Vintage Sci Fi: Book No.6
6 January 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Covers, Little Red Reviewer, Vintage Sci Fi
No.6 Foundation by Issac Asimov
As part of Vintage Sci Fi month being hosted by Little Red Reviewer I’ve given myself a small challenge to post a vintage book each day – one that I’ve read – and to highlight some of the covers. Today’s choice is Foundation by Issac Asimov. I first read this as part of a readalong with Stainless Steel Droppings. I was really worried that it would all go over my head but I loved it – a lot of which I am sure was to do with all the discussion we had. Some very interesting covers and I actually really like the first edition, in fact I think today’s post is a testament to how I’ve developed in terms of sci fi – I would probably have ran a mile from most of these covers not so long ago. Now I find myself quite drawn to some of them, particularly the ’86 and ’94:
Avon Books 1966
Panther 1971
Del Rey 1984
Del Rey 1986
Voyager 1994
Waiting on Wednesday: The Everything Box by Richard Kadrey
6 January 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Breaking the Spine, Richard Kadrey, The Everything Box, Waiting on Wednesday
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week: The Everything Box by Richard Kadrey due 19th April. A little more info to whet your appetite:
Reminiscent of the edgy, offbeat humor of Chris Moore and Matt Ruff, the first entry in a whimsical, fast-paced supernatural series from the New York Times bestselling author of the Sandman Slim novels-a dark and humorous story involving a doomsday gizmo, a horde of baddies determined to possess its power, and a clever thief who must steal it back . . . again and again
2000 B.C. A beautiful, ambitious angel stands on a mountaintop, surveying the world and its little inhabitants below. He smiles because soon, the last of humanity who survived the great flood will meet its end, too. And he should know. He’s going to play a big part in it. Our angel usually doesn’t get to do field work, and if he does well, he’s certain he’ll be get a big promotion. And now it’s time . . .
The angel reaches into his pocket for the instrument of humanity’s doom. Must be in the other pocket. Then he frantically begins to pat himself down. Dejected, he realizes he has lost the object. Looking over the Earth at all that could have been, the majestic angel utters a single word.
“Crap.”
2015 A thief named Coop-a specialist in purloining magic objects-steals and delivers a small box to the mysterious client who engaged his services. Coop doesn’t know that his latest job could be the end of him-and the rest of the world. Suddenly he finds himself in the company of the Department of Peculiar Science, a fearsome enforcement agency that polices the odd and strange. The box isn’t just a supernatural heirloom with quaint powers, they tell him.
It’s a doomsday device. They think. . .
And suddenly, everyone is out to get it.
Vintage Sci Fi: Book No.5
5 January 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Covers, Little Red Reviewer, Vintage Sci Fi
No.5 The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
As part of Vintage Sci Fi month being hosted by Little Red Reviewer I’ve given myself a small challenge to post a vintage book each day – one that I’ve read – and to highlight the covers. Today’s choice, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. First published in 1886 this is one of his most popular works. I read this for a previous Vintage Sci Fi event and my review is here. I didn’t love this book as much as I expected but I think that’s partly because the mystery – which is a very large part of the story – was already known to me and I think I’d been spoiled a little in that respect by watching adaptations. Definitely worth a read if you want a piece of gothic literature. Below is :
- the first edition from 1886
- Bantam Classics 1982
- Vintage 1991
- Dover Publications 1991
- Signet Classics 2003. My favourite is the last which is all dark and sinister looking:
You will, you will, you probably will! Maybe you won’t..
5 January 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: The Broke and the Bookish, Top 10 resolutions, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. For our final TTT for 2015 the topic is:
Top Ten Resolutions We Have For 2016
Without further ado my resolutions are:
- No resolutions (this is going to be a very quick post!). Kidding. But seriously, I’m not making resolutions because I’m frankly so bad at keeping them and I hate feeling guilty!
- I’m going to go with ‘good intentions’ instead.
- Try to finish one book per month from my backburn books.
- I have no good intentions about book buying – it’s my secret (or not so secret) little pleasure and life is too short. So what if I have a TBR that needs to be cordoned off for safety’s sake! I like my books and they have all come to a very good home. My good intention here is to carry on as always.
- I will attempt to finish one of my series per month – I have a very long list of unfinished series which amazes me because I’m always reading! What gives? In actual fact by combining (No3) and (N05) I could kill two birds with one stone! – Be aware that no actual birds will be harmed in the completion of this ‘good intention’.
- I shall attempt to be a nice and not at all envious blogger – this is one of those good intentions that has a slim chance – but, I will try! You shouldn’t all keep having such good books and flirting them before my eyes. Yes, it makes me pea green with envy. There it is. I shall try to be a lesser shade of green in the future.
- I have a spreadsheet and I’m not afraid to use it. Well not very much afraid. I’ve entered my books. There will be organisation! There will be dates planned in advance – ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahaha haha…
- This is a good intention that I’m currently working on – to read more Sci fi as I focus very much on fantasy (not a bad thing at all I hasten to add) but I like to be a bit more all encompassing. So, with that in mind I’m joining in with The 2016 Sci Fi Experience over at Stainless Steel Droppings and also Vintage Sci Fi over at Little Red Reviewer.
- Also, another good intention – I’m joining in with lots of lovely readalongs – one that has just started for Kushiel’s Scion – details here if you want to hop on board, Rosemary and Rue which starts this weekend (details here) and a few up and coming readalongs as the year progresses.
- My final good intention is something that I can’t possibly fail at – to read lots of lovely books and to converse with all you lovely people about your favourites.
To good intentions!
Vintage Sci Fi: Book No.4
4 January 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Covers, Little Red Reviewer, Vintage Sci Fi
No.4 Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
As part of Vintage Sci Fi month being hosted by Little Red Reviewer I’ve given myself a small challenge to post a vintage book each day – one that I’ve read – and to highlight the covers. Today’s choice, Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopian novel that was first published in 1953. The basic context is a bit of a nightmare in that books are banned and books that are found are immediately burned! In fact that is the primary role for the fireman – imagine, in fact try not to!! Anyway this was my second book by Bradbury and I loved it (review here). One of my reads for Vintage Sci Fi is Dandelion Wine. I pretty much like all these covers. Probably my favourite is the Simon and Schuster cover from 1967.
First Edition, Ballantine 1953
Simon & Schuster 1967
Ballantine 1971
Del Rey 1987
Voyager 2004
Books and travelling with Lynn 