Two Envelopes And A Phone > Recent Status Updates

I get more of it, on the re-read - but it sure is busy book with lots of characters, and realities (true and false; or maybe…false and even falser).

The Mind Robber was an old Dr Who TV adventure, where the Doctor and his companions entered 'The Land of Fiction', the realm where fictional characters actually live. I hadn't seen it before I first read Head Games, but I had read Silverlock by John Myers Myers, and later read The Eyre Affair...this idea of acting as if certain fictional characters are 'real', and can 'go into' books somehow is popular.

So that’s it. That’s all there is of the unfinished Science Fiction novel Brother Monster. So heartbreaking, reading the Introduction to this book, by Fred Brown’s friend and former literary agent - including the pair’s letters back and forth as Brown explained that he would not ever again be healthy enough to finish something as long and demanding as a novel. Could his friend perhaps finish it? Didn’t happen.

I love The Mystery of Edwin Drood, even though it’s unfinished. Brother Monster - and I knew this going in - is Fredric Brown’s own ‘Edwin Drood’, I guess I can say. He didn’t finish it, and I don’t have much left of the 115 or so pages. I don’t know if this would have been the best thing he ever wrote (with Drood, I might go along with that semi-accepted opinion among some), but I’m having a blast.

Could not be more thrilled to have this.

Not really enjoying or disliking at this point - probably the grossest reading experience I've had, but what that does is just put me on auto-pilot. I mean, it's such on onslaught of vile scenes that it can't really top itself, or strike new ground. As far as the humour, or satire?, goes...I guess it's easier to take when the whole thing is just a big sick joke. I didn't expect Wodehouse to get mentioned, though.

I think this one deals with the 'Land of Fiction' concept, and when I first read this, not only had I not seen The Mind Robbers, but I hadn't even read the novel that sort of set this one up, Conundrum. So there was a lot coming at me to try and sort out. As the book went along I did figure out 'the rules' in play, mostly, and really enjoyed this one. But a re-read should be less confusing at the start.

I expect this will be a cross between the graphic novel Prison Pit, and cleaning a prison toilet.

I have decided to commit to this. Uh-oh.

A weird, rather incredible development - or revelation - has taken place, that seems straight out of a Mission: Impossible movie. I hope this book doesn't come to feel kind of silly because of an implausible plot device. I'm still on board for now, but we'll see where all this is going.

That’ll be it for tonight. A chance of finishing it tomorrow, despite all the pages left, because, well, I like reading it, and reading it.

Intricate and fascinating.

Another one by this author that just flows - hard to put down. Didn’t know there was an espionage angle, plus all sorts of tense stuff going on. I like it.

Can he top Harry Quebert? I don’t know, but Crime & Mystery infesting hotels and motels is a big draw for me, and Dicker’s take should be exceptional…

Finished the first batch of tales - the Blandings entries - and loved my re-read of them. This book contains my favourite Wodehouse short story, ‘Lord Emsworth and the Girl Friend’…was it Kipling who called it ‘perfect’. Meanwhile, I’m eyeing the only Wodehouse novel I have handy that is unread by me, The Coming of Bill. Must get to it finally, but I read it’s not that funny. But one critic suggested it as unique.

Okay. It's kind of intense to be in the last 100 pages of the whole darn series! I have some other Fantasy series to get back to, and wrap up, and I would like to do that on a monthly basis. February will likely about reading The Brass God, which, I think - I hope - wraps that McKinley series, The Gates of the World. Meanwhile, I should have read all the Amber books way back when, instead of leaving Books 6-10 late.

So happy to be reading this again. I expect to love it all over.

Well, that's...a lot to happen in 51 pages, especially in terms of methodical killings.