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Post by Craig Herbertson on Aug 27, 2011 17:52:05 GMT
Thanks Matt, re 'the collection'. The Couch was written in 1980 and only thanks to the redoubtable Charles Black did it ever see print. I'm waiting for Hearts to win the Europa...
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Aug 27, 2011 17:56:56 GMT
never attempted ShadowlandSHADOWLAND is a blatant ripoff of John Fowles's THE MAGUS, as Straub has also admitted. I could not believe what I was seeing when I read it. He is a bit difficult to take seriously as an author, or even human being, after that.
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 27, 2011 17:57:10 GMT
Thanks Matt, re 'the collection'. The Couch was written in 1980 and only thanks to the redoubtable Charles Black did it ever see print. I'm waiting for Hearts to win the Europa... Yeah, sorry about that. We did put out half our academy team, and miss a penalty, to give you a chance. Fair play though, your supporters were fantastic on the night. The Europa is crap to be honest, you're better off out of it. I would be cheering on you guys tomorrow but Calderwood is ex-spurs and us boys stick together. Still think you win though. 1-2 Hearts. Good luck!
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 27, 2011 17:58:48 GMT
never attempted ShadowlandSHADOWLAND is a blatant ripoff of John Fowles's THE MAGUS, as Straub has also admitted. I could not believe what I was seeing when I read it. He is a bit difficult to take seriously as an author, or even human being, after that. I'd be interested to see where he said he admitted it. Not that I doubt your word but I'm just interested in things like that. My personal experience of Straub is that he is a thoroughly decent bloke and a pretty good writer.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Aug 27, 2011 18:11:30 GMT
SHADOWLAND is a blatant ripoff of John Fowles's THE MAGUS, as Straub has also admitted. I could not believe what I was seeing when I read it. He is a bit difficult to take seriously as an author, or even human being, after that. I'd be interested to see where he said he admitted it. Not that I doubt your word but I'm just interested in things like that. Well, here, for instance. Although he does not mention that entire scenes are lifted more or less unaltered from Fowles's novel.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Aug 27, 2011 18:26:25 GMT
We share Dave Mckay. Apparently our fans had the party of their lives so thanks for the hospitality. My brother has now sworn off drink. I must also mention of course that we beat you 3-0 in 1902 to become the Champions of the World. Oh for the good old days...
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 27, 2011 19:55:32 GMT
We share Dave Mckay. Apparently our fans had the party of their lives so thanks for the hospitality. My brother has now sworn off drink. I must also mention of course that we beat you 3-0 in 1902 to become the Champions of the World. Oh for the good old days... Indeed you did. And congrats for that Dave MacKay is a legend and make no bones about that. I have had the pleasure of being in his company more than once and he always speaks volumes about the Hearts. Glad your chaps had a good time. That, surely, is the best of football. I wish you well in your derby tomorrow and I will keep a close eye on the outcome.
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 28, 2011 7:44:03 GMT
I'd be interested to see where he said he admitted it. Not that I doubt your word but I'm just interested in things like that. Well, here, for instance. Although he does not mention that entire scenes are lifted more or less unaltered from Fowles's novel. If you are referring to this line "That same year, I had been moved by John Fowles’ novel, The Magus, which suggested a way to unite the powerful strangeness resulting from the oral tradition with more conventional narrative satisfactions. No one familiar with The Magus who reads Shadowland can fail to notice Fowles’ influence on me, which was profound and pervasive: but this influence was above all liberating, not enslaving. Fowles demonstrated how the seductive uncertainty implicit in theatrical illusion and, even more importantly, the emotional effects of this uncertainty, could find expression in a narrative that itself moved through successive layers of surprise, doubt, suspicion, and uncertainty." Then I'm afraid your accusation is still very much unfounded. Basically, from what I read, Straub is saying that he was influenced by another author's book. Is there an author alive that cannot say the same thing?
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Aug 28, 2011 18:45:58 GMT
Basically, from what I read, Straub is saying that he was influenced by another author's book. Is there an author alive that cannot say the same thing? You have not read THE MAGUS, have you?
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Post by mattofthespurs on Aug 29, 2011 5:52:35 GMT
Basically, from what I read, Straub is saying that he was influenced by another author's book. Is there an author alive that cannot say the same thing? You have not read THE MAGUS, have you? I have indeed read "The Magus" but not for sometime. My point is that yes, I understand there are similarities, and yes I understand that Straub said he was greatly influenced by the book when he wrote "Shadowland", but to accuse him of plagarism is incorrect, harsh, and wrong in my opinion, especially in light of the 'evidence' you have provided.
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jul 24, 2015 11:47:22 GMT
Gary McMahon – Black Glass
I do like this one. Rock 'n' Roll 'n' mysticism - you can't go wrong. An older man who seems to have everything but in reality doesn't have much. A younger youth cult girl, who seems to have not much apart from a car and some memories, but is on the cusp of something much richer. Wonderful.
David A. Sutton – Amygdala Great stuff - up until the ending. Amazingly descriptive (almost over-written)and the hospital scenes are bang on. But I had a feeling I knew what might happen at the end, and hoped it wouldn't. But it did.
David A. Riley – Now and Forever More Glorious Lovecraft/Wheatley/Straw Dogs mashup.
Steve Goodwin – The Cold Harvest More village madness. A puzzler from Steve.
(Got to like Mr Black's headstone on this volume too.)
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jul 24, 2015 12:01:25 GMT
Yipes! Wondering if I have a different edition from Dem. My copy has 'Charles Black RIP' on the tombstone and I think Mike Chinn is about to follow Steve Goodwin...
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Post by dem bones on Jul 24, 2015 19:26:50 GMT
Yipes! Wondering if I have a different edition from Dem. My copy has 'Charles Black RIP' on the tombstone and I think Mike Chinn is about to follow Steve Goodwin... Oops! I think the image above was an earlier version, posted on Vault Mk 1 before the book went to print. Here's the real deal (and you are right about the running order, too). Paul Mudie
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jul 26, 2015 20:03:34 GMT
Amazon gives that running order, but ...
Mike Chinn – All Under Hatches Stow’d Chinny rec on! Lovely tale, reminiscent of Iain Banks Canal Dreams and oddly topical re ebola. I've not seen Prospero's Books but that didn't impair my enjoyment of the Chinnster's yarn. Really great, as is...
Craig Herbertson – On the Couch Despite Craig's modesty, this really is a pleasure, a jigsaw of a surrealist painting. Bravo!
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jul 27, 2015 20:23:59 GMT
Daniel McGachey – The Crimson Picture
My favourite of Dan's retro tales. and, considering the Black Books are usually contemporary, I think this may well be my favourite story from the series. Reminds me of E A Poe. Jardine's realisation of why his artist's model is so very still is a great moment. The whole thing is a smashing read, as we gradually learn more and more about the portrait, the artist, and his strange commissions.
D. F. Lewis – Squabble
WTF? Des does pack more into his couple of pages than some novels. No word other than weird can describe it.
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