...Why is there no one discussing about the concept details? Am I really the only one that didn't understand perfectly all the passages of the storyline? .....
....this is a pretty cool online resource where the author discusses the story in the book. Some of his conclusions and interpretations I do not share, others I do. Either way I think it might help you appreciate TGE more by spending some time with this page.
http://www.ips-planetarium.org/planetarian/articles/aniara.html
I have taken some liberties in the name of artistic freedom in my rendition of this novel, as I felt it necessary to keep the story progressing in an at least somewhat understandable fashion, with the limited space (no pun intended) I had at my disposal...
Most of times, long songs come boring. TGE flows like a river, and when it's done, you couldn't even believe you've listened to a 30-minutes suite..... Unbelievable.
Hey futilite,
I feel that the equations do have a meaning in the context of the song.
Equations are a part of mathematics and in a certain phase on board the ship, especially 'mathematics' played a huge part in the lives of the people:
after the period of 'LUST' (part 9), the period of 'REASON' (part 10) began. The lyrics go like this: "And as the orgies all fade and lust no longer attracts, then the brain will subdue the flesh, put the focus on facts".
The brain/mind had taken control over the flesh - 'Facts' is used as a metaphor for 'structure'/'mathematics' (i.e reason).
A fantastic thing to add, IMO:
the very technical playing of the band between 'Lust' and 'Reason' (the awesome proggy part) is there for a special reason indeed: an (almost) mathematical way of playing, showing the transision the people underwent in that phase while onboard the ship.
What do you think...?
I'm sure I heard that one of the sections around Reason is in some very mad time signature, like 32/11 or something. Which heavily hints at the mathematics theme.
Love that too, possibly my favourite of the 5 different chorus sections.