This month marks the end of 9 years of reading using the Avon/Equinox SF Rediscovery Series as my base. Beginning with 24 authors, I am now down to three on a regular basis. I occasionally pick up a novel or two recently published by authors with whom I have otherwise completed. I now have Michael Moorcock, E. C. Tubb, and Kenneth Bulmer remaining. After reading one of their books each every month, the rest is up for free reading. My free reading these days is mostly taken from the Delphi Classics series for e-readers.
I read 47 books this past year whose authors were part of the Avon/Equinox SF series, bringing that total over 9 years to 876 books. I also read 64 books unrelated to any series, which I call my 'free' reading. That 9 year total now stands at 290. So last year from June 1st to may 31st I read 111 books! And reviewed them all, at least briefly.
"Green
Shadows" is a short story by Ken Bulmer from 1983, first published in "If" magazine.
It is 9 pages long and quite a poor representation of what the Dray Prescott series
is all about. It doesn't fit into the current part of the series, but it
was written around the same time. Forgettable. Read the novels!
Talons of Scorpio
is #30 in the Dray Prescott series, which I must have began reading some 30 months ago. It is from 1983 and is 142 pages long. Dray Prescott continues his
adventures (away from Delia, of course) in Pandahem, and with his fellow
warrior is trying to put a wrench into the workings of the Silver Leem
religion. So far they are doing a fine job! More little girls are
saved from a fate worse than a quick death, and one of the main bad guys
bites the dust. Even better, his gold is stolen by Dray and his sailor
friends, thus ending the funding of an enemy invasion of Vallia, Dray's home country.
Even
better, though, is that Dray finally gets to say his piece to his rogue
daughter, eventually convincing her that she has been used and lied to
by the enemy. Though still not entirely convinced by the end of the
novel, she is making progress in the right direction. They could be reconciled soon.
The usual amount of action is mixed with some fine humour, making this book a strong entry in the series.
Bulmer's
Dray Prescott and Tubb's Earl Dumarest are similar supermen, though their
creators write very different stories. The characters also differ in
some important ways. Tubb's hero is a loner, while Bulmer's values
friendship to a high degree. Dumarest is often humourless and down to
business, while Dray Prescott takes time to realize the humour in many
of the situations in which he finds himself. Dumarest takes part in
adventures that are barely linked--he must find Earth; and he is pursued
by cyborgs, who are after information he carries in his memory. Dray
Prescott's adventures follow in sequence, and the novels are often
direct continuations of the previous ones. Dumarest never seems any
closer to his goal, while Dray Prescott's adventures often come to a satisfying
ending before a new adventure begins.
It's
actually fun to compare the two heroes, and many more differences could
be listed. The similarities are more than obvious--they are both
strong he-men who never seem to lose a fight. If they do, or if they
are captured, they readily regain control of the situation. Neither man
enjoys killing, though they do it often enough. And both men are
driven by adventure, and don't seem the type to sit around at home and
read novels.
In
Eyes of the Zodiac, his latest adventure (1975; 176 pages long) Dumarest is once again
befriended by a sexy female, only this gal turns out to be quite
different. By the end of the novel, after she has betrayed Dumarest, we
find that she hates being a woman and ogled by men. If she could
afford a sex change she would be very happy! Dumarest once again heads
off into some very hostile mountains, in search of the First People,
hoping to learn something about Earth. By the end of the adventure, he
actually does learn something. He learns the name of several of the
bright stars near to Earth, as well as their distance from it.
Helpful? Readers don't know yet. It's still rather early in the series
to get too many clues, at least by Tubb's reckoning. As far as this
reader is concerned, it's more than high time he gets to Earth, and then
let's see what happens. What is Earth like? Could Dumarest help it in
any way? Nope, not going to happen. Instead we will continue to
pinball between planet after planet, being teased by the author. This
could have become so much better had Tubb had the courage to get
Dumarest to Earth. And so on we go....
Lightly
updated in 2004, the bulk of WIZARDRY & WILD ROMANCE: A STUDY OF EPIC FANTASY, this slim volume is from 1988. The main
content is 135 pages, supplemented by two guest essays and some book
reviews by Moorcock. The book title is misnamed--it is hardly a "study"
at all, but rather a fast running glimpse of the field up to that
time. Moorcock cannot even manage to discuss Lin Carter's Ballantine
Adult Fantasy Series from the 60s and 70s. His main purpose in writing this book is to yet again tear into
Tolkien, going on and on about how terrible a writer he is. I wonder if
Moorcock has read any of his own fiction much lately. Though he has
written some mighty fine novels, he has also turned out loads and loads
of turd. It's difficult to say exactly what he finds objectionable
about Tolkien--could it be that Tolkien is read 100x more often than
Moorcock? Moorcock, like most people (including Peter Jackson),
entirely miss the message that Tolkien delivers to us vias LOR (which, incidentally, he never wished to write). Essentially it
is this: From small things (Hobbits, in this case) can come great deeds. By the time that the
Hobbits have managed to help save the world and return home, they are
more than equipped to deal with the nasty state of affairs that have
occurred while they were absent. No Gandalf to help them, nor elves nor
dwarves. No Aragorn. No magic. They do it themselves. By venturing
out into the world that seemed so inhospitable to them at the beginning
of the story and by gaining experience and life skills as they travelled afar,
they have become almost like superheroes once back home. Venturing
abroad might not be such a bad thing for folk who live otherwise quiet
village lives. Moorcock claims that Tolkien is a children's writer.
Hmm. I have seen children as young as ten reading LOR. I've always
wondered what they get out of it. Probably about as much as they would
get from an Elric novel. That would be very little beyond the battles.
Moorcock also claims that Tolkien is a humourless writer. Did he read
the chapter about Bilbo's birthday, or just skip it? The Ents and their Entmoots? Humourless? And he claims that
Tolkien knows nothing of women. Did Moorcock not encounter Eowyn in the
later part of the story? Now there is one fine woman, my friends. He also manages to put down Evangeline Walton, whose four books tell the Mabinogian epic in language most people can understand.
About
half of this very short "study" is made of long excerpts from (too) many fantasy
novels. Reading so many passages out of context to prove one of his
points becomes very tiresome. As with the Bible, one can find quotes
that will justify just about any action a human might undertake, or just
as easily damn such an action. This reviewer could pull many long passages that prove
Tolkien is a fabulous writer. Moorcock is only interested in ones that
show a weakness, if indeed his choice of passages really does show
weakness.
I
found the "study" tiresome, with far too many fantasy books "discussed" in
far too few pages. And trying to find passages to suit his chapter
titles had me skipping over the latter ones very quickly. I must say
that I agree with much of what Moorcock says, but his so-called research
(he did call his book a "Study") is very slack and makes for a pretty
boring read. I had probably heard of at least half of the writers
mentioned, and I did jot down a few others for further reading. We did agree on Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword to be one of the best fantasy novels ever written, and we also share a realization of the genius of Fritz Leiber. But all
in all I found this book to be mostly a put down of some of the great
fantasy writers (Cabell, William Morris, and many others), and, to balance his outlook the holding up of several contemporary fantasy writers, many of whom have disappeared into obscurity. It's one
thing to give one's opinion on a novel or writer. I do that here, in
fact. But I dare not call this blog a "Study." My opinion is that we
need a much better book than this to discuss the best and the worst
fantasy writing.
For my first free-read of the month it was time for another novel by Jules Verne. The Adventures of Captain Hatteras is from 1866, detailing the first successful attempt at reaching the North Pole. The first part of the book, where the expedition is being outfitted and sets out, can also serve as a history of the exploration of the northwest seas. Virtually every explorer of any significance is mentioned in the story. Verne does not soft pedal the hardships of northern travel, and his expedition goes through freezing hell in their attempt to reach the pole. As far as accurately describing and expedition (in 1861) to reach the pole, this is about as realistic as it gets. Since Hatteras is English and wants to be the first to reach the pole, it doesn't help his temperament when they rescue an American captain and end up taking him with them. Although in Verne's tale it is the British who reach the pole first, ironically (for Verne) it was an American. Either Cook in 1908 (he gets my vote) or Peary in 1909.
Having read a book on recent discoveries pertaining to the Franklin expedition, it is interesting to see that unfortunate explorer encased in the story here, and some of the graves of Franklin's men discovered (of Franklin there is, and was, no sign back then).
Hatteras has his own problems, with bears, food shortages, a crew that mutinies and that pesky American explorer. However, he has a faithful dog (Dick at the beginning, then Duk later on--it's the same dog, so I don't know what's going on here). He also has the doctor, ship's carpenter, and the boatswain forever at his side. If you are a reader than enjoys adventures on the chilly side, then this one is for you. Never having explored the far north, I now have a good understanding of what it takes. I haven't got it.
Of course Verne can be forgiven for placing an active volcano at the pole, but like Mount Doom in another great story, it adds some colour and pizzazz for the finale. A fun read.
The Council of Justice is from 1908, and Edgar Wallace gives us the second installment of his "4 Just Men" series of crime fiction. In the first novel one of the four was killed off, so only three remain and they now refer to themselves as a "Council". There are vigilantes who eliminate the worst criminals that have escaped the justice system for one reason or another, and they are very smart, quite rich, and extremely efficient. In this story the leader is captured by the police, though much of the force is greatly indebted to their work. There is a trial and the leader is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. The sub-plot is involved with the "Red Hundred", a group of anarchists who meet and plan quite openly in London, due to lax laws allowing freedom of speech. The female leader of this group is the one who eventually turns the tables on the leader of the vigilantes. Will he hang? Will he be pardoned? Will he escape somehow? This is quite an entertaining read, right up to the ironic and somewhat humourous, if harrowing, ending.
From 1896 comes H. G. Wells' The Wheels of Chance, about a draper's assistant using his annual 10-day vacation to embark on a cycling tour in southern England. The novel came out four years before Jerome Jerome's very funny similarly themed novel. Though humourous and light-hearted, the author is at his wicked best as he takes on the dreaded English class system. I have never read a better condemnation of English mores and customs than in this, at first glance, simple and charming novel. Mr. Hoopdriver is a 23 year old draper's assistant, virtually a slave to his boss. However, he is embarking on his annual ten-day holiday and has decided he will undertake a bicycling tour of the south. The first few chapters are quite hilarious as he attempts to learn to properly mount and dismount. The joy he experiences on his first day out is heart warming, though his ignorance of nature never dampens his love for being outdoors. One of his first encounters is with a young lady in grey, also a cyclist. This first chance meeting sets up the remainder of the story as the plot thickens. By the time the novel is finished, we are begging for more. Hoopdriver has returned to his old job, but he is a very different person than the one who set out ten days earlier. His character has undergone a thorough examination and big changes are imminent. Still, the underlying sadness of the ending is heart-breaking. Wells's command of the language and his understanding of human nature, especially of the working class man, is almost unbelievable. Very highly recommended.
Death At The Voyager Hotel is a short mystery novel by Kwei Quartey. From 2013 it is the third novel by this writer, who is originally from Ghana. Though not related to his two series detective stories, this one gets us deep enough into the lives of several people and a school for poor children that we feel as if we have known them all along. Quartey has an easy going writing style that belies the plot material seriousness. This is certainly not hard-boiled detective writing, though neither is it cozy mystery writing. The books (so far) have dealt with serious problems facing this tropical African country, such as the poverty, crime, the lives of children, and the difficulties authorities face in trying to solve complex problems. And though local people may feel that continuing grants from foreign countries are a bad thing, if put to good use they are still badly needed and much appreciated. The story concerns the death of a young American woman, a volunteer at the school. She is well liked and a sensible, reliable sort. So when her naked body is found at the swimming pool at the hotel where she stays, and a post mortem shows a high alcohol blood content, the police write it off as an accidental drowning due to alcohol. But Paula, her boss and the school principal, knows that Heather was not the type to drink to excess, nor to swim naked in a pool. She goes on the hunt for the truth in this fun and exciting story set entirely in Accra. I look forward to the next book by this writer.
The Pusher is the 3rd novel in Ed McBain's 87th Precinct crime novel series. From 1956, it deals with heroin addicts and pushers. One of the addicts is the teenage son of the lieutenant in charge of the 87th detectives. And one of the popular detectives, recently married, is shot three times. He featured in the first novel, went on his honeymoon in the 2nd one, and now gets badly shot up in the third. This is a hard boiled series, with no punches pulled. It's violence is matched by its grittiness, and the setting in a very cold lead up to Christmas has all the cheer of a doused campfire. With three murders to solve, the precinct detective squad has its hands full. It's a mystery to me why the detective tracking down "Gonzo" didn't realize who he was. Most readers would guess right away. Why not a top notch detective? Anyway, the writing is taut and mostly believable (for the 1950s). It's mostly about men, with most of the women in the story either the wives of the detectives, or victims of crime. The TV show Dragnet took a lot from these books.
Next comes another detective story by The Old Sleuth. It is called The Twin Ventriloquists and is from 1895. It is #11 in a series of 101 crime stories published in New York by Nickel Weekly. this is the third story I have read, of seven that I currently own on Kindle. All of the stories are amusing and quite odd, to say the least. In this story two master ventriloquists meet at the Metropolitan Museum, and from here their friendship blossoms. Ike and Jack have a mind to do good deeds and take on bullies and criminals, and they are aided by a New York detective. The young boys use their vocal skills to trap robbers and to poke fun at anyone who pesters them. The main mystery surrounds a young woman who has been left alone in the world. She is robbed of her valuables and Ike immediately decides to help her. The plot thickens by including a long lost uncle (who is also robbed), a portrait that looks remarkably like the young woman, and a mysterious miser who lives alone in a mansion that is going to ruin. So far all three stories have been fun to read.
Lastly comes Joseph Jacobs' Complete Fairy Tales, which I have been reading on and off for several years now. The volume was published in 2013 and contains no less than 6 books by Jacobs. English Fairy Tales is from 1890; Celtic Fairy Tales is from 1892; More English Fairy Tales is from 1894; More Celtic Fairy Tales is also from 1894; Indian Fairy Tales is from 1912; and European Fairy Tales is from 1916. Though actually six books, I am counting it as one. There are 1750 pages. Each story is accompanied by a scholarly discussion of its origins and its similarity to other tales, or actual other versions. The book can be used to read to children, or to explore the wealth of material that has spread across many lands over time. Hearing the truest version of Snow White, for example, is a revelation, as is the story of Cinderella. The book can be read from cover to cover, as I did, or can be sampled at random. Readers can also read the different versions of a single tale with a bit of help from the index. This is an indispensable collection for lovers of fantasy literature. Available on Kindle for $3.07 Can.
Mapman Mike
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