I finished reading Curtains For Three by Rex Stout, which contains three novellas, The Gun With Wings, Bullet For One and Disguise For Murder. I enjoyed it a lot, and my review will be this coming Friday for the special Friday Forgotten Post on Rex Stout.
Now I’ve started the third Clan Chronicles book (last in the first trilogy), Rift in the Sky by Julie Czerneda. I’ve enjoyed the first two books of this trilogy, and have some idea where the story needs to wind up, since this is a prequel to the author’s initial Clan Chronicles book. How this gets from A to B will be interesting to see.
After that, I have quite a stack of books to tackle, including a collection, an anthology and an omnibus for a three-part FFB I’ll be doing, as well as some other interesting books waiting on the to-be-read “shelf”.
Barbara had several books come in from the library at once, and picked The Snack Thief by Andrea Camilleri, the third Inspector Salvo Montalbano mystery. I liked the short works collection I read so much she caught my enthusiasm and decided to get this, which she’s enjoying so far. She hasn’t decided yet which of the other books to read next.
How about you? What are you reading?
Tip the Wink 
It’s been a busy week, with a concert followed by a night at a hotel, and an off-Broadway show yesterday, but I got my reading in too. First was (finally) the end of the 530 page collection Montalbano’s First Case and Other Stories by Andrea Camilleri, which you recommended. I’ve read all of the Montalbanos published here to date – I hope the 90 year old Camilleri has many more in him – so of course I read and enjoyed this one a lot. Also read a short ebook collection I’d downloaded, The Curse of Barney Thomson & Other Stories by Douglas Lindsay. Thomson has apparently appeared in novels too. He’s a barber in northwest Scotland and these were quick, noirish reading. Current short story reading: Scenarios: A Nameless Collection by Bill Pronzini. I’m sure I’ve read most of these before and so far I’m enjoying reading them again. The first story was the first Nameless appearance, originally published in 1968. How many other current series have run this long? Any?
Last was a book recommended by George and others that you turned your nose up at, Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff. I think you’d enjoy it more than you think, as it is more about the Jim Crow era of the mid-1950s, and despite the title Cthulhu and his minions do not make an appearance. I liked it quite a bit. I’d read two earlier books by Ruff a few years ago, Bad Monkeys and The Mirage. He’s a very interesting writer.
Besides the Pronzini and the bookstore memoir I’m still reading when there is nothing more pressing, I don’t know what I’ll read next. I have no library books waiting!
One new arrival from PaperbackSwap: the Stark House reprinting of Gang Girl/Sex Bum by Don Elliott, who was of course Robert Silverberg. As always with Silverberg the introduction (here 10 pages) is almost worth the price of the book. In addition, there is a checklist of Silverberg’s “erotic” work as Elliott and nine other names.
Jeff, yes I read on Patti’s blog that you’ve been attending a lot of plays, good for you. I saw a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode recently and he went to a few BBQ places in NY. Seems you have some good places there. Not much here in Portland, or at least that we’re aware of. I’m grilling steaks tonight, but that’s not the same. I have threatened to buy a big ol’ pork brisket or butt nd slow cook it in the oven one of these days. We’ll see.
I figured you’d like Montalbano’s First Case and Other Stories. You are the one who introduced me to Camilleri’s books. I’ve only read a couple so far, but plan to keep going on the series.
I have Scenarios: A Nameless Collection by Bill Pronzini on my “save for later” shelf at the library, and will get to it Shall I assume you’ve read most of the stories from EQMM? Or? I can’t think of another series that long, no.
I just figure any book with “Lovecraft” in the title must be horror, and I’m not reading horror these days. But we’ll see, I might take a look, as your recommendations are usually spot on. No library books waiting! Wow.
I ordered a couple of Alan Steele paperbacks from PaperbackSwap, one has come, part of his Coyote SF series.
I’ve read the Pronzini stories in EQMM, in other collections of his, or in anthologies. I’d be happy to send it to you when I finish it.
I do have 9 books on the “hold” list at the library (with a couple of them on the way), just don’t have any actually physically here at the moment.
Richard, I’m revisiting some popular bestselling fiction from the 70s and 80s and I’m currently reading THE TANGENT OBJECTIVE by Lawrence Sanders.
Wow, there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while. Hope you’re enjoying it, Prashant.
I’ve been busy reading Big Fat Books (500+ pages). I have a theme week coming up on my blog so I’ve been reading a number of books for that. Since NFL football is weeks away, I’ve been getting a lot of reading done.
All the rest of July and all of August before football, George. Plenty of time.
Although I don’t expect to get much reading done today, the book I’m currently reading is THE END OF THE WORLD: STORIES OF THE APOCALYPSE, edited by Martin H. Greenberg and featuring an introduction by our favorite introduction writer, Robert Silverberg. The book was published in 2010 and features end-of-the-world stories published from as long ago as 1944 to as recently as 2008. I’m only halfway through, but so far my favorites are Neil Gaiman’s “We Can Get Them for You Wholesale” (about a murder for hire plot that goes very wrong), Norman Spinrad’s “The Big Flash” (written in the 1960s…and it shows), William F. Nolan’s “The Underdweller” (great twist ending), and Gregory Benford’s “To the Storming Gulf” (post-apocalyptic tale told in the voices of several survivors, including a computer). I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the stories which were written by George R. R. Martin, Poul Anderson, Arthur C. Clarke, and the aforementioned Robert Silverberg.
Sounds good, Deb. I recently picked up BEYOND ARMAGEDDON, another anthology, this one post-Apocalypse, edited by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Stories by Bradbury, Clarke, Ellison, Sheckley, Zelazny, Ballard, etc. It was published in 1985.
I seem to be on an end-of-the-world kick the last few weeks. Lots of books about how the end will come and what the survivors will do afterwards. Must be this damn election season seeping into my brain…and it’s only July!
Sounds great, Deb. I’ve read the stories you mention by name, and probably all of the authors, but that specific anthology doesn’t ring a bell. It’s nice to read a set of stories from different times, if one can allow for that in evaluating them. Like Jerry, I get a kick out of aa lot of the old stuff. Hope you have a terrific 4th, I saw your menu on George’s blog, sounds yummy!
My computer has basically gone belly up, Richard, but I’ve managed to steal a few minutes on my granddaughter’s.
For novels this week, I’ve read the two latest Charlie Parker installment from John
Connolly, THE WOLF IN WINTER and A SONG OF SHADOWS. In the first he’s up against a sacrificial religious cult and in the second it’s Nazis. Both excellent books with a hero I really like. A new installment is due this fall.
I’ve been reading a lot of Gothic stories this week — both the centuries old stuff and the more modern stuff: M. G. Lewis’ “Mistrust; or Blanche and Osbright” (my FFb), Mary Shelley’s “The Mortal Immortal” and “The Heir of Mondolfo”, and Kurt Singer’s collection THE GOTHIC READER.
I had also planned to read Clara Reeve’s THE OLD ENGLISH BARON, but life intervened.
Only two graphic novels this week: the Marvel mash-up DEADPOOL/AMAZING SPIDER-MAN/HULK: IDENTITY WARS and the DC mash-up BRIGHTEST DAY, VOLUME 2.
Coming up, my Rex Stout for Friday’s FFB, THE GREAT LEGEND, a historical novel set in Troy. After that, I may get back to THE OLD ENGLISH BARON. I also have a collection of crime stories from THE STRAND lurking around and begging to be read.
I hope you and Barbara have a great Fourth. We’re headed over to my youngest daughter’s place for some great food (my son-in-law is a helluva cook) and merriment.
Jerry, very sorry indeed to hear your computer has gone to hell. When will you be getting a new one? Soon, I hope, and I also hope you had all your files backed up!
Barbara loves the Parker books too, and is already on the library wait list for that forthcoming new one.
My computer has basically gone belly up, Richard, but I’ve managed to steal a few minutes on my granddaughter’s.
Don’t you fine the Shelly and such pretty dated, or do they hold up? Your graphic novel reading is sinking into less fantastic areas, it sounds like. You must have stripped out the library stock. Ye gods, I haven’t read a historical novel in years. Must do.
Hope your Fourth is terrific, don’t blow yourself up!
Reading THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD by Jessica Knoll and CITIZENS OF LONDON.
Have a fun day, Rick. I got to march in the parade here!
In a parade! I saw on your blog you were going to, very cool. You always seem to read the neatest stuff. Well, mostly, some of the book club choices aren’t things I’d choose. Have a great day.
Deb, end-of-the-world stories sound like the perfect reading matter for the Republican Convention!