Book Club!

[beejazz]

Read.
Discuss.
Your reading list begins with those listed below. All books are freely available via your local intarweb. Enjoy.

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8492 [The King in Yellow]
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8395 [Gods of Pegana]
http://www.fln.vcu.edu/hoffmann/sand_e.html [The Sandman]
http://hca.heindorffhus.dk/frame-Andersen13-Sandman.htm [Ole Lukoie]

[SA]

I didn't know I was part of a book club!  This is a most welcome and pleasant surprise.

[beejazz]

You are now. Congratulations and welcome to the club.

[beejazz]

I know it takes a while to get through Gods. Same for King. But out of curiosity, who else is reading?

[Velox]

Oooh! Free stuff! I'll definately check this out. In the meantime, I highly HIGHLY recommend "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman, the "Doom" series by Linaweaver/Hugh for classic Doom fans (the games menace and badassery are done full justice), and just about any sci-fi written before 1900. If you haven't already, check out H.P. Lovecraft. His stories are short and sweet, and there's plenty of them. He is to evil candy what Tolkien is to 20 lbs. of hairy-footed aspargus. I'm more of a movie guy these days, though, and it's difficult to find time to enjoy a good book these days. Dramatic Sigh.

[beejazz]

Lovecraft was in fact awesome. He was also a big fan of both Gods and King, which is telling. Tolkein was also a big fan of Dunsany... so I guess the two authors aren't as far apart as you'd think.

[SDragon]

I second American Gods, and add anything else by Gaiman. That said, the ending of Neverwhere seemed to fall a bit out of touch for me; It's not that it wasn't a good ending, I just didn't feel it was a good ending for that story.

[beejazz]

Is there a link for American Gods?

[SDragon]

Doubtful; It's still in print, I believe.

[beejazz]

Aw. I guess that makes it a little scarcer. I was hoping we could stick to stuff we could like to... otherwise, I might have included something like Snow Crash, which I've been meaning to read.

[Elven Doritos]

Aw. I guess that makes it a little scarcer. I was hoping we could stick to stuff we could like to...

So like, a book club where actual books are prohibited? :P

[Numinous]

Perhaps... :ninja:

Anyway, speaking of Lovecraft, check Out "Rats In The Walls".  It's a short story by the latter author, and it's delightfully disturbing.  Also, if we want to discuss poetry, Bartleby.com is a wonderful resource for sharing specific works.

[beejazz]

Aw. I guess that makes it a little scarcer. I was hoping we could stick to stuff we could like to...

So like, a book club where actual books are prohibited? :P

Wow... actually... ;)

And has anyone read these books since linkage? Comments? RPG Adaptations?

PS: Rats in the walls kicks so much ass. Of a similar tone are Telltale Heart (Poe) and The Yellow Wallpaper (whose author I can't recall). As all these stories are short and have had their copyrights expired IIRC, it seems fair that our next slew of books should cover insanity in the walls, floors, etc. But only after we've covered the first batch with a bit of discussion.

[Ishmayl-Retired]

Rats was pretty disturbing.  We live in a pretty old house that is not as fortressed against the outside world as I would like, and have thus heard the occasional scurrying within the attic walls up in the second floor.  After reading Lovecraft, it always gives me at least a goosebump or two.

[Numinous]

Stephen King made a short story in a similar vein to "Rats In The Walls", by the name of "Jerusalem's Lot".  It's a bit longer, but equally disturbing.  Check it out if you're into this sort of thing.