Reviews

Gläserne Bienen by Ernst Jünger

georgw's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Surprisingly relevant to the world of today, with great prose and an interesting, if small, story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War

Minor: Suicide

zoelatham's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

kingkong's review against another edition

2.0

This is one of those old timey science fiction books where it just describes some futuristic crap instead of featuring a cool handsome wizard and his adventures

mobilisinmobili's review against another edition

4.0

An excellent short novel, as well wrought as the glass bees in the title.

taitmckenzie's review against another edition

4.0

This short strange tale follows an ex-cavalry officer trying to get a job at an automaton factory. While other reviews suggest this novel is science fiction (though closer in fact to the fantastic of Hoffman or Felisberto) marred by seemingly pointless autobiographical-style and often Proustian digressions from the narrator, I actually found this conflict of genres to be integral to the tale. Given that its main theme is the conflict between a classical humanistic worldview and an alienated technological futurity (questioning not only the technological methods of war but also of popular entertainment), the interruption of literary modernist type memories into the fantastic events of the novel is the most effective way for the writing style to tie together and perform the theme and content. Though written in the 1960s, this book feels like it was written 50-100 years earlier, like listening to an old man rant about the kids these days and how good it was back then, at least until he finds some missing ears in a truly Lynchian moment.

gdeprad's review against another edition

5.0

Todo lo que escribe este hombre es una obra de arte, y esto no es una excepción.

admyers's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes