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Post by thekeeper on Dec 16, 2016 10:48:40 GMT -5
Welcome to the Library. Discuss literature here.
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Post by nahadoth on Dec 16, 2016 12:47:12 GMT -5
I have been reading Jeff Vandermeer's "Southern Reach" trilogy recently. he is part of a movement identified as "The New Weird", which takes a lot of the aesthetic and narrative ideas of Weird Tales/pulp authors like Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith, and updates them to a degree. Read the first two books so far and it's quite a trip.
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Post by andrewwerdna on Dec 19, 2016 5:53:18 GMT -5
That sounds awesome. I've been a huge fan of HPL and CAS for ages. I mentioned this on the FB page, but the Evenmere Chronicles are the last books I read that I truly loved. They're very atmospheric and dreamlike, with a sense of wonder being number one priority. It's written like a modern Lord Dunsany.
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Post by nayrb on Dec 19, 2016 21:11:20 GMT -5
Both of which are intriguing to me! I've read some Vandermeer but it was honestly so long ago I don't remember it. It's in some Steampunk anthology I have. I'll need to dig it out. Recently I finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen; currently trying to get through a good chunk of Eddison's Zimiamvia (on book two right now) before the new Tad Williams book comes out in January.
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Post by dungeonsnake on Dec 19, 2016 23:47:38 GMT -5
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Post by thekeeper on Dec 20, 2016 0:02:45 GMT -5
So this is where Voormithadreth got the album name from. These seem really kool, and they were in Weird Tales so I'm sold.
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Post by nahadoth on Dec 20, 2016 9:39:10 GMT -5
So this is where Voormithadreth got the album name from. These seem really kool, and they were in Weird Tales so I'm sold. Totally worth your while. Many of Smith's stories are completely hypnotic and just fly by, once you get adjusted to his linguistic style. I love the Zothique stories, but I think his Hyperborean Cycle stories are some of his best - they also contain the source of the name of the band - Voormithadreth is the name of a mountain where some kind of mystical proto-human race, the Voormi, live.
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Post by nayrb on Dec 20, 2016 19:15:29 GMT -5
That sounds awesome. I've been a huge fan of HPL and CAS for ages. I mentioned this on the FB page, but the Evenmere Chronicles are the last books I read that I truly loved. They're very atmospheric and dreamlike, with a sense of wonder being number one priority. It's written like a modern Lord Dunsany. Just at a quick glance this Evenmere stuff looks pretty cool. Add yet another thing to my large "to read" list...
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Post by Ananoriel on Dec 21, 2016 9:02:08 GMT -5
Clark Ashton Smith has so many cool stories, I do love the weirdness of it. I am currently reading the Malazan Book of the Fallen series as well. I am now halfway the second book and I am loving it.
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Post by kuraldgalain on Dec 21, 2016 17:02:48 GMT -5
Seems like Malazan is increasingly popular in DS circles. Probably have Caladan Brood to blame/thank for that.
I'm currently reading Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. It has the perfect mood for dungeon synth.
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Post by thekeeper on Dec 21, 2016 17:14:03 GMT -5
Seems like Malazan is increasingly popular in DS circles. Probably have Caladan Brood to blame/thank for that. I'm currently reading Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. It has the perfect mood for dungeon synth. I started Shadow of the Torturer some time ago but never really got back to it. I have the Shadow & Claw double book. I really liked it and want to eventually get back to it. It had a different feel than most other fantasy books I've read, very 'seamless' or nonchalant in it's treatment of fantasy themes; it reads less as a pulp novel.
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Post by nayrb on Dec 21, 2016 19:09:48 GMT -5
I just finished the Book of the Fallen (and yes it was Caladan Brood that brought it to my attention). Pretty excellent stuff! I'm buying up the rest of the books set in that universe now, but I'll be reading other things for a bit; I need a break. I spent almost two years reading little other than the Book of the Fallen.
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Post by dungeonsnake on Dec 23, 2016 15:05:22 GMT -5
if anyone is interested in reading the Gods of Pegana by Lord Dunsany, the entire text can be found online here. sacred-texts.com/neu/dun/gope/index.htmit's widely (and with good reason, in my opinion) considered one of the greatest works of fantasy of all time. also an inspiration for Tolkien. Purely transcendent pose, and it's also something you can read in an afternoon easily. it also so happens to me one of my favorite books of all time the rest of his works are also easy to find with search engines, as i believe they are in the public domain. Gods of Pegana, however, is the best in my opinion.
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Post by nayrb on Dec 23, 2016 18:48:18 GMT -5
if anyone is interested in reading the Gods of Pegana by Lord Dunsany, the entire text can be found online here. sacred-texts.com/neu/dun/gope/index.htmit's widely (and with good reason, in my opinion) considered one of the greatest works of fantasy of all time. also an inspiration for Tolkien. Purely transcendent pose, and it's also something you can read in an afternoon easily. it also so happens to me one of my favorite books of all time the rest of his works are also easy to find with search engines, as i believe they are in the public domain. Gods of Pegana, however, is the best in my opinion. I wouldn't discourage anyone from Dunsany's other works, but it's true that starting with the Gods of Pegana is a great way to prime one's self for further Dunsanian readings, especially since Time and the Gods is something of a sequel. A Dreamer's Tales has a lot of classics in it as well, and I enjoy the sometimes self-parodying style of the Book of Wonder. I have the Wildside Press editions of these books and they are pretty cool. As I understand it they are some of the only readily available complete versions of some of the books right now, but I will caution that they are full of typographical errors. It might be well to seek out different editions if you want physical copies. The Penguin collection In the Land of Time is very good and it contains the entire Gods...
The Sword of Welleran is one I do not have yet so I can't comment on Wildside's edition. And let's not forget his novels! The King of Elfland's Daughter is an excellent, excellent book. Readers of Neil Gaiman may notice some similarities in his Stardust. Anyway, that's enough out of me...
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Post by andrewwerdna on Dec 23, 2016 20:14:59 GMT -5
I love his novels. The Charwoman's Shadow was one of my favorites. I also love the art, smell, and price of the old Ballantine editions of his work. The art of the short story collection Over the Hills and Far Away (my introduction to Dunsany) is especially incredible.
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