I'm glad you liked 'Them Bones'. People tend to absolutely adore Howard Waldrop or they absolutely hate him. After the New York Times Review of Books panned this novel, Chad Oliver wrote them a letter suggesting that they use reviewers who are familiar with the subject and know what they are talking about. The Times printed it. I am obviously one of those who adores Howard. My real introduction to him was at ArmadilloCon 2, where Howard brought in and read a story called 'The Ugly Chickens', which he had finished two nights before. Once you have read it, I'll tell you about the woman, sitting next to me, who grabbed my arm, dug in her fingernails, and screamed 'NO!' at the story's denouement. Both it and 'Night of the Cooters' are available on-line, if you don't want to wait for delivery of his collections. I'm not the only one who adores him. Connie Willis includes a mention of 'Night of the Cooters' in a footnote to a footnote in her story about Emily Dickinson and the Martians. George R.R. Martin has produced short film adaptations to 'Night of the Cooters' and 'Mary Margaret Road-Grader'. I saw 'Mary Margaret Road-Grader' a couple of months ago. It diverged from the story a bit but I thought it captured the essence of it. He has another one in the works but hasn't announce which story he is doing, yet. Howard Waldrop is like R.A. Lafferty in that he really shines in his short stories. If you loved this novel, I'm anxious to see what you think of his short works. They have their ups and their downs, but some of them are classics. Oh, and the braids of the plot do tie together. Every one of them follows a person you care about as part of a culture that is doomed to die. Even the in the one about the archeologists, the flood waters are going to destroy all the evidence of the horse in the wrong time. My wife loved the book but cannot bring herself to read it again.

8,5/10 is a good rating, I like this book too. I have not read his short stories. Great review! I would like to recommend Phillip Mann, from New Zealand. Maybe he is not so popular, but he wrote good novels.

Not a book I've ever heard of but sounds intriguing. The plot reminds a little me of a short story I read in an anthology years ago but I can't remember who it was by or the date of it. Will check this out though 👍

It’s weird-I had a similar idea only very recently.

Sounds interesting! Great review!

Interesting that the plots don't come together. But it sounds like an SF gem despite that. I'll try and run down a copy and thanks for covering this one Richard!

I'll be on the lookout for a copy of this one! Also like the idea of Slim Pickens dealing with a Martian invasion lol.

I'm stealing the term 'braided plot'. Interesting video and great to get some context on the author here.

I have the entire series. It's good

I find it funny that I am giving a talk in Winnipeg next week on the origin of life and was planning on mentioning Fred Hoyle and panspermia--heck, I was even going to bring my copy of The Black Cloud. It's a small world (but I wouldn't want to have to paint it.)

Stan Potts in The Chalk Giants is, of course, Keith Roberts himself, with all his hangups, foibles and difficulties with relationships.

So many interesting revelations in this presentation, I feel as though it's an embarrassment of riches! Very much enjoyed this interview, Richard, and many of your questions to Stephen. Great to see the community spirit amongst you SF booktubers. Refreshing, positive and fun. Kudos and, Cheers!

Thank you for your knowledge!!

I love your channel, man! Any vid on Ron Goulart's work in the pipeline? 😊

Wonderful conversation.

Two excellent videos in one day. Have really enjoyed these conversations with the Outlaw Bookseller. Many thanks.

What a felicitous find. I already follow Stephen's Outlaw Bookseller and share an admiration for Roberts and especially The Chalk Giants. Both caught my KZbin eye here. And now I've got a new vhannel to subscribe to. 😃

Great discussion fellas 👍

👍

Great conversation! I added quite a few books to the TBR pile!

This is the first discussion I've ever heard about Roberts in general and The Chalk Giants in particular. I was near obsessed with this book when I read it in my teens. I even illustrated it while at college. I am still wondering why considering how much other SF I read. I have the two editions Stephen was showing, the Panther paperback with the Peter A Jones art was my original one and I still have it, slowly crumbling away. I mean the book, not me...

Great conversation and discussion Gents!

Great video guys, it's really good to have such knowledgeable figures to look up to as someone just starting out in SF Booktube

I seem to remember Henry Miller was a great fan of this book - his recommendations were annoying as so many of them are now unobtainable.

I think I might like it - the philosophical bits you quoted are right up my street. I'm making a note of your channel and sticking it in the book!

I somehow got a copy of this paperback; on the back is a stamp "complimentary - not for sale." So they were trying to push it. Haven't read it but it's been read, only wear is the spine where it's been opened and somebody got through at least a portion of it.

thanks for giving this work the attention it deserves

This is gonna be a great podcast to listen to on my way to work!

Two great SF channels in one video. Outlaw got me back into reading and collecting. VintageSF hits that OCD, research and collection coverage that is meticulous. I have bought over a hundred books based on these gentleman's reviews

A wonderful and enlightening discussion, very enjoyable, bravo to both of you. We need more of this quality of dialogue on book tube.

Engrossing conversation between two book tube giants. It's been great "meeting" people from the SF on-line community. I see SF fans in person every month, so this has been a welcome supplement to that. Your combined knowledge benefits all SF fans. Long live your channels.

Stephen, the two Matts, yourself Richard, Ira, Jon, Jules, Kenny RH, Scott Bradfield... you have all been a joy (and an education) to watch over the past two years, when I discovered BookTube. 🤗 Many thanks to you all! 👏

I have the same paperback of The Chalk Giants but haven’t read it yet. Now, I wonder if I should track down another, more complete edition. Is the original hardback the only option?

Thanks for hosting our conversation, Richard, it was great to talk with you, as I said there'll be more of our chat in my Club Room (membership area). One point I meant to make about Keith Roberts and didn't was that although he came up as a writer in the New Wave period, Keith didn't see himself as a NW writer- he was politically conservative (the New Worlds writers were generally speaking left-leaning) and apart from experimentation with the construction of novels and within individual stories (which I'd consider New Wave enough), he wasn't interested in employing overly Modernist techniques: instead, he was primarily a prose stylist in the classic English fashion. Anyway, I hope more people read his work, which is fantastic, as I know you've found.

Fascinating discussion, thanks for it. More books for the to-read list.

My favourite two book tube creators meet, great stuff!

Great conversation chaps, really enjoyed that. I've learnt so much from you both these last few years, thanks.

Starship Troopers audiobook! War, crime & punishment. Death penalty kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKipfqawfrt6odEsi=9iZwr3G5xomLIrTX

Congratulations on 18th months! Congratulations on a new lease on life. I always enjoy your regular and well-structured reviews. It is much appreciated. And good news to the @OutlawBooksellerOriginal too!

Vintage Vintage SF! Your first video is much better than mine!

Looking forward to it! Now I'm off to watch your first video, I don't think I've seen it!

Congratulations on you 18 months. It really proves the truth of 'Time enough at last'. And, you're a smart guy. I'll bet you have a spare pair of glasses.

Iced-coffee and eggnog. Sounds good. Maybe add some Khalúa. Sorry about the health scare. But at least you able to turn it around, thank God. Time flies so fast, doesn't it?

I'm glad you decided to launch/create your own channel, Richard, you do the SF genre (and fiction in general) a great service and besides, your channel is enjoyable. :) Glad to hear your shout out to Outlaw Bookseller. Mr. Andrew's channel was my first encounter with a YT SF forum. Looking forward to your chat with Stephen. Cheers.

Congratulations! Love the channel!

Congratulations, and keep reading (and talking).

Congratulations and kind regards from a regular viewer! For the past few years I have been following several SF book tubers and I didn't think I needed another viewpoint, until I stumbled across your channel. I very much enjoy your content and my non-SF reading wife (she prefers mysteries) has noticed how neat and tidy your books are shelved. Keep up the good work!!!

Absolutely loved watching g your journey Richard and being an influence on starting my own channel. I’m glad your health is better! Cheers to the next year! 🍻 🎉

You cited “Time enough at last”, a short story from the Twilight Zone. It would be really great if someone in the sci-fi community did a few posts on great, short stories in sci-fi! Personally, I have memories of mind blowing short sci-fi stories that really stayed with me, in some emotional or intellectual way, but whose books I did not own or no longer possessed. All I have are vague references. I know. There are probably a million anthologies. Still, the gems stand out. Some because they’re always relevant, like fables; or because we wish they were true; or because there was one thing that was cuttingly, prophetic, or just interesting, entertaining and enjoyable if not hilarious, ironic or sarcastic. How many other “Time enough at last” don’t have the outlets to promote them? Great sci-fi shows like “Black Mirror” are appreciated. How many forgotten short stories from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, ‘00’s, ‘10’s would fit into today’s conversations with the same, or greater, cultural relevance? P.S. Are there sci-fi novels or short stories so horribly, laughably awful as to deserve their own accolades? I’m not thinking “Plan 9..”, which is part of Biblical prophecy and the Standard Model of Physics. I’m thinking “Dune”. Anyone else?

I've been watching your reviews for the past few months after you got a shout out in an Outlaw Bookseller video and I've caught everything you've posted since. I like your concise and well thought out reviews mixed in with a big dollop of SF historical insight. Fingers crossed the TIA was a one off wake up call that it was time for a change for you and there's many more years of reviews and book hauls to come 👍