Dawn of the Algorithm

In some parallel universe where hip-hop took a decidely more science-fiction/physics/neurobiology-oriented turn than in our sad, grey history, Yann Rousselot's poetry collection 'Dawn of the Algorithm' would be the lyrics booklet to the most exciting new album of the 21st Century. From witty riffs on Hollywood SF to a genuinely beautiful and touching poem from the point of view of a sentient but gaseous Jovian lifeform, this collection is quite unlike anything else being published. Genre poetry may not be the most remunerative field, but if it was all as good as this it would easily be one of the most exciting.

Dawn of the Algorithm by Yann Rousselot is a collection of traditional styled poetry covering unconventional territory. Rousselot describes himself as "a translator and writer living in the Paris region, originally from England, but also from Brittany, and more realistically from nowhere at all, being an expat-brat with serious issues of cultural schizophrenia."

Good poetry gets short reviews because the poet says it all and all I am left to do is tell people "Wow!" Dawn of the Algorithm is a short collection that covers a great range of ideas from what may be a slightly demented mind -- and I mean that in the best possible way. Where else would you read of a depressed Tyrannosaurs Rex? The once ferocious creature that nightmares were made of is now a meme with comically short arms. Science does not treat him much better in finding that he might have been a feathered proto-bird. T-Rex has become the Rodney Dangerfield of dinosaurs.

There is cleverness hidden in the writing too. "Looking between the schist and diamonds "-- geology or perhaps just an analogy with juvenile humor. "Film" creates an interesting story in a story. There is a rhythm in Rousselot's that is missing from a great deal of contemporary work. The rhythm nicely compliments the subject matter. The end of the world played on Youtube in 1080p and online zombie warfare romance seem to take on an unexpected acceptance. Even when our politicians declare war on everything we will be comforted to hear it all read in the familiar voice of Morgan Freeman.

Rousselot takes the reader on a wild and exciting trip into poetry that even people who hate poetry will enjoy. Much of the subject matter is firmly in the age range of the Gen-Xers and Millennials, but it is not out of the reach of hip Boomers either. A very unexpected and enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

Yann Rousselot is an immensely clever poet. His work satirizes and encapsulates so much of the stuff of modern algorithmized and online-ized and technology-ridden life. He mixes all kinds of allusions to popular culture and science into his swiftly-moving poems. The poems are supplemented and complemented by evocative and ingenious line drawings.

There are some terrific lines here, and you'll find yourself laughing often, assuming you get what he is talking about. He doesn't make use of many standard poetic devices, but he does pay attention to sound and meter - far from the chopped up prose that much modern poetry seems to be. So, if you want some thought-provoking fun, look here.

Dawn of the Algorithm is such a sharp and witty poetry collection. It's beautifully crafted (even as an eBook) with illustrations that correspond with some of the poems. I could list a few of my favorites but as I made mental notes, I ended up favoriting nearly most of them! It's outrageously clever and is definitely worth owning a physical copy of.

Yann Rousselot has penned a unique set of poems with Dawn of the Algorithm. I liked the rhythm of the poems as Rousselot voices his thoughts through poetry with a science fiction theme.
In this set of 33 poems, Post-Human Neo-Tokyo, Little Shop of Horrors and Blink Twice for No were among my favorites. Blink Twice for No especially as it is about what he wants to happen after he passes away one day.

The poems all have a raw and edgy, in your face kind of vibe to them. I think these would be great read aloud in front of an audience. There are also drawings pertaining to the poems dispersed throughout the collection. There is a dry humor and sarcasm to these poems that entertained me.
I liked the pop culture references in these works as the author uses televison programs, video games and films as fodder. Another great poem was Knight Rider which is an omage to the television series from the 1980’s.

Overall, this was a nice change of pace for me and I recommend Dawn of the Algorithm to fans of edgy poetry.

This collection of poems has surprised me. When you read them aloud (and you should) you will feel the power of the words, carefully put together to shout into your face. Yann Rousselot is not the subtle guy, he prefers a direct approach with special effects as in "Post-Human Neo-Tokyo": I speak supernova, I speak flame.

It's a unique and witty blend of pop culture and science fiction that I haven't experienced before. The humans are usually on the suffering side and there is nothing they can do about it. It's the natural flow of events involving destruction and rotting although people either don't recognize it or party anyway.

An interesting piece was "Blink twice for no" which asks what it means to be alive and how you can tell the difference from an impostor that has taken over the body.

Other favorites of mine include "Dawn of the Algorithm", "Little Shop of Horrors" and "The Machinist". An exciting experiment was the last poem, "Distress Signal", which is rendered in an approximation of the haiku format. It's very creative and works in a fascinating way.

This is an excellent collection and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves science fiction and poems.