Welcome back to the April update. There's a new Steam of Consciousness, a character piece from a novel I'm currently working on, Wyrd; it was fun coming back to this character and finding he was still alive and well. There are six new books reviews, a lot of nonfiction, but a lot of interesting stuff. All the links are below in the table. At the bottom you'll find links for the work I've done with Librivox. Also, I'm going to be doing some new and daring that I don't want to talk too much about yet, but as soon as it happens, you'll know about it. Hope you like the new stuff and see you next month!
Alex.
04/10/08
alexctelander.com podcast:
A podcast of this update featuring the Stream of Conscious as well as four of the book reviews.
Immolator: The church is small and unimpressive. But then this is the early days of the religion, barely centuries old. From a distance it could be a tiny, insignificant hut; the color camouflages it against the rocky terrain. It is as one comes closer, closing the distance to the holy place, that one recognizes it as a place of worship.
Chapter 20: Jolus the Malignant II:Jolus the Malignant had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Chosen One and her Guide when the door in front of him blew to smithereens. Some splinters shot passed his head, one burying itself in his hand. He pulled it out, studied the dark red end, stuck it in his mouth, sucking on his own blood. He watched the dust settle and smoke disperse, and then spat out the splinter when he saw the two in the doorway. They looked little worse for wear. He hadn’t necessarily expected them to get this far, and to best all his guards, as well as pass and avoid the traps he’d set along the way. The boy had a wound in his side, but it was minor compared to Jolus’s imagined wounds they should’ve sustained. Seeing them there, ready to do battle, wasn’t as he’d intended it. And he certainly hadn’t expected Kyra to possess a power to demolish one of his doors. This wasn’t the Kyra he’d seen in his visions. For the first time, Jolus wondered about the outcome of this final battle. But he had his ways, one of which was guaranteed to work, should it be necessary.
MYSTERIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES BY THOMAS CAHILL:In the fifth book in his Hinges of History series, Thomas Cahill takes on the period of the middle ages, going into depth on the important people of the era and what effect they had on the history. Regardless of the actual content of the book, Mysteries of the Middles Ages deserves an award for excellence in design and layout. It is one of the most ornate and beautifully designed books I’ve ever read. As soon as one opens the cover, one is greeted by color and lavish design, colorful photographs and paintings, as well as eye-catching and picaresque fonts.
PORTABLE ATHEIST EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS:Christopher Hitchens has made quite a name for himself with his National Book Award nominated book God is Not Great, and before the paperback edition is even out, Hitchens returns with an edited collection of “essential readings for the nonbeliever.” The Portable Atheist may not necessarily be that “portable,” as it is a thick and oversized paperback; but is nevertheless a unique collection of atheist writings taken from the history of the written word.
THE WORLD FROM BEGINNINGS TO 4000 BCE BY IAN TATTERSALL:The World From Beginnings to 4000 BCE marks the first in a brilliant new series from Oxford University Press, bringing a short but thorough history of the world known as The New Oxford World History. The series will be split into three sections: Chronological Volumes, Thematic and Topical Volumes, and Geographical Volumes, each at the affordable paperback price of $19.95, with The World From Beginnings to 4000BCE starting off the Chronological Volumes.
WORLD THAT MADE NEW ORLEANS BY NED SUBLETTE:Ned Sublette, author of Cuba and Its Music, embarks on a daring undertaking in a detailed and complete history of the Big Easy. Sublette spent the 2004-2005 year in New Orleans, leaving just three months before Hurricane Katrina hit and the levees broke, changing the city forever; making this book all the more meaningful and emotional.
NEAR DEATH ON THE HIGH SEAS EDITED BY CECIL KUHNE:The sense of adventure is a facet of humanity, and while some choose to ignore it, others indulge in it: dabbling with the dangerous, playing with the portentous, and facing one’s fears. Near Death on the High Seas is a collection of real life stories about people who strive for thrill and adventure, through the medium they love: a boat and the open sea.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO , I began to volunteer recordings for Librivox. Librivox is a organization that has volunteers record readings of works in the public domain. Below you will find links to the recordings I have completed so far. If you click on the link of the picture to left, you will be taken to my member page at Librivox where you can see works in progress also.
"Wizard" by Larry M. Harris: My first official recording for Librivox. It's the last one on the list in this collection.
