War with the Newts (European Classics)

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The visionary Czech writer Karel Capek (1890-1938), one of the century's great authors, first gained fame during the 1920s and 1930s when his short stories, novels, satires, journalism, children's books, and plays made him the most important writer in his native country. War With the Newts, one of the great dystopian satires of the century, is about the discovery by a Dutch sea-captain of a race of giant, intelligent, talking, and walking newts. When humans begin to exploit the newts as slaves, the creatures organize to fight the oppression, taking up arms and challenging the humans for control of newt destiny and freedom.

Customer Reviews:

Don't want to be here when it happens.......2007-01-16

Literally fabulous, this novel belongs in the tradition of Jonathan Swift and his yahoos, as well as in its contemporary's Orwell and "Animal Farm". It is a wild dystopia where, as always, human folly and ambition produce a catastrophe. The main note of the book is an excellent black humor, a permanent mockery which spares no one: Capitalism, science, academy, journalism, Hollywood, nationalistic identities, but above all Totalitarianism, already present in human history when Capek wrote in the 1930's.

Captain Van Toch, a merchant of whatever in Indonesia, discovers one day a species of newts (tritons-salamanders) whom he trains to fish for pearls. They are intelligent and gentle creatures, dispossessed of individuality, whose females reproduce with no sexual intercourse (like has been recently discovered about dragons of Komodo). Van Toch reveals his discovery to his fellow Czech, the millionaire entrepreneur Bondy, with whose help he launches his pearl business in a grand scale. Newts are transplanted to numerous litorals throughout the world, and soon the "Salamander Syndicate" finds out that newts are useful for many purposes, like building dams, repairing ships inside the water, and other industrial tasks. Newts reproduce by the billions and soon there are more of them than humans. Also very soon, politically correct groups appear, demanding a decent treatment as well as education and health for the poor things. Until one day, the humanized newts rebell against us. Several incidents start building up a World War after which humans are relegated to mountain tops and all the world becomes a giant artificial litoral where newts live and prosper. At the end, Capek can only guess that some day newts will become so human that they will develop national identities, rivalries, and war between themselves.

Profoundly disturbing, funny, and cynical, this novel is composed of tales, scientific reports, philosophical essays, press clippings and other literary devices. Now that we seem to be eager to play with genetics and artificial intelligence, it wouldn't be bad if leaders of the world read this jewel of intuition and anticipation and reflected about science, technology and business. Besides, they would have much fun. Totally recommended.

The Global Perspective.......2005-12-06

War with the Newts is an excellent example of the work of Karel Capek, one of the Czech Republic's most beloved authors. In many ways, the book reads like a traditional sci-fi novel, telling of the rise of a species of giant lizards and its eventual conflict with mankind. However, several things set it apart from the rest of its genre.

For one thing, though there are four or five notable characters in the book, you never really see any of them for more than about four chapters. The main players in the novel are not individual people but countries; much of the book is written from a global perspective, in terms of the reactions of countries, societies, and the whole world as they are introduced to the newts.

The book is also notable for its humor. The dry, subtle gibes give the work a similar feel to the novels of British author Terry Pratchett. The comedy comes not only from the tone of the writing style itself, but also in the form of the characters (both individual and regional), whose slightly ridiculous portrayal makes them seem quite human indeed, just like any one of us.

The book is not merely for sci-fi enthusiasts. The reactions to the newts - human, economic, political, and otherwise - are chillingly familiar. In them we see accurate reflections of current and past social climates. This novel is equally valuable from a sociological perspective, or even as an insight into human nature itself. In this grim view of the future, we see our own past and present.

Deadly, dark satire.......2005-07-26

Capek's question, asked around 1935, is a simple one: what if we found someone new to enslave?

He envisions the perfect servant: some dark wog, identifiably sub-human, who lives to work, and who can never supplant our [Western] culture...

And who better to take it from us. The story drags early on, but it builds up a clear notion of the Newts as a legitimate citizens of Nation Earth. Capek spends some time recapitulating the slaughter, love, and other complexities that bring the Newts from jungle obscurity to world prominence - reminiscent of Ebola and AIDS emerging from other jungles not so long after.

He the brings the Newts up into his 20th century. The satirist's mind became satyric at the point, eager to prick the fulsome expanse of German nationalism or to penetrate the legs crossed over America's internal outsiders, Black Americans. Capek allows apologists of many different nationalisms in many ways, but they all show up wanting.

Simple, hard-working, and certain, the Newts prevail. The author struggles, in a self-conscious final chapter, over a happy ending. He finally fails, and we are left to wonder about Newtworld.

It's satire and commentary, but also science-oriented SF. Suppose these beings became available? What then? Capek's answers are very true, but very ugly.

//wiredweird

And I Stood Upon the Sand of the Sea.......2005-04-14

and Saw a Beast Rise up Out of the Sea.

This apocalyptic vision from the book of Revelations is a fitting introduction to Karel Capek's dystopian masterpiece, War With the Newts. Capek described in an interview how the idea for War With The Newts came to him and serves as a good synopsis of the book:

"I had written the sentence, 'You mustn't think that the evolution that gave rise to us was the only evolutionary possibility on this planet. . . . that cultural developments could be shaped through the mediation of another animal species. If the biological conditions were favorable, some civilization not inferior to our own could arise in the depths of the sea. . . . Would it do the same stupid things mankind has done? Would it invite the same historical calamities? What would we say if some animal other than man declared that its education and its numbers gave it the sole right to occupy the entire world and hold sway over all creation?" Out of this thought process War With the Newts Was Born.

The plot is straightforward. The master of a tramp steamer, Captain van Toch, comes across a rather curious breed of newts in an isolated lagoon near Sumatra. He discovers that they are intelligent and capable of communication. They lack, however, the ability to open easily oysters for food because of their short arms. He takes a knife and shows them how to use it. Next thing you know they have used his knife to open thousands of oysters, enough to provide the newts with food and the Captain with a large supply of pearls. Captain van Toch takes groups of newts and plants them in lagoons across the coastlines and lagoons of Asia. They are extraordinarily industrious. Before long newts become a worldwide rage. Every nation in the world uses newts to perform Herculean tasks of underwater and coastal development. The newts do not demand salaries. They merely ask for heavy equipment and munitions to facilitate these underwater projects. In short order the manufacture and supply of arms and equipment for newts becomes the single most important part of the world's economy.

Despite some increasingly violent skirmishes between newts and man no nation is willing to cease providing weapons to the newts. Before long the newts revolt, led by the Great Salamander (an apparent parody of Hitler), and announce that they will start destroying the earth, continent by continent in order to provide more coastline for the growing newt population. Despite this threat the nations of the earth continue to provide arms to the newts. The resultant battle is over quickly. Mountains are leveled, continents are turned into a series of islands and what is left of man finds its way to the Alps, or Rocky Mountains, or Himalayas.

As the story concludes, the author engages in a dialogue with himself and asks himself whether this is the end of man. After a great deal of soul searching he responds that perhaps the newts will take on all of the characteristics of the human race and find a way to destroy themselves. When that day occurs, perhaps humanity will recover what it gave away so readily.

War With the Newts is a fascinating book on many levels. The idea that the story is premised on the notion of concurrent evolutionary trends predates much landmark work that has been done since the book was written. It is also important to note that War With the Newts was written in 1936. The Nazis had obtained full control of Germany, Mussolini's fascists ruled Italy, and Stalin's purges were in full swing. Capek was devoted to the new Czech Republic and was an ardent proponent of the ideals of democracy. By 1936 the rest of Europe had already taken many strides down the road to appeasement. Capek's pessimistic vision of the fate of humanity is well grounded in contemporary events. War With the Newts may be viewed as much as a parable of contemporary events as a foretelling of a dark future. Finally, Capek is an excellent writer. His prose is full of wit and wry diversions. His chapter on the mating habits of the newts struck me as a classic parody of the human mating habits of his contemporary Aldous Huxley in Brave New World.

The following excerpt from a poem written by Capek after the bombing of the town of Badajoz during the Spanish Civil War serves as a fitting summation of the world view that permeates War With the Newts.

When this century collapses, dead at last,
and its sleep within the dark tomb has begun,
come, look down upon us, world, file past
and be ashamed of what our age has done.
Inscribe our stone, that everyone may see
what this dead era valued most and best:
science, progress, work, technology
and death - but death we prized above the rest.

Almost seventy years after its publication the message of War With the Newts still resonates.

Capek's War With the Newts is a wonderful, thought provoking book.

A Novel Still Worth Reading.......2004-08-18

Though perhaps best known for coining the word "robot" in his wonderful play R.U.R., Capek also wrote a number of stories and novels. Of his novels, War With the Newts is probably the best known. And with good reason. It is an excellent story.

Flirting with the apocalyptic tradition in science fiction, this novel tells the story of the discovery of large, intelligent sea creatures off a small island "west of Sumatra." Initially curiosities, their intelligence makes them excellent workers for underwater projects for humans. Unfortunately for humans, these creatures are in fact quite smart enough and, over the course of a few years, develop to the point where they can challenge people for the domination of the earth. Which they do quite effectively.

Written in a number of styles--journalistic and scientific in addition to straightforward prose that switches points of view--it is very engaging. Granted, the prose is a little more formal as befits a novel written in the 1930's and the translator has kept that formal feeling but I am quite fond of this style. And Capek's perceptive examination of the politics of this period in his tale of newts and man is impressive.

Capek is often thought of as a science fiction writer but, as is the case with many writers of this genre, his appeal is much wider. Otherwise, why would his novels and plays still be read nearly 80 years later. Anyone with a taste for good, intellectual writing would enjoy this novel.

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War with the Newts
Karel Capek
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GVK57Q

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War with the Newts
Karel Capek
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HL6UVA

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War with the Newts

Manufacturer: bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FB49K6

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War with the Newts
Karel Capek
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KLXI58

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War With the Newts
Karel Capek
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000K0B6J4

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War with the Newts
Karel Capek
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000JF54JI

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War With the Newts
Karel ; Gannett, Lewis (introduction) Capek
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UC1BBK

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War with the Newts

Manufacturer: Berkley Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HI5ZM8

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War With the Newts QC250
Karel Capek
Manufacturer: BANTAM BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000X1MHBQ

Book Description

Cadogan's best-selling family guide will open reader's eyes to the best of 'mini' Paris, from the obvious thrills of a trip up the Eiffel Tower to the unexpectedly delightful browsing for old toys in the Marché Aux Puces de St Ouen. Quizzes, challenges and stories bring the city to life for young visitors and itinerary ideas will keep even the most demanding kids amused. Why not spend a day on the trail of the French Revolution, explore underground Paris or meet the animals at the city's best zoos? A whole section is devoted to the wonders of Disneyland Resort Paris, featuring tips on everything from queuing for rides to the best place to watch favorite Disney characters in the parades. Packed with detailed advice and information, including personally researched child-friendly hotels and restaurants and details of how to get around, this guide will help every family's trip go as smoothly as possible and make wails of 'I'm bored' a distant memory.

Book Description

Chan Kim has never felt like an outsider in his life. That is, not until his family moves from L.A. to a tiny town in Minnesota--Land of 10,000 Lakes--and probably 10,000 hicks,too. The Kims are the only Asian family in town, and when Chan and his twin sister, Young, attend high school, it's a blond-haired, blue-eyed whiteout.

Chan throws himself into the only game in town--football--and the necessary roughness required to make a player. On the field it means "justifiable violence," but as Chan is about to discover, off the field it's a whole different ballgame . . .Chan Jung Kim has always been popular. But that was when he lived in L.A. and was the star of his soccer team. Now his family's moved—to a tiny town in Minnesota, where football's the name of the game and nobody has ever seen an Asian American family before. Desperate to fit in, Chan throws himself into the game—but he feels like an outsider. For the first time in his life, he finds himself thinking about what it really means to be Korean—and what is really important. By turns gripping, painful, funny, and illuminating, Necessary Roughness introduces a major new talent and a fresh young voice to the Harper list.

1997 Best Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
1998 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)Chan Jung Kim has always been popular. But that was when he lived in L.A. and was the star of his soccer team. Now his family's moved—to a tiny town in Minnesota, where football's the name of the game and nobody has ever seen an Asian American family before. Desperate to fit in, Chan throws himself into the game—but he feels like an outsider. For the first time in his life, he finds himself thinking about what it really means to be Korean—and what is really important. By turns gripping, painful, funny, and illuminating, Necessary Roughness introduces a major new talent and a fresh young voice to the Harper list.

1997 Best Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
1998 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)

Customer Reviews:

Prejudice.......2007-02-25

Chan is in the summer before his senior year in high school in L.A. when his father announces that the family is going to move to take over a store Chan's uncle bought and then abandoned. Chan can't complain much--his Korean-born parents think he should be obedient and respectful like his twin sister Young. So the family of four moves from the community where they are well known and accepted, where they own a successful store and there are many other Korean families. They drive to Minnesota and settle in a small town with no other Asians at all. There is no soccer team for Chan and no orchestra for Young, and both twins are discriminated against by their classmates.

Then Chan and Young start settling into their new life. Chan is recruited as a kicker for the football team and Young joins the band. Both make some friends, and Chan is even able to start to relate to his father a little bit. Will they ever feel totally at home in their new town?

I really liked Chan's narration. He was very strong, and his relationship with Young was great. The two were very different, but completely supportive of each other. I found myself a bit confused about the amount of prejudice experienced by Chan and Young. Perhaps prejudice is just more prevalent than I think, but it seemed a bit extreme for this day and age. I disliked the ending of this book; I didn't see the point of the crucial event.

Necessary Roughness By: Marie G. Lee.......2006-11-28

This book is about a Korean boy named Chan who is the star player on his soccer team and moved from L.A. to Iron River, Minnesota. Chan isn't exactly the most popular kid at his High School but a guy named Mikko (All-Pro) asks if he wants to be the kicker for the football team, at first Chan hesitates but after Mikko convinces him he goes for it. Football isn't easy, Drills, workout 'till you puke, and big games with a big risk of injury. Chan never got badly injured... Oh i should let you read the book so you can see how good it is!!!! I definitely recommend this book to anyone!!!!!!

Necessary Roughness By: Marie G. Lee.......2006-11-28

This is a great book!!!.......2006-04-25

Chan Kim is a kid who loves soccer, and his life. But when they move into a tiny town called Minnesota then his whole life changes. His family is the only Asian family in Minnesota. When Chan meets Allpro after the first couple of days at school he is talked into joining the football team as a kicker. He ends up joining soccer because there isn't soccer in Minnesota. He was planning on just being a field goal kicker but his coach said it was a rule to have more than one position so he became a running back. Chan had to have the necessary roughness to become a football player. Which he learned on his first practice. On his first practice Chan had an okay practice, but at the end of the practice the team had to do sprints until somebody vomits. Then a few weeks later his first season started. Although Chan didn't get a chance to play his first game it was made up to him by him kicking the winning field goal in the second game of the season which led to him being a starting kicker for the rest of the season. Then after the season they found out that they made it to the playoffs; where Chan leads his team to the championships but if you want to find out if they win the championship then you'll have to read the book.

In this book I like the fact that this is about football. Because those are my favorite kind of books I like. Also another thing I liked it when Chan got into his first football tryouts even though his team already had football tryouts. I liked this because it showed that not all football coaches are mean like some people think. I didn't like it when they said the only reason football is a popular sport is because it gives them a chance to drink. I didn't like this because I thought that it wasn't right to say something like that. I also didn't like it when people would make fun of Chan just because he was Asian until he joined football. I didn't like this because I thought that it could set a bad example on future kids in America.

If you like books that are sporty then you will definitely like this book. I would also recommend it to you if you like just a little bit of violence in you're books. But if you don't like fiction books then I wouldn't recommend this to you. I wouldn't re commend it to you because this would bore you

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By Any Means Necessary

Necessary Roughness
Mike Trope
Manufacturer: Contemporary Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0809248166

Customer Reviews:

By Any Means Necessary.......2006-10-16

Mike Trope was an agent for NFL players back when it truly was a game of who you know. His initial clients were simply based on college classmates who needed representation and Trope had the studies and - importantly - the smarts to pick up the ball and run with it.

He chronicles the days when agents were not licensed in an anything goes battle with team management and a lineup of personalities offering players almost anything to sign contracts.

In this hard-hitting book, Trope talks about how players got black-listed from the league due to a variety of issues and the sleaziness of one team owner to bring his daughter into contract negotiations that needed a little extra push to get completed.

Depending on who you believe, the NFL cracked down on agents due to renegades like Trope or he was ultimately a victim of a corrupt system that he used to benefit his clients.

No matter what you conclude, Necessary Roughness is a wild ride.

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Necessary Roughness
Mike (w/ Steve Delsohn) Trope
Manufacturer: Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1987
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NVCYHS

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Necessary Roughness
Mike & Delsohn, Steve Trope
Manufacturer: Contemporary Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NURXVQ

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Necessary Roughness
Jerry Jones
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Football (American) | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0671017101

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Necessary Roughness
Marie G. Lee
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OF3ZIU

Necessary Roughness - The Other Game Of Football Exposed By Its Most Controversial Superagent

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Necessary Roughness - The Other Game Of Football Exposed By Its Most Controversial Superagent
Mike Trope -
Manufacturer: Contemporary Publishing -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O03C8S

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Necessary roughness.
Marie G Lee
Manufacturer: Harpercollins Childrens Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEOUS0

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