Further Information

About the Project

Christmas 2018 saw the belated publication of Ægir Þór's first book of poetry, Ódýrir endahnútar, after nearly three years in the making. However, that particular book had never been envisioned by its author as his first release. To the contrary at least two manuscripts were momentarily put aside for the occasion. Now, at last, their time has come. These much anticipated books will finally see the light of day this year, that is, if YOU are willing to support this project.

Screaming Inconsistencies is a homage to the modern human condition. By a musical analogy the work could be described as lying somewhere
midway between christian contemporary rock music and listening to a passenger train derailment in hi-fi. It explores what the author diagnoses as a socio-cultural bi-polar disorder affecting modernity where everyone seems simultaneously convinced by the myth of infinite progress while lamenting how everything is going to hell in a handbasket. This is a satirical social commentary with overtures of philosophical pessimism, drawing inspiration from protest and punk poetry of previous decades. At the same time this is an attempt by the author to come to terms with his own situation at age thirty in light of changes in the social landscape during the last 20 years or so.

The Nonsense is to Screaming Inconsistencies what The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is to The Wall or Dark Side of the Moon, to use another musical analogy. The book is less polished, brutally frank, nihilistic, surreal and, at times, nonsensical. It is also more personal as it is more directly inspired by episodes from the author's own life. Stylistically it is also more idiosyncratic, while the themes remain largely the same as those in Screaming Inconsistencies. On major difference is the approach, being here more straight forward and playful with less editorialising, and rarely if ever offering any solutions to the problems presented. The Nonsense, then, is simultaneously more humorous and more pessimistic.

These two books complete each other, coming together to make a whole which is greater than the sum of its parts. But make no mistake, these are still two separate books and more than capable of standing on their own. Moreover, each book will round out to about 70 pages. That makes a lot of material and this is an independent publication so financial support is crucial to making this happen. So please, give generously.

About the Author

Ægir Þór is born and raised in Kópavogur but currently lives in downtown Reykjavík. He has been writing since kindergarten but only published his first book late last year. He has also published poems, short stories and translations in various literary magazines and collections.
Additionally he has long been an active participant in the poetry scene in Iceland and has hosted regular reading for a number of years. He is currently working on establishing a new literary collective and looking to publish a magazine in association with that (find us at www.facebook.com/endahnutar / endahnutar@gmail.com).
Ægir Þór has a BA in history, another BA in philosophy and is currently writing his MA thesis in philosophy.

Samples

(from Screaming Inconsistencies)

A PROTEST *English translation*

It rains
on wax polished cars
outside the offices of government.

Such mundane protests
of nature
will never make the news.

More people should weep
for the tragedy of
the asphalt.


HIN PÓST-MANNLEGA TRÚARJÁTNING (fragment)

Við trúum á almætti hins óhlutbundna,
tæknilega, smættanlega, handangóðsogills
alltumlykjandi lyktarlausa stílhreina notendavæna
glansandi markaðsráðandi sjálfskapandi persónulausa
og fullkomlega skipulagðaglundroða.

Verði enginn vilji, verði enginn vilji
aldrei,aldrei, aldrei meir.

Mátturinn er dýrðin og heimurinn drottinn
í nafni kaffi, svita og súkkulaðis –
eitt aumingjans smáblóm með blæðandi sár
sem tilbiður aldrei neitt meir.

...
(from The Nonsense)

THE OTHER POETS *English translation*

I turn over glasses faster than
the wine runs from the box.

All the other poets have quit drinking
find recycling a bit enjoyable get
a little frisky to Kendrick Lamar and
have too much food leftover to
close the fridge.

Independent poetry publications
are a thing of the past while
the poets sip their ginger tea
buy cancer riddle lapdogs and
have children who hate them.


COMPLICATIONS (fragment) *English translation*

The alcoholic poets sit
single file at the bar top counter
waiting for the universe
to cum in their faces.