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I'm going through a William Gibson phase so I'm on Zero History now.
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KingofGnG: Finished reading The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft.
Probably one of the most intense and atmospheric works of his that I've read.
Post edited February 22, 2013 by Navagon
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Navagon: Probably one of the most intense and atmospheric works of his that I've read.
And he didn't like it, so the novel was published after his death :-P

Among Lovecraft's works I have already read (I'm planning to get this anthology of everything he wrote (translated in Italian) as soon as I find a copy) I still prefer At the Mountains of Madness, though.
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KingofGnG: And he didn't like it, so the novel was published after his death :-P

Among Lovecraft's works I have already read (I'm planning to get this anthology of everything he wrote (translated in Italian) as soon as I find a copy) I still prefer At the Mountains of Madness, though.
That's a pretty odd choice of cover illustration. :D But then the UK anthologies use clip art on the cover, so yeah. It seems to go with the territory. Which is a shame as Lovecraft deserves an epic painting for the cover.
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Navagon: That's a pretty odd choice of cover illustration. :D But then the UK anthologies use clip art on the cover, so yeah. It seems to go with the territory. Which is a shame as Lovecraft deserves an epic painting for the cover.
I think it's the stylized type of covers chosen by the Italian publisher (Newton Compton Editori) for that particular line of books ("I Mammut", giant tomes pretty full of stuff for classic authors and whatnot). Previous editions of the book had a different choice of cover, but I don't complain for this last one: Newton Compton was instrumental for popularizing Lovecraft (again) in Italy during the Nineties, and I first read his novels and short stories thanks to these books.
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KingofGnG: I think it's the stylized type of covers chosen by the Italian publisher (Newton Compton Editori) for that particular line of books ("I Mammut", giant tomes pretty full of stuff for classic authors and whatnot). Previous editions of the book had a different choice of cover, but I don't complain for this last one: Newton Compton was instrumental for popularizing Lovecraft (again) in Italy during the Nineties, and I first read his novels and short stories thanks to these books.
Well that does make a lot more sense then.

Not that it stops me wanting an epic oil painting of Cthulhu adorning the cover. :(
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Navagon: Well that does make a lot more sense then.

Not that it stops me wanting an epic oil painting of Cthulhu adorning the cover. :(
Bah, I still have to find an illustration capable of capturing the first impression of the Giant Outer God I had while reading The Call of Cthulhu...
I'm currently reading... this thread! :-D

Seriously, I'm in the middle of a reader's block now. I have been trying to read Tim Powers' Declare in the last several weeks but have not really advanced beyond the first chapter... *sigh*

The last one I read, back in January, was Robert R. McCammon's The Hunter from the Woods.
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KingofGnG: Bah, I still have to find an illustration capable of capturing the first impression of the Giant Outer God I had while reading The Call of Cthulhu...
It's probably a task that's beyond a static image's capabilities. Even so I'm sure a worthy attempt could be made.
Started reading the Psychopath Test. I read about it awhile ago and it seemed like a cool concept, but now I can't even remember exactly what it's supposed to be about . On page 30 and still don't know. Not complaining, I actually like it like that
Finished reading "Lords of the sword" (in Italian), a collection of short stories by Robert Ervin Howard centered on the North European tribes, kings, gods and historical battles. With a bit of Lovecraftian myths, too.

The stories:
- The Temple of Abomination
- Worms of the Earth
- Kings of the Night
- The Grey God Passes
- The Dark Man

Anyway, 4/5: Howard's fiction about bloodthirsty warriors and barbaric battles full of butchered bodies and intestines flying around is still "fresh", even almost 100 years after its first publication!
Almost done reading The Lover by Marguerite Duras which is amazing. Got Kafka's The Metamorphosis after.
NOTHING! GOG keeps taking it away from me! :P
The House on the Borderland. Only got it in the mail 2 days ago so it's still to early to say if it's good. So far it's quite interesting.
This is an interesting thread. I'm jotting down some titles for future reference.
Reamde by Neal Stephenson. Really like it, but he tends to ramble a wee bit.
Story of a Nobody, by Anton Chekhov. I don't read canonical lit much anymore, but this is surprisingly good, droll social commentary in novel form. I think much of that probably owes to a new translation, the way Louis Malle's Vanya on 42nd Street caliber was predicated on the sharp script by David Mamet.

And on the more edgy, punk side: Wetbones, by horror legend John Shirley. I read the original years back, so re-reading it in a revamped "authorized" edition is a welcome return visit.