Post by rubl on Sept 10, 2017 20:21:19 GMT 7
Brian Aldiss is a British writer who I only knew from a few Science Fiction books. Seems he also wrote a few other books.
One of them is "The Male Response" from 1963. A young computer chap sent to darkest Africa to help sell computers. Now computers were a bit different in those days, less 'personal', slightly bulky, etc.
"A brilliantly hilarious novel in which Soames Noyes - an affable young Englishman in charge of PR for a huge computer firm - says goodbye to inhibition and hello to Africa when he is sent to pave the way for the installation of an impressive computer. Palace plots, witch doctors and the disconcerting favours of some sensual women make Soames' African expedition rather more demanding than he reckoned."
So the book more-or-less start with
"I do not want to cause trouble,’ Deal Jimpo said. ‘Please do not bother the chairman yet. I am wishing to buy just one of your very best computing machines.’
‘May one ask – is it for yourself, sir?’ Waypole said.
‘No, it is for my father’s republic in Africa,’ the young negro replied. ‘In Goya, we are most progressive and have everything on Western principles without any bother from reactionaries. Perhaps you read The Times yesterday where my republic is referred to as “the black Scandinavia”. To become still more progressive we require one computer. I think my people would like best a red one.’"
One of them is "The Male Response" from 1963. A young computer chap sent to darkest Africa to help sell computers. Now computers were a bit different in those days, less 'personal', slightly bulky, etc.
"A brilliantly hilarious novel in which Soames Noyes - an affable young Englishman in charge of PR for a huge computer firm - says goodbye to inhibition and hello to Africa when he is sent to pave the way for the installation of an impressive computer. Palace plots, witch doctors and the disconcerting favours of some sensual women make Soames' African expedition rather more demanding than he reckoned."
So the book more-or-less start with
"I do not want to cause trouble,’ Deal Jimpo said. ‘Please do not bother the chairman yet. I am wishing to buy just one of your very best computing machines.’
‘May one ask – is it for yourself, sir?’ Waypole said.
‘No, it is for my father’s republic in Africa,’ the young negro replied. ‘In Goya, we are most progressive and have everything on Western principles without any bother from reactionaries. Perhaps you read The Times yesterday where my republic is referred to as “the black Scandinavia”. To become still more progressive we require one computer. I think my people would like best a red one.’"
