Jayne: We was just about to spring into action, Captain. Complicated escape and rescue op. Wash: I was going to watch. It was very exciting.

'Shindig'


We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good  

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


Volans - Nov 01, 2005 11:02:46 pm PST #9371 of 10002
move out and draw fire

"Shambleau" is awesome.

I tried Doomsday Book a couple times, but couldn't get into it. Love A Distant Mirror, though. I adore Tuchman.

I've got two books going right now: Einstein's Clocks, Poincare's Maps and Banewreaker. I'm enjoying the first (and amusing my DH by reading to Mallory from it, giving him an early basis in relativity theory), but finding the second to be, well, I think the author's trying too hard.


Fred Pete - Nov 02, 2005 4:19:02 am PST #9372 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.

Another recommendation for C.L. Moore. Also, her husband, Henry Kuttner. And the numerous pen names (Lewis Padgett probably the most-used) that they used for collaborations ("Mimsy Were the Borogoves" probably their best, though it's definitely SF and not fantasy).

And for other not-well-remembered '40s SF, I'd heartily recommend Eric Frank Russell and, believe it or not, L. Ron Hubbard's pre-war work.


Steph L. - Nov 02, 2005 4:51:32 am PST #9373 of 10002
Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe

CL Moore's great--the Jirel of Joiry stories are really excellent, but "Shambleau" totally knocked me out when I read it in college (SF/fantasy feminist lit class).

I sent Teppy a whole collection of CL Moore's Northwest Smith stories.

Yes, indeed. They were nicely dark.


Strega - Nov 02, 2005 6:47:01 am PST #9374 of 10002

(Lewis Padgett probably the most-used) that they used for collaborations ("Mimsy Were the Borogoves" probably their best, though it's definitely SF and not fantasy).

Aha! That is also on my to-read list. I don't actually know anything about it, but the title was enough.


Matt the Bruins fan - Nov 02, 2005 8:19:34 am PST #9375 of 10002
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

You'll never look at Alice in Wonderland the same way again after reading it.

I have the 1969 collection of Moore's Jirel stories rattling around my library somewhere - would you like to borrow it?


Strega - Nov 02, 2005 9:54:04 pm PST #9376 of 10002

You'll never look at Alice in Wonderland the same way again after reading it.

...This isn't a Santa Steps Out thing, is it?

I have the 1969 collection of Moore's Jirel stories rattling around my library somewhere - would you like to borrow it?

Oh, gosh, that's extremely generous of you. Let me see if there's anything at the library first (and actually, I should ask my brother since I may see him this weekend). But if that doesn't pan out I may have to take you up on that. Is there a particular title to look for, or are a lot of the stories scattered about in anthologies?

Actually, if we do a book exchange, I'll have to lend you Hawk the Slayer. [insert evil laughter here]


Nutty - Nov 03, 2005 4:34:09 am PST #9377 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."

Anybody here ever read Emile Zola? I am reading a New Yorker article about his feud with Paul Cezanne, and wondering whether Germinal is the only exciting work of his, or whether I should go back and try others.

( Germinal is pretty exciting. It is basically a giant muckraking journalism novel about a miners' strike, except that, because it is not in the New World, there is not a single shred of optimism to be found. However, there are explosions.)


Consuela - Nov 03, 2005 5:16:42 am PST #9378 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

Yes, Nutty. We read, um, Nana, I think. The one about the prostitute. It was very much in the naturalism school. Pretty grim in many ways, although I don't actually recall how it ended.


Consuela - Nov 03, 2005 5:17:32 am PST #9379 of 10002
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

Cinnamon toast: And there weren't any explosions.


Matt the Bruins fan - Nov 03, 2005 6:09:14 am PST #9380 of 10002
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

Is there a particular title to look for, or are a lot of the stories scattered about in anthologies?

The stories were collected into Jirel of Joiry back in 1969 (reprinted by Ace in 1977), but originally they're spread across numerous issues of Weird Tales from the 1930s. I've seen the first one, "Black God's Kiss" reprinted in several anthologies, but the others are pretty obscure.