SF Books that have been on my shelves for 50/60 years - Ep4 - Novels Pt2

[@slyfan77]

Always nice to see you Ken. Don't sweat the lighting too much. I can only speak for myself but I had no trouble seeing anything. Cheers

[@kennyrh9269]

Nice to hear from you. It seems to be a constant feature of my videos. Bright all day and then gloomy as sin when I want to shoot. But yes, books are the thing not my ugly mush.

[@Wanttofanta]

Sure, lighting is a little dark, but we can still see your face and hear your voice. That’s all we need :D

[@kennyrh9269]

Thanks. At least the books are better looking than me 😄😄

[@paulcampbell6003]

As always, Kenny, a joy to see your paperback collection! 😍 I prefer Joanna Russ's short stories; I don't feel her novels cohere. They're very episodic, betraying her strengths as a short story writer (that said, I've always wanted that early US paperback edition of _The Female Man_ with its wonderful iconic cover! 💚 Impossible to get in the UK). Jealous of your copy of Kate Wilhelm's _Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang._ Terrific novel. She's a fantastic short story writer, too. 🤗

[@kennyrh9269]

Hi Paul. I had another crack at Female Man a coupla days back . . .nope just can't do it. Even on a second read the first 20 pages just made no sense to me and her writing style grates so dnf pile it goes. As you say, nice cover though. It is a tricky one to find in that edition. I've not seen a copy of the Wilhelm in the UK - really enjoyed that one.

[@athoszubiaur2144]

thanks for another great video, kenny. i really enjoy taking a look at your collection and am fascinated by the livery. i'm in the united states and so many of the u.k. books look so much better in my opinion. the artwork is amazing. i remember reading the female man back in the 80s. i made it all the way through because that's just something i do but when i finished i also thought that i didn't get it. i'm older and wiser now? i've been thinking of taking another look but we'll have to see what a lovely copy of other days, other eyes! i've been looking for a copy for ages without any luck. sigh i'm not that familiar with robert sheckley and his work but now i'm interested in reading dimensions of miracles. thanks i would say those first two silverberg books have amazing psychedelic covers. so cool haha for your list of shame. i've got quite a list in that category myself. as they say: so many books, so little time omg! that gene wolfe paperback. i'm a big wolfe fan and have never seen that cover. must have it! lol frazetta covers are very nice indeed. steve, the outlaw bookseller, recently showed that same wyndham cover for the secret people. it must be said that is a great cover. looking forward to your book haul cheers

[@kennyrh9269]

Hi there and thanks for your comment. I've always been more fond of US editions from the old days when we had shops that imported all the paperbacks from the States. I prefer the old 60s artwork or the fantastic artwork on the DAW books. We do have some nice art on some UK editions though. Yes the Other Days Other Eyes Ace edition is not the easiest to find, probably because it is a "true" first edition I believe.That Gene Wolfe edition might seem a bit problematic also. I saw Stephen's video with the Frazetta "mushroom" cover and I thought what great taste he has at the time.

[@anthonybkr]

Hey Kenny! Hope you're well!

[@kennyrh9269]

Hi anthony. Yes still blundering along and about as fit as a 76-year-old can be .👍

[@quaverflava3639]

I’m not into the novel videos kenny. I’m definitely in for the steel books and games pick ups 👍🏻

[@kennyrh9269]

Sorry mate, those days are dead and buried I'm sad to say. Good to hear from you though 🥨🥨

[@LD50style]

Great stuff Ken, books are in decent nick for their age! Hope you're well my friend

[@kennyrh9269]

Hi there. I'm in decent nick for my age as well 😄😄

[@jayv3204]

Thank you for the video.

[@kennyrh9269]

Thanks for watching!

[@WestCoastBookAddict-zn8hu]

Hi Kenny, Just paid a visit to my local 2nd hand bookshop yesterday as they posted on Facebook that they had just got in a box of Moorcock books. Picked up a few including that edition of Behold The man (which I've never actually read). Though I was a big Moorcock fan I have to admit that back in the day the Jerry Cornelius books were the ones I liked least. A while back I picked up a slip-cased edition of 4 Cornelius books - should really give them another chance. My favourite Moorcock books outside of the Eternal Champion ones were Gloriana, and The Dancers At The End Of Time series. Read Ringworld many years ago - remember not really enjoying it all that much. A more recent read that also proved to be a bit of a disappointment was Gateway - expected to like that one. It's becoming a bit of a theme in that books I expect to enjoy I don't eg Gateway, Man In The High Castle, Puppet Masters, The Demolished Man, while those I expect to maybe struggle with I end up enjoying such as Neuromancer, Slaughterhouse 5, and Do Androids Dream (because of my earlier problem with Castle). Loved City back in the day - another that I should reread. Agree totally about those Frazetta covers - superb stuff. Roll on the next DAW update! Cheers... Peter

[@kennyrh9269]

Hi Peter. As far as Moorcock goes I have always loved the Elric books. I just finished the entire saga a few weeks back - 7 volumes all 2--300 pages on average. Really enjoyed it though. I've never really fancied the Cornelius books for some reason although I have enjoyed a fair bit of Moorcocks new wave stuff. As you say many prominent SF novels tend to disappoint. When I was doing my Hugo thing of trying to read all the winners I found quite a few less than rewarding. Canticle For Leibowitz, Ringworld, Man In The High Castle, Stranger in a Strange Land and A Case of Conscience to name just a few. I think it's the weight of expectation that comes into play. I could run a list of a dozen cover artists that I really love but Frazetta is king. You're wish is granted . . .DAW double video being prepared as we speak. Take care Kenny.

[@WestCoastBookAddict-zn8hu]

@@kennyrh9269 Canticle For Leibowitz was actually a favourite of mine - another that needs a reread.

[@chrisgude1091]

Kenny ist der Beste.👍

[@kennyrh9269]

Danke schoen 😇

[@expressoric]

I've read the novel version of "Behold the Man", but I think the original novella is probably better, I don't know. I've also read "The Status Civilisation" and "Journey beyond Tomorrow". "Downward to the Earth", "A Time of Changes" and "Dying Inside" are excellent novels by Silverberg, although I'm not so keen on "A Time of Changes". I didn't like "Up the walls of the World", "Tiptree's short SF is better. "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" is excellent, but I don't like that cover at all. I have the Arrow edition with the excellent Bruce Pennington cover. I haven't read "My name is Legion", but I'm not so keen on any of the other three Zelazny novels you showed.

[@kennyrh9269]

Agreed on Behold The Man, the novel adds very little. Actually when I discuss novels on video it makes me realise how poorly read I am. I always had a penchant for short stories.

[@expressoric]

@@kennyrh9269 I haven't read the original version of "Behold the Man", I just wondered if it might be better than the novel. From what you said, it seems it probably is.