Somehow, I had managed to miss out on both this book and its famous film adaptation for 33 years. So I came into this completely fresh, and I was imprSomehow, I had managed to miss out on both this book and its famous film adaptation for 33 years. So I came into this completely fresh, and I was impressed. This now classic tale of a man (and his family), a mansion, and madness has aged very well since it was originally released in the late '70s. The family dynamic is interesting, the setting is outstanding, and the plot is a page-turner. King uses the story's supernatural elements to good effect, and the final act is gripping.
This is the fifteenth Stephen King book I've read, and while I am a fan of his work, I've yet to come across a perfect novel of his. His writing method is somewhat unique; see the excellent On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft for the specifics, but to make a long story short he tends to be very free-form in his process, with a de-emphasis on detailed plotting before starting a new project. The end result, for me anyway, is that all of his books have a very distinctive Stephen King feel (which I like), but some aspects often seem a little bit peculiar, even rough around the edges. But the best of his work does so many things well that you not only overlook any faults the novel might have, but you almost start to find them endearing. The Shining fits into this group; this is one of the best King novels I've read to date. Fans of his later work should definitely check this one out. 5.0 stars, highly recommended!...more
A good overview of Western prehistory, from the first primitive communities of the Paleolithic Era to roughly 3,000 BC (although the time periods coveA good overview of Western prehistory, from the first primitive communities of the Paleolithic Era to roughly 3,000 BC (although the time periods covered vary by geographic region). Particular attention is devoted to Egypt, Anatolia (modern day Turkey), Palestine, Mesopotamia, and the Aegean islands.
Because the time period covered in this volume predates the existence of writing, its authors rely on physical evidence to draw their conclusions. This means that there is a lot of fairly technical discussion about excavations, the remains of ancient cities, and analysis of primitive artifacts that may not appeal to every reader. In addition, this volume is nearly 50 years old as of the time of this writing; I suspect that some of its conclusions have been reevaluated over the years, and doubtless there are many important discoveries that have been unearthed since 1970 that fall outside the scope of this text.
Still, the Cambridge Ancient History series consistently produces fine work, and this volume is no exception. For readers interested in a single-volume introduction to prehistory in the West, this is a good place to start. 4.0 stars....more
The Gardener’s Son, McCarthy’s first screenplay, was originally adapted as a teleplay (starring Ned Beatty) for the show Visions in 1977. Like much ofThe Gardener’s Son, McCarthy’s first screenplay, was originally adapted as a teleplay (starring Ned Beatty) for the show Visions in 1977. Like much of McCarthy’s other early work, the story is Southern Gothic in tone and explores how characters on the margins of society interact with a world that seemingly has passed them by. The Gregg and McEvoy families, two groups that live on very different sides of the proverbial tracks, find themselves in an unexpected and violent conflict. McCarthy builds the intrigue by only partially explaining the conflict's sources to the reader.
Although I did not find this as engrossing as McCarthy’s early novels, this screenplay showcases many of his literary gifts: great (if understated) dialogue, a vivid setting, and the creation of a story that seems almost timeless. It would be interesting to see how this story ultimately translated to film, as the plot can be highly reflective. As a text, this is a short and worthwhile read that will interest fans of McCarthy’s more famous work. 3.5 stars, recommended....more
A Song for Lya and Other Stories, first published in 1976, was George R.R. Martin’s literary debut. The book collects nine short stories and one novelA Song for Lya and Other Stories, first published in 1976, was George R.R. Martin’s literary debut. The book collects nine short stories and one novella, all in the science fiction genre. While some stories are stronger than others, overall I thought this was a very polished collection for a first-time writer. The stories were inventive and well-told, and GRRM’s voice can already be detected decades before the Song of Ice and Fire novels that made him famous. The breakdown:
With Morning Comes Mistfall – A journalist travels to a distant world to investigate the existence of ghostlike “wraiths” that supposedly haunt the planet. Features a memorable and original setting. A good way to start off the collection, although the ending was a bit maudlin for my taste. 3.0 stars.
The Second Kind of Loneliness – Told in diary format, this story is about a lonely man working in isolation outside Pluto for five years, and his quest to turn his life around when he returns to Earth. My personal favorite of the short stories in this collection. Well written and strangely moving. 4.0 stars.
Override – A miner who uses zombies for manual labor deals with some unexpected trouble on his newly adopted homeworld. Not the best story of the bunch, but there were some neat ideas here. 3.0 stars.
Dark, Dark Were the Tunnels – A group of explorers return to Earth ages after it was abandoned by humanity and find some unexpected surprises. A fun one.3.5 stars.
The Hero – After a lifetime of combat, a semi-legendary soldier decides to retire and travel to Earth for the first time. 3.5 stars.
fta – Very short micro-story with a twist. Just OK. 2.0 stars.
Run to Starlight – An alien race seeks to join a recreational football league run by humans. A weird one, but original and I thought it worked. 3.0 stars.
The Exit to San Breta – A driver in a future where cars and roads have effectively become obsolete has a bizarre encounter. A neat concept, but this story ended up being a dud and was definitely my least favorite of the collection. 2.0 stars.
Slide Show – A former space explorer turned fundraiser struggles with his change in circumstances. Has some really interesting moments. 3.0 stars.
A Song for Lya – The lone novella of the bunch, and winner of the 1975 Hugo Award. Two human psychics are dispatched to investigate some strange events that have been occurring where a human colony intersects with a peaceful alien city. Perhaps the most inventive tale in the whole collection, and very well told. 4.0 stars.
Overall, this was an entertaining and original debut. Readers who have enjoyed Martin’s other work, or readers who enjoy good science fiction, will find plenty to chew on here. 3.0 stars....more
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