Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Ill Met in Lankhmar

by Fritz Leiber

Years ago, in the days of my youth, I went through a fantasy kick and purchased many a fantastic narrative in paperback form. Among my collection was all six volumes of Fritz Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories, published by Ace Books. Less years ago, in the days of my not-so-youth, I winnowed my book collection and got rid of the tomes I figured I would probably not need to read again. Four of the six F&tGM books left my shelves and went adventuring. Not quite a quarter of a year ago, I found my self on vacation in need of reading material. I went on a paperback quest and purchased this volume--a collection of collections--a republishing of the first two volumes of Ace's series. Weird.

Anyway, enough back story. How was the book? Very good. Fafhrd and the Mouser's adventures are exciting and amusing. Like many sword and sorcery heroes, they are paragons of strength and skill, performing mighty deeds. But they also have very human foibles, getting dragged down by things like pride or drunken stupidity. All in all, the tales are a pleasure to read.

So, today, I find myself taking an old book off my shelf and putting a newer edition on my shelf. There might be a profound lesson to be learned from this, but I doubt it.

LibraryThing link

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Sunday, September 21, 2014

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

edited by Ralph D. Winter & Steven C. Hawthorn

It's always a joy to finish a textbook. No matter how interesting the topic, reading a textbook is an effort and I'm very glad to see the last page. Perspectives is a course on cross cultural mission work that friends have been recommending for years. As interesting as it sounds, I've never taken it--a 15 week course is a time commitment I don't think I can afford at this stage in life. A couple of years ago, however, I happened to see an earlier edition of the textbook at a used book sale. After a few months of letting sit on my shelf, I finally cracked it open and have spent quite some time slowly making my way through the biblical, historical, cultural and strategic perspectives of Christianity. It's been a fascinating and thought provoking ride. I feel vindicated in not trying to squeeze the course into my daily life. But it also pushes me to question my priorities and wonder how I might be a better servant of Jesus here in my own corner of the world. Read this book at your own risk.

 LibraryThing link

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Friday, September 19, 2014

The Kalahari Typing School for Men

by Alexander McCall Smith

Okay, I liked book 4 better than book 3. In this installment of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, Precious Ramotswe encounters some problems with her foster children, a new competitor in the detective business and helps a man make amends for past sins. Meanwhile, Mma. Makutsi adds a new startup business to her areas of responsibility. It's all presented with the quirkiness and sweetness that keeps this series on my family's bookshelves.

 LibraryThing link

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Morality for Beautiful Girls

by Alexander McCall Smith

Book 3 of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. An enjoyable read, spoiled slightly by the fact that I had already watched the TV adaption of the stories. Still, it was well worth checking out.

LibraryThing link

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Tuesday, September 02, 2014

The Nitrogen Fix

This one's a bit of classic science fiction, a tale set on a future Earth where the chemical composition of the atmosphere has shifted to contain more nitrogen and less oxygen. Humanity is reduced to living indoors, only venturing forth with necessary oxygen masks. The story revolves around a low-caste trading couple and their alien business partner who get wound up with a group of young rebels. The book was entertaining enough, though hardly a page-turner.

Or, to put it another way: 'Tis waiting room material.
LibraryThing link

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