Irish Sci-fi

[Héilics Órbhuí]

Doing some basic research on the apparently small genre of Irish science fiction, two books that I found reference to that appear to be important to the development of the genre are “Algoland” by Seán mac Maoláin and “Duinneall” by Seosamh O Torna. However, it appears this books are exceedingly hard to find (at least on the internet). I imagine they must be at least slightly easier to acquire in Ireland (I live in the US). Does anyone have either of these books or any knowledge of where they can be obtained?

[eadaoin]

agus ta ceann do déagóirí … “Vortex” le Anna Heussaff – bhain mé an-taitneamh as…

[aonghus]

Does anyone have either of these books or any knowledge of where they can be obtained?

I’m afraid I’ve never even heard of either!

I’ve read Vortex that Eadaoin mentioned and Iarla Mac Aodha Bhuí has written a few. But these were books for teenagers. I’ll have to investigate.

[Tuigim]

According to http://www.worldcat.org/title/algoland/oclc/225449989&referer=brief_results
Title: Algoland
Author: Seán Mac Maoláin
Published: 1947 by Oifig an tSoláthair , Dublin Ireland
Language: Irish
Pages: 127
Genre: Fiction
Open Library Number: OL20027627M
OCLC Number: 225449989
is available from the following libraries
1. University of Notre Dame Hesburgh Library, Notre Dame, United States
2. University of Toronto Robarts Library, Toronto, Canada
3. National Library of Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland
4. University College Cork, Boole Library Cork, Ireland
5. University College Dublin, James Joyce Library Dublin, Ireland

[Tuigim]

According to http://www.worldcat.org/title/aill-an-ghabhair-agus-scealta-eile/oclc/19291821&referer=brief_results
Title: Aill an ghabhair agus scéalta eile
Author: Seosamh Ó Torna
Publisher: Baile Átha Cliath : Oifig an tSoláthair, 1940.
is available in 12 university libraries including UCD, UCC, UCG
See link above for more details
Maybe it includes Duinneall?

[aonghus]

http://Borrowbooks.ie turned up a copy in Killarney Public Library & in Carlow.

[Héilics Órbhuí]

GRMA, Looks like I need to go to Ireland and get a library card 🙂

At the moment I am reading “An Fear a Phléasc” which isn’t exactly sci-fi, but seems to have some surrealist sci-fi elements to the stories. It is a somewhat challenging read, but for the most part I think I am getting the gist of everything. I also have “Ag Altóir an Diabhail”, which I have glanced at and appears to be readable to me for the most part, and “Aistear”, which is probably the most challenging book I’ve tried to read so far. I will have to check out “Vortex” to see how it compares in reading level to these others.

[Seosamh2012]

Can anyone please post a synopsis of these two books?
grma

[Héilics Órbhuí]

http://www.celtic-cultural-studies.com/papers/04/oleary-01.html

This is about as much information as I’ve been able to find about either. Given what the themes that are supposedly covered in “Duinneall”, it sounds like it is particular relevant today, with the further decline of the language in Irish society.

[aonghus]

You might want to try

An Tionscadal, Tomás Mac Síomóin

http://aonghus.blogspot.com/2007/06/sr-tionscadal-mhic-shiomin.html

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