Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Explorers of the New Century by Magnus Mills Explorers of the New Century by Magnus Mills. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to the web property. What can I do to prevent this in the future? If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. You may need to download version 2.0 now from the Chrome Web Store. Cloudflare Ray ID: 658c80f21b5b0d52 • Your IP : 188.246.226.140 • Performance & security by Cloudflare. Donkey business. In the early years of the 20th century, two parties of explorers are struggling across a bleak land of shifting scree, wild waters and towering rock formations, searching for the "Agreed Furthest Point" - the furthest point, that is, from civilisation. Johns, the leader of the larger group, is an affable Englishman with a tendency to leave matters of discipline to his deputy, while his Nordic counterpart, Tostig, commands his own small band of men with cold efficiency. Tostig has stolen a march on Johns, making landfall a few days in advance and taking what appears, at first sight, to be the easier route; Johns decides to take the other route rather than follow in his footsteps. There's no contact between the two parties during their respective journeys, and the narrative alternates between them. Despite the unmistakable parallels with the rival expeditions of Scott and Amundsen, this isn't, in any conventional sense, a historical novel. Strong on topographical detail but carefully reticent about location, it maps out territory in an alternative universe closely related to our own yet not quite identical with it. The trial of one of Tostig's men for the offence of possessing a copy of the ship's manual nudges us gently into the realms of the absurd, while a book carried by Johns's party suggests - perhaps not entirely reliably - that the men inhabit a world from which famine, disease and war have been banished. The book in question is a tendentious treatise whose author identifies one remaining problem for human society: the disruptive presence of mules, "our inescapable burden". As it emerges that the primary purpose of the expedition is to relocate its pack-mules in an uninhabited region where their unspecified misdemeanours will no longer blight their masters' lives, Mills's narrative grows increasingly surreal; and when the most recalcitrant of the mules begins to engage in tetchy debate with one of the men, we find ourselves on very peculiar ground indeed - not least because we now have to accommodate the oblique disclosure that the unruly creatures, which have figured significantly in the preceding pages of the novel, may not be beasts at all, but enslaved humans. This is a variation on an earlier theme: Mills's first novel, The Restraint of Beasts, achieves some of its finest effects by gradually eroding the distinction between a gang of itinerant fence-erectors and the livestock their enclosures are designed to contain. But whereas the earlier book works subtly and consistently towards its disquieting conclusion, Explorers of the New Century introduces the theme belatedly, arbitrarily and with a hint of desperation. It's difficult to avoid the suspicion that the author, like his characters, isn't quite sure where he's going. The problem is apparent throughout. What initially presents itself as a parody of the Victorian or Edwardian adventure story quickly settles into slack pastiche, amiable but pointless. "What calamity could have struck this land?!" cries Tostig. "What violent upheaval to drive a river completely off its course?! It is unbelievable!" In fact, the geography seems considerably more believable than the dialogue, and you have to look hard for any comic or satiric pay-off - or indeed for any purpose at all in the heavy-handed exercise. There are occasional flashes of characteristically sardonic humour - a naively enthusiastic member of Tostig's team failing to register his own expendability as his leader prepares him for an act of foolish heroism, or the Englishmen debating the correct pronunciation of "scone" while facing the possibility that their provisions won't last the return journey - but the novel lacks the shape and coherence of Mills's best work. Jem Poster's next novel, Rifling Paradise, will be published by Sceptre in 2006. To order Explorers of the New Century for £9.99 with free UK p&p call Guardian book service on 0870 836 0875. Explorers of the New Century by Magnus Mills. Explorers of the New Century. by Magnus Mills. Title: Explorers of the New Century Author: Magnus Mills Genre: Novel Written: 2005 Length: 184 pages Availability: Explorers of the New Century - US Explorers of the New Century - UK Explorers of the New Century - Canada Die Entdecker des Jahrhunderts - Deutschland. - Return to top of the page - See our review for fuller assessment. Review Summaries Source Rating Date Reviewer Bookforum . 4-5/2006 Shelley Jackson FAZ . 27/12/2008 . The Guardian . 24/9/2005 Jem Poster The Independent A 16/9/2005 Nicholas Royle Independent on Sunday . 28/8/2005 Christopher Fowler The LA Times . 26/2/2006 Susan Salter Reynolds NZZ . 6/11/2008 Friedhelm Rathjen Salon . 30/3/2006 Laura Miller Sunday Times . 18/9/2005 David Grylls The Telegraph A- 28/8/2005 James Flint The Telegraph . 27/11/2005 David Robson TLS B+ 16/9/2005 Mike Brett. Very mixed reactions (and a variety of interpretations) "Paradoxically, Explorers disappoints by giving us exactly what we are looking for: answers." - Shelley Jackson, Bookforum. - Return to top of the page - Explorers of the New Century is set in a time of gentlemen-explorers. Two expeditions set out with the same destination and objective. One, a group of what are apparently Englishmen, led by Johns, is manned entirely by volunteers, the other, Scandinavian-sounding expedition, led by Tostig, a more professional group. Their approach to travel and what to lug along is different -- though each does have a pack of mules -- and it appears much like the great expeditions of a hundred years ago or so -- the race to the South Pole and the like, or the attempt to determine the source of the Nile. They go by ship to a desolate and inhospitable area of the world -- travelling in winter, no less, and losing sunlight even during the daytime for much of their voyage -- and set out from nearly the same point at nearly the same time. They choose two different paths, but both groups want to reach the same place, and while they claim it isn't a race each is eager to be first, knowing that there's glory and fame to be found in being first. The goal and destination aren't immediately clear; indeed, exactly what is going on here only slowly comes into focus. But they are enthusiastic: Magnus Mills. MostlyFiction.com links to Amazon.com, but we wholeheartedly encourage you to buy books from your local brick-n-mortar stores and to visit your library frequently. If you happen to click on one of links and make a purchase, we earn a commission and we always appreciate your support. Thank you. and don't forget to tell your friends about us. "Explorers of the New Century" (Reviewed by Mary Whipple JUN 4, 2006) "It's so unspeakably lonely out here that I can hardly bear it at times. This endless scree, this darkness, this pitiless wind: men have been driven to distraction by lesser torments. It's an utter wilderness." In 1998, when his first novel, The Restraint of Beasts was nominated for both the Booker Prize and the Whitbread Award, Magnus Mills suddenly burst upon the literary world—and gave up his job as a London bus driver forever. In the ensuing eight years, he has published four more novels and a book of short stories, establishing a well deserved reputation for witty satire and social commentary. His short novels surprise and delight the reader at the same time that they often offer dark visions of humanity. His minimalist prose and terse dialogue complement the often bleak settings and set his messages into high relief, often accompanied by humor. Explorers of the New Century begins with a race between Captain Johns, a British explorer, and Tostig, a Scandinavian, as each tries to become the first man to reach the AFP, or Agreed Furthest Point. Mills creates obvious parallels between this race and the 1911 race for the South Pole between Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, who became the first to reach the Pole, and the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, who, with his crew, died in the attempt to return to his base. From the outset, the novel is full of anticipation and excitement, as the rival crews, who have never met each other, prepare to head south with their mule caravans hauling their supplies and equipment. Johns, his ten-man crew, and twenty- three mules blaze a trail across the scree; Tostig with four men and ten mules, follows a dry river bed, a more difficult trail. In chapters which alternate between the Johns and Tostig parties, the reader is struck by the differences. The Johns party is better equipped, with twice as many men and mules, but the Tostig camp is better organized and better disciplined. In the Johns party, petty jealousies arise, men compete for influence with Johns, personal ambitions interfere with the good of the whole, and some of the men begin to scapegoat others. The men begin to take sides and form cliques, to the detriment of the group and Johns does not always see the big picture. With Tostig, all the men can perform multiple roles, and they work together for a common goal. While Tostig's discipline is strict and no infraction is overlooked, he is fair in meting out punishment, and he listens to his men. Mills's presentation of the rush to the AFP is fascinating in its own right, as the reader sees the contrasts between the parties, enjoys the excitement of the action, and identifies with some of the participants. But there is a much bigger story here--the real reason the two groups are hurrying to the AFP. When, more than halfway through the novel, the reader discovers what it is (and any attempt to describe it here would spoil the novel), a whole new set of parallels becomes obvious. The novel ceases to be "just" an action novel, with its accompanying study of the mindset of explorers and pioneers, and becomes instead a serious analysis of twentieth century social history. Dramatically broadening his scope, Mills introduces larger themes--the arrogance of power, man's inhumanity toward others, and the intolerance of differences--issues which have dominated twentieth century history. At the same time, he also recognizes and celebrates those moments, rare and often brief, when man succeeds in making emotional commitments to the world at large. By involving the reader in the initial adventure, Mills sets him up so that when the dramatic revelation is made of what is motivating the trip south, the impact is doubly strong. Most readers will immediately recognize the parallels Mills is drawing to history and, though some readers may find the parallels to be a bit didactic, the author is careful not to violate the limits of his plot, and he does not sermonize. Darkly humorous and ironic, Explorers of the New Century is, perhaps, more political than what we have seen with Mills to date, but the message incorporated within this fable/fantasy is powerful, suggesting new ways to consider contemporary history. As Tostig comments to his crew, "Maybe a hundred years from now our steps will be retraced by men with ideas very different to our own….Explorers of the new century." One can always hope. Amazon readers rating: from 8 reviews. Read a chapter excerpt from Explorers of the New Century at Bloomsbury.com. Bibliography: (with links to Amazon.com) (1998) (1999) : Stories (1999) (2001) (2002) : Stories (2003) (2005) The Maintenance of Headway. Book Marks: Wikipedia page on Magnus Mills Barcelona interview with Magnus Mills Excerpt from The Restraint of Beasts Spike Magazine review of The Restraint of Beasts Spike Magazine review of All Quiet on the Orient Express Complete review on Explorers of the New Century The Independent review of Explorers of the New Century Salon.com review of Explorers of the New Century Telegraph.co.uk review of Explorers of the New Century. About the Author: Magnus Mills was born in 1954 in Birmingham and brought up in Bristol. From 1979 to 1986 he built high-tensile fences for a living, an experience he drew upon for his first novel. In 1986 he moved to London and was a bus driver for about twelve years. At the same time, he was also writing for newspapers. The Restraint of Beasts was shortlisted from the Booker Prize and the Whitbread First Novel Award. ISBN 13: 9780156030786. When Magnus Mills gives the world a shake, you never know what might fall out of his pockets," proclaims the Los Angeles Times. In his terse new tour de force of a tale, Mills gives history a shake, and you'll never guess what the fallout is. Set at the dawn of the great age of exploration, the era of Shackleton and Perry and Scott, the book presents the adventures of two intrepid teams, both vying to reach the AFP, or Agreed Furthest Point-a worthy, even ennobling cause. The competition is friendly but conditions are extreme. To get through the arid, lifeless landscape, both teams must learn to make sacrifices, sacrifices that will change just about everything. Mills burst on the literary scene a decade ago with The Restraint of Beasts, a novel Thomas Pynchon called a "demented, deadpan-comic wonder." This new work proves that he has become a master storyteller whose books are each "as welcome as a warm bus on a rainy day" (The Oregonian). "synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title. ?Daily we stumble over shale and flint, toiling onwards in the vague belief that at some distant time and place we’ll see the sun rise again; and that spreading before us will be vast, hospitable ranges where the mules may finally be turned loose.” At the dawn of a great age of exploration?closely resembling that of Shackleton and Perry and Scott?two teams of explorers set off through an arid, lifeless landscape. Both are vying to reach the Agreed Furthest Point, or AFP, first: One team takes the western route across seemingly endless rocky scree; the other negotiates a dry riverbed. And both rely heavily on their mules for survival. The burden of that dependency bears a price. Magnus Mills’s new novel proves he has no equal in his mastery of the dark-comic fable. In prose whose genius lies in its very matter-of- factness, ominousness grows with every step the intrepid explorers take. Every decision feels fateful; every mistake potentially fatal. Yet the white- knuckle drama of the race to reach the AFP pales in comparison to the revelation Mills delivers in this riveting tour de force, a revelation that changes just about everything. Praise for The Restraint of Beasts ?A witty, intricate fable about a working-class hell constructed by its own inhabitants.”? The New York Times ? The Restraint of Beasts, designed both to amuse and to alarm, resembles an electrified fence: once you’ve grabbed hold there’s no letting go.”? The New Yorker. Magnus Mills is the author of four previous novels, including Three to See the King and The Restraint of Beasts, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize and the Whitbread First Novel Award in England. His work has been translated into twenty languages. Mills lives in London. About the Author : MAGNUS MILLS worked as a full-time bus driver in London until the success of The Restraint of Beasts, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize. The author of a collection of short stories and five novels, all of which have been published in fifteen languages, he lives in London.