Santa was generous this year, as always, and in addition to a scarf featuring Edward Gorey’s Doubtful Guest, and a really nice sweater, I did receive some books. Due to the bounty I’m going to make this a multi-part post.
They Called Us Enemy written by George Take and others. Non-fiction. It’s is a memoir that tells the story of George Takei (known for his groundbreaking role as Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek as well as his activism for social justice) and his family’s imprisonment in two different internment camps during World War II. Shameful.
For many years I had a wonderful neighbor whose parents were incarcerated at Manzanar, in the California high desert during this time, and he told me a lot about it. Takei’s family were taken from Santa Ana, CA to Arkansas for their incarceration.
The Best of Jerry Pournelle edited by John Carr, science fiction. This is a collection of short works from the late Pournelle (1933–2017), interspersed with remembrances of his life from colleagues and collaborators. It’s an engrossing retrospective of the half-century career of a defining author of the military sci-fi genre. The tales range from the famous, like “The Mercenary,” the first story in the Falkenberg Legion series, to the lesser-known, among them “Kenyons to the Keep,” which explores a postapocalyptic California. Among the essays on Pournelle’s life comes a barrage of memories from Larry Niven, whose short collaborations with Pournelle are all included. – Publisher’s Weekly
The Chinese Orange Mystery by Ellery Queen, mystery. Originally published in 1934, this is one of the earlier Queens, which I have not yet read it. Note that this is one of the books in the Otto Penzler Presents American Mystery Classics series. I like the artwork on these, and the selections are good.
I received more books in the series, as you will see in Part Two, in a few days.
Tip the Wink 
I won’t read Pournelle. Too right wing and misogynist for my tastes.
Read the Takei. Very moving.
Only read one Ellery Queen in recent years. Cat of Nine Tails. I couldn’t get through it. Terrible dialogue. Hope this one is better.
Steve, I try hard to separate the person from the work. I’ve liked some of Pournelle’s work, so this might be good. I agree the Takai was moving, I read it Christmas day. Cat of Nine Tails is considered one of the better Queen novels. I think you’re more discriminating than most readers when it comes to writing, whether it be characterization, dialog or setting.
The scarf sounds very nice. I have the Takei graphic novel but have not read it yet. I haven’t read Ellery Queen for years. Maybe this is one I should try.
The scarf is cool. I read Cat of Nine Tails when it was recommended to me, then years later read a few others. I like the earlier ones better, so I’ll try this.
I’m with Steve on the Pournelle, and the Takei sounds interesting. I read THE CHINESE ORANGE MYSTERY years ago and enjoyed it (as I have with all of the Queen works); I remember being very impressed with the movie when I was a kid, and watched it again recently and found it dreadful. I wonder if I would feel the same about the book now.
See me remark to Steve about separating the person from the work.
Nice books. I haven’t read Pournelle. I’ve read all the early (and mid-period) Queens, including CHINESE ORANGE, back in the late ’70s, I think.
Most would say THE MOTE IN GOD’S EYE is his best known, I like the things he co-wrote with Niven, whom I like. The 70s is a long time ago now.
I’ve liked the few Pournelle short stories I’ve read. Love Niven. Glad Santa was good to you, look forward to seeing the rest of your bounty. Would love to see the Gorey scarf
That can be arranged.
https://goreystore.com/products/edward-gorey-doubtful-guest-scarf?_pos=1&_sid=952be99cb&_ss=r
Oh, that is fantastic!
Very nice presents! I can’t wait to see the rest of your bounty! I enjoyed Pournelle’s SF, too. I used to read Pournelle’s computer column in BYTE for years. It’s been a long time since I read those early Ellery Queens. I remember liking them far more than the later Ellery Queens.
It’s coming soon. Of the several Queen novels I’ve read, The Spanish Cape Mystery was one I liked quite a bit. So I thought a couple of other old ones would be in order. These Penzler editions are handsome, aren’t they?
I love the Penzler editions. As you point out, they are handsome and a delight to the eye.
that scarf is wonderful!
and book gifts are always the best! I’ve read a few Niven/Pournelle novels, have maybe read some Pournelle short stories? don’t remember.