What Are You Reading? Part Deux

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Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
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Just north of Duma Key
The Chill - Scott Carson aka Michael Koryta

I haven't started this one yet but will as soon as I'm done with the last story in If It Bleeds. I found out about this a couple of weeks ago (maybe here - I don't remember). It wasn't on my radar because Michael Koryta is using a pseudonym for this one. I think it's been out 2 or 3 months.
Excellent book. Think you will enoy.
Why did you decide to take up a pseudonym?

A: Practical and impractical reasons. On the latter, I’d always loved the idea of having a pseudonym and a second writer identity. Seems like fun, and provides some new perspective and new energy. On the former, the practical consideration, it has been nearly a decade since I last wrote a supernatural story, and it made sense to try to provide some brand clarity to the booksellers, where Carson will write only supernatural stories, and Koryta will stay out of his way. I’ve always had a dream of having a name that strangers can pronounce and spell, too. In a word-of-mouth business, it seems beneficial!
 

fljoe0

Cantre Member
Apr 5, 2008
15,859
71,642
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120 miles S of the Pancake/Waffle line
Excellent book. Think you will enoy.
Why did you decide to take up a pseudonym?

A: Practical and impractical reasons. On the latter, I’d always loved the idea of having a pseudonym and a second writer identity. Seems like fun, and provides some new perspective and new energy. On the former, the practical consideration, it has been nearly a decade since I last wrote a supernatural story, and it made sense to try to provide some brand clarity to the booksellers, where Carson will write only supernatural stories, and Koryta will stay out of his way. I’ve always had a dream of having a name that strangers can pronounce and spell, too. In a word-of-mouth business, it seems beneficial!

I’ve always had a dream of having a name that strangers can pronounce and spell, too :)
 

Edward John

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2019
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Kurben
I was doing some research on The Thirty Years War and I came across the Battle of Wittstock, which is considered the most costly of the battles for the Germans, I believe it was led by John Baner, who was the prodigy of Gustav, seems like an interesting guy, also: Alexander Leslie, a Scot, was a commanding general also. DO you know anything about this battle?
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
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Kurben
I was doing some research on The Thirty Years War and I came across the Battle of Wittstock, which is considered the most costly of the battles for the Germans, I believe it was led by John Baner, who was the prodigy of Gustav, seems like an interesting guy, also: Alexander Leslie, a Scot, was a commanding general also. DO you know anything about this battle?
Not to much. It was fought in 1636, 4 years after the King Gustavus Adolphus died at Lutzen. At this time Axel Oxenstierna, as leader of the Royal Counsil, had more or less taken over Swedish policy since the heir to Gustav, his daughter Kristina, was still rather young. The opponents were the Holy Roman Empire and Saxony. They had a duke, i think, that leaad them. It was a big win for the swedes and their allies among whom scots was the most common people. I know that Oxenstierna tried to follow the kings policy but when Kristina became 18 in 1644 she became King/queen. Her policy was to end the long war which was exhausting. Wittstock probably was one of the last big wins for the swedish army in the thirty years war. We beat the danes in 1643 and made a peace that i guess is part of the thirty years war where we gained some land. Oxenstiernas policy and Kristanas didn't mix and she had a very strong will. Surely an inheritance from her father.
 

Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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Not to much. It was fought in 1636, 4 years after the King Gustavus Adolphus died at Lutzen. At this time Axel Oxenstierna, as leader of the Royal Counsil, had more or less taken over Swedish policy since the heir to Gustav, his daughter Kristina, was still rather young. The opponents were the Holy Roman Empire and Saxony. They had a duke, i think, that leaad them. It was a big win for the swedes and their allies among whom scots was the most common people. I know that Oxenstierna tried to follow the kings policy but when Kristina became 18 in 1644 she became King/queen. Her policy was to end the long war which was exhausting. Wittstock probably was one of the last big wins for the swedish army in the thirty years war. We beat the danes in 1643 and made a peace that i guess is part of the thirty years war where we gained some land. Oxenstiernas policy and Kristanas didn't mix and she had a very strong will. Surely an inheritance from her father.
Christina seems like quite the interesting monarch, effectively, as you said, she ended the war, but then she refused to marry and upon abdication decided to convert to Catholicism! Also known as "Minerva of the North", and I get why. Went on to become an accepted citizen at the Vatican, this story is movie worthy.:)
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
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Christina seems like quite the interesting monarch, effectively, as you said, she ended the war, but then she refused to marry and upon abdication decided to convert to Catholicism! Also known as "Minerva of the North", and I get why. Went on to become an accepted citizen at the Vatican, this story is movie worthy.:)
It has been made countless movies, books and plays about her. A very exceptional woman, perhaps the most learned of her time, she loved reading books and invited celebrated cultural personalities to her court and they came in droves. Philosophers, scientists, all kinds of learned men. The most famous was rené Descartes aka Cartesius, the so called founder of modern philosophy. A few months after he arrived he got the flu and died. The council was all the time after her to produce an heir and to do that she had to marry. Which seemed like a prison to her so she solved that by appointing her cousin Karl (Charles in english i suppose) as heir in 1650. She didn't like Sweden to be torn apart by fights about religion which she realized would be the case in case she openly declared her catholic leanings so in 1654 she abdicated, travelled to Rome, became Catholic, and let her cousin became King under the name Karl X Gustav. She was the last of the Vasa dynasry.
I know of at least two movies about her. One named Queen Christina with Greta Garbo as lead, and one The Abdication with Liv Ullmann as lead. the second is, think, british while the first is a hollywood movie.
 

Edward John

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2019
4,004
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It has been made countless movies, books and plays about her. A very exceptional woman, perhaps the most learned of her time, she loved reading books and invited celebrated cultural personalities to her court and they came in droves. Philosophers, scientists, all kinds of learned men. The most famous was rené Descartes aka Cartesius, the so called founder of modern philosophy. A few months after he arrived he got the flu and died. The council was all the time after her to produce an heir and to do that she had to marry. Which seemed like a prison to her so she solved that by appointing her cousin Karl (Charles in english i suppose) as heir in 1650. She didn't like Sweden to be torn apart by fights about religion which she realized would be the case in case she openly declared her catholic leanings so in 1654 she abdicated, travelled to Rome, became Catholic, and let her cousin became King under the name Karl X Gustav. She was the last of the Vasa dynasry.
I know of at least two movies about her. One named Queen Christina with Greta Garbo as lead, and one The Abdication with Liv Ullmann as lead. the second is, think, british while the first is a hollywood movie.
Thanks for the information, I have much research to do. :)
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Got hold of a collection of short stories by John Ajvide Lindqvist that i havent read. He is swedens master of strange and horrific tales and if you haven't read him i think he is worth a try. Let The Right One In is a masteroiece and Handling the Undead, Harbour and Little Star are also good novels of his.
I'm a big fan of Lindqvist. His take on the vampire lore (Let The Right One In) was very well done. It is a modern classic. I liked that he tells you what happens when a vampire enters your home without an invite.......
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
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Finished, the Sphere. I liked it. If i can find me some more of those the Giant mentioned i get a hold on them. Have only read Jurassic Park and Timeline before by him. Also finished The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. I've read before but in an other translation. It was interesting to note the differences and the reasons for them (when the original have "a British vessel" this english translation has "an enemy vessel".) Whichever translation its a cracking good castaway adventure story, surely one of the best of its subgenre. For me it is one of the holy trinity of castaway stories together with "Lord Of The Flies" and "Robinson Crusoe".
Also finished Sad Cypress by Christie. Now reading Joe Steele by Harry Turtledove. Alternate history novel starting in 1932 when Steele wins the democratic election instead of Roosevelt and goes on to be president. He is a kind of american version of Joseph Stalin, not charming and subtle but says what he intends to do and runs over whoever stands in his way. He finds an eager helper in security service in J. Edgar Hoover and forms GBI , Government Buruea of Investigation, run by Hoover. At the same time Steeles actions slowly drags america out of depression. Turtledove in good in slinging an alternative history thread without breaking probability too much. He uses american politician and military men, perhaps others too, that have existed like Halsey and several other bigwigs of american military that are here younger and not the heroes we have read about. I like that. In some chapters he drags on too long which is a fault he has had all his career but its not as bad as with, for example, Kim Stanley Robinson who, after The Years of Rice and Salt and, at least partially, "the Mars Trilogy" have gotten so wordy he is almost impossible to read. Tried to read his trilogy about climate getting worse but is was so wordy that you fell asleep. Turtledove has a bit of that sickness, as many authors sadly do (dont authors have editors anymore?) but not nearly has bad. He makes sure the tempo is not flagging. His narrators are two brothers , one is very much against everything Steele does, the other is suspicious towards him and his methods but at the same time admits that without Steele they would still be in a depression where people were starving and losing money because bank after bank feel and people lost their savings. Where i am now foreign politics start to play a role too. Hitler is screaming in Germany and Trotskij in Russia. Will be interesting to see what happens in the US when war breaks out in europe.
 

Edward John

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2019
4,004
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Finished, the Sphere. I liked it. If i can find me some more of those the Giant mentioned i get a hold on them. Have only read Jurassic Park and Timeline before by him. Also finished The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. I've read before but in an other translation. It was interesting to note the differences and the reasons for them (when the original have "a British vessel" this english translation has "an enemy vessel".) Whichever translation its a cracking good castaway adventure story, surely one of the best of its subgenre. For me it is one of the holy trinity of castaway stories together with "Lord Of The Flies" and "Robinson Crusoe".
Also finished Sad Cypress by Christie. Now reading Joe Steele by Harry Turtledove. Alternate history novel starting in 1932 when Steele wins the democratic election instead of Roosevelt and goes on to be president. He is a kind of american version of Joseph Stalin, not charming and subtle but says what he intends to do and runs over whoever stands in his way. He finds an eager helper in security service in J. Edgar Hoover and forms GBI , Government Buruea of Investigation, run by Hoover. At the same time Steeles actions slowly drags america out of depression. Turtledove in good in slinging an alternative history thread without breaking probability too much. He uses american politician and military men, perhaps others too, that have existed like Halsey and several other bigwigs of american military that are here younger and not the heroes we have read about. I like that. In some chapters he drags on too long which is a fault he has had all his career but its not as bad as with, for example, Kim Stanley Robinson who, after The Years of Rice and Salt and, at least partially, "the Mars Trilogy" have gotten so wordy he is almost impossible to read. Tried to read his trilogy about climate getting worse but is was so wordy that you fell asleep. Turtledove has a bit of that sickness, as many authors sadly do (dont authors have editors anymore?) but not nearly has bad. He makes sure the tempo is not flagging. His narrators are two brothers , one is very much against everything Steele does, the other is suspicious towards him and his methods but at the same time admits that without Steele they would still be in a depression where people were starving and losing money because bank after bank feel and people lost their savings. Where i am now foreign politics start to play a role too. Hitler is screaming in Germany and Trotskij in Russia. Will be interesting to see what happens in the US when war breaks out in europe.
Have you ever checked out Turtledove's Guns of the South series? In it a group of South Africans travel back in time and give Ak-47's to the Confederacy. It is seriously good, like Most things Turtledove, there is also a book he wrote about a Nazi uprising after WW2 that is really good also.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
Have you ever checked out Turtledove's Guns of the South series? In it a group of South Africans travel back in time and give Ak-47's to the Confederacy. It is seriously good, like Most things Turtledove, there is also a book he wrote about a Nazi uprising after WW2 that is really good also.
The one you mention, Guns in the South, is probably his best IMO. Well thought out, well executed and not wordy at all. But he is mostly interesting because he knows his history which makes his what-ifs seem more probably than most others. Sometimes he goes on too long but in this book he holds it to a minimum. Another good writer of Alt. history is Robert Conroy. I liked his Himmlers War (Hitler dies and Himmler takes the fuhrer position as leaader of germanys forces in the other half/end of the war. Also 1862, his novel of the american civil war. A good thing about him is he concentrates what he has to say to a novel, not a trilogy or tetralogy or even longer as Turtledove often do.
 

Edward John

Well-Known Member
Aug 15, 2019
4,004
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The one you mention, Guns in the South, is probably his best IMO. Well thought out, well executed and not wordy at all. But he is mostly interesting because he knows his history which makes his what-ifs seem more probably than most others. Sometimes he goes on too long but in this book he holds it to a minimum. Another good writer of Alt. history is Robert Conroy. I liked his Himmlers War (Hitler dies and Himmler takes the fuhrer position as leaader of germanys forces in the other half/end of the war. Also 1862, his novel of the american civil war. A good thing about him is he concentrates what he has to say to a novel, not a trilogy or tetralogy or even longer as Turtledove often do.
There is a great Turtledove book, which I mentioned, where Heydrich takes charge of the remianing Nazi forces and starts a guerilla campaign and actually ends up liberating the nation. Yes, GOTS is excellent.
1589913334774.png

Robert E. Lee with an AK47 is probably the best book cover ever.
On Himmler, yes I have heard of that book, it is a reasonable assumption that WW2 may have went differently had Himmler taken charge, that is ultimately what led to the Valkyrie assault on Hitler by his own officers, because they believed that they would lose the war with him in charge. Interesting stuff.