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defrog
The book reports you’ve been waiting for all this time have arrived. Glory be.JUST FINISHED
How The West Was Weird, edited by Russ Anderson, Jr
I was reluctant to pick this up, but only because two of the writers in this anthology just happen to read this blog, and what if I had to tell them I didn’t like it? I mean, how awkward is that? Otherwise, I like the idea of an anthology of Weird West tales (being a fan of Jonah Hex and Brisco County Jr and all). And luckily for me, it’s a rather good collection. Inevitably some stories are better than others (with the final story seeming an odd fit as it’s set in modern times), and it helps to have an appreciation for the pulp-fiction style of writing. But there’s a lot of nifty ideas here, from Aztec vampires and gunslinging exorcists to tentacled alien horrors and possibly the strangest zombie story I’ve read in years. And as I like to do my part to support the indie presses, here’s a link for more details.
JUST STARTED
Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler
Well, it’s Raymond Chandler, who writes lines like “a blonde to make a bishop kick a hole in a stained glass window”. Enough said.
RECENT TITLES
The Day Of The Triffids by John Wyndham
Most people associate triffids with the B-movie adaptation of this book. But there’s far more to The Day Of The Triffids than the usual 50s B-movie clichés. It’s actually one of the better post-apocalyptic novels I’ve read, taking a manageable man-made catastrophe – walking carnivorous plants – and then making it unmanageable by having most of humanity blinded by a separate catastrophe. If the science is a little dodgy, Wyndham does a good job chronicling the breakdown of society and the various approaches to survival of the handful of sighted people left. Not recommended if yr expecting a pulp monster-fest, but otherwise I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a good apocalyptic tale. And I’ll be reading Wyndham again soon.
Armageddon In Retrospect by Kurt Vonnegut
A posthumous collection of unpublished Vonnegut writings, mostly revolving around the theme of war and his experiences as a POW in WW2. Maybe it’s because of the subject matter – which Vonnegut was always excellent at mining – but this worked a lot better for me than his more recent posthumous anthology. It’s equal parts grim and funny, and much of it rates so well with his classic stuff it’s a mystery as to why they didn’t see the light of day before, Vonnegut’s own high standards notwithstanding. Highly recommended.
Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov
The second installment of the Foundation series, chronicling the fall of the Galactic Empire and the prophecies of psychohistorian Hari Seldon that seek to limit the subsequent interim barbarianism. Like the first book, what it lacks in characterization it more than makes up for with its big ideas and brisk pace as Seldon’s prophecies are put to the test against a general loyal to the empire and a mutant conqueror who demonstrates the folly of relying on prophecy alone as a strategy. Grand space opera for people who don’t like space operas.
The Book Of Ultimate Truths by Robert Rankin
The first book of the Cornelius Murphy series, which is worth noting since the very first Rankin book I ever read was the third book of this series. The plot involves young Murphy, convinced he’s the stuff of epics, being hired to track down the missing chapters to The Book Of Ultimate Truths by Hugo Rune in order to save humanity. Occult silliness follows. Typical Rankin fun for me, so the rest of you can read at yr own risk.
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
The first book of the Harry Dresden series, which I’ve avoided for awhile because I’m suspicious of urban fantasy these days, and I wasn’t sure if I could go with a series about a wizard/private eye based in Chicago. Also, I couldn’t pick this up without thinking, “Yr a wizard, Harry” (which isn’t Butcher’s fault, I know). Anyway, the good news is that it’s actually a fun, snappy read. Butcher has the P.I.-story cadence down, and the story is all right (someone is killing mobsters and call girls with magic, and a missing persons case gets complicated and relevant). That said, I don’t know if I’m ready to commit to the rest of the series. I’m not saying this is my last Dresden book, but I’m not in a hurry to pick up the next one.
It’s a kind of magic,
This is dF
