Christian’s Comments (group member since Apr 17, 2019)

Christian’s comments from the Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" group.

Yeah, I have to agree with Thuvia not being as good as the preceding trilogy.

I also recently found out it was ERB's birthday a few days ago.

Will do.

Around the same time (it would have been after the GFC of 2008 as that was the only time I can remember the Aussie dollar being stronger than the US dollar, great for overseas book buying, which I did a lot of) I also picked up KEW's 2 volume horror short story collection from Centipede Press, Where the Summer Ends: The Best Horror Stories of Karl Edward Wagner, Volume One and Walk on the Wild Side: The Best Horror Stories of Karl Edward Wagner, Volume Two, which I've also never read.

I'm wondering, since I first discovered KEW through his reputation as a outstanding horror author, who else came to him through the horror field or was it his S&S work?

Currently reading a few books, sort of dipping in and out when the mood catches -

Coven by Edward Lee
The Secret Kings by Brian Niemeier
The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Around 10 or 12 year ago I got lucky and scored a 5 book set of the Coronet paperbacks of the Kane series off ebay. Very good condition as well, so I was quite happy with that. Ended up only reading Night Winds though so I'm looking forward to the next two months. I'll be rereading that one again first as I don't remember much, except werewolves!

I ended up finishing Thuvia, Maid of Mars which I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't mind the shift to Cathoris as the main protag, and got to know Thuvia more. I also liked how Burroughs continues to flesh out the world building and history of Mars. Always something new around the corner.

But I didn't finish The Chessmen of Mars and only barely started it as I got sidetracked playing video games, mainly getting stuck into and beating Paper Mario The Origami King. Hopefully I can polish it off this month in between my other reads.

I prefer The Last Kingdom over Vikings, though I need to catch up on the latest season of Vikings. Enjoy both shows a lot.

Currently reading Battleaxe by Sara Douglass and Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs

To be honest the only thing Price is wrong about is porn. Otherwise, meh.

It would be nice not to have politics invade escapist fiction but that boat sailed long ago.

Joseph wrote: "Christian wrote: "Finished The Gods of Mars yesterday and absolutely loved it, it was a blast to read. I liked it better than A Princess of Mars. Man, ERB is quickly climbing the la..."

I can see why.

Currently halfway through Warlord of Mars and the relentless pace carries on. I also like how it didn't start on present day Earth, just BOOM, John Carter on the hunt.

Finished The Gods of Mars yesterday and absolutely loved it, it was a blast to read. I liked it better than A Princess of Mars. Man, ERB is quickly climbing the ladder of favourite authors for me, even after all these years he is still so damn readable and vital to the whole heroic adventure fiction he pioneered. And that cliffhanger ending!!

Reading Cirsova: Heroic Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine #7

A good time to continue my read of ERBs Barsoom series I only started last year, so I will most likely read the next four books over these two months starting with The Gods of Mars.

Started Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Finished At the Earth's Core in a day, needless to say I loved it. I haven't read much of Burroughs work but this one ranks right up there with the first Tarzan novel imo. Looking forward to starting the next book in the series. 5/5

I also finished Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria early in the month. It took me up to the third tale to really warm up to Kardios, but by the last I was wanting more. My favourite story though was actually the Leigh Brackett one, it had the best characterisation out of the lot which made it more than one dimensional. All in all a really good collection of stories. 4/5

I've read a bunch of Poul Anderson's work but that's not ringing a bell. For some reason my mind is trying to convince me it was part of a film or tv show. But I'm probably misremembering.

There is a bit of humour to be found in these Kardios tales from Wellman. They've made me chuckle a few times.

I've read a few of his tales in Cirsova magazine and they are top quality. I'll be picking this one up for sure, though I do need to get to his other collection that I've had awhile now.

I read the Wellman story "The Dweller in the Temple" this morning and it seems overly familiar. A stranger gets accosted on the road by armed men who tell him that a prophecy proclaims him king of their city, they take him there and ply him with food, wine, and women. Of course the catch is he is to be sacrificed to their god. Are there any other tales by other writers with a similar premise, or maybe a tv show like Hercules, because I'm sure I've never read any Wellman before.

Started Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria a bit early for the May June Group Reads.

I've been meaning to read more Burroughs so now is a good time I guess. Also have that Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria book so I will read that one as well.

Currently reading a few books

The Hungry Moon by Ramsey Campbell
Collected Fiction Volume 1 (1905-1925): A Variorum Edition by H.P. Lovecraft
The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie