A Friday Reading Update and Some New Books

 It's a warm Friday. We've had a few warm days this week but it's supposed to cool down for the next weeks. I just hope this cool weather and some rain finds its way down south to the Western states. It's awful down there.

I won't continue with my look at my Favorite Authors in this post as the other day I received a number of books in the mail, including a bunch from my brother. I also finished my first book of September yesterday. I'll provide my review of that as well as the synopsis of the next book in line.

New Books

1. A White Arrest by Ken Bruen (Inspector Brant #1). Bruen is also noted for his Jack Taylor detective series. I've enjoyed a couple of books in that series and also the TV series based on the books. The Inspector Brant series is a new one for me.

"A serial killer is picking off members of the England cricket team, and in the dark and violent world of Brixton a vigilante group is hanging dope dealers from lamp-posts. Both Roberts and Brant are in hot water with their chief and they need something big to get them out of it. They desperately need a "white arrest, " a major catch to whitewash all their past sins and deliver them, if not to paradise, at least to a better beat. Paced with black humor and a soundtrack of violence and intolerance, A White Arrest is a police procedural unlike any other."

2. The Mad Hatter Mystery by John Dixon Carr (Gideon Fell #2). I read the first Gideon Fell last month and quite enjoyed.

"The newspapers dubbed the thief the 'Mad Hatter,' and his outrageous pranks amused all London. but the laughter turned to horror when a corpse with a crossbow through the heart was found at the Tower of London in a top hat.

As Dr. Gideon Fell was to discover, the whole case turned on the matter of hats-- in fact, threatened to become a nightmare of hats. For the victim was none other than Sir William Bitton's nephew, dressed in a golfing suit and wearing Sir William's stolen opera hat. And tying Sir William to his murdered nephew with a scarlet thread was the stolen manuscript of a completely unknown story said to be the handiwork of Edgar Allan Poe.

In a tale as freighted with menace as the Traitor's Gate, portly Dr. Fell unravels a crime unique by even his standards of the bizarre."

The next books are all by Adam Hall, books I was missing from his Quiller spy series. I have enjoyed two so far and now that I have all by one, I'm pretty sure that this series will be one I'll focus on during my next year's Monthly challenges.

3. Quiller Bamboo by Adam Hall (Quiller #15).

"Summoned late at night to the Bureau, Quiller attends a secret conference with the foreign secretary and a surprise defector: the Chinese ambassador to Britain. Minutes later, shots ring out and the ambassador's body is flung out onto the sidewalk of a deserted London street, riddled with bullets.

Searching for clues, Quiller flies to Calcutta to meet Sojourner, a key ally in the plan to bring democracy to China. But Sojourner is killed...thus two men, both dedicated to bringing freedom to their country, are dead. No wonder Quiller is skeptical about his next mission: smuggle a Chinese dissident into Tibet."

4. Quiller Meridian (Quiller #17).

"In Quiller's latest mission, operation Meridian takes him into the espionage trenches of the deadly post-Cold War era. From the chaos of Eastern Europe to the brutality of Siberia, Quiller's far-reaching assignment exposes the very real dangers of life even in the New World Order. A vivid account of the power game in a Russia torn by civil war, Quiller Meridian deftly mirrors the grim realities in the aftermath of the Cold War."

5. The Sinkiang Executive (Quiller #8).

"Whirling silently through space, satellite cameras pick up a suspicious new Soviet missile complex which at all costs must be properly identified. The mission is carefully planned and carefully rehearsed. The latest and the fastest MiG, which a defecting Soviet pilot has conveniently landed in the West, is to fly at a treetop level until well into Soviet airspace and on course for the target. And the return journey? Well, that's up to Quiller."

6. Quiller (also published under Northlight) (Quiller #11).

"Secret agent Quiller is back in this heart-stopping spy thriller. Quiller must work against his own instincts to save a world on the verge of disaster. From behind the Iron Curtain, in a city where he has no place to hide, he must trust a woman who cannot be trusted and rescue a man he would rather kill to complete a mission that will affect relations between the United States and the Soviet Union forever. But the stakes are higher than Quiller realizes as he faces a threat more treacherous than he imagines."

7. Quiller KGB (Quiller #13).

"Somebody wants to spoil German unification, kill it dead. Who can it be? Who can find out? Who better than Quiller!

On site Quiller moves fast...too fast. He finds the target but gets targeted himself. He needs all of his luck, cunning and skill or this could be his last case!"

8.  Quiller Barracuda (Quiller #14).

"In Miami, on the waterfront, a long-time agent has been turned. Quiller gets the call to find out why. It looks like a simple job.

But with Quiller, nothing is ever simple. That's because he digs. He finds a gigantic conspiracy, one of global importance, with nothing less than the future of the White House at stake!"

9.  Quiller Salamander (Quiller #18).

"In this 18th adventure in Adam Hall’s epic series, Quiller is sent to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where chaos abounds as the deadline for the United Nations–supervised elections approaches. There is fear that Pol Pot, creator of the infamous “killing fields,” will fight to return the murderous Communist party, known as the Khmer Rouge, to power. Quiller’s only ally is Gabrielle Bouchard, a photojournalist who is waging her own personal war against the Khmer Rouge. Though Pol Pot is deathly ill, Quiller learns that he has carefully chosen a successor who plans to direct the next Cambodian bloodbath. Quiller’s mission, code-named “Salamander,” leads him deep into the perilous jungles of Phnom Penh, where he must protect not only his own life but also the future of Cambodia."

There is one book in this series I don't have and when you check it out online it's very expensive. This like the 4th book in Adam Diment's Philip McAlpine spy series. Also very expensive. But I will continue to check! 

Just Finished

1. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #5).

"The Brutal Telling is the 5th book in the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery series set in Three Pines, Quebec. As all of the other stories in this book, this one was rich, complex and fascinating. 

Let's see. The haunted Hadley house from previous stories has been purchased by a retired couple and the son's mother. They plan to turn it into a Resort and spa. This will be direct competition to Olivier & Gabri's B&B and restaurant. As the story progresses there is evident friction between Olivier and Marc Gilbert, owner of the Hadley House. The tale starts with a body being discovered in Olivier's restaurant by Myrna, owner of the used book store. This brings Chief Inspector Gamache and his two assistants, Inspectors Beauvoir and Lacoste to their favorite town outside Montreal. They are assisted by young local inspector, Paul Morin, who proves to be quite useful.

It's a fascinating story as the team tries identify the victim, find out where he was murdered (apparently not in the restaurant) and to discover the murderer. As I mentioned earlier, this is a complex case. It will take Gamache and team into a Czech community in Twin Pines, involved research into antiquities and even involve Gamache traveling to Haida Gwai on Canada's west coast. Everyone seems to be keeping secrets and this is making the case more difficult. As well, we have the normal cast of characters from Twin Pines, artists and spouses Peter and Carol (interesting little side theme involving Carol), slightly mad poet, Ruth and her duck Rosa. We also get to meet a new inspector, art crime expert Therese Brunel. 

All in all, it's a pleasure to read. The ending is not quite satisfying, mainly because ... well I won't get into that. Just check out the latest mystery from Twin Pines. You'll enjoy very much. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Sleeping Dogs by Thomas Perry (Butcher Boy #2).

"He came to England to rest. He calls himself Michael Shaeffer, says he's a retired American businessman. He goes to the races, dates a kinky aristocrat, and sleeps with dozens of weapons. Ten years ago it was different. Then, he was the Butcher's Boy, the highly skilled mob hit man who pulled a slaughter job on some double-crossing clients and started a mob war. Ever since, there's been a price on his head.

Now, after a decade, they've found him. The Butcher's Boy escapes back to the States with more reasons to kill. Until the odds turn terrifyingly against him . . . until the Mafia, the cops, the FBI, and the damn Justice Department want his hide . . . until he's locked into a cross-country odyssey of fear and death that could tear his world to pieces . . ."

So there you go folks. I hope you have a peaceful, safe weekend. Pray for rain for the West Coast of the US.

My Mid-Week Music Medley

 Heading off the vet shortly to have them check Bonnie's foot. I must say that since about early last night, she's much improved. Still limping somewhat but nothing like she had been. Encouraging sign.

I had the weirdest dream last night. In my mind I was much younger and in some country (North Korea popped into my head. At least some desolate, dictatorial country anyway) I was with a friend and we were trying to escape? Running from soldiers and people in a village / town helped us. Two other guys took us to some border where others were trying to get across. There was a pick up truck at the bottom of a hill and that was what you had to get by. One of the two guys helping us, distracted them, even got shot (not dead) but anyway, they let us across the border. I remember the 'guard' making fun of my last name. We met a couple of other guys once we crossed the border, other friends who had gotten out too. Very strange. What did Jo and I watch on TV last night to put that in my mind? lolol

So on that note, here is your mid-week music medley to help get you through the rest of the week.

Mid-Week Music Medley

1. South London indie / alternative band, Another Sky - Fell In Love With the City (2020)

2. Japanese Indie pop band End of the World, featuring English band Clean Bandit - Lost (2019)

3. English psychedelic pop band Glass Animals - Heat Waves (2020).

Enjoy the rest of our week.

My Ongoing Look at My Favorite Authors

A bit of self-analysis before I get into my topic.I've been feeling somewhat depressed the past few days. I'm not sure why. Bonnie hurt her foot last week and I know part of it is worry about her. She's going to the vet tomorrow to see what it might be. Jo and I think she may have pulled a ligament because she doesn't mind us holding it. It just hurts when she tries to walk. But she's eating well and seems to be frustrated that she can't go for long walks, that we only let her puddle around the back yard a bit and the front yard after Clyde's night time walk. But knowing either of our puppies is poorly is worrying and depressing. I do worry about the state of the world (especially what's going on down south) and also that this pandemic seems to be picking up some steam in Canada. Sort of beyond my control but it does get in your mind. I get some satisfaction venting on Twitter and there are many nice people on it. One thing I do when I'm feeling depressed is buy books. I've ordered a few (quite a few) the past few months. I guess it's better than doing drugs or drinking, something I won't do. Anyway, that was a rambling beginning. My apologies.

One thing did happen today that tickled me. On Twitter yesterday one of the groups I follow asked what author you would read if you could only read one. I said Nevil Shute. Well, this morning the Nevil Shute Foundation liked my answer. I have to say it made me feel quite good. So today as I continue my look at my favorite authors, I'm going to jump the alphabetical process I've been following. So without further ado, let's get going.

My Ongoing Look at my Favorite Authors - Nevil Shute Norway

Nevil Shute

Nevil Shute Norway was an English author and aeronautical engineer. He lived from 1899 - 1960, born in Ealing, England and dying in Melbourne Australia. Over the course of his life, he wrote more than 40 novels / novellas. My first experience of Shute's works was in high school, On the Beach, still one of my all-time favorite novels and movies. I've read many times. Later on I tried his Pied Piper and once again, it ranks up with my all-time favorite novels. Back in 2018, I did a listing of my Top 100 Novels. There were a number of Shute's novels in the list. If you are interested, check out this link. Since 2000, I've begun to explore more of his works and have fallen in love with his story-telling. Let's check out the ten I've read.

1. Stephen Morris (1923) & Pilotage (1924). These were Mr. Shute's first two books.

"Stephen Morris & Pilotage were the first two books written by English author, Nevil Shute. The completed manuscripts were discovered by his estate in 1960. They were written in 1923. It was decided to put the two stories into one book as both related to flying and both had  some of the same characters, especially Stephen Morris.

In the first book, Morris advises his fiance Helen that they will not be able to be married as a job he'd hoped for, in the rubber industry, has fallen through. Now Morris must find work. He has finished courses at Oxford, specializing in mathematics, and during WWI was a pilot. He manages to find employment with a small flying company, with 3 aircraft, that flies passengers, does air shows and that sort of thing. Of course, this being the nascent period of commercial flying, the business isn't successful. Morris manages to get a job with another company,which also struggles but is in the business of designing and building aircraft.

That is the gist of the story. It is a down-to-earth, often sensible story, but at the same time, a fascinating story of the beginnings of the aircraft industry. There is an air race, there is tragedy and ultimately, there is romance. Morris is, like Shute's writing style, sparse, sensible, but smart and innovative. This story introduces you to Shute's excellent story-telling and the enjoyment that he gets out of telling a story. It also shows how much he loved being in the aircraft business. It's not overly technical, but just enough to make that side of it interesting as well. (3.5 stars)

Morris does play a key role in Pilotage, the 2nd book, but this story focuses on one of his acquaintances, Dennison (I don't think we ever hear his first name... lol). Once again, the story starts with a relationship. Dennison asks Sheila to marry him and go with him to Hong Kong for his new job. He feels this job will pay enough to allow him to support a marriage. Sheila turns him down as she doesn't think Dennison will be happy in Hong Kong.

Dennison in a fit of depression, takes his sail boat for a ten day cruise but unfortunately has a collision with a larger yacht. This sets in place a sequence of events that will see him involved with Stephen Morris in a secretive flying operation. The plan is to launch a sea plane off of a cargo ship and see if it might be commercially feasible to carry cargo on the plane to speed up cargo / mail operations.

The process described by Shute is fascinating. In this book, as well, he more successfully incorporates the romantic relationship aspect that he does so well in future stories. There is also the high tension of whether the experiment will be successful. Consider that during this period, commercial flying is in its very early stages, there is no such thing as radio communication between the plane and shore. It is a fascinating story in that regard. And of course, you have the relationships between Morris and his wife and between Dennison and Sheila.

All in all, I enjoyed this story even more than the first. There is tension, enough technical information to make that interesting and there are wonderful relationships and characters.. Shute continues to show to me how wonderful a story teller he can be, understated but at the same time able to bring out great emotional impact. (4 stars)"

2. Trustee for the Toolroom (1960). We move now to Shute's last written novel.

"Reading a new (only for me as Nevil Shute has been dead since 1960) book by Shute is like putting on a cardigan, comfy pj's and slippers and cozying up on the couch. It's comforting, even though astounding things can happen. Trustee from the Toolroom was Shute's last book. As soon as I started reading it, I fell comfortably into the fantastic world that he created for my reading enjoyment.

Like many of Shute's stories, it focuses on a normal, unassuming man (or woman) who finds him/ herself involved in a situation so far out of his comfort zone that you find yourself following him, holding your breath to see how it will resolve. Now, I'm not saying that it's page after page of heart-stopping action. Because it isn't that. It's just that you find yourself amazed at how this mild-mannered person deals with this situation so out of his comfort zone.

Keith Stewart is a middle-aged Englishman living in London in the 1960's. Many years ago he gave up his wartime job as a rigger at an aircraft factory and now works from home, creating miniature engines and such and writing articles for a magazine called Miniature Mechanic. The magazine is shipped to people around the world who try to create Keith's designs and correspond with him. He makes little money and his wife makes a bit more so they can live a relatively comfortable life, nothing extravagant. 

They have never really traveled and live very insular lives. Keith sister, Jo and her husband, an ex-Navy officer have decided to travel by sailing boat to Vancouver. They ask Keith and Katie to look after their young daughter, Janice until they get settled. They die on the way. So that's the basic story, except that as well, they have designated Keith and Katie as trustees to their daughter. They had Keith install a jewelry box in concrete in the hull of their ship; Janice's inheritance. Keith decides that if they are to ensure Janice the life she deserves, he needs to get the jewels.

This leads to Keith journeying to Tahiti, with little to no money to try and achieve his aim. This is the crux of this fascinating story. There are so many rich elements that develop. Keith might seem an ordinary man who lives on his street, but we gradually discover hidden elements to him that make him more and more interesting and also links to so many people around the world, that even he doesn't realize. Like all of the other stories by Shute that I've read, I was instantly drawn into the characters and the story and ultimately so satisfied with the ending. If you've never read anything by Shute, you are missing out on one of the great story tellers. (4 stars)"

3. A Town Like Alice (1950).

"As Joe says and most Queenslanders say throughout this book, 'Oh my word!'. What a great book A Town Like Alice by English author Nevil Shute is. Shute is one of my favourite authors. I've enjoyed so many of his books and I will keep searching for others of his stories.

A Town Like Alice (which I've always wanted to name A Town Called Alice) I know now why the title as it is) is the story of Jean Paget, a young English woman, whose journey carries her from Malaysia in WWII, back to England and on to Australia. She is a normal girl, who finds herself in unique situations and finds a strength of character common to the heroes and heroines who people Shute's novels. Shute has said this story is based on a true story of a Dutch woman who kept many women prisoners of the Japanese alive with her efforts. In Shute's story, the Japanese invade Malaysia and capture a group of English women and their children. Not wanting to have anything to do with them, the women begin a march around Malaysia, from Japanese camp to camp, suffering privations. Jean, unmarried, becomes a rational, smart leader of the group.

They are helped by an Australian prisoner, Joe, who risks his life to provide food and medicine to the women. After the war, Jean returns to England and discovers she has inherited a fair bit of money. The story teller, her solicitor Noel, helps her sort out this inheritance, which Jean wants to use to help the Malaysian village that kept the women safe.

She also decides to go to Australia to find out more about Joe, where he was from and when she arrives decides to use her money once again to help the town he was from, to make it 'a town like Alice'.
I don't want to discuss the plot much more as it is a book that needs to be enjoyed and savoured. I love the characters, I love the spirit of nation building, the positiveness of the people. There are outstanding events that take place in this story, but they are told in such a gentle, matter of fact way that it makes them even more impressive. There are many highlights for me. I especially enjoyed discovering how the Australian outback radio communication system worked and how much of a key it was to saving a lost man. The story reminds me of The Far Country, another story that features Australia. Shute is a great author that should be explored. (5 stars)"

4. Landfall (1940).

"The more I read his work, the more I love the writing of Nevil Shute. His book, Landfall, written in 1940, falls into his 'war' period of writing. In its simplest form, you could call it a war story. Flying Officer Jerry Chambers is a pilot of Angus aircraft. His mission is flying over the English channel with his crew of 3 and, following a grid, tracking ships sailing up and down the Channel and also looking for German U-boats that might present a threat to allied shipping. One mission he sees a U-boat and sinks it.

This incident will greatly affect Jerry as it turns out that the submarine might not have been a German ship. There is an investigation and Jerry is transferred to a squadron that instead flies over Germany, dropping propaganda materiel. He does ultimately get another transfer, to an experimental unit that works out of the same area as his first squadron, working for to help a scientist with unnamed experimental work that might help shift the war effort in the Allies favor. This is very dangerous work.

So that's the war story aspect. On another level, you have a romance between Jerry and barmaid, Mona, a sensible young lady who gradually falls in love with Jerry; the feeling is mutual, by the way. When Jerry is transferred, things are definitely put on hold. The interesting side-note to this romance, and it becomes key to the overall story is that the bar where Mona works is frequented by British sailors and airman. In the course of her work, she hears tidbits of information, that put together might mean the results of the original enquiry were erroneous.

It all seems kind of convoluted as I present it, but Shute is such an excellent writer. The story is presented in a gentle, logical manner and as you read through, everything fits together nicely. The characters are sympathetic, especially Jerry and Mona, both lovely people who are bound together, as many seem to have been in the War. The story is a pleasure to read, another example of Shute's ability to write interesting stories that strike a chord in your heart; everyday people doing impressive things, people you'd love to meet and know. The ending was satisfying and touched a bit of a nerve with me; leaving me nicely choked and happy. (4 stars)"

5. The Chequer Board (1947).

"The more books by Nevil Shute that I read, the more I come to recognize that he is one of the best story-tellers ever. I've enjoyed so many of his books so far; The Far Country, On the Beach, Pied Piper, etc and as I've been slowly exploring his works, I'm enjoying him more than ever.

The Chequer Board, published originally in 1947 was no exception. It is set after WWII and tells the story of Capt (Ret'd) Turner. Turner was injured during the war, while on a flight from Africa to England to be tried for black marketeering. On the flight were other personnel, including a Negro American soldier (on his way to be tried for attempted rape), a young English Commando (on his way for court martial for murder) and the English co-pilot. These four survive the attack by German fighters.

After the war, Turner is now being treated for the effects caused by his injuries (pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his brain). He is told that nothing can be done due to the location of the shrapnel and he has maybe a year to live. This starts Turner on a journey to find the other three men, all of whom kept him company while he recovered from his surgeries, and all of whom have moved on. It's a simple story, but the journey to find out what happened to these men and the internal journey of Turner, his past, his relationship with his wife, etc, makes for a fascinating and at times very emotional story.

There are other issues that are touched on; the treatment of African - Americans in the US military, how the English impacted those countries that they ruled over, etc, but it is the stories of each man that is so interesting and the emotional stories as well. Shute has such a knack for addressing these emotional touches, that you probably don't realize how much you have found yourself becoming involved in the sub-stories, until the end. I do find that this story, like so many others Shute stories I've read, always strike my heart and soul, lovely to read and to think about. (5 stars)"

6. The Far Country (1952).

 

"In its way, it's a relatively simple story, but I love Shute's style. He tells a story gently, lovingly and at the same time, matter of factly (Is that a proper word? :0)). At its core it's a love story, but it represents its time as well. Set after WWII, England is struggling to feed its people, life is hard; whereas in counterpoint, in Australia, the frontier so to speak, life is pretty good, wool prices are high, money is good, there is work available. 

Helen goes to Australia at the request of her auntie, who thinks Australia might represent England more from her time in the early 1900s. Helen visits with an Aunt and her family, meets Carl, a Czech doctor, who works in the forest as a lumberman. As a Displaced Person from the war, he must work where the Australians let him for 2 years as a sort of payment for being allowed to live in Australia. He can then work towards getting his Doctor's certificate. 

The two meet under very interesting circumstances, a friendship/ relationship develops. This is the simple story, but there is so much more. Shute doesn't get involved in the politics of the time, other than in the background as it affects peoples' lives, but he does present an excellent picture of the time, contrasting life in England and Australia very nicely and very simply. It's a lovely story, not one I would have picked earlier in my life I don't think, but the more I read Nevil Shute's stories (two of my all-time favourites are his, On the Beach and Pied Piper) the more I enjoy his writing and the more of his books I want to read. Highly recommended. (5 stars)"

7. So Disdained (1928).

"This is one of Nevil Shute's earlier works, written in 1928, and even with his early writings, you can see his unique story - telling style. The story is set during this time frame, between the wars and there were many interesting bits of history (assuming he was using a true perspective) that I really wasn't all the knowledgeable about.

For one is the tension between England and Soviet Russia; the story involves Russian spying on English military facilities. As well, at one point, the main character, Peter Moran, must enlist the assistance of Italians to help a friend from the Communists and he asks for the help of the Fascists; interesting that they might be considered an ally, considering the events of WWII. 

The story is typical Nevil Shute, telling the story of a man, relatively mild and even-keeled, who is put in a situation that forces him to make decisions that become heroic, even though he doesn't feel them to be heroic. I love the way Shute lays out his stories, introduces his characters, introduces concepts of patriotism or heroism without preaching but at the same time making you think about what they are and what they mean. He is a story - teller, one of the best and it was enjoyable to read one of his early ones and see how his style developed as he came to write my favourites of his later works. (4 stars)"

8. An Old Captivity (1940). I read this before I began to write more detailed reviews. I think so far this has been my least favorite Shute story. But even with that, I still enjoyed it. 

"Young pilot Donald Ross has little in common with the Oxford archaeologist who has employed him on an expedition to the Arctic—and still less with his beautiful but stubborn daughter, Alix. But once the three of them reach the treacherous shores of Greenland, in search of the ruins of early Viking settlements, their destinies are inextricably bound by the events that unfold there." (3 stars)

9. Pied Piper (1942). Such a great story, one I've read two or three times.

 

"Another excellent book by Nevil Shute. The story of an old Englishman on the eve of WWII. Living his life by rote, he decides to make a fishing trip to the French Alps. With word of German invasion of France, he heads back to England; agrees to take responsibility for two English children and on the way, other children (hence the title). In a low key manner, the story is of his adventures thru war-torn France as he tries to look after and save the children. (5 stars)"

10. Most Secret (1942).

"Nevil Shute continues to be one of my favourite authors. I've now read 4 or 5 of his books and each one has been so excellent. I can't sing the praises of books like On the Beach, Pied Piper and The Far Country enough. Today I finished Most Secret, published originally in 1945, during his war period.

On the surface, it's a simple war story, 4 men of diverse backgrounds coming together to devise a plan for the English to harass and destroy German assets and at the same time to give new courage to French citizens on the French coast, who have been under the thumb of German rule throughout the war. But as always with such a well-crafted Shute story, it's much more than that. Shute takes the time to tell us about the characters, to develop feelings for them and what they've been through. His narrator is a Navy Commander, drawn into the scheme to bring fire to the Germans, who becomes invested in them and who tells their story in such a matter-of-fact way, but also manages to provide us with the emotion and caring he has for Simon, Boden, Rhodes and Colvin. 

Shute also adds in the Navy Wren who is assigned to transport the crew, the Commander and who falls in love with Rhodes. The story is one of great heroism and daring and also fairly technical in its own way. The plot basically is to convert a French fishing vessel into a raider, equipped with flame throwers to go across to France and fight the Germans. That is it in its very simplest forms. The four men each has his own motivations, which you find out throughout the story. 

I thought as I read it, that yes, it's a pretty interesting story, but more and more I became invested in these characters, even with Rhodes' rabbit and by the end felt quite choked up with the ending and how everything turned out. Shute writes in a very understated manner but at the same time manages to get you completely involved in his story. His heroes are everyday people who strike a deep chord with you. Another of my favourites. (5 stars)"

11. On the Beach (1957).

"One of my top ten favourite books. I've read it so many times and also seen the movie with Gregory Peck a few times. So low key, yet it's the end of the world. US submarine in Australia, trying to see if there is any life in the Northern hemisphere. Life in Australia as the end draws near. US submarine makes final voyage to US.

Truly fantastic story.

Having read this again, it's still a great story, what a powerful lesson to teach mankind. So depressing, ultimately, but told with class. (5 stars)"

I have another 5 books on my shelf and in November, Nevil Shute will be my Focus Challenge Author. I hope to finish a couple more at least. These books remain on my shelf; What Happened to the Corbetts (1938), Marazan (1926), In the Wet (1953), Lonely Road (1932) and The Rainbow and the Rose (1958). The complete listing of Nevil Shute's books can be found at this link.

Have a great week. Check out a great author. You won't be wasting your time.

My Ongoing Look at My Favorite Authors

 I've got to do some ironing today but as you can see I'm avoiding it. A quick post her to continue with my ongoing look at my favorite authors. Today one of the greats of the Science Fiction genre.

My Ongoing Look at My Favorite Authors - Philip K. Dick

Philip K. Dick

Philip Kindred Dick was an American Science Fiction author who lived from 1928 - 1982. I was introduced to his work during a Science Fiction author course that I took in university back in the mid-70s. The Man in the High Castle was such a fantastic story (since turned into a popular TV series) that I remember reading a few others of his books. In fact I still have them on my book shelves. My interest in Sci-Fi switched over time to other genres, especially the Mystery genre. But in the last few years, I've gotten back into the genre and started exploring Dick's works more thoroughly. I reread the books I'd enjoyed back in the '70s and have read quite a few more. Many of his novels and short stories have been turned into movies. So without further ado, here is my look at Philip K. Dick.

1. Time Out of Joint (1958).

"I've read quite a few of Philip K. Dick's books over the past many years. He is one of the unique Science Fiction writers, definitely taking a different perspective on his subject. Time Out of Joint is one of his earlier efforts, written in 1958. You can see many of the themes that crop in his works; alternate realities especially play a major role in this and the other books I've read previously.

Ragle Gumm lives in a small town in Wyoming, living with his sister and her husband. He makes his living solving a mathematical contest that the local paper puts out each day. As time moves along, he and his family become more and more aware that things aren't quite what they seem. They find an old yellow pages and magazines. The phone book contains numbers that don't work and seem to indicate that they might be being monitored by some outside agency. The magazines show famous people, but people they don't know. Are the neighbours watching them. Why does the man from the newspaper drop in on Ragle?

We get tidbits from other people around Ragle, very suspicious things happening in this town. Ragle moves to discover what is really taking place and what he finds out makes for a fascinating story. Philip Dick never disappoints but he can confuse and leave you hanging... Interesting story from him and well worth trying to get a feel for his work and ideas. (4 stars)"

2. Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said (1970).

"I've read many books by science fiction author Philip K. Dick over the years. The Man in the High Castle, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Dr. Bloodmoney or How We Got Along after the Bomb and The Crack in Space were all excellent, quite different stories. Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said was published in 1970 and was one of his last books.

While it was an entertaining read, I don't think it was one of his best books. Basically, Jason Taverner, a media star wakes up one day and discovers that he no longer exists in any records or is not recognized or known by anyone. Now Jason must find out why this happened and how he can get back into reality. It's an interesting journey and the description of this world is fascinating. Taverner is a 'six', although this isn't explained too much. 

We meet some interesting people in this journey, especially Kathy, the expert on forging documents, Police General Buckman and others. This is a police state or world but once again, while things are hinted and intimated at, we don't get lots of details. I think that was my biggest problem with this story. There was so much potential but it seemed that Dick kind of was going through the motions. I still enjoyed it but wanted more. (3 stars)"

3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968).

"I've seen the movie based on the book, that being Blade Runner, many times and always enjoy. For some reason, even though I find Philip K. Dick a fascinating science fiction writer, I've not picked up Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? before. It might be one of those things about not wanting to ruin the movie by reading the book, or something like that. Anyway, a couple of years back, I saw a new edition at one of my favorite book stores in Victoria and picked up a copy. And this year it was chosen for me as one of my Challenge reads. And for that I'm glad.

The story follows the basic plot line of the movie. Rick Dekkard is a bounty hunter for the San Francisco PD, paid to hunt down and 'retire' escaped androids. The story is set in a future where the world was almost by a World War. Many people have emigrated to the Moon and Mars and other planets. Few remain behind. Some, known as chicken heads, don't have the mental abilities to emigrate, due to the effects of the dust from the World War. Others just don't want to.

A group of androids, the Nexus 6 version, escape from Mars and come to San Francisco. Dekkard is given the assignment to find and retire them after his partner is almost killed by one. So that is the gist of the story.

Other elements only hinted at in the movie play much bigger roles in the book. The desire to have 'real' pets as most animals were killed in the world. People keep them on their roof tops. Dekkard is only able to afford an electric sheep and craves a real animal as he hopes it will help his marriage. Yes, he is married in the book. The other main character, John Isidore, a chicken head, works for a company that builds and repairs electric animals. There is also the interesting dichotomy between the Buster Friendly TV program that blasts out all day long on TV and also radio and Mercerism, an emotional linkage between millions of people.

All in all it's a unique story, quite fascinating. Dick can leave you feeling cold with his stories, I find, but as this story progresses and comes to the end, it did provide an emotional satisfaction. Well worth reading if you've not explored the Science Fiction of Philip K. Dick. (4 stars)"

4. A Maze f Death (1970).

"Excellent story. I read it before but back in the late '70s so it was just like a first-time read. Well-paced science fiction story, alternate reality. Neat little touches; compare the chapter titles in the index to the actual chapters (I'll say no more, but very interesting). I liked the ending, it was a an interesting twist that I didn't see coming. Very enjoyable and I'm glad I read again after all these years." (4 stars)

5. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch (1965).

"In the overcrowded world and cramped space colonies of the late 21st century, tedium can be endured through the drug Can-D, which enables users to inhabit a shared illusory world. When industrialist Palmer Eldritch returns from an interstellar trip, he brings with him a new drug, Chew-Z. It is far more potent than Can-D, but threatens to plunge the world into a permanent state of drugged illusion controlled by the mysterious Eldritch." (3 stars)

6. Dr. Bloodmoney of How We Got Along After the Bomb (1963).

"Excellent story. I couldn't remember it at all from when I read it back in the late 70's or so. It's a post-nuclear disaster type story. Well-written, interesting, a real page-turner. So many interesting concepts; the different mutations, how people are trying to get on after the disaster. Nice Philip K. Dick twists. I found I couldn't put it down at the end and wanted to see how things were resolved. Excellent story. (4 stars)"

7. The Crack in Space (1966).

"I've read quite a few of Philip K. Dick's unique brand of science fiction over the years. A personal favorite of mine is The Man in the High Castle, which I've read 3 or 4 times. In 2017, I finished Time Out of Joint, which I enjoyed very much and now, most recently, he Crack in Space, which was quite excellent.

The Crack in Space was written in 1966. The basic premise is an over-populated world, where people have the option of becoming 'Bibs'; they are cryogenically frozen, hopefully being awoken when there is more room on Earth or other options such as the opportunity to move to another planet if that technology is available.

Jim Briskin is running for President and if he succeeds will become the first African American president of the US. A discovery is made where a crack in space presents the opportunity to relieve the overpopulation problem by letting Earth people emigrate to the planet that shows up in this crack. The question is, what's on the other side and if there is an existing population, will they allow this invasion?

I found the story fascinating, with many very nice touches throughout. I did like Dick's idea of introduction of Briskin as presidential candidate. He is intelligent, thoughtful and straight-forward. (I wonder if Barack Obama ever read this story? :0)) The story, itself, moves along at a perfect pace; the characters are interesting; note George Walt, the owner of the satellite whore house, amongst others. It was a thoughtful, clear and well-crafted story and I enjoyed all of it, from beginning to end. Well worth trying if you want to explore Philip Dick's view of the future. (4 stars)"

8. The Unteleported Man (1966).

"Whale's Mouth was a planetary utopia for forty million Earth colonists - but none ever returned. It took only 15 minutes to get there by instant teleportation, but it was strictly a one-way journey. If you wanted to return, it was always possible to go the long way round - 18 years each way by conventional spacecraft. No one relished that, of course. Then one man decided to try it, and encountered some very powerful opposition." (3 stars)

9. A Scanner Darkly (1977).

"A strangely interesting story. Not my first Dick novel; I've enjoyed a few of his stories. Many levels in this, various levels of drug-induced consciousness, various personalities of Fred/ Bob Arctor/ Bruce and others. Dick is a unique writer in the field of Sci-Fi. Reading this has made me want to go through his other stories. (3 stars)"

10. The Man in the High Castle (1962). My favorite Philip Dick story so far.

"One of my all-time favorite Sci-Fi stories. I've read many times; the first time while at university back 74ish. Great concept, got me interested in the I Ching. So much to it.

Update 08 Feb 2013

Read this for the third or fourth time this past week. As good as ever. It's a story that passes the test of time. Such an interesting concept. It's the first alternate history type story that I ever read. It's an alternate history within an alternate history. The basic premise is that Japan and Germany win WWII and have split up the USA and the rest of the world. However throughout the story is another book within this book which tells the story as if the US and Britain had won the war and the issues this causes. There is so much more to this story; culture, religion, art, love. Highly recommended. (5 stars)"

I still have two more of Dick's books on my shelves; Martian Time - Slip (1964) and The Penultimate Truth (1964). That still really only scratches the surface on his work. The complete listing of Philip K. Dick's novels can be found at this link. If you enjoy Sci-Fi or are considering checking the genre out, you should try Philip K. Dick. Have a great week!

My Ongoing Look at My Favorite Authors

Another warm autumn day. One of our miniature schnauzers hurt one of her feet two days ago so she's not able to go for walks. It's just me and Clyde for the next few days. Bonnie feels a bit left out so when Clyde and I come home we put her out in the front yard so she can have a bit of an explore and see some different scenery than just the back yard. We're supposed to check with the vet again on Tuesday after the long weekend. Hoping she's feeling much better by then.

My Ongoing Look at My Favorite Authors - Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver is an American mystery / thriller writer. He was born in 1950 in Illinois. I first discovered his work when I went to see The Bone Collector at the cinema. On my way I bought a copy of the book, the first in his Lincoln Rhyme forensic crime series. I think I read the first few chapters before the movie started. I've since read a number of other Rhyme books as well as some of his other series. I will try to just list books I've read since 2000 to stay within the parameters of this category.

1.The Twelfth Card (Rhyme #6).

"Unlocking a cold case with explosive implications for the future of civil rights, forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme and his protégé, Amelia Sachs, must outguess a killer who has targeted a high school girl from Harlem who is digging into the past of one of her ancestors, a former slave. What buried secrets from 140 years ago could have an assassin out for innocent blood? And what chilling message is hidden in his calling card, the hanged man of the tarot deck? Rhyme must anticipate the next strike or become history." (4 stars)

2. The Bodies Left Behind (2008).

"When a 911 call from a secluded Wisconsin vacation house is cut short, off-duty deputy Brynn McKenzie leaves her husband and son at the dinner table and drives up to Lake Mondac to investigate—and walks right into a nightmare when she stumbles upon the scene of an atrocious, gruesome murder. Brynn realizes that the perpetrator hasn’t left the crime scene yet, but it’s already too late to call for backup—dense woods surround the house, and there is nowhere for her to run but into the hostile Wisconsin wilderness." (3 stars)

3. The Sleeping Doll (Kathryn Dance #1).

"I've read many Jeffery thrillers and have for the most part enjoyed them very much. This is the first in the Kathryn Dance series. Dance works for the California Bureau of Investigation, a specialist in kinesics, ability to read people basically. She is called in to interrogate a serial killer who has been recalled from his prison cell, to answer to new murder charges. Pell, the criminal, escapes from his cell and this leads to a manhunt, with Dance, her partner and an FBI agent, Winston Kellogg, leading the chase. They bring in 3 women who were part of Pell's 'family' to help them in their search for Pell, a cunning, dangerous opponent. The CBI team always seem to be 5 paces behind Pell and the bodies mount up. There are all sorts of twists and turns and surprises. It's not my favorite Deaver book, but it was still an entertaining story and a bit of a thrill ride. Worth checking out. (3.5 stars)"

4. The Cold Moon (Rhyme #7).

"This is the 7th book in the Lincoln Rhymes/ Amelia Sachs series. It's long, with a convoluted story with many twists and turns and surprises, but it's so very enjoyable. Suspend disbelief and just enjoy. This story also brings in Kathryn Dance a kinesic specialist, one who specializies in gathering information from interviewing suspects and witnesses. Kathryn is in New York for a police conference (she works for the California Bureau of Investigation) and is invited by Rhymes' police link, Lon Selitto, to assist in the case of trying to find the Clockmaker and to ascertain what he is actually trying to do. Sachs also finds herself involved in a separate police investigation that might involve crooked cops and information she gathers during this investigation leads her to question whether she wants to continue as a police officer. Add to the mix new crime scene officer, Pulaski and you've got an action - filled, excellent story. Are Rhymes and Sachs too good to be true? Who cares. It's all good stuff. (4 stars)"

5. The Stone Monkey (Rhyme #5).

"Forensics expert Lincoln Rhyme and his protégé, Amelia Sachs, are recruited by the FBI to capture the Ghost, a homicidal immigrant smuggler whose next intended victims--two families who jumped ship and vanished in New York's Chinatown underground--are the only witnesses to his crimes." (4 stars)

The complete listing of Deaver's books can be found at this link.

New Books

My new crown is in for the long haul now. Dentist finished buffing and shining. So now I've got another crown, not sure how many that is. The dentist gave me the form that was used to make the new tooth. It kind of gave Jo the creeps. Not that I put it someplace where she could always see it.. 😛

This is going to be a quick post. Jo and I are watching a stack of CSI, relaxing and enjoying the lovely weather. I'm just going to list some new books I've acquired since the beginning of September. I'll get back to my look at my favorite authors in my next post.

New Books

1. Black Narcissus by Rumer Godden. This book was turned into a movie starring Deborah Kerr.

"In the days when it was the General's 'harem' palace, ladies with their retinues and rich clothes could be seen walking on the high windy terraces. At night, music floated out over villages and gorges far into the early hours. Now the General's son has bestowed it upon the disciplined Sisters of Mary. Beginning work in the orchards and opening a school and a dispensary for the mountain people, the small band of Sisters are depended for help on the English agent, Mr Dean. But his charm and insolent candour are disconcerting. When he says bluntly 'This is no place for a nunnery', it is as if he already knows their destiny .."

2. The Nanny by Evelyn Piper. I have previously enjoyed Piper's Bunny Lake is Missing. This book was turned into a psychological thriller starring Bette Davis.

"In the High House School for Disturbed Children, the windows are narrow, the shadows are dark, and the secrets can be deadly.

Unable to cope with his guilt, Joey Fane has been here ever since the afternoon when his little brother wouldn't leave him alone in the bathroom – the day that Joey cracked a block across Ralphie's head and left him to bleed.

Two years after the incident, Joey is finally released – but he will soon wish he could have stayed locked away forever.

While he was away, his mother fell completely under the spell of the Nanny who was hired before the accident. With Joey's return, it's time for Nanny to leave, but she's not ready to go.

Between these two ruthless souls, battle will be waged, and more blood will be spilled."

3. The Rope by Nevada Barr (Anna Pigeon #17). One of my favorite mystery series.

 

"It's 1995. Fresh off the bus from New York City, a broken-hearted 35-year-old named Anna Pigeon takes her first job as a park employee: a decidedly unglamorous, seasonal stint at the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area. On her day off, she goes hiking alone in the park—never to return. Her co-workers assume she's moved on since her cabin is cleaned out. But when Anna wakes up—trapped at the bottom of a well, naked, with no supplies and no memory of how she got there—she must draw upon all of her strength, courage, and skill to survive. Because whoever set Anna's trap isn't through with her yet…"

4. Crime Machine by Giles Blunt (John Cardinal #4). An excellent Canadian series and also a TV series.

"A year after the death of his beloved and troubled wife, Catherine, John Cardinal has moved into a new, but very humid, condo. He has fallen into an easy routine of work on cold case files and platonic movie nights with friend and colleague Lise Delorme. The quiet of a snow-covered Algonquin Bay is shattered when the decapitated bodies of two people are found in a summer home on Trout Lake. The victims, visitors from Russia, are in Algonquin Bay attending the annual fur auction. This is by no means a routine murder investigation as Cardinal soon discovers, but a horrific piece of a very twisted puzzle. Blunt has, once again, given us a page-turning plot, a remarkable cast of characters and the comfort of John Cardinal at the helm."

5. Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré. 

"Nat, a 47 year-old veteran of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, believes his years as an agent runner are over. He is back in London with his wife, the long-suffering Prue. But with the growing threat from Moscow Centre, the office has one more job for him. Nat is to take over The Haven, a defunct substation of London General with a rag-tag band of spies. The only bright light on the team is young Florence, who has her eye on Russia Department and a Ukrainian oligarch with a finger in the Russia pie.

Nat is not only a spy, he is a passionate badminton player. His regular Monday evening opponent is half his age: the introspective and solitary Ed. Ed hates Brexit, hates Trump and hates his job at some soulless media agency. And it is Ed, of all unlikely people, who will take Prue, Florence and Nat himself down the path of political anger that will ensnare them all."

They all look interesting to me. Hope they are.

Your Midweek Music Medley - September 2, 2020

Hmm! I just realized that my midweek song medley happens to fall on our local garbage pick-up day. I hope that isn't a reflection on the quality of the music I've been choosing. Well, let's see then. I hope you enjoy today's song selections.

1. English synth-pop duo Erasure - Oh L'Amour (1986).

2. British band Johnny Hates Jazz - I Don't Want to be a Hero (1987).

3. English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) - (Forever) Live and Die (1986).

Enjoy the rest of your week.