/lit/ - Literature

>>9797142
This pic makes me miss gas-kun.

>>9797150

Same. I have the overwhelming desire to be an unorganised yet organised at the same time like him.

>>9797142
Kafka is a strong critic of bureaucracy

Pale King and Bartelby the Scrivner come to mind

>>9797182

I've read Bartleby but never Pale King.

>>9797176

Recommendation?

>>9797142
Takes place at the IRS, about boredom and talks a lot about bureaucracy

It's unfinished tho which kind of sucks

Kafka The Trial is the best fit for what you're talking about. Otherwise check out campus fiction.

>>9797165
I still wish someone who lived close to where he did could get their hands on his manuscripts and try to salvage them.

>>9797150
I don't, even though he did good at helping to motivate other writers his own work was fucking horrible. Granted it was a genre fiction abortion to begin with but even still his skill was atrocious in every sense of the word and on top of all that he flat out refused to admit that was he was writing was even potentially subpar and too long. Fuck him, hope he died via tire explosion.

>>9797197
Not the best thing to say about someone who apparently killed himself. At least he produced something which is probably more than could be said for you.

>>9797193
>>9797194

Thanks, mates. Torrenting now.

>>9797221
The Trial also has an audio book on torrent somewhere

>>9797226

Not a fan of audio books, personally. I think it'd actually be easier for me to read it normally.

>>9797150
who is gas-kun? give me the run down

>>9797750
From the last 5 minutes, I gather he was an habitue of /lit/, an aspirant writer of some evident industry and unknown talent, now deceased

>>/lit/image/y6w0q1uGS3AXw4MGBnHkLw

Pic related is the last page of his opus magnus, or some subsection thereof, as discussed here: >>/lit/thread/7110484#p7111803

Don't have a clue as to the origin or significance of the name "gas-kun," however.

>>9797822
He worked at a gas station.

>>9797822

Literary perfection.

>>9797193
>"The Pale King" dares to plunge readers deep into this Dantean hell of "crushing boredom," suggesting that something good may lie beyond. "Pay close attention to the most tedious thing you can find (tax returns, televised golf) and, in waves, a boredom you've never known will wash over you and just about kill you," Wallace writes in a note that's included at the end. "Ride these out, and it's like stepping from black and white into color. Like water after days in the desert. Constant bliss in every atom."

>>9797188
Not him, but the Trial. Focuses on the absurdity, coldness, and impenetrability of bureaucracy.

>>9797822
He seems like an interesting guy but this is not good writing

What was the name of gaskun' first book? I put it on my ebook ages ago, but I forget it now. I thought it had the word "star" in it, but nothing is showing up.

>>9797850
>Pay close attention to the most tedious thing you can find (... televised golf)

Always had zero interest in golf, whether watching or playing, but happened to enraptured for about an hour watching it on TV *once* -- a revelation of the beauty and epic quality of the game (not to mention the superb production values, e.g., epic, beautiful zooms and pans over the luxurious golfing landscape).

It was a kind of instant aesthetic epiphany; quite different than trying to ride out waves of boredom, which seems a fool's errand and indeed something that can "just about kill you," and maybe did kill DFW.

>>9797142
The Compromise

>>9797902
You don't get too much of an "office" vibe from it though

>>9797211
He actually killed himself? Thank God.

>>9797142
I believe what you're looking for is the Het Bureau however it is not translated into english

>>9797996

I'm assuming Russian?

>>9797969
nice. this fucking book is expensive though.

Ivan Illitch - Tolstoi

>>9797142
Houellbecq "Extension du domaine de la lutte", english title is "Whatever"

Joseph Heller - Something Happened

Mostly complicated office politics

>>9797193
yeah this, really good book,

exactly what you are looking for OP

>>9797822
>deceased
w-what?

Voskuil - Het Bureau don't know if translated.

>>9797142
Book of disquiet by Pessoa.

>>9797750
Retarded guy who worked at a gas station. He wrote like 50000 pages about retarded space cars or some shit.

>>9797142
Thomas Ligotti - My Work Is Not Yet Done

>>9798500
Yeah. I've been trying to get some solid confirmation for myself but it has been said in enough threads for me to believe it to be true.

>>9797826
"Here, have a delightful sunrise."
t. Gaskun

>>9800116
Not sure if actually gas-kun or just a fellow fan of his persona.

>>9800129
just a new fan digging up stuff in the archives.

actually, he seems like he was (?) a pretty chill dude. see, e.g., the "Oh shit, they're on to me" post in this thread: >>/lit/thread/7393986

>>9800142
Glad to see new fans of his. Yeah. Shame I can't find any more people who seem to have somewhat known him to help me compile his stuff as well as what actually happened to him.

>>9800146
Why the fuck would you want to, it's absolute garbage. Fuck off back to r/books.

>>9800146
One never knows, but, glancing through his posts, I don't see any indicators this guy killed himself, or was on any kind of a trajectory to kill himself.

>>/lit/?task=search&ghost=&search_text=gaskun

And in particular, from mid-June, little over a month ago: >>/lit/thread/S9637590#p9637635

and: >>/lit/thread/S9637590#p9639802

>>9800428
Interesting. I will look at these later.

>>9797142
>working in a bureaucratic situation
It's got to be the Trial

>>9797142
I would prefer not to, yada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yada
yada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yadayada yada yada yada yada yada yada

My ears were burning. Sup /lit/?

>>9798159
Dutch

>>9797142
"Notes from the underground."

>>9801629
Oh shit daddy is alive!

>>9801629
have you been published yet my gnan

>>9797822
That's the end of book 9

>>9801731
Books 1-3 are out and selling well. Goodreads and Amazon reviews are falling short of perfect for book 1 because of typos. I'm stalling 4 to October until I can get it fixed. I don't like getting "dinged" for shit that's unavoidable.

>>9801629
Why people think you're dead?

>>9801731
Books 1-3 are out and selling well. Goodreads and Amazon reviews are falling short of perfect for book 1 because of typos. I'm stalling 4 to October until I can get it fixed. I don't like getting "dinged" for shit that's avoidable..

>>9801781
whats the name, I'll buy em

>>9801629
You still working at the gas station?

>>9801809
Negative. I'm in my last week of being the manager of a pharmaceutical delivery company. I'll take a week off and then start as facilities manager for an organization that helps children with autism. For the past 7 months I've worked terrible hours, and had no time for myself or my writing. During that week off I'll re dedicate myself to new works. I see the new job as an opportunity to establish myself in abnormal workflow and start pumping out a new series. The gas shed was a long time ago

He stopped posting as gas-kun and started posted as anonymous so these latest posts are probably just people making up shit.

>>9801801
Link me the amazon dude?

>>9801858

>I'll take a week off and then start as facilities manager for an organization that helps children with autism

Did you list "browsing 4chan" as work experience?

>>9801896
Why do you think I'm a manager?
Kidding. They do good work and they help kids. I've worked with troubled kids before. It's a worthwhile endeavor

>>9801875
I would be willing to give free copies to anyone who could help me find the typos.

IS HE BACK?!

>>9801972
what's the page count my friend

>>9801972
I'll help you Gaskun.
hcm4hssi.zvp@20email.eu

>>9797975
This anon is right. I am big on Kafka, but
>>9798496
gives the real right answer to OP's specific request.

>>9802010
It's 512 pages hard copy I believe. 12pt double space 600+ in kindle format. I have mobi. EPub. And word

>>9802013
I have your address. I'll email you

Forlesen by Gene Wolfe

I'm looking for something kind of what OP is looking but more like hating the office. Like those moments from Fight Club. The rebellious office haikus, etc.

>>9802003
Sup.

Ah, how happy I am to know you're still between us, Gas-kun :D

don't stop believing!

>>9802035
Received! I'll email you back with my legit address

>>9802119
I was scared for you.
You self-published, right?
How much have you sold, and are you starting on a new project?

>>9802215
2000+ copies and yes the new project is underway. I have to get to bed to get up early for the hellish job (almost 10 pm here) I'll be back on around 7 am and will answer any questions if anyone cares. Sweet dreams. Go write.
GK

>>9801858
>>9801732
>The gas shed was a long time ago

But it has a certain iconic power. That said, I'm glad to hear that rumors of your demise were exaggerated. Good luck with your book.

>>9802249
Holy shit, have you made bank?

I don't know. If I were him and the writing were really good I'd only release the first few volumes and imply that it's actually a ten-volume saga jokingly in interviews. Then they'd 'miraculously' find the manuscripts after my death and treat it as a global literary event.

>>9797195
Dude I literally live within 10 miles of him, but you have to give me something to go on

>>9802314
Some but It I can do better. I'm doing interviews with smaller online sci-fi sites now and building my brand. When I get this typos shit squared away I'll spam the shit out of every online reviewer to get more exposure. You have to sell sell sell

This Gaskun guy writes Star Trek books. How disappointing.

>>9802775
We should meet. :3

>>9803173
Everyone knows this

>>9797996
>>9798503
came to post this

A 5000 page roman à clef over 7 parts detailing some 30 years of working at a scientific institute. It's basically a critique of social expectations. It's Dutch, I believe it has only been translated into German so far.

>>9797142
actually The Pale King

Another delightful sunrise

The Pale King for sure.

>>9797142
my novel, desu. too bad it was rejected by every literary agent on the market two years ago. looks like the corporations won this round, folks.

>>9797142
The double, by dostoboy

>>9803929
Keep shoppin it around, mate

All the Names - Saramago

>>9802775
>>9803212
Give you his dick to go on!

>>9797193
Tbqh I did people's taxes for about 6 months on a random detail I was in during the military.

It was actually super interesting.

I'm surprised no one posted The Overcoat by Gogol. It's all about a boring-ass low-level bureaucrat named Shit Shitterson that buys a coat to make his life marginally less miserable and gets fucked over

>>9797142
Haven't read through previous replies so might be a repeat, but bartleby the scrivener

>>9804334
Joseph Beth 7pm?

>>9797176
Nah, bureaucracy is more like a force of nature in Kafka's books.

>>9797963
Be less pretentious

>>9804433
i had no idea his name represented shit. that puts a whole new spin on it. god i love Gogol. what a genius.

>>9797142
bukowski - post office

>>9804924
Sorry I just saw this. What?

>>9797142
In "Who Blew The Whistle?" the US bureaucracy is described as "the system that destroyed the world."

>>9805893
We should meet sometime.

Bumping so gaskun can post here in the morning. Please keep thread alive everyone

bumping for gaskun

>>9806923
well don't do it every hour, wait till it gets lower on the board and then post in the thread silly!

>>9804924
Can't, banned from Joseph Beth

>>9807013
How do you get banned from a bookstore?

>>9807013
How did you get banned from a bookstore?

>>9797142
9800 savage road, about nsa hq and by a former employee.

A section of Snow Crash has an amusing account of how W.T.'s Mom works for the Feds in that particular dystopia, and the surreal wackiness of dealing with that bureaucracy.

>>9806949
This

>>9807226
Gaskun if anyone could get banned from a place it would be you. How could you not see chances for bans? Didn't you do the weird piss stuff with shaking peoples hands at the comic book store or something?

>>9807609
I was joking with the livestreamers. Didn't happen.

>>9801858
I want to believe

>>9808418
Then by all means, believe my child

>>9804435
This

>>9808087
"Joking" sure. I saw it myself.

K A F K A
A
F
K
A

>>9808636
Perception is reality

OP here. Thanks for the further recommendations and I'm also glad everyone could interact with gaskun.

>>9809593
Thanx

>>9809882
You are welcome gaskun. Glad to see you alive and back to inspiring people here on /lit/.

>>9807226
I went in there drunk once and caused a disturbance on the escalator. It was like three years ago but they probably still know me

>>9811133
I have my laptop with me at all times in the event I can finish my work early and get some writing done.

>>9811826
Oops pic

>>9797142
Maupassant's short stories often feature bored middleclass men working for the state (he was himself working in a bureaucracy). The same kind of characters are also in Buzzati's short stories.

The first part of Belle du Seigneur describes an official in the SDN (former UN), husband of the main protagonist.

>>9811169
Pick somewhere else then

>>9811861

Sounds interesting.

I'm also checking out the Bukowski and Gogol stuff, lads. Thank you for the recommendations.

I've read Bartleby and it was excellent. I wish it were that easy to get a job now. I'm waiting for a second interview for fucking Target.

>>9811875
Your bedroom?

>>9813034
Aight

>>9811875
Idk if I'm ready to meet you, Gaskun.

>>9814670
Seems gas-daddy is ready for you >>9813480

>>9814676
Gaskun you didn't go to WCHS did you?

>>9804955
That's exactly the criticism.

>>9814694
Yup

>>9814694
I am a yellowjacket, yes.

>>9815206
kek that's where I went, still live in Versailles

>>9815206
I am asking because I recall, when I was like a sophomore in high school, a teacher or perhaps a librarian received a manuscript from a former WCHS student that I got to look at briefly. Wondering whether that was you

>>9815390
Holy shit that WAS me

>>9797150
Gas-kun mailed me a wooden Buddha statue once. It's been awhile since I emailed him, I should do that.

>>9815460
What up, TEXAS!!!! How's god college?

>>9815460
That care package tho. What else did I put in there?

>>9815470
Yo gas-kun! Nah I left that place last semester. Going to community college now. That was a dope care package. There was a copy of Ulysses, alice in wonderland, a satanic Nixon button, some candles and a button. What have you been up to man?

>>9815497
Pushing the books to market. Turns out there's formatting typos in book one so shit has to halt on paperbacks until that's fixed. Nothing misspelled, just half sentences and a missing "the" somewhere.still using beta readers to make sure tone and shit is right. I reconnected with an old friend and I let her read all 11 books. She devoured it in less than a week.

>>9815536
Best of luck man. Is cool if I emailed you some time? Just for your sage advice

if no one said the book of disquiet, they should have

>>9815587
Of course. Hit me up whenever and I'll advise as best as I can.And if you need reading material let me know. Well, gotta bounce. I've got to get to bed so I can get up and do this bullshit manager job one more day. Then it's a week off and then starting a new job. I'll check back in this thread around 7 am when I've got the morning reports done. Till then...

The Tartar Steppe- Dino Buzzati

>>9815431
Ah. Yeah I think the book club read it.

>>9798491
o im laffin

>>9801629
Truly the Pessoa of our age

Bartleby The Scrivener
I think The Trial had some office scenes
The Double (Dostoevsky)
Some stories in Teatro Grottesco but can't remember titles

>>9797963
>>9805535
S A V A G E

>>9797142
i feel like there's that bukowski one i can't remember the name of. something about a post office

>>9815609
What is your email?

>>9801858
>an organization that helps children with autism
4chan?

>>9815951
Post a disposable

>>9815649
>>9815649
They never got back to me. I think it was an issue of "I don't know what's in here so I can't guarantee I can make it available to the students" so I never knew the outcome.

>>9816876
Post your disposable m8.

>>9816892
No u

>>9816896
Nuh senpai I am too shy! I'll email you later lol just drop the famous gas-throwaway.

>>9816909
Amberfragile@yahoo.com

>>9815649
Any comments from the group? A-asking for a friend

>>9815649
Any good?

>>9803944
>The Double
This is the only valid answer

>>9814676
Who dat?

>>9818760
You must be new here.

>>9818793

>>9819424
Of course I have heard of you. Been here a good while so I admire the persona that is Gaskun.

>>9817043
Wow now I found your reddit and facebook, you disappoint me gas-kun cole.

>>9797142
your first day on /lit/ or something mate???

Motorstorm is a good book

/tv/ here, Brazil