Steve Toltz, A Rising of the Lights

- Steve Toltz's first novel, A Fraction of the Whole, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and his second novel, Quicksand, won the 2017 Russell Prize for humour. 

- His new novel, A Rising of the Lights, will blow all judging committees absolutely away if there's any justice in the world! It's brilliant on all levels. In prose that's bursting with life he's gone deep into the rather miserable life of Russell who's a total loser. 

- His marriage to Alison doesn't last, his affair with a friend and teacher colleague, Edwina, is on and off then on again perhaps, and he's been fired from the two jobs he's ever had. His sister, Bonnie, is a completely unlikable, friendless nutcase and scammer, so obviously they don't get on. His parents split when Russell and Bonnie were young kids. On the roll of dice his mother took him and his father took Bonnie. Both dumped them a few years later. 

- This is madness on steroids - shocking, crazy and comical. But at the same time a deep and thoughtful dive into what actually being human, sensitive and intelligent means. Toltz explores interiority and immerses the reader into all its dimensions. 

- AI is also under the spotlight. Consciousness still dominates. 

- The ending is surprising on many levels but very satisfying. 

- Here are a couple of paragraphs that will give you a taste of the book's brilliance. Russell is a career counsellor at Edwina's private school and he's addressing the parents:

'Let me offer you a deeper insight into your children and the lives they’re hiding even from themselves. When I first arrived, I saw your kids as emotionally dysregulated, insecure shit-talkers, chronically stressed, disconnected perfectionists, spoiled, coddled, overpraised budding pansexuals curating their litany of psychosomatic mental illness self-diagnoses, the girls floaty bundles of mimetic desire and mysterious endocrine dysfunction, and the boys neurodivergent maladaptive daydreamers setting the mould for at least three decades of chronic loneliness and Peter Panning it.

But after spending time with your children, I can now confidently say that your parenting has fostered remarkable resilience. These kids aren’t haunted by the spectres of unlived experiences or alternative selves. They’re not burdened by subconscious guilt. Instead, they’re navigating unseen pressures with impressive grace. Now, do they sometimes grapple with feelings of inferiority and experience some pretty hilarious cognitive dissonance? Of course. That’s part of growing up online. What’s striking is how they’re tackling these challenges, demonstrating the strong psychological foundation you’ve given them. In my professional opinion, the strength and adaptability I’m seeing in your children is a testament to your parenting. So while it’s natural to worry, I want to assure you, anxiety is the life force manifested. Genius reveals itself in the foetal position. And as for their futures, we can only admire their shadows as they fly overhead'.

Anna Goldsworthy, The God We Made: The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence

 

- I've read quite a few books and articles on AI over the last few years but this recent Quarterly Essay from Australian author, musician and academic Anna Goldsworthy is by far the best. It's, quite simply, superb.

- What makes it special is its personal voice. Anna talks about her two teenage sons, O who is thirteen, and R who is seventeen, and how they see AI, use it, and experience it at school and in their daily lives. They are extremely bright and highly literate kids. Their conversations around the dinner table are simply invigorating. 

- But the essay is also full of detail and data about AI, not so much on how it works and how trillions of dollars have been and will continue to be spent building data centres. It focuses mainly on human beings and their real personal and social needs, and how AI will affect them and satisfy them. So it's not a technical analysis. It's about communities and the likely positive and negative impacts on the quality of life. 

- Another very pleasing feature of the essay is Anna's reflections on her life and career as an academic. She is highly literate and her frequent references to noted authors, philosophers, historians and artists really enrich her thoughts and arguments. She is also a wonderfully talented writer. The prose is delightful. 

- She also quotes many senior staff who have recently resigned from their AI jobs. Their opinions as to how the current trajectory of AI is worrisome in the extreme are enlightening. Some of them are forming new companies with a more careful and social focus. Daniela Amodei, co-founder and president of Anthropic, notes that in an AI world 'studying the humanities is going to be more important than ever' for 'understanding ourselves, understanding history, understanding what makes us tick'. 

- So the essay is well worth reading. I read it twice. It's so damn good!

Wayne Marshall, Henry Goes Bush

- Wayne Marshall's first novel is a fascinating story about famous Australian poet and writer Henry Lawson. It's historical - set in the 1890's - but also an indulgence in fantasy, often whacky and insane. Nevertheless it's delightful and full of meaning.   

- Lawson is sent to Bourke in the North-West of NSW by The Bulletin’s editor, J.F.Archibald, to write some articles about the bush. He’s also a drunk. ‘He’d gladly sell his soul for a beer’. He's pretty negative about all the romantic bullshit about the bush. His famous poem is 'The Drover's Wife'.

- His upper class mate is famous poet Banjo Paterson, ‘a city wanker’ according to Henry. He's a celebrator of the character of the bush and its people, and he created 'Waltzing Matilda'. He's also sent to Bourke. Archibald wants a 'poetic dual’. 

- Henry discovers a tunnel located in a backyard. It's washed in brilliant colour. He falls down and around and ends in a new room. Banjo and his female friend also fall into the tunnel where it’s dark for days. 

- The novel is written in a rhythmic prose which echoes the poetic style made popular by Lawson and Paterson. Each line is balanced by two clauses - 'There was movement at the station for the word had got around'. It's lyrical and engaging. 

- Marshall adds details of the life and death of Lawson and how the rivaIry with Banjo and their friendship developed. I would urge you to read a selection of their famous works.