FF: Death and Memory

Roary Approves

Last week, my very good friend, Jan Stirling died.  I met her and Steve (aka S.M.) when they moved to Santa Fe, shortly after Roger died.  For some weird reason, they decided to befriend  solidly depressed me.  In addition to repeatedly inviting me over for meals and to watch mini-series (during which I was certain to start crying), they loaned me their entire collection of Terry Pratchett novels.  Even in 1994, this was a lot of books to trust to a near stranger, but Jan went out to their not-yet-completely unpacked library and handed over an entire box.

Trying to cope with losing Jan (who was one of the sweetest, smartest, most dryly funny people you’d ever have the good fortune to know), I decided to once again enlist Terry Pratchett, especially his take on Death (which is also a take on living well), so you’ll see his Reaper Man in the list below.

Featured in the picture with Roary is a new edition of Roger’s A Night in the Lonesome October.  This one has Gahan Wilson’s art on the front and back covers.  Roger always wanted Gahan Wilson to do the cover art (he did the interior art), so I’m very happy to see this and wanted to share.

For those of you unfamiliar with this column, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week.  Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.  The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list.  If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.

Once again, this is not a book review column.  It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.  And it’s also a great place to tell me what you’re reading. 

Recently Completed:

Juniper Wiles by Charles deLint.  DeLint’s first novel set in Newford for a long time.  New POV character helps make this a gateway book into a complex setting, while pursuing a story of her own.  I enjoyed, and can reassure readers that this book, while not without heart, is not as dark as some of the later Newford books.

In Progress:

Midwinter Murders by Agatha Christie.  Audiobook.  Winter-themed short story collection.  Material includes a bit where Agatha Christie talks about the Christmas banquets she remembers from her childhood (and which were the setting for her novel, The Affair of the Christmas Pudding).

Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett.

Also:

A companion to the anime Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, more aligned with the manga than the anime, which I am currently re-watching.