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The Motion of Light in Water

Sex and Science Fiction Writing in the East Village
By Samuel R. Delany
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Motion of Light in Water is a captivating memoir by Samuel R. Delany, exploring his life and experiences as a black, gay writer in 1960s New York. The book delves into the intersection of race, sexuality, and creative identity, weaving personal anecdotes with broader social commentary. Delany offers a rich, reflective narrative that illuminates both his personal journey and the cultural landscape of the era.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring the vibrant intersection of personal memoir and cultural history, especially during the influential 1960s and 1970s. It's perfect for those captivated by the experiences of a pioneering Black, gay writer navigating the complexities of New York's artistic and intellectual life.

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The Motion of Light in Water

Winner of the 1989 Hugo Award for Non-fiction

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Winner of the Hugo Award for Non-fiction

The unexpurgated edition of the award-winning autobiography.

Born in New York City's black ghetto Harlem at the start of World War II, Samuel R. Delany married white poet Marilyn Hacker right out of high school. The interracial couple moved into the city's new bohemian quarter, the Lower East Side, in summer 1961.

Through the decade's opening years, new art, new sexual practices, new music, and new political awareness burgeoned among the crowded streets and cheap railroad apartments. Beautifully, vividly, insightfully, Delany calls up this era of exploration and adventure as he details his development as a black gay writer in an open marriage.

The narrative includes tertiary walk-ons by Bob Dylan, Stokely Carmichael, W. H. Auden, and James Baldwin, and a panoply of brilliantly drawn secondary characters.

The Motion of Light in Water, a richly detailed autobiographical work, captures this vibrant era and Delany's unique journey.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Motion of Light in Water is praised for its vivid and precise prose, offering a moving literary biography that provides an insightful look into the life of a young, gifted person of colour during the mid-20th century. The book is noted for its candid exploration of black manhood and revolutionary vision for societal change, making it a vital piece of gay history with its evocative portrayal of an era.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780816645244

Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 April 2004

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Minnesota Press

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 149.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 584

Collections

Biography & Memoir Non-Fiction Samuel R. Delany

About the Author

Samuel R. Delany is the author of numerous science fiction books including, Dhalgren and The Mad Man, as well as the best-selling nonfiction study Times Square Red, Times Square Blue. He lives in New York City and teaches at Temple University. The Lambda Book Report chose Delany as one of the fifty most significant men and women of the past hundred years to change our concept of gayness, and he is a recipient of the William Whitehead Memorial Award for a lifetime's contribution to lesbian and gay literature.

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