Extollager
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Could you say which printing that is, HareBrain?
October 2022 Reading Thread
- Thread starter The Judge
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Why didn't I think of this?
Third impression, 1968. (Is that what you wanted?)
Extollager
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Yes, thanks!
The 1968 date suggests that this printing -- I assume "impression" means "printing" -- was capitalizing on the "Hobbit Craze" that started in the United States but was a UK phenomenon too. I'd love to know if that text appeared when the second impression was made, whenever that was.
The 1968 date suggests that this printing -- I assume "impression" means "printing" -- was capitalizing on the "Hobbit Craze" that started in the United States but was a UK phenomenon too. I'd love to know if that text appeared when the second impression was made, whenever that was.
Extollager
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Thank you -- that's really helpful and saves me from a goof I was poised to make!
Tolkien then evidently tolerated that text -- that rather misleading text, I would say -- for years. Again, I don't think he had any plans for writing more about hobbits. Certainly he had a lot more to say about his imaginary world epic -- LotR is only a part of it, with the Silmarillion material being necessary for the whole story. But that has nothing about hobbits. Perhaps Tolkien condoned the misleading text because he figured he would include a frame about Bilbo's translations relating to the First Age -- as I wish had been done with the published Silmarillion, if only on the title page, as "translations from the Elvish." I imagine Christopher Tolkien thought of doing that but decided not to.
But I love this stuff, HareBrain and Hugh -- thanks so much!
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I've had a look at Tolkien's letters around that period, and he doesn't comment on the jacket material. (BTW, whoever said Bombadil was put together quickly was right: less than a year from initial idea to publication.) But since The Silmarillion was also meant to be translated from the Red Book, I guess it might have been referring to that, but with the publisher's more Hobbit-centric spin.
Or, since we don't know (I think) when Tolkien started or abandoned his sequel to LOTR (except that it was before 1964), it might be referring to that.
(I've Googled for more info, but none was forthcoming.)
Or, since we don't know (I think) when Tolkien started or abandoned his sequel to LOTR (except that it was before 1964), it might be referring to that.
(I've Googled for more info, but none was forthcoming.)
Danny McG
"Anything can happen in the next half hour!"
Today I'm reading non fiction
REILLY – ACE OF SPIES
by Robin Bruce Lockhart
REILLY – ACE OF SPIES
by Robin Bruce Lockhart
For some light reading, I am rereading Sky of Swords, by Dave Duncan, which was always my favorite of the King's Blades series.
Quokka
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Recently finished The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett (1930), obviously know of the movie but I don't think I've watched it all the way through and certainly not recently and so the story line aside from the statue itself was largely a mystery and I think I'll enjoy adding some crime stories to my reading list. Its also great reading a story that was written in the era that it is based, lots of great little details like hotels having their own private detectives etc.
Moved on now to Time and Again by Jack Finney (1970), A time travel novel and I've only just started it but its definitely got me intrigued already.
Moved on now to Time and Again by Jack Finney (1970), A time travel novel and I've only just started it but its definitely got me intrigued already.
Quokka
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Just before these two I also read PK Dick's The Penultimate Truth and similar to a lot of his work the biggest problem is its been done so many times since it was released in 1964. If you've played a Fallout game you know the story, whatever you think of his writing style there is no denying Philip K. K Dick's influence.
Just finished The Evolution Of Religion (Robin Dunbar's new one), about to get stuck into Mark Solms' The Hidden Spring.
Whoah, I never even knew it started with a book. I might have to have a look for that!
I'm getting worse and worse at getting around to writing up my reading! This is almost a month's worth. Including three authors new to me and, surprisingly, no duds, especially considering one is self-published, an area which I have rarely found success with.
Resolute by Jack Campbell
This latest volume in the on-going Lost Fleet universe continues the story of the Alliance fleet travelling to try and establish diplomatic relations with the ‘Dancer’ aliens. It’s another solid story that manages to stay reasonably fresh…just. The alien angle has breathed new life into the Lost Fleet world, but I do find myself wondering how much longer Campbell (aka Hemry) can keep things new. There is one slightly odd part of the book’s structure in that there is a conspiracy within the fleet brewing throughout the book, but the final denouement of this thread eventually happens off screen whilst Geary, the single POV of the narrative, is elsewhere. It wasn’t a problem but just seemed like an odd decision by the author. Nonetheless it’s another good solid instalment in this series. 4/5 stars
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
Wow, this is a like Philip K Dick on steroids! Time travel, identity loss, a bizarre war that was doomed before it started, a strange alien stranded during an odd mission whose purpose it is not allowed knowledge of. This is one seriously off beat space opera romp combined with weird first contact which is driven along by often tenuous connections. It’s hard to nail down exactly what I think about it, but I did enjoy it! 4/5 stars
Primordial Threat by M A Rothman
Primordial Threat and M A Rothman came recommended by Gregory Benford.
A relatively small black hole is detected entering the solar system and by the time it’s done it’s likely the Earth and probably even the Sun will be destroyed. A radical solution is needed to save humanity and this book sets out to provide it. So long as the reader is prepared to accept the concept of the Alcubierre drive as plausible then this is mostly good sound hard science fiction though scaled up to such an immense scale that it does stretch the reader’s suspension of disbelief. The characters are a little cliched and often rather more concerned with their own egos than saving humanity, but then something along those lines is so often true of a lot of books (and reality?). Overall, a fairly solid piece of writing and rather better than most of the self-published works I’ve had the misfortune to read (or attempt to read) over recent years, but it did suffer from two severe deus ex machinas; a completely unexplained device invented by an unknown scientific genius who happens to be the new leader of North Korea (a bit bizarre that one!) which just happens to work perfectly with another unexplained device created by two, now dead, twin savants that no one has been able to understand since. I shall probably try the sequel though that seems less well regarded. 3/5 stars
The Commodore by Patrick O’Brian
This is a slightly slower instalment of O’Brian’s Maturin and Aubrey age of sail books with a large proportion of the book taking place on land and, when we do eventually get off to sea with a rather rag tag squadron of ships, the action also feels a little rag tag. But somehow O’Brian still manages to keep things readable and enjoyable. Not one of the best in the series, but also not the worst! 3/5 stars.
In The Shadow of Time by Kevin Ansbro
In The Shadow of Time and Kevin Ansbro were recommended by a GoodReads reviewer whose views I generally have a lot of respect and agreement with.
Magical realism with a hint of science fiction…maybe! Some possibly alien or maybe supernatural characters and a time travel device of, again, either alien or supernatural origin form the basis of this rather strange book. The writing is exquisite; whimsical, clever and witty. Ansbro credits Salman Rushdie and Gabriel García Márquez for introducing him to “a linguistically playful way of writing.” I absolutely loved the prose, never over the top (for me) but frequently poetic and, yes, playful. He also credits Ian Fleming with allowing him to write such an improbable, and slightly ridiculous, spy in the same mould as Bond. As I progressed through the story, I honestly believed I had a new author to add to my very top favourites but sadly it rather faded, with an ending that lacked substance. This turned out for me to be all about the journey and not the arrival, which is something I can live with when the journey is this good, and there are plenty of other books I’ve loved despite weak endings. Nevertheless, it gives a wild ride and was plenty good enough for me to pick up more of his work. Maybe he hasn’t made my very top list of authors, but the quality of the prose is sufficient to put him a good way up there. 4/5 stars
You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles
This is my fourth novella from the Forward Collection curated by Blake Crouch, and, whilst some of the character motivations felt rather constructed, the overall book manages to nail that grey area between ethical and unethical genetic manipulation in human childbirth or, as it’s presented here, “genetic nudging.” The picture it presents is initially appealing, have a child who is predisposed towards intelligence, social integration etc. but, as the short story progresses, it becomes increasingly disturbing and ultimately downright scary. Towles’ way of presenting this is both clever and engaging. A good addition to this so far mostly interesting collection. 4/5 stars
The Last Good Man by Linda Nagata
The Last Good Man came recommended by Greg Bear.
It is set in a very near future where all military operations are steadily moving towards replacement of humans on the front line with remote controlled, or autonomous AI controlled, drones, on land, air and sea. The story centres around one private military company who claim to be more about security ‘right action’ than operating as mercenaries, and who take on a hostage recovery mission. The writing tends to be a bit too introspective for my tastes and as that introspection starts becoming a bit repetitive, so it also becomes more annoying. But aside from that it is mostly a well-paced and solid military narrative, with plenty of well written action, if at times a little gung-ho in a typically marine oorah sort of manner. Not brilliant but good enough to encourage me to try some of Nagata’s more far-future oriented SF. 4/5 stars
Resolute by Jack Campbell
This latest volume in the on-going Lost Fleet universe continues the story of the Alliance fleet travelling to try and establish diplomatic relations with the ‘Dancer’ aliens. It’s another solid story that manages to stay reasonably fresh…just. The alien angle has breathed new life into the Lost Fleet world, but I do find myself wondering how much longer Campbell (aka Hemry) can keep things new. There is one slightly odd part of the book’s structure in that there is a conspiracy within the fleet brewing throughout the book, but the final denouement of this thread eventually happens off screen whilst Geary, the single POV of the narrative, is elsewhere. It wasn’t a problem but just seemed like an odd decision by the author. Nonetheless it’s another good solid instalment in this series. 4/5 stars
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
Wow, this is a like Philip K Dick on steroids! Time travel, identity loss, a bizarre war that was doomed before it started, a strange alien stranded during an odd mission whose purpose it is not allowed knowledge of. This is one seriously off beat space opera romp combined with weird first contact which is driven along by often tenuous connections. It’s hard to nail down exactly what I think about it, but I did enjoy it! 4/5 stars
Primordial Threat by M A Rothman
Primordial Threat and M A Rothman came recommended by Gregory Benford.
A relatively small black hole is detected entering the solar system and by the time it’s done it’s likely the Earth and probably even the Sun will be destroyed. A radical solution is needed to save humanity and this book sets out to provide it. So long as the reader is prepared to accept the concept of the Alcubierre drive as plausible then this is mostly good sound hard science fiction though scaled up to such an immense scale that it does stretch the reader’s suspension of disbelief. The characters are a little cliched and often rather more concerned with their own egos than saving humanity, but then something along those lines is so often true of a lot of books (and reality?). Overall, a fairly solid piece of writing and rather better than most of the self-published works I’ve had the misfortune to read (or attempt to read) over recent years, but it did suffer from two severe deus ex machinas; a completely unexplained device invented by an unknown scientific genius who happens to be the new leader of North Korea (a bit bizarre that one!) which just happens to work perfectly with another unexplained device created by two, now dead, twin savants that no one has been able to understand since. I shall probably try the sequel though that seems less well regarded. 3/5 stars
The Commodore by Patrick O’Brian
This is a slightly slower instalment of O’Brian’s Maturin and Aubrey age of sail books with a large proportion of the book taking place on land and, when we do eventually get off to sea with a rather rag tag squadron of ships, the action also feels a little rag tag. But somehow O’Brian still manages to keep things readable and enjoyable. Not one of the best in the series, but also not the worst! 3/5 stars.
In The Shadow of Time by Kevin Ansbro
In The Shadow of Time and Kevin Ansbro were recommended by a GoodReads reviewer whose views I generally have a lot of respect and agreement with.
Magical realism with a hint of science fiction…maybe! Some possibly alien or maybe supernatural characters and a time travel device of, again, either alien or supernatural origin form the basis of this rather strange book. The writing is exquisite; whimsical, clever and witty. Ansbro credits Salman Rushdie and Gabriel García Márquez for introducing him to “a linguistically playful way of writing.” I absolutely loved the prose, never over the top (for me) but frequently poetic and, yes, playful. He also credits Ian Fleming with allowing him to write such an improbable, and slightly ridiculous, spy in the same mould as Bond. As I progressed through the story, I honestly believed I had a new author to add to my very top favourites but sadly it rather faded, with an ending that lacked substance. This turned out for me to be all about the journey and not the arrival, which is something I can live with when the journey is this good, and there are plenty of other books I’ve loved despite weak endings. Nevertheless, it gives a wild ride and was plenty good enough for me to pick up more of his work. Maybe he hasn’t made my very top list of authors, but the quality of the prose is sufficient to put him a good way up there. 4/5 stars
You Have Arrived at Your Destination by Amor Towles
This is my fourth novella from the Forward Collection curated by Blake Crouch, and, whilst some of the character motivations felt rather constructed, the overall book manages to nail that grey area between ethical and unethical genetic manipulation in human childbirth or, as it’s presented here, “genetic nudging.” The picture it presents is initially appealing, have a child who is predisposed towards intelligence, social integration etc. but, as the short story progresses, it becomes increasingly disturbing and ultimately downright scary. Towles’ way of presenting this is both clever and engaging. A good addition to this so far mostly interesting collection. 4/5 stars
The Last Good Man by Linda Nagata
The Last Good Man came recommended by Greg Bear.
It is set in a very near future where all military operations are steadily moving towards replacement of humans on the front line with remote controlled, or autonomous AI controlled, drones, on land, air and sea. The story centres around one private military company who claim to be more about security ‘right action’ than operating as mercenaries, and who take on a hostage recovery mission. The writing tends to be a bit too introspective for my tastes and as that introspection starts becoming a bit repetitive, so it also becomes more annoying. But aside from that it is mostly a well-paced and solid military narrative, with plenty of well written action, if at times a little gung-ho in a typically marine oorah sort of manner. Not brilliant but good enough to encourage me to try some of Nagata’s more far-future oriented SF. 4/5 stars
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It's pretty amazing, innit.
Crazy! It felt like drugs should have been involved!
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I'm sure they were.
I loved the way at one point the protagonist is treated like the messiah in the new religion and within the day he closer to the Antichrist! The reader really has no idea at any point quite what is coming next!
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Absolutely. It’s all rather unbalancing until you just let it sweep you along.
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