Rubicon Beach

by Steve Erickson

Book Overview

The second, highly imaginative novel from this much-acclaimed, young Los Angeles writer. This story is a warning to those who lack the courage to cross the Rubicon of their imaginations. By the author of Days Between Stations.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671604589
• ISBN13: 9780671604585
• Release Date: September 1986
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A beach to try to figure out.

This book is mostly set in America (maybe); it's about dreams (perhaps) and death (somewhat); a girl (who sometimes isn't); a guy (most of the time is unless he's not); you'll understand after you've read it (doubtful). Erickson is always fun to read, if for no other reason than to give your brain a workout. I'm not trying to compare these folks, but if you like Vollman, D. F. Wallace, Pynchon, etc., then you will probably like Erickson. Not liking any of them doesn't preclude you from liking Erickson, though. I'm reading Erickson's books in the order he wrote them, but I let a few months pass in between.

Entertaining Mind Games

This book is two parts Kafka to one part Matrix. It starts out in some futuristic dream world and the reader is drawn in immediately. I found this book addictive and could not put it down as Erickson led me from the dream world to more reality based (or were they) worlds in which the initial dreams kept cropping up. It's a fascinating book by a talented author and I cannot believe it is out of print. Read it if you can find it.

When's the movie coming out??

A very ethereal and dreamlike book, it would make an amazing movie, probably directed by Ridley Scott or Wim Wenders. A journey into our minds, into America and into the spirit of Los Angeles. Having just moved to LA recently, I have been experiencing the surreal, alien nature of this city and Rubicon Beach expressed it perfectly.

Hauntingly beautiful, written beyond time and space

I cannot possibly recommend this book enough. One could spend a decade reading this book with a shovel and still not find all the levels underneath. Erickson's gorgeous prose has gorgeous ideas to back it up. This book is about everything and everywhere, from the country of America and what lies to the West, to one little girl beautiful beyond compare with eyes that are blades of light. I do not have the word capacity to fully describe this book. But it is not for the weak. Ignore logic and physical time or space before you dare attempt it. Erickson fightened and delighted me. There cannot possibly be another book like it

A book of visions

Steve Erickson doesn't write novels; he chronicles dreams. Set in a futurtist LA, where water floods the streets, the narrator goes about a mysterious quest. This is a book of shadow and light, enigma and truth. It will frustrate and amaze you at the same time. It is a rare book that looks to your intuition, rather than your mind, to decipher. Gorgeous and unsettling, like the best of Dali