Tip the Wink

Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, adapted and illustrated by Gary Gianni, introduction by Ray Bradbury, Flesk Publications 2009 hardcover graphic novel.

Verne  wrote a great many wonderful books, and this is one of my favorites. This may also have been an early introduction to science fiction for me, but it was the Disney film that I saw, rather than reading the book.

I decided to read the book, and then came across this beautifully drawn graphic novel. Though by necessity the graphic version is shortened, it is close in plot and outcome. If you’ve only seen the film, I recommend the book, in print form or this beautiful graphic novel, the book and movie are quite different.

From the Flesk website: Gianni’s adaptation preserves the sense of wondrous adventure, while sacrificing nothing by way of plot or the finer nuances of character. This finely distilled narrative combines skillfully rendered depictions of the men and the machines they command. Their encounters with astounding marvels and terrible monsters, above and below the waves, create a rich and rewarding reading experience unlike any other.This oversized, hardbound volume will also include the full text of The Sea Raiders, a short story by H.G. Wells, accompanied by ten original illustrations created for this edition by Gianni. Jim & Ruth Keegan supply the colors.

Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs, © 1943, introduction by Martin Edwards, British Library Crime Classics 2017 trade paper, mystery.

The titular nosy parker in Death of a Busybody is Miss Ethel Tither. She has made herself deeply unpopular in the English village of Hilary Magna, since she goes out of her way to snoop on people, and interfere with their lives.

A seasoned reader of detective stories will immediatley spot a potential murder victim. Sure enough, by the end of chapter one, this unpleasant lady has met an extremely unpleasant fate: she is found floating in a cesspool, having been bludgeoned prior to drowning.

The local police call in the Yard, bringing Inspector Thomas Littlejohn, George Bellairs’ series detective, to the village. In his search for suspects, he finds that he is spoiled for choice. The amiable vicar supplies him with a map showing the scene of the crime; maps were a popular feature of traditional whodunnits for many years, and Bellairs occasionally included them in his books, as he does here. – partly from a Goodreads review

This is a mystery novel strongly based on character and setting, which is just the way I like them, and I enjoyed this one quite a lot.

Ministry of Disturbance and Other Science Fiction by H. Beam Piper, Adventure Paperback – April 1, 2007

“Oomphel in the Sky” by H. Beam Piper, originally published in Analog Science Fact and Fiction, November 1960, Aegypan 2007 trade paperback, 200 pages.

This is part of H. Beam Piper’s Future History series that he worked on throughout his SF writing years. This is the second story I’ve covered from this collection.

In this story, the natives of Kwannon practiced ritual magic under the watchful eyes of their Terran rulers. Hunting, farming, raising children–it all required the special spells only a powerful shoonoo could cast. But when prophesies of the end of the world send the natives of Kwannon swarming, it may also be the end for the Terrans. The natives, it seems, actually want the end of the world–for the promised afterlife will be far, far better. And who can argue with the shoonoon and their prophetic dreams? It’s up to Miles Gilbert, reporter for the Kwannon Planetwide News Service, to save the day. For only he can turn the natives from the course with the special magic of Earth, the machine-giving Oomphel (technology).

Though the story is, typically of Piper, more talk than action, I enjoyed it and am continuing to read this collection.

It snowed Thursday and freezing rain Friday and lost power about midnight. Power company says we should have power sometime Monday. Meanwhile, we have a gas fireplace for some heat and the stovetop to cook. We’re iced in so home we stay. ITS COLD

I read the Black Gate blog daily, and occasionally the chief editor, John O’Neill, posts about lots of science fiction and fantasy books he buys on eBay. Last time he did this I was inspired to try it, and this is what happened. Not great, a few authors I’m not fond of, but cheap and some things very readable. Did I mention cheap? Just a few bucks.

Ministry of Disturbance and Other Science Fiction by H. Beam Piper, Adventure Paperback – April 1, 2007

“Ministry of Disturbance” by H. Beam Piper, originally published in Astounding Science Fiction, December 1958, Aegypan 2007 trade paperback, 200 pages.

This is part of H. Beam Piper’s Future History series that he worked on throughout his SF writing years.

In this story, a Galactic Empire of thousands of planets has been at peace for hundreds of years. Production all across the Empire is regulated to keep markets and economies stable.

Yet now there is apparently a plot to overthrow the current hereditary Emperor. Though it seems there could be more than one person wanting the power and prestige of the Emperor, it’s unclear who would gain the most.

Though the story is, typically of Piper, more talk than action, I enjoyed it and am continuing to read this collection.

When we bought this house, we did it long distance from southern California, through a realtor here and the financing and so forth handled through an agency here. When all was said and done, our mortgage was handed off (sold) to Well’s Fargo.

Now, at the time I had no grievance with WF, but over the years more and more upsetting reports of malfeasance, mistreatment of clients and accounts and so forth. Though we had no problems with them, so we finally got fed up.

So last Fall we refinanced. We had significant equity, and went with an institution with whom we also had savings, our credit reports look nice and it was a breeze, only requiring one in-person visit. Plus our payment went down because of better interest. A win for everyone (except the evil WF).

I love the artwork of Greg Manches, and was delighted when Above the Timberline came out. It’s both written and illustrated by him, and is a fun story.

Next, you can see the first five (thick, meaty) volumes of The Collected Hard-Boiled Stories of Race Williams by Carroll John Daly.

The Collected Hard-Boiled Stories of Race Williams, Altus Press/Steeger Books, volume 1 (c) 2015, subsequent volumes every year and a half or so. I have Volumes 1-5 and have Volume 6 on the way, it being the most recent. Volumes 1-2 seem to be OP. Each costs $29.95.

To give you an idea, Volume 1 runs 654 pages, with an Introduction by Brooks Hefner and twenty-one stories. Each of the other volumes is equally robust.

Daly is, reliably, I think, considered the creator of the hard-boiled detective story, though naturally there are plenty of people who would argue with that. I’m not one of them.

Originally appearing in the pages of Black Mask Magazine, author Carroll John Daly pioneered the hard-boiled P.I. story and perfected the genre with his classic character, Race Williams. Apart from the novel-length Race Williams stories, these classic hard-boiled thrillers have rarely been reprinted, if ever.

The only problem I have with these is that there is so much material it’s going to take me forever to read it all!