On December 16th it will be the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. We had already planned to incorporate many of his works into our nightly listening program next year, and in addition I am embarking on a 1,000 page biography written by Jan Swafford of Beethoven, published in 2017. A few years ago I read his work on Brahms, and was enthralled for the several months it took me to finish it. It was like reading a novel, rather than a biography, and I am hoping for much the same with Beethoven. There are 33 chapters, and I will read one in between every two novels I finish in my Avon/Equinox project. So far I have read the Introduction, Chapter One (his grandfather, father and mother, and his birth) and the Appendix, which has to do with musical forms used by the composer.
Now part of my on-going reading.
I was getting ready to buy the complete works of Bach on CD, something I've wanted to own for some time now. We have purchased and listened to the complete works of Delius, Britten, and we are just finishing up Brahms. But at the last minute I put the Bach project on hold, and purchased the Beethoven collection instead. This makes more sense just now, even though I doubt we will listen to everything (though I am stubborn and persistent). The collection gets rave reviews, consists of 118 CDs, including multiple recordings of some works, and vintage recordings of many others. Also, the piano sonatas and string quartets and symphonies are not by all the same people, but a mix of top performers, which I like. Combined with my own Beethoven collection on vinyl and CD, we are pretty much set for a fun year of Beethoven!
This set is on the way to our house!
BTHVN 2020 ‐ Beethoven The New Complete Edition (118 CD + 2 DVD +3 Blu-ray Audio)
On to my September reading. I read ten books related to my Avon/Equinox project, which now stands at 495 books read and reviewed online, and one book unrelated. I also began the Beethoven biography, a mammoth undertaking.
First up was a Piers Anthony novel, as I began yet another one of his series. Split Infinity is the first of his Apprentice Adept series, which tries to lead his SF fan base into his world of fantasy. The novel begins as SF, and then changes to fantasy, as we hop back and forth between two worlds, though existing on different planes of the same planet. An interesting concept, but he doesn't pull it off very well. I really like Piers Anthony's SF writing, among the best I've ever read. But after three of his fantasy novels, I am not a fan of his writing in that genre. I might try one more in this series later, or not.
Next came a Harry Harrison non SF novel, called The QE2 Is Missing. This is a very taut tale about the great ship being hijacked at sea, then found later with all crew and passengers missing. The novel has a great opening, and a satisfying ending, and in between is some nail biting adventure. Another winning combination of husband/wife team up (Harrison is great at this) to help catch the baddies.
Next came Bulmer's 1969 Stained-Glass World, a 160 page distopian novel of a drug-filled
escapist future, with the world divided between Workers and Uppers. If
the workers don't work, they don't get access to their off duty dream
worlds, which is the only reason they work to keep the world running in
the first place. The Uppers have access to better drugs and dreams, and
whenever they want. There are various kinds of security forces,
including the toughest of them, the Revenue men. The streets are mean,
and no one ventures out alone. Very grim, and worth a look.
An early work by E. C. Tubb was next, from 1953, called The Price of Freedom (alias Space Hunger; alias Earth Set Free). Coincidentally, this story makes an excellent pairing with the Bulmer novel, above. Tubb gives a very honest and grim look at a truly free society of the future, one
that a good deal of Americans are always screaming for. It is a world
filled with private security and bodyguards, assassinations, raids,
robberies, and mostly jungle law. It would no doubt appeal to a certain
type of weapons-loving personality, but most people would prefer what we
have now, flawed as it is. A somewhat strange book, though not nearly as strange as the Bulmer one mentioned above. Fun to read and think about.
Next comes Jack Williamson's highly readable adventure story, a retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur, called The Reign of Wizardry. If, like me, you have always been fascinated by Crete and the Minoans, then this fun novel will be right up your alley. It gets silly from time to time, and there is one (for me) big disappointment, but all in all this is a good book to seek out in a used book store on a rainy day.
Michael Moorcock's The Quest for Tanelorn concludes his Castle Brass series (3 novels), and Hawkmoon series (4 novels). It's only 155 pages and easy to read, and in addition to wrapping up the two series mentioned, it also sums up all of his Multiverse writings up to that time (1975). The three Count Brass books have been added to my all-time list of favourite series, though the four Hawkmoon books, which are good but not great, must be read first. Highly recommended!
Next came Super-Cannes: A Novel, by J. G. Ballard. Several of Ballard's books are my favourite books of all time, and this one is right at the top of the list. Absolutely amazing writing, the book, at 340 or so pages, left me wishing it had never ended. He hits so many things right on the head in this book that it could provide me with an infinite number of quotes, enough for several years of those little daily tear-away calendars. One of the best modern novels, without question. Not SF, but worth it for SF fans anyway.
Cinema by Barry Malzberg is another novel he wrote in the early 70s for a publishing house trying to upgrade itself from publishing standard porn novels. They got way more than they bargained for with Malzberg. Despite the sex, which is not pornographic at all, this is great literature, and reminds me of the joke of why blokes used to buy Playboy magazine back in the day ("for the articles, man"). A young woman, a recent college grad, wants to become an actress, and instead gets herself involved in the porn film industry. Like his previous book for the same publisher, called Screen, this one is tragically hilarious, as we watch the poor heroine get ground down until she has a breakdown. Doesn't sound very funny, but black humour is hard to explain. This stuff is jet black.
Last in the cycle comes James Blish, who co-wrote A Torrent Of Faces with Norman L. Knight. Published in Galaxy Magazine as three novelettes, and expanded and published here as a linked novel, we are taken to a future where Earth is home to 1 trillion people! Now that's what I call trying to tackle a true population nightmare! This is a nearly perfect story, so well done and so highly readable, from 1967. One of the great SF novels, to be sure!
Before resuming my next iteration of the Avon/Equinox authors' books remaining, I now always take a break and read something different. I returned to my childhood again, reading The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. It is a very well crafted novella, and my only regret is that the author never returned to the theme. How I wish he had written a sequel! One of the greatest stories every written, and I was suprised by how well the 1960s feature film followed the author's writing. The movie did add more things, and left out the far future segment, but overall did a great job of bringing the story to the big screen.
Lastly for September came a novel by Robert Silverberg, as I start over in my reading cycle. To Open The Sky, like the Blish book discussed above, also consolidated some works previously published in SF magazines in the mid-60s. Five novelettes tell the story of how interstellar travel was achieved, over a period of some 90+ years. Many of the same characters return in each story. It is a very imaginative and unique look at how the speed of light might someday be breached. Sometimes the writing is a bit too straight forward and not that engaging, but overall this is a well done project. I wish there had been one more story at the end.
I am currently reading a 532 page SF novel by Piers Anthony called Mute (for mutation). Next month I'll talk about it a bit. If this or any of the novels mentioned above are of interest, refer to my Avon/Equinox blog. There should be a link at the top of this page, in the left margin.
Too tired right now to include art from the DIA. Hopefully next time. Happy October, and Happy Full Moon!
Mapman Mike
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