Rereading the Series

[Steve]

I started this group in conjuntion with my plan to reread the entire series during 2010. I'll try and post my progress here, but also on my blog http://bibliomaniac.blogspot.com/. I hope someone will join me. Let me know.

[Steve]

I'm now five books into the series. I've read The Blue Star, The King of Elfland's Daughter, The Wood Beyond the World, The Silver Stallion, and I just finished Lilith. Fans of the series will notice that I am reading them in the original order of publication. Next up are two original anthologies edited by Lin Carter for the BAF series: Dragons, Elves and Heroes and The Young Magicians. Good stuff and a nice break from the novels. Up ahead is more James BranchCabell & Fletcher Pratt.

[David]

Now that 2 1/2 years have passed, I'm wondering if Steve made it past Dragons, Elves and Heroes or if he lost the inspiration to finish the series somewhere along the line.

[Steve]

Here it is for anyone else who is interested.

I was sort of on a roll with the reading, and didn't pause to post anything. I think I got through about the first 5 or six titles in the Series, but I never really posted any reviews. I remember I was reading THE YOUNG MAGICIANS the night before I went in for a heart cath, and two days after that had open heart surgery. After that my head was pretty scrambled for about 3 or 4 months. I never did get back to my rereading project after the surgery. Not really sure why. I guess I just had a shift in my enthusiasm. It wouldn't be the first time. That's my sad story. Thanks to David for tracking me down, and for trying to get this thing going again.

[David]

Yeah,I thought I was going to get it started again, but then I got busy with other things and other books. We did get in a couple of books before that happened. I'm down to just one of these books I don't own. Hopefully I'll eventually get back to reading them again.

[Joseph]

I'll probably read another five or six later this spring or summer -- The Well at the World's End, Volume I through The Broken Sword or so. Right now, I'm just wrapping up Lord of the Rings, which is definitely associational with the Series.

[John]

Is anyone reading any of the series books right now? I read The Well at the World's End Vol. 1 and loved it.

[Joseph]

Not at the moment. I did read Well at the World's End last year, and Golden Cities, Far, but that's about it.

I do plan to reread The Worm Ouroboros and the Zimiamvia books next month, which aren't truly BAF but which are definitely associational ... They're finally coming out on Kindle in the US, which seemed like a good excuse.

[John]

Joseph, it's funny how those editions seem to be THE editions for some of the titles in the series. I wish they'd release the whole run in some kind of set. I discovered William Morris through that series. I have Worm Ouroboros on my to-read stack, along with about 300 other things. They just don't write fantasy like these books anymore, but then they rarely did in the past. I hope to post some reviews on some more Morris.

[Joseph]

Yes, few things would make me happier than if they reprinted the entire series (complete with the Lin Carter introductions, of course) and put them out as eBooks.

Many of the novels are available electronically, but not all of them; and, of course, none of the anthologies or collections exist in their BAF form.

[David]

At the point where I was finishing my collection of these a couple years ago, I also got my first ereader. I pulled down all the legal free Ebooks I could find. I even built some of the collections out of different free collections I was able to download. It was mostly the Clark Ashton Smith collections I created from parts of other collections. There was a story or a poem here or there I couldn't I couldn't find and of course, they lack the intro.

Unfortunately, right now, my reading focus is elsewhere. I don't intend reading more of these for a while.

I've always thought it a collection of all the introductions would be really cool.

[John]

I agree the Carter intros would be great as a collection of essays on great fantasy novels. I have all the covers on the computer, terrific and unusual art.

The C.A. Smith material should be available since they did the complete CAS in five or six volumes, excellent books.

I'll post some reviews after I've read a few more, maybe we can get things rolling. I'd love to read more about both Wm. Morris and CAS.

[John]

David wrote: "At the point where I was finishing my collection of these a couple years ago, I also got my first ereader. I pulled down all the legal free Ebooks I could find. I even built some of the collections..."

P.S. Love Dhalgren, great pic.

[Steve]

Randolph wrote: "I would be game for a buddy read or even sponsor a group read if anyone is game, even if it is only two people.

The Mod."

You are a Moderator now. So have at it. I started this group, but like David my focus is elswhere right now, but I would love to see it rekindle or actually kindle for the first time. I'll probably jump in when I can.

steve

[Steve]

Steve wrote: "Randolph wrote: "I would be game for a buddy read or even sponsor a group read if anyone is game, even if it is only two people.

The Mod."

You are a Moderator now. So have at it. I started this..."

Also anyone interested in rereading the BAF series should check out the posts on Black Gate where somebody is attempting a reread and reviewing every book. Here is a link to the most recent post which contains links to the earlier posts.

http://www.blackgate.com/2014/11/05/t...

[Gordon]

Hello, I have just joined this group. I am Gordon and I've recently been digging out my Ballantines to read or re-read them. I'm starting with Young Magicians. I'm going to have another hunt for Red Moon and Black Mountain, as I see that's your current book.

[Lyle]

Randolph wrote: "After this will be Kai Lung Unrolls His Mat by Ernest Bramah. In October we will be reading Beyond the Fields We Know by Lord Dunsany."

Hi....so what's happening? We're doing a group read? Red Moon and Black Mountain?

[Lyle]

Sounds great Randolph...but I'm not sure what you mean about 'halfway through for July'. And the Newcastle Lost Fantasy collection is something I've been wanting to explore for awhile. What will we do upon completing each novel? Discuss? Or should we post comments at will during the read?

[Joseph]

And certainly, if someone is reading another book, start a thread about it! Or resurrect if the thread already exists.

[Michele]

Is the group bookshelf complete -- that is, everything that's in the BAF series is listed there in the bookshelf?

[Michele]

Randolph wrote: "Yep, although it does not include all the Ballantine titles sele..."

Thanks!

[Kerry]

I recently completed my collection of the series and I’ve started (re)reading them in order, starting when Lin Carter came on board as editor, so The Blue Star. And I’m now on Dunsany’s King of Elfland’s Daughter.

Actually, it was this series back in the 70’s that introduced me to the pre-Tolkien greats, Dunsany, Cabell, Clark Ashton Smith, Lovecraft, William Morris, and all the rest.