What are you reading? - 2019, and beyond.

[Deleted]

Oct 18, 2016 23:23:46 GMT -6 @rafael said:

www.amazon.com/My-Father-Pornographer-Chris-Offutt/dp/1501112465

Starting this one, right away today: A biography of fantasy writer Andrew Offutt, who, as the creator of Thieves' World's "Shadowspawn", became one of my favorite genre authors.

Now, what few people know is that Offutt, apart from his fantasy work, wrote hundreds of penny dreadful erotica novels, which is what explains the book's title.

Being somewhat around half-way through the audiobook, I can already say, spare yourself the trouble.

Full disclosure here, I've often stated that Andrew Offutt's Shadowspawn and Lone, his two main characters from "Thieves' World", are quite probably my two favorite characters in fantasy fiction. "Rowell the Blade", my Blackmoor signature character that I built the entire LFC universe around, back in the day, was largely inspired by "Shadowspawn". So, I am certainly what you can call a fan. I also wrote a piece on Offutt's passing on my old blog, and even got a complimentary note from his family for it. Also, my own dad died this year, and I spent a long time cleaning out his place. So, I am certainly not without bias.

Now, the book, frankly, while well-written, I found a painful listen: It's one of those sensational tell-all stories. A very Freudian book, where he constantly compares himself, and his own accomplishments, against those of his father - often in immature and petty ways. You know, the kind of stuff a writer puts together when he's all out of other ideas. A book he should have written, if he needed this sort of cathartical journey of self-exploration - but not have published. .

So, the image he paints - even if he should manage to correct it in the last part of the book - is certainly not the one he wants to create. It's a book of self-exculpation: "Everything that was wrong with my life was because my parents were idiots - not good, not bad, just stupid"; and that's stuff you expect from way younger writers, but not of a man of stature, like Chris Offutt undoubtedly is.

[stevemitchell]

The Stuarts by John Miller. Covers all the Stuart monarchs of England, from James I to Anne. A good political history of this troubled dynasty.

Time Traveling Through Swamp Gas by Gray Barker and others. More UFOlogical essays.

Edson’s Raiders by Joseph H. Alexander. An outstanding small-unit history of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in World War II. The Raiders’ defense of Bloody Ridge at Guadalcanal was one of the epic stands of the Pacific war.

Frankenstein’s Castle by Colin Wilson. The author examines left-brain/right-brain issues from the standpoint of his existential philosophy.

Fact, Fiction, and Flying Saucers by Stanton Friedman and Kathleen Marden. The authors debunk several prominent UFO debunkers, including Donald Menzel, Philip Klass, and Edward Condon.

The Last White Rose by Desmond Seward. Henry VII’s victory at Bosworth Field in 1485 seemingly brought the Wars of the Roses to a close. But there were two major rebellions against Henry in the next decade, and even after that, all the way down through the closing years of Henry VIII’s reign, the Tudors were troubled by various plots and schemes to bring the Yorkists back to the throne. Seward’s book brings all of this together in an excellent narrative history.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft: Dreamer on the Nightside by Frank Belknap Long. Originally published by Arkham House in 1975, this has recently appeared for the first time (I believe) in paperback from Wildside Books. Not a detailed Lovecraft bio, but rather a memoir by Long, who knew Lovecraft personally.

[Otto Harkaman]

Just finished rereading Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire." I was trying to find something about her writing style. I found this link on her website where she talks about her writing method www.annerice.com/sh_MessagesBeach2.htm

[tetramorph]

I am finally reading some Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

Again, as with Poul Anderson, I am not sure why I waited so long to read this stuff.

I am having so much fun.

[Deleted]

FWIW, the apparent misquotation in my sig is NONE.

If you can tell me what I am alluding to (hint: it requires really profound oldschool knowledge, and it cannot be found via google), then I'll offer you some sort of reward.

[stevemitchell]

The Complete Secret Cipher of the UFONauts by Allen Greenfield. This is a compilation and revision of two previous books by this author. He traces possible correlations between the UFO phenomena and occult lore. With special guest appearances by Aleister Crowley, Richard Shaver, and L. Ron Hubbard.

Fast One by Paul Cain. An ultra-hardboiled novel from the 1930s. (Under a different pen-name, the author wrote the screenplay for the Karloff-Lugosi version of The Black Cat.)

Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick. This was Dick’s first published novel, from 1955. It’s not as “trippy” as his novels starting a decade or so later would be, but it’s still highly imaginative: in the future, humans are serfs of giant corporations, the leader of the world government is chosen by lottery, an android assassin is controlled by 24 different minds, and a space expedition is desperately searching for a tenth planet beyond Pluto’s orbit.

Gettysburg by Stephen W. Sears. A well-written account of Lee’s 1863 invasion campaign, culminating in the epic battle in Pennsylvania. It ranges from intense tactical narratives to considerations of the overall Union and Confederate leadership. Sears is always good for Civil War topics.

Nazi UFO Time Travelers by Timothy Green Beckley and Others. Ja, Ich bin ein Zeitreisender.

The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick. Dick’s second published novel, from 1956. Following a global atomic war, a pre-cog pits himself against the new world government, while mutants are being genetically engineered to serve as colonists on Venus. Good; but for some reason, I found this one to be very depressing.

Iron Curtain by Anne Applebaum. The Red Army liberated Eastern Europe from the Nazis in 1944-45. . .and then began imposing Stalinist systems throughout the region. This detailed study traces the resultant cultural, economic, and political transformation of these newly-made Communist states through the mid-1950s, focusing especially on East Germany, Hungary, and Poland.

[tkdco2]

Beastly Things, by Donna Leon. It's part of her Commissario Brunetti series.

[Deleted]

Not that it would be, like, this week's overall theme, but I am eyeing Miles Cameron's audio book version "The Red Knight" next, after finishing the rather forgettable "The VAMPIRE Count of Monte Cristo". Still struggling with "Manhattan Transfer", by John Dos Passos, too, but I got a lot of rather senseless paperwork to do, and I need something... Inconsequential for the ride that this will be.

[arkansan]

I'm almost finished with Leigh Brackett's "The Sword of Rhiannon". It's pretty good so far, but it hasn't quite grabbed me the way some of her other works have, which I find strange because a lot people recommend it as the best of her sword and planet work. I've also been digging my e-book copies of Cirsova magazine, which publishes sword and sorcery and sword and planet.

I think Otis Kline's "Swordsman of Mars" is next.

If anyone has any pulpy science fantasy, sword and planet recommendations I'm all ears.

[foxroe]

Nov 7, 2016 15:44:04 GMT -6 @rafael said:

FWIW, the apparent misquotation in my sig is NONE.

If you can tell me what I am alluding to (hint: it requires really profound oldschool knowledge, and it cannot be found via google), then I'll offer you some sort of reward.

Tom o' Bedlam

[Deleted]

That is, of course, correct! However, it's a special version of the poem, from, and here's a hint, a very old movie. What movie am I talking about?

I'm aware it's super-difficult, of course. Another hint: All my screen names/forum until this one were in reference to my favorite book; the same actor that played in one of the first film versions of that book also played in the movie the quote comes from.

The prize will be something related to Meleon, of course.


...When I'm not Rafe, or, in reference to Blackmoor, "Rowell the Blade", I'm usually signing as "Le Noir Faineant".

[foxroe]

Nov 21, 2016 8:20:33 GMT -6 @rafael said:

That is, of course, correct! However, it's a special version of the poem, from, and here's a hint, a very old movie. What movie am I talking about?

Ivanhoe?

[Deleted]

Close, but no cigar.

[Falconer]

Okay, the novel is Ivanhoe…

Is it a silent film?

[Deleted]

the same actor that played in one of the first film versions of that book [my favorite, which you now know] also played in the movie the quote comes from.

[foxroe]

King Richard and the Crusaders?

[Deleted]

No, señor! No!

[foxroe]

Cats? We've gone too far!

This thread is officially hijacked!!

Was it The Scarlet Cloak?

[Deleted]

I don't know that one - but judging from Wikipedia, it might be a delight: That series, "Turn", was not too interesting - but it made me read a few books about the American Revolution. So, it's become sort of a hobby of mine to deal with that historical period. Tonight, after work, I think I'll get me that one...

But indeed, not to make too much fuzz about it, the lines are from "The Knights of the Round Table" (1955), that also starred Robert Taylor:




Still my favorite adaption of the Arthurian circle in film, plain and simple. Reasonably innocent, but also deeper than many other swashbucklers of the time.


In terms of actual reading, by the way, to return to the "Redcoat" theme, I am eyeing Robert Harvey's Cochrane biography, next. There is this historical podcast, "Revolutions" that struck a nerve with me. You will never get a political statement out of me, folks, but I think it's not the worst time to learn how past generations defied tyranny. And it might now be that some of you think, "yeah, well, here goes another snobbish European, telling us how much our last election sucked". - Not at all, I assure you. Lamentably, over the pond, we're facing bigger threats to liberty than our current leader of state having vaguely the same hairdo as a Tamarin monkey. (I hope that kind of joke is still okay. Like, in all friendliness, DAT HAIR. )

[foxroe]

You can't stop the signal...

Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

[foxroe]

... getting back on track ...

I've read a lot of CAS on my Kindle (free stuff!), but I finally picked up a physical book a couple of months ago: The Dark Eidolon and Other Fantasies (Penguin Classics). It's a good sampling of his works if you haven't read anything of his.

On a side note, I remember after reading all of the Averoigne stories, I couldn't help but think that it was a perfect drop-in setting for a BTB OD&D campaign. Then again, I suppose his other fantasy worlds would work too  .

[stevemitchell]

Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Over the years, I’ve read, I suppose, about 90 percent of the Holmes canon. But I decided to go back and read the entire series in publication order (book publication, that is). And of course, found myself wanting more when I was done. . . .

No. 19 by Edgar Jepson. In Edwardian London, a circle of occultists attempts to open the gates to the powers of the Abyss. Thematically, though not stylistically, influenced by Arthur Machen; and one of the occultists is clearly based on Machen. The ending made me wonder if possibly Clark Ashton Smith had read this novel; there’s a similar conclusion in his Averoigne tale “The Disinterment of Venus.”

A College Mystery by A. P. Baker. An old-fashioned ghost story set at Cambridge University, very much in the tradition of M. R. James and other antiquarian supernaturalists.

The Ghost of Greystone Grange by Arthur William a Beckett. A Victorian “sensation” novel; modestly entertaining, but definitely minor league when compared to the efforts of Wilkie Collins, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, or Mrs. Henry Wood.

The Thirty Years War by C. V. Wedgwood. A detailed treatment of this devastating conflict, with as much emphasis on its political and social aspects as on its military affairs.

In Re: Sherlock Holmes by August Derleth. The first volume in Derleth’s long-running series of Sherlock Holmes pastiches, featuring Solar Pons as a thinly disguised substitute for Holmes.

[derv]

I'm currently on a reading binge of the Warhammer adventure novels of Gotrek and Felix. Trollslayer, Daemanslayer, Dragonslayer, Giantslayer, Orcslayer, Manslayer, Zombieslayer. It's candy for the brain Actually, I've already read the Blackhearts Omnibus some time ago and really enjoy the Warhammer setting. It's a different and grittier take on many of the common fantasy tropes.

[tkdco2]

I'm rereading the old MERP sourcebook Minas Ithil. My new MERP campaign can be based in this city.

[Deleted]

Started listening to the audiobook version of "Duskfall", by Christopher Husberg, yesterday. Pretty sweet fantasy; not quite traditional S&S, but certainly in tune with the more low-fi, "existential" fiction that I prefer. Allsofar, a pretty rewarding experience, if a bit too teenage-angsty, sometimes. Even so, a beautiful listen, and a beautiful addition to the genre. Many, many young writers are, in my opinion, profoundly boring, outside from one or two mildly unconventional ideas. This one is certainly conventional, but not boring at all, so far.

[starcraft]

Just finished a reread of Leiber's Swords and Devilry.

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2016 9:03:17 GMT -6 @rafael said:

Started listening to the audiobook version of "Duskfall", by Christopher Husberg, yesterday. Pretty sweet fantasy; not quite traditional S&S, but certainly in tune with the more low-fi, "existential" fiction that I prefer. Allsofar, a pretty rewarding experience, if a bit too teenage-angsty, sometimes. Even so, a beautiful listen, and a beautiful addition to the genre. Many, many young writers are, in my opinion, profoundly boring, outside from one or two mildly unconventional ideas. This one is certainly conventional, but not boring at all, so far.

Should not have praised the book before its ending; goodness, the last chapters were TURRRRRRIBULL. Looking at "The Gates of Ivrel", by C. J. Cherryh, next. I think i read that one a while ago, already, but it sort of didn't stick...

[Deleted]

Over the holidays, I'm planning to reread the entire "Book of the Kingdoms" series, by Angus Wells.

I want to bring some attention to the series, because this series is as blatant a ripoff of Blackmoor as one can possibly get published without being utterly ridiculous. (Chivalric fantasy about a Northern kingdom surrounded by enemies, a burning god of the desert nomads, and a couple of really, really deep dungeons. You will get what I mean when you read it.)


...That said, check definitely it out: It's pretty well done. Angus Wells, seriously one of my favorite genre authors. But this one, no misunderstandings possible, he likely wrote after reading a few very specific D&D modules.

[krusader74]

Cinema and Sorcery: The Comprehensive Guide to Fantasy Film

This book looks interesting. I haven't read it yet. But I may put it on my Christmas list:

Cinema and Sorcery: The Comprehensive Guide to Fantasy Film by Arnold T. Blumberg and Scott Alan Woodard. Green Ronin Publishing. March 30, 2016. 384 pages.



Kurt Wiegel recently did a video review of this book on YouTube, Game Geeks #270 Cinema and Sorcery: The Comprehensive Guide to Fantasy Film, 8 minutes, 30 seconds:



This book covers 50 films. For each film, the authors provide info about its

• Alternate titles
• Taglines
• Map locations(s)
• Plot
• Alternate versions, e.g., director's cuts
• Magic
• Meaning
• Actors
• Connections to other films
• The making of the movie
• Music
• Sequels, remakes, games, and other merchandise
• Roleplaying-game treatment of a selected hero, villain, monster, or artifact from the film
• Review
• Events in the history of gaming that took place in the year of the film's release

The 50 films covered are

1. The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
2. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad
3. The Magic Sword
4. Jason and the Argonauts
5. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
6. Monty Python and The Holy Grail
7. Wizards
8. Star Wars
9. Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
10. Hawk the Slayer
11. Excalibur
12. Clash of the Titans
13. Dragonslayer
14. The Sword and the Sorcerer
15. Conan the Barbarian
16. The Beastmaster
17. The Last Unicorn
18. The Dark Crystal
19. Ator, the Fighting Eagle
20. Krull
21. Hercules
22. Conquest
23. The Neverending Story
24. The Warrior and the Sorceress
25. Red Sonja
26. The Black Cauldron
27. Wizards of the Lost Kingdom
28. Highlander
29. Legend
30. Labyrinth
31. Big Trouble in Little China
32. The Barbarians
33. The Princess Bride
34. Deathstalker II
35. Willow
36. Barbarian Queen II: The Empress Strikes Back
37. Army of Darkness
38. Dragonheart
39. Dungeons & Dragons
40. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
41. Versus
42. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
43. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
44. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
45. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
46. Solomon Kane
47. How To Train Your Dragon
48. Your Highness
49. Brave
50. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

[tetramorph]

Just read "The Jewels in the Forest." Leiber: Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser.

Crazy awesome. It just is D&D!