''Pollen'' is a 1995

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

novel written by British author

Jeff Noon Jeff Noon (born 1957 in Droylsden, Lancashire, England) is a British novelist, short story, short story writer and playwright whose works make use of word play and fantasy. Noon's speculative fiction books have ties to the works of writers such ...

Plot summary

''Pollen'' is the sequel to ''

Vurt ''Vurt'' is a 1993 science fiction novel written by British author Jeff Noon. The debut novel for both Noon and small publishing house Ringpull, it went on to win the 1994 Arthur C. Clarke Award and was later listed in ''The Best Novels of the ...

'' and concerns the ongoing struggle between the real world and the virtual world. When concerning the virtual world, some references to Greek mythology are noticeable, including

Persephone In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Persephone ( ; gr, Περσεφόνη, Persephónē), also called Kore or Cora ( ; gr, Κόρη, Kórē, the maiden), is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She became the queen of the underworld after ...

and Demeter, the river Styx and Charon, and Hades (portrayed by the character

John Barleycorn "John Barleycorn" is an English and Scottish folk song listed as number 164 in the Roud Folk Song Index. John Barleycorn, the song's protagonist, is a personification of barley and of the alcoholic beverages made from it: beer and whisky. ...

). The novel is set in Manchester.

Influences

Noon is said to take his inspiration from music. While working on ''Pollen,'' he often listened to ‘Dream of a 100 Nations’ album by

Transglobal Underground Transglobal Underground (sometimes written as Trans-Global Underground) is an English electro-world music group, specializing in a fusion of western, Asian and African music styles (sometimes labelled world fusion and ethno techno). Their f ...

on repeat.

''Things changed for my second novel, Pollen: by then I had really discovered the melancholic joys of house and techno music, and I think the novel reflects that change. Pollen is a much more tangled book, more fertile, a very overgrown, edge-of-wilderness narrative.''

Songs mentioned

* " John Barleycorn (Must Die)" * "

I Can Hear The Grass Grow "I Can Hear the Grass Grow " is the second single by the Move, written by Roy Wood. The song was first released on 31 March 1967, and reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart on 10 May 1967, staying for ten weeks in the charts. "I Can Hear the Gr ...

" * "

Keep on Running "Keep On Running" is a song written and first recorded by Jackie Edwards. It became a hit in the UK for The Spencer Davis Group; their version reached number one in the charts. Recordings "Keep On Running" was written by Jamaican singer-songwrit ...

" * " Are You Lonesome Tonight?" * "

Blue Suede Shoes "Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard (music), standard written and first recorded by American singer, songwriter and guitarist Carl Perkins in 1955. It is considered one of the first rockabilly records, incorporating elements of blues ...

" * " A Day In The Life" * " Purple Haze" * " Hippy Gumbo" * " Strawberry Fields" * " Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby (Standing In The Shadows)" * "

Riders on The Storm "Riders on the Storm" is a song by American rock band the Doors. It was released in June 1971, as the second single from '' L.A. Woman'', their sixth studio album and the last with lead singer Jim Morrison. The song reached number 14 on the U.S ...

" * '' Piper at the Gates of Dawn (album)''

References

External links

* Novels by Jeff Noon 1995 British novels 1995 science fiction novels British science fiction novels Classical mythology in popular culture Greek and Roman deities in fiction Novels about drugs Novels about virtual reality Cyberpunk novels Science fantasy novels Novels about dreams Vurt (novel series) {{1990s-sf-novel-stub