Guns & Magic

 

Trading for a Living by Dr. Alexander Elder.

 

Overall, I enjoyed the stories in The Brigadier and the Golf Widow by John Cheever. A couple were rather incomprehensible, I thought, but the majority were very readable.

 

-David

 

The Brigadier and the Golf Widow by John Cheever. This is a collection of short stories loaned to me by a friend when she heard I enjoyed Cheever’s story, “The Swimmer” (which is included in this book, as well). Overall, the stories have been enjoyable. Very modern–in a mid-20th-century kind of way.

 

-David

 

Burton & Speke by William Harrison.

 

I consider myself to have finished the book (though there was some definite skipping towards the end). The book started out interesting enough. But it took forever getting to the obvious conclusion. I knew next to nothing about British explorers Richard Burton and John Speke before I started reading the book. I guess I might know more now. Or rather, I know that the author didn’t like Speke (who may or may not have been very likeable; I don’t know), and seemed to be willing to give Burton a pass on a number of things (which may or may not have actually occurred).

 

Had I known the novel was based on historical figures, instead of being purely a work of fiction, I might’ve skipped it. Ah, well.

 

-David

 

Portrait of an Artist, as an Old Man by Joseph Heller. I’m literally 99% of the way done. I’ll finish it later tonight. Overall, I’ve enjoyed the book. Certainly better than the mediocrity I read just before it.

 

The book is not without its flaws, though. The biggest flaws are the excerpts from unfinished novels that the main character (a 79-year-old novelist) keeps trying to write. Of course, if you take those out, this short novel becomes a novelette.

 

-David

 

Jaded by Lucy Hawking. A 65K word novel shouldn’t take this sodding long to read. Nor should it have taken as bloody long as it did to get to the eff-ing story. And then it shouldn’t have taken 3 chapters just to end. Sheesh. What an amazing waste of my time. Just “not bad” enough–and short enough–to not stop reading it. I kept hoping for something like Bridget Jones’ Diary. Instead I got … oh, let’s make a list:

 

I want my week back.

 

A Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World by Gregory Clark took longer to read. But a) it was an academic-ish book; and b) I actually enjoyed reading that book. And I learned some interesting tidbits about history and economics.

 

Not sure what I’ll read next, but I have a small stack of library books to choose from.

 

-David

 

For the next 2 months I will not be doing either of the following on a regular basis:

 

This is because I need to spend a couple months working on a major update of The Journal.

 

I might do some writing (like finishing the Horse Girl novel) and take a few pictures, but … I’m not planning to. Of course, I’ll still be reading, because that’s not exactly demanding.

 

Instead, for the next two months I will be focusing my creative energies on design and development.

 

Because that’s what I need to do this year to make sure I make money next year. Sorta.

 

Just an FYI.

 

-David

 

SSC 2008 Heat 10

 

GENRE – Fantasy

SUBJECT – Digging

 

1st Place **FINALIST** ‘What it’s like to Win an Argument’ by Ryan Berger SYNOPSIS – Gordon’s gargoyle proves to be an asset for his landscape company, but he must decide if it is worth the burden to his friends and family. (Heat 10)

 

2nd Place **FINALIST** ‘The Things That Are Buried’ by Benjamin Gould SYNOPSIS – In a world that has been reclaimed by fantastic beasts of old, you must find a way to survive. You begin by digging. (Heat 10)

 

3rd Place ‘What We Bury’ by Shannon Deep SYNOPSIS – After accidentally discovering the criminal circumstances surrounding her father’s death, Lorah seeks an appropriate means of revenge. (Heat 10)

 

4th Place ‘Clankie’ by David Michael SYNOPSIS – Nin, a forged warrior, always follows the orders of his human commanders, has no concept of time, no fear of injury, and no comprehension of death. But he’s learning. (Heat 10)

 

5th Place ‘The Greenblatt Model’ by William Bryan SYNOPSIS – A young man struggling to complete a work project inadvertently starts a war with creatures living deep underneath his desk. (Heat 10)

 

 

Well, I wasn’t picked as a finalist. Which is a bummer. But at least I placed.

 

Word is there will be some feedback from the judges. That should be interesting. I’ll post it when I get it.

 

-David