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November 7th, 2011
12:44 pm - Some light reading
Because I have been busy and stressed I have been reading only light and funny books. I have just finished Unseen Academicals and I am listening to Snuff (both Pratchett novels). I know Terry Pratchett is ill, but clearly the work is completely up to his usual impressively realised standard. In fact I think the writing shows assurance and confident expansion into new territory. It's not treading water. I hear that Terry P must now dictate his books, because his particular condition affects the physical process of writing, but has not damaged the creative process of writing (I had a link to more information about this but I've lost it). I just wanted to to make it clear I am not saying the books are 'very good, all things considered' but 'very good, an organic part of the impressive overall work'.
The other book I am reading is Moriarty: The Hound of the D'Urbervilles by Kim Newman. As you can probably guess, this is a reworking of a bunch of Sherlock Holmes stories, as a pastiche, with each mystery solved by Moriarty, whose exploits parallel the equivalent in the original Conan Doyle. The stories are told by a lecherous and violent old soldier, a kind of anti-Watson, who is Moriarty's sidekick. He's a bit like Flashman. It's comic, which means that although the protagonist is thoroughly evil, the good tend to escape and the bad get their come-uppance.
It's really a very silly book, but I am enjoying it because it meets my needs for something light and undemanding. Famous characters appear, some are named, some you have to guess. For example the current story I am reading seems to feature Al Swearengen (not with that name, but with lots of swearing, 'eyebrows like horns' etc.) and his muscular bodyguard Desperado Daniel (with that name). That gives you an idea of the level. Anyway, it's just right for me at the moment.
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a lecherous and violent old soldier, a kind of anti-Watson, who is Moriarty's sidekick
Not Moran? He'd be the obvious one for the role.
I'd never really thought of the lovely Dan Dority as that DD... No, it is Moran but fleshed out more.
I am not totally sure which Dan he is supposed to be, to be honest. Never thought of Dority. But now you've suggested it, the DD = DD theory has possibilities. Perhaps that was Dan in the days before he met Al, when, as he movingly explained, he was an uncultured thug. I never thought of it at all, but now you mention... Not sure whether Dority has a liking for Cow Pies. Good to hear about Terry Prachett.
I rewatched Hogfather the other day and was impressed by how well his work stands up to re-reading and re-watching. I have grown to like him more and more over the years. There's a lot in there, and it all hangs together very impressively I think. Indeed.
There's enough in there that several re-readings later, one can still find things either forgotten or apparently insignificant until several books later. I have no idea how he does that. I agree. I really enjoyed Unseen Academicals - I love the way he pokes fun at the academic establishment while managing to still communicate an appreciation for scholarship of the old-fashioned variety. LOL! Jayne? Orc? Not that much in it? :-) |
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