"The War of the Worlds" was published in 1898, but some of his books were after the turn of the century (I am not sure which). Verne is definitely 19th century....
Ordinarily "1984" is not considered a genre work, but it certainly has some of the characteristics. Once that door is opened, though, I think one would have to include "Brave New World" (Aldous Huxley) and "We" by Eugene Zamiatin, the first modern dystopian novel. I would include the Perelandra trilogy, especially "That Hideous Strength", and "A Canticle for Leibowitz", which I mentioned earlier. I am still somewhat partial to "Stranger in a Strange Land", and I agree with you on "Lord of Light". The Foundation Trilogy is a whopping good story, and full of intellectual interest. I think I would go straightforwardly with "The Martian Chronicles" for Bradbury. I would likely put "Slaughterhouse- five" in the last spot, if we are being expansive about the genre. That is 10 or more, depending upon how we are counting.....
On art: not all modern art is abstract, and not all abstraction entirely eschews figuration, rather some merely embroiders upon it. In Matisse, Chagall, Leger, Dali, and even Picasso there is a use of the human form. But there is an attempt to reconceive painting so that it becomes more akin to music, more expressive with elements particular to it (line, color, and texture), and less reliant on specific reference or story- telling for its effect. Painting cannot, indeed, compete with photography in representation, nor with the cinema in story telling. What it can do is create beautiful designs, express emotional states, and comment on aspects of human experience.... |
