Customer Reviews

Strange Telescopes: Following the Apocalypse from Moscow to Siberia

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

'Strange Telescopes' is Kalder's follow-up to his first book 'Lost Cosmonaut'. While 'Lost Cosmonaut' dealt predominantly with bizarre, lost or dark places, 'Strange Telescopes' deals with people - bizarre, lost or dark people. It begins with Kalder following The Digger under the surface of Moscow to try and find underground civilizations, then he follows a strange and sincere young film-maker obsessed with demons to the Ukraine on an exorcism tour. He witnesses many an exorcism by extraordinary semi-rogue priests, but also the new politics of a country that welcomed Eurovision like it was the Olympics, and celebrates western Democracy with one hand, while celebrating brutal anti-semitism with the other. His third journey takes him up a mountain in Siberia to meet Vissarion Christ, one time traffic cop and now a modern messiah claiming to be the reincarnation of you-know-who, and with thousands of ex-city followers living in hellish conditions, from pop stars to dwarves. Kalder's final trip is to the Arctic Circle, to the highest wooden skyscraper in the world, built by a Russian businessman. In his meeting with the convicted criminal and entrepreneur, Kalder finds the key to all of his experiences. 'Strange Telescopes' is written by a more mature author than 'Lost Cosmonaut' and tells incredible human stories of people with tremendous vision who lived in a brief period of chaos (Russia in the 1990s) in which time they could create the worlds that they wish existed. Kalder is sympathetic to the creators, does not patronise them, and yet is also realistic in his assessment of their visions. Kalder's trademark dark humour is present throughout, but this time he has an absolute dedication to the veracity of his and their experience. A superb book, that shows insight both into a place and time, but also into human nature in extremis. Highly recommended.

Much of Strange Telescopes is an intriguing read, a journey through the foggy, snowy hues of the mystique of Mother Russia politely rendered through the lens of Western post-modern ironic perceptions, but it isn't a straight-forward study of Russia and its people.

I closed the book knowing that Kalder loves Russia, what it was and is, and believes the best guides to its true spirit, both in the metaphysical and emotional sense, are the souls shunted aside by both despots and democrats.

[...]

This is a griping insider view on a surreal underground society. Not your typical travel memoir, it includes trips into the underground darkness of metro tunnels, overground accounts of exorcism, and encounters with some very eccentric and interesting people. Kalder takes the reader through adventure after adventure. I couldn't put the book down and certainly didn't expect any of its twists or turns! A definite recommendation for any reader interested in mystery, history, psychology, and excitement!

Government-mystique novels aren't usually my bag, but I happily name "Strange Telescopes" an exception. The intricacy of the stories combines to create a beautiful tapestry of ideas. philosophy, and frightening believability. I was also incredibly impressed by the way Kalder seamlessly stitched together historical fact and his own embellishments.

The end product is a tight, accessible, incredibly exciting novel which makes the reader feel like they are turning a new corner with every new page. The books seems like it almost borders on sci-fi, but equally works as a shining piece of prose and an in-depth analysis of the human psyche. In exploring reasons for wanting to escape society, to live underground, to create a new reality for oneself, Kalder allows the reader to peer into his creative, brilliant, and sensitive mind.

This book creates a dark, at times disgusting, subterranean reality so vivid that I could smell the putrid steam that the underground 'diggers' breathed, by choice. I recommend this book to anyone who is in for an adventure, creative and enticing writing, mystique, conspiracy, history, and psychology.

I wasn't really sure what to expect when I got Strange Telescopes, but I certainly got more than I bargained for. One of the most riveting (and often strange) travel memoirs I've ever read. From exorcists to messiahs, it's a journey so bizarre that it could only be real.

In this fictional Russia, corruption and terrorism plague the day-to-day. When author/journalist Daniel Kalder learns of an underground civilization, one that may offer solace from the torments above, what begins as a mild interest develops into a full investigation. It starts with the interview of a strange and lost man, leader of The Diggers, Vadim. Odd, erratic amd self-important, the middle aged man who lives with his mother may actually be onto something. But maybe not.

The story is gripping yet whimsical. Humorous and driven by strange characters and their desires to escape into a world that may only exist in their own head.

The book was quite interesting. However the copy I ordered here never arrived. Thanks for the full refund from Amazon. I bought it elsewhere after the copy I ordered here never arrived.