Nominations for January 2022 Group Read

[Dan]

So what Weird read shall we start 2022 off with? Since we went very modern for December, going classical January might be nice. But I won't insist on it. We have an open field for Weird nominations. Deadline is December 15, so I can start the poll that night.

[[deleted user]]

Okay my first jump in and I aint gonna suggest a title as not sure if we want a collection of short stories, a large compilation or a focus on the Cthulhu Mythos.

So I would like to suggest something by Clark Ashton Smith, he is a truly weird author and certainly fits the bill.

Personally I am inclined to push for the short stories but we are a group, so pitch in a view if you so desire.

[[deleted user]]

Second choice for me, this has been on my list for a while and it also fits the bill.

Uncanny Western Tales Collection


I dont like the cover but I like Howards style and I am intrigued with mixing that in a western genre?

Well thats my two suggestions.

[Dan]

We did Zothique back in June 2019 by Clark Ashton Smith. I gave the book two stars and did not finish it. Well written as it was, that book was as dust dry as its bony inhabitants. I concluded I'd rather read a real history textbook and learn about something that actually took place, maybe some Thucydides for equivalent writing and equal excitement. Perhaps Zothique wasn't the best CAS had to offer.

[[deleted user]]

Yes, from the far depth of my memory he is very dry, but very unique in his turn of phrase and style. Can suggest something else I suppose but will need to give it some thought.

I did suggest the short stories, as it is easier to walk away from a short story than a novel if you dont like the words.

And I remembering reading Thucydides and enjoying it many many years ago.

[Dan]

May I recommend The Averoigne Archives by Clark Ashton Smith as your specific nomination? This collects all the tales Smith wrote that take place in a monster-haunted province of medieval France. I've never read an Averoigne story, but these certainly look promising to me.

[Zina]

This sounds exciting! Generally speaking, it seems like I am easier to impress than you, so if you like something or think it is interesting - I will probably like it.
Now, one of these months - will whoever originally recommended the House of Leaves recommend something like it? Something complex, mysterious, different?

[Dan]

Thank you, Zina. In regards to your request regarding House of Leaves, have you seen this website that recommends books for those who liked that book? https://www.listchallenges.com/if-you...

The more I read and research regarding CAS's Averoigne stories the more convinced I am that I will like them, that they are some of the best CAS ever wrote. There's a Wikipedia page on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Averoigne. The biggest surprise to me from that page is that H. P. Lovecraft set one of his stories in Smith's Averoigne!

Another edition we may wish to consider: The Averoigne Chronicles: The Complete Averoigne Stories of Clark Ashton Smith

[Thom]

I can testify that both Pale Fire and John Dies at the End are weird and complex, but in opposite directions from each other.

Robert E. Howard fits the Weird bill, and his prose is nowhere near as dry as CAS or HPL.

[[deleted user]]

Looking forward to reading from this selection. Although it is a pity we will only read one, I can see a few I will probably buy anyway to read.

And the CAS selection looks great!

[Dan]

You know, we haven't read any Thomas Ligotti yet (well, except for that story in The Red Brain, "The Sect of the Idiot"). How about Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe? That's two story collections, which might be a bit ambitious.

[[deleted user]]

Then maybe split it over two months? If it wins we have a two months window to read?

[Dan]

Actually, we as a group read one other Thomas Ligotti story, his “A Soft Voice Whispers Nothing,” which featured in The New Weird. It's one of our earliest group read books. There are 22 stories in that anthology. Ligotti's was one of the five contained in it I enjoyed. Since there were 17 I didn't think too much of I sold the book. I can't remember what it was about. Fortunately I found an audio version on YouTube to help me remember. Of course the video just got added to our video section.

If the Ligotti nomination wins, I will run a poll to determine if we should split it up over two months or not. It's a good idea, so I'll let the members choose.