Thanks for the pointer, Rafe. I read Der Golem sometime in the mid 80s, but back then it didn't appeal to me for whatever reasons. Perhaps I should give it another try.

I have to say, the stuff I read so far was solid, but not especially appealing.

It's very esoteric, unnecessary complex and overloaded literature - but, since I like Kafka as well as the 1920ss fantasy writers,
it works for me. Der Golem is not actually THAT good, though. I like Der weiße Dominikaner, though that one is batshit crazy.

But, now, after yet another day over the books, I doubt I would touch them again if not for my research.

It's like they are written like on drugs and hell boring. Think, Hermann Hesse's Steppenwolf, just even slower,
and less transparent to the reader.

In contrast, I have lately read Arthur Miller's "Presence" collection, and that, while equally slow and somber, was a very entertaining read.

Bumpin' and sticky'ing this one.

Always delighted to get new input from you guys.

Right now, rereading "Dracula", and will likely take a while forit, but welcoming any suggestions for other good stuff.

Also on my list: Boris Akunin's "The Death of Achilles".

I just picked up a new book called "Under the Moons of Mars", which is an anthology of new short stories set in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom. The first story is decent enough so far, and I have high hopes for the rest of the book.

Not exactly Blackmoor, but pretty cool.

I am reading this one: "After London", by Richard Jeffries.

http://matt-landofnod.blogspot.com/2012 ... -that.html

Not "the best read", but, hell, most engaging, if you buy into the premise.

I've just re-read John Ringo's 'Looking Glass' series.

Salutes to various sci-fi classics, and a good sense of humour, make this a great series. The science is a bit hard core at times, but the action more than makes up for it. There's even space hamsters!

I am reading book two of the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire.

Now that the campaign is over, and I have, like, ENDLESS time, I have gotten myself a Clark Ashton Smith anthology.

I expected to find campy crap; I am surprised to find some excellent prose in an engaging, if a bit outdated, short story collection.

I'd like to make the case for this most excellent book:

The Road to Xanadu, by John Livingston Lowes.
It's the best book I have read in the last ten years, and this I say not out of some strange sort of euphoria, but out of true conviction.

Hey, Sirs, recommend me a good book, please!

My bookshelf is full of university stuff, but... It's summer.