Bob’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2011)

Bob’s comments from the Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) group.

Franky wrote: "I would like to nominate The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, (1969), 470 pgs."

I second

Welcome, Miles.

Wobbley wrote: "I nominate Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard. published 1887, 204 pages."

I second

Sounds like an excellent pIan. I have done really well with short stories this year. Here is a short list of a few I thought were excellent.

The Voice in the Night
The Francis Spaight
The Summer People
Wall-to-Wall Grave, The

I am currently reading The Last Word and Other Stories so far, it's really good.

I am intrigued about reading an essay. I'm sure I have in the past, but I couldn't come up with a title to same myself form a beating.

Perhaps science fiction uses children as a warning. Suppose a society's children can be corrupted, re-educated, trained, or otherwise turned against adults. As time passes a society will face a complete restructuring or destruction.

Sorry for my absence. It looks like questions and answers have been taken care of. The random 10 stories are selected at the beginning of the month. The poll is then created, but he poll is locked till all the polls are ready for opening on the 16th.

FYI our numbered master list now has 536 stories listed. Another 4 are listed but not yet numbered or assigned to the master list. I keep a few in reserve since I lose one every month.

One of our recent Buddy Reads was The Illustrated Man, linked below. Which contains our current short story read Zero Hour. If interested, Messages 99, 101, 104, 110, and 119 discuss the story.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

FYI - Zero Hour is the current short story read, link below.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard is our July 2025 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on July 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

I second Lincoln, it has been on my shelf for years.

Karen, welcome to the group.

Welcome Cosmin

I nominate Hawaii by James A. Michener, 937 pages, 1959

Zero Hour by
Ray Bradbury is our May 2025 Short Story/Novella Read.

This discussion will open on June 1

Beware Short Story Discussions will have Spoilers

Terris wrote: "Hey Bob, would a "novella" be counted in the "short story" category?"

Yes!!

Welcome, Alva. Glad you have joined us.

Five completed challenges, outstanding! I confess I have been working steadily on my challenge, still a long wat to go.

I had no idea the story inspired the song. Reading the lyrics it matches the story almost perfectly. The Rocket Man's son Doug is not mentioned in the song.

Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long Long Time)
Song by
Elton John

She packed my bags last night, pre-flight
Zero hour, 9:00 a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a kite by then

I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife
It's lonely out in Space
On such a timeless flight

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here alone

Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact, it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did

And all this science, I don't understand
It's just my job, five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man, burning out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time

Songwriters: Elton John, Bernie Taupin. For non-commercial use only

Welcome, Emily!

The Last Night of the World - Not with a bang but a whimper.