The books of 2024
1.
Operans Historia - Folke H. Törnblom
I managed to pick this book up for free, as my eye fell upon it on a
shelf. It turned out to be just the thing I needed to ground my
appreciation of the art into some historical understanding of
context. Now, the author includes pieces of sheet music to
illustrate his points. It goes right over my head. He uses a lot of
elaborate Italian phrases and concepts. It goes right over my
head. Then I start to look those phrases and words up, and I have
now been enriched by term like recitatiovo, arioso and
parlando. Will I remember it all? Probably not. What I have been
left with, though, is some grasp of the themes and techniques of the
art form. I can say why some things appeal to me, and why some do
not. As for the heart, I think it lies with the airy and elegant
creations of Mozart and the Italians. But, I still admire the daring
and the concept of the "infinite melody" and the orchestra in
everything of Wagner, even though Mozart pleases my ear more.
2.
Nietzsche contra Wagner - Friedrich Nietzsche
Having read about the history of opera, and how large the figure of
Wagner looms there, I had to have another perspective. Who should be
that other voice if not the fallen Wagnerian, the iconoclast who
with newfound health re-evaluate his infatuation? Enter Friedrich
Nietzsche. As always when he writes about anything, he talks as much
about himself as about the subject at hand. I do think he is doing
something in his critique of the "infinite melody" and how the rythm
has been lost in Wagner's work. As Nietzsche puts it, you can not
dance to the music any more. The dynamic span of the music is a bit
muddled in the "through-composed" music of Wagner. Then, when the
author goes on a rant against Wagner as christian and anti-semitic I
can only partly follow. It's clear he think it's decadent. The end
is probably his manifesto on art, and on the suffering souls and
their higher reach. I think it has wider implications than Wagner,
and once more it's clear how much Nietzsche writes about
physicalities. Philosophy and though for him is something
tangible. I think I lost the contact with Wagner, but it was
something there I almost did grasp, and I think it made sense.
3.
Shrapnel #6 - Philip A. Lee ed.
More military sf. I really don't remember which story I read in
which issue any longer. Maybe I've read enough of these? I do have a
few more in the pile, though.
4.
Traveller of Worlds: Conversations with Robert Silverberg -
Alvaro Zinos-Amaro
Multiple conversations, or an extended interview, with the author of
some really great science fiction, and whose skill and knowledge I
admire. It was interesting to learn some more personal details of
the man, as he is very private and has a reputation of being maybe a
bit aloof. I think that maybe that has some solid basis. He clearly
comes from a well to do background, cares a lot about being secure
and having a predictable life based around rational and measured
life choices. Politically I think he is a bit unempathic, and while
I think he is correct that people like PKD has their unruly life and
personal choices to blame for their financial insecurity, I also
think that he doesn't really reflect on what is means to be born
privileged, although he is very much aware he was. Still, he is
still a man with a very sharp mind, and with a good education and
can elucidate with aplomb and wit on why some prose works and some
don't. I found it interesting to hear that those books of his which
I condsider some of my favourites, are the ones he wrote when he
decided to write for himself, and not only to the market. There's no
doubt about his true talent. I will re-read some of his best work
after this.
5.
De kom, de såg, de segrade - Daniel Hermansson
Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar what can be said about them, that
hasn't been said before? Maybe I knew much of their histories
before, and I think the approach Hermansson has is interesting, as
he portrayes them as people. Too often they have been treated like
forces of nature, or only as military heroes. Now they got
motivations, and personalities. The idea to study power, and what
it does to people is an interesting one. Also, to use the ancients
for this is a very good argument for why we need to study history in
schools, and the value of a classical education. In addition, I
actually didn't know the history of the Roman republic all that
well, so I learned a few things about who those well known people
where, and how they interacted. I think we have a few Caesars around
still, and at least one Alexander. People so mad for power they will
stop at nothing. Genocide, sadly, is not a new thing.
6.
The Chosen And The Beautiful- Nghi Vo
How would a re-take of The Great Gatsby be? Quite good,
actually. Gatsby is still the mysterious enigma, and the rich is
still heartless, cruel and beautiful. The queering of the story
doesn't actually add that much, in as so far it was already there in
Fritzgerald's original, just beneath the surface. The added layer of
magic is subtle, and apart from the paper cutting which ties
together the colonialism theme with the theme of surface banality
and "it's all just show and illusion", I'm not sure I think the
demonic parts really work that well. In any case it's a neat
retelling, from the point of view of Jordan Baker, the friend of
Daisy Buchanan. Her coming face to face with her own heritage does a
lot to underline the strong theme of double-ness that underpit the
whole novel. It's hard to go wrong when you base your retelling on
such a solid foundation as The Great Gatsby.
7.
The Silver Sword Grudge- Hunag Ying
After having read half of this book, I started to wonder where Shen
Shengyi was, as this was supposed to be the first volume in a
series about him! Then it turns out it was about him all along. We
have seen it before in wuxia, where people have multiple
personas. Exactly what happened in that scene when he showed his
true self was somewhat confusing, like so often happens in these
books. Apart from that, it was kind of clear what happened in most
of this book, as it was very short, and basically a few fights and
conversation in a long conflict. The fights where interestingly
done. They stretched on for pages, almost like Jin Yong in
e.g. The Book and The Sword, but at the same time terse and
described in an impressionistic style more reminiscent of Gu
Long. The only complaint about this book was that it was so short
that the effects of the conflicts, the circles on the water so to
speak, didn't have time to spread. It was a personal book. I expect
it to develop in further volumes, and I wish I could hope for more
volumes to be written. All in all, a decent enough read.
8.
Inhibitor Phase - Alastair Reynolds
I must have forgotten the framing story from Absolution Gap,
as that one mentions humanity has striken back at the Inhibitors,
and a new threat is spreading in the galaxy. So, when I read this
book about hot that happened, I was on the eadge of my seat (like
they say) all the time. Reynolds as usual waste nothing, so things
mentioned early in the book, will come back laster and its
significance will show. But, in this novel it feels like he wants to
put a bow on things, and to tie it all together. There are so many
figures from the past, and so many actions, that come togther in a
hunt for a weapon to end the threat of the Inhibitors. Maybe this
time it was less gothic, and more humane. Still we got weird super
tech with a star ship diving deep into both a cold giant and through
the photosphere of a star. Clavain is back, conjoiners are back and
our favourite hyperpig Scorpio is back. Space opera in all its glory
is still playing, cranked to 11. I liked it.
9.
City of Stairs - Robert Jackson Bennett
I made sure to check if this book was available at the library as
soon as I heard about it. Sadly, I then forgot all about why I
wanted to read it! It was a decent read, and I am not sorry I read
it, but I still wonder what it was that made me find it. It was a
spy novel, set in a weird fantasy world. But the world is not
medieval, as they have cars. But, they dont have planes or
trains. It's a story about two cultures that have clashed and
conquered each other, and now one is under the heel of the
other. The defeated resent their conquerors, and their opppression,
as they are not allowed to even talk about their old gods. Everyone
think the gods are dead, but it turns out they are not. That's the
fantast part when they start killing gods again. It was a nice
enough read, but I wont be reading the rest of the series.
10.
The Tang Sect Crisis - Long Chengfeng
That was a lot in under 200 pages. Short and sweet and quite
intense. I liked how the author set up one scene, then switch to
another brought them together and as a third group of individuals
where introduced you felt the tension rise as you knew they would be
stirred into the pot as well. It contained very little character
development, as it was basically a few set pieces and the fallout
from them into on a big conflict. It would be interesting to read a
few of these in series, as the former one I read was volume one, and
this volume 15. But, I don't think they develop much. It doesn't
seem to be that kind of story. Given that, it was well plotted,
exotic, weird and baroque in equal amounts. The Tang sect had two
branches, and even though they were all famous for using poisons,
one one half started the evil sect, and the other part just
wanted to be righteous poison users. Hilarity and intrigue ensues.
11.
A Time of Changes - Robert Silverberg
A novel from 1971, prime Silverberg. As so often is the case, this
kind of book is science fiction, but very much a existential and
psychological journey. In this case a planet with strict rules
forbidding emotional connections, sharing and engagement without a
strict control, even enforced by grammar and word choice. It's an
interesting society where rights and demands are all balanced by
checks and balances, but also emotional inhibitions and a lack of
serious feelings. I wonder if the social stratification is not part
of the idea as well, of difference as the value above
communality? All is challenged by a drug that loose inhibitions and
connect the minds of those who take it. It's kind of a psychic
version of MDMA and LSD without the hallucinations. A time of
changes not only for the protagonist, but also for the
society. Where it doesn't really work for me is the evangelical
tone. It feels real in as so far it reads just like the crazy ideas
of those who wanted to spike the drinking water with LSD, but also
the same kind of lack of inhibitions about if everyone wants
existential experience it works really well, and it's a Kirkegaard
for the science fiction reader.
12.
Nightwings - Robert Silverberg
While some of Silverberg books are briliant, some are just
very good. This one didn't really blow my mind, but it was enjoyable
and I felt it was trying to tell me something. There were so much
going on, even though it was a slim volume. Did it tell us something
about how humanity in all its diversity is one? Did it show us in
the protaginist a model for how to suffer life's struggles? For some
reason I got stuck a bit on the title, and the genetically Fliers
that I missed? This book was such a display of impressions it was
hard to sort them all. Nominally this was a story about how the old
and tired terran society was conquered, and how some humans found a
way to join together and liberate their spirit, and thus be
free. Not that action oriented, eh? It did feel significant,
though. But, I'm not sure I can articulate why!
13.
Treasured Sword, Golden Hairpin - Wang Dulu
I got the suggestion I should try to read the machine translation of
the French translation of master Wangs first book in the Iron Crane
series, chronologically the second. It turned out it was a very
pleasant read! There are some rough corners, and it would probably
not harm if someone edited it a bit. But, I expected worse! As I
loved the first book I read, I was very happy to be able to read the
first story about Li Mubai and Yu Xulian. Li Mubai really was a
hotheaded emo kid! Even though the movie version of them did change
a lot, you could recognize where Ang Lee took his inspiration
from. They are a great set of characters, and even though the story
is drawn out a bit in the style of serialized narratives, it's never
boring. The fight scenes are not super detailed, but manage to
capture the frenzy of the action quite well. The ending is of course
fittingly mysterious, and really sets you up to want to read the
next volume. Oh well. I enjoyed what I got.
14.
Farewell to Arms - Ernest Hemingway
For some reason I was reminded of this classic. Interestingly,
looking around now I find so many sources saying this was Hemingway
at his best, and the real gold was his short stories. Was really
everything after this one worse and worse? I read some Cliffs Notes
on this one while reading it, and it felt like I got more nuances
than I would have otherwise. Still, sometimes I wonder if analyzing
books lessens or better the experience? In this case it made my
reading slower, as I read a chapter or maybe two, and then thought
about it a lot. But, I guess that added to it, did it not? Hemingway
tells a straight story, but he does it with his very own style and
manners. Sometimes I guess those can feel forced, and maybe that's
what the critics claim happened after this one? I liked how he used
mountains and snow to signify stability and peace, and how rain
always signified badness. I couldn't help feeling that he was
writing very much about drinking. I can belive he was drunk most of
his life, and his alcoholism does show. The ending is grim, and very
abrupt. It might be a straight story, and almost naturalistic, but
it's very romantic in more than one way. I will probably not re-read
this one soon again, but I'm happy I did.
15.
The Galaxy, and the Ground Within - Becky Chambers
Hopepunk, is that it? I think I like to be reminded of how even
people in stories have regular problems, and have regular highs and
lows. Maybe I sometimes just want to read about heroics, but
sometimes maybe just... hope? Three aliens stuck together during a
crisis, and a hostess that just want to make everyone feel
comfortable and happy. Could that be something? It was
entertaining. Chambers write complex characters I care about, and
while she sometimes tend to make the plot secondary, I felt it
worked in a nice balance this time. We learned a lot more about the
different aliens in the Wayfarer universe, which I liked, but this
was the last book! So, do I then go back and re-read the earlier
ones? I also liked how she brought a queer perspective, as so often
before, by just making things seem "normal" and not bringing any
undue attention to them, just part of character and plot. Chambers
is still one of my favourite authors.
16.
Embassytown - China Mieville
This was a weird book. The aliens where weird, the way the main
character told the story felt odd and the main conceit with a
Language and a language was weird. Sure, the idea that language and
communication is power, and the idea that language shape what you
can talk about are both insights of some philosophical
importance. But, until the very end it was a bit hard to grasp what
was going on. I think I liked it, almost like a first contact
story. I am not sure I liked it as much as a philosophical story, as
it was maybe a bit too dense? It is a brave attempt, and I am not
sure it worked fully. Nobody can accuse China of not taking chances
and trying his utmost to do the new and push the limits. I can
really admire that.
17.
Silvergrisarna [The Silver Pigs] - Lindsey Davies
A crime novel set in ancient Rome, could that be interesting? I
actually started reading it because I wondered if it could provide
inspiration for a RPG session set in the capital of the Lunar Empire
in Glorantha. In the end I'm not sure I got any better idea of how
to do that, but I read a book that was entertaining enough. The plot
was somewhat involved, but having read Gu Long I'm prepared for far
more complexity that this. I had somewhat of a hard time keeping the
different characters apart, as the Roman names did sound all alike
to my ears. The thing I disliked most with this book was the
flipside of what I also liked the most. That was the main
character. His stoic attitude and dry humour I liked, but his
refusal to for once do the sensible thing annoyed me. He acted the
fool around people like he wanted to misunderstand their intentions,
and even people who liked him he acted like he wanted to annoy. But,
I did finish the book, didn't I?
18.
Time Out Of Joint - Philip K. Dick
Apparently this was written to be one of Dick's non-science fiction
novels, and it wasn't published by his usual sf paperback
publisher. Still, it feels very much like his sf in that his voice
is so distinct. He does some interesting things by trying to move
the viewpoint around, but I feel it probably could have used a few
more editing passes, as I don't think he does it very
systematically. Instead you get the impression he invents as he goes
along, which would suit his mode of working up until then - quickly
churned out first drafts. The ending feels tacked on, and has a sf
twist served up mostly by exposition. All in all, this book makes me
a bit sad, as the fifties relationship drama he starts with is well
done. He uses regular people in his story, and their small scale
life dramas give a believable impression. It was a while since I
read Dick, and I had hoped for more.
19.
Equimedian - Avaro Zinos-Amaro
Maybe reading this stright after a Dick novel was too much of the
same thing. This is very much in the PKD vein, with multilayered
realities and a regular joe working class protagonist. The setting
is a bit vague, but it's clearly not our world, as there's a moon
base, some kind of commonplace VR, and facial tattoos that everyone
sports. The main character goes through multiple personal crisises,
and each time the world around him is subtly transformed. I found
his interactions with his friends, and his attempts to find some
kind of state of mind that allow him to relax to be the most
engaging part of the novel. The last few chapters where the cabal
that rewrites history info dumps in convoluted sentences felt less
the whole novel that makes sense if you manage to parse those last
chapters. I didn't care to try. I liked reading it, but it felt a
bit let down by the ending. Will I re-read it to try to piece it
together? Maybe. It did with all its many mentions of science
fiction classics make me take down my copies of Delany's and
Hacker's anthology Quark. Always something.
20.
Skallarna [The Skulls] - Mattias Hagberg
I heard in a pod that should be a great horror novel. Having read
it, I'm not sure I would classify it as horror. Maybe just weird?
Regardless, it's a "found manuscript" novel which I guess fits the
genre. The main character is an author who has isolated himself, and
sits idle amongst his book collection and broods when he gets an odd
package, and then another one. He gets obsessed with a photograph of
some skulls, and starts trying to find out who sent the packages and
what it means. He finally disappears in the arctic when he follow
along the steps of a fatal artic expedition in the 1920-ies. It did
give some of the same vibes as Adam Nevill's The Ritual, with
the nordic landscape as a dark frame wherein the tragedy can
unfold. I almost felt the cold when reading the description of the
men succumbing to the cold under an ice storm.
Is it a story about something supernatural, or something simpler? It
is a book about mysteries. Who rescue our storyteller when he crash
his car? Why does he disappear? I wasn't blown away with it, but I
kind of liked it. The biggest hurdle reading it was that I felt
annoyed by how often the narrator lit up a cigarette. It felt a bit
like a cheap movie trick, and a bit like a tired phrase from the
author. I know attitudes towards smoking have changed, and people
did smoke a lot, but it felt cheap. Apart from that, I think I liked
it.
21.
Fools die on Friday - Erle Stanley Gardner
I loved Raymond Burr as Perry Mason on the telly when I was younger,
and eagerly read some of the Perry Mason books when I learned of
Erle Stanley Gardner. This time I found out he had written another
series, the Cool & Lam mysteries, and wanted to check it
out. Gardner is good with mysteries, and he writes at a slick pace
that pulls you along the story. I really enjoyed reading it. The
idea with two contrasting characters he also used in his Perry Mason
stories, but in this case it didn't work as well on me. I think
Bertha Cool was mostly just obnoxious to a fault. Maybe it made Lam
come across as more likeable, I don't know? It was an interesting
mystery and it had lot of twists and turns. You almost felt you had
it figured out early on, but then it turned out to involve a few
more moving parts after all. It was a case where nobody was
completely innocent, which tend to make it more involved of
course. I like how it felt like a movie, and how you could almost
picture it as such, without there being much decription in the story
at all. An impulse buy, but an entertaining one. Not great art, but
fun.
22.
The Witching Night - C.S. Cody
A Novel of Satanism and Suspense was what it said on the
paperback cover, with a classic lurid pulp illustration. I expected
little from a pulp novel from 1952, but quickly realized it was
better written than I feared. The paranoia and feeling of dread was
quite intense into the first half of the book, when the main
character gets into the clutches of a "witch cult" of some
sort. When he start to see "them" everywhere it's quite
effective. There where a few really annoying sections where I felt
he acted stupid, and while it's interesting to know things as a
reader the protagonist doesn't, you can't have the reader stop
caring for hir because they are a humbling fool. I wash't that
convinced by the love story either, but it felt it was as silly as
te genre needed. All in all an entertaining adventure with some
quite good horror moments in between.
23.
Elric - Michael Moorcock
This is actually the first time I've read the Elric stories in
English, funnily enough. It was an interesting read in many ways. I
had forgotten how episodic it was. Also, it felt very much like
Elric where on the story arc of a video game, as he went around
collecting items and finishing quests. It made me think that the
book if it had been published today might have been marketed as YA?
It's filled with strong emotions and angst, it's simply written with
just one main storyline and one viewpoint character, but it asks
complex questions. In the end, though, I was kind of sick of the
self loathing and moaning. It became quite repetitive. Not only
that, but also how often Moorcock would refer to the old glory of
Melnibone. Some of it I must put down to sloppy writing, but in
other places he is very good at painting a colourful scene with some
choice words. At his best he reminds me of Robert E Howard, and in
between more of a hack job. The ending is dramatic and over the
top, and I can see why so many have wanted to make a movie out of
it. But, I don't see how it can be done. I'm kind of glad it's
over.
24.
The Spare Man - Mary Robinette Kowal
A murder mystery in space, and an intriguing complex one at
that. There where a few quite interesting things in this one that
made the setting work in interesting ways. The author has managed to
set it up so you feel there's a lot of backstory, which makes the
characters feel grounded. I liked that. The only thing I was a but
unsure of was to what extent I wanted to cheer for the main
characters getting their small victories, and to what extent I felt
they where rich entitled bastards. Maybe they, and especially Tesla,
felt human enough? In the I wasn't entirely sure I managed to put
all the puzzle pieces together, even with the after action scene
where the mystery was explained. But, that's just me, even though it
was a complex story with many characters involved and doing a lot!
25.
Blackmoor Foundations : The early fantasy RPG works of David
Arneson - Griffith M. Morgan III
This is probably one of the most interesting pieces of rpg history
published. For once we get to se reproduced the original documents
from David Arneson, and his notes from the Blackmoor
campaign. Marvellous stuff from e.g. Ken Fletcher that illuminates
some interesting points about ther early history of the first
fantasy campaign. What was the first Blackmoor game? What was the
first dungeon delve? We do not get all the answers in this book, but
som fascinating documents about how the campaiugn evolved during the
first years of the 1970-ies. This is really interesting stuff!
26.
The Bloody Bridal Chamber - Ximen Ding
A few wuxia writers have written mysteries, as it's a genre that mix
well with ferocious swordplay. This time it was a really well done
mystery. The fights as wild as ever, and the sleuthing is done by
the minions of the great detective, that saunters around with a pipe
and deduces. Quite classic. I really liked this book! The plot was
well done, and the chracters colourful. Bonus points to the author
for making the detective's minions gender diverse. This was #4 of
the Two Amazing Hawk Constables series, and I'm a bit sad it's the
only one available in English. This goes straight to the top as one
of my favourite wuxia novels. It lacks the scope of Smiling Proud
Wanderer and the human drama of Iron Crane, but I think
this and Fei are probably two books you could put in the
hands of someone wuxia curious and they would enjoyt it.
27.
Quark #1 - Samuel R. Delany & Marilyn Hacker [ed]
The roaring sixties, The New Wave and literature that's all about
breaking boundaries and speculating. Wild, eh? These collections,
like Dangerous Visions that tries very hard to be a bit
more always look a bit silly in hindsight. Delany loves his sf,
but also had ambitions and wanted to push boundaries. This
collection of stories is a weird mix. Some stories are kind of
bland, some a decent but not very special and maybe a few are
special. What they set out to do, publish speculative
fiction, I think they did succeed at. All stories are weird, in the
modern sense. It's not mainstream sf, and some of them are clealy
uncanny. The problem of course is that when authors tries to be
clever, you as a reader can be left questioning if they failed or if
you're not clever enough to pick up on it. In the end, the story
that stayed with me was by Tom Disch, Lets Us Quickly Hasten to
the Gate of Ivory. In my mind, speculative or not, it was horror
and it worked.