Listening to Red Dead's History, an analysis of how Red Dead Redemption II addresses American history. Read by Roger Clark, aka Arthur Morgan. Listening to it while playing RDR2 just to drive the weirdness home.
Bonyduck Campersang
Staring into the distance
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2022
- Messages
- 4,680
Finished The Yellow Room by Mary Robert Rhinehart. Turned out to be a very engaging and thrilling detective story, though it had its weak spots. For one thing one of the central suspects is introduced late into the action. For another, the female protagonist, relatively resourceful and strong at the start, withers down to being nothing more than a pathetic object of pity for the male protagonist. And thirdly, for the exposé the detective reveals information which was completely unknown to the reader, in blatant defiance of the rules set out by the Detection Club. Still it was an entertaining read.
Also finished Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen. The first book I read by this author was the moody and dramatic Gothic historical romance The Viper of Milan. I loved it, and was surprised to learn that Bowen was only 16 (!) when she wrote it. The second book I picked up was Five People, a terrible slog featuring a saintly protagonist who never stops being manipulated with her eyes wide open by the wicked antagonist. The story, though overwrought, the writing was still very strong.
And Black Magic I have just finished. Unlike The Viper of Milan, whose main characters are historical and the story is based on the real-life Gian Galeazzo Visconti's attempt to conquer Italy, Black Magic is a historically-themed romance with fictious characters and strong supernatural elements. Witches and ghouls abound, fires are burned within pentagrams to call on Diabolic aid, and all about is thick the air with the superstition of the Middle Ages (the only clue to the exact time period are references to a certain Basil reigning in Constantinople). What starts as a relatively straightforward story of a two young apprentices of the dark arts slowly reveals a weird and incredible secret, and though the reader may have guessed it towards the end of the book (though probably not without a shocked shudder) and the explicit revelation is suitably horrific. The actual truth is tantalisingly never revealed in its awful entirety, and is left for the reader to haunt him and confound his senses.
Also finished Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen. The first book I read by this author was the moody and dramatic Gothic historical romance The Viper of Milan. I loved it, and was surprised to learn that Bowen was only 16 (!) when she wrote it. The second book I picked up was Five People, a terrible slog featuring a saintly protagonist who never stops being manipulated with her eyes wide open by the wicked antagonist. The story, though overwrought, the writing was still very strong.
And Black Magic I have just finished. Unlike The Viper of Milan, whose main characters are historical and the story is based on the real-life Gian Galeazzo Visconti's attempt to conquer Italy, Black Magic is a historically-themed romance with fictious characters and strong supernatural elements. Witches and ghouls abound, fires are burned within pentagrams to call on Diabolic aid, and all about is thick the air with the superstition of the Middle Ages (the only clue to the exact time period are references to a certain Basil reigning in Constantinople). What starts as a relatively straightforward story of a two young apprentices of the dark arts slowly reveals a weird and incredible secret, and though the reader may have guessed it towards the end of the book (though probably not without a shocked shudder) and the explicit revelation is suitably horrific. The actual truth is tantalisingly never revealed in its awful entirety, and is left for the reader to haunt him and confound his senses.
Bonyduck Campersang
Staring into the distance
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2022
- Messages
- 4,680
Finished The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was very well-written, and the dramatic parts were enjoyable, but the second half was just tragedy porn. I also found it increasingly difficult to sympathise with Esmeralda, and by the end I almost did not care if she got hanged. I know she's only 14, but she doesn't need to be that colossal a clothhead. Apparently Victor Hugo's works are known for being depressing and miserable, I didn't know this before, I don't think I'll read any of his books again, though I did enjoy this one (except for the ending).
Also finished Did She Fall? by Thorne Smith. The first chapter is just fraught with foreshadowing. The narrator no less than a dozen times tells us that Emily Jane is to die, and we're given access to the private thoughts of every single person who wants to see her dead. I found it overbearing at first, so I dropped the book. Later my curiosity got the better of me and I picked it up again to see how would the story develop. I am glad I did.
Unlike most detective stories, the reader is actually shown the scene of the victim's death. There seems to be no mystery about it. But the detective's reluctant but relentless journey towards discovering the solution is nevertheless engrossing.
The book does have its weak parts. Most of the characters sound exactly like each other, even though they're supposed to have different character traits. Even Aunt Matty sounds exactly like one of the Bright Young Things, even though she's a generation older. Also very oddly two characters – Aunt Matty and Sue – are barely focused on, despite being affected very profoundly by the murder. Every other character's movements and/or thoughts are dwelled upon except these two (and except for a shady friend of the victim, but he doesn't count). What are they thinking? How does Aunt Matty feel about one of her nephew's fiancée getting killed on the night of the announcement and her other nephew being suspected of her murder? How does Sue feel about her husband getting all jumpy and paranoid, and also being one of the suspects in the case? We're never told. They have the occasional line or two. In one part Sue makes an uncharacteristically long speech, and it seems we may get to see more of her, have her character fleshed out. We never do.
Also a non-fatal stabbing occurs in the first few chapters. Everyone just brushes it off? One of the nephews gets hold of Aunt Matty, informs her other nephew getting stabbed, and tells her to play along with the story that she – Aunt Matty – stabbed him (accidentally, of course). Aunt Matty is completely unfazed, both by the news of her nephew's stabbing, and by the ridiculous story, and even cracks a joke or two. (Also not to give away a spoiler, but this scene makes no sense in light of later events in the book and is never explained).
Another grating gag were the interactions between the prime suspect and the detective. Now the detective, Scott Munson, is friends with Dan – with everyone, in fact, except for Emily Jane and her pal. So Munson has the detestable duty of collecting evidence against his chum and making a case against him. They don't stop being more or less friendly with each other, with a latent tension beneath the surface, but they just never stop behaving in this psuedo-chummy manner, and it wears off pretty quickly.
There is also one very odd scene that is simply incredible. Munson's temporary assistants – a slapstick comedy duo made up of the two of the dumbest cops in America – are ordered to prevent reporters from approaching the house and messing with the investigation. They end up shooting in the general direction of a preacher to force him to leave the premises. Munson then remembers that Aunt Matty was expecting him to appear. Like this:
So what's so incredible? Just this: the Rev. Mr. Williams had never been mentioned before. There is no scene in which Aunt Matty talks about expecting a preacher to visit her. And even more incredibly, once he is chased away, he is never seen nor ever referred to again. His intrusion has no effect on the plot either.
But despite all that I still rated it a 4/5 (rounding off 3.5). The witty banter may get stale at times, but it certainly is witty. The contrast between the moody and tortured detective and his feckless assistants is a great touch. The drama is great, if rather overplayed. All in all was a very enjoyable book. And I rate books based on their enjoyability. That is the ultimate test of a good book.
Also finished Did She Fall? by Thorne Smith. The first chapter is just fraught with foreshadowing. The narrator no less than a dozen times tells us that Emily Jane is to die, and we're given access to the private thoughts of every single person who wants to see her dead. I found it overbearing at first, so I dropped the book. Later my curiosity got the better of me and I picked it up again to see how would the story develop. I am glad I did.
Unlike most detective stories, the reader is actually shown the scene of the victim's death. There seems to be no mystery about it. But the detective's reluctant but relentless journey towards discovering the solution is nevertheless engrossing.
The book does have its weak parts. Most of the characters sound exactly like each other, even though they're supposed to have different character traits. Even Aunt Matty sounds exactly like one of the Bright Young Things, even though she's a generation older. Also very oddly two characters – Aunt Matty and Sue – are barely focused on, despite being affected very profoundly by the murder. Every other character's movements and/or thoughts are dwelled upon except these two (and except for a shady friend of the victim, but he doesn't count). What are they thinking? How does Aunt Matty feel about one of her nephew's fiancée getting killed on the night of the announcement and her other nephew being suspected of her murder? How does Sue feel about her husband getting all jumpy and paranoid, and also being one of the suspects in the case? We're never told. They have the occasional line or two. In one part Sue makes an uncharacteristically long speech, and it seems we may get to see more of her, have her character fleshed out. We never do.
Also a non-fatal stabbing occurs in the first few chapters. Everyone just brushes it off? One of the nephews gets hold of Aunt Matty, informs her other nephew getting stabbed, and tells her to play along with the story that she – Aunt Matty – stabbed him (accidentally, of course). Aunt Matty is completely unfazed, both by the news of her nephew's stabbing, and by the ridiculous story, and even cracks a joke or two. (Also not to give away a spoiler, but this scene makes no sense in light of later events in the book and is never explained).
Another grating gag were the interactions between the prime suspect and the detective. Now the detective, Scott Munson, is friends with Dan – with everyone, in fact, except for Emily Jane and her pal. So Munson has the detestable duty of collecting evidence against his chum and making a case against him. They don't stop being more or less friendly with each other, with a latent tension beneath the surface, but they just never stop behaving in this psuedo-chummy manner, and it wears off pretty quickly.
There is also one very odd scene that is simply incredible. Munson's temporary assistants – a slapstick comedy duo made up of the two of the dumbest cops in America – are ordered to prevent reporters from approaching the house and messing with the investigation. They end up shooting in the general direction of a preacher to force him to leave the premises. Munson then remembers that Aunt Matty was expecting him to appear. Like this:
So what's so incredible? Just this: the Rev. Mr. Williams had never been mentioned before. There is no scene in which Aunt Matty talks about expecting a preacher to visit her. And even more incredibly, once he is chased away, he is never seen nor ever referred to again. His intrusion has no effect on the plot either.
But despite all that I still rated it a 4/5 (rounding off 3.5). The witty banter may get stale at times, but it certainly is witty. The contrast between the moody and tortured detective and his feckless assistants is a great touch. The drama is great, if rather overplayed. All in all was a very enjoyable book. And I rate books based on their enjoyability. That is the ultimate test of a good book.
EnglishEdward
Deity
A couple of days ago, I finished reading:
Prophet
by
Helen MacDonald and Sin Blache
Copyright 2023
It is about an alien substance that enables people to manifest things,
e.g childhood toys too which they become attached in a catatonic state.
With the usual body count, corporate villainy, unlikely heroes and happy end.
Prophet
by
Helen MacDonald and Sin Blache
Copyright 2023
It is about an alien substance that enables people to manifest things,
e.g childhood toys too which they become attached in a catatonic state.
With the usual body count, corporate villainy, unlikely heroes and happy end.
I just finished Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton. It's one of those books where almost nothing actually happens but you don't feel like it's full of padding - on the contrary, the writing feels very sparse and economical.
Before that, I continued my long-term project of working my way through the Lord Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy L. Sayers. This is a long-term project because I like them so much that I want to savour them slowly. This one was Murder Must Advertise, which was awesomely good and contained some magnificent comic setpieces. There are one or two bits that haven't aged quite so well but, as usual, Sayers isn't too regressive by the standards of the time. Unlike Austin Freeman, whose work I have also been working my way through and mostly enjoying, but he's pretty regressive even by the standards of the time, which doesn't help.
I've also been continuing my explorations of Golden Age crime stories by working my way through The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts, which I found quite interesting. The writing is mostly fairly bad and the characterisation almost non-existent, but what stands out about it is that there isn't any brilliant detective who solves everything while the police are baffled. Rather, the detectives (plural!) solve the crime through diligent and patient questioning, double-checking, and boot leather, making it read like a police procedural. The exhaustive detail in which every interview is recorded, even the ones that yield nothing, make the breakthroughs in the case quite exhilarating when they do come. You feel that you've earned it. Also, the book would be about 30% shorter if all the references to people bowing were removed.
Before that, I continued my long-term project of working my way through the Lord Peter Wimsey books by Dorothy L. Sayers. This is a long-term project because I like them so much that I want to savour them slowly. This one was Murder Must Advertise, which was awesomely good and contained some magnificent comic setpieces. There are one or two bits that haven't aged quite so well but, as usual, Sayers isn't too regressive by the standards of the time. Unlike Austin Freeman, whose work I have also been working my way through and mostly enjoying, but he's pretty regressive even by the standards of the time, which doesn't help.
I've also been continuing my explorations of Golden Age crime stories by working my way through The Cask by Freeman Wills Crofts, which I found quite interesting. The writing is mostly fairly bad and the characterisation almost non-existent, but what stands out about it is that there isn't any brilliant detective who solves everything while the police are baffled. Rather, the detectives (plural!) solve the crime through diligent and patient questioning, double-checking, and boot leather, making it read like a police procedural. The exhaustive detail in which every interview is recorded, even the ones that yield nothing, make the breakthroughs in the case quite exhilarating when they do come. You feel that you've earned it. Also, the book would be about 30% shorter if all the references to people bowing were removed.
EnglishEdward
Deity
I am part way through The Nine Taylors
dusters
Emperor
About the second part of the book "Dune". (Spoilers)
I liked the story of the messiah Muad'Dib due to its theme of exploring work for sake of humanity.
Although the whole book reminded me of Game of Thrones, and I know that the book was written long before Game of Thrones, so it's the other way around, I persisted through almost 1000 pages which
is the volume of the first and second book together.
However, at the end you can understand that power and imperial status is only good if a person is at peace with oneself.
Clairvoyance in real life is for those who serve the forces of light, if it is done with responsibility. Clairvoyance with the help of drugs can only be obtained temporarily and is of much lower quality.
Clairvoyance in the book was ability given by drug spice.
Family drama and the falseness of divinity are the main themes in the second part. To stop the violence, Muad'Dib decides to make a sacrifice himself, and this is understandable, because he has lived for 15 years as an unwilling, fate-imposed jihad emperor.
The Dune world itself is very brutal. I assume that the laws governing it are anti-utopia, not typical sci-fi.
I identified the most in the book with the character of Alia. She was born knowing, fulfilled the role of a priestess, fought, wanted to be a sister, mother and woman, not only executive officer.
We ourselves take responsibility for what we do and work that earns us bread. We ourselves are responsible for the image we create in the eyes of other people.
Alia felt mocked by fate, as did Muad'Dib, though her suffering seemed less glorified.
I usually don't read books like this with so much violence. However, since I write sci-fi stories myself, I have to know the classics.Thanks to the person who recommended the book.
I liked the story of the messiah Muad'Dib due to its theme of exploring work for sake of humanity.
Although the whole book reminded me of Game of Thrones, and I know that the book was written long before Game of Thrones, so it's the other way around, I persisted through almost 1000 pages which
is the volume of the first and second book together.
However, at the end you can understand that power and imperial status is only good if a person is at peace with oneself.
Clairvoyance in real life is for those who serve the forces of light, if it is done with responsibility. Clairvoyance with the help of drugs can only be obtained temporarily and is of much lower quality.
Clairvoyance in the book was ability given by drug spice.
Family drama and the falseness of divinity are the main themes in the second part. To stop the violence, Muad'Dib decides to make a sacrifice himself, and this is understandable, because he has lived for 15 years as an unwilling, fate-imposed jihad emperor.
The Dune world itself is very brutal. I assume that the laws governing it are anti-utopia, not typical sci-fi.
I identified the most in the book with the character of Alia. She was born knowing, fulfilled the role of a priestess, fought, wanted to be a sister, mother and woman, not only executive officer.
We ourselves take responsibility for what we do and work that earns us bread. We ourselves are responsible for the image we create in the eyes of other people.
Alia felt mocked by fate, as did Muad'Dib, though her suffering seemed less glorified.
I usually don't read books like this with so much violence. However, since I write sci-fi stories myself, I have to know the classics.Thanks to the person who recommended the book.
Josu
Emperor
Ended Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. There is no doubt that Mr. Sanderson has founded the formula to write books that hook me. 5/5
Started The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber & David Wengrow
Started The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber & David Wengrow
Still dragging through this. Not impressed. Distracting myself with First into Nagasaki, about a reporter who snuck into Nagasaki despite MacArthur forbidding journalists to visit it, and reporting on what he saw.
EnglishEdward
Deity
Yesterday I finished reading:
To The Last Man Spring 1918
by
Lynn MacDonald
Copyright 1998
that I picked up for 50 pence at the local recycling centre's reuse shop.
It is based upon the writings of soldiers who participated in the fighting.
To The Last Man Spring 1918
by
Lynn MacDonald
Copyright 1998
that I picked up for 50 pence at the local recycling centre's reuse shop.
It is based upon the writings of soldiers who participated in the fighting.
Just finished The Disposessed by Ursula le Guin. Fascinating political book. I wish I'd read it say in 2010, 2011 when I still identified as a left-libertarian. Would've been interesting to see what effect it had on my increasing disaffection with the left.
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
The World Set Free by H.G. Wells has a Radium Age Book Series version with an introduction by Sarah Cole and afterword by Joshua Glenn. Through the eyes of several key viewpoint characters, the impact of harnessing of nuclear energy on society is show, culminating in a devastating global conflict and the creation of a new world order that leads to global peace and prosperity. While there are some inaccuracies like the lack of computers in the 1950s onwards, the vision of nuclear war presented in the novel is striking and eerily resonant even today. It also discusses important issues such as how law tends to lag behind technological development.
Spidernova
Warlord
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2008
- Messages
- 258
I found a copy of the short story collection Labyrinths, by Jorge Luis Borges on my shelf. I have no idea how it got there, it might have been a gift, I may have purchased and forgotten it. Kind of spooky honestly.
In any case, these are outstanding short stories. Considering they were written in 1940's, its amazing how much they feel like part of the New Wave of SF. I'm also fortunate enough that I get most of his philosophical references, and reading Wolfe has prepared me for this kind of writing. I think Death and the Compass was my favorite of the collection.
In any case, these are outstanding short stories. Considering they were written in 1940's, its amazing how much they feel like part of the New Wave of SF. I'm also fortunate enough that I get most of his philosophical references, and reading Wolfe has prepared me for this kind of writing. I think Death and the Compass was my favorite of the collection.
danjuno
Cole Phelps, Badge 1247
Re-reading H.W. Brands' biography of Ulysses Grant. As usual, Brands is good at weaving the events into a compelling story.
Josu
Emperor
All the essays I am reading are taking too much brain to understand them, so started Kim Staley Robinson's Years of rice an salt
Have you read about Asterion yet? Or the two kings and their labyrinths?
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