"NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR: Authorities contain terrorist threat."
Pitch black, utterly fitting, and very funny.
I've been thinking of some ones related to Sci-Fi & Fantasy literature, for example:
CHINA MIEVILLE - 'PERDIDO STREET STATION': A purportedly Liberal academic wreaks havoc through irresponsible animal testing, resulting in many deaths and much work for beleaguered authorities.
BORGES - 'THE SOUTH': Medical and social services fail a mentally ill old man who is a danger to himself and those around him.
JEFF VANDERMEER - 'VENISS UNDERGROUND': A man who can't get over his ex girlfriend does her douchebag brother a favour and loses his job because of it.
MARK Z. DANIELEWSKI - 'HOUSE OF LEAVES': A couple buy a home but neglect to hire a surveyor first. They realise their new property is structurally unsound and the resultant strain is too much for their marriage to bear.
ITALO CALVINO: 'IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELLER': "You" eventually come to realise that quality control in Italian publishing/printing during the 1970s must have been shockingly bad.
H.P. LOVECRAFT: 'THE THING ON THE DOORSTEP': The protagonist and a friend drift apart after the latter marries ("bros before hoes, dude!") and finds that his father in law becomes increasingly controlling.
CLARK ASHTON SMITH: 'THE DARK EIDOLON': Animosity flares up between new neighbours. Property values plummet.
PHILIP K. DICK: 'THE THREE STIGMATA OF PALMER ELDRITCH': A philanthropic entrepreneur returns from a lengthy sabbatical with fresh thinking that could really make a difference. His contemporaries are ungrateful and unenthusiastic.
WILLIAM GIBSON: 'COUNT ZERO': A wayward lad spends too much time on the Internet, resulting in his mother's house burning down and a lot of problems for everyone.
NEIL GAIMAN: 'NEVERWHERE': London's street people take time out from their busy schedule of Special Brew drinking to take a man on a sightseeing tour.
MICHAEL MOORCOCK: 'DANCERS AT THE END OF TIME': A woman plays hard to get and spends all her time worrying about 'what her friends would say'.
Brilliant. Short. Funny. I would give it a shot, but I don't think I can match the above. Thanks for the brief bit o' levity! : )
ReplyDeletedamn it, i ain't read those books :(
ReplyDeletecan't you summarise eastenders or something which i know? :teeth:
Alexander: Cheers!! Give it a shot, it's quite a fun little game/exercise actually! BTW the 'Lord Of The Rings' one on there is great: "Midget destroys stolen property" - LOL
ReplyDeleteAdam: I'll lend you any/all of the above if you want, you just have to say the word. The bookshelves are literally overflowing as it is. Hope you're enjoying 'Pluterday' btw!
EASTENDERS: Pub regulars become exasperated by constant loud fights and arguments between locals in which staff sometimes encourage or even participate.
(I just wouldn't drink in the Vic, too much bloody drama)
or:
Protagonist and stall-owner Winston pursues secret life as international playboy while life in Walford continues oblivious
Sara and I always laugh at the end when they say "If you've been affected by any of the issues in today's program there's a hotline you can call..." - we joke about calling up and saying, for instance, "Hi, my husband is a successful local businessman but he's exceptionally stingy" or "I'm looking for my son who's gone missing, I have a feeling a local man named Andy Hunter is involved but I can't prove it..." or "My daughter's pet caterpillar got free recently and caused an embarrassing incident"
LMAO
ReplyDeletefuck yeah that winston synopsis is spot on, and you really should call about having an exceptionally stingy husband lol