|
|
Post by Dr Terror on Nov 15, 2008 20:10:01 GMT
We used to have one of these threads on the old board; maybe it's time to reintroduce it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Craig Herbertson on Nov 15, 2008 20:37:59 GMT
The Gates of Anubis: Powers. Not enjoying it really. Modern crap  Actually, its well written. good use of the occasional metaphor, great ideas all mared by what I can only describe as the modern perspective - multi viewpoints, over psychologising of characters, a sort of post modernist junk feel but a lack of real passion and a certain disbelief and dissatisfaction when you lay it down. Much like screwing someone for sex rather than love...even as I write I'm worried I might be off topic.... |
|
|
|
Post by Dr Terror on Nov 15, 2008 21:01:43 GMT
Oh, I don't think so, Craig. The original version of this thread shows a range of books read both in subject and publication date. |
|
|
|
Post by lobolover on Nov 15, 2008 22:20:24 GMT
Just "finishing" Hic Jacet from Oliver Onions in Widdershins,but I dunno what im gonna do after that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Johnlprobert on Nov 16, 2008 9:08:23 GMT
Craig - I read The Anubis Gates about 10 years ago & I quite liked it, but I know what you mean about it being a bit passionless. The Drawing of the Dark is a slightly better Powers if you want to try something else by him.
I'm currently reading Reign of Terror Vol 1 ed by Michel Parry. I thought these 'Classic Victorian Tales of Terror' might be a bit creaky but noooooo - I'm so glad I picked this up. Some quite delicious 'atrocious behaviour' in some of these as well as a couple of good ghosty ones. Nearly finished so a review will be posted in due course.
|
|
|
|
Post by Craig Herbertson on Nov 16, 2008 12:15:49 GMT
Thanks John. I just read The Drawing of the Dark' before Anubis. I also believe it is a far better book, although the concepts and the plotting in Anubis are more complex and more difficult. Basically - too difficult in my view.
Its just the malaise that goes with this modern writing style that gets me. I don't feel a passionate belief in the characters or get any big thrills. Compare it to the first paragraph of a Howard. Lovecraft, Eddison, or to get back on theme, the great pulp writers.
Powers merely keeps me reading while occasionally reflecting on his ingenuity..
|
|
|
|
Post by Calenture on Nov 16, 2008 12:38:58 GMT
I too read one of Powers' books yonks back, The Stress of Her Regard, which is about vampires and the Lamia. It's told through historical characters like Byron, Shelley, Mary Shelley, Pollidori, and inevitably includes the meeting at Lake Leman. Powers seemed to have a lot of fun with it, and the vampires aren't polite human types in evening dress, they're interesting armoured insect things crawling up tree trunks. I thoroughly enjoyed it. At the moment I'm reading Brian Lumley's Hero of Dreams (Headline, 1986), which tells of David Hero, an Edinburgh-based fantasy artist and his dual existence in this world and dreamland. The Edinburgh section is the most interesting. The book starts with an E R Burroughs feel, then later gets very R E Howard. It's shorter than the vampire world stuff, this one notching up about 200 pages of which I've read about 60 so far. It's light stuff, unoriginal, but at the moment its suiting my mood when I get a chance to read. Yeh, I could ask more, but it's OK for now.  [color= Cover by Mark Salwowski (who did some better Tanith Lee covers)] |
|
|
|
Post by H_P_Saucecraft on Nov 16, 2008 16:47:25 GMT
The Rage - Jack Ramsay. 1977 rabies pulp from sphere. 40 pages in & the outbreak has got underway. It started with a fox attacking a conveniently placed tramp (well they make such easy victims) & he wasn't after his special brew  . Journalist Andrew Stern is following up a political scandal & his target's daughter is busy smuggling a dog into the house, unaware of the danger. This is a 156 pager, so it shouldn't take me long to finish. I'm considering a review, but I'm afraid i'm just crap at writing & never manage anything long enough, we'll see. But it's certainly enjoyable anyway, the style seems in the Richard Lewis vein. Sorry if this has been covered & I've not found it, but does anyone here know anything about Ramsay? i.e. possible pseudonym?, did he write anything else?
|
|
|
|
Post by Craig Herbertson on Nov 16, 2008 17:08:47 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by killercrab on Nov 16, 2008 17:48:14 GMT
I'm considering a review, but I'm afraid i'm just crap at writing & never manage anything long enough, we'll see. >>
I'm not a reviewer either or a writer - just tell it like it is. I'd rather read a few sentences about The Rage than nothing. No one might answer or they might try - but if you gotta a kick outta it - share that kick.Good stuff mate.
KC
|
|
|
|
Post by killercrab on Nov 16, 2008 17:53:07 GMT
We used to have one of these threads on the old board; maybe it's time to reintroduce it. >>
What used to happen and no not back when (the lords of trash ruled here ) - was that folks just started threads on books they were reading. You got to read their journey's through some well dodgy books.I loved that. Some were never finished - I was an insomniacs nightmare in my THE WOOD trilogy of posts times 10. Why dion't we do that anymore? why did we stop? That's the crux of the current dilemma I think and one I'm gonna write about some more.
KC ( and only KC from now)
|
|
|
|
Post by H_P_Saucecraft on Nov 16, 2008 20:03:28 GMT
Thanks for the vote of confidence, KC. I will post my thoughts on The Rage once I've finished it, even if it doesn't end up being a review. I already made a few notes on the first few chapters, the only trouble I found with that was, that it was taking away from the enjoyment of reading it. Feel free to rip the results to shreds, feed me to a rabid dog or some other pulp torture. Dave |
|
|
|
Post by killercrab on Nov 16, 2008 21:44:45 GMT
I already made a few notes on the first few chapters, the only trouble I found with that was, that it was taking away from the enjoyment of reading it. >> I know what you mean. I'm in the process of trying to review a book - doing notes and such . Started to feel like work. I guess it suits some huh? Any tips out there for reviewing? I think this is a superb review style: www.dawtrina.com/personal/books/horror/indextitles.htmlKC |
|
|
|
Post by allthingshorror on Nov 16, 2008 21:56:35 GMT
John Burke - The Merciless Dead
Stephen King - Just after Sunset
Jonathan Burke - The Dark Gateway
14th Fontana Great Horror Stories
And every single fecking Pan Horror book over and over and over...
|
|
|
|
Post by benedictjjones on Nov 16, 2008 23:15:35 GMT
'swan song' - rober mccammon
and then i've got
'the terror' - dan simmons
'the terror and ther stories' - arthur machen
on the to read pile.
|
|
. Journalist Andrew Stern is following up a political scandal & his target's daughter is busy smuggling a dog into the house, unaware of the danger. This is a 156 pager, so it shouldn't take me long to finish.