Wednesday, december 3, 1980
daily nebraskan
page 1 1
Novel on pop-Zen metaphysics holds promise
By Michael Zangari
If Matt Dillon had taken two hits of
LSD and reached satori on a paisely
thunderbolt, the myths of the Old West
may have taken on a different hue. Several
of them, as a matter of fact. Picture Festus
in mirror shades and a chinchilla Stetson, or
John Wayne in full lotus. According to
Gino Sky, the myths of the Old West
would still be good tales-even written in
long hair.
A
g reuierj
His new novel, Appaloose Rising: The
Legend of the Cowboy Buddha is an exub
erant rush of pop-Zen metaphysics told on
the smokey trails of the new west. Written
in a joyful gush of spontaneous prosaics,
the books contains some of the most ex
quisite and free form description written in
the last few years. Also some of the worst.
It is a loosely structured tale featuring
Jonquil Rose (Jus' One More Cowboy), his
wife, Infinity Cactus, Buddy Sunday, Cody
St. Kid, Golden St. Augustine and a whole
slew of equally outrageously -named and
-behaved individuals and their adventures
under the watchful third eye of the Cow
boy Buddha. The first half of the book
follows each of their adventures in micro
scopic detail, and climaxes with Jonquil's
match-up with Jiinmi Maroon, the sexiest
pick-up truck on God's green earth.
Appaloose Rising is incredibly funny in
the places where it works. Sky's throw
away lines are often funnier than most
hard-won jokes. (One throw away that
comes to mind is a character casting an I
Ching with french fries.)
The style and quality of writing takes
a nosedive in the second half. The writing
style that Sky has tackled is incredibly
difficult to sustain. Where Sky goes wrong
is with his nagging impulse to teach. As a
crazy Zen monk, he does very well, but as
a Zen master he leaves a bit to the wind.
With the entrance of Don Coyote (a
Don Juan character) and his son, and a
mission to cast out a demon from a man
who kills eagles, the sky-high prose plum
mets earthward and gets stuck in the honey
glaze of Aquarian metaphysics. He manages
to repeat dogma in the worst of saccharin
cliches.
Although these passages are readable,
and sometimes enjoyable, the overall effect
is to slow the book to a halt. It picks up
again, but before it can gain momentum, it
ends.
All problems aside, Sky has done a fine couraging. He has an off-hand clarity that
job. By all indications this is his first novel, is hard to beat in other novels of this kind.
The over-all quality of writing is very en- The exuberance alone is uplifting.
09
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RED CROSS
NEEDS YOUR TIME
or
32 S. 9th ST.
J(- 8551
Video film ...
Continued from Page 10
As performer and editor, Greenfield has a good deal of
control over her final products. Her films show much
variety and imagination, and she is clearly as well-versed
in modem dance as she is in the school of avant garde
filmmaking.
Chase's images of dancers reduced to flat shapes give
the feel of cartoon figures. Wliile they are ultimately less
interesting than Greenfield's interpretive movements,
Chase's films are bright and entertaining.
These are just a few of the pieces that comprise this
weekend's videofilm showcases. Doris Chase's work will
be at Sheldon Friday and Saturday; Amy Greenfield's
work will be shown Sunday and Monday. Friday and Sun
day will be devoted to the artists' films. Saturday and
Monday their video works will be shown. Both film
video artists will be at the evening screenings of their
works.
'CM
3
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BRASS
1436 "O" Street
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A iXl rOKiR CHRIS ANDERSON
OPtU 10 A M
CONTINUOUS
SHOWING
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5.40-7:40-9:40
Robert Duvall is
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5:30-7:30-9:30
Caddy- P?J
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8
iiipenenci
Stalian
Tastes
Foods with a foreign flair.
r
Wed., December 3
11:00 - 1:00
mtote
Z(pJ300b
Gontemporary Productions and JAM,
in association with KFMQ
prosont
The Allman
rothers Hand
The Outlaws
$9.00 in Advance $10.00 Day of Show
PERSHING f MUNICIPAL
BUmtOnUimil Ooors Open at 6:00 p
15th & N St. Lincoln. Nebraska 68508477-3761
Lincoln Tickots on sals at tho following locations:
Dirt Cheap
Nebraska Union
Nebraska East Union
Magees-Gateway
Brandeis-Lincoln Center
Miller & Paine-Lincoin center Brandeis-Gateway
Pickles-Esquire Plaza
Miller & Paine-Gateway
Magees-Lincoln Center
Pickles-Downtown
OMAHA
Brandeis-Crossroads
Brandeis-Westroads
Brandeis Southroads
Brandeis-Downtown
