Book Reviews

[srboone]

Easton Press books are top-notch. Great catch!

[bugen]

Yeah, I'd call that an upgrade. Nice!

[Theli]

^That's damn cool!

[RonClinton]

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE is one of my top three books of all time. Congratulations on the beautiful edition. I have the cheaper, but still leather with gold gilt, edition from, I believe, Franklin Library. I've upgraded the book a bit, though, by laying in a signed postcard by Cain. :-)

[Theli]

I know you just watched it. It is quite solid, but I prefer the book by quite a bit, which isn't unusual I guess. Oddly enough though, I prefer Double Indemnity the movie to the Cain novel *shrug*. Pretty rare, for me at any rate.

[bugen]

Thanks! It's one of my favorites, too. Love it, and can't wait to watch the movie.

[Theli]

^One of my all time favourite novels. Very nice edition to boot!

[bugen]

The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M. Cain

“Stealing a man’s wife, that’s nothing, but stealing his car, that’s larceny.”

A rambler gets thrown off the truck on which he’s been sneaking a ride and finds himself at a small restaurant/gas station. He sees the owner’s stunner of a wife and decides to accept a job offer at the establishment. The two fall in love and hatch a plan to kill the husband.

And of course it’s never as easy as that in a good story. Problems jump out of the woodwork, like stray cats, nosy police, bloodthirsty attorneys and especially the traits of the characters themselves. You never really know someone until you’re with them when the pressure’s on, and here we get to know these two.

This thing’s about as tight as it can possibly get, traversing a couple novels’ worth of action in just 35,000 words. It screams from start to finish, and as the darkness descends and justice tries to have its say, it keeps accelerating. This little beauty plays it fast and hard, and it’s no wonder the book became the legend it did.

“God kissed us on the brow that night. He gave us all that two people can ever have. And we just weren’t the kind that could have it. We had all that love, and we just cracked up under it.”

5 stars

SAM_7799.jpg

SAM_7809.jpg

SAM_7816.jpg

SAM_7803.jpg

SAM_7800.jpg

SAM_7818.jpg

[bugen]

This next one isn't horror, so apologies for that, but since it was so spectacular and ties in with the Film noir thread I figured I'd post this here anyway. I'll be watching the film soon, probably tonight.

[keithminnion]

(First, a bit of a secret: I have been reading and collecting Samuel R. Delany's fiction since the early 1960s) and while I think it interesting that his first SF "trilogy" is being reprinted by CP, my personal wish (and I am certainly not alone in this) is that the companion novel "The Splendor and Misery of Bodies, of Cities" be pulled out of whatever drawer or hard drive it is languishing (and yes, I know why it is languishing wherever) and be published with "Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand" from 1983 for the ultimate Delany SF diptych. Hopefully. Someday. By someone.

[Sock Monkey]

Yeah, it sold out really fast but it was also only 100 copies which is pretty low for a Centipede book. At least the quick sellout saves me from double-thinking my decision to not get it.

[RonClinton]

Not surprisingly, THE COLLECTOR is sold out.

[mhatchett]

I had to pass on the Browns and Moorcock. I like the Runestaff Series, but Elric doesn't cut it for me. So many books, so little money, especially at this time of year.

[Theli]

I'm hoping to continue the Smith collection, also the Fritz Leiber and Moorcock books coming out will be hard to turn down. I hope CP has plans on releasing some Delany's Neveryon books.

[bugen]

Yeah, I passed as well. Between this, the new Delany three-volume set, Aldiss' FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND, C.A. Smith's collection, and Carroll's THE LAND OF LAUGHS, that's five Centipede releases I've passed on, all within the last few months. Normally a Centipede fan-boy who picks up most of their stuff, these recent releases just didn't do enough for me to justify a purchase(s), some of them at pretty hefty prices. The Smith one I do still regret a bit, though not enough to pick up a copy on the aftermarket, still at around pub. price.

Looking at upcoming books, though, I'll certainly need to loosen up my wallet for the Brown volumes and maybe -- maybe -- THE VAMPIRE TAPESTRY by Suzy McKee Charnas. Anyone read the Charnas book?

I loved The Vampire Tapestry! It's a unique look at the creature--more highly specialized, evolved predator and less monster. Like a dog's not a monster, unless you're a rabbit.
(I passed on Delany and Aldiss but couldn't stay away from Smith, Carroll and Fowles).