literature
london chancery building
from j. g. ballard, eero saarinen posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat
J. G. Ballard wrote the time travel story "The Gentle Assassin" in 1961 and was prescient about the eventual reception of this Eero Saarinen-designed building. It has since been recognized as a Modernist classic.
In December 2017 the U.S. Embassy left this location for its new address in Nine Elms, London.
london chancery building
from j. g. ballard, eero saarinen posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat
He sat forward with surprise, pointing through the open window at the graceful beehive curtain-wall of the American Embassy, answering his question.
The driver noticed his interest, flicked away his cigarette. ‘Funny style of place,’ he commented. ‘Can’t understand the Yanks putting up a dump like that.’
‘Do you think so?’ Dr Jamieson asked. ‘Not many people would agree with you.’
The driver laughed. ‘You’re wrong there, mister. I never heard a good word for it yet.’ He shrugged, deciding not to offend his passenger. ‘Still, maybe it’s just ahead of its time.’
Dr Jamieson smiled thinly at this. ‘That’s about it,’ he said, more to himself than to the driver. ‘Let’s say about thirty-five years ahead. They’ll think very highly of it then.’
"The Gentle Assassin", J. G. Ballard
view full location details...pittock mansion
from the lathe of heaven, ursula le guin posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat
He got onto the funicular at Fourth and Alder; and swooped up over the gray-green city to the HURAD Tower which crowned the west hills, on the site of the old Pittock mansion high in Washington Park.
- The Lathe of Heaven, Ursula Le Guin
view full location details...lloyd center
from the lathe of heaven, ursula le guin posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat
...the funicular line stopped across the river in the old Lloyd Center, once the biggest shopping center in the world, back before the Crash. Nowadays the vast multilevel parking lots were gone along with the dinosaurs, and many of the shops and stores along the two-level mall were empty, boarded up. The ice rink had not been filled in twenty years. No water ran in the bizarre, romantic fountains of twisted metal.
- The Lathe of Heaven, Ursula Le Guin
view full location details...the singer’s house
from a brief history of seven killings posted in literature by nevereatshreddedwheat
The Singer house was the biggest house me ever see. Me run up and touch the wall just to say me touch it. So much first time in that trip that me can't even remember most of them. First time me ever go uptown. First time me on Hope Road. First me see so much woman in pretty clothes walking up and down the street. First time me see the Singer house. First time me see white woman looking like Rasta. First time me see how people who have things live.
– The gang member Demus in A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James