Platform

****** (6 stjerner): »I lige linie fra mesteren Celine er Houellebecq en ærkefransk forfatter, der formår at forene det dybsindige og samfundskritiske med det profane, pornografiske og politisk ukorrekte ... stor, vigtig og rystende samfundslitteratur.« - Henrik List, Berlingske Tidende

****** (6 stjerner): »I lige linie fra mesteren Celine er Houellebecq en ærkefransk forfatter, der formår at forene det dybsindige og samfundskritiske med det profane, pornografiske og politisk ukorrekte ... stor, vigtig og rystende samfundslitteratur.« - Henrik List, Berlingske Tidende

Houellebecq's new novel tells the story of an attempt to create a package-holiday company for sex-tourists. Less philosophical and grandly ambitious than Atomised, it is, if anything, even more outrageously funny and bitingly satirical of the ways we live now than the earlier novel. Added to which, there is a genuinely moving love affair, real characters and a real plot!

From the author of cult favourite Atomised 'Reading Houellebecq is like being caught up in a tropical storm: you are blown away by the ferocity of his imagination' Observer Michel is a civil-servant at the Ministry of Culture. When his father is murdered, Michel takes a leave of absence to go on a package tour to Thailand. Infuriated by the shallow hypocrisy and mediocrity of his fellow travellers, only the awkward Valerie attracts his attention. Too bashful to pursue her, Michel prefers the uncomplicated pleasures of Thai massage parlours and sex with local women. Back in Paris, he calls Valerie and they plunge into a passionate affair, which strays into S&M, partner-swapping and sex in public. Michel quits his job, and tries to help Valerie and her boss, Jean-Yves, in their ailing travel business, by offering travel packages based on sex tourism in the third world. When their project comes to fruition and the three return to Thailand, Michel discovers that sex is neither the most consuming nor the most dangerous of human passions... 'With Atomised , you could see that Houellebecq was headed for greatness. With Platfor m he has attained it. The book is a stunning achievement.' Evening Standard

From the author of cult favourite Atomised 'Reading Houellebecq is like being caught up in a tropical storm: you are blown away by the ferocity of his imagination' Observer Michel is a civil-servant at the Ministry of Culture. When his father is murdered, Michel takes a leave of absence to go on a package tour to Thailand. Infuriated by the shallow hypocrisy and mediocrity of his fellow travellers, only the awkward Valerie attracts his attention. Too bashful to pursue her, Michel prefers the uncomplicated pleasures of Thai massage parlours and sex with local women. Back in Paris, he calls Valerie and they plunge into a passionate affair, which strays into S&M, partner-swapping and sex in public. Michel quits his job, and tries to help Valerie and her boss, Jean-Yves, in their ailing travel business, by offering travel packages based on sex tourism in the third world. When their project comes to fruition and the three return to Thailand, Michel discovers that sex is neither the most consuming nor the most dangerous of human passions... 'With Atomised , you could see that Houellebecq was headed for greatness. With Platfor m he has attained it. The book is a stunning achievement.' Evening Standard

In his new work, Michel Houellebecq combines erotic provocation with a terrifying vision of a world teetering between satiety and fanaticism, to create one of the most shocking, hypnotic, and intelligent novels in years. In his early forties, Michel Renault skims through his days with as little human contact as possible. But following his father's death he takes a group holiday to Thailand where he meets a travel agent—the shyly compelling Valérie—who begins to bring this half-dead man to life with sex of escalating intensity and audacity. Arcing with dreamlike swiftness from Paris to Pattaya Beach and from sex clubs to a terrorist massacre, Platform is a brilliant, apocalyptic masterpiece by a man who is widely regarded as one of the world's most original and daring writers.