I like things a little Gorey

I have been reading Edward Gorey's Amphigorey, a collection of his books all under one cover, and of course, I am smitten. I don't remember the first time I ever saw a Gorey illustration, or read one of his quirky stories. All I remember is always adoring his work.
Will now indulge myself in a Gorey orgy - reading books after book. At Halloween his style of art is perfect - the dark and macabre, his wonderful skeletons and creepy Victorian scenes. It is no wonder that "Mystery" took his work for the opening - who better to illustrate a murder than the man who drew The Gashleycrumb Tinies.
Re-reading the Tinies, and other stories of his, it makes me think about how Amphigorey is in the children's section (PZ7 in the Lib of Congress classification). Granted, he never did me any harm as a child, but parents today are uptight and paranoid that the slightest thing will make their child scarred for life or a pervert, or worse, make them look like bad parents. I love the dark and gothic feel of his art, and I am not a dark person. Maybe he's just too loved. There must be someone out there who is terribly against him. There always id. Stupid is a guarantee in this world.

All I know is that I will never have enough Gorey in my life. I have long considered turning one of his illustrations in to a tattoo - that way I can take him with me wherever I go.

Back in to Orbit

Orbiter

Warren Ellis's Orbiter is set on a future Earth. The scene opens on a dilapidated Kennedy Space Center that has become a shanty town. Manned space flight has ended. The worst has happened. A decade earlier the shuttle Venture and her crew vanished without a trace. Space exploration pretty much stopped.

Then suddenly the ship returns, her crew gone but for her captain. He is crazy. The ship is changed. Who will figure out the mystery? The military? The former astronauts? The rocket scientists? The shrink?

The story grips you in the ways that the science fiction from the 1950s did. I am a huge dork about space, space travel and exploration. I'm a wannabe astronaut who would be heartbroken if manned space flight ever truly ended.

I picked up this graphic novel for the same reason that I've picked up so many - Warren Ellis. And he does not disappoint. Orbiter is less of the cutting remarks and weirdness that marks so much of works, such as Transmetropolitan, and more focused on the science fiction story he is creating. Any fan of classic science fiction stories, of Asimov and Sagan, will enjoy Orbiter.

I suggest beginning with Ellis's introduction. It is far from necessary to enjoy the story, but it helps you appreciate where he is coming from. It is dedicated to the astronauts who died in the Columbia accident, and it is clear why. Any accident or problem that occurs with space flight threatens its future. The is a multi-billion dollar venture, and the public is always wary of putting human lives on the line. I feel that Orbiter comes from Ellis's heart, much more that those works that come from his internet surfing and wit. Oh, his wit and humour is still there. It is still a Warren Ellis work. But it feels different.

Orbiter is a must read for any Ellis fan, any sci-fi fan, and any space flight fan. Even people who don't like comics/graphic novels need to read this one. The art work by Colleen Doran is clean and beautiful. Just look at the amazing cover and you'll want to open it up for more.


(image from Amazon.com - buy Orbiter)

Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows

Yes, I am a Potter fan. I refused in the beginning to be a part of the hoopla, but my sister pushed me. I snuck a watch at the first movie (by then I think the second film was already out) and Maggie Smith made me read the book. ^_^

So, since then, the Potter series has eaten my soul. I went to college where I met people who were more in to the 'fandom' and sucked me into it a bit as well. I even took part in a roll-play or two (eek!). But now it is over. I have my soul back - a little battered and worn, but no longer lurking in dark corners of Hogwarts looking for horcruxes and potions masters.

I'd never been so excited to get a book as I was for this one (even more than Warren Ellis's Crooked Little Vein). For the first time ever, I pre-ordered it. It got to me on Saturday the 21st, I ripped open the box and began reading.

There were, of course mixed emotions throughout my reading. I am that annoying type of person who gets emotionally attached to fictional characters, so it was difficult seeing these people die and get hurt. In addition, Rowling went places I didn't want her to. I found myself yelling out loud at the lump of paper in front of me. The book was better written then some of the others (coughbook5cough). Though some sections were not written or plotted in the greatest way, I felt that style and grace were often put aside for the sake of the fans. There was a lot

I am actually finishing this 'review' months after my initial reading - just never got around to it. I think I'll read it again soonish and really pour out my thoughts. But overall, I'm both sad and glad that the series is over. I hope she never sells out and goes back on her word about not writing more about their lives. I think that their futures are important, but can be left in the realm of fanfic-ers.

English Reformation and early printing

For a great blog on a summer tour/seminar of early printing and the Reformation, check out this blog: Reformation of the Book by a Special Collections librarian. If anything, there are beautiful photos and interesting tidbits of book history.

Fry me up a Hippo, you Liar

I am nearly done with Stephen Fry's The Hippopotamus. I know, reviews are usually done after the book is fully read, but this is more a review on the author.

This is the second book I have read by Stephen Fry
, one of my favorite actors. The other is The Liar. And yes, that is precisely why I wanted to read him. I saw that he had written a number of books, not just some lame memoir with six ghost writers feeding him words and grammar. And what I found was that he is actually a legitimate writer. Who knew. The whole search was spawned by my buying the DVDs of A Bit of Fry and Laurie. Hugh Laurie is also a writer of fiction, and pretty good as well.

But I have a bone to pick with Mr. Fry. He has me hooked and bemused, damnit. I cannot for the life of me figure if he's a good writer or not. Sure, I could read reviews by professionals and all that, but that takes away all the fun. What do professionals know, anyhow?

I can never figure out what the hell one of his books is about. The title is certainly no help. The Liar became clear about midway through, but I'll be damned if I can see the relation to hippos in the other. I'm probably missing something. It could be the whole stubborn personality of the main character (who I cannot for the life of me get to sound like anyone BUT Fry in my head). He's all quiet and drunk-like then bites your head off and charges. Or something. BUt even title aside, the style of narrative jumps around from character, POV and even chronologically. Both The Liar and The Hippopotamus take the scenic route through a story. There is a story, however. It's slow to appear, but there is a story to be had. But slow doesn't equal boring. That's the thing! I can hardly put the books down! The jumping to and fro is confusing sometimes, but more often intriguing. The storyline is either complex or weird enough to keep attention. The characters are incredibly delicious, and I find myself willing to put up with all of Mr. Fry's literary mishigas just to see what the hell happens to them all.

So, what does this all mean? Besides, of course, that I will likely continue to read his books until I figure it all out. Maybe whether or not he's any good doesn't matter. I enjoy reading him, so isn't that enough? But I'm a snob and I've seen so many terrible books that are better drooled upon than read.
I am also concerned about my biases. Of course all readings are subjective. However, are my opinions of him as an actor clouding my opinions of his writing? I have been a fan of his since I first set eyes on Jeeves as a child. I have sought out his movies, and bounced on the couch with glee when he shows up in something I'm watching. Despite my thoughts on actors writing books (which is usually a horrible mistake) I sought his out. Perhaps it is even the sound of his voice narrating in my head that sways me (I had the same exact issue with Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller).

I also wonder if it is the British. I am not ashamed of admitting that, like many Americans, I have long been a fan of many things British. Having no cable as a I kid I grew up with many Brit-coms on PBS. Despite my efforts I have many "Britishisms" in my vocabulary. (Cursing in public goes much more smoothly when it's just a 'bloody hell' or 'bollocks' and no one really know s what you are saying. They tend to think the Brits sound posh, so it must be ok.) While traveling in Manhattan the other day, reading my Fry on the subway and ferry, I noticed just how much I was enjoying the main character's style of thought. It is so terribly British in a way that I really cannot put into words. I found myself playing with this style in my head - describing the city around me as curmudgeonly and pessimistically as Ted Wallace would. It was fun to then flit between that and the v. American 'urban beauty around me' style. It's a matter of the subway being either 'a wretched stinking box filled with all flavors of wretched stinking people who are just trying to get from one part of their wretched stinking lives to another' or 'an unique microcosm of the world with a million stories, lives, and experiences all crossing paths at that one glorious moment, never to be repeated' or something like that.

Oh well. ::shrugs:: I guess I am doomed to merely enjoy his movies, tv shows, AND books for all time, never quite knowing why.

They'll publish anything. Really

So, a book crossed paths with my life today. This is one of those books that makes you stop and think about how there is a book out there on everything and anything, and for anyone. And there are no ends to the self-help and DIY worlds.

The male escort's handbook : your guide to getting rich the hard way by Aaron Lawrence. Yup. It's about getting into the male escort business. It's written by a man who has been in this business so long that he has accolades for it. Plus, lest you be one to try and claim that escorts have nothing to do with the sex industry, he is also an adult film actor. And the picture of him looks like he's the biggest uke sub ever, but I digress.

I am a lover of books. I love the information they can hold, but also the objects themselves. One thing I love, is that you can write about anything,and apparently, get it published. Ok, technically, there are any number of minute publishing houses that will put even the most horrible dribble into print, if you pay them for it. But still. And here in the US there are no limits to what you can publish. Freedom not only to write, to read, and of speech, but to think.

So, I guess that books about how to make it as a male escort make me think. No, this will likely not be as treasured a volume in a hundred years as we now treasure the works of Dickens. Or will we? Is it any less important a book, or should it be treated as less, because of the content? I don't know. My impetus would be to say no. It IS important, because for whatever reason, the author felt it needed to be written, and I guarantee that it has been read by grateful men and women. Maybe books like this are how the future will remember our time. I dunno. I'd rather have it out there than someone saying it can't be.

Bibliorantics

This is an experiment of sorts. Or perhaps a folly. I need some place to write about books, but I doubt my other blogs would do. My friends would get v. tied of it v. quickly. So we'll see how my biblio rantics do here. Stay tuned.