A Reading Update and My Ongoing Author's A - Z

Just Finished

1. The Goblin Reservation by Clifford D. Simak.










"I've read a few of Clifford D. Simak science fiction novels. I particularly enjoyed City and The Werewolf Principle. The Goblin Reservation was a fun read even though  I'm not quite sure how to take it.

Mr. Maxwell, a professor at Time University, returns from a trip in space where he was searching for dragons, discovers that he has already arrived home only to die. How did he get split in two? Was it another race from another planet (the Crystal World) or maybe was it the Wheelers, a mysterious race, possibly Earth's enemies, from somewhere outside the universe?

What do the beings from Crystal World want from him? They seem to be offering the wisdom of billions of years and what do they want for it? Do the Wheelers want it as well?

Maxwell and his strange coterie of friends; Alley Oop, a primitive caveman brought from the prehistoric past; Ghost, a ghost who doesn't know who he is; Sylvester; a sabre-tooth tiger, part Mech; and Carol, Sylvester's owner, must try to find out what the beings want, how Maxwell was turned into two creatures and maybe save the universe at the same time. Oh, let's not forget the Goblins and Trolls and other mythical creatures who live in the Goblin Reservation land next to the University.

So you've got time travelers, supernatural beings, lots of drinking, carousing and fighting and all in aid of saving a world. At times it seems as though the story was written by someone on drugs. Surprisingly, there are wonderful descriptions of surroundings, the characters are interesting, the story weird but a fun read and the ending satisfying. It's not a perfect story, but a fun read, worth trying. (3 stars)."

Currently Reading

1. My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier. I've read a number of du Maurier's works. She's a great writer. This is supposed to be excellent as well.












"Ambrose married Rachel, Countess Sangaletti in Italy and never returned home. His letters to his cousin Philip hinted that he was being poisoned, and when Philip arrived in Italy, Ambrose was dead ...

Rachel comes to England, and soon Philip too is torn between love and suspicion - is she the angel she seems? Or is she a scheming murderess?"

My Ongoing Author's A - Z
My last entry in this category finished with David Downing.

A.C. Doyle

1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle lived from 1859 - 1930. He was a prolific writer of mysteries, historical fiction, science fiction, non-fiction and many others. I've read a few of his books, especially enjoying his Sherlock Holmes' stories. I'll highlight a variety of his books.

a. The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902). This is probably his most well-known of the Sherlock collection.











"The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle is one of those classic mysteries that should be on everybody's 'must-read' list. It's been made into many TV and movies, all of which have kept the story alive and fresh.

I don't know that I've read it previously; it's one of those books that I think I probably have, but maybe it's just that I've seen one or two of the adaptations. However, with all of that preamble, I'm pleased to say that I have now read and enjoyed immensely.

The story is familiar to so many people that I won't go into it in detail. Suffice it to say a family legend draws Holmes and Watson to the Dartmoor moors to try and help the heir to a family estate, one that might have been cursed by a supernatural hound. They work diligently to keep the heir alive as they try to solve the murder of the previous heir.

The nice thing about this particular Holmes' mystery is that the focus is Watson for a nice change. Holmes sends Watson ahead with Henry Baskerville, both to keep him safe and to investigate the neighbours and to try and find out more about the death / murder of Sir Charles Baskerville, Henry's uncle. Holmes stays behind to work on other cases.

It's a different way of telling a Holmes mystery, relying on Watson's correspondence to Holmes and also Watson's diary entries. But don't let that mean that there isn't lots of action because for a Holmes' mystery, there is a fair bit and the story moves along nicely and tensely. It's an interesting mystery with nice twists and turns and the ending is exciting and satisfying. One of the best Holmes' mysteries I've read so far. (5 stars)"

Other books in this collection include -
- A Study in Scarlet (1887)
- The Sign of the Four (1890)
- The Valley of Fear (1915)

b. The Lost World (1912). This is the first book in his Professor Challenger stories.










  
"A good solid adventure from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Professor Challenger and a team of associates head to South America to prove that his original discovery of a plateau where creatures from the deep past still live. A well-written and interesting story. I've seen the movie adaptation and also enjoyed. Doyle writes with a nice flow and creates interesting heroic characters. I enjoyed the story very much. Supposedly there are others in the Professor Challenger series. I will definitely look them up. (3 stars)"

The other Professor Challenger books were -
- The Poison Belt (1913)
- The Land of Mist (1926)

c.  Sir Nigel (1906). This is the 2nd book in the Sir Nigel books. The other was The White Company (1891).











"This is a prequel to Doyle's 1891 work, The White Company, which I had enjoyed previously. Sir Nigel tells of his life before he lead the White Company in battle, when he was a stripling squire trying to obtain honors for his lady love. Set in the 1300's, Doyle has portrayed a grim era, but one that also demonstrated honor among knights. Unfortunately, if you weren't of that class, life seems to have been grim and depressing indeed. War criss - crossed France and peasants starved, land was destroyed. Not a good time to live. But at the same time, we have Nigel and many of his knightly comrades, Sir John Chandos and other famous historical figures, who fight with honour and with deadly intent. I enjoyed this story more than the first, maybe over time, Doyle found a more comfortable writing style. I'd say read this one first as it obviously introduces Nigel for the earlier work. (4 stars)"

I still have a few other Doyle books on my shelf to read, including this one from 1896.

d. The Exploits and Adventures of Brigadier Gerard.










"There is no braver officer in Napoleon's cavalry than Etienne Gerard - especially in his own opinion. Whether kidnapped by gangs of brigands or outnumbered by enemy troops, the plucky little soldier is constantly gallant, chivalrous and ready to face any danger, even if he doesn't always think before he acts.

With great gusto Gerard recounts the swashbuckling exploits and adventures of his glittering military career - carrying out secret missions for Napoleon, eluding capture by the Duke of Wellington, making a daring break from an English prison, rescuing ladies in distress, duelling to the death against the dastardly Baron Straubenthal and even saving the day at the Battle of Waterloo."

Daphne du Maurier

2. Daphne du Maurier. English writer Daphne du Maurier lived from 1907 - 1989. For the longest time, I had only read one of her works, The House on the Strand, a book I read 3 or 4 times. In the past few years I've explored her work a bit more of her stories and she's becoming a favorite author of mine.

a. The House on the Strand (1969). I read this first during my university years. As I mentioned above, I've read a few times since then, the most recent time being just a few years ago. It's a fascinating story.










"Richard Young, tired of his life as a publisher, bored with his wife Vita and his two stepsons, is staying in his scientist friend Magnus' house in Cornwall. Magnus has developed a new hallucinogenic drug which Richard tries. His trips on this drug take him back 600 years as invisible witness to lives more exciting than his own, whose fascination begins to have repercussions in the "real" world.

Daphne du Maurier skillfully intertwines the lives of Richard in the present and Roger Kylmerth, his alter ego, in the past, so that two stories unfold simultaneously, both leading to separate, but related, deaths and disasters. Her description of the Parish of Tywardreath in Cornwall in the present and in the past possess an unforgettable vividness. (5 stars)"

b. The Blue Lenses and Other Stories (1959). 












"An interesting collection of short stories by the author of Rebecca and The House on the Strand. The book was published in 1959 and contains 8 stories, each different and unique in its own right. I particularly liked The Alibi and The Blue Lenses; the first about a man trying to get some excitement into his life and finding that his plan takes an unexpected turn to the left and the second, almost science fiction, a strange tale of a woman seeing life through new lenses, a very strange and disturbing vision. The Pool and The Archduchess were good, but missed the mark somewhat from my perspective. But all in all, an excellent, well-written book. It's continued to whet my appetite for more du Maurier fiction (4 stars)"

c. Rebecca (1938).












"Wow! I cannot believe it's taken this long for me to pick up this book and read it. I had read The House on the Strand a few times and enjoyed, but for some reason, I've never read anything else by du Maurier, maybe some misguided feeling that it was 'chicklit'. I'm glad that I've started exploring more and more classic and modern classic fiction. 

This was a fascinating story, well-crafted, intelligently written and a page turner. At first I was irritated by the new Mrs. de Winter, her naivety and innocence, but as I read more, her character made more sense; a young woman with little life experience and low self-esteem. Marrying the older Maxim de Winter, an experienced but damaged and withdrawn individual didn't help her attitude, even with how much she loved him. Being placed in a strange, almost other worldly situation as the new mistress of de Winter's estate of Manderley, which had been run masterfully by his first wife, Rebecca, added to her discomfort. 

Throw into the mix, the house keeper, the creepy Mrs. Danvers, who seems to resent the new lady of the manor and you've got a tense, fascinating situation. The story builds and builds (I won't spoiler this for anyone who hasn't read before... even though I think I'm probably one of the few who hasn't) and draws you in. Such an excellent story. I've discussed with the missus as I've progressed and now will have to sit down with her and watch the movie version. (5 stars)."

As mentioned above, I'm about to start her My Cousin Rachel. I've also got one of her Cornish stories on my bookshelf, Jamaica Inn (1936).

John Dunning

3. John Dunning.  American writer, Dunning, was born in New York in 1942. I discovered his Cliff Janeway series early in the 2000's and have since finished the series. It had everything I liked, great mysteries and antique book - selling. The series was made up of 5 books. I also read one of his other historical mysteries and didn't like it quite as much. But I highly recommend the Janeway collection.

a. Booked to Die (1992).












"Denver homicide detective Cliff Janeway may not always play by the book, but he is an avid collector of rare and first editions. After a local bookscout is killed on his turf, Janeway would like nothing better than to rearrange the suspect's spine. But the suspect, local lowlife Jackie Newton, is a master at eluding the law, and Janeway's wrathful brand of off-duty justice costs him his badge.
Turning to his lifelong passion, Janeway opens a small bookshop -- all the while searching for evidence to put Newton away. But when prized volumes in a highly sought-after collection begin to appear, so do dead bodies. Now, Janeway's life is about to start a precarious new chapter as he attempts to find out who's dealing death along with vintage Chandlers and Twains."

b. The Bookman's Wake (1995).












"Denver cop-turned-book-dealer Cliff Janeway is back, lured by an enterprising ex-cop into going to Seattle to bring back a fugitive wanted for assault, burglary, and the possible theft of a priceless edition of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." The bail jumper turns out to be a young, vulnerable woman who calls herself Eleanor Rigby, and who happens to be a gifted book scout. Janeway finds Eleanor enchanting -- and is equally intrigued by the deadly history surrounding the rare volume. Stalked by people willing to kill to get their hands on it, a terrified Eleanor slips from Janeway's grasp and disappears. To find her, Janeway must unravel the secrets surrounding the book and its mysterious maker, for only this knowledge can stop the cruel hand of death from turning another page...." 

c. The Bookman's Promise (2004).


"When Cliff Janeway investigates the provenance of a signed first edition of a memoir by nineteenth-century explorer Sir Richard Burton, he becomes embroiled in a mystery involving a lost library of rare Burton material."

d. The Sign of the Book (2005).  I thought this was the weakest of the 5.













"A very enjoyable mystery. I've read a few of the series and on the whole enjoyed them all. Cliff Janeway is an ex-Denver police detective who quits the force and becomes a book dealer. His mysteries always involve the book trade and for someone who loves wandering around book stores and collecting somewhat, it adds a nice touch to the mysteries. 

Cliff is a loner and you do often find him wandering off on his own when you want to shout at him to bring along some help. But the mystery is well-written, nicely paced and always with a bit of tension. In this mystery, an old girl-friend of Cliff's current partner, Erin, is accused of murder and they try to find out if she did it and if not, who did. Laura, the accused, is accused of killing her husband (who happens to be an ex of Erin's) and he has book shelves full of signed books. Do they factor into the mystery? That's what you've got to find out. The whole series is well worth the read. (3 stars)" 

e. The Bookwoman's Last Fling (2006).
 











"This is the fifth and last Cliff Janeway mystery, a series I've enjoyed immensely. Cliff Janeway is an ex-Denver cop who has become a book dealer in Denver who also hunts down antique books and is often hired to estimate costs of antique books. He also still becomes involved in mysteries, often with a book-theme. In this story, he travels to Idaho to help estimate the value of an estate's books and also to solve a mystery; some of the books have been disappearing and being replaced by cheaper editions. Throw in an old death in the family that might have been a murder and bring in the horse - racing world and you've got the makings of a great mystery. It's an excellent series and I highly recommend. (4 stars)"

Well, there you go. 3 favorite authors. Well worth checking out. Enjoy your week!