Fictions

by Jorge Luis Borges

Hardcover, 159 pages

English language

Published July 29, 1974 by Calder & Boyars.

ISBN:: 978-0-7145-0957-0
OCLC Number:: 2594617

(44 reviews)

Edited and with an introduction by Anthony Kerrigan In the twelve years since Fictions was first published in Britain, Jorge Luis Borges, internationally recognised as probably the greatest living short story writer, has become a bestseller in English, as well as in the Latin languages. His triumphant visit to Britain in 1972, when his lectures had to be transferred to one of the largest halls in London because of the enormous demand to hear him, proved that the enthusiasm for this master myth-maker is largely among the young, who find an excitement in his work that is very contemporary. Whether writing of imaginary worlds, building a universe out of the skein of dreams, or reviewing imaginary novels, Borges is always startlingly original, giving his readers insights into new depths and building alternative realities out of myths and fantasies. The seventeen fictions that make up this volume are probably the author's …

45 editions

Lyteraria reviewed Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges (Obras completas de Jorge Luis Borges)

"La secta del fénix"

No rating

No voy a introducir a Borges porque todos sabemos algo de él, es ciertamente un autor muy singular y con un estilo propio, en algunos sentidos comparable a Italo Calvino o Umberto Eco.

El cuento es muy borgeano en su estilo, cada frase está llena de referencias culturales y de misterio.

Sin embargo, no es borgeano su tema, por lo que quienes no lo han leído no suelen prever que Borges sería capaz de escribir algo así.

Me parece una muestra más de que ese autor vino al mundo para sorprender

Leímos "La secta del fénix" en la edición número 38 de nuestro Club de #LecturaMastodontica

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againstthefuture reviewed Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

Ficciones

4 stars

was really powerful, particularly right after reading House of Leaves

El Pamplina reviewed Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges (Obras completas de Jorge Luis Borges)

Imposible de abarcar, pero necesario intentarlo.

5 stars

Es una obra inabarcable, llena de infinitos, de paradojas y de caminos sin salida. Al leerlo da la impresión de que más de la mitad de lo que contiene se te ha escapado entre líneas. Esa sensación deja un regusto amargo, pero es imprescindible intentarlo. Obra maestra fuera de toda categoría.

bondolo reviewed Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

Review of 'Ficciones' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I wasn't sure how to read this. My only clue was a quote by Ursula LeGuin describing Gene Wolfe as "Our Borges". I was unsure which references were real, which were fabricated, what was history and what was fable. I chose not to read literally and instead just let the words wash over me. Sentences often barely connected to context, I can't imagine I will ever be able to fully understand what is going on and I don't believe that I am supposed to. Even the most assiduous and erudite reader will have to give up on any expectation of groking the entirety. There are contradictions to make this impossible. Like Wolfe, I find the work enjoyable to read but am unsatisfied by the feeling I surely missed something. No doubt, for some, the answer is re-reading the work perhaps many times. Each reading would be different based upon your mindset, attention, bader-meinhoff recognition and memory of prior readings. This has never been for me, I rarely re-read while there are other stories yet unread. Re-reading feels too much like re-boiling old bones and expecting fresh soup. If I am to learn or feel something new by reading I will be more likely to find it on new ground than retreading the same path again.

loppear reviewed Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

Review of 'Ficciones (English Translation)' on Goodreads

4 stars

Great imagination and succinct storytelling - obvious parallels to Lem's A Perfect Vacuum. As the author apologizes for (and so what to think?) the first half is better than the second, 5 stars for the famous ones there (Orbis Tertius, Pierre Menard, The Garden of Forking Paths).

matt reviewed Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges

Review of 'Ficciones' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I see Borges as a bit of a mad scientist. Post-modern before it was cool, Ficciones is a couple of short stories but wow - what a punch. The dedication to the short form leaves a lot of room for setting up something interesting and letting it grow, building a frame of a world. In a way it's like a little shard of of a crystal that's he's made, just so, that when it enters your mind it expands and crystallizes into a whole world view. Each story, though brief, suggests something much bigger and leaves it unsaid.