Cities of the fantastic
2 total works
Even before fully finishing his degree, the brilliant young Roland is offered a job in the Centre for Cartography of Sodrovno-Voldachia. In the course of his employment, he climbs the ladder rapidly. Roland, who must, like his colleagues, live almost like a recluse within the huge centre, meets a mysterious young woman whose body seems covered with strange lines which he can barely perceive. Soon, the centre is visited by Marshal Radisic, supreme leader of the country, whose expansionist politics leave little doubt as to the goal: all means will be employed to rebuild the 'Great Sodrovnia'. Roland is torn between love and personal ambition and subserviance to a state machine that he grows to despise...
Mr Abeels runs a flower shop that is about to enter the age of modernity. He imagines, through the miracle of plastics, flowers that never fade! His novelty, though, is snatched up by the ambitious city planners of the all-new city of Brusel. No more lack of hygiene! No more dusty old buildings! All is razed and enormous new skyscrapers are erected at blistering speed! Never mind the disruptions and uprootings of people's lives! Who needs to preserve and live in history? While this upheaval is going on, Abell falls in love with a renegade woman who fights the extensive redesigns and ends up having to play both sides very carefully...