback)

This book is a collection of fifty short stories. And what stories. Never has such an unstoppable flow of imagine been unleashed within in a simgle book. Every story is a gem to be slowly relished.

The book reminded me of the Roald Dahl, "Kiss", etc. books from my childhood. Quirky, memorable stories.

Please, please, please can we have some more.