A Short, Sharp Shock
Encyclopedia
A Short, Sharp Shock is a novel written by Kim Stanley Robinson
and published in 1990. Though Robinson works primarily in the field of science fiction
, A Short, Sharp Shock is set in a fantasy
world which features, among other things, a tribe who live in close connection to the small trees which grow out of their shoulders. The protagonist is a man who awakens on a beach with no memory, and who finds himself compelled to pursue a woman who awoke with him, a woman he knows only as the swimmer.
Their journey takes them along the narrow strip of land, surrounded by ocean, which makes up the whole world. The content is unlike anything found elsewhere in Robinson's oeuvre, yet the themes remain very similar. The strong link between the human characters and the natural world connects directly to the ecological themes of his other work, especially the Mars Trilogy
, but the loose and dreamlike structure is like nothing else he has written.
The phrase "Short, sharp shock
" is taken from Gilbert and Sullivan
's operetta The Mikado
.
Kim Stanley Robinson
Kim Stanley Robinson is an American science fiction writer known for his award-winning Mars trilogy. His work delves into ecological and sociological themes regularly, and many of his novels appear to be the direct result of his own scientific fascinations, such as the fifteen years of research...
and published in 1990. Though Robinson works primarily in the field of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, A Short, Sharp Shock is set in a fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
world which features, among other things, a tribe who live in close connection to the small trees which grow out of their shoulders. The protagonist is a man who awakens on a beach with no memory, and who finds himself compelled to pursue a woman who awoke with him, a woman he knows only as the swimmer.
Their journey takes them along the narrow strip of land, surrounded by ocean, which makes up the whole world. The content is unlike anything found elsewhere in Robinson's oeuvre, yet the themes remain very similar. The strong link between the human characters and the natural world connects directly to the ecological themes of his other work, especially the Mars Trilogy
Mars trilogy
The Mars trilogy is a series of award-winning science fiction novels by Kim Stanley Robinson that chronicles the settlement and terraforming of the planet Mars through the intensely personal and detailed viewpoints of a wide variety of characters spanning almost two centuries...
, but the loose and dreamlike structure is like nothing else he has written.
The phrase "Short, sharp shock
Short, sharp shock
The phrase "short, sharp shock" is a phrase meaning "punishment that is quick and severe." It was most famously used in Gilbert and Sullivan's 1885 comic opera The Mikado, where it appears near the end of the Act I song, "I Am So Proud"....
" is taken from Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
's operetta The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
.