DanielSavage
Flesh Eater
Reged: 09/25/03
Posts: 1024
Loc: West Virginia
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EdgarAllen, I've noticed over the years that you're a big H.P. Lovecraft fan so I wanted to ask you a question or two. First, is AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS a good read? I've been thinking of picking it up but wanted someone's opinion first. I've always been terrible at picking out books. Seems like every time I venture away from Stephen King I get disappointed. I should've done more reading when I was younger so I would know which writers I prefer but I was wasting all of my time drinking and doing drugs rather than reading and writing and all that good stuff. Second, there's another book called SWAN SONG, this girl I used to run around with had it and was constantly talking about how good it was. I can't remember who wrote it? Have you heard of it?
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We are one with the larvae and dirt...
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EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 1078
Loc: Star City
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Haven't read AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS yet (I don't think anyway, they kind of run together??), although I have yet to be disappointed by any of his works. Be prepared to be patient, Lovecraft is more akin to Shakespeare than King. You have to take your time reading Lovecraft and many times you will re-read a sentence or paragraph for clarity. However I find his writing very poetic, much like Poe, and it is well worth the extra effort. As noted, many of Lovecraft's stories deal with similar themes, and you may feel like he repeating himself somewhat from story to story.
SWAN SONG is by Robert McCammon. Personally I am a big McCammon fan but alot of his critics consider him a King copycat. I don't think that's entirely fair, although when you consider both of their catalogues, the charge is not totally without merit. You could sorta consider SWAN SONG McCammon's version of the THE STAND, although what first appealed to me about it was the book was the disaster at the beginning, a nuclear war between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. The topic almost seems dated now, but is handled very well in the book. Post war, a supernatural battle between ultimate good and evil arises. Certain characters in the book are given special powers based on their good/evil alignment. I thought it was a good read, but greatly preferred the first half (the bomb dropping and aftermath) over the second half of the book.
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"to the lurking death, to the hidden evil,
to the profound darkness of its heart."
-Joseph Conrad
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DanielSavage
Flesh Eater
Reged: 09/25/03
Posts: 1024
Loc: West Virginia
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Thanks man, that was more info than I thought I'd get. I think I'll pass on the Lovecraft for now, it may be a little too artsy for my tastes at the moment. I'm going to give Swan Song a look though.
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We are one with the larvae and dirt...
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EdgarAllen
Living Dead
Reged: 09/16/00
Posts: 1078
Loc: Star City
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SWAN SONG is a good choice and an enjoyable read. Don't plan on finishing it in one sitting though. Another good McCammon choice is BLUE WORLD, a compilation of short stories including the BLUE WORLD novella. Within is YELLOWJACKET SUMMER, a particularly nasty tale.
I realized after you posted that I have a copy of MOUNTAINS on my computer. Hoping to dive into that one soon. Glad you brought it up.
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"to the lurking death, to the hidden evil,
to the profound darkness of its heart."
-Joseph Conrad
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