Voortrekker - A Tale of Empire takes its place as number seven in the eleven snappy adventures comprising Michael Moorcock's The Lives and Times of Jerry Cornelius.
In
case you're wondering, "Voortrekker" refers to those courageous
Dutch-speaking peoples who, in 1836, formed the first wave migrating in
mass in covered wagons from the Cape Colony on the southern tip of
Africa to the interior in order to live beyond British rule. The
migration came to be known as the "Great Trek."
Living beyond the boundaries of British rule - something that surely would resonate with our Eternal Champion having the initials J.C..
Over two dozen mini-chapters make up Voortrekker
and in vintage Michael Moorcock spirit, as readers we're invited to
engage our creative energies, kick our imagination into high gear so as
to fill in the gaps and co-create the story we're reading.
To share a tasty taste of the Voortrekker vibe, I've linked my comments with down-and-ditty direct quotes -
"Although
The Deep Fix hadn't been together for some time Shaky Mo Collier was in
good form. He turned to the console, shifting the mike from his right
hand to his left, and gave himself a touch more echo for the refrain.
Be-bop-a-lula. Jerry admired the way Mo had his left foot twisted just
right."
Jerry has a whiff of entropy when his numb fingers muff a chord (bummer, Jerry!). And, yes, familiar faces show up in the Voortrekker adventure: in addition to Mo there's Miss Brunner (natch) and Sebastian Auchinek.
The chapter entitled Heartbreak Hotel contains one of a number of Guardian
quotes from the year 1970: "Refugees fleeing from Svey Rieng province
speak of increasing violence in Cambodia against the Vietnamese
population. Some who have arrived here in the past 24 hours tell stories
of eviction and even massacre at the hands of Cambodian soldiers sent
from Phnom Penh."
The Guardian piece was written 130 years
after the Voortrekker migration to flee the rule of British bureaucrats
and politicians. The names and places might change but how many people
have fled from political oppression to seek asylum as refugees in the
closing decades of the 20th century? How many since that time and are
still fleeing today? Round to the nearest million.
"Van Markus brought the drink and Jerry paid him, took a sip and crossed to the juke-box to select the new version of Recessional sung by the boys of the Reformed Dutch Church School at Heidelberg. Only last week it had toppled The Jo'burg Jazz Flutes' Cocoa Beans from number one spot."
Nothing
like a little rock 'n roll to get your blood moving as many of those
across the globe have their blood moved for them by way of bullet holes
and other gruesome openings provided thanks to weapons of all varieties.
Hey, variety is the spice of life - and death.
"If the world is
to be consumed by horror," Auchinek had told him (Jerry) that morning,
"if evil is to sweep the globe and death engulf it, I wish to be that horror, that evil, that death. I'll be on the winning side, won't I? Which side are you on?"
Makes
perfect logical sense, Auchinek. If horror, evil and death completely
engulf our planet, the prime question for you and people like you will
be: Am I the winner? After all, what's really important about the
entirety of life, every tiny tiny bit of life is: it's all about me!
Always was; always will be.
"Helpless with mirth, Jerry accepted the glass Auchinek put in his hand and; spluttering, tried to swallow the aquavit.
"Give
him your gun, Herr Auchinek," Miss Brunner patted him on the back and
slid her hand down his thighs. Jerry fired a burst into the ceiling.
They were all laughing now."
Good
thinking, Jer! In your eternal quest to mark the beat of order and
chaos, in your now and then firing a burst into the ceiling, a bullet,
some jit, whatever, best to keep a sense of humor.
Voortrekker is a cracking tale - don't miss it.
British author Michael Moorcock, born 1939
Comments
Post a Comment