Too many books, too little time...

To continue about Harry...many moons ago, a couple of years after first coming down with an auto-immune disease (not to worry: although incurable, it is not fatal), I was resting on a couch at my mother's house when I heard an incredible racket outside. When I finally managed to drag myself out there, I beheld a brightly colored grey, white & yellow cockatiel with orange on it's cheeks trying gamely to hold off a cat intent upon lunch. Whether the cat had damaged his flight feathers, or he was exhausted from flying a great distance, he was not attempting to fly off. Being sick & somewhat foggy in the head, I had no idea what to do, so I attempted to have the bird get on the back of my hand, of which he was having none of. He now believed I also was an enemy he would have to fight off alongside the cat. I picked up a stick to poke at the cat, and the bird made straight for it, hopped on and walked his way to my shoulder. That's how I was adopted, and how I saved his life. In return he helped to keep me alive. For although as I stated, my disease is not fatal, it does have a high suicide rate, and Harry came into my life during a very rough stretch for me. Suicide was never far from my thoughts. I don't really think I would have put an end to myself regardless, but having Harry to care for and to keep me company made it much easier to not consider it seriously.
Currently I just finished reading Matthew Pearl's The Dante Club, which I most thoroughly enjoyed. I have always liked historical fiction, be it mainstream, slipstream, sf or fantasy. Or all the above. Particularly when the author has done his research and the setting & dialogue seems authentic, which in this case it does. It is a little slow going in the beginning, but does pick up. I look forward to reading his next, The Poe Shadow.
Other books I have read of interest recently include both William Gibson's Pattern Recognition as well as Spook Country. I have been a fan of his writing for a long time, and although I did really enjoy Spook Country, reading Pattern Recognition was a truly wonderful experience for me. The voice and character of his protagonist struck a chord somewhere within. I read Robert Dunbar's The Pines, and it's sequel The Shore. I love horror, more for it's atmosphere than anything else, and although I enjoyed both books, I really appreciated The Shore. Of course, having read The Pines added greatly to that appreciation. I also very much enjoyed James A. Moore's Harvest Moon which was published by Cemetery Dance. I have also always enjoyed this author's work, and while this story is not one of terrifying fear, it was a helluva' lot of fun.
Of final mention for the moment are two works, one short & one novel. The novel is not a new one, The Grave by the late Charles L. Grant, Charlie to most of his friends. I never meet him, but I do know a number of his friends, of which there are many. I have always liked Charles Grant's writing and have read many of his books as well as books he edited. The Grave is a fine example of how easy he makes it seem to do such a wonderful job of painting a picture with words. This was an author who could suck you in to beautiful tranquil scene and then slowly turn it on you, and then still surprise the hell out of you in the end. I love this guy. The short work was titled When Dark Descends, published by Borderlands Press. Originally it was a science fiction story by Thomas F. Monteleone that just wasn't working for him, and he brought it to Charles Grant who turned it into a Lovecraftian tale of horror. It then proceeded to be lost for an eon or two, and then was discovered again and published in a very nice limited edition. It was an excellent collaboration and although short, a very enjoyable story.
Enough for now. Edgar, my current cockatiel master, is getting restless and wishes a snack. Until next time, most pleasant reading to all...

Still Alive, Still Reading...

Many moons have passed. Harry was a cockatiel who saved my life, or at least kept me alive. I had to have him put to sleep because of what the vet believed was probably a brain tumor. He started having seizures about a year and a half ago. We were trying to find a medication that would limit the seizures and wouldn't prevent him from maintaining his equilibrium. A couple of months later he began to slowly lose control of his motor skills until he couldn't stand on a perch, and finally he wasn't able to eat. Having him put to sleep was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Next time I will tell of how Harry came into my life, how I saved his life, & how he saved mine.
Now, a book review. One of my favorite author's is Connie Willis, whether she is telling a serious and dramatic tale, or one of romantic comedy. One of the best collections I have ever read was the Winds of the Marble Arch, published by Subterranean Press. All the stories were high caliber. It was not inexpensive, I believe I paid $95, and was worth every penny. I have also closely followed her time travel novels & stories from The Doomsday Book to the more recent To Say Nothing of the Dog. The first was an award winning novel about going back to the plague years, & the last a wonderful romantic comedy of errors. I highly recommend all her books. Until next time, be well, read 'em if you got 'em.