What are you reading?

[grodog]

EDIT: Also got Cook's "Chronicles of The Black Company" for my birthday... decisions, decisions.

That's probably next on my list, after finishing up Alan Dean Foster's _Alien_ novelization (although if I can find my copy of _Aliens_ [most of my books are in storage atm], I'll likely follow up with that first...).

[Geoffrey]

I've recently acquired the collections that contain all of Thomas Ligotti's stories:

Songs of a Dead Dreamer
Grimscribe
Noctuary
My Work Is Not Yet Done
Teatro Grottesco

A quick count reveals about 75 stories. I'm reading them only late at night, after everyone else has gone to bed. I'm reading no more than one on any given night. The stories are atmospheric and disquieting. Ligotti is probably my favorite living author of weird fiction.

[foxroe]

I've recently acquired the collections that contain all of Thomas Ligotti's stories

Have you read his essay "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race"? I haven't, but it seems like something you'd like.

[Ghul]

So I finally got around to reading Michael Crichton's last book, Pirate Latitudes. It's different for him, as most of his work is grounded in hard science, and he does get into some of that when explaining the function of canons, but it's really historical fiction; a bit of a departure for Crichton. The subject matter is interesting, 17th century West Indies in which most of the islands are controlled by Spain and Jamaica is tenuously controlled by England), but the truth is I feel it is one of his worst executed stories. There is an overly plotted feel about it that I can't help but identify, and, for me, it reduces plausibility. Still, I'm interested enough to finish it, being 3/4ths through. I wonder if the novel was finished to his satisfaction before he passed away? Not really sure about that, but overall, I've enjoyed his work. Crichton checked out early, sort of like Phillip K. Dick. Speaking of PKD, I'm due to read another one of his. And recommendations?

[Wheggi]

I've recently acquired the collections that contain all of Thomas Ligotti's stories:

Songs of a Dead Dreamer
Grimscribe
Noctuary
My Work Is Not Yet Done
Teatro Grottesco

A quick count reveals about 75 stories. I'm reading them only late at night, after everyone else has gone to bed. I'm reading no more than one on any given night. The stories are atmospheric and disquieting. Ligotti is probably my favorite living author of weird fiction.

You found The Nightmare Factory? That must have cost a pretty penny: its OOP and I think was going for $75.00 on Amazon. (and I was desperately looking for my copy to loan to Foster. Alas, I had to give him my damaged and incomplete copy of Grimscribe, and I still haven't found my copy of TNF )

I couldn't agree more: Ligotti is hands-down the best craftsman of weird fiction alive today. Lots of Lovecraft influence: Ligotti is not 'loud' horror, but more for disconcerning dread and dark cosmic contemplation. "The Bungalow House" would have to be my favorite story, followed by "Last Feast of Harlequin". I only wish he were more prolific.

- Wheggi

[grodog]

So I finally got around to reading Michael Crichton's last book, Pirate Latitudes. It's different for him, as most of his work is grounded in hard science, and he does get into some of that when explaining the function of canons, but it's really historical fiction; a bit of a departure for Crichton.

I haven't read that, but have you read _The Great Train Robbery_, Jeff? It's excellent, and is hands-down my favorite historical novel.

Speaking of PKD, I'm due to read another one of his. And recommendations?

Which have you read? So far I've only read _The Man in the High Castle_ (which was fabulous) and _Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?_ (which was also excellent). I own a few more, but haven't read them yet.

[Ghul]

So I finally got around to reading Michael Crichton's last book, Pirate Latitudes. It's different for him, as most of his work is grounded in hard science, and he does get into some of that when explaining the function of canons, but it's really historical fiction; a bit of a departure for Crichton.

I haven't read that, but have you read _The Great Train Robbery_, Jeff? It's excellent, and is hands-down my favorite historical novel.

Speaking of PKD, I'm due to read another one of his. And recommendations?

Which have you read? So far I've only read _The Man in the High Castle_ (which was fabulous) and _Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?_ (which was also excellent). I own a few more, but haven't read them yet.

Never read The Great Train Robbery, Allan, but after looking it up I must admit I am intrigued!

As far as PKD goes, I've never read Man in the High Castle, because I like to wait for a special occasion before reading a big award winning novel, for some odd reason. But I've read a lot of his other novels and short stories. I'll have to look at his bibliography to remind myself, but I've read at least 4 novels and 2 short story collections. But since he wrote more than a dozen novels, figured I'd see if any folks had any favorites. I think PKD was brilliant, really.

[simrion]

Glen Cook
Jack Whyte
John Birmingham
Lewis Carroll
Gary Gygax
James Branch Cabell
Robert Heinlein
Robert E Howard
5 - 6 more books I can not readily name

Yes...I burn multiple candles at the same time...

[Welleran]

As far as PKD goes, I've never read Man in the High Castle, because I like to wait for a special occasion before reading a big award winning novel, for some odd reason. But I've read a lot of his other novels and short stories. I'll have to look at his bibliography to remind myself, but I've read at least 4 novels and 2 short story collections. But since he wrote more than a dozen novels, figured I'd see if any folks had any favorites. I think PKD was brilliant, really.

Ironically, I just finished that book last week. It was interesting, but I thought he really soft-pedaled the Japanese. He has them really mellowing out after the war -- I think things would've been a lot less cozy than he portrays. Otherwise, good book, though the ending was a bit too open for my tastes.

[Geoffrey]

I've recently acquired the collections that contain all of Thomas Ligotti's stories

Have you read his essay "The Conspiracy Against the Human Race"? I haven't, but it seems like something you'd like.

I haven't read it. I'll have to look into that.

[Geoffrey]

I've recently acquired the collections that contain all of Thomas Ligotti's stories:

Songs of a Dead Dreamer
Grimscribe
Noctuary
My Work Is Not Yet Done
Teatro Grottesco

A quick count reveals about 75 stories. I'm reading them only late at night, after everyone else has gone to bed. I'm reading no more than one on any given night. The stories are atmospheric and disquieting. Ligotti is probably my favorite living author of weird fiction.

You found The Nightmare Factory? That must have cost a pretty penny: its OOP and I think was going for $75.00 on Amazon. (and I was desperately looking for my copy to loan to Foster. Alas, I had to give him my damaged and incomplete copy of Grimscribe, and I still haven't found my copy of TNF )

I couldn't agree more: Ligotti is hands-down the best craftsman of weird fiction alive today. Lots of Lovecraft influence: Ligotti is not 'loud' horror, but more for disconcerning dread and dark cosmic contemplation. "The Bungalow House" would have to be my favorite story, followed by "Last Feast of Harlequin". I only wish he were more prolific.

- Wheggi

I was told that The Nightmare Factory is simply a compilation of Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Grimscribe, and Noctuary. I haven't therefore sought to acquire it.

I love how Ligotti has such a light touch that you often don't realize what exactly happened after the first reading of a story, yet you still feel a profound disquiet. Then, after re-reading the story and understanding it more, the disquiet isn't thereby dispelled.

I don't have a favorite Ligotti story yet. I've read too few of them, but I'm fixing that.

[Mythmere]

The Black Company books, start to finish. I finally got the collection of all of them, and have never read them all at once, chronologically (I've read all but the last two before, but they are good re-reads).

[grodog]

The Black Company books, start to finish. I finally got the collection of all of them, and have never read them all at once, chronologically (I've read all but the last two before, but they are good re-reads).

Hmmm. I picked up the first three books in a recent trade pb reprint, but the first book didn't hook me at the onset: I'll give it another whirl later tonight. Does the first book start slowly/oddly/strangely??

[Wheggi]

I was told that The Nightmare Factory is simply a compilation of Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Grimscribe, and Noctuary. I haven't therefore sought to acquire it.

I love how Ligotti has such a light touch that you often don't realize what exactly happened after the first reading of a story, yet you still feel a profound disquiet. Then, after re-reading the story and understanding it more, the disquiet isn't thereby dispelled.

I don't have a favorite Ligotti story yet. I've read too few of them, but I'm fixing that.

"Teatro Grottesco" (at least the story) can be found in TNF. I wasn't aware of another compilation after this and had assumed that it was the definitive collection, very interesting!

Ligotti is a unique stylist and was a breath of fresh air when the horror genre was spinning into the realm of splatterpunk and homoerotic torture porn (such as the crap Poppy Brite spits out). A man who respects the traditions of the genre yet expands upon them, Ligotti creates a type of weird fiction that creates images of greying towns, neglected back lots, forgotten carnivals and empty galleries, while all the while evoking the feeling that there is another reality behind the one he is depicting, that his world is a facade for something much more cosmic and ultimately unsettling. Deaths occur in Ligotti's fiction, but not high def gorefests. Instead, bodies are found frozen in fright and as a resolution. Ligotti is a craftsman of the highest order.

- Wheggi
NOW PLAYING ON RADIO WHGI: "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" by the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet

[Mythmere]

EDIT: Also got Cook's "Chronicles of The Black Company" for my birthday... decisions, decisions.

If you haven't read the Black Company books yet, I would recommend them over a re-read of pretty much anything. The Black Company books are a major work of fantasy - not up there with Tolkien but by the time you get into the later books they become a great deal deeper than pretty much anything other than Tolkien that has been written in the genre. That shift really happens in the books after the first three, but the first three are rocking good swords & sorcery fiction, and they set the stage for something much deeper. A bit like the way the Hobbit acts as an overture for LotR, only without the kids-book versus grownups-book gap.