There has always been a strong connection between rock music and science fiction. Both are art forms that exist on the fringes, and their underground fan communities have often intersected, creating some fascinating hybrids. A prime example is the Brooklyn band Lathe of Heaven, whose new album ‘Aurora’ combines post-punk abstraction with exceptional new wave songwriting, rich in sci-fi themes.
This album is crafted as a series of short stories, using science fiction to explore topics such as anti-colonialism, diversity, and equality, offering an imaginative perspective.
Influenced by authors like Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, Greg Egan, and Peter Watts, ‘Aurora’ highlights singer Gage Allison's extensive reading.
CLASH spoke with Gage for Their Library, delving into his literary inspirations…
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What is your favorite book and why?
I can’t choose between Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed and Dan Simmons’ Hyperion. Both novels use science fiction to delve into philosophy and the essence of existence beautifully, uniquely, and tragically, without coming off as pretentious or moralistic.
What other authors do you enjoy?
Where do I even start? For Science Fiction, my top favorites include Greg Egan, Harlan Ellison, Arthur C. Clarke, Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang, Ken Liu, William Gibson, and Jorge Borges, as well as James S.A. Corey, among others.
Additionally, I am currently studying Sociology, which has me reading quite a bit of non-fiction too. Some of my current favorites are Jean Baudrillard, Frantz Fanon, Slavoj Žižek, and James Bridle.
What attracts you to specific books?
It varies. Sometimes I’ll be at a bookstore, browsing, and come across something that catches my eye. There's a great feeling in discovering a book you weren’t aware of that perfectly aligns with what you’ve been thinking about lately.
Usually, however, I do my homework. I spend considerable time on Reddit and other forums dedicated to sci-fi and sociology books, adjusting my reading list based on recommendations from sources I trust (like anonymous fans with similar tastes).
Have you ever stumbled upon a genuine lost classic? What is it and why?
I'm not sure if Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris qualifies as a lost classic, but it is certainly underrated. The prose is extraordinarily beautiful and it creates one of the most distinctive and alien species I've come across in a first contact narrative.
Do your literary influences have a direct effect on your songwriting?
Definitely. My lyrics and artwork are filled with numerous literary references. For instance, one of our new songs takes a concept from Greg Egan’s novel Quarantine, which describes the disappearance of all the stars in the sky. It’s based on a thought experiment called Schrödinger’s Cat, which illustrates how human observation collapses wave functions, assigning specific properties to objects in different potential states.
What are you currently reading?
At the moment, I’m reading Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I’m almost done with it and can confidently say it’s very cool. I highly recommend it (as long as you’re not afraid of spiders).
What is the first book you remember reading as a child?
Honestly, I’m not sure. Maybe Where the Sidewalk Ends? That’s my best guess.
Have you ever encountered a book that you simply couldn’t finish?
I found Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein to be incredibly cliché, dull, and overrated. I’ve read worse for sure, but this one really didn’t resonate with me. I stopped about two-thirds of the way through.
Would you ever re-read the same book?
Absolutely. I definitely plan on rereading the Hyperion series.
I also highlight and underline in all my books, so I can revisit my favorite passages whenever I’m seeking inspiration.
Have you ever identified with a character in a book? Which one and why?
Shevek, the main character from The Dispossessed, resonates with me. He embodies the complexity and conflict of the human experience. He’s caught between who he is and who he wants to become, between being and evolving, between good and evil. It might be a bit cheesy, but this resonates with me on many levels. I even named my last (and only) DND character after him.
Is there an author or poet you would like to collaborate with?
I recently found out that Hideo Kojima is a fan of ours; he posted one of our newest singles on his Instagram last week. It would be an honor to write a song for any of his future projects.
Aside from that, I would love to collaborate with Greg Egan, but he is famously elusive, so I won’t hold my breath. Ken Liu would be a close third choice.
‘Aurora’ is now available on Sacred Bones.
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Photo Credit: Yulissa Benitez
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A strong connection has always existed between rock music and science fiction. Both are considered outsider art forms, and their underground fanbases have frequently intersected.