A Voyage to Arcturus

Name: A Voyage to Arcturus
Author: David Lindsay

by David Lindsay

Pages: about 336
Category: Literature & Fiction
Language: English
Reading time: 6.2 h at 250 wpm

Start readingThe whole book, as cards or one word at a time. 3.4 h at 450 wpm in Read mode.

From the opening

On a March evening, at eight o’clock, Backhouse, the medium—a fast- rising star in the psychic world—was ushered into the study at Prolands, the Hampstead residence of Montague Faull. The room was illuminated only by the light of a blazing fire. The host, eying him with indolent curiosity, got up, and the usual conventional greetings were exchanged. Having indicated an easy chair before the fire to his guest, the South American merchant sank back again into his own. The electric light was switched on. Faull’s prominent, clear-cut features, metallic-looking skin, and general air of bored impassiveness, did not seem greatly to impress the medium, who was accustomed to regard men from a special angle. Backhouse, on the contrary, was a novelty to the merchant. As he tranquilly studied him through half closed lids and the smoke of a cigar, he wondered how this little, thickset person with the pointed beard contrived to remain so fresh and sane in appearance, in view of the morbid nature of his occupation.
“Do you smoke?” drawled Faull, by way of starting the conversation. “No? Then will you take a drink?”
“That’s good, for I would not like my guests to be disappointed. I have your check written out in my pocket.”
The conversation continued to flag. Faull sprawled in his chair, and remained apathetic.
“I am unaware that any are necessary, beyond chairs for your guests.”
“I mean the decoration of the siance room, the music, and so forth.”
Backhouse stared at his host. “But this is not a theatrical performance.”
“That’s correct. Perhaps I ought to explain.... There will be ladies present, and ladies, you know, are aesthetically inclined.”
“In that case I have no objection. I only hope they will enjoy the performance to the end.”
“Well, that’s all right, then,” said Faull. Flicking his cigar into the fire, he got up and helped himself to whisky.

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A Voyage to Arcturus

From the opening

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