December's here! And you're reading....?

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

The streak of misogyny in his works is the only thing that does grate on me a bit in Dick's works. Having read a biography of the man, I would have to very regretfully submit that it is a faithful representation of his own views on women; an uneasy but by no means uncommon mix of romanticism and resentment.

 

[Diggler]

The streak of misogyny in his works is the only thing that does grate on me a bit in Dick's works. Having read a biography of the man, I would have to very regretfully submit that it is a faithful representation of his own views on women; an uneasy but by no means uncommon mix of romanticism and resentment.

I assumed this might have been the case. He had been married a few times, and was obviously resentful of his former wives. I think I may be getting a biography on PKD from my wife for Christmas... Hoping

As for books. I finished The Heavenly Host. It was only a kids book, though was a tad more intelligent than your average childrens story.

I've started on A Clockwork Orange. I am having a lot of issues with the dialogue. So I'm pretty much blundering along, trying to piece together the terminology as best I can...

 

[j d worthington]

'The Zanies Of Sorrow', in an earlier revision, was possibly my favourite piece in Sesqua Valley And Other Haunts. You've rightly praised the ending of this story in particular. Let me also draw attention to the character of the writer-narrator as shown in the opening passages, his quest for solitude, his growing fascination for his strange, lovely neighbour - these were also depicted with a glowing vividness that forged an instant bond of empathy with this reader. I also loved the weird little sequence when the old sorcerer joins his strange conjure-figures in their bizarre dance. Pugmire's stories are chock-full of little set pieces like this, and I hope the time does not come when he feels he can dispense with them.

The story also appealed to me because the title is a quotation from Wilde's De Profundis, and aspects of the tale may be seen as a tribute to Wilde (note the yellow-bound book the old man is seen to be reading). (On a tangential note, imagine an edition of Pugmire's works illustrated by Beardsley - something we shall sadly never see).

Indeed, all good points, and I agree with you. From what I gather, I doubt he ever will dispense with such -- they seem to be too much a part, not only of his art, but his worldview. As for the little touches such as the yellow-bound book, etc.... yes, he is especially good at selecting such tiny details to include to enhance the atmosphere and general impression, both on an overt and a covert level. (Whether this is conscious or unconscious on his part, I am not certain, though I would imagine there plenty of instances when either -- or both -- apply.) He learned well from his mentors: Lovecraft, (Henry) James, and Wilde. (And yes, an edition of his work illustrated by Beardsley -- or Sime, for that matter -- would be wonderful!)

Now, if I can only track down a copy of Tales of Love and Death....

I've started on A Clockwork Orange. I am having a lot of issues with the dialogue. So I'm pretty much blundering along, trying to piece together the terminology as best I can...

I've not checked out any of the editions of this for many years, but most of those I had seen before had a glossary of Nadsat terms in the back. Have you checked to see if yours is one? In any event, the meaning of the dialect quickly becomes apparent from context, and is a very carefully chosen -- and effective -- technique for getting inside Alex's head and exploring his culture... both that of the greater world and the subculture of which he is a part....

Note: If yours is an edition lacking the glossary, you might check out the following:

Nadsat Dictionary

The Kubrick Site: A 'Nadsat' Glossary

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

I assumed this might have been the case. He had been married a few times, and was obviously resentful of his former wives. I think I may be getting a biography on PKD from my wife for Christmas... Hoping

As for books. I finished The Heavenly Host. It was only a kids book, though was a tad more intelligent than your average childrens story.

I've started on A Clockwork Orange. I am having a lot of issues with the dialogue. So I'm pretty much blundering along, trying to piece together the terminology as best I can...

The biography I've read is Divine Invasions by Lawrence Sutin. It's an insightful and sympathetic portrait of the man. I Am Alive And You Are Dead by Emanuelle Carrere seems more analytical in nature and has received mixed reviews, but I intend to read this one as well.

 

[GOLLUM]

Phew...looks like the literary notations are running rampant here...so into what I'm reading.

Well, nothing new really, just completing my reread of Jeff Vandermeer's Shriek: An Aftefword before finally launching into Mr. Finch.

 

[Diggler]

I've not checked out any of the editions of this for many years, but most of those I had seen before had a glossary of Nadsat terms in the back. Have you checked to see if yours is one? In any event, the meaning of the dialect quickly becomes apparent from context, and is a very carefully chosen -- and effective -- technique for getting inside Alex's head and exploring his culture... both that of the greater world and the subculture of which he is a part....

Note: If yours is an edition lacking the glossary, you might check out the following:

Nadsat Dictionary

The Kubrick Site: A 'Nadsat' Glossary

Unluckily, this doesn't have a glossary. So thank you very much for providing a link!

 

[Fried Egg]

Finished "Ancient Sorceries & Other Weird Stories" by Algernon Blackwood and on to "Carnacki - Ghost Finder" by W. H. Hodgson.

 

[Allegra]

Walking on Glass - Iain Banks. Excellent!

 

[gully_foyle]

Walking on Glass - Iain Banks. Excellent!

Would it appeal to us M fans?

I'm still bogged down with Cities in Flight and keep picking up other books to avoid it. Today I found The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. I'm a big fan of The Odyssey and thought I'd get a kick out of Penelope's perspective. Anyone else read it?

 

[Connavar]

I have started reading No Dominion the second Joe Pitt book by Charlie Huston.

Joe Pitt is a very fun read in a rough more of hard-boiled crime way than fantasy,horror series.

For a blood sucking vamp he makes me smile,root for the guy. No romantic views on vampires myths when its written by a Noir writer.

 

[Daisy-Boo]

I have started reading No Dominion the second Joe Pitt book by Charlie Huston.

Joe Pitt is a very fun read in a rough more of hard-boiled crime way than fantasy,horror series.

For a blood sucking vamp he makes me smile,root for the guy. No romantic views on vampires myths when its written by a Noir writer.

Let us know what you think when you're done. I love the Joe Pitt books. The 5th book is on sale now. I've already put it in my basket and now I'm waiting for pay day so that I can pay for my online purchases...LOL

 

[Allegra]

Would it appeal to us M fans?

Yes! There are strong surreal, sci-fi elements (especially in the Castle thread). Very well written. Banks really has a way with words!

 

[Connavar]

Let us know what you think when you're done. I love the Joe Pitt books. The 5th book is on sale now. I've already put it in my basket and now I'm waiting for pay day so that I can pay for my online purchases...LOL

I already like after 70 pages that he is building on his world really well.

Its not as action filled start as the first but its a quality,fun read.

I have to finish the series soon, almost sad the series has ended.

I have read other urban fantasy series, no one has created as interesting hero like Pitt. Dresden looks like a wannabe now

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I've started the first book of the 'Amber' series by Roger Zelazny.
'Nine princes in Amber' is quite underwhelming from what I've read so far and it's getting harder and harder for me to keep pressing on with the book. The character is annoying me to no ends and the amnesia part of the book simply can't stir my interest in any way. I find it to be a much too simple device for explaining to us the things that happen and how they happen. It's a bit insulting actually.

I tried to start Nine Princes in Amber, and just could never get into either.

I'm now reading The Virgin's Lover by Phillipa Gregory.

 

[Diggler]

The biography I've read is Divine Invasions by Lawrence Sutin. It's an insightful and sympathetic portrait of the man. I Am Alive And You Are Dead by Emanuelle Carrere seems more analytical in nature and has received mixed reviews, but I intend to read this one as well.

I'll definitely track whichever one I don't get down.

 

[Lobolover]

J.D. I just finished "The Finding of Lot's Wife" by Alfred Clarke , about a mysterious secretive monastery in the middle of a waste , who have the calling in life to heal all those who go insane at the sight of the pillar of salt that used to be Lot's wife, which is located in a hardly acessible valley nearby called "The Valley of Madness" , which is not only insufferabely hot , but filled with corpses of people who died insane .

You realy might want to check it out .

Now I am reading another book I wanted to read for a long time "The Devil Tree of El-Dorado" by Frank Aubrey .

 

[Nikitta]

Finally a little time for pleasure reading again! So, I finally finished The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks. I thought that it was really good and intense at first but eventually, he got a bit too over-powered for it to be captivating and the whole ka'kari thing just got a bit too much towards the end. At first, I thought I'd definitely end up buying the sequels, but now I doubt it.

Now, for a complete change of style, I'll move on to Ubik - especially since I appear to have bought two by accident, so I must really be wanting to read it, I guess.

 

[murphy]

(snip)

Now, for a complete change of style, I'll move on to Ubik - especially since I appear to have bought two by accident, so I must really be wanting to read it, I guess.

Oh dear, I've done that. Embarrassing, isn't it.

Now reading Dan Abnett's Triumff: Her Majesty's Hero. I'm just a few pages in and laughing my head off. I can just see this on screen.

 

[AE35Unit]

Finished the first story in 3 For Tomorrow, How It Was When The Past Went Away by Robert Silverberg. Very good story about an amnesia epidemic.
Next one is The Eve of RUMOKO by Roger Zelazny, my first Zelazny piece!

 

[Heather Myst]

I am on book three, Memories of Ice, of Steven Erikson's Malazan books. I am not 100% sure of what is happening but I am enjoying the ride.