weekend links: fiction fractals, Bolaño theater, sam sax

Artist Raul Lemesoff drives his vehicle called "Arma de Instruccion Masiva" (weapon of mass instruction) through the streets of Buenos Aires

Raul Lemesoff's "book tank." Image courtesy of The Atlantic and Marcos Brindicci/Reuters.

Some nuclear physicists claim that certain books—most notably, James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake—resemble mathematical fractals. Someone please tell me what this means. Bonus: James Joyce called himself “one of the greatest engineers, if not the greatest, in the world,” and thought that the wheel is a perfect square. Sure, James. [The Guardian]

Also on the fractal list: Roberto Bolaño’s notoriously difficult 2666, which will soon be brought to the Chicago stage by theater director Robert Falls. Falls likens the multimedia production to “binge-watching” Bolaño; ideas for the adaptation include a Tarantino-esque short film, a lucha libre-style fight scene set to Mexican death metal, and a Greek chorus. Oh, and this is all financed by a former Episcopalian monk who won the lottery. Seriously! [The New York Times]

Have you ever wished there were a vending machine for short stories? No? You’re not that much of a nerd? Uh, haha, me neither! (But there is.) (But it’s in France.) Anyway, you should read about the innovative ways that independent publishers like Coffee House Press are bringing literature to the streets. [The Atlantic]

#BookPublishingSoWhite [Flavorwire]

Quarterbacks are an odd, punk-ish band from upstate New York who recently finished a national tour. This profile is pretty long, but the dynamics and attitudes of the band members fascinated me. I also recommend their 22-minute debut album, which I listened to as I read this. [The Fader]

You know how you just accumulate so much stuff, and then one day you look around your cluttered apartment, and you think, “I just have too much priceless art!” Well, Geoff Hargadon has you covered with his (parody) storefront Cash for Your Warhol. [Atlas Obscura]

Local poet and Michener Fellow sam sax made Teen Vogue’slist of “nine young poets making the genre cool.” Look, we could make fun of Teen Vogue here, but I think it’s pretty great that the word “poet” appears even once in a teen-oriented fashion magazine. And congrats, sam! [Teen Vogue]

Alex Gehring of Austin psych band Ringo Deathstarr thinks her group’s name is “too dumb”; I respectfully disagree. [Austin Chronicle]

If you’re into graffiti, you should visit the HOPE Outdoor Gallery in Austin, a space where artists (or, I guess, writers) have 24-hour access to three levels of concrete walls. [Conflict of Interest]

—Alyssa G. Ramirez