This Old Neon Forum

I recently read the delightful "Sirens of Titan" by Kurt Vonnegut. Wow - what a book. Loved every minute of it. Thoughts here:

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... s-of-titan

I'm still reading "The Elfstones of Shannara" and am about to start Harlan Ellison's "Over the Edge" - it's been twenty-five years since I've read it and I don't recall a thing about it, so I figured I may as well. I recently got a really nice copy of it. I also got a book in the mail today which is short and reportedly wonderful, so I'll knock that out soon as well.

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

I read the second and among the best of the Shannara books, The Elfstones of Shannara. Very strong entry. Lots of fun. Thoughts here:

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... f-shannara

Am working on Ellison's "Over the Edge" which is amazing as is typical for his work.

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks

I recently re-read "Over the Edge" by Harlan Ellison. Simply amazing - more thoughts here.

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/over-the-edge

I'm going to try to knock out Book of Wonders next and then maybe Wishsong of Shannara? Hmmmm...

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison

Knocked out Lord Dunsany's "The Book of Wonder." It was incredible. Can't believe I overlooked him and his work for so long.

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... -of-wonder

Next I'll read "The Wishsong of Shannara" and probably something else too...not sure what...

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison
14. The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany

I just finished Shannara 3 and loved it (as I always do). It is my fave from the series for sure. Thoughts here:

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... f-shannara

Next up I think I'll read "Go Down, Moses" again. It's been a terribly long time since I read it...am almost sure but not positive that I have. If I did read it, then it has been a quarter of a century and no telling where my head was at at the time.

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison
14. The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany
15. The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks

I recently read (or re-read???) the amazing "Go Down, Moses" by William Faulkner. It's typical Faulkner, but that is every bit a good thing. I love his voice...

Thoughts here:

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/go-down-moses

Next, I think I'll juggle a new (to me) author's book by Christopher Ruocchio, "Empire of Silence" as well as Harlan Ellison's "No Doors, No Windows."

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison
14. The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany
15. The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
16. Go Down, Moses by William Faulkner

Read one of several books I got for Father's Day this year in "Empire of Silence," a debut space opera from Christopher Ruocchio. Was outstanding. Can't wait to see where he's going with this...it's a five-book series, I think.

Thoughts here:
https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... of-silence

Next up I may read a Harlan Ellison book, or perhaps a video game book...or both! We shall see...

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison
14. The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany
15. The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
16. Go Down, Moses by William Faulkner
17. Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio

Read another Ellison book but didn't realize it until I was well into it that I had read it before....oh well, was still fun. And short. Thoughts here:

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... no-windows

I started the weakest Shannara book (it's next) and may start Mansfield Park as well...still reading that video game book I got a couple years ago as well.

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison
14. The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany
15. The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
16. Go Down, Moses by William Faulkner
17. Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
18. No Doors, No Windows by Harlan Ellison

Knocked out that video game book. Thoughts below. It was a pretty fun read.

https://www.wheredreamsescape.com/post/ ... ideo-games

Next I'll focus on the worst Shannara book and Mansfield Park. Not sure which I'll finish first...

1. Gentleman Junkie and Other Stories from the Hung-Up Generation by Harlan Ellison
2. Revolt in 2100 by Robert Heinlein
3. Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa
4. Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance by Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz
6. Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges
7. You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming
8. The Rivan Codex by David and Leigh Eddings
9. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
10. The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
11. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut
12. The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
13. Over the Edge by Harlan Ellison
14. The Book of Wonder by Lord Dunsany
15. The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
16. Go Down, Moses by William Faulkner
17. Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio
18. No Doors, No Windows by Harlan Ellison
19. The History of Video Games by Charlie Fish

I've been off the reading train (aside from a work-related book), not really intentionally but just an inertia thing.

I was looking for something light and at least a little unusual, and found a copy of The Dark World (Henry Kuttner, though possibly C.L. Moore as well), released 1946, in a used bookstore. It's a shortish parallel-universe fantasy story with a touch of cosmic horror. Quick read, and mostly pretty predictable but was interesting nonetheless. There's a whole host of early fantasy I never really read, so it's interesting to see some examples.

It was cool to read that Zelazny considered it a major influence (it certainly has parallels with the early Amber stories, which are some of my favorite novels).