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encroachment-imagery

The recurring motif of ice as a creeping, invasive force symbolizing overwhelming and inescapable change or threat.

1 chapter across 1 book

Ice (1967)Anna Kavan

Chapter 4

This foreword introduces Anna Kavan's novel Ice as a seminal work of slipstream literature, characterized by its elusive plot, ambiguous characters, and evocative imagery of an encroaching ice age. It situates Ice within the broader context of slipstream, a genre blending speculative elements with literary experimentation, emphasizing its focus on emotional and metaphorical responses to science rather than scientific realism. The foreword also provides biographical context on Kavan, linking her personal struggles and experiences to the novel's themes and style.