Kaiju Reviews > Recent Status Updates

huh?

The streak is broken with two stories in a row that did little for me. Wolf and Consuming Passion. Neither have a time theme, but both have a sort of man mastered by his own id type theme. Not terrible, but not memorable. (Consuming Passion does have something about it that's holding me, I'll be curious to see how I feel in several weeks).

Excellent chapter on Irving, Cooper, and Poe. Especially enjoyed the attention to historical reception vs modern reception. Obviously, Poe has his faults (and boy did Twain hate Cooper), but there's no question of his impact. I haven't read anything by Cooper, and I'm still on the fence about it...

A Golden Barge - another trippy great story that's somehow both allegorical and not. Good time.

The Deep Fix is another fun story strangely saved by its total zaniness. Up to the last quarter it reminded me a little of Dhalgren by Delany, which was written a decade later. Despite having a ridiculous plot, this was a good time.

I started this book over 13 years ago with the idea that my wife and I would read it to each other every night. Clearly that didn't happen. But we're still plugging along. Though now it is only I that reads aloud. A particularly scandalous part we're at right now... entertaining? Mostly.

Escape From Evening - a good story though heavy on exposition. Glad to discover it's a shared universe story with Time Dweller.

The title story is a banger. Right out the gates I was swept away. A rare 5 star story.

I'll admit, I'm surprised by how many of these stories are bouncing off me. Overly sentimental and nostalgic.

Not a good issue at all so far. That last story was absolutely terrible.

Not sure how I feel about this. Writing is good, but overdone. Suttree ain't no Flem Snopes, of that I'm certain.

First 'short story' to read by DFW. Not sure what I was expecting. But now that I've read Mr. Squishy, I don't know how I could have expected anything else! Hilarious, stylish, brilliant, and aggravating. Not necessarily in that order.

Old Venn - excellent.

First story blew me away. Excellent. Is this really a story though?

I love the way Reynolds handles exposition. He first submerges you then gradually tells you wtf is going on.

Richest man, fun twist and pretty well told, if silly.

Beautiful Salmon reminded me of the Bear.

Very interesting take on Mary Shelly, Peacock, and Godwin.

First story Mars by Moonlight has a great start, decent middle, and then some guy walked in on Fred, held a gun to his head, and said 'finish this story now!' so he did... or must've... and that's why it ends so abruptly.

masterpiece

Ellison's 2nd published story Life Hutch felt rushed and amateur, which obviously it was. Not bad for a second outing.

Back to the drawing boards - a story about how sickly obsessed Ellison was (and became worse) with regards to money.

Run For the Stars. Not a great opening story. Ellison's edginess is present, but in a derivative plot with a lot of filler.

Most of these are mediocre or worse, to be honest.

"When the sea is moderately calm, and slightly marked with spherical ripples, and this gnomon-like fin stands up and casts shadows upon the wrinkled surface, it may well be supposed that the watery circle surrounding it somewhat resembles a dial with its style and wavey hour-lines graved on it."

From the 'boring' chapter Cetology... this book doesn't fail people, people fail it.