Sunday Morning Book Thread - 10-13-2024 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading (WARNING! Cover art is not for the squeamish!). Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...(also not for the squeamish).

So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, sprinkle pumpkin spice on your omelet, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?

PIC NOTE

Today's pic is the Monster Book of Monsters from the Harry Potter franchise. It's a vicious book that is partly sentient, or at least has enough awareness to snap off a finger if you try to open it without subduing it first. Among its entries are the relatively "normal" beasties like hippogriffs, manticores, and sphinxes, but it also has entries for "shelifferous drogodflikerous" and "darazilnof freaazar."

THE LINGERING DEATH OF FANTASY BOOK PUBLISHING

"Trad Publishing" refers to "traditional publishing," i.e., the huge publishing houses in New York City responsible for releasing a vast number of books we've read over the past several decades. Independent--"indy"--publishing is on the rise, as writers are able to leverage the power of social media to market and distribute their books instead of relying on the gatekeeping power of a traditional publishing house.

In the past, I suppose publishing houses did serve some purpose in reviewing and editing the best of the best stories. Quality editing is just as important as quality writing. However, as Jon Del Arroz points out above, now the gatekeeping has become much more sinister as traditional publishing is pushing their own woke agenda onto the masses by crowding out straight white male authors in favor of anything and everything else. It's very noticeable in the fantasy and science fiction genres, but I suspect it's pervasive across the genre spectrum, from horror to romance to literary fiction.

Eventually, traditional publishing is going to crash and burn at some point, just like the film industry, as more and more people reject their offerings in favor of independent authors or authors who decide to go rogue from trad publishing. A dirty secret about the publishing industry is that they are mostly supported by a handful of tentpole authors/franchises. Most books don't sell that well, but the best-sellers that DO sell a lot of books bring in enough revenue to support the publishing house as it seeks newer, fresher authors. But they are no longer interested in telling compelling stories about universal human experiences, opting instead to find stories by particular demographics, regardless of the quality of the writing.

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BOOKS BY MORON ADJACENT AUTHORS

One of the Horde heard about this new release, and it sounds like a fun read.

What Are the Odds by David List
Ray Dawson--a former NYPD detective unfairly forced into early retirement--never thought he would get another chance to be with his second wife, and love of his life, Stephanie. So, when she opens the door to the possibility, he spends his savings on an extravagant, romantic getaway at a resort in Costa Rica. But Ray is still as much a cop as he is a man, and when, in the hotel elevator, he has a chance encounter with Wilbur Bailey--a wily, neurotic, and environmentally conscious fugitive with a $5 million bounty on his head--things get complicated.
IRS Special Agent Phil Dancourt is determined to bust Mika Salko, the corrupt CEO of Houston based Amco Oil, and believes Wilbur Bailey--an Amco analyst with a conscience--is the one guy on the inside who could help bring Salko down. But in a bizarre twist, Bailey embezzles millions and disappears, putting Phil's job on the line. Now, after Wilbur is sighted in Costa Rica, Phil is sent to retrieve him. But from the moment he steps off the plane--and crosses paths with Ray and Wilbur--nothing goes as planned.
The encounter propels the three men into a harrowing, death-defying, life-changing, and often hilarious journey, attracting unwanted attention from a heroin-addicted dishwasher, a powerful, corrupt CEO, bloodthirsty gangs and drug cartels, and pandering government watchdogs. Along the way, they come face to face, in unexpected ways, with life's larger questions: friendship, love, loss, faith, and the commitment to values larger than oneself. What results is a trio of unlikely friends, and Ray can only hope that, once it's all over, Stephanie will still be there.

BOOKS BY MORON AUTHORS

Moron Author D.S. Blake--who has been featured here before--has a new entry in his current series:

Book 4 in the Exoprenurs series, Will-o'-Wisp comes out on the 15th of October!
This time, Jake Ambler is alone on a planet populated by giant feudalistic dragonflies, their stickbug shock troops, argumentative alligator bugs and enterprising gnats!
What's going on? Jake sure doesn't know. He's just been assigned to protect the Apothikon, a mysterious creature lying in a pit that occasionally emits a signal that makes the dragonfly-like Seyles go into a frenzy attacking it. Can a man and his flak cannon keep the creature alive until it finally emerges from its chrysalis? Should he?
Thanks, as always, for your mentions!

MORON RECOMMENDATIONS

I read Imminent: Inside The Pentagon's Hunt For UFOs by Luis Elizondo. When I was in high school in the early 60's, I read everything I could find about Project Blue Book, the Air Force's study (cover-up?) of UFO's. They have since been renamed UAP's (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), and the subject is still fascinating to me. Elizondo first gives a history of UAP encounters from around the world. He joins the current DOD program studying UAP's has access to current encounters. He came to the conclusion that the phenomena were alien and that they might pose a threat to our military pilots. He spent years trying to get this information to the Secy. of Defense and full disclosure to the American people, but bureaucratic in-fighting kept him from doing so. He resigned in disgust and hosted a TV show to bring this information public. He was successful in getting the UAP Disclosure Act signed into law. An interesting book.
Posted by: Zoltan at October 06, 2024 09:28 AM (uYywX)

Comment: I, too, was fascinated with UFOs and I still am, I suppose, but not to the same degree. I suspect "the truth is out there" but whether or not we will discover it in my lifetime remains to be seen. We live in a very, very strange universe. I do think that any intelligence that is able to overcome the physical limitations of interstellar travel as we know them will be so far advanced of us that we might as well be insects--or even germs--compared to them. Why they are suddenly curious about us is an open question. An alternate theory making the rounds is that these are demonic forces assuming a shape that hides their true forms and intentions.

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I recently read MacGregor's Final Battle, which was a different take on a man w/a terminal illness making a cross-country trip to visit his cousin in Alaska. With the complication that said illness caused episodes of unconsciousness. Recommended.
Posted by: yara at October 06, 2024 10:24 AM (s8LAW)

Comment: I went to the Amazon page for this book to see what it was all about. MacGregor suffers from brain cancer, which is slowly killing him, but he doesn't let that stop him from living his best life as he embarks on an odyssey to follow the Lewis and Clark Trail and then proceed up into Alaska. Not sure I'd have the courage to do that if I was suffering from a debilitating illness like brain cancer.

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This Perfect Day by Ira Levin.
Very good dystopian novel. He does some interesting things that would make it maybe hard to film.

The Dystopian Life is a pretty good safety life. You can understand why it appeals to so many and why they would never choose to leave it. Not that they're given the choice.

The elimination of all morality and the establishment of a "wellness" regime. If you're not "well", why then you're lovingly brought to a clinic for more drugs.

This is perfect Communism more or less, but yet it presents a very clear understanding or what those at the top get out of it all. Which is not what Our Betters want to advertise nor their Hollywood Lapdogs.

The story takes place over a number of years, decades really and while that's not a problem in reading, the presentation of that doesn't always work in movie.

Any way, a very good read by a very good writer. Check it out.
Posted by: naturalfake at October 06, 2024 10:40 AM (eDfFs)

What is it about dystopian societies they feel the need to drug their citizens into compliance?

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More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (1000+ Moron-recommended books!)

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WHAT I'VE ACQUIRED THIS PAST WEEK:

Since I ordered The Last Dangerous Visions, I thought I'd go ahead and get the previous book in the series as well, though I already have it on Kindle.

Again, Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison -- Accoding to Ellison, the first volume did so well that he was commissioned to edit a follow-up volume. He received so many submissions, he had to leave some of them for the final volume of the series, The Last Dangerous Visions. That was *supposed* to be released six months or so after Again, Dangerous Visions. Didn't quite work out that way.

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:

After reviewing some of OregonMuse's old Book Threads, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Instead of just listing WHAT I'm reading, I'll include commentary as well. Unless otherwise specified, you can interpret this as an implied recommendation, though as always your mileage may vary.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eams

The premise behind this book and its sequels is that mercenary groups--or "bands"--are treated like rockstars in our world. "Bookers" arrange commissions for the bands to go out and fight monsters. Bards often accompany the bands to record the events, but they have a shockingly low life expectancy when it comes to adventuring. Nevertheless, bards do sing the epic tales of monster-slaying on behalf of the bands who performed those heroic deeds.

There is a bit of "wokeness" in this book, though it may have been inserted just to appease the editor as it has NO EFFECT on the overall story. One of the main characters is gay wizard mourning the loss of his "husband," who died from a fatal disease many years before this story began. Change "husband" to "wife" and it alters the story not one bit. And the wizard in question doesn't engage in any homosexual behavior within the story--he's an old man long past his prime. That's why I wonder if it was just put in because someone insisted there had to be a gay character, even though it has NO IMPACT on the story.

Again, Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison

It's been a long, long time since I've read an anthology of science fiction--or speculative fiction--stories. The Dangerous Visions series edited by Harlan Ellison is his crowning achievement as an editor. The goal was to find science fiction stories that were radical for their time, putting humanity with all of its foibles under a microscope for examination as only science fiction authors can do. I'd say he was largely successful.

One of the more interesting aspects (to me) is that Ellison often refers to libraries (public and school) and bookstores refusing to stock either Dangerous Visions or the sequel out of fear of "offending the sensibilities" of the readership. Nowadays, both bookstores and libraries would *insist* on promoting these books *because* they know readers would find the content offensive.

Sandman Slim Book 10 - Hollywood Dead by Richard Kadrey

Sandman Slim (a.k.a. James Stark) is back from the dead, baby! Well, sort of...He's been resurrected halfway by the evil Wormwood folks, who need Stark to eliminate a rival faction with the Wormwood organization. Naturally, the other faction believes *they* are on the right side of history and are seeking ultimate salvation and want to destroy the faction that raised Stark from the dead. Lots of shenanigans--and murder and mayhem--ensue, as usual. Meanwhile, Stark is on a clock as his partly resurrected body is quickly wearing down. His goal is to find someone to resurrect him the rest of the way so that he can return to his old life.

PREVIOUS SUNDAY MORNING BOOK THREAD - 10-06-2024 (NOTE: Do NOT comment on old threads!)

Tips, suggestions, recommendations, etc., can all be directed to perfessor -dot- squirrel -at- gmail -dot- com.

Disclaimer: No Morons were physically harmed in the making of this Sunday Morning Book Thread. The same cannot be said of the vermicious knid.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Tolle Lege

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 08:59 AM (fwDg9)

2 Book Thread time!

Wait. What do you mean I have to take you to work?!?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 08:59 AM (0eaVi)

3 It's going to be raining on and off all day. Perfect Book Thread weather!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 09:00 AM (kpS4V)

4 books

Posted by: rhennigantx at October 13, 2024 09:00 AM (gbOdA)

5 I have always loved that idea of the Monster book of Monsters

As for real reading ever so slowly getting through Churchill, a life by Martin Gilbert, it's 950 pages so will be awhile

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 09:03 AM (fwDg9)

6 Don't want to derail the thread, but there is a spreadsheet where folks are tracking those missing and found from the storms. Link is here:

https://tinyurl.com/5m3hbcus

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 13, 2024 09:05 AM (gfViB)

7 Speaking of Harry Potter: I saw a meme that made the point that Die Hard was a Harry Potter movie because the main character spends his time in a tower hiding from Alan Rickman...

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 13, 2024 09:07 AM (PiwSw)

8 Booken Morgen Horden

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:08 AM (0JWOm)

9 I too have wondered if the clunky and obvious insertion of throwaway woke markers is due to the political commissars looking over the shoulders of authors.

"Make sure you have all flavors of the human experience represented in this brief scene taking place in a junior high lunchroom! Hey, I'm not seeing any hijabs!"

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 09:08 AM (kpS4V)

10 Approaching the end of my year long study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church - 690 pages chock full of things I didn't know, did know, and things I thought I knew.

It's humbling to discover even this compellation is but a mere beginning.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 13, 2024 09:09 AM (WXNFJ)

11 Good Morning.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 13, 2024 09:10 AM (dR6yv)

12 Good morning dear morons and thanks perfesser.

I love This Perfect Day and have always wondered why it has never been dramatized.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 13, 2024 09:10 AM (RIvkX)

13 The new Flavia de Luce mystery finds young Flavia and her late father's trusted manservant Dogger solving the murder-by-mushrooms of a local recluse and retired hangman -- from an omelet made by the de Luce family cook! Of course she's innocent, and Flavia sets out to prove it, which uncovers another mystery occurring at the American air base nearby.

Says Dogger, "The days of village crimes being solved by dotty old ladies on tricycles are almost over, save for the occasional Agatha Christie at Christmas. The man in a white lab coat with a microscope is the new Sir Lancelot. Science has overthrown both native wit and the tingle of spinster intuition..."

And yet Flavia snooping around the village on her rickety bike or fooling around with noxious potions in her chemistry lab always gets to the bottom of it, to the consternation of the police chief. These mysteries are kind of meta -- following the tropes while also standing aside and cocking a snook at them.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 09:11 AM (kpS4V)

14 I actually read a printed book this week - A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher.

I would classify it as YA dark fairy tale retelling of the goose girl.
It's refreshing that it was not a romance, nor was it a stronk grrrl power book.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:12 AM (0JWOm)

15 Im reading prone on the couch and Lily the Cat has me pinned down. The purring makes it like a Magic Fingers experience.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 09:13 AM (kpS4V)

16 Have you ever bought books just because you wanted to or thought you should own them but knowing you probably wouldn't actually read them? I saw a four volume set of Churchill yesterday in the used book shop (book club edition, not collectibles) and felt that. I eventually talked myself out of it.

Posted by: Oddbob at October 13, 2024 09:13 AM (/y8xj)

17 Good morning, good people. A fine Adirondack day to laze around and read, with an occasional foray into the kitchen. I mean to indulge and enjoy.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 13, 2024 09:14 AM (hKoQL)

18 As for real reading ever so slowly getting through Churchill, a life by Martin Gilbert, it's 950 pages so will be awhile
Posted by: Skip
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Official biographies always have issues in that one is never quite sure just what agreements authors make for access to family controlled docs. Then there is the dangerous task of demystifying someone viewed as the savior of civilization in WWII by a lot of folks. Even now any criticism of Churchill is controversial.

Gilbert's biography, to my reading was a casualty of the first problem plus the literal flood of rather boring memos, etc. that Churchill produced. The man was a prolific writing machine albeit by the 30's with a lot of assistance from researchers, stenographers, proof readers, etc.

So I either prefer reading Churchill'd various writings directly or something like William Manchester's unfinished trilogy (Paul Reid's finishing the series resembles Gilbert in tone and writing more than Manchester unfortunately).

If I want to read critical or revisionist history, either Churchill's contemporaries in their memoirs or Charmley who blames Winston for losing the Empire plus Britain's place in the world.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 09:16 AM (bt/Nj)

19 Morning, Book Folken! Just a quick drive-by into the thread, as I have to run to the grocery, but I hope to be back before it's all over. I'm deep into Robert Ruark's Something of Value, his tale of white colonists and Kikuyu natives in Kenya before and during the Mau Mau uprising in the early Fifties. Often featuring horrifying stuff, it reads itself to you like a Herman Wouk novel, and looks unflinchingly at African thinking and violence.

In other words, it's a book that could never be published traditionally today.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 09:16 AM (omVj0)

20 Derek Sivers ( the founder of CDBaby ) has a website of reviews of the books he's read over the years. A very eclectic list.

https://is.gd/sGGDlX

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 13, 2024 09:18 AM (PiwSw)

21 Vmom, I've enjoyed Kingfisher's reimagining of the old fairy tales.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 09:19 AM (kpS4V)

22 Made the mistake of looking at The Big Book of Noir edited by Ed Gorman and Lee Server. As a result, there's a bunch of Gil Brewer, Vin Packer, and Peter Rabe waiting for me on the Kindle with Harry Whittington on the menu as well. The Amazing Colossal To-Be-Read Pile never seems to get any smaller...

The Last Dangerous Visions has some awfully good stories in it; not sure you could call them 'dangerous' now, though some of them might have been in the 70s. The opening essays by J. M. Straczynski have a lot of information about how Harlan Ellison's career in general and this book in particular were affected by his illnesses. Well worth a read.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 09:20 AM (q3u5l)

23 I finished reading 'The Guns of August' yesterday. It was a ok read but I felt there should have been more information about certain battles in that first month.

Any suggestions about better books on WWI?

Posted by: dantesed at October 13, 2024 09:21 AM (Oy/m2)

24 Morning readists! Thank you, Squirrel!

Started reading Melania's autobiography. As I have long known, she and I share a birthday (although I am much more ancient).

Speaking of last night's travel thread, I was once driving through Slovenia and came upon a toll booth. When the tollbooth attendant told me the amount, I turned to my wife and said, "Four Euros and a modeling contract, Please." She looked at the tollbooth worker, shrugged and agreed. Slovenia is blessed.

Posted by: goatexchange at October 13, 2024 09:22 AM (L7gdA)

25 16 Have you ever bought books just because you wanted to or thought you should own them but knowing you probably wouldn't actually read them? I saw a four volume set of Churchill yesterday in the used book shop (book club edition, not collectibles) and felt that. I eventually talked myself out of it.
Posted by: Oddbob
=========
Depends. Churchill's History of the English Speaking People is wonderful.

His WWI and WWII accounts sometimes get bogged down with minutiae and then suddenly his writing and insight soars just when the endless official documents used to prove Winston was right makes one's eyelids heavy. The WWII accounts were written by a team and his History was written similarly. But, Winston was not hampered with a plethora of officialese documents, minutes, etc. in his History. Winston was purposefully laying out his justifications of his time in office, in both his WWI and WWII series. It shows to the detriment of the liveliness of his other writings.

His early works are quite entertaining in his exploits in the Boer Wars, Sudan, and Afghanistan/India as a young reporter and junior military officer.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 09:22 AM (bt/Nj)

26 Dantesed, I am a fan of SLA Marshall and he has a one-volume history of WWI that is very good.

Posted by: goatexchange at October 13, 2024 09:23 AM (L7gdA)

27 Just a gossip FYI I think there's some kind of feud / bad blood between Jon Del Arroz and Larry Correia

Haven't listened to the video but it's quite true that trad pub is about gatekeeping now, and Tor is the most DEI strict of them.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:24 AM (7gFa4)

28 A final call for beta readers - for my YA adventure novel set on the California trail in 1846. (Not the Donner-Reed party, although adjacent.)
Let me know if interested - send an email to clyahayes-at-gee-mail-dot-com.
I'm hoping to sneak in a lot of accurate 19th century history and interesting characters, in a first-person account by a 12 year old girl and her functional and affectionate family on the pioneer trail.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at October 13, 2024 09:24 AM (Ew3fm)

29 Oddbob, don't feel like the Lone Ranger re: I should buy this even if I probably won't get it read. This kid's still got a number of books on the shelf acquired that way. I like to think I'm better now, but wouldn't swear to it.

Oh, and, Good morning, Horde.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 09:24 AM (q3u5l)

30 I'm reading Elon by Walter Isaacson. I think this will be the last of my money I give this author. Elon is an interesting person with an interesting life. But I read the Steve Jobs bio by the same author. It feels like the author liked Jobs more than Elon. It just seems like a lightweight book. And his choice of the words "Trump babbled", when quoting something he said was unnecessary. It makes me question his fairness to his subject. I'm at the point in the book where Elon purchases Twitter, so I expect that unfairness to come out full force.

It's a shame and I hope for another bio of Elon from someone else.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 13, 2024 09:27 AM (gfViB)

31 The fourth book in the chronicles of Amber series is The Hand of Oberon by Roger Zelazny. We now know the black road that lies like a scar across Amber, threatening its existence, was caused by the spilling of royal blood, and it is uncertain if it can be repaired.

Corwin is still learning who he can trust, as loyalties shift, and allies become enemies and vice versa. Some of his family are intent on fratricide to gain power, while others must be ready to kill to prevent it.

As the book progresses, more history of the pattern that governs Amber is revealed, and as the series unfolds one gains more understanding of the whole theme. The pace of the story also increases as you progress through each book. Looking forward to book five.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 13, 2024 09:28 AM (NpiX9)

32 Eris, this one is a bit blander than her more recent ones, I think.

She's quite a good writer. I only dislike it when her leftism bleeds through, which this one didn't

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:28 AM (7gFa4)

33 As multiple people have said: when you're quoted on the SMBT, it's a good day.

I read Darwin's Bluff, a book about the sequel to Origin of Species. Apparently everybody at the time recognized that OoS was severely lacking in evidence and Darwin said, Yea. I know. My next book will provide that. And never finished it, despite telling all his correspondents that it was forthcoming. The manuscript was found in his papers and published sometime in the 1970's.

The last chapter is polemical and, IMHO, reduces the value of the rest. Is there a myth about Darwin? Yes. Does his speciation hypothesis lack evidence? Yes. I'm lukewarm about this book. YMMV.

Posted by: yara at October 13, 2024 09:28 AM (s8LAW)

34 My favorite book for years was Andersonville by Mckinley Kantor. Forgotten just enough of it to make it worth a reread.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 13, 2024 09:28 AM (hKoQL)

35 I didn't manage to finish reading anything this week. Just continued to jump back and forth between several large volumes I'm slowly slogging through. It didn't help that on several evenings I fell down you YouTube rabbit holes (pop-culture commentary, Polandball, and the Battle of Vicksburg) and didn't do any reading at all...

Posted by: Castle Guy at October 13, 2024 09:30 AM (Lhaco)

36 His WWI and WWII accounts sometimes get bogged down with minutiae...

This was the WWII set and it just struck me as something historically important that I should at least try to read but I know my limitations when it comes to that sort of thing.

Posted by: Oddbob at October 13, 2024 09:30 AM (/y8xj)

37 Sgt. Mom, that sounds super interesting. I wish I had time to help.
Good luck with it!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:31 AM (7gFa4)

38 I'll tell you one thing, Bennett Cerf wouldn't put up with what the publishing houses are doing now.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 09:31 AM (0eaVi)

39 Have you read The Beauty and The Sorrow? It's excellent. The First World War by Martin Gilbert is good too, although I'm not that deep into it.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 13, 2024 09:34 AM (gfViB)

40 Irongrampa- that is on Andersonville prison in the American Civil War?

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 09:35 AM (fwDg9)

41 I'll tell you one thing, Bennett Cerf wouldn't put up with what the publishing houses are doing now.
Posted by: OrangeEnt

He'd be too busy setting up the modern version of "The Famous Writers Club".

Posted by: Tonypete at October 13, 2024 09:37 AM (WXNFJ)

42 Pop Culture references can be funny.

In one of my readings this week, I ran across a teenaged girl making a joke about her Pokemon card collection. The story was written in the late 90's, but set 20 years in the future, so, about 5 years ago. And yet, even if set in real-time, the reference still would have worked! I wonder if the author knew that particular trend was going to endure?

As far as predicting the 2010's from the 90's, the author missed the internet, and the rise of cell/smart-phones. But the author didn't throw in anything silly like flying cars or other major technical advances....Basically, it just read like a contemporary story from an author who was just a little behind the times. Which wasn't a problem, since the story's selling was to follow the next generation of a family, rather than being some sort of exotic future-tale...

Posted by: Castle Guy at October 13, 2024 09:40 AM (Lhaco)

43 @40

Yes it is, especially interesting for me because of a grand father who survived Andersonville in the late years, just before War's end. He was a trooper in the 162nd Pa. Volunteers.

Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 13, 2024 09:40 AM (hKoQL)

44 Since Jon Del Arroz was mentioned, does anyone know what it is he's fighting about with a bunch of people on Twitter? Seems to be about "Comicsgate" but I don't know what that is and the arguing has mostly devolved to name calling at this point.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 13, 2024 09:41 AM (s9EYN)

45 Bennet Cerf is probably spinning faster than an Iranian centrifuge.

I've got several publishers' sites bookmarked these days, and I check them fairly regularly. When I check 'em, I'm looking to see what's being reprinted, not new stuff.

During my years working libraries and Kroch's & Brentano's, I tried to keep up with everything current -- even if I hadn't read it, I probably knew author, title, publisher, where to find it on the shelf if it was there, and maybe some review info for almost anything a customer might ask me about. I stopped caring almost 20 years ago and now if I buy a book chances are it's an older title. Now if somebody would put out Kindle editions of Don Robertson's stuff, I would be one happy camper...

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 09:41 AM (q3u5l)

46 On UFOs: An alternate theory making the rounds is that these are demonic forces assuming a shape that hides their true forms and intentions.

This is what they are, or it's our governments pretending there are aliens to get us to give up our freedoms to unite against some alien force.

There are no other beings out there.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 09:42 AM (0eaVi)

47 What's interesting is self-published indies who become best sellers then get picked up by trad pubs.
I am thinking of Freida McFadden. I haven't read any of her books but I imagine she is rolling around on benjamins at the way her books sell.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:42 AM (7gFa4)

48 Good morning all
Haven't been doing as much reading for fun as I have been consumed by politics and X.
I did manage to read book 22 in the Spenser detective series Thin Air. I like that I can read these books in a couple,of days which is great when my attention span is short. I've already put book 23 on reserve.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at October 13, 2024 09:43 AM (t/2Uw)

49 I started on the first book of the Murdoch mysteries - Except for the Dying

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:44 AM (7gFa4)

50 Major book thread distraction with Starship 5 today. It was an amazing & successful test flight. Now I'll need to start reading.

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at October 13, 2024 09:50 AM (L1omb)

51 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.”

Ezekiel 35:11-12

Posted by: Marcus T at October 13, 2024 09:50 AM (HDGM5)

52 good morning Perfessor, Horde

Tonypete, the Catechism's take on self-mutilation as a subset of murder was eye-opening. Puts a different light on "trans" and "trans" child chopping.

Posted by: callsign claymore at October 13, 2024 09:50 AM (JcnCJ)

53 As for real reading ever so slowly getting through Churchill, a life by Martin Gilbert, it's 950 pages so will be awhile
Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 09:03 AM (fwDg9)
---
Same, but I'm making good time because I've read just about everything Churchill wrote, including his autobiography, so the details are largely known to me.

I'm aware Gilbert has issues, but he's also an Authority and one can't refute an Authority without knowing what he said.

In extreme cases, one need not read all of the work. Antony Beevor's book on the Spanish Civil War was so manifestly awful and filled with bigotry and lies that it was disqualified early on. No need to keep going.

As for Churchill's other works, he has a marvelous writing style, it's as if he's speaking to you, rummaging for papers, holding them out so show you, and then he leans back, puff his cigar, and spins another yarn. It's like talking to an old friend.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 09:51 AM (llXky)

54 I have a book from around 1880 on Andersonville prison.
Read another by a former prisoner and both are so very close wondered if it was the person but they were not.
One was if remember right a Indiana Cavalry trooper, other was a infantryman

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 09:52 AM (fwDg9)

55 Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 09:20 AM (q3u5l)

Is that the Straczynsky (sp?) from Babylon 5?

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 13, 2024 09:53 AM (s9EYN)

56 This is what they are, or it's our governments pretending there are aliens to get us to give up our freedoms to unite against some alien force.

There are no other beings out there.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 09:42 AM (0eaVi)
---
Yes, the devil is telling us he doesn't exist.

The Soviets were heavily involved in promoting UFOs because they were so useful. Philosophically, they destroyed the literal interpretation of Genesis that was popular with Fundamentalists, and fed the whole "my science laughs at your superstition."

As a bonus, their pushing Area 51 as a crash site gained them a lot of unwitting spies who tried to photograph American test sites, take photos, and then circulate them through UFO newsletters. All this came out right after the Berlin Wall fell, but CIA & co. hushed it up because they liked the possibilities for psyops.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 09:55 AM (llXky)

57 Preston and Child's final book of the Agent Pendergast series is out. They promised that the final book, Angel of Vengence, would answer outstanding questions and bring all threads of the series, especially the final 3 books, to a conclusion. They did. The book is a worthy read. Even the epilogue answers a few questions the reader might not of been aware of, let alone asked.

Posted by: Mrs JTB at October 13, 2024 09:57 AM (yTvNw)

58 He'd be too busy setting up the modern version of "The Famous Writers Club".
Posted by: Tonypete at October 13, 2024 09:37 AM (WXNFJ)

There's nothing wrong with that idea. You see the same thing with YTers offering their skills for pay. Just because everyone who joined didn't write bestsellers doesn't mean he did it for ulterior motives. Rod Serling was involved in the group, but you don't here any denigration of him about it. Heck, it's like a writer's group writ (hee hee) large. Some of the people who joined did have multiple books published. Just because you get a book contract doesn't mean you'll sell millions of books. Like today.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 09:57 AM (0eaVi)

59 Tonypete, the Catechism's take on self-mutilation as a subset of murder was eye-opening. Puts a different light on "trans" and "trans" child chopping.
Posted by: callsign claymore at October 13, 2024 09:50 AM (JcnCJ)
---
One of the things that attracted me to the Church was that the answers had already been worked out. If you go back far enough, all the heresies already happened and were addressed.

My squadron chaplain (Missouri Synod Lutheran) said that at chaplain school, they had an exercise where they sat down in a classroom with pencils and paper and were given a series of moral questions that they had to answer per their doctrine.

He said the Catholics invariably finished first. Some of the other denominations had to call the seminary to get their official position.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 09:59 AM (llXky)

60 Eris, I didn't realize there was a new Flavia de Luce novel! I read all of them a few years back on your recommendation and enjoyed them a lot. I think they are supposed to be made into a television series but not sure if that's progressing.

Off to see if my bibliothèque has it.

Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 09:59 AM (79pEw)

61 I wouldn't consider The Strain a guilty pleasure, I think it is the best vampire book ever. The cover you selected makes it look like a cheap horror novel but it ie much better than that.

Posted by: who knew at October 13, 2024 10:00 AM (+ViXu)

62 Since Jon Del Arroz was mentioned, does anyone know what it is he's fighting about with a bunch of people on Twitter? Seems to be about "Comicsgate" but I don't know what that is and the arguing has mostly devolved to name calling at this point.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 13, 2024 09:41 AM (s9EYN)

I've noticed Vox Day is in a snit about it. Ticket taking or something maybe. They're all phonies as far as each side is concerned. Sounds like a circular firing squad instead of fighting against the gatekeepers.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 10:00 AM (0eaVi)

63 I wouldn't consider The Strain a guilty pleasure, I think it is the best vampire book ever. The cover you selected makes it look like a cheap horror novel but it ie much better than that.
Posted by: who knew at October 13, 2024 10:00 AM (+ViXu)
---
I agree it's a very, very good vampire book, though maybe not the best ever (it's subjective, of course!).

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 13, 2024 10:02 AM (BpYfr)

64 Reading A History of the English Speaking Peoples and being something of a polyglot is what has made me an English language-supremacist.

Also, No French.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 13, 2024 10:02 AM (RIvkX)

65 55 - Polliwog:

Yep, that's the same guy. Straczynski of Babylon 5 is the executor of Harlan's estate. Believe one of the things he wants to do is get Harlan's books back into bookstores rather than simply having them available as print-on-demand or specialty house items. So the last year or so has seen the Dangerous Visions anthologies reissued (and TLDV finally released), and the Harlan Ellison's Greatest Hits collection actually out there in stores. Nice to see.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 10:03 AM (q3u5l)

66 Any suggestions about better books on WWI?
Posted by: dantesed at October 13, 2024 09:21 AM (Oy/m2)
---
The World War One Sourcebook by Haythornthwaite. It's a good read on its own, but has a massive list of sources for further reading and is peppered with quotes and anecdotes.

It draws quite a few bits from The Wipers Times, which is absolutely hilarious. You need to do some background reading first, but English trench humor is some of the darkest and wickedest stuff you'll ever find.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:03 AM (llXky)

67 I started on the first book of the Murdoch mysteries - Except for the Dying
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 09:44 AM (7gFa4)

I liked the first couple of seasons of the show even though they suffered from a bit of "presentism". Eventually though, they had the main character make choices so out of keeping with being a devout Catholic that I quit. Didn't know there was a book series, so no idea if the books do the same.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 13, 2024 10:04 AM (s9EYN)

68 It's a coffee table book about coffee tables that can be used as a coffee table!

Posted by: Kramer at October 13, 2024 10:05 AM (unn1B)

69 Tonypete, the Catechism's take on self-mutilation as a subset of murder was eye-opening. Puts a different light on "trans" and "trans" child chopping.
Posted by: callsign claymore at October 13, 2024 09:50 AM (JcnCJ)
====

Would some moron enlighten me on the Catechism's teaching on piercings and tattoos?

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 13, 2024 10:05 AM (RIvkX)

70 Approaching the end of my year long study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church - 690 pages chock full of things I didn't know, did know, and things I thought I knew.

It's humbling to discover even this compellation is but a mere beginning.
Posted by: Tonypete at October 13, 2024 09:09 AM (WXNFJ)

Then you are in fighting trim for George Weigel's biography of St. John Paul II, "Witness to Hope".

I'm currently reading the chapter "Liberating Liberations", so I'm past the first visit to Poland, the assassination attempt, and John Paul's "serious discussions" with the Society of Jesus. What an astounding life!

Posted by: mrp at October 13, 2024 10:06 AM (rj6Yv)

71 It's a coffee table book about coffee tables that can be used as a coffee table!
Posted by: Kramer at October 13, 2024 10:05 AM (unn1B)
---
My father got me an atlas of the American Civil War that resembles this description. It cannot be shelved and must reside on a coffee table.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:08 AM (llXky)

72 Interesting, A.H. Lloyd.

Clarity and courage are some of the greatest needs of the hour.

Posted by: callsign claymore at October 13, 2024 10:08 AM (JcnCJ)

73 Still reading the Orwell bio by John Adkins, published in 1954, IIRC.

I wanted to avoid recent Orwell bios, which I'm pretty certain are leftwing hagiographies-- eg., the woman who gave us "The Handmaid's Tale" took a swing at Orwell. God help us.

As I mentioned last week, I very much liked Paul Theroux's new novel about Orwell's 5 years in Burma. Theroux is meticulous and writes ONLY what is consistent with the first hand accounts.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 10:09 AM (NLIak)

74 Nonfiction:

The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee 18h
Doug Emhoff Brags He Could Smack A Woman In The Middle Of Fifth Avenue And Not Lose Kamala Any Votes
buff.ly/3XWbIi0

Posted by: andycanuck (CEzQx) at October 13, 2024 10:09 AM (CEzQx)

75 Any suggestions about better books on WWI?

Posted by: dantesed at October 13, 2024 09:21 AM (Oy/m2)

The Campaign of the Marne, by Sewell Tyng, is the best one-volume treatment of the opening campaign in the West.

Posted by: HTL at October 13, 2024 10:10 AM (81EcS)

76 44 Since Jon Del Arroz was mentioned, does anyone know what it is he's fighting about with a bunch of people on Twitter? Seems to be about "Comicsgate" but I don't know what that is and the arguing has mostly devolved to name calling at this point.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette

An abbreviated version: Ugly internet drama.

A while back a youtuber with a channel 'Diversity in Comics' made a name for himself by point out/mocking the insane leftism/identity politics that were infesting the mainstream comic book publishers, making stories terrible, and driving away the traditional audience. Much like we've seen in movies, and tv, and book publishing...However, the guy behind D'n'C doesn't seem to care about anything other than comics, or can't make the connection that what happened to comics is also happening elsewhere, and started aggressively mocking/insulting other commentators who were talking about pop-culture failures. Del Arroz called out D'nC on the hypocrisy of attacking others for doing exactly what he does, added in some additional criticisms, and, well, things just got mean...

Posted by: Castle Guy at October 13, 2024 10:11 AM (Lhaco)

77 Eventually though, they had the main character make choices so out of keeping with being a devout Catholic that I quit. Didn't know there was a book series, so no idea if the books do the same.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 13, 2024 10:04 AM (s9EYN)
--------
Same here, Polliwog. They took such pains for so long to show him as a devout and faithful Catholic, and then tossed it away so he could marry what's-her-name. We quit in disgust.

If they hadn't made such a big deal of his Catholicism, it wouldn't have offended me as much, although I still would have been disappointed. But they did.

Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:11 AM (79pEw)

78 Clarity and courage are some of the greatest needs of the hour.
Posted by: callsign claymore at October 13, 2024 10:08 AM (JcnCJ)
---
It was interesting how fast Whitmer caved once the Michigan Catholic Council came at her over the TikTok blasphemy. It isn't even physical courage that is required, just speaking out and using moral language.

I highly recommend The Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli. It is particularly relevant to our age and if you combine it with some C.S. Lewis and Belloc's The Great Heresies, you can pretty much see how we got to where we are and what to do about it.

Another thing about UFOs: it's more comforting for a lot of people to believe E.T. is going to pay a visit than to be confronted with the reality of hell.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:13 AM (llXky)

79 I'm not saying it's not aliens. . .

. . . There are some odd phenomena in the sky though.

* * * * *
This week I've been trying to finish _The Art of the Deal_. Just to add to the vibe I've been playing '80s music.

What a great week!

Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 13, 2024 10:14 AM (5CEo8)

80 If they hadn't made such a big deal of his Catholicism, it wouldn't have offended me as much, although I still would have been disappointed. But they did.
Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:11 AM (79pEw)
---
I think these plot lines are used as a way to "prove" that in practical matters, the Church is wrong.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:16 AM (llXky)

81 Del Arroz has done good stuff, but he seems to want to be the Pope of Anti-Wokeness and will tolerate no rivals.

Posted by: Trimegistus at October 13, 2024 10:16 AM (78a2H)

82 Andersonville:

The feds hanged the commandant. Good.

They likely would've also hanged the armchair general in Richmond (a certain CSA Gen. Winslow, maybe?) who was at least nominally responsible for all rebel POW camps. The Libby prison in Richmond for captured officers was a hellhole, too.

The CSA general in question died of natural causes, unfortunately, before the feds could get around to hanging him.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 10:16 AM (NLIak)

83 Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading. Had some errands this morning so late to the thread. Guess I'll have to read fast to make up for the delay.

Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 10:16 AM (yTvNw)

84 #26 goatexchange, if SLA Marshall's history of WWI is as good as _Men Against Fire_, it definitely needs to go onto my TBR stack. I incorporated lessons from it into an editorial I sent to the base newspaper way back when, and I still refer to _MAF_ even today.

Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 13, 2024 10:16 AM (5CEo8)

85 I don't think I've read in weeks. I started a book on the "troubles" in Northern Ireland, and I find the subject interesting, but the writing style requires the reader to really focus and my brain isn't there at the end of the day. And don't even ask when I last cracked open the Bible outside of Sunday morning (hint: March or April). I need either shock therapy or a vacation to reset my head.

Posted by: PabloD at October 13, 2024 10:17 AM (/zi6l)

86 Bluebell, I'd love to see a Flavia de Luce series and I shudder at the thought at how it might be ruined.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:17 AM (kpS4V)

87 "the gatekeeping has become much more sinister as traditional publishing is pushing their own woke agenda onto the masses by crowding out straight white male authors in favor of anything and everything else."

And that is why traditional publishers and their supporters absolutely fucking hate folks going the indie route and becoming successful.

To hear them tell it, the independent people doing so well are taking dollars away from poor disenfranchised minoritieeeez! who will absolutely DIE because you aren't buying their novels.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 13, 2024 10:19 AM (lXCUP)

88 Here is writer and editor extraordinaire Gardner Dozois's suggested reading list to acquaint younger readers with some of the older science fiction classics:

https://tinyurl.com/mu5m5nkp

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:19 AM (kpS4V)

89 Bluebell, I'd love to see a Flavia de Luce series and I shudder at the thought at how it might be ruined.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:17 AM (kpS4V)
---------

Same and same.

Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:19 AM (79pEw)

90 It's been a while, so I'm going to remind people that Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited and Sword of Honour trilogy are excellent books, but take on an extra layer of meaning if you understand the Catholic themes that underly them.

Waugh does not elevate Catholicism, and pokes fun at it frequently, especially how Catholics "game the system" in various ways. But there is a profundity to these works that resonates long after you finish them.

Brideshead also features arguably the greatest book-to-screen adaptation ever undertaken, and if you want to skip the book and watch the show, you won't miss a thing. Outstanding performances, especially by Jeremy Irons.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:20 AM (llXky)

91 Today is the USN 249th birthday. Drink appropriately.

Posted by: Eromero at October 13, 2024 10:20 AM (DXbAa)

92 For that Goth tweener in your life (or in yourself) there's the funny "Goth Girl" series of mystery adventures written and illustrated by Chris Riddell. Ada Goth and her Byronic widower father Lord Goth live in Ghastly-Gorm Hall (Gormenghast -- get it?) along with several ghosts. The stories are chock full of puns and riffs on the genre, and Riddell's droll illustrations are a delight.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:20 AM (kpS4V)

93 The Campaign of the Marne, by Sewell Tyng, is the best one-volume treatment of the opening campaign in the West.
Posted by: HTL at October 13, 2024 10:10 AM (81EcS)

Thanks for the suggestion.

Posted by: dantesed at October 13, 2024 10:21 AM (Oy/m2)

94 Book thread half over and not even a hundred comments. Election fatigue seems to be cutting into most threads these days.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 10:21 AM (0eaVi)

95 Perfessor Squirrel: "I agree it's a very, very good vampire book, though maybe not the best ever (it's subjective, of course!). " You got me. Hyperbole won out. Plus, the only other vampire books I've read are the original and one about vampires in the Nazi death camps. So who am I to judge. I don't remember much about the death camp one except that I thought it was really good. It may even have been written by a moron because I'm sure I heard about it first on the book thread.

Posted by: who knew at October 13, 2024 10:22 AM (+ViXu)

96 The Arms of Krupp by William Manchester isn't solely a WW1 book but has a lot of info in it.
A recommended read just because one can not hate the Krupp family enough.

I personally am back onto WW2 fighter plane research for the umpteenth time.
Actually moreso towards the time between the wars. The developement era.
One burning question.
Who was the first to join the mile high club?

No, wait. That is known.
Who first put a gun INSIDE a wing?

Posted by: Reforger at October 13, 2024 10:23 AM (xcIvR)

97 Psycho, to answer your question on the Catholic Church's teaching on piercings and tattoos, there is no proscription against them in the Catechism. However, prudence is supposed to be used.

Here's a short article from a reputable Catholic source explaining better than I can:

https://tinyurl.com/24r52zep

Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:25 AM (79pEw)

98 All Hail Eris (bless her) alewrted me to the William Horwood follow-ons to the original Wind In The Willows. He nailed the feel of the original with word choice, pacing, and characters. I now have all four books in the series and am looking forward to many hours of lovely reading.

As a wonderful bonus, Patrick Benson's illustrations have captured the look and feel of the E. Shepard drawings, which are my favorites.

If you enjoy the original WITW, do yourself a favor and get these Horwood sequels. They are worth the search.

Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 10:26 AM (yTvNw)

99 Del Arroz has done good stuff, but he seems to want to be the Pope of Anti-Wokeness and will tolerate no rivals.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 13, 2024 10:16 AM (78a2H)
---
I've become very cautious in embracing cultural critics because so many of them have been shown to be mercenaries trying to make a buck.

I mean, everyone needs to eat, but so much of the drama seems to be simply to generate more clicks.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:26 AM (llXky)

100 Any suggestions about better books on WWI?
Posted by: dantesed
======
Guns of August is a book how the World found itself in WWI rather than a military history proper. Her Zimmerman Telegraph is a similar short succinct treatment of just that event leading to US entry in the war.

A good military history of WWI is B. H. Liddell Hart's.

On Ebay, if you want graphics, photos, plus some summarized chronological military history--the oversized David Shermer and Ronald Heifermann WWI and WWII histories are quite good.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 10:27 AM (bt/Nj)

101 I bought a book based upon seeing the author on CSPN, Red Dead History by Tore Olsson. He had taken up video gaming, a hobby he had abandoned when he went to college, during the lockdown. He played Red Dead Redemption II and noticed how well it is complimented his day job as a history professor. He therefore, once the lockdown lifted, taught a course on RDR2. For any who are unaware, RDR2 is a very popular game from several years ago about an aging outlaw gang facing a changing west at the end of the 19th century and is one of my favorite games. It is fairly realistic with one glaring exception. It is estimated that to play through the game, you must kill 900+ people whereas in reality, very few gunslinger killed as many as ten.
I do agree that the game presents an otherwise accurate view of the wild west. The author, being a libtard college professor, sees the game as a manifesto against capitalism and racism. That thought never crossed my mind as I was playing but I do agree that such games can be a you-are-there learning experience.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 10:27 AM (L/fGl)

102 "Brideshead also features arguably the greatest book-to-screen adaptation ever undertaken..."
----

Agreed. Gielgud as his cold and distant father is *chef's kiss*

"Father, I've come for a visit."
"Oh dear."

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:28 AM (kpS4V)

103 This week I finished up 'World Walkers' by Neal Asher. Asher is in my opinion the finest science fiction writer working today. All of his books are very technically savvy and regularly introduce brtilliant new ideas and concepts. I also appreciate that he is writing sci-fi and not woke-fi, even though he is published by Tor.

'World Walkers' is different. The Asher signature is there all through the book, but I think the pandemic lockdowns broke him from the consensus narrative. Previously staying apolitical, 'World Walkers' explicitly goes into the expected consequences of the oncoming social credit system. Social Assets (SA) above Zero Assets (ZA), all under the Bureaucracy, which governs nominal nation-states but in reality is run by the multi-national elite. Live in the pods, eat the bugs, and those who step out of line get harvested by the shepherds.

Really a scary, excellent work. I can only hope Asher keeps getting published by Trad Pub.

Posted by: Candidus at October 13, 2024 10:29 AM (d5aIs)

104 If you enjoy the original WITW, do yourself a favor and get these Horwood sequels. They are worth the search.
Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 10:26 AM (yTvNw)
-------

We have The Willows in Winter but I didn't realize there were more! Thank you!

Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:30 AM (79pEw)

105 Well, I got here late and am leaving early, but I'm still glad to partake.

Thanks again, Perfesser!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:30 AM (llXky)

106 Well, I got here late and am leaving early, but I'm still glad to partake.

Thanks again, Perfesser!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024 10:30 AM (llXky)

You're gonna miss the espresso!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 10:32 AM (0eaVi)

107 78 Thank you. I have a copy of Scupoli on my desk. Today's a good a day as any to start it.

Posted by: callsign claymore at October 13, 2024 10:32 AM (JcnCJ)

108 Would some moron enlighten me on the Catechism's teaching on piercings and tattoos?
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 13, 2024 10:05 AM (RIvkX)

"Tattoos" don't appear as a category in my copy of the CCC, but that's from a casual run through the topical index.

For tats and piercing discussions, I'd suggest visiting the "Catholic Answers" web site.

Posted by: mrp at October 13, 2024 10:32 AM (rj6Yv)

109 I too must run, now that I'm 43rd on the waitlist at my library for the new Flavia de Luce novel. Ciao!

Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:32 AM (79pEw)

110 I am reading a new version of "Streams in the desert" by L.B Cowman. Which originally came out in the 1920's She was a missionary in China and writes a lot about trusting in the Lord . She had also written another book with "streams" in the title.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 13, 2024 10:33 AM (mBImW)

111 What I remember most from "The Arms of Krupp" was that Krupp found the aroma of manure mentally stimulating and had an air duct running from the stables to his office so he could catch whiffs of inspiration.

Germans, man.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:33 AM (kpS4V)

112 If they hadn't made such a big deal of his Catholicism, it wouldn't have offended me as much, although I still would have been disappointed. But they did.
Posted by: bluebell at October 13, 2024 10:11 AM (79pEw)

They *could* have had him choose her over his faith if they'd shown him wrestling with the decision over time. That would have been disappointing as well, but to paraphrase 'Frailty, thy name is Man' when it comes to women so it would have been a fall in ethics as opposed to a complete repudiation of everything the character believed in. That would have been good drama. Instead, the writers were lazy.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at October 13, 2024 10:34 AM (s9EYN)

113 Eris, I keep getting a timeout when going to that Dozois list...

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at October 13, 2024 10:35 AM (PiwSw)

114 What I remember most from "The Arms of Krupp" was that Krupp found the aroma of manure mentally stimulating and had an air duct running from the stables to his office so he could catch whiffs of inspiration.

Germans, man.
Posted by: All Hail Eris

Perhaps he had a sense of history. Traditionally, saltpeter was derived from manure, necessary for gunpowder.

Or, just being a German.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 13, 2024 10:37 AM (xLtGB)

115 My father got me an atlas of the American Civil War that resembles this description. It cannot be shelved and must reside on a coffee table.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024

***
I have a Times (as in London) Atlas of the World from the late Sixties. Huge, heavy thing. LIke yours, it can't be shelved, so I leave it alongside my couch as a partial deterrent for the cats to scratch there. It also is handy, if I want to follow the itinerary given in a novel or non-fiction book.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 10:39 AM (omVj0)

116 I'm aware Gilbert has issues, but he's also an Authority and one can't refute an Authority without knowing what he said.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

The reduced summarized one volume version of Gilbert's official biography is ok.

The multivolume set is meticulous scholarship but often sleep inducing. A lot of multivolume works are best used as reference if they are well indexed plus well sourced so you can find what interests you.

As for me, official multivolume type biographies are often read best by going to the summarized one or two volume work by the author and then reading the multivolume work on topics of interest.

Same goes for official papers collections of people like the Founding Fathers.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 10:39 AM (bt/Nj)

117 >111 What I remember most from "The Arms of Krupp" was that Krupp found the aroma of manure mentally stimulating and had an air duct running from the stables to his office so he could catch whiffs of inspiration.

Holy smokes! I do NOT remember that from the tour of Villa Hügel.

Not that there were active stables in that part of the Kruppwald.

And back then my German was nonexistent. My then-gf could only translate so much at a time.

Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 13, 2024 10:41 AM (5CEo8)

118 104 ... "We have The Willows in Winter but I didn't realize there were more! Thank you!"

Good morning bluebell,

I found the first three in the series as used hardcover editions which saved some bucks. That's "Willows in Winter", "Toad Triumphant", and "Willows and Beyond". I couldn't find a hardcover of "The Willows at Christmas" for less than about 25 dollars but the Kindle version is only $2.99. I'll keep an eye open for an affordable Christmas copy.

Along with the original WITW, these books make me wish I had little ones to read these to. Alas! (I have the same feeling about "Treasure Island", with the Wyeth illustrations, which would be fun to read aloud using different voices for the characters.)

Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 10:42 AM (yTvNw)

119 Forgot to say that "Streams in the desert" is a devotional book that contains a Bible verse and a reflection for everyday of the year.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 13, 2024 10:43 AM (IimYd)

120 Since they haven't been mentioned, the Lyn MacDonald WWI books are very good.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at October 13, 2024 10:43 AM (gfViB)

121 For a first-hand account of WWI trench warfare, it's hard to beat Herbert McBride's "A Rifleman Went to War".

Posted by: mrp at October 13, 2024 10:44 AM (rj6Yv)

122 Foot Soldier by Roscoe C. Blunt.

An unvarnished memoir of a WWII enlisted army ETO grunt. He led a charmed war life, was an unrepentant loot hound and blindly-naively volunteered to do things ….

Posted by: 13times at October 13, 2024 10:44 AM (fhobX)

123 Christ, Marx, Wood, and Wei/Led us to this perfect day. Time to haul out my battered paperback copy of Ira Levin's dystopian story and read it again. Just a little bit dated but still great.

Posted by: tankascribe at October 13, 2024 10:45 AM (Y1r3t)

124 There's nothing wrong with that idea. You see the same thing with YTers offering their skills for pay. Just because everyone who joined didn't write bestsellers doesn't mean he did it for ulterior motives. Rod Serling was involved in the group, but you don't here any denigration of him about it. Heck, it's like a writer's group writ (hee hee) large. Some of the people who joined did have multiple books published. Just because you get a book contract doesn't mean you'll sell millions of books. Like today.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024

***
Long-time SF writer Larry Niven said that he signed up for the Famous Writers' School (this would have been around 1963). He said they taught him how to recognize when he was a writer: when your name appeared on the check from the publisher or magazine editor.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 10:47 AM (omVj0)

125 My father got me an atlas of the American Civil War that resembles this description. It cannot be shelved and must reside on a coffee table.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 13, 2024

I once had a copy of the "Atlas" (sigh). Huge and heavy and wonderful.

Posted by: mrp at October 13, 2024 10:47 AM (rj6Yv)

126 The movie Andersonville follows what tje 2 eyewitness books I read on it extremely well if maybe softening it up a little. The big event in all 3 accounts is the Confederates let the prisoners hold a trial on the Raiders and provide the justice the made up court verdict. Some were hanged.

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 10:48 AM (fwDg9)

127 96 The Arms of Krupp by William Manchester isn't solely a WW1 book but has a lot of info in it.
A recommended read just because one can not hate the Krupp family enough.

Posted by: Reforger
======
Manchester was the rare historian that had sparkling prose and interesting subjects chose as if by random. Thomas Fleming is another one as is(was) Robert Caro.

Caro's biography of Fiorello LaGuardia is not mentioned much (after his celebrated Robert Moses work) but excellent.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 10:50 AM (bt/Nj)

128 Sorry, that reading list by Dozois was pretty good, and now it's not working.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:50 AM (kpS4V)

129 Approaching the end of my year long study of the Catechism

Ninety-Five Theses await you.

Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at October 13, 2024 10:50 AM (zdLoL)

130 https://www.villahuegel.de/en/villa/

Unfortunately the Villa Hügel web site doesn't have a good photo of its library, just the study and one of the reading rooms.

I remember seeing the library on the tour and thinking "I want one of those (just not with all the books in German)."

Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 13, 2024 10:51 AM (5CEo8)

131 Catholic doctrine on tattoos and piercings?

No face or neck tats.
No tramp stamps.
Nothing that can't be covered up for a job interview.
Just remember, the more you get the more you'll look like a wet road map when you're 65.
If you're ugly, they don't make you hot. If you're hot, they just might make you ugly.

Posted by: Father PabloD at October 13, 2024 10:51 AM (/zi6l)

132 Read 51 Tales by Lord Dunsany.

He deploys the English language like a cognoscenti. These blend pagan gods and humanity. Sometime the UK comes into view. Most tales have a sharp point hidden in the test. These tales are very short and enjoyable.

He set fantasy on it's feet in his early books. He also was a polymath, with an interesting life.

Reread my favorite Diskworld book: Going Postal, and it had a lot of competition in that universe. Still sublime.

Moist von Lipwig is a most appealing character at the heart of the tale. But for me, the real hero is Lord Vetinari, the Patrician of Ankh-Morpork. I enjoy reading all the times he is depicted.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 10:53 AM (u82oZ)

133
An unvarnished memoir of a WWII enlisted army ETO grunt. He led a charmed war life, was an unrepentant loot hound and blindly-naively volunteered to do things ….
Posted by: 13times at October 13, 2024 10:44 AM (fhobX)

For the Far East side and from the US Army perspective, i strongly recommend John George's "Shots Fired In Anger", especially the second edition that includes George's service in the 5307th Composit Unit in Burma (Merrill's Marauders). A helpful analysis of US and Japanese infantry weaponry is included.

Posted by: mrp at October 13, 2024 10:53 AM (rj6Yv)

134 Did they cover tramp stamps at the Council of Trent?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:54 AM (kpS4V)

135 I read the abridged version of Churchill's magnum opus on WWII and liked it.

Posted by: Ignoramus at October 13, 2024 10:54 AM (nFx0I)

136 Good morning!

Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 10:54 AM (u82oZ)

137 We have a copy of the Official Military Atlas of the Civil War, a reprint of the government edition from the 1890s. Besides just being enjoyable, we were able to determine that Confederate troops marched through what is now our backyard on the way to First battle of Bull Run. (Or First Manassas for those in the know.)

Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 10:55 AM (yTvNw)

138
However, prudence is supposed to be used.

__________

"Don't be a jerk" covers a lot of ambiguous situations.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 13, 2024 10:55 AM (BkEzK)

139 Can't talk right now, listening to the Miserere by Gregorio Allegri

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 10:56 AM (kpS4V)

140 "Perfessor" Squirrel

Thank you for another excellent book thread. Now I got more books to buy. Yeah!

And I would wear those pants to a Halloween Party full of nurses. Who knows? I might win another third prize for my ensemble.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 10:58 AM (u82oZ)

141 121 For a first-hand account of WWI trench warfare, it's hard to beat Herbert McBride's "A Rifleman Went to War".
Posted by: mrp
=======
Agreed. Especially if you want some idea about how the military keeps learning and then forgetting sniping as a tactical tool for ground warfare.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:00 AM (bt/Nj)

142 All Hail Eris

Beautiful music.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 11:00 AM (u82oZ)

143 137 We have a copy of the Official Military Atlas of the Civil War, a reprint of the government edition from the 1890s. Besides just being enjoyable, we were able to determine that Confederate troops marched through what is now our backyard on the way to First battle of Bull Run. (Or First Manassas for those in the know.)
Posted by: JTB
------
I think a compiled edition of contemporary Harper's Magazine coverage of Civil War battles, etc. is still in print.

Then there is the dreary US official history of the conflict which is mainly useful in tidbits, military historians wanting an official account of a particular battle, and sometimes some unusual nuggets of metaphorical gold in those reports.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:03 AM (bt/Nj)

144 Time for agricultural chores.

Have a wonderful week in books,everyone. I'll review the entire thread tonight.

May we all thrive in the rebirth of America.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 11:03 AM (u82oZ)

145 >However, prudence is supposed to be used.

---

I tried
she told me GTFO

Posted by: Don Black at October 13, 2024 11:04 AM (/7KEl)

146 what is that grotesque thing at top?

Posted by: Don Black at October 13, 2024 11:04 AM (/7KEl)

147
Reading, simultaneously, To Overthrow the World and Stalin's War, both by Sean McMeekin.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 13, 2024 11:05 AM (BkEzK)

148 Any suggestions about better books on WWI?
Posted by: dantesed

I enjoyed A World Undone by G.J. Meyer.

https://is.gd/KoCtZy

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 11:05 AM (L/fGl)

149 135 I read the abridged version of Churchill's magnum opus on WWII and liked it.
Posted by: Ignoramus
======
I often read the abridged versions first if I am searching for coverage on some events in history or an individual's life. Sort of a summarized finder's guide.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:06 AM (bt/Nj)

150 Long-time SF writer Larry Niven said that he signed up for the Famous Writers' School (this would have been around 1963). He said they taught him how to recognize when he was a writer: when your name appeared on the check from the publisher or magazine editor.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 10:47 AM (omVj0)

I'm still waiting.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:06 AM (0eaVi)

151 On indie publishing, recently I have been reading mostly webnovels, which are quite the indie art form. In terms of the business side of things I find them quite fascinating, since they are free to read if you keep up with them, and some authors actually leave them free to read entirely while finding ways to successfully monetize the work. Very interesting as an example of what the Internet enables as well as providing and alternative to the traditional heavy hand of copyright that many people think is the only way to monetize writing.

Posted by: Charlie the Capitalist at October 13, 2024 11:06 AM (J3QDA)

152 I used Keegan's book _The First World War_ as a good all-purpose reference for a game project I worked on. Learned quite a bit from it -- he went into some detail about how trench warfare evolved over the course of the war. The Western Front of 1918 was very different from 1914, in some ways more like a 1939 battlefield.

Posted by: Trimegistus at October 13, 2024 11:07 AM (78a2H)

153 https://tinyurl.com/24r52zep

Thanks {bluebell} for the enlightenment

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 13, 2024 11:08 AM (RIvkX)

154 On UFOs: An alternate theory making the rounds is that these are demonic forces assuming a shape that hides their true forms and intentions.

-
Demonic forces assuming a shape that hides their true forms and intentions? I that those were Democrats.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 11:09 AM (L/fGl)

155 This week I'm finishing up R.E. Howard's stories of "El Borak" the Irish-American adventurer in central Asia, along with some stories by him about slightly different Irish-American adventurers in central Asia.

I just started _In the Belly of the Whale_, the novel which, alas, is the last book by SF author Michael Flynn. He completed it but did not live to see it published.

Posted by: Trimegistus at October 13, 2024 11:10 AM (78a2H)

156 It is entirely possible that the top picture is the greatest book ever written.

It is an absolute certainty that I will never touch it.

Posted by: tankdemon at October 13, 2024 11:10 AM (eM4gb)

157 Regarding the "woke" BS inserted into otherwise acceptable books, like Kings of the Wyld, described above. I wonder if an AI could be trained to correct all the "woke" crap?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 13, 2024 11:11 AM (8u3VD)

158
I often read the abridged versions first if I am searching for coverage on some events in history or an individual's life. Sort of a summarized finder's guide.
Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:06 AM (bt/Nj)

_________

The Two-Ocean War by Samuel Eliot Morison is a one-volume distillation of his 15-volume official history of the US Navy in World War II.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 13, 2024 11:11 AM (BkEzK)

159 Barbara Tuchman's The March of Folly is a good read. She focuses on four historical instances of a government determined to pursue a policy contrary to its best interests, a policy that was recognized by some even at the time as foolish: The British losing America, America's quagmire of Vietnam, the Renaissance popes' policies that led to the Protestant revolution -- and the best, the story of Troy. Her introduction touches on some others, like Louis XIV's edicts against the Huguenots, and King Rehoboam's determination to impose a heavy rule rule over Israel's tribes.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 11:12 AM (omVj0)

160 Read 51 Tales by Lord Dunsany.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 10:53 AM (u82oZ)

There are two Lord Dunsany stories in "Tall Short Stories" I picked up in Utah. Mrs. Jorkens, and Two Bottles of Relish. Are they anything like his other work?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:15 AM (0eaVi)

161
The 2020 cheat explained, and how it's being covered up. It's long, but covers everything. The 'smoking gun' is the fact the postal service retains an image of every piece of mail. If millions of ballots were legitimate the postal service has the records. Hint: they don't wanna give up the records OR intentionally deleted the records. The story starts in Pennsylvania with a truck driver:

https://is.gd/t5ailK

/ if you have the time (25:57) to give a listen it's worth it

Posted by: Divide by Zero at October 13, 2024 11:15 AM (RKVpM)

162 The Two-Ocean War by Samuel Eliot Morison is a one-volume distillation of his 15-volume official history of the US Navy in World War II.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh
-------
Thanks for the reference. Never read Morison other than in references to him via books on specific battles or topics (like intel intercepts) of WWII's War in the Pacific. Nice to know the Cliffs Note's version exists for dabblers like me.

(Field is more political and legal history than military).

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:16 AM (bt/Nj)

163 OrangeEnt

Haven't read those.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 11:16 AM (u82oZ)

164 Trimegistus, I've enjoyed so many of Flynn's novels. I need to reread "In the Country of the Blind" and the Firestar series.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 11:16 AM (kpS4V)

165 161
The 2020 cheat explained, and how it's being covered up. It's long, but covers everything. The 'smoking gun' is the fact the postal service retains an image of every piece of mail. If millions of ballots were legitimate the postal service has the records. Hint: they don't wanna give up the records OR intentionally deleted the records. The story starts in Pennsylvania with a truck driver:

https://is.gd/t5ailK

/ if you have the time (25:57) to give a listen it's worth it

Posted by: Divide by Zero

True. USPS, as a little known fact after the anthrax attacks, instituted a scanning and tracking program by imaging all 1st class mail and parcels.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:18 AM (bt/Nj)

166 131 Catholic doctrine on tattoos and piercings?

Not sure about the Catholics but my rule is one tattoo per combat tour.

Posted by: Candidus at October 13, 2024 11:21 AM (d5aIs)

167 Regarding the "woke" BS inserted into otherwise acceptable books, like Kings of the Wyld, described above. I wonder if an AI could be trained to correct all the "woke" crap?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 13, 2024 11:11 AM (8u3VD)

You'd have to hack and reprogram it first. It was created to insert that crap in stuff, not take it out.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:21 AM (0eaVi)

168 This is not a book but it is a rattling good horror story: The 1958 BBC series, "Quatermass and the Pit."

(Don't read the Wikipedia summary because it gives a flattening, stupid synopsis.)

Posted by: Beverly at October 13, 2024 11:23 AM (Epeb0)

169 Here is a very good, first hand account of 4 years of service in Washington's army:

"The Adventyres, Dangers and Sufferings of Martin Plumb, A Soldier in the Continental Army"

It's a short book, very compelling read, although written long after the war.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:23 AM (NLIak)

170
True. USPS, as a little known fact after the anthrax attacks, instituted a scanning and tracking program by imaging all 1st class mail and parcels.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:18 AM

My brother in Florida says he can go to some USPS website in the morning and see what mail will be delivered to him later in the day.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at October 13, 2024 11:24 AM (RKVpM)

171 This is not a book but it is a rattling good horror story: The 1958 BBC series, "Quatermass and the Pit."

(Don't read the Wikipedia summary because it gives a flattening, stupid synopsis.)
Posted by: Beverly at October 13, 2024

***
As I recall, the film version was rattling good too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 11:24 AM (omVj0)

172 159 Barbara Tuchman's The March of Folly is a good read. She focuses on four historical instances of a government determined to pursue a policy contrary to its best interests, a policy that was recognized by some even at the time as foolish: The British losing America, America's quagmire of Vietnam, the Renaissance popes' policies that led to the Protestant revolution -- and the best, the story of Troy. Her introduction touches on some others, like Louis XIV's edicts against the Huguenots, and King Rehoboam's determination to impose a heavy rule rule over Israel's tribes.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius
-----
Tuchman is a perfect example of a historian that could write but did not have the Piled Higher and Deeper.

FWIW, she had the inside track on some of her works like the Zimmerman telegraph. Her uncle was Henry Morgenthau Jr.,. FDR's Secretary for the Treasury. She was well connected.

A similar work in style is a book, "Paris, 1919". Written by the great granddaughter of Lloyd George--Barbara MacMillan.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:24 AM (bt/Nj)

173 My brother in Florida says he can go to some USPS website in the morning and see what mail will be delivered to him later in the day.
Posted by: Divide by Zero
======
Did not know that but not surprised.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:25 AM (bt/Nj)

174 My brother in Florida says he can go to some USPS website in the morning and see what mail will be delivered to him later in the day.
Posted by: Divide by Zero
======
Did not know that but not surprised.
Posted by: whig

You can also sign up to get an email with that information each morning.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at October 13, 2024 11:27 AM (VNX3d)

175 Posted by: Divide by Zero at October 13, 2024 11:15 AM (RKVpM)

Interesting subject. I read yesterday that the internet's most beloved truth teller, The Gateway Pundit, settled a lawsuit brought against them by two election workers in Atlanta who claimed they were threatened by GP running stories about them and the cheat. I thought there was video of election workers running the same ballots through the machine multiple times? Were these not the same women on the vid?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:28 AM (0eaVi)

176 > My brother in Florida says he can go to some USPS website in the morning and see what mail will be delivered to him later in the day.
----------
The service is called "Informed Delivery."

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 13, 2024 11:28 AM (Q4IgG)

177 OrangeEnt

Haven't read those.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 13, 2024 11:16 AM (u82oZ)

Ok. Thanks. I've only read the first one. Didn't know about the author before buying the books. Might look him up.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:29 AM (0eaVi)

178 159 Wolfus A

I thought that book was excellent, too.

She's often derided as a "popular historian," I guess because her books always sold so well.

There are plenty of footnotes and citations in Tuchman's "Stilwell and the American Experience in China." It seemed as if it was of academic historian quality to ME.

I suspect a lot of the snooty criticism of her work can be attributed to... jealousy. She made a lot of money!

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:30 AM (NLIak)

179 This is not a book but it is a rattling good horror story: The 1958 BBC series, "Quatermass and the Pit."

Posted by: Beverly at October 13, 2024 11:23 AM (Epeb0)
********************************************

A.k.a. Quatermass III: The Wild Hunt

Posted by: My Ridiculously Circuitous Plan at October 13, 2024 11:30 AM (jkkxj)

180
I thought there was video of election workers running the same ballots through the machine multiple times? Were these not the same women on the vid?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:28 AM

Not sure about the GP case, but Giuliani got shaken down by one of the women and is now bankrupted. Biden gave the woman some sort of medal.

This is not America. (Hat tip: Falcon and the Snowman)

Posted by: Divide by Zero at October 13, 2024 11:32 AM (RKVpM)

181 "The Adventyres, Dangers and Sufferings of Martin Plumb, A Soldier in the Continental Army"

It's a short book, very compelling read, although written long after the war.
Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:23 AM (NLIak)

Jon Townsend references JPM quite often in his vids.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:32 AM (0eaVi)

182 Hello again, Salty

Since I'm too old to travel to TX, next year (God willing) I'm planning to contact Ben Had and donate some beer.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:32 AM (NLIak)

183 Don't know if anyone mentioned this, but SpaceX caught a 300-ton rocket this morning.

Posted by: Trimegistus at October 13, 2024 11:34 AM (78a2H)

184 Since I'm too old to travel to TX, next year (God willing) I'm planning to contact Ben Had and donate some beer.
Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024

***
I'm hoping I will be retired and settled by next fall and can road-trip over, or down, and attend!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 11:34 AM (omVj0)

185 Don't know if it's on YouTube, but Quatermass and the Pit had been up on Internet Archive. The film version from Hammer (Five Million Years to Earth) is delightful and shouldn't be hard to find.

Kneale's short fiction collection, Tomato Cain, ain't too dusty either.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 11:35 AM (q3u5l)

186 Don't know if anyone mentioned this, but SpaceX caught a 300-ton rocket this morning.
Posted by: Trimegistus

Yeah? Well, NASA invented some new pronouns.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 11:36 AM (L/fGl)

187 I'm listening to The Civil War by Shelby Foote. It's a fascinating book.
One random question I'm pondering is how many miles would an infantry man who survived the entire war have walked in the course of the war

Posted by: Northernlurker , wondering where his phone is at October 13, 2024 11:36 AM (FfSAJ)

188 Le effete, I yam hyar!

🎶Mr bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Doesn't rhyme with satisfactory…

It was rumbling in my head. Had to get it out.

Posted by: mindful webworker - illiterati at October 13, 2024 11:36 AM (nAOo3)

189 Interesting subject. I read yesterday that the internet's most beloved truth teller, The Gateway Pundit, settled a lawsuit brought against them by two election workers in Atlanta who claimed they were threatened by GP running stories about them and the cheat. I thought there was video of election workers running the same ballots through the machine multiple times? Were these not the same women on the vid?
Posted by: OrangeEnt

Yep. A lot of times, insurance compels a settlement though and GP went into voluntary bankruptcy.

Rudy got screwed and not even permitted a defense to that crew's libel and slander claims which has put him in a deep hole moneywise and also in bankruptcy.

Lawfare judges and Dem lawfare funded those legal atrocities and crippled any defense in courts by rulings on what evidence was allowed and what defenses could be made (or not). Possibly appeals courts will eventually blow the cases out of the water perhaps in Rudy's case but few people want to be Jack Phillips and fight a 11 year legal battle with a lunatic funded by the left.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:37 AM (bt/Nj)

190 Not sure about the GP case, but Giuliani got shaken down by one of the women and is now bankrupted. Biden gave the woman some sort of medal.

This is not America. (Hat tip: Falcon and the Snowman)
Posted by: Divide by Zero at October 13, 2024 11:32 AM (RKVpM)

Giuliani hasn't paid them a dime yet. They're crying about it.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:37 AM (0eaVi)

191 184

I'm not physically able to go on long trips any more. Too much wear and tear. Same reason I'm not going to be ringing any doorbells for Trump.

I'd love to meet some of the Morons I feel like I already know.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:37 AM (NLIak)

192 I'm pretty irritated with myself for basically screwing myself out of MoMe TX this year by quitting my job. Bad planning on my part.

Pro Tip. "Retirement" requires some form of income.

Posted by: Reforger at October 13, 2024 11:39 AM (xcIvR)

193 Giuliani hasn't paid them a dime yet. They're crying about it.
Posted by: OrangeEnt
=======
The courts, both bankruptcy and trial disgraced themselves in this case and it is time that lawfare be waged on the judges, lawyers, and their funders like Reid Hoffman for oppressing and denying others free speech and due process.

Posted by: whig at October 13, 2024 11:40 AM (bt/Nj)

194 192

Indeed. It's a sea change.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:40 AM (NLIak)

195 187 ... "I'm listening to The Civil War by Shelby Foote. It's a fascinating book.
One random question I'm pondering is how many miles would an infantry man who survived the entire war have walked in the course of the war"

Foote's trilogy is a masterpiece. Not sure there is an answer to your question as it would vary by unit. Might be possible to track a survivor of a unit that was involved in the entire war. In any case, the most likely answer would be: a LOT!

Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 11:41 AM (yTvNw)

196 I'm not physically able to go on long trips any more. Too much wear and tear. Same reason I'm not going to be ringing any doorbells for Trump.

I'd love to meet some of the Morons I feel like I already know.
Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024

***
Same here, to a lesser degree. I figure a six-hour driving day is about all I want to handle.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 11:41 AM (omVj0)

197 Pro Tip. "Retirement" requires some form of income.
Posted by: Reforger at October 13, 2024 11:39 AM (xcIvR)

Try writing stories for money!

Yeah, ain't made none yet....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:41 AM (0eaVi)

198
Giuliani hasn't paid them a dime yet. They're crying about it.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:37 AM

I hope he can hold out until the new Sheriff comes to town and these cases can get tossed. They have Alex Jones days away from losing everything too. They want his name, studio, library of programming, everything they can do to make him penniless and worthless.

If you don't hate these people with a passion, you're not paying enough attention. (Not directed at OE)

Posted by: Divide by Zero at October 13, 2024 11:42 AM (RKVpM)

199 I just finished the Elon Musk biography.

He's a fascinating man. The author, Walter Isaacson, has TDS and didn't even try to hide it.

Nonetheless, it was a great read and I respect Elon all the more for rising above the bs and doing what he thinks is right.

I got an "Occupy Mars" tshirt the other day. It's as close to a MAGA hat as I can get in Seattle and not get assaulted. Well, not yet anyway.

Posted by: nurse ratched at October 13, 2024 11:42 AM (OobVu)

200 You'd have to hack and reprogram it first. It was created to insert that crap in stuff, not take it out.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:21 AM (0eaVi)

Well, I don't think AI is a monolith specifically designed to wokefy everything. You could train an AI to wokefy stuff, and you ought to be able to train one to de-wokefy stuff.

I wonder where one would stand, legally, if one were take a woke book, edit out the woke, and re-publish it?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 13, 2024 11:42 AM (Q87aE)

201 Whig, if that's them, they were cheating and committing vote fraud. Every one of them needs to be charged and fined if Trump retakes the White House. These criminals need to be punished.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:43 AM (0eaVi)

202 Mr bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
Doesn't rhyme with satisfactory…

It was rumbling in my head. Had to get it out.
Posted by: mindful webworker - illiterati at October 13, 2024 11:36 AM (nAOo3)

How about:

Mr bluebird's on my shoulder
It's the truth, it's actual
The F'ers shit's about to molder.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:45 AM (0eaVi)

203 his choice of the words "Trump babbled"

-
Mrs. Wrecks is watching CBS Morning and they did an interview of voters which was waited heavily toward Kamala voters. One middle aged female with rainbow glasses said she couldn't vote for Trump because of the character issue. Well, when it's hard when you're running against a paragon of virtue like Kamala.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 11:46 AM (L/fGl)

204 196

Did you read Tuchman's Stilwell? If you liked Folly, you'd probably enjoy it.

In his diary, Stilwell always referred to Chiang Kai-shek as "Peanut." Stilwell was frustrated constantly by the Generalissimo's military incompetence.

Too bad LBJ didn't think about that before committing to VN.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:47 AM (NLIak)

205 Many moons ago (and I do mean many), I self-published a booklet aimed at librarians. Which at that time meant a couple hundred copies done on a used mimeograph machine.

Just after I'd sent out announcements to a couple of review magazines, I ran into Bill Henderson at an ALA conference; he's the guy who did The Self-Publisher's Handbook and the Pushcart Prize anthologies. Told him what I'd done. He asked, "Sell any copies yet?" I said, "Nope, not a one." He grinned and said "THAT'S what it's all about."

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 11:47 AM (q3u5l)

206 Foote's trilogy is a masterpiece. Not sure there is an answer to your question as it would vary by unit. Might be possible to track a survivor of a unit that was involved in the entire war. In any case, the most likely answer would be: a LOT!
Posted by: JTB at October 13, 2024 11:41 AM (yTvNw)

It would be easier to trace a regiment's sojourns than an individual infantryman. My bet would be a Army of the Tennesse three-year enlistment regiment that re-upped in 1864. A long walk from Shiloh to Raleigh.

Posted by: mrp at October 13, 2024 11:48 AM (rj6Yv)

207 I wonder where one would stand, legally, if one were take a woke book, edit out the woke, and re-publish it?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 13, 2024 11:42 AM (Q87aE)

You'd probably get away with it because they wouldn't notice it was the same book.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:48 AM (0eaVi)

208 Those pants… Yeesh. I might think first of something Halloweenish, if it hadn't been for those radical folks who used something like that to try to make some kind of point about women's periods.

Speaking of bloody, saw the ballet Dracula last night, and going to the matinee this afternoon. Been obliged to see these local productions twice ever since Daughter first started dancing around age 12 or so. Now she's not so much performing, but heavily involved in behind the scenes direction.

The local kids do a pretty good job dancing. Guest professional performers Carla Amâncio & Tales Ribeiro are impressive.

For being a mincing ponce in a cape, that Dracula sure had a thing for the gals!

I feel so kulchered.

Posted by: mindful webworker - arooooooo at October 13, 2024 11:49 AM (nAOo3)

209 Alberta, for removing the woke, you'd probably get sued. For adding some woke, probably receive a National Book Award; maybe even the Nobel.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 11:50 AM (q3u5l)

210 I wonder where one would stand, legally, if one were take a woke book, edit out the woke, and re-publish it?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 13, 2024 11:42 AM (Q87aE)

You'd probably get away with it because they wouldn't notice it was the same book.
Posted by: OrangeEnt

Some books, you might end up cutting it from 250 pages to 25.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at October 13, 2024 11:51 AM (VNX3d)

211 203 Anon

Gee, I guess I should be surprised that CBS slanted the interviews against Trump!

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:52 AM (NLIak)

212 Well, off to deal with sorta kinda reality.

Thanks for the thread, Perfessor. Always a pleasure.

Have a good one, gang.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 11:53 AM (q3u5l)

213 My knowledge of Isaacson comes down to this. IN 2017 or so, he was going to be a professor-in-residence at my campus. At the same time our admin was willing to fund a part-time assistant for me. I was looking at resumes when I found out that the part-time assistant was going to be full-time, shared with Isaacson . . . and for more money than I was making. I was not about to have an "assistant" whose salary was greater than mine. And it was a certainty Isaacson's requirements would take precedence over mine. So I dropped the whole idea.

It worked out well, as within a year my predecessor in my current job retired and I grabbed that post; quite a bit more money for less work.

Thus I have never had any interest in reading his stuff. Even less so if he has TDS.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 11:54 AM (omVj0)

214 The saddest time of Sunday morning is fast approaching: the Book Thread will be noodeded, and I will don pants.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 11:56 AM (kpS4V)

215 Aieee! Chores await!

Thanks for the book thread, Perfessor, and all those who contributed or even just lurked.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 13, 2024 11:56 AM (omVj0)

216 214

Well, we had a good run, though.

Posted by: mnw at October 13, 2024 11:56 AM (NLIak)

217 Any suggestions about better books on WWI?
Posted by: dantesed

I enjoyed A World Undone by G.J. Meyer.

https://is.gd/KoCtZy
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks,Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 11:05 AM (L/fGl)

I thought I had a paperback volume by AJP Taylor in a box here somewhere, but looked it up, and only found an illustrated WWI volume. I don't think that's it, or if it was, the book I have took the pitchers out.

Anyhoo, very thorough, from what I remember. I don't particularly agree with the criticism Tuchman's book gets. She's a terrific writer, and whatever depth one feels they need on the topic, sure, there are others who will provide it.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 13, 2024 11:57 AM (MEV57)

218 Infantry in the CW were known to travel 20-25 miles or so on a full march day. But not every day was like that.

Posted by: USCG at October 13, 2024 11:57 AM (MeG8a)

219 sprinkle pumpkin spice on your omelet

Trolling CBD so early in the morn?

A) Stunning!
or
B) Brave!

Perfessor presents, you decide!

Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 13, 2024 11:57 AM (R+4G8)

220 Chances are a soldier before mechanized warfare walked a lot yet often went no where for a period of time. Especially in winter camps didn't move much. But in short campaigns maybe hundreds of miles in a few weeks.
Better measure the French and allies walked to Moscow though not as many walked back.

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 11:59 AM (fwDg9)

221 The saddest time of Sunday morning is fast approaching: the Book Thread will be noodeded, and I will don pants.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 13, 2024 11:56 AM (kpS4V)

Hey!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 11:59 AM (0eaVi)

222 Well I'm to my last service in my long time. And then, perhaps, my last beer at my favorite pub. And then this week buh-bye.

Posted by: Northernlurker , wondering where his phone is at October 13, 2024 11:59 AM (FfSAJ)

223 I got an "Occupy Mars" tshirt the other day. It's as close to a MAGA hat as I can get in Seattle and not get assaulted. Well, not yet anyway.
Posted by: nurse ratched

Just finished watching multiple times the "catch" of the Space X heavy rocket. Amazing. Also amazing how young the engineers and technicians are. Makes me proud and a little hopeful.

Posted by: Tuna at October 13, 2024 12:00 PM (oaGWv)

224 What are the Odds looks interesting. I like the way it comes at the story from a couple of different angles, and the characters seem quirky.

By the way, MiladyJo received some books last week. The Natural History of Fairies; of Dragons; of Mermaids; and of Magical Creatures.* She thought those might be nice gifts for some young girls we know. Thanks a lot, Book Thread!

(*D'ya think that was a valid use of semi-colons?)

Posted by: mindful webworker, the natural history of at October 13, 2024 12:00 PM (nAOo3)

225 WE HAZ A NOOD

Posted by: Skip at October 13, 2024 12:01 PM (fwDg9)

226 Barely over 200 comments. What's going on here? Perfessor gets paid by the comment. Better have more next week!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 13, 2024 12:01 PM (0eaVi)

227 Another WWI popular (as opposed to academic) history is A Storm In Flanders by Forrest Gump author Winston Groom. The war in microcosm, it follows the bloody campaign in the Ypres salient from 1914-18. Absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking.

P.S. Another good Groom popular history is Shrouds of Glory about the Civil War Franklin /Nashville campaign.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Born In the Wagon of a Middle Class Show at October 13, 2024 12:06 PM (L/fGl)

228 I've waited so many decades for anything new in the UFO realm. The most significant thing is adopting the UAP term, IOW, nothing much. That UAP are seen underwater has been something new.

Now I suspect they actually are giant feudalistic dragonflies.

Posted by: mindful webworker - it bugs me, man at October 13, 2024 12:11 PM (nAOo3)

229 "Then there is the dreary US official history of the conflict which is mainly useful in tidbits, military historians wanting an official account of a particular battle, and sometimes some unusual nuggets of metaphorical gold in those reports."

If by "dreary US official history of the conflict" you mean "The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion (original title, frequently abbreviated as "OR") or "The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies" (later title), then it's not and never was intended to be what most people would think of as a history of the ACW. Instead it's a compilation of surviving records of the ACW that were collected and published to ensure the preservation and availability of contemporary documents, rather than a narrative describing the course of the war. Such records are very useful in making the actual contemporary documents easily available to researchers. In describing a part of the Battle of Gettysburg for his AP History class, for example, my son was able to provide portions of the after-action reports written shortly after the battle by some of the participating commanders...

Posted by: Pope John 20th at October 13, 2024 12:16 PM (gUhSx)

230 Back from Church

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 12:22 PM (7gFa4)

231 I wonder where one would stand, legally, if one were take a woke book, edit out the woke, and re-publish it?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 13, 2024 11:42 AM (Q87aE)

the only problem is that the stories have moved from a plot with woke points, to woke points held together by a narrative. It might turn out to trying to take all the tiles out of a mosaic and trying to build a new image with the remaining grout.

Posted by: Kindltot at October 13, 2024 12:23 PM (D7oie)

232 Thanks as ever for the book thread, Perfessor.

The Harry Potter monster book was what I at first thought was pictured last week.

A bit of self-plugola as long as I'm annoying y'all:

My oeuvre is mostly short comics. Here's one I've linked to several times in my nic (which is where I usually smuggle in my webwork links), but I don't recall that I've ever commented on it, at least not on the book thread. It's a short study in character development, relationship with the narrator-creator, and ultimate dismal demise. The title is supposed to be a play on…, oh, y'all get it.

Turing Circuits
From pure potentiality to self-realization
https://bit.ly/turing-circuits

Posted by: mindful webworker - am I real? at October 13, 2024 12:30 PM (nAOo3)

233 OR continued...

Many European countries have detailed records of varying completeness going back centuries, but those records are generally not easily available and might be scattered across a variety of government offices-heck, the administration of the British Army alone through at least the mid 19th Century was divided amongst half a dozen different offices located in as many or more different locations. Chris Duffy, Geoffrey Parker and other historians have built successful careers on mining various government archives to write period histories.

BTW, the oversized American Civil War atlas referred to by several posters is likely the one-volume compilation of the maps collected for the OR. Copies used to be readily available at bookstores like Borders Books, Barnes & Noble and the like for reasonable prices. I imagine copies can still be found at used book stores, albeit I'd try to find one locally as shipping would probably be expensive.

The OR used to be published in hard copy, IIRC, by Morningside Press in Ohio-they'd take orders and when they had enough they'd print another hundred or so complete sets.

cont....

Posted by: Pope John 20th at October 13, 2024 12:30 PM (gUhSx)

234 Forgot to say I listened to Kings of the Wyld on libby
Quite enjoyable; very likable main character.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 13, 2024 12:30 PM (WL2lA)

235 Siiiigh.... willowed again.

https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=411896

Posted by: mindful webworker - fooey at October 13, 2024 12:31 PM (nAOo3)

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