Inne pieśni

This was the second book by Dukaj I’ve read, and in my opinion, it soared past his other work, “Extensa” .

Dukaj has a talent for building entirely new universes from the ground up. This one isn’t our familiar, atom-based reality, but a world governed by the metaphysics of Aristotle. Here, everything is composed of five elements, and their unique blend-their “Form”-defines what they are. It’s a fascinating, mind-bending concept to grasp, offering a glimpse into how philosophers perceived the world centuries ago.

While the exact plot has faded from my memory over the last decade, I vividly recall the central conflict. It wasn’t a simple clash of armies, but a struggle between vastly different realities. The protagonist, Hieronim Berbelek, a once-powerful leader who has lost his influence-his “Form”-embarks on a quest to reclaim it. His journey through this bizarre world, which has been shaped by a different history, is the heart of the story. I also remember a strange being whose “songs” were not music, but the sorrowful cry of a consciousness struggling to exist in a reality it wasn’t made for.

Other Songs is the kind of book that leaves your mind feeling stretched and reshaped. I thoroughly enjoyed it, even if it took a while for my brain to un-pretzel itself after the final page 😄