Giovanna Clairval
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Roger Zelazny's short story, ''24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai'' ,
written in 1985, won the Hugo award in 1986.
Hokusai Katsushika (1760-1849) was an acclaimed artist well know for his ukiyo-e woodblock prints.
A view of the mountains near Santa Fé inspired Roger Zelazny, who was also familiar with an abridged version of the 36 original ukiyo-e, to write a story around Hokusai's prints.
Mari, the protagonist and narrator, uses these 24 views, along with allusions to Dante Alighieri, Chaucer, Cervantes, and Reiner Maria Rilke, among others, as frames to her personal journey.
She is about to carry out something horrible, and Hokusaï, so descriptive and emotionally restrained, helps her in steeling herself and strengthening her resolve.
This first view depicts the last glimpse of Mt. Fuji that can be seen. The mountain is only a small, solitary triangle that appears through the circle of the barrel.
"Kit lives, though he is buried not far from here; and I am dead, though I watch the days-end light pinking cloudstreaks above the mountain in the distance, a tree in the foreground for suitable contrast. The old barrel-man is dust; his cask, too, I daresay."