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Noise
This collection of stories focuses on technology, the dot-com phenomenon and the wired generation subjects which Kunzru knows from the inside out and which he explores in his highly acclaimed novel Transmission.
55 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Hari Kunzru
42Ìýbooks937ÌýfollowersHari Mohan Nath Kunzru (born 1969) is a British novelist and journalist, author of the novels The Impressionist, Transmission and My Revolutions. Of mixed English and Kashmiri Pandit ancestry, he grew up in Essex. He studied English at Wadham College, Oxford University, then gained an MA in Philosophy and Literature from Warwick University. His work has been translated into twenty languages. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 24, 2023
Came across this book in a free library somewhere at the back of a shelf. It was interesting enough for such a random and accidental encounter.
Noise is a science fiction-like/dystopian collection of five short stories about technological advancements. I found it really enjoyable mostly because it mixes really well with the Arc of the Scythe series I’m reading right now.
The first story “Bodywork� was really strange and I didn't get the message and the meaning. Didn’t enjoy it. But the other four stories were interesting and thought provoking and overall worth the read. My favourite by far was “Deus Ex Machina�.
Noise is a science fiction-like/dystopian collection of five short stories about technological advancements. I found it really enjoyable mostly because it mixes really well with the Arc of the Scythe series I’m reading right now.
The first story “Bodywork� was really strange and I didn't get the message and the meaning. Didn’t enjoy it. But the other four stories were interesting and thought provoking and overall worth the read. My favourite by far was “Deus Ex Machina�.
September 23, 2023
unlike some of the other reviewers I liked the first story where the narrator undergoes a grotesque transformation (though he perceives the natural world around him becoming more disgusting). these stories were engrossing but I didn't really know what they meant. in the decadance there were some amusing scenes, and I liked the idea of a cyclical nature of society. that and the first were the best in my opinion. deux ex machina was ok. eclipse chasing seemed like a response to the wars from the US with the dissociated politician and the capitalist mercenaries? Reminded me a bit of Nana Kwame Adjei Brenya. the last story wasn't really a story but I didn't get it.
February 19, 2019
Picked this up for two dollars at my local bookstore. Turns out this is number 20 in a series of 70 very small books, to celebrate Penguin's 70th anniversary. And for two dollars, this book was worth every penny.
A collection of five(ish) short stories, Hari Kunzru gets a lot of mileage out of them. I enjoyed reading each one, my favorite being Deus Ex Machina. A very short read, and a very good read. Can't say much more!
A collection of five(ish) short stories, Hari Kunzru gets a lot of mileage out of them. I enjoyed reading each one, my favorite being Deus Ex Machina. A very short read, and a very good read. Can't say much more!
June 24, 2024
[3.5/5]
"noise" is a collection of short stories loosely tied together by dystopian and technological themes. The satire is sharp, the tonality and viewpoints of the different narrators produced a couple of smiles and the ideas were distinct enough from other scifi to make this well worth a read.
"noise" is a collection of short stories loosely tied together by dystopian and technological themes. The satire is sharp, the tonality and viewpoints of the different narrators produced a couple of smiles and the ideas were distinct enough from other scifi to make this well worth a read.
July 7, 2017
Part of the Pocket Penguin 70 - Enjoyed this slim collection of short stories set in the possibily near future. 5 stories: creepy, charming, cynical, sardonic - all a statement on modern times. I'll look for more by this author.
May 14, 2019
Some modern tech/sci-fi pieces. As a genre, it is hard to produce an uplifting message, and the least techy of these, Deus ex Machina, is probably the best of the collection. Love the Penguin 70's, though!
January 4, 2020
Entertaining short stories.
December 16, 2022
Neat.
Enjoyed the first 4 stories.
Short and sweet
Enjoyed the first 4 stories.
Short and sweet
April 17, 2024
Deus Ex Machina and Memories of the Decadence were enjoyable, particularly the latter. But Eclipse Chasing let it down.
May 27, 2024
adoring this series of tiny books (the ones i can find in the uni library at least). my favourite within this little short story collection was 'memories of the decadence'. definitely worth a read.
May 9, 2020
There were only 5 short stories. I only liked the 1st one.
February 5, 2012
This collection deserves a four star rating simply because of 'Deus Ex Machina' and 'Memories of the Decadence' (though 'Eclipse Chasing' gets an honourable mention!)
The opening story, 'Bodywork', suffers from an intolerably smug narrator (though, I suppose, disliking this character is probably part of the point), and it's bookend, 'Godmachine (TM) V.1.0.4' might have been clever if the reader could get past the terribly modern and witty format - it is written in the style of a technical manual - in order to actually read it.
Despite my qualms with these two stories, the middle three are quite wonderful, especially 'Deus Ex Machina', and I warmly recommend this collection. This is my first experience with Hari Kunzru, and has convinced me to seek out more of his work.
The opening story, 'Bodywork', suffers from an intolerably smug narrator (though, I suppose, disliking this character is probably part of the point), and it's bookend, 'Godmachine (TM) V.1.0.4' might have been clever if the reader could get past the terribly modern and witty format - it is written in the style of a technical manual - in order to actually read it.
Despite my qualms with these two stories, the middle three are quite wonderful, especially 'Deus Ex Machina', and I warmly recommend this collection. This is my first experience with Hari Kunzru, and has convinced me to seek out more of his work.
April 2, 2015
One of the very best discoveries in the Penguin 70 set yet. Hari Kunzru writes powerful short stories with technology playing a leading role. He can then analyze humanity from an unusual perspective, considering totalitarianism, humans' desire to play God, and human relationships in alternative realities. My favourite is 'Deus ex machina' with a guardian angel as narrator. I want to read more of his work!
Kunzru bekyk vreemde, soms futuristiese situasies waarin mense se lewens sterk beïnvloed word deur tegnologie. Alles wat ons ken, lyk steeds bekend, en tog ook totaal anders. Uit hierdie stel kortverhale is my gunsteling 'Deus ex machina', met 'n beskermengel as verteller. Uitstekend - ek sal verder gaan soek na sy boeke!
Kunzru bekyk vreemde, soms futuristiese situasies waarin mense se lewens sterk beïnvloed word deur tegnologie. Alles wat ons ken, lyk steeds bekend, en tog ook totaal anders. Uit hierdie stel kortverhale is my gunsteling 'Deus ex machina', met 'n beskermengel as verteller. Uitstekend - ek sal verder gaan soek na sy boeke!
February 17, 2014
Kunzru, here, is one of those writers who push the marker of the present a little into the future, at an unspecified position, and then run with it. He airs all our paranoias about technology telling us "look over there", breaking from our clutch, and running away. But his machines are just a little too contrived, his protagonists a little too predictably jaded. This is not an image of the future that really adds anything to our collective vision. It's just more words. And we already have too many words. Just like this review does not add anything, and is just more words; which is a good reason to stop.
August 30, 2007
How do we deal with modern life? Can we achieve perfection without becoming robots? What we perceive as modern might as well be classical problems with new twists. Kunzru’s unique and haunting short stories portray life and how reality bites (or bytes?) us hard. Call me old-fashioned, but I wanted to believe that guardian angels still exist, especially after reading Deus Ex Machina.
June 24, 2010
Most of this collection I liked and promptly forgot, but "Deus ex Machina" still comes to mind sometimes. This was a great read in a tiny book (it's both thin and small). I just can't justify the four stars, though if I had to judge based on "DeM" alone, I'd give it 5--for maintaining that feeling three years later.
January 26, 2014
"Noise" is, at times, a well written and hip short story collection but is bookended by very weak stories [Bodywork, Deus Ex Machina and Godmachine] that feel much like offcuts.
The strongest stories [Memories of the Decadence and Eclipse Chasing], outshined the others and really nudged up the collection with thier wit and humor.
A bit scattered but on the whole enjoyable.
The strongest stories [Memories of the Decadence and Eclipse Chasing], outshined the others and really nudged up the collection with thier wit and humor.
A bit scattered but on the whole enjoyable.
April 24, 2016
Noise is Hari Kunzru's quirky collection of short sories, published in the Penguin 70's series.
Written earlier than his novels, the stories are still humourous ... yet surprisingly dark as they the interface between humanity and machine in an increasingly wired world.
Written earlier than his novels, the stories are still humourous ... yet surprisingly dark as they the interface between humanity and machine in an increasingly wired world.
August 3, 2011
Never read any of Kunzru's books before this one and I do not think that I will stop with this one
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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