Whats everyone reading?

[Dark Jimbo]

...I'm definitely not going to start with snoozefest The Magician's Nephew.  It's chronologically first, but it's written as a prequel whose only real interest comes from finding out How Things Came To Be in the later books you've already read.

Nobody seems to like that one much, but it's been one of my favourites by far since I first read the series aged about seven. I like the strong Edwardian vibe, all creepy attics, gas lights and hansom cabs, and the occult elements feel more magical for being contrasted against this, especially when everything spills back into London. I also like the break with the narrative pattern that most of the others slipped into - what with the magic rings and the forest pools and whatnot taking everyone backwards and forwards throughout several different worlds, it really feels like all bets are off and anything could happen; rather than the straight 'end up in Narnia - have adventure - go home' of other books. It's got a great cast, a cracking villian, creepy atmosphere... it's just great. Far and away one of the best.

I often wonder what I'd think of the Narnia books if I hadn't read them first at such a young age. I doubt I'd like them half as much, to be honest - possibly not at all. A strong part of their appeal for me is the memory of sneaking a torch to bed and reading under the covers twenty years ago, and getting totally wrapped up in the plots.

[Kirbs]

Reading the League of Extrordinary Gentlemen volume one. Quarter of the way in and loving it, can't believe I've waited this long to read it. I'm very far behind on graphic novel I should read, bad geek

[Hawkmumbler]

Doctor who Magazine comic- The child of time part one
Axos cameo!

[HdE]

Going against the advice of a few chums who warned me off it, I started reading 'Punisher: War Journal' last night.

The series spins out of Marvel's Civil War storyline, and I have to say, it's absolutely great! There were a few blips in the storytelling I could have done without, where things aren't too clearly explained in the narrative. But those infrequent problems aside, this is gnarly stuff. Issue #4, which features a pub full of despondent super-villains, is especially great.

[Bhuna]

I've just picked up a copy of Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli. Really looking forward to reading it.

[Robin Low]

...I'm definitely not going to start with snoozefest The Magician's Nephew.  It's chronologically first, but it's written as a prequel whose only real interest comes from finding out How Things Came To Be in the later books you've already read.

Nobody seems to like that one much, but it's been one of my favourites by far since I first read the series aged about seven.

You're not alone. The Wood between the Worlds remains one of the most thrilling and inspiring things I've ever experienced - perhaps I would be unimpressed now, but aged 10 it was something incredibly special. Oddly enough, the book was mentioned at work today and one of my colleagues was full or praise for many aspects of it, including the creepy attics you mention.

Regards

Robin

[Dark Jimbo]

The Wood between the Worlds remains one of the most thrilling and inspiring things I've ever experienced - perhaps I would be unimpressed now, but aged 10 it was something incredibly special.

There you go! I found stuff like that and the rings gripped my imagination far more than anything in the later books - (except perhaps Tash and the scenes on Stable Hill in The Last Battle.)

[Colin YNWA]

A couple of day ago I finished the four 'The Scorpion' albums from Cinebooks which contain the first 6 Belgium albums and what a mighty fine yarn they are. Real ripe snorting rompery. The led isn't a million miles from Dante, okay so not quite Dante good but he has similar qualities and tone of the books ain't a million miles off either.

I know a few other people have popped on here and said this but they really are well worth reading and though they aren't Sci-Fi (set in a pretty accurate (to me at least) mid 18th Century) they do feel quite 2000ad. Either way rollicking good fun and highly recommended.

We're 3 volumes behind here, come on Cinebooks get the rest out will ya.

[SmallBlueThing]

Complete joy overwhelmed me this morning as i popped into oxfam to recuperate from having a finger shoved up my bum by a woman half my age. I found this:

DEVIL WORSHIP IN BRITAIN
by A.V. Sellwood & Peter Haining (Corgi, 1964, original price 3/6)

"A startling exposé which reveals the shocking facts of satanism today. An obscene rite in the west country... Voodoo... The nude dancers of the north... The tiki ritual murders... A black mass at clop-hill... SEXUAL ORGIES... The temple of paganism in hertfordshire... The death curse... The blood-filled chalice at chideock... These are a few of the horrifying aspects of satanism described in this FASCINATING AND OUT-SPOKEN BOOK"

Bloody great. A marvellous example of the early sixties' lurid fascination for all things satanic. And from the pen of arch-hack Peter Haining, too. Could it get any better?

It tries hard to adopt a moralistic, learned tone, but lets itself down rather by advertising the following works in the back: The Philanderer, Nurse Off Camera, The Bridal Bed, Sexual Behaviour, and my personal favourite; Lady Behave.

SBT

[Dandontdare]

Complete joy overwhelmed me this morning as i popped into oxfam to recuperate from having a finger shoved up my bum by a woman half my age.

I refer you to my learned colleague's comment on another thread:

you sometimes have to crack the spines to work out what's going on in the crease.

Must you constantly bring up your appalling sexual proclivities?

[MikeONeill]

Lately I've been getting into the sub-genre of 'comics journalism'. I've recently finished reading both Guy Delisle's Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea and Joe Sacco's Palestine. Each documenting the author's journey through a foreign country. Delisle's book is especially interesting - a glimpse into the strange, disquieting and sometimes surreal world of North Korea, or at least the few parts of it they're willing to show foriegners.

I'm currently reading Joe Sacco's Footnotes in Gaza. The story follows the author's attempts to track down information on a near-forgotten massacre during the Suez War - one of the 'Footnotes' of the title. The book weaves half-remembered and time-worn memories of 1956 with the daily lives of people in a land that generates both history and grievance day by day.

If you're interested in real-life stories told through the medium of comic books, I'd recommend both authors - but I'd especially recommend Sacco. He's won prizes for a reason...

[Ignatzmonster]

I'm currently reading Joe Sacco's Footnotes in Gaza. The story follows the author's attempts to track down information on a near-forgotten massacre during the Suez War - one of the 'Footnotes' of the title. The book weaves half-remembered and time-worn memories of 1956 with the daily lives of people in a land that generates both history and grievance day by day.

If you're interested in real-life stories told through the medium of comic books, I'd recommend both authors - but I'd especially recommend Sacco. He's won prizes for a reason...

Yeah I always feel a little broader in mind after reading Sacco. It's not just facts. You feel like you've met the people affected and shared a little of their perspective. Will give Delisle a try.

[SmallBlueThing]

Im 65 pages into DEVIL WORSHIP IN BRITAIN and am absolutely aghast at the level of bigotry, casual racism, intolerance, and pro-christian and anti-permissive society scaremongering bandied about by haining and sellwood.

I have no religious beliefs whatsoever, other than to call it all bollocks, whatever creed it pretends to be. And that includes witchcraft. However, i despair at this book. It's almost hilarious, if it werent a mass market paperback from a major publisher that would have been read by many thousands over the last fifty years. Ye gods. Some of my favourite bits so far:

"threats and obscenities come naturally from the kinky." Which may become my new sig, if im honest.

Following some animal remains being found in bedfordshire, "the first tendency of the police and the inspector was to look for a rational explanation. Gypsies had been active in the area."

Everyone interviewed is either 'furtive', a 'weakling', 'confused', or if they are female, 'comely'. Books on witchcraft by 'learned men' are excusable, those by women, or costing £5, are not. Because it wouldnt be reasonable to suggest small print runs lead to higher costs, would it? Of course, twenty years later haining would voice no concerns about his own 'dr who a celebration' being so massively overpriced i had to literally beg for it as my main xmas present...

Throughout the book so far, witchcraft is straightforwardly painted as 'rubbish, but dangerous rubbish'. The authors call for a ban, or 'registration' of covens, championing the cause of cmmr j s kerans, who called for parliament to ban witchcraft- oh, and also for the 'mercy killing of thalidomide babies'.

It goes without saying, that 'science fiction, television, 'x' films and pornographic literature' have just been introduced on page 63 as behind it all. It seems, despite practicioners being 'deluded', witchcraft is 'inherently evil' and therefore dangerous.

I cannot wait to see what pages 66-124 bring, and am already excited at the mention of my neck of the woods, coming up.

[Zarjazzer]

Lately I have rushed through "Dead men walking" and "Atlas Infernal" both jolly WH40k books and have just finished the latest George Mann "Immorality Engine" a steam punk-ish book which was a rip roarer. Just got Vendetta in Gotham Batman versus a certain Judge  which had great Cam Kennedy artwork. Thought Grant and Wagner  had d gone mad about half way through it but it all got right in the end.

Classy Heavy Metal arrived to day as well, some amazing art in it but haven't yet read the stories as yet.

[Hawkmumbler]

Lately I have rushed through "Dead men walking" and "Atlas Infernal" both jolly WH40k books and have just finished the latest George Mann "Immorality Engine" a steam punk-ish book which was a rip roarer. Just got Vendetta in Gotham Batman versus a certain Judge  which had great Cam Kennedy artwork. Thought Grant and Wagner  had d gone mad about half way through it but it all got right in the end.

Classy Heavy Metal arrived to day as well, some amazing art in it but haven't yet read the stories as yet.

I haven't actualy read ANY of the Batman and Dredd crossovers.
I have heard many good things about them, but I will wait and see if another files book will be released.