So, about a month ago the Guardian ran a short review of Jon Courtenay Grimwood‘s new novel, Stamping Butterflies. I’m glad they did, because it had somehow escaped my notice that the book was out–sometimes that happens with UK-original hardcovers, as my coverage of what’s new there is weaker than in North America–and I promptly ordered the book. It got… Read more →
Category: Books
The Sherlock Holmes Society of London…
Has a review of the New Annotated Holmes that I just bought, and it’s positively glowing. The most exciting news for me though, is that there is to be a matching edition of the longer works later this year. The website of The Sherlock Holmes Society of London ‘The biggest thing for years’–well, The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes certainly qualifies… Read more →
First bookstore splurge of 2005
I had my first slightly ridiculous bookstore trip of the year today, prompted by what amounts to a 40% off sale on in-stock hardcovers at my local megastore, and I thought some of you might be interested by what was in the basket. First up were a couple of really heavy items: The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes – I’ve been… Read more →
Need a happy
After that last post I need a happy. And here is one. It appears that the same people responsible for that monster Complete Far Side collection that everyone was talking about–did anyone actually buy one?–are also producing another collection that I must own. Details. I have wanted this for years. The pricing is ridiculous, but hey, I have disposable income… Read more →
It’s all about rejecting Authority…
I had posted earlier on the Times report about Hollywood removing the anti-religiosity from the movie adaptations of Pullman‘s “His Dark Materials” books, implying that the changes upset me, but trying to be reasonable about it. Well, Jessa over at the irreplacable Bookslut notes today that Pullman has something to say about that article, and it makes me feel somewhat… Read more →
Chris Moore on NPR
While I was wandering in blizzards, Christopher Moore was doing an interview with NPR nominally about his latest book, The Stupidest Angel. I’m a big Moore fan, although I think his most recent two (Fluke, and The Stupidest Angel) don’t live up to his previous work. They just seem somehow slighter than the other stuff, which is an odd complaint… Read more →
Making Light Of Gerald Allen
I was getting pretty depressed about the whole Gerald Allen story (which I had previously commented on) and then I read Teresa Nielsen Hayden’s take on the piece. She skewers him so thoroughly that I felt immensely better. (Later on, of course, when I start wondering why the mass of Americans, and the Administration in particular, doesn’t see what she… Read more →
Should I laugh or cry?
According to the Times, in an article I saw on Locus, it doesn’t bother Pullman, who seems to be taking the Alan Moore philosophical approach to what Hollywood is doing to his books, but I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry… THE Hollywood adaptation of Philip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials, in which two children do battle with… Read more →
This much I know
I may have to subscribe to the Guardian. Any paper with their level of real news coverage, and that has time for lots of Pullman and Mieville is OK with me. Hell, I subscribe to all their RSS feeds (well, OK, not the Sports or Football ones, I admit) and read most of the stuff, so I probably ought to… Read more →
So Yesterday
So, let’s talk for a little bit about Scott Westerfeld. I had been hearing his name for some time in regards to his Succession series (well, two books might not officially be a series, so we could just refer to them by title as The Risen Empire and The Killing of Worlds) which always came up in that Intelligent New… Read more →
Pullman comes right out and says it
I’ve always been amazed that Pullman’s Dark Materials books sell in the children’s section without more hue and cry from the Jesus brigades. Very glad, but quite surprised. SPOILERS IN FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH I love the idea of a whole generation of readers growing up on books where the kids save the world by having sex and killing God. Or, more… Read more →
Pan’s people
And now, for something completely non-electoral: The Guardian is running what is nominally a review of the new Tartarus Books collection of Arthur Machen stories, but which is actually much more a history of Machen. If you’re into 19th century weird fiction, or you’ve heard of Machen’s “The Great God Pan” (or perhaps especially if you haven’t) you should check… Read more →
