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Post by brutalis on May 9, 2019 9:22:53 GMT -5
In preparation for meeting and talking with author Django Wexler at the Phoenix Fan Fusion Comiccon in 2 weeks I read The Thousand Names: Book One of The Shadow Campaigns from 2013. The 1st book in a trilogy of what is military/historical fantasy (becoming a thing these days under the naming of flintlock and musket fantasy by several different authors) which resembles the early Victorian/Napoleonic war period.
It is very dense in the world building and quite slow to begin but once you start figuring out who the main characters are and discovering the world you are drawn into reading it all. decent war scenes but just a slight taste of the magical (more to come I presume) and it does pickup the pace and interest as you read further and the sub plots and characters begin to intertwine and connect properly.
There could be more depth and thought placed into the military battles (you need to CARE about both sides as to who wins or loses) but the series shows potential and must be catching on as Wexler has already finished the 2nd and 3rd books of the trilogy and written another trilogy based in the same world with different characters and has the 1st book of another trilogy just published in January 2019 based in the same world. since Thousand Names is the author's 1st book (that I know of) he should only get better with each successive novel. There is more than enough in this one to encourage me for seeking out more of the remaining books.
Looking forward to finding the other 2 books in this 1st trilogy and speaking with Django (is that a hell of an author name or what?) Wexler at the convention. Having some insights from the writer may help me dig deeper into enjoying the coming books.
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Post by EdoBosnar on May 9, 2019 16:13:38 GMT -5
Showboat WorldJack Vance The story is set on Vance's 'Big Planet', which was introduced in the 1950s in a short story and then novel of the same name. It follows the misadventures of Apollon Zamp, the skipper and manager of an entertainment boat who travels up and down a large river called the Vissel, putting on shows performed by actors, singers, dancers, magicians, acrobats, etc., wherever he docks. Early on, through a bit of chicanery, he win an invitation to participate in a competitive festival hosted by a wealthy king far upriver, who offers an immense prize to the winner. Soon after, a lovely and mysterious woman comes aboard, asking to join his troupe - and she *really* wants to get to that kingdom where the festival is being held (Zamp, quite smitten, cannot refuse her). And not long after that, his loses his boat in a fire thanks to the machinations of another showboat skipper - the one he basically bilked out of the chance to compete in the aforementioned festival. So Zamp convinces yet another boat skipper to join forces with him and travel upriver to the festival... This is a light but very entertaining read. The setting, Big Planet, is really interesting: basically, it's a gigantic planet that has hardly any metal in its core or anywhere else, so that it's gravity isn't much higher than the Earth's, and iron, a rare commodity, is incredibly valuable and is used as currency. It was populated centuries before by all of the dregs of humanity: anti-establishment types, religious fanatics and various other malcontents and misfits, so the planet is full of low-tech societies often ruled by tyrants. I'm surprised that Vance didn't right more stories set on this world.
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 9, 2019 17:25:21 GMT -5
Red Legs and Black Sox by Dr. Susan Dellinger
I was pretty excited to read this and get a new perspective on the Black Sox scandal... I've read a fair amount about it now, and the thought of getting first person accounts from Edd Roush though the author (his Granddaughter) was just amazing.
There's not as much material as I hoped though... the 1st half of the book is an Edd Roush biography, with a decidedly family slant (it's clear the author really loved her grandmother). It's an interesting, if clearly biased story. (Roush's many hold outs were very much glossed over as a personality quirk, for instance). IT was a bit odd to have essentially half a biography though.
The bits about the 1919 series are not as unique as I expected...it does off Roush's personal belief that two of the pitchers on his team threw games six and seven... though wether it was a counter gambling group trying to break the fix, or the owner looking to make sure he got more gate receipts isn't clear.
There's a fair bit about Hal Chase's various escapades, but nothing about his possible involvement (which I personally don't believe in)... or much about McGraw (which I REALLY want to know about).
Then there's the weird bit.. a recreation of a talk with an 'unnamed gangster' Roush claims to have had 8 years later while recovering from injury... weird because of the emphasis and effort the author put into it to reveal.. nothing new at all (except to say it was all Hal Chase's fault out of the blue).
Definitely an interesting baseball book, but a bit short of the insights one would hope for.
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Post by Prince Hal on May 10, 2019 15:59:09 GMT -5
Red Legs and Black Sox by Dr. Susan Dellinger I was pretty excited to read this and get a new perspective on the Black Sox scandal... I've read a fair amount about it now, and the thought of getting first person accounts from Edd Roush though the author (his Granddaughter) was just amazing. There's not as much material as I hoped though... the 1st half of the book is an Edd Roush biography, with a decidedly family slant (it's clear the author really loved her grandmother). It's an interesting, if clearly biased story. (Roush's many hold outs were very much glossed over as a personality quirk, for instance). IT was a bit odd to have essentially half a biography though. The bits about the 1919 series are not as unique as I expected...it does off Roush's personal belief that two of the pitchers on his team threw games six and seven... though wether it was a counter gambling group trying to break the fix, or the owner looking to make sure he got more gate receipts isn't clear. There's a fair bit about Hal Chase's various escapades, but nothing about his possible involvement (which I personally don't believe in)... or much about McGraw (which I REALLY want to know about). Then there's the weird bit.. a recreation of a talk with an 'unnamed gangster' Roush claims to have had 8 years later while recovering from injury... weird because of the emphasis and effort the author put into it to reveal.. nothing new at all (except to say it was all Hal Chase's fault out of the blue). Definitely an interesting baseball book, but a bit short of the insights one would hope for. I'm guessing you've read Asinoff's "Eight Men Out," right? Still the go-to authority. A novel of the Black Sox scandal I read years ago and remember enjoying was Harry Stein's "Hoopla." Might be worth a peek. In the ballpark, but not in this section, I would recommend "The Celebrant," by Eric Rolfe Greenberg, and centers on Christy Matthewson. I liked it for many reasons, not least of which is that the author loves baseball, but sees it for what it is, warts, scars, hypocrisy, and all. When his protagonist starts to gush or get overly sentimental about it, Matthewson, among other characters, offers a clear-eyed perspective as a bracing chaser.
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Post by Rob Allen on May 10, 2019 17:01:05 GMT -5
Predisposed: Liberals, Conservatives, and the Biology of Political Differencesby John R. Hibbing, Kevin B. Smith & John R. Alford I debated whether to post this here or in the Politics thread, but that option is not open at this point so here it is. The authors present a mountain of evidence for their carefully-worded premise which I'm going to paraphrase: The "normal" range of genetic variation in humans is vast, with a wide variety of differences in genetic makeup found. Some of these differences have measurable behavioral and cognitive effects. Other genetic differences affect behavior indirectly by setting up structures in the brain and body that react to the environment and produce physical, hormonal, behavioral and cognitive effects. As a result, people literally experience the world differently, and these differences cause them to behave differently in the political arena. The difference that seems to have the most effect politically is orientation toward novelty. Some people seek out new experiences and new information; these people tend to be politically liberal. Others are wary of new experiences and new information; they tend to be politically conservative. The authors go to great pains to emphasize that these are tendencies, not absolutes. The existence of counter-examples is a given, but the tendencies are statistically significant. Everyone interested in this subject should read this book.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2019 23:04:03 GMT -5
Predisposed: Liberals, Conservatives, and the Biology of Political Differencesby John R. Hibbing, Kevin B. Smith & John R. Alford I debated whether to post this here or in the Politics thread, but that option is not open at this point so here it is. The authors present a mountain of evidence for their carefully-worded premise which I'm going to paraphrase: The "normal" range of genetic variation in humans is vast, with a wide variety of differences in genetic makeup found. Some of these differences have measurable behavioral and cognitive effects. Other genetic differences affect behavior indirectly by setting up structures in the brain and body that react to the environment and produce physical, hormonal, behavioral and cognitive effects. As a result, people literally experience the world differently, and these differences cause them to behave differently in the political arena. The difference that seems to have the most effect politically is orientation toward novelty. Some people seek out new experiences and new information; these people tend to be politically liberal. Others are wary of new experiences and new information; they tend to be politically conservative. The authors go to great pains to emphasize that these are tendencies, not absolutes. The existence of counter-examples is a given, but the tendencies are statistically significant. Everyone interested in this subject should read this book. So it's basically a riff of of Robert Anton Wilson's idea that the world is divided into neophobes and neophiles, and that determined their social thought patters, an idea he was putting out there as early as the early 1980s in his Cosmic Trigger books. -M
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 11, 2019 14:20:24 GMT -5
Captains Outrageous by Joe R. LansdaleFrom what I've seen this is generally among the worst reviewed of the Hap & Leonard novels. Not that it's considered bad. But every series has to have its low point. While I can kind of get it, I'm not sure I agree 100%. The boys are back and Hap, being Hap, saves a girl and is rewarded. So he and Leonard take a vacation cruise to Mexico. Leonard, being Leonard, offends someone on the ship and they end up stranded in Mexico. Hap and Leonard, being Hap and Leonard, end up in some nasty business in Mexico that doesn't turn out all that well. I think if the book had ended with the boys return to Texas I'd have rated the book more highly. The last third of the book felt kind of like an extended jump-scare. Don't get me wrong. I still liked the book quite a bit. Any Hap and Leonard is good Hap and Leonard and Lansdale has almost never fully disappointed me. I just felt that the last 1/3 of the book felt tacked on and it didn't fully work for me.
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 11, 2019 20:44:49 GMT -5
Red Legs and Black Sox by Dr. Susan Dellinger I was pretty excited to read this and get a new perspective on the Black Sox scandal... I've read a fair amount about it now, and the thought of getting first person accounts from Edd Roush though the author (his Granddaughter) was just amazing. There's not as much material as I hoped though... the 1st half of the book is an Edd Roush biography, with a decidedly family slant (it's clear the author really loved her grandmother). It's an interesting, if clearly biased story. (Roush's many hold outs were very much glossed over as a personality quirk, for instance). IT was a bit odd to have essentially half a biography though. The bits about the 1919 series are not as unique as I expected...it does off Roush's personal belief that two of the pitchers on his team threw games six and seven... though wether it was a counter gambling group trying to break the fix, or the owner looking to make sure he got more gate receipts isn't clear. There's a fair bit about Hal Chase's various escapades, but nothing about his possible involvement (which I personally don't believe in)... or much about McGraw (which I REALLY want to know about). Then there's the weird bit.. a recreation of a talk with an 'unnamed gangster' Roush claims to have had 8 years later while recovering from injury... weird because of the emphasis and effort the author put into it to reveal.. nothing new at all (except to say it was all Hal Chase's fault out of the blue). Definitely an interesting baseball book, but a bit short of the insights one would hope for. I'm guessing you've read Asinoff's "Eight Men Out," right? Still the go-to authority. A novel of the Black Sox scandal I read years ago and remember enjoying was Harry Stein's "Hoopla." Might be worth a peek. In the ballpark, but not in this section, I would recommend "The Celebrant," by Eric Rolfe Greenberg, and centers on Christy Matthewson. I liked it for many reasons, not least of which is that the author loves baseball, but sees it for what it is, warts, scars, hypocrisy, and all. When his protagonist starts to gush or get overly sentimental about it, Matthewson, among other characters, offers a clear-eyed perspective as a bracing chaser. I read eight Men out a LONG time ago.. I should probably re-visit it at some point. I got a big pile of turn of the century baseball books from my library a few months back I'm working through.... two of which are on Giants around that time. I'll have to check those out too! I find John McGraw an endless fasinating personality.
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Post by Rob Allen on May 13, 2019 14:54:16 GMT -5
Predisposed: Liberals, Conservatives, and the Biology of Political Differencesby John R. Hibbing, Kevin B. Smith & John R. Alford So it's basically a riff of of Robert Anton Wilson's idea that the world is divided into neophobes and neophiles, and that determined their social thought patters, an idea he was putting out there as early as the early 1980s in his Cosmic Trigger books. I think it's more than a "riff"; the authors cite a lot of recent sources, from political science and sociology surveys to psychology experiments to biological and medical research to support their ideas. They don't mention Wilson but this book seems to provide the evidence for what Wilson conjectured in the 80s. Since my previous post, I've finished the book. Here's what the last few chapters focused on: Contrary to Daniel Patrick Moynihan's famous quote, people really do have their own facts. When someone has strong predispositions in one direction or the other, it's impossible to argue them into changing sides. They aren't misinformed, misguided or stupid, they just experience the world differently. And the way you see the world isn't the clear-eyed, simple truth that it feels like, it's moderated by your biological predispositions. A national, or even city-wide, consensus on basic questions is a pipe dream. We have to accept and accommodate the fact that there will always be a range of opinions and perspectives, and people who approach the world in very different ways.
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Post by Roquefort Raider on May 13, 2019 20:23:22 GMT -5
Once in a while I come across an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel I have never heard from, and while sometimes the discovery is entirely forgettable, some other times it is decidedly enjoyable (as with the brilliant The Mucker or the very engaging Beyond Thirty).
The Efficiency Expert is not in that class, but it is typical of Burroughs’ aptitude to draw the reader in, even with the simplest of stories. In this “real world” tale, a young man of proven brawn and impeccable morality strives to find a job, and has to settle for the very, very bottom of the employment food chain so as not to simply starve. As one can imagine, his fortunes will improve over time thanks to his moral rectitude, physical prowess, undaunted faith in his own star, and not a few lucky coincidences (this being, after all, Burroughs).
The struggle to make ends meet despite a thankless job market is probably inspired by the author’s own experiences as a young man; the beautiful heiresses, dastardly rivals, gold-hearted crooks and sympathetic prostitutes are probably a figment of his imagination. But who’s complaining?
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 13, 2019 20:44:41 GMT -5
Once in a while I come across an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel I have never heard from, and while sometimes the discovery is entirely forgettable, some other times it is decidedly enjoyable (as with the brilliant The Mucker or the very engaging Beyond Thirty). The Efficiency Expert is not in that class, but it is typical of Burroughs’ aptitude to draw the reader in, even with the simplest of stories. In this “real world” tale, a young man of proven brawn and impeccable morality strives to find a job, and has to settle for the very, very bottom of the employment food chain so as not to simply starve. As one can imagine, his fortunes will improve over time thanks to his moral rectitude, physical prowess, undaunted faith in his own star, and not a few lucky coincidences (this being, after all, Burroughs). The struggle to make ends meet despite a thankless job market is probably inspired by the author’s own experiences as a young man; the beautiful heiresses, dastardly rivals, gold-hearted crooks and sympathetic prostitutes are probably a figment of his imagination. But who’s complaining? I have an e-copy of this, but I've not read it. I suspect I will at some point but I've been struggling lately with good Burroughs...no way I can do weak Burroughs. This was one of those "holy grail" ERB books in the days before the internet. One of those books that nobody had ever seen in the wild.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2019 21:40:39 GMT -5
Ok, after a hiatus of several months, I returned to Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber, and read the second book-The Guns of Avalon. I enjoyed it, but liked book one better. This one seemed to meander a bit in places, but it had been so long since I had read it that I remembered nothing of the plot, and the villain reveal genuinely surprised me. I probably cleanse the palette a bit before returning for book 3.
-M
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 13, 2019 21:47:20 GMT -5
Ok, after a hiatus of several months, I returned to Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber, and read the second book-The Guns of Avalon. I enjoyed it, but liked book one better. This one seemed to meander a bit in places, but it had been so long since I had read it that I remembered nothing of the plot, and the villain reveal genuinely surprised me. I probably cleanse the palette a bit before returning for book 3. -M I last read it about five years ago. I recall liking it pretty much as much as Nine Princes. I never felt there was an appreciable drop in quality across the First Chronicles.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on May 13, 2019 21:52:09 GMT -5
Let me add that I’d have loved to have seen Howard Chaykin do an adaptation of the Amber novels.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2019 22:02:18 GMT -5
Let me add that I’d have loved to have seen Howard Chaykin do an adaptation of the Amber novels. DC did adaptations of the first 2 novels, but sadly Chaykin was not involved. Both were painted prestige format mini-series, done in the 90s I believe, but I haven't read them (I picked up a random issue or two out of bargain bins at shows, but don't have either series complete). -M
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