"Master & Margarita" by Bulgakov

[Strangelet]

i would say that quote you posted really says it well. To be mistical and be mistical in the realm of christianity is a subtle but inescapable fuck you to the system. And just the way bulgakov respects government and public officials as characters. Painting them as bumbling oafs, without getting into political polemics. Definitely saying more with less.

I haven't read anything else by him but I understand pets (dogs, cats, etc) are a common element.

My wife is like this margarita chick is such wish fulfillment and I'm like try being a writer in the soviet union during the 30's and see what kinds of fulfillments you'd be interested in.

have you read zamyatin? I love "We" but you have to get a good translation. His kind of subversive is much more on the literal side. But I find it just as important a distopian novel as 1984. For one its written by a russian, and second its sarcastic as fuck. Which means, just like Bulgakov, laughter becomes a weapon of freedom.

[myshkin]

I hadn't even heard of Zamyatin or We until a week or so ago but in that time I've noticed him quite a few times, with your post being the most overt sign-post. And with that many pointers, I think I'll have to check him out. The writer Pelevin I quoted, is on form stunning, hilarious, genius etc. An amazing imagination like no other though having read Bulgakov, I can see the influence to an extent. However Pelevin certainly his own unique self and I'd especally recommend The Clay Machine Gun, sometimes called Buddha's Little Finger ( I much prefer the first title)- my first encounter with his work. Also Life on Insects and the short story collection Blue Lantern.
And how dare Bulgakov not be deeply concerned with the heroic proletariat being led to a glorious future by its equally heroic and self-sacrificing leaders. And as for bringing up the likes of the devil, Jesus and Pontius Pilate. It hath made me mad. And as for your mentioning of mysticism, I think we should respect our authorities and consider the mind in its pure form to be illegal and off-limits. And of course watch more television.