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Synopsis
In Naked Lunch, William S. Burroughs revealed his genius. In The Soft Machine he begins an adventure that will take us even further into the dark recesses of his imagination, a region where nothing is sacred, nothing taboo. Continuing his ferocious verbal assault on hatred, hype, poverty, war, bureaucracy, and addiction in all its forms, Burroughs gives us a surreal space odyssey through the wounded galaxies in a book only he could create.
The Soft Machine: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
Extreme experimental fiction with explicit sexual content, graphic drug use, violence, and disturbing imagery. Burroughs's cut-up technique creates a deliberately disorienting, fragmented narrative exploring addiction and control.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, explicit sexual content, and strong language. Content notes include sexual assault, graphic violence, substance abuse, and addiction (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
This challenging experimental work uses surreal imagery and fragmented storytelling to explore adult themes of control and society.