I have two bookcrossing books that I am ready to part with. Ithought I'd offer them here first.

Emma - Jane Austen
Box Socials - W.P. Kinsella

If you are interested, either mention it in thread or email me.

I always thought Fanny Hill was a movie about a group of US marines attempting to conquer a vietcong brothel

Interesting article on Salon about James Wood and Dale Peck.

Cross-posted from my LJ:

One of my favourite writers to come out of the rich vein of fantasy and sf in the mid-80s is Steven R. Boyett. Steve has a superb voice and a way of looking at things just slightly askew that makes you take a fresh and second look at familiar objects and ideas. In 1983, he wrote a book that I loved called Ariel, which was very well-received and Steve began an ambitious series of novels, the first of which was called the Architect of Sleep. He then encountered some difficulty with his publisher and the short version of the story is that the second novel, The Philosopher of Dreams, and the rest of the series never reached print. Nor did his subsequent novels, books that I am dying to read, but the business of publishing won't bring to me.

However, and here's the cool part: Steve has a website -

Steven R. Boyett

There, you can follow a link to the e-book version of Ariel and to a collection of short stories called Orphans (Steve is terrific in the short form, as well). Some of these short stories are new to me, so I'm keen to have the chance to catch up with them.

And thus, I bring them to you.

Bibliography

Steven R. Boyett

Haven't thought of him in far too long. If Ariel is what I'm thinking of (boy and his unicorn, set in a world where electricity suddently stops working and magic suddenly starts working), I have very fond memories.

I don't remembe rArchitect of Sleep as well, but it involved a human transported to a world of intelligent raccoon-like beings. Also worthwhile.

Today at work I met a 12 year old Agatha Christie FAN (she was reading the ABC Murders for the 4th time). I think she is a kindred spirit, as everyone laughs at me for reading mystery novels over and over.

Anyway fellow mystery readers-- do you think she'd like Ngiao Marsh to expand her reading a bit? I didn't discover Marsh until I was an adult but I was trying to think of some suggestions for her.

Haven't thought of him in far too long. If Ariel is what I'm thinking of (boy and his unicorn, set in a world where electricity suddently stops working and magic suddenly starts working), I have very fond memories.

I don't remember Architect of Sleep as well, but it involved a human transported to a world of intelligent raccoon-like beings. Also worthwhile.

Right on both counts, Fred. Excellent memory. Good taste, too. Try the sample from "Drifting off the coast of New Mexico" at the site. Boyett hasn't lost a step in his ability to immerse you in a slightly off-kilter reality.

Yeah, Sophia.

I didn't discover Marsh until I was an adult

I'd never heard of her until you mentioned her, and after a little web surfing, she sounds great! This is why I love books -- there are so many out there, I'll never run out of things to read (and when I find a mystery author I like, I tend to gobble them as quickly as I can). I still have lots of Christie to get around to.

If Ariel is what I'm thinking of (boy and his unicorn, set in a world where electricity suddently stops working and magic suddenly starts working), I have very fond memories.

Wow. I remember that book. IIRC, that was the first blow job that I ever read. Actually, I think that's how I found out about blow jobs. (Am I right? The girl seduces him? There's loving detail about her hair brushing back and forth on his stomach? The things an 11-year old mind remembers. (We picked it up at the used bookstore.))