Michel Houellebecq Q & A

       As I've noted, French author Michel Houellebecq has a new -- and, of course, already controversial -- novel coming out in France any day now, Soumission (pre-order your (French) copy at Amazon.fr).
       At The Paris Review's Daily weblog Sylvain Bourmeau now has an extended Q & A with the author, Scare Tactics: Michel Houellebecq on His New Book -- well worth a look.
       It is indeed a dark vision he has:

I think there is a real need for God and that the return of religion is not a slogan but a reality, and that it is very much on the rise.

       Still, I am curious about the book -- and, of course, the Huysmans-angle really intrigues me.