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Post by tetramorph on Sept 27, 2020 16:19:38 GMT -6
I’m reading the Penguin Classics selections from the Rig Veda.
I just never would have been able to enjoy it until now. But now I really do.
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Post by tdenmark on Sept 27, 2020 19:10:34 GMT -6
I also have The Best of Leigh Brackett book on my current pile. I think I'll bump both of these up. I read the first chapter today and really liked it.
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Post by tdenmark on Sept 27, 2020 23:32:08 GMT -6
I’m reading the Penguin Classics selections from the Rig Veda. I just never would have been able to enjoy it until now. But now I really do. Since taking comparative religions in college I have been fascinated by and enjoy reading various belief systems around the world. However the Indian lore boggles my mind. I have a hard time wrapping my head around it.
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Post by tetramorph on Sept 28, 2020 18:33:29 GMT -6
Yeah, tdenmark, I know what you mean. I am surely not getting a lot of stuff. But I’m focusing on theogonic stuff, rather than the epic stuff. That focus is helping me. I just try to grasp the one and let go of the rest. Kind of like reading the LOTR even if you are never going to read the appendices and the silmirillian!
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Post by Otto Harkaman on Oct 1, 2020 22:11:21 GMT -6
Finishing up another Alfred Duggan book, "The Lady for Ransom" - The Emperor in Constantinople is hiring mercenaries to repel the infidel. Among them is the ruthless nobleman Roussel de Balliol and his wife Lady Matilda. - He was present at the Campaign of Manzikert in 1071, but did not participate in the battle, as he was previously dispatched by the Emperor Diogenes to Khliat to forage and plunder. Roussel de Bailleul
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Post by stevemitchell on Oct 5, 2020 11:25:59 GMT -6
Murgunstrum by Hugh B. Cave. A huge collection of horror stories, mostly from the pulp magazines (Weird Tales, Strange Tales, Spicy Mystery, etc.). Old-fashioned gruesome fun, and lots of it.
The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard by Robert E. Howard. And another huge collection of pulp horror tales, in a nicely illustrated edition from Del Rey Books. A few of these are pretty mediocre efforts, but most of them deliver.
The Secret Temple by Peter Levenda. A look at Freemasonry and its influence on the Founding Fathers.
Lincoln: A Very Short Introduction by Allen C. Guelzo. A good short biography of one of America’s greatest Presidents.
Mormonism: A Very Short Introduction by Richard Lyman Bushman. And a balanced but sympathetic look at the Latter-Day Saints.
Finders Keepers by Stephen King. The second novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy. Bill, Holly, and the gang are back to deal with the repercussions of a decades-old murder.
Sword and Flame: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery by Brian Murphy. A fairly detailed examination of the origins and development of the sword-and-sorcery genre, with a few omissions (no mention of David Mason’s excellent novels, for example, and only one—slighting—reference to Andre Norton).
Thundar: Man of Two Worlds by Stuart J. Byrne. An American adventurer travels through a portal in the Andes to a very strange future, where the Earth has descended into barbarism. The customary battles with savage beasts and savage men ensue. Has much of the flavor of Edgar Rice Burroughs, with some traces of Robert E. Howard as well. Byrne was the author (under his John Bloodstone pseudonym) of the fugitive novel Tarzan on Mars.)
Nine Horrors and a Dream by Joseph Payne Brennan. Brennan was probably the most significant author to emerge during the last half-decade of Weird Tales’ first run. The volume reprints his first collection of stories from the Arkham House edition, including his classic novelette “Slime.” It’s really good to see this book back in print.
The Rendlesham Forest UFO Conspiracy by Nick Redfern. Mr. Redfern debunks yet another classic UFO case, arguing that the events at Rendlesham were the result of human experimentation, not alien intervention.
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Post by doublejig2 on Oct 5, 2020 12:20:19 GMT -6
Your consistently strong reading efforts are inspiring!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2020 15:29:47 GMT -6
I finished Heir to the Empire last week and am about halfway through Dark Force Rising now. Very impressed with the Thrawn story arc so far. Definitely getting much more out of it than I did back in the nineties. I'm better able to understand the politics and visualize why all the military strategies make sense. I can see why this is regarded as among the best story arcs of the Star Ears EU. Longer review coming when I finish The Last Command.
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Post by Punkrabbitt on Oct 6, 2020 20:53:17 GMT -6
I am reading Pratchet's "Lords And Ladies" again. It's my favorite Discworld book, and one of my Top Ten in all genres.
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terje
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Blasphemous accelerator
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Post by terje on Oct 8, 2020 18:05:59 GMT -6
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. Enjoyed it immensely!
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Post by Otto Harkaman on Oct 19, 2020 6:11:21 GMT -6
Finished another Alfred Duggan novel, this one is about the Crusader kingdoms in Greece after the sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. Learn a lot of history in a fun way with these novels.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2020 13:33:21 GMT -6
Very happy I read the entire Thrawn trilogy for the first time since middle school. I'm making some threads to explore individual components of that saga in the Star Wars subforum soon. The series wasn't without some weak points but it honored the spirit of OG Star Wars and the integrity of the main cast of characters while expanding the Galaxy in a fun and logical way using the WEG sourcebooks as a guideline.
I'll be checking out more Zahn books in the near future. In the meantime my Star Wars Legends kick continues with Luceno's "Darth Plagueis". Enjoying that one so far. Especially amused by college aged Palpatine in his frat boy outfit and riding a swoop bike.
edit: Finished Plagueis a week or two ago and have been reading a hard cover collection of H.G. Wells stories. I plan on reading some more Appendix N sometime before the end of the year. Anyone got any suggestions?
As for Plagueis, it was par for the course for the James Luceno Star Wars stories I've read, which is to say very good. Lots of political intrigue and they really enhance and complement the prequel movies. I would say Luceno is a fine example of an EU author who really expands the core material in those ways that make you go "Aha!". I enjoyed the characters and events in this book as much as the Thrawn trilogy by Zahn, and that's high praise.
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Post by Otto Harkaman on Nov 12, 2020 10:15:38 GMT -6
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Post by stevemitchell on Nov 12, 2020 13:25:00 GMT -6
The old comic book writer and sword-and-sorcery novelist Gardner F. Fox wrote some paperback-original historical novels, including one on Hawkwood--improbably titled Iron Lover.
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Post by Otto Harkaman on Nov 17, 2020 14:14:25 GMT -6
Had to put Crecy aside for a little bit while I caught up on the Hundred Years War history so I could build my mental images. Always wanted to read Thomas Costain's series on the English Kings, jumped right into the chapters on Edward III.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 10:03:30 GMT -6
Hehe, sweet books, Otto!Will likely go back and (re-) read "The Accursed Kings" this winter, in sequence. I read Eric Jager's entertaining "Blood Royale" earlier this year, and that has reignited my deep fascination for the era.
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Post by stevemitchell on Nov 20, 2020 13:16:55 GMT -6
The Costain series is an excellent narrative history for the non-specialist reader. And by all means, take a look at The Black Prince by Michael Jones, which covers the battles at Crecy, Poitiers, and Najera as part of Edward of Woodstock's career. It's one of the best medieval biographies I have read in a long time.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2020 18:43:33 GMT -6
Been enjoying the five novel hardcover H.G. Wells collection I ordered from Amazon. Finished "The Time Machine", "The Island of Dr. Moreau", "The Invisible Man" and "War of the Worlds" and lack about a chapter finishing "The First Men on the Moon" and then I'll have "The Food of the Gods" left. Interesting selection. None of these stories are new for me. I read them all in my late childhood and early teens. They're more like old, familiar friends in a slick new package. I'm enjoying this "Leather-Bound Classics" product line from Amazon. I started my collection late last year with "Bullfinch's Mythology" and some Grimm Bros. fairy tales and have collected around a half dozen from the product line so far. I have this going alongside my Appendix N and Star Wars "Legends" collections. I kind of alternate back and forth to keep it fresh.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2020 3:02:17 GMT -6
The Costain series is an excellent narrative history for the non-specialist reader. And by all means, take a look at The Black Prince by Michael Jones, which covers the battles at Crecy, Poitiers, and Najera as part of Edward of Woodstock's career. It's one of the best medieval biographies I have read in a long time. Haven't yet gotten to read Jones, but, yeah, he's on my list since forever. Also read a pretty good - recent - Jeanne d'Arc biography, but I've plainly forgotten its title. *Frantically scans the e-reader.* I like that the era is getting some renewed attention by content creators, lately. "The King", the Netflix movie, was naive, but a thing of beauty. Germany's longest running radio play/"podcast play", "The Warringham Saga" (150 hours in total, probably), is set during the War of the Roses". Ridley Scott is filming another Jaeger book, "The Last Duel". - Good times if you are into medieval history.
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Post by Otto Harkaman on Nov 21, 2020 13:03:04 GMT -6
The Costain series is an excellent narrative history for the non-specialist reader. And by all means, take a look at The Black Prince by Michael Jones, which covers the battles at Crecy, Poitiers, and Najera as part of Edward of Woodstock's career. It's one of the best medieval biographies I have read in a long time. Downloaded "The Black Prince" epub and audiobook on your recommend Hehe, sweet books, Otto!Will likely go back and (re-) read "The Accursed Kings" this winter, in sequence. I read Eric Jager's entertaining "Blood Royale" earlier this year, and that has reignited my deep fascination for the era. I had forgotten about Maurice Druon's books, thanks for the reminder
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2020 21:14:41 GMT -6
Also got myself the audiobook of "The Black Prince" over the weekend. An exceptional book, indeed, at least as far as I can tell right now.
I'm not nearly as much of a history buff as it might seem from this, but I take care to generally, read at least a few "crunchy" history books every year. From a gamer's perspective, it's almost an imperative, but from, ahem, a gentleman's perspective, it seems to be so, as well. For example, I love the podcasts that Mike Duncan is doing ("History of Rome"/"Revolutions"), but he's about the only diligent researcher within an ocean of disinformation.
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Post by stevemitchell on Nov 23, 2020 22:27:22 GMT -6
Otto and Rafael, I hope both of you enjoy The Black Prince!
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Post by rsdean on Nov 25, 2020 4:32:03 GMT -6
I am on a bit of a Dark Ages kick. I’m currently rereading Michael Chabon’s Gentlemen of the Road , and recently finished The Long Ships by Frans Bengtsson, and Sword Song, a YA historical by Rosemary Sutcliff. If inspiration becomes overwhelming, there are already miniatures in the stash...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2020 19:59:16 GMT -6
I'm still waiting for a proper omnibus of the "Dolphin Ring" family tale from Sutcliff; that was some of the best stuff I read as a teen, and while it surely didn't have the depth of more modern and more adult-oriented sagas, it left a deep impression on me. I've yet to find a book series that takes such a simple premise, and makes so much out of it.
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Post by stevemitchell on Nov 25, 2020 21:39:44 GMT -6
The Sutcliff book I read as a teen was Sword at Sunset, which was my introduction to the concept of a historical prototype for King Arthur.
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Post by verhaden on Nov 26, 2020 9:35:43 GMT -6
"Packing Iron: Gunleather of the Frontier West" by Richard Rattenbury
Bought some leather and tools, and reading up a bit more about holsters before I finalize my pattern. Have a few Colt and Remington reproductions that could use company.
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Post by doublejig2 on Nov 27, 2020 16:07:53 GMT -6
Reading The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. I haven't read it since grade school. It holds up!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2020 8:58:05 GMT -6
Finished the Wells collection and began the Verne collection. I'm happy with my re-reading of those five H.G. Wells classics. They hold up to my fond childhood memories. The ending salvo of Food of the Gods seemed metaphorical and appropriate concerning a possible destiny of Mankind. I'm five or six chapters deep into Verne's "Five Weeks in a Balloon" now and enjoying that old chestnut immensely.
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Post by Otto Harkaman on Dec 5, 2020 18:20:18 GMT -6
Still working on "The Black Prince" little over half way. When I was twelve my aunt (my father's sister) took me to Europe. I remember her taking me to see the Black Prince's tomb, always mystified by the nickname but never really knew much about him.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2020 18:53:11 GMT -6
Completely done with "Five Weeks in a Balloon". When I was 12 or however old I was when I initially read it, I guess I didn't notice the very many geographical anachronisms and insensitive cultural descriptions, but that's part of the charm of exploration literature from that era. It's the same "problem" some people find with Appendix N. I put it into its proper context and still enjoy the stories immensely for their finer qualities, which are many. I really liked this book better the second time around, actually. I'm viewing it through the lense of "how can I use this in a D&D campaign" and find it very applicable as a broad concept. Very applicable indeed. In fact I'm reading this compilation to mine it for ideas to use in the future. I'm a few chapters into " A Journey To The Center Of The Earth" now. As with the other, I've read this before, but it's been so very long ago that it's fresh and new to me, and yet again, many ideas that translate flawlessly into D&D.
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