The second installment in William S. Burroughs' "Cut-Up Trilogy," alongside The Soft Machine and Nova Express.

An experimental science fiction novel that depicts the battle between the Nova Mob—an organization spreading the "virus of lies" through propaganda, advertising, and deceptive information to manipulate and corrupt society—and the Nova Police, who oppose them.

This story sharply satirizes the effects of information control and linguistic manipulation on human society. Through Burroughs' philosophy that "language is a virus," it serves as a provocative warning against modern media and power structures.

Burroughs pioneered the "cut-up" technique, physically slicing and rearranging text to create new contexts and meanings.

For Burroughs, cut-up was not just a literary technique but also a means of exposing how language governs human thought.

This approach has influenced not only literature but also music and visual arts. Notably, musicians such as David Bowie and Thom Yorke have employed cut-up methods in their lyrics and songwriting.

Edited and introduced by Burroughs scholar Oliver Harris, this edition examines how Burroughs' multimedia creative process expanded its cultural influence through a "viral" logic.

William S. Burroughs (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997)

An American writer and a key figure in the Beat Generation literary movement. Known for his provocative exploration of drug culture and sexual taboos, his unique style has left a lasting impact on subsequent generations.

【Author】William S. Burroughs

【Release Date】April 22, 2014

【Publisher】Penguin Classics

【Format】Paperback

【Pages】352

【Language】English

【ISBN】978-0141189772