tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.comments2024-02-27T07:15:23.786+01:00Simon's Book BlogSimon McLeishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16433000161180042201noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-23225720279195100292024-02-27T07:01:19.669+01:002024-02-27T07:01:19.669+01:00For me the best thing about "Barnaby Rudge&qu...For me the best thing about "Barnaby Rudge" is the Maypole Inn. In particular, when it was introduced at the start of the book during a storm. I could feel that storm and the comfort of that Inn.PF Albanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440066579779161739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-6390557923752885222024-02-27T06:55:52.721+01:002024-02-27T06:55:52.721+01:00It took me two readings to fully appreciate this n...It took me two readings to fully appreciate this novel. It also talks about the concept of predestination. Billy Pilgrim has pretty much seen most of his life including its end so he's just calm and relaxed in accepting whatever is happening to him right now. I, too, find the concept of predestination somewhat comforting.PF Albanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440066579779161739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-12464251653139414452024-02-27T06:33:16.626+01:002024-02-27T06:33:16.626+01:00I could not resist the title of this book when I s...I could not resist the title of this book when I saw it at a second hand shop but, ultimately, I found it a disappointment. It just wasn't interesting enough for me. The only part of it I remember now is the monks living in those beehive like cells, the steep descent from the heights and the dangerous ride in the coracle.PF Albanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440066579779161739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-13508530185751587602024-02-27T06:25:38.184+01:002024-02-27T06:25:38.184+01:00Henry Pulling is retired and unworried about finan...Henry Pulling is retired and unworried about financial matters. He has a botanical hobby - Dahlia growing was it? (It's been sometime since I read the book). He is living life with no stress and only boredom as a possible worry. He is living the retirement that I wish I would have one day. But he throws it away. That is the most thought-provoking thing in this novel for me: He throws away his peaceful retirement for what the British would probably term "a dodgy life" in South America. PF Albanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440066579779161739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-68286548564051505172024-02-27T05:57:09.636+01:002024-02-27T05:57:09.636+01:00I actually saw this book in a used bookstore yeste...I actually saw this book in a used bookstore yesterday. Did not know what it was about and gave it a pass. I did enjoy "The Three Musketeers" and I'm a sucker for sequels so next time I might pick it up.PF Albanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440066579779161739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-11442842513085126102024-02-27T05:51:44.427+01:002024-02-27T05:51:44.427+01:00I've always wondered what this book was about ...I've always wondered what this book was about back in the day. I'll keep on the lookout for it once I go back into my "science fiction and fantasy phase" of book reading (right now I'm catching up on the classics)PF Albanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440066579779161739noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-91063367048453615982021-01-02T04:35:28.964+01:002021-01-02T04:35:28.964+01:00Nice. Am soldNice. Am soldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-46799516526696521442021-01-02T04:35:09.551+01:002021-01-02T04:35:09.551+01:00Nice. Am soldNice. Am soldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-2245417853793687752020-07-29T15:08:42.636+01:002020-07-29T15:08:42.636+01:00Are you aware of the recent Lindchester trilogy? H...Are you aware of the recent Lindchester trilogy? Her return to writing - it's more boisterous, but it's very funny. You may find the very intrusive narrator's voice irritating to start with, but it is worth perseveringSimon McLeishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433000161180042201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-82638093292066681732020-07-29T14:09:31.009+01:002020-07-29T14:09:31.009+01:00I love this series and it is a tribute to Fox that...I love this series and it is a tribute to Fox that she manages to make the reader care about this previously unlikable character. However, I did feel she left us with the series unfinished. I really wanted another book!CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-49083413258793342852020-05-29T06:56:41.481+00:002020-05-29T06:56:41.481+00:00It's Beating the Air that I was thinking of wh...It's Beating the Air that I was thinking of when I wrote that: congratulations are due to Velko Miloe. The story has an intriguing and original concept, and is very well executed too.Simon McLeishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433000161180042201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-36537587341748733072020-05-29T06:47:15.739+00:002020-05-29T06:47:15.739+00:00Thanks!
(Hah! Hopelessness! Not for nothing have ...Thanks!<br /><br />(Hah! Hopelessness! Not for nothing have I ignored Beckett all these years. :D)<br /><br />Now my final question:<br /><br /><i>(...) there were several stories which I enjoyed a great deal, including one I would pick as among the best things I've read this year in any genre</i><br /><br />(I cannot say "thank you" enough for this reaction. It fills my anthologist's heart to the brim.)<br /><br />Which story was that? "Beating the Air"? "Asked the Soldier, 'Who Called Me?'"?<br /><br />I'd like to share this overbrimming joy with the author too. :)))Калhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699320769107736214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-6551827740998343742020-05-22T10:34:20.048+00:002020-05-22T10:34:20.048+00:00Yes, these discussions actually help me focus my t...Yes, these discussions actually help me focus my thoughts about writing a <i>proper</i> intro--thank you very much!<br /><br />And thank you for the translation offer, too! If you want to help us, we can always use another pair of copyeditor's/proofreader's eyes. :) Right now, we're working with <a href="http://www.thekingdomsofevil.com/" rel="nofollow">Daniel M. Bensen</a> most of the time; but Dan is often busy with his own projects, so we'd appreciate having other well-read native speakers on board. You <a href="https://simonsbookblog.blogspot.com/p/list-of-authors-reviewed.html" rel="nofollow">certainly</a> qualify. ;)Калhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699320769107736214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-71390448841456559802020-05-22T10:21:29.011+00:002020-05-22T10:21:29.011+00:00I quite understand that there were constraints, an...I quite understand that there were constraints, and I think re-ordering things will make a significant difference. It might be a good idea to add an introductory note pointing out that restricting the anthology to stories which had already received professional publication and the need for available translations has reduced the available choices. If I spoke Bulgarian, I would volunteer to translate some stories for you :-)Simon McLeishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433000161180042201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-75633463836027914982020-05-22T10:16:29.747+00:002020-05-22T10:16:29.747+00:00On to the next point:
On the negative side, I was...On to the next point:<br /><br /><i>On the negative side, I was not entirely convinced by the structure of the anthology. In a multi-author compilation, it is unusual to feature authors multiple times. This is done repeatedly here, and is more obvious because most of the multiple contributions are clustered together. This has the unfortunate consequence that it makes it seem as though there are not enough good science fiction and fantasy writers to fill the anthology with unique contributions: I hope this is not the case, and that there are plenty of other writers who could have been included.</i><br /><br />A couple of considerations here:<br /><br />1. Our choice of short stories was limited to: a) available translations; b) which have already been published in professional magazines or anthologies; c) and fit in (more or less) with the general values of <a href="https://choveshkata.net/blog/?page_id=36#English" rel="nofollow">the Human Library</a>.<br /><br />Given these restrictions, it was actually quite a miracle we managed to collect <i>that</i> many authors. :D<br /><br />On the unpublished side, we currently work with some twenty to thirty other authors, whose stories we're actively submitting to various venues. Raw material for the next anthology, yes? :)<br /><br />2. Even when we've included a particular author more than once, we've tried to give everyone a roughly equal weight; e.g. Angelina Ilieva (Johan Vladimir) has a single story, but it is quite long: a novelette approaching a novella; whereas Valentin D. Ivanov has three, but collectively they're shorter than Ilieva's story.<br /><br />(Well, that doesn't apply to Nikolay Tellalov. Tellalov is a phenomenon unto his own ;)--we basically have no other SF writer of his rank at present, so we wished to showcase him. The extent to which the chosen excerpts do the job is another matter. ;) )<br /><br />3. This will <b>not</b> be the final order of the stories in the almanac. We're going to move some between the various sections, and each section will be completely rearranged. Stay tuned. ;)Калhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699320769107736214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-33929244592184819432020-05-22T08:17:08.441+00:002020-05-22T08:17:08.441+00:00Thanks Кал - I've updated the cover image. I r...Thanks Кал - I've updated the cover image. I really hope you find a publisher, after all your hard work and excellent content!Simon McLeishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433000161180042201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-69117159008088889872020-05-21T15:35:07.649+00:002020-05-21T15:35:07.649+00:00P.S. The proper cover also fixes the fact that the...P.S. The proper cover also fixes the fact that the almanac doesn't yet have a publisher. Still looking. :)Калhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699320769107736214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-10673441290032869292020-05-21T15:32:09.542+00:002020-05-21T15:32:09.542+00:00Eh ... and another thank you--for making me realiz...Eh ... and another thank you--for making me realize we've put the <i>wrong</i> cover on this version. I mean, it has an error right there in the subtitle. :///<br /><br />We're fixing it right now.Калhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699320769107736214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-91472268767132423012020-05-21T14:17:58.135+00:002020-05-21T14:17:58.135+00:00Wow ... wow. Wow.
Um ... where to begin? :)
Mayb...Wow ... wow. Wow.<br /><br />Um ... where to begin? :)<br /><br />Maybe with <a href="https://choveshkata.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=29849#p29849" rel="nofollow">this caveat</a> re: "I was beginning to wonder if science fiction in Bulgaria is a completely masculine phenomenon." It was an unexpected (even shocking) realization for myself, too.<br /><br />Since today is one of <i>those</i> days (where everything seems to happen at once), I'll stop here. For now. ;)<br /><br />But, yes: thank you. This is definitely more than I was hoping for. :)))Калhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699320769107736214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-62886552651786683722019-06-11T04:04:33.857+01:002019-06-11T04:04:33.857+01:00I enjoyed your review ... I was also enjoying the ...I enjoyed your review ... I was also enjoying the book by Mithen till I came across his discussion of the famous Bluefish caves in the northern Yukon. The author repeatedly refers to them as being in Alaska! In fact, he seems to think the entire Yukon Territory is in Alaska, a rather huge blooper which makes me suspect , sadly, much of the other information presented in his book. ( the bluefish caves, and The Yukon are, of course, in Canada, I know, I've lived here all my life, and someone writing a book with any hope of being taken seriously should also know such an elementary fact. I'll continue reading his book, in the somewhat shaken faith that most of his facts are accurate. One other complaint... I find the "John Lubbock" literary device to be kind of annoying and unnecessary.<br />Dave Cartier, Sr., Kluane Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada<br />David Cartier, Sr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17835502842819745467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-44876138700990249422018-12-30T00:29:47.886+01:002018-12-30T00:29:47.886+01:00The best part about this book is that nowhere does...The best part about this book is that nowhere does it contradict the Bible narrative even though it adds quite a bit. But it NEVER conflicts with the Bible story. I checked it!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07008210662027039558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-35403650346796672122017-11-13T13:40:49.182+00:002017-11-13T13:40:49.182+00:00Thus far my favorite of his is still the first I r...Thus far my favorite of his is still the first I read- The Fall Of Chronopolis. Dueling time empires! Good, old fashioned (literary) sci-fi pulp. Review here: http://oivas.com/bjb/rece1.htmlAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07765141824785030702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-14312851117293015392017-11-13T12:45:33.677+00:002017-11-13T12:45:33.677+00:00I know of Barrington J. Bayley, but haven't re...I know of Barrington J. Bayley, but haven't read much, just some of the stuff he worked on in collaboration with Michael Moorcock. Any recommendations?Simon McLeishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433000161180042201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-66586950032178909582017-11-13T03:07:55.520+00:002017-11-13T03:07:55.520+00:00I can't get me enough of some John Brunner. Qu...I can't get me enough of some John Brunner. Question: any love for Barrington J. Bayley?<br />Really enjoying reading through your reviews. I think I have about 300 tabs open on my phone's browser right now thanks to you! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07765141824785030702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-664958436931528900.post-65265328056123633212017-02-17T13:11:11.953+00:002017-02-17T13:11:11.953+00:00Incredible book .
Interestingly the very first pag...Incredible book .<br />Interestingly the very first page is the most memorable .<br />He really knows how to hook the reader in the first few paragraphs .<br />Great to see a blog on it .<br /><br />I tried to find another copy in bookshops all over Dublin (Irl)<br />And eventually gave up and had to use Amazon.....but it was well worth waiting for .<br /><br />Pity that this copy didnt have a map. <br /><br />For anyone else , Id recommend one of his sources "An Tain Bo Cuailgne "/ "An Tain"<br />The Cattle Raid of Cooley.<br />But you must get the Kinsella translation and EPIC illustrations by Louis Le Brocuy , which I happened to see in person (they barely fit through the doors of IMMA).<br /><br />The bllod gore and sex make it almost unbelievable that it was written down first by a Christian Monk , which testifies to the strength of the Celtic Oral Tradition.<br /><br />Any other translation will be mild - from the Gaelic Revival which catered for Victorian sensibilities - the original gave us characters like Slaine from 2000AD (an exact copy).<br /><br />The COMING of THE KING makes me wish Id read the Mabinogion . olliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02441504497689353281noreply@blogger.com