I promised a quick update on what my next read would be – the answer’s not as simple as I’d hoped it to be. I mentioned in my post on the Lovegrove novels that I wound up on the floor of my library a little after midnight last Saturday pulling volumes off the shelves. Klinger’s New Annotated Lovecraft compendium was one of the books I pulled….
….along with this. After reading through 3 consecutive novels with Lovecraftian elements, I felt compelled to go back to the source. It’s led me to keep both volumes out this week and I’m finding myself reading a tale or two every night. Anyone who enjoyed these stories but hasn’t read them in awhile should go back and sample them again. I enjoy them every bit as much as I did the first time but I’m also able to put them in perspective – I appreciate the Lovecraft’s style and his theme of human powerlessness and insignificance in the face of a ruthless and uncaring universe while recognizing but not being put off by his excesses. His writing is like William Shatner’s Kirk – totally overdone – in a satisfying way.
I also pulled out this one…
…and have been doing the same – reading a story a night. I tell myself I’m doing it because I’m looking for Lovecraftian elements that I missed when I originally read them but honestly – I just love Conan. Life in his stories is simple. No fear…never surrender….always victorious – what’s not to like about that.
In addition to all that, I’ve started reading Anne Leckie’s “Ancillary Justice”.
This novel won just about every award possible in 2015 – Hugo, Nebula, BSFA Award, Arthur C. Clarke Award and Locus Award. I have no idea why it’s taken me so long to get to this but better late than never.
Long to short – I’ve got a decent sized pile by the bedside – these 4 plus “Midnight Tides”. The plan is to finish “Ancillary Justice” and put up a post – then move back to Erikson.
Plenty of really great stuff to read – life is good! 🙂