Tribute to Borges' Garden of Forking Paths

This weekend I came across the coolest Reddit page. It showed a photo of a labyrinth dedicated to Jorge Luis Borges,  author of a story called "The Garden of Forking Paths."

Naturally, any time I see something like this I want to share it.

The Garden of Forking Paths appeared in one of his early volumes of short stories titled Ficciones. (Fictions) As I peruse the table of contents here my heart stirs with wonder at the quantity of incredible stories his imagination produced. If you're a fan of this remarkable Argentine author you'll be similarly stirred by titles like The Lottery in Babylon, The Circular Ruins, The Library at Babel and Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius.

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I'd planned to share this Borges-themed labyrinth yesterday when I unexpectedly received an article from a New York friend that included some Borges anecdotes which deserved to be shared here. The title of the article was A Visit to the Klippersonian. It's about a globetrotting photographer named Stuart Klipper who collects things, both tangible and experiential. He's not only an interesting story himself, but he has a lifetime of interesting stories to tell as well.

At one point his story intersects with Borges. Their meeting feels as spooky and unexpected as a Borges tale that feels more fate than luck. The net result is Klepper having an opportunity to host a visit by the world-renowned Borges to Minneapolis, where on the a non-forking path along Minnehaha Falls there is a stature of Longfellow. They similarly visited the Walker Museum, making memories there as well.

And if all that is not enough, Klipper shares a few Dylan anecdotes that you've probably never heard before, for those who never tire of hearing another Dylan detail.

Photo by Victor Garcia on Unsplash

Here is a link to The Garden of Forking Paths so that you may grasp why Borges has such a following.

In my youth I was fascinated with mazes and labyrinths, hence it was especially delightful and mentally stimulating to discover Borges. I've many times noted Borges has been one of my chief influences when it comes to writing fiction. In 2011 I assembled a half dozen in my first volume of short stories titled Unremembered Histories, my own attempt at Magical Realism.

The title of the book takes its name from my Unremembered History of the World, which in its own way treats the concept of time like a series of forking paths. You can read that one on Medium without purchasing anything. Feedback always welcome.

In closing, here is a very short piece by Borges, which like all his short pithy pieces is both pointed and properly rewarding: Inferno, I, 32

Have a great week.

Related Link
The Mind of Borges

Klippersonian link courtesy LL

Seven Really Cool Internet Finds Related To Borges

Jorge Luis Borges has to be one of the most astonishing writers in world literature. I would say modern literature except that he is the embodiment of all, which he consumed with passion. Considering that he never produced a novel, this Argentine short story writer, poet and essayist has had the most profound influence on writers from all points north, south, east and west. I know no one who is familiar with Borges who is not likewise impressed.

By way of introduction, here are some links to various websites or pages related to Borges...

Labyrinths are a recurring theme in Borges. This web page contains summaries of each of the stories in his collection titled Labyrinths.

One of his most famous stories is titled The Garden of Forking Paths. It, too, is a labyrinthian tale which no doubt became the seed that produced this very cool, experimental game design titled Branching Narrative From Borges to the Hypertext.

In 2009 when I wrote about Borges someone sent me a Borgesian-style piece which I enjoyed very much, and shared it here.

I've been collecting his books for a very long time. His last, which he claims was his best, is called The Book of Sand. When I discovered it in the library I purchased it and completed my collection. More or less. You'll enjoy reading this Wikipedia introduction to The Book of Sand.

The penultimate story in this book, of course, is this one that gives the volume its name.

But the most interesting to me is this hypertext version of the story.

All the stories here, however, yield rewards.

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And then, there's The Library of Babel, a strange story about a library that contains all the knowledge in the universe in a somewhat fantastic manner. When conceived as a story more than 60 years ago he had no way of knowing that computer technology would enable an obsessed devotee of the story to replicate, albeit in a virtual space, this unusual library so that others may explore its contents.
The website explains itself thus: The Library of Babel is a place for scholars to do research, for artists and writers to seek inspiration, for anyone with curiosity or a sense of humor to reflect on the weirdness of existence - in short, it’s just like any other library.

Not really.

Check it out: The Library of Babel.

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His stories produce collisions of ideas, sequences of philosophical shenanigans simultaneously consequential and inconsequential, absurd and fully enthralling, frothy and breathtaking, a whirlwind, a fable, a grand deception refracting light, blazing with half-crazy jangling, jarring and jaw-dropping mesmerizing. Borges the magician inspires, igniting readers' hearts and minds. Writers who study his moves are moved. "How did he do this?" 

For what it's worth, if not yet familiar with his stories I am happy here to have helped you begin the acquaintance.