Books & Stuff (NS, No 25) - Reading in Feb 2022

 Finished Books

JRR Tolkien & Christopher Tolkien, The Children of Hurin

I finished this.  As I said before, it's is a much easier read in the prose version presented here than what we get in The Lost Tales.  

But when Tolkien says that this is a story of a family cursed, he sure means it!  Fate and doom drip from each page.  This is a tale of woe and hubris.

...so I need some light relief.

Terry Pratchett, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

This is on of my favorite of Pratchett's books.  He takes the tale of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn and considers what it might be like from the rats' point of view (and what if it was all a big con arranged by them).

And in getting Maurice off the shelf, I realised that I'd never read this one...

Terry Pratchett, Dodger

I hadn't actually realised that this wasn't a Discworld novel, but a 'straight' (ie, no fantasy) one based in C19th London.  It owes a lot to the work of Henry Mayhew, and is therefore dedicated to him.

Dodger is a tosher (a scavenger in the sewers).  An encounter with thugs brutalising an orphan brings him into contact with Mayhew, Charles Dickens, Sweeny Todd and others.

Books and Stuff (NS, No 20) - Reading in Sep 2021

 Finished Reading

James S A Corey, Abaddon's Gate

The third book in 'The Expanse' series.

The answer to what the Protomolecule is doing on Venus seems to be closer with its creation of an artifact that is placed in the Outer Solar System.  But as the planetary governments posture and scramble to be on-site, it becomes clear that the problems they are going to face are ones they're bringing with them.

Terry Pratchett, A Slip of the Keyboard

A collection of some of Pratchett's non-fiction writings, many autobiographical.  There's humour here (I laughed out loud a couple of times), but also musings on writing and the nature of fantasy.  And of course, towards the end, he was writing a lot about dementia and assisted dying,

Julian Whitehead, Rebellion in the Reign of Charles II

This is a book that has been sat by my bed for a while (I see that I started reading it in January).  The fact I haven't been reading isn't a reflection on the book itself - which I found excellent.

This is a chronological study of the many threats (both real and imagined) to the Restoration of the monarchy, Charles's own reign, or Duke of York's right of succession.  It does so by examining the intellegence-gathering functions of the various Secretaries of State (not above plotting themselves).

Fredrich Durrenmatt, The Judge and His Hangman

According to the blurb this is genre-bending and a precursor of post-modernist fiction.  Well, perhaps -  I don't know what impact it would have had when it was published in 1950.

To me it wasn't special, and  (with nothing to back it up) I'm sure had been done before.

Currently Reading

J D Davies, Kings of the Sea: Charles II, James II & The Royal Navy

This I'd been looking forward to reading.

The Restoration navy is neglected both by general and naval historians - and when Charles and James's role is mentioned it's as dilettantes, only interested in yatching and gingerbread decoration.  

But Davies is an authority, and perhaps only he can only shift the prism of Pepys's writings to demonstrate that the kings had a real knowledge of naval matters and were behind many of the developments in 'Pepys's Navy'.

Hello Death, Old Friend

Terry took Death’s arm and followed him through the doors and on to the black desert under the endless night.

Beardies Speak Out

Wizzard

This afternoon I was able to catch up with reading the Saturday newspapers.

The Daily Telegraph carried interviews with two giants of our time.  Have a look - they're worth reading.

Terry Practchett interview

Rowan Williams interview

Archbishop