That's really interesting! I've never read Anne Rice's works - Mom wouldn't let me years ago for various reasons (the movie really disturbed her - she's always had a real uneasiness about vampires) - but I can't deny that I'm interested, as I believe that, while there were some preceding titles, Interview with the Vampire marked a turning point in the perception of vampires in popular culture. I've got most of what's in print saved on my colossal Amazon Wish List, so I'll get to it eventually.

Coincidentally, as I write this, I've added to my book juggling by rereading Dracula for the second time. I got to say, while I liked it the first time, I'm enjoying it tremendously all the more on the reread. I guess that comes of having read quite a bit more of a variety in the years since I first picked it up. I just love Victorian/Edwardian fiction!

My contribution to the gothic reading was reading Interview with a Vampire, mostly in the last few days. Quite a page turner.

Normally, I would say that I've been setting aside what I've mentioned in the last post and juggled a few more books...but while that's technically true, I have to admit that it's been taken to new extremes. I've spent the past few months picking up and starting SO MANY books that I've had to make a list for it, to the point that it's pretty much a moot point to say what I'm currently reading at this moment. It's probably more than any normal person would take on.

While I partially regret that, on the other hand, I've been sampling some pretty good works, and when I'm not surfing the Internet, I'm loving diving into my books. My mood is particularly mercurial right now, but I actually HAVE been able to stick with and complete a few of them, and I've enjoyed every one so far. Still, it bugs me that I've still got what I've mentioned before on hold. It's not that I don't like them, far from it, but when the mood strikes, I have this urge to pick up another book.

I've been on a horror kick recently, among other things. So far, I've completed:

-The Incredible Shrinking Man (1956) by Richard Matheson
-Rosemary's Baby (1967) by Ira Levin
-Slaughterhouse-Five (1969) by Kurt Vonnegut
-A Stir of Echoes (1958) by Richard Matheson

If you really want to know, I've started and made considerable progress on:

-Blood Sport (1974) by Robert F. Jones
-The Exorcist (1971) by William Peter Blatty
-The Foundation Trilogy (1951-1953) by Isaac Asimov
-Ghost Story (1979) by Peter Straub
-The Puppet Masters (1951) by Robert A. Heinlein

There are several others that I've picked up, but I've only put a few pages behind on them. What I've listed already is what I've gotten the most into at this moment. I'll tell you what the others are in the future when I've read more of them.

And so fall has come. Not much seems to have changed, and I'm sure that many of us are feeling a little anxious about things in the political sphere, but if you need to pass the time and take your mind off of things, then I have some seasonal recommendations for the witching season. I hope you like them.

Reading: The Haunting of Hill House (1959) by Shirley Jackson

Widely considered to be the best haunted house novel of the genre, as well as one of the cornerstones of 20th century horror literature, this novel forgoes visceral violence and much of the literal definition of "horror" for slow-building, psychological terror in the vein of Henry James in addition to thoughtful character studies. The premise is that a scientist, wishing to find physical evidence of the supernatural, assembles a small group of individuals with a history of otherworldly encounters in an ancient hillside mansion rather infamous for its sordid history; over time, unnatural happenings begin to occur as it seems that the house is trying to bring one of the team members under its influence. Written by one of the most respected authors in American literature today, this literary chiller is a significant leap beyond the genre's tawdry clichés and should be read at least once by anyone who loves a well-constructed story.

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Hill-House-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143039989/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+haunting+of+hill+house&qid=1601570050&sr=8-2
Trade [Deluxe]: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Hill-House-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143129376/ref=tmm_pap_title_2?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1601570050&sr=8-2
Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Hill-House-Penguin-Horror/dp/0143122355/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1601570050&sr=8-2
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Hill-House-Penguin-Classics-ebook/dp/B004SS1MJI/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1601570050&sr=8-2



Viewing: The Haunting (Robert Wise, 1963)

For such a good book, we got an equally good film adaptation. Despite a few character and plot changes, the film mostly follows the novel closely enough, making it one of the most acclaimed horror films ever made. Helmed by the renowned director of such genre classics as The Day the Earth Stood Still, the film is strengthened by both its excellent cast and its claustrophobic set design; the result is a set-piece of subtle macabre overtones and slow-building terror as the mystery of the house is explored. It's definitely a must-see and, in my opinion, infinitely superior to both the panned 1999 remake and the well-received but significantly different 2018 Netflix miniseries.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Julie-Harris/dp/B0045HCJJE/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2K0EA3LO7R2CO&keywords=the+haunting+blu+ray&qid=1601570211&sprefix=the+haunting+blu%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Blu-ray-Nelson-Gidding/dp/B00DBNLBAQ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2K0EA3LO7R2CO&dchild=1&keywords=the+haunting+blu+ray&qid=1601570211&sprefix=the+haunting+blu%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-2
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Julie-Harris/dp/B004WNTGYM/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+haunting+1963&qid=1601570243&sr=8-1


And that's all for now. Enjoy the Halloween season!

So, I figured I'd make a separate thread out of these.

I've been reading fairly voraciously. I just started on the Nightwatch by Terry Pratchett and I got a Dragonlance novel, which is my first foray into that world. But I just finished a dive into two new trilogies that are relatively contemporary.

Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse.
Now, I really have read more in this world since I read two others from this same universe. But I just finished the Grishaverse trilogy and I understand they're making a series out of it. These novels were pretty engaging, although I do not think that Bardugo's writing style is on the same level with someone like Abercrombie, Martin, Lynch (Lies of Locke Lamora), or Rothfuss. Still, they are entertaining and I can see why they'd make a film out of it. The world is fairly fleshed out but the storyline of this trilogy follows closely to a single protagonist and is written in first person, which I think would lend itself easier to a screen adaptation. This world feels like there is a little less depth, and it is tied fairly closely to real-world cultures, with the main culture being Russian in style. The magic system is interesting enough. Overall, I'd give this series a 6/10 rating. I may read more in this world in the future.

Joe Abercrombie's the First Law trilogy.
This trilogy was hard to get into, and it is long. The first novel felt slow and only one of the characters was really interesting. But I slogged through it. I'm glad I did, because the story really picked up in the second novel and by the third I was very engaged. Abercrombie is a good writer, overall, and he develops characters who feel dynamic and able to undergo believable change while still remaining identifiably the same person. I don't want to give spoilers, but I was quite struck by the ending -- Abercrombie manages to subvert moral expectations within the genre to provide quite a remarkably different conclusion to the stories. I will most likely continue on to read more novels within this world.

Well, on the one hand, I think it's interesting from an intellectual standpoint. On the other, I hope no kids get suckered into taking out tens of thousands in debt to study something like this. I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting discussions, though.

I just found this on Facebook through editor/author Ellen Kushner. It's just one more step in the legitimization and mainstream acceptance of fantasy literature, and I thought you all might like to know about it. Personally, if I had the money and travel expenses, I probably would consider studying there myself. Oh well.

https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/university-of-glasgow-centre-fantasy-literature-dungeons-and-dragons-game-of-thrones-644860?fbclid=IwAR1NIdrl1FZE0bLs_APlJZUGdHJqEsdGyTNZWWY7Yb9oRS6OOVEnDSNj7to

So what do think about it?

So now we come to September and the beginning of fall. Oddly enough, it hasn't felt like much of a summer, due to the pandemic, so I'll admit to feeling a bit cheated. Still, one has to try to stay positive. In other news, I'll be turning 33 on the 19th of this month, though that might mean much to anyone but myself. Anyway, here are the recommendations.

Reading: Robinson Crusoe (1719) by Daniel Defoe

One of the earliest contenders to the distinction of being the first English novel, this is the book that prompted me to add adventure titles to the recommendations. The narrative follows the misfortunes and eventual spiritual renewal of one Robinson Crusoe, a man seemingly made for tragedy, as he faces three disastrous sea voyages, the third leading him to be the sole human survivor of a shipwreck on a deserted island somewhere in the South American Atlantic. For 27 years, he manages to survive by constructing living quarters and raising wild goats and wheat, eventually rescuing a captured islander whom he dubs "Friday", before outwitting mutineers and securing his escape. A landmark in realistic fiction upon first publication, the book has remained a perennial classic for generations, although some sympathies will not match up to modern moral standards. Being the originator of an entire subgenre of novel - the "Robinsonade" - it is well worth checking out  both for the compelling story and the historical value.

Mass Market: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451530772?tag=randohouseinc7986-20
Trade: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375757325?tag=randohouseinc7986-20
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AZ2V1U?tag=randohouseinc7986-20



Viewing: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (John Huston, 1948)

Based on the 1927 novel by the enigmatic B. Traven, this movie - touted as one of the greatest of all time - follows a trio of poor Americans who prospect for gold in Mexico; while they come close to securing their fortunes, greed and paranoia eventually drive them violently apart, leading to disaster and death. An ingenious blend of Western, adventure and film noir, it features one of the best performances of Humphrey Bogart's career as the shifty Fred C. Dobbs, as well as an Oscar-winning role for Walter Huston as the experienced Howard, not to mention veteran Western star Tim Holt rounding out the trio as the straight-laced Bob Curtin. A high benchmark in the career of John Huston, the film remains as searing and impactful today as when it first premiered.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Sierra-Madre-Humphrey-Bogart/dp/B0049985XW/ref=tmm_dvd_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1599185775&sr=8-3
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Sierra-Madre-Blu-ray/dp/B001P829VY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=the+treasure+of+the+sierra+madre&qid=1599185775&sr=8-3
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Sierra-Madre-Humphrey-Bogart/dp/B001EBWIUO/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+treasure+of+the+sierra+madre&qid=1599185775&sr=8-2


Well, that's all for September. I hope that the fall will prove to be better on all of our spirits.

Well, here we are in August. With all that's been going on, it sure has felt different. I mean, it might be the last full month of summer technically, but for those of us trying to keep safe, it probably hasn't felt like much of a summer anyway. I hope next year is better.

Anyway, the recommendations this month are a bit artsy and probably outside of the comfort zones of the average fan, but I think it's worth a shot.

Reading: Roadside Picnic (1972) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky

In the aftermath of a mysterious visitation by unseen aliens, several landing sites throughout the world have been classified into "Zones", where strange phenomena happen. Redrick "Red" Schuhart is a "stalker" - one who makes illegal expeditions into the Zones in order to retrieve special artifacts to sell on the black market - who, upon an ordinary excursion going wrong, finds himself drawn into a lifetime of underground double-dealing in order to provide for his family, which is also tainted by the influence of the Zones. Perhaps the most well-known work outside of their home country by arguably the most popular science fiction authors in the Russian language, this novel, which underwent heavy censorship by Soviet authorities, remains an influential text, having introduced the word stalker into the Russian language and serving as an inspiration for film, video games, and literature; it remained out of print in the United States for nearly thirty years before a brand new translation appeared in 2012 (which is linked to below).

Trade: https://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Picnic-Rediscovered-Classics-Strugatsky/dp/1613743416/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596571857&sr=1-1-791c2399-d602-4248-afbb-8a79de2d236f
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Picnic-Rediscovered-Classics-Strugatsky-ebook/dp/B0087GJ5WI/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596571857&sr=1-1-791c2399-d602-4248-afbb-8a79de2d236f



Viewing: Stalker (Andrei Tartovsky, 1979)

The final film made in his native homeland by one of the world's most respected film directors, Stalker is a loose adaptation of the Strugatsky brothers' Roadside Picnic (featuring a screenplay which they themselves wrote), only more abstract and philosophical, featuring long, quiet takes and surreal imagery. Three unidentified men - referred to only as the "Stalker", the "Writer", and the "Professor" - breach the security of the highly fortified, mysterious Zone in search of a strange artifact - a room said to grant the secret desires of whoever enters it; each man has his own reasons for seeking out the Room, which are gradually revealed throughout the film. While quite slow and cerebral compared to both the book and other films at the time, it has since transcended its initial mixed reception to be one of Tartakovsky's most acclaimed works and may probably reward dedicated viewings.

DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Stalker-Feature-Alisa-Freyndlikh/dp/B071YCQJRD/ref=tmm_dvd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596571910&sr=8-2
Blu-Ray: https://www.amazon.com/Stalker-Feature-Blu-ray-Alisa-Freyndlikh/dp/B06ZY641YQ/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596571910&sr=8-2
Amazon Video: https://www.amazon.com/Stalker-English-Subtitled-Alisa-Freindlikh/dp/B073X5Z5HX/ref=tmm_aiv_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1596571910&sr=8-2

That's all I got for now. I hope I haven't recommended anything too off-putting or unenjoyable. See you next month!

Yeah, I can see that. I was going to politely disagree, but I think I have to put my thoughts together more before I do.

Anyway, here are a couple of relevant articles about Tolkien's work and racism accusations, both of which touch on what you've been talking about. Sure, I meant for the initial post to cover more than Tolkien, but since he's pretty much the trope codifier and it always seems to come back to him, that's a good place to start, I guess.

Here's a defense of Tolkien from Psychology Today, though it could be problematic in itself: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/checkpoints/202004/no-orcs-arent-racist

And here's a large article on The Tolkien Gateway - a great Tolkien wiki - on the racism subject: http://tolkiengateway.net/wiki/Racism_in_Tolkien%27s_Works

Both are pretty interesting, in my own opinion.