5 ms·

A brief history of books that do not exist

22 points by Pamar 11y ago

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
archgoon 11y ago
I remember many years ago attempting to find at my local library a copy of S. Morgenstern's classic "The Princess Bride", but being frustrated at only being able to find the abridged version by William Goldman.
listic 11y ago
Next thing to books that do not exist are nanobooks the length of a twitter post: > The android led him to the cliff. At 8:43pm, it removed his blindfold. The indigo sky filled his vision. "Make my eyes that color," it said. https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/579719337210044417 https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/579719337210044417 > He unzipped the man's chest, revealing the leaden typebars and silver antennas inside. "See? Every journalist is an engine of revolution." https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/684740664425340928 https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/684740664425340928 They speak of larger stories, but that's all there is. @QuietPineTrees says they are inspired by @ThePatanoiac, @BrassApothecary and @TheCityofNames.
cafard 11y ago
I noticed yesterday in S.E. Morison's The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages, a mention of a book of exploration (mostly toward the far north, apparently), Inventio Furtunata (or Fortunae), mentioned in a letter to Columbus from an English merchant. At the time Morison wrote, nobody had been able to find the book or a clear account of it.
teh_klev 11y ago
Sort of related, Jorge Luis Borges wrote reviews of non-existent works by non-existent writers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges#Hoaxes_and_forgeries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges#Hoaxes_and_f...
omnibrain 11y ago
I remember - when I first got online access - trying to find the books mentioned in Lovecraft stories in the catalogues of various university libraries. If you want a book that is filled to the brim with footnotes with references to fictional books you should consider reading "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell".
jccc 11y ago
Members of the band Tool convinced many people to go hunting for Ronald P. Vincent's "Joyful Guide To Lachrymology," on the study of therapeutic crying, by making the inspirational book a part of their origin story. Fans now keep the hoax alive: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4452619-the-joyful-guide-to-lachrymology https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4452619-the-joyful-guide...

22 points by Pamar 11y ago

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

I remember many years ago attempting to find at my local library a copy of S. Morgenstern's classic "The Princess Bride", but being frustrated at only being able to find the abridged version by William Goldman.

listic 11y ago

Next thing to books that do not exist are nanobooks the length of a twitter post: > The android led him to the cliff. At 8:43pm, it removed his blindfold. The indigo sky filled his vision. "Make my eyes that color," it said. https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/579719337210044417 https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/579719337210044417 > He unzipped the man's chest, revealing the leaden typebars and silver antennas inside. "See? Every journalist is an engine of revolution." https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/684740664425340928 https://twitter.com/QuietPineTrees/status/684740664425340928 They speak of larger stories, but that's all there is. @QuietPineTrees says they are inspired by @ThePatanoiac, @BrassApothecary and @TheCityofNames.

cafard 11y ago

I noticed yesterday in S.E. Morison's The European Discovery of America: The Northern Voyages, a mention of a book of exploration (mostly toward the far north, apparently), Inventio Furtunata (or Fortunae), mentioned in a letter to Columbus from an English merchant. At the time Morison wrote, nobody had been able to find the book or a clear account of it.

teh_klev 11y ago

Sort of related, Jorge Luis Borges wrote reviews of non-existent works by non-existent writers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges#Hoaxes_and_forgeries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges#Hoaxes_and_f...

omnibrain 11y ago

I remember - when I first got online access - trying to find the books mentioned in Lovecraft stories in the catalogues of various university libraries. If you want a book that is filled to the brim with footnotes with references to fictional books you should consider reading "Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell".

jccc 11y ago

Members of the band Tool convinced many people to go hunting for Ronald P. Vincent's "Joyful Guide To Lachrymology," on the study of therapeutic crying, by making the inspirational book a part of their origin story. Fans now keep the hoax alive: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4452619-the-joyful-guide-to-lachrymology https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4452619-the-joyful-guide...