This is a shorter and very eclectic collection for you this week. Hope you enjoy.
I didn’t see any New Releases to tempt you with this week—you’ll have to find someone else to add to your TBR pile–did I miss something I should’ve listed here?
Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
Reading is precious – which is why I’ve been giving away my books—I appreciate where Cosslet is coming from, but I’m not that good of a person
Adventures in Not-Writing—one writer’s journey through not-writing
Real Shit and Book Shit with K.R.R. Lockhaven—a great interview with friend-of-the-blog K.R.R. Lockhaven
The Enduring Appeal of the Teen Detective: From books to TV, why we keep going back for more young gumshoes
Asian Sleuths—Slueths & Sidekicks (a site I need to spend more time on) has a nifty list of Asian Detectives/Detective-type Characters. I’d read a decent percentage of this list, which surprised me—also it’s probably a sign that we need more Asian Detective stories.
Crime Fiction Heroes: To Age or Forever Young?—Not surprisingly, Paul Levine comes down on the “To Age” side (I do, too, and have thought of a piece like this for forever…maybe I don’t need to now)
Molly Templeton asks (and offers some answers), What Makes a Story Comforting?
Why the SF Canon Doesn’t Exist—I’m not sure I buy all of Duke’s conclusions and reasoning. But I appreciated this piece and will probably keep chewing on it.
The Chronicles of Prydain Overview by Jason Dodge—I will read about Prydain any day, and I liked this overview enough that I wish it was 2-3 times longer.
My A-Z Of Books – A—Steven Writes commemorates their 5 year anniversary by kicking off a series of “all of the most significant things for each letter, such as the authors and books I have read; the most memorable characters I have come across, and the most captivating settings” from A to Z. Daunting project that will result in some great reading for those of us who don’t have to compose it.
Our Engagement With Book Reviews—this is why I don’t look at individual post engagement 🙂
On Good and Bad Books—Peat Long takes an interesting route to defining a good book (I think I agree, too, for what it’s worth)
Allyson Johnson
Interesting read about “Why SF doesn’t have a canon.” I have a collection of “classic SF” including Heinlein, Kornbluth, Simak, Sturgeon, Blish, Asimov, all in dog-eared paperbacks handed down from my late father and late cousin. Much of it is almost unreadable these days – so dated in its ignoring the existence of women or social issues.
Heinlein is a great story teller, but unfortunately most of what he wrote after “Stranger in a Strange Land” is so drug-addled that it is uncomfortable to read. Theodore Sturgeon writes the best and least forgettable fiction since H. P. Lovecraft. Simak’s “City” is worth reading over and over, as are Asimov’s “Robot” stories. But Kornbluth and Blish are soooooo dated, and Asimov’s “Foundation and Empire” sooooo wordy.
What would you nominate for the “SF canon”?
HCNewton
That’s a great question–most of my reading in SF (which isn’t that deep) is 80s/early 90s, so my canon nominees wouldn’t capture some of the better early stuff. Off the top of my head, I’d have to go with Asimov, Bradbury, Clarke, etc. I’ve read a handful of older collections of short stories that would definitely have some names to offer, if I remembered them. I’d say the same kind of thing about Heinlein as you did (and sadly, most of what I’ve read by him is from his later work–the aunt that introduced me to early SF had strange tastes). Maybe H. Beam Piper? Early Harry Harrison, might work–but it might be not be readable today.
Shelly, H.G. Wells, Verne, too–obviously.
allyson johnson
Ooh, I almost forgot Ursula K LeGuin! But she is much further along in the SFF history than the guys we have been talking about.
HCNewton
another good ‘un!
Peat
It took me a couple of chews but I came around to Duke’s thinking – there’s not a sufficient weight to create what is traditionally known as a canon. Although it does rely somewhat on an academic reading of the book.
Also a lot of good stuff – thanks for including mine as well! I’m sure you’ll see quite a few of these links next Friday…
Also re the article on giving away books – I’ve given away a ton of books due to moving. I can’t lie, it stings. But at the same time, I am willing to live a minimal book life in future. My idea of minimal and the author of that article’s might differ though…
HCNewton
be sure to look at the URL of the giving away books piece, you can see the original headline…adds another dimension to it.
I’m still chewing, but maybe Duke is onto something. I think at the moment that I’m less troubled by the idea of a SF canon than I am by who and how it’s determined.
As far as the links to see Friday, am looking forward to it. Just make sure you drop a couple of fresh ones for me to appropriate 🙂
Peat
Oh good grief. I saw the line to that effect in the article, rolled my eyes and moved on, but that’s so very clickbaity. Moreover, it’s… incredibly smugly middle-class. Quite on brand for the Guardian I suppose.
I shall do my best on the new links.
HCNewton
smug and clickbaity. Very avant-garde.