Tip the Wink

Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs, © 1943, introduction by Martin Edwards, British Library Crime Classics 2017 trade paper, mystery.

The titular nosy parker in Death of a Busybody is Miss Ethel Tither. She has made herself deeply unpopular in the English village of Hilary Magna, since she goes out of her way to snoop on people, and interfere with their lives.

A seasoned reader of detective stories will immediatley spot a potential murder victim. Sure enough, by the end of chapter one, this unpleasant lady has met an extremely unpleasant fate: she is found floating in a cesspool, having been bludgeoned prior to drowning.

The local police call in the Yard, bringing Inspector Thomas Littlejohn, George Bellairs’ series detective, to the village. In his search for suspects, he finds that he is spoiled for choice. The amiable vicar supplies him with a map showing the scene of the crime; maps were a popular feature of traditional whodunnits for many years, and Bellairs occasionally included them in his books, as he does here. – partly from a Goodreads review

This is a mystery novel strongly based on character and setting, which is just the way I like them, and I enjoyed this one quite a lot.

Ministry of Disturbance and Other Science Fiction by H. Beam Piper, Adventure Paperback – April 1, 2007

“Oomphel in the Sky” by H. Beam Piper, originally published in Analog Science Fact and Fiction, November 1960, Aegypan 2007 trade paperback, 200 pages.

This is part of H. Beam Piper’s Future History series that he worked on throughout his SF writing years. This is the second story I’ve covered from this collection.

In this story, the natives of Kwannon practiced ritual magic under the watchful eyes of their Terran rulers. Hunting, farming, raising children–it all required the special spells only a powerful shoonoo could cast. But when prophesies of the end of the world send the natives of Kwannon swarming, it may also be the end for the Terrans. The natives, it seems, actually want the end of the world–for the promised afterlife will be far, far better. And who can argue with the shoonoon and their prophetic dreams? It’s up to Miles Gilbert, reporter for the Kwannon Planetwide News Service, to save the day. For only he can turn the natives from the course with the special magic of Earth, the machine-giving Oomphel (technology).

Though the story is, typically of Piper, more talk than action, I enjoyed it and am continuing to read this collection.

It snowed Thursday and freezing rain Friday and lost power about midnight. Power company says we should have power sometime Monday. Meanwhile, we have a gas fireplace for some heat and the stovetop to cook. We’re iced in so home we stay. ITS COLD

I read the Black Gate blog daily, and occasionally the chief editor, John O’Neill, posts about lots of science fiction and fantasy books he buys on eBay. Last time he did this I was inspired to try it, and this is what happened. Not great, a few authors I’m not fond of, but cheap and some things very readable. Did I mention cheap? Just a few bucks.

Ministry of Disturbance and Other Science Fiction by H. Beam Piper, Adventure Paperback – April 1, 2007

“Ministry of Disturbance” by H. Beam Piper, originally published in Astounding Science Fiction, December 1958, Aegypan 2007 trade paperback, 200 pages.

This is part of H. Beam Piper’s Future History series that he worked on throughout his SF writing years.

In this story, a Galactic Empire of thousands of planets has been at peace for hundreds of years. Production all across the Empire is regulated to keep markets and economies stable.

Yet now there is apparently a plot to overthrow the current hereditary Emperor. Though it seems there could be more than one person wanting the power and prestige of the Emperor, it’s unclear who would gain the most.

Though the story is, typically of Piper, more talk than action, I enjoyed it and am continuing to read this collection.

When we bought this house, we did it long distance from southern California, through a realtor here and the financing and so forth handled through an agency here. When all was said and done, our mortgage was handed off (sold) to Well’s Fargo.

Now, at the time I had no grievance with WF, but over the years more and more upsetting reports of malfeasance, mistreatment of clients and accounts and so forth. Though we had no problems with them, so we finally got fed up.

So last Fall we refinanced. We had significant equity, and went with an institution with whom we also had savings, our credit reports look nice and it was a breeze, only requiring one in-person visit. Plus our payment went down because of better interest. A win for everyone (except the evil WF).

I love the artwork of Greg Manches, and was delighted when Above the Timberline came out. It’s both written and illustrated by him, and is a fun story.

Next, you can see the first five (thick, meaty) volumes of The Collected Hard-Boiled Stories of Race Williams by Carroll John Daly.

The Collected Hard-Boiled Stories of Race Williams, Altus Press/Steeger Books, volume 1 (c) 2015, subsequent volumes every year and a half or so. I have Volumes 1-5 and have Volume 6 on the way, it being the most recent. Volumes 1-2 seem to be OP. Each costs $29.95.

To give you an idea, Volume 1 runs 654 pages, with an Introduction by Brooks Hefner and twenty-one stories. Each of the other volumes is equally robust.

Daly is, reliably, I think, considered the creator of the hard-boiled detective story, though naturally there are plenty of people who would argue with that. I’m not one of them.

Originally appearing in the pages of Black Mask Magazine, author Carroll John Daly pioneered the hard-boiled P.I. story and perfected the genre with his classic character, Race Williams. Apart from the novel-length Race Williams stories, these classic hard-boiled thrillers have rarely been reprinted, if ever.

The only problem I have with these is that there is so much material it’s going to take me forever to read it all!

We got our first snow of the year yesterday, starting about 1:00 in the afternoon and continuing to 5:30 or so, about a quarter inch, which stuck but is mostly gone this morning.

Got in the car and went to the Clinic this morning for labs. Per the latest recommendation, I double masked, an N95 with my usual cloth mask over it. The N95, which I bought 20 years ago when doing brick work, is extremely tight, but very effective (as in hard to even breathe through). I’ll do the double mask if I’m out in public, but if just around one person who is masked, I’ll just wear the more comfortable one.

Library books are suddenly pouring in. I had many on hold when things shut downed now it’s all coming in. I had The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman here and had read about 65 pages, but it just didn’t grab me at all, so I took it back. I also had The Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope by C.W. Grafton, but decided to take it back unstarted, as I may buy it later. From the library today came To Sleep in A Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini (875 pages), his first SF novel, A Promised Land by Barack Obama (701 pages), and Dead West by Matt Goldman (318 pages). That’s a ton of reading to do in three weeks, and there are many people in line waiting, so no renewals will be allowed. Sigh. What do you do in such a situation?

Fortunately, I have nothing to do the rest of this week but read, with an occasional meal now and then.

Why do I say it that way? Because I lost a little weight while in hospital (the food was AWFUL), and I lost my appetite. I’m trying not to let it return, so am eating minimal amounts of healthy stuff and have eliminated every snack thing in the house (Barbara has her own stash but I don’t touch it), and will be good at least until the Girl Scout Cookies arrive next month. Yay me.

I’ve had enough politics, the GOP is enraging me, some especially, so I’ve decided to cut out news for a few days. I’ll be the better for it.

Vaccines? Good luck here in Portland, OR. The Governor decided the order is going to be all health care workers, then all school teachers and employees, from Principals to janitors, then students, then “front line” workers, such as grocery clerks and anyone dealing with the public for work, THEN seniors aged 80 and above, then seniors aged 75 and above and so on. Thus seniors will be last, not first as the CDC recommends. BAH! I guess we oldsters are dispensable here. We are very scared, but nothing to do.

So, enough of that, I’m off to read. Stay as well and safe as possible, please, all of you!