Everything I read in June 2024

[@seandalton44]

Haha I hear you! I have a 5 month old and reading took a big hit. You'll get back there! Hope the new one is doing well!

[@SamHarrison2099]

Thank you! Yes she's doing great, and actually managed to read for an hour earlier while she was napping so brilliant

[@MacScarfield]

In June I read: «A Princess of Mars» (John Carter of Mars/Barsoom #1) by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Sword & Planet: I received a library copy from 1920, the British 4th Edition, 104 years old!) «All Tomorrow’s Parties» by William Gibson (Cyberpunk) «The Dragonbone Chair» (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, #1) by Tad Williams (Epic Fantasy, a key influence for George R. R. Martin's « A Song of Ice and Fire») «A Brightness Long Ago» by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy inspired by the Mercenary Wars of Renaissance Italy: Book of the Month AND Book of the Year so far!) «The Darkness That Comes Before» (The Prince of Nothing #1) by R. Scott Bakker (Grimdark/Dark Epic Fantasy inspired by the Crusades, Silmarillion & Dune)

[@SamHarrison2099]

I have Dragonbone Chair, and I want to read Princess of Mars too. Would you recommend?

[@MacScarfield]

@@SamHarrison2099 Yeah: Tad’s prose and characters are amazing, even if there is a slow buildup, the slice-of-life and worldbuilding really made me invest into the story, so that when the action starts, man, it hits! «APoM» might somewhat hurt from how much of it has copied by later stories, but for that was a major selling point, to check out this major inspiration for everything from Flash Gordon, via Star Wars, to Sun Eater? Obviously, I would be remiss to not mention that it could be considered the Grandfather example of the «White Saviour» Trope (together with Burroughs even more famous creation «Tarzan»), not helped by Carter being an Ex-Confederate, but to be fair to Carter and Burroughs, the savagery on Mars is quite explicit explained as a result of an almost Post-Apocalyptic lack and struggle for resources rather than something inherent: It almost was touching that Carter on Mars is famous not only for his fighting skills and agility, but also for his «soft heart», winning him allies in a harsh world. Pluss it is rather short and a fast read!

[@craighatto]

Enjoying the background music

[@SamHarrison2099]

You're the first person to notice! I saw some other channels use very quiet music just to cover the breathing sounds etc, so have started to edit it in.

[@jcmberne]

Excited to see SoH worked for you! Thank you for the kind words!

[@SamHarrison2099]

Now I just need book 5

[@jcmberne]

@@SamHarrison2099 just went to my editor for final round of editing yesterday!