As I mentioned in another thread, I am taking a Fantasy and Horror Lit class this upcoming semester. I just picked up the book list, and thought it looked pretty damn good. I also thought it seemed like it may be right up the alley of a lot Goodjers.
So I thought maybe, as I read these for class, I might find a few folks that might be interested in reading and discussing them here. It would kind of serve as an alternative book club to the class I am taking. SOme people might pick one or a few of the books. I don’t think anyone is going to plow through the entire list over the course of a semester for no credit.
If people are interested, I’d like to keep this thread about these books only. I don’t mind people comparing them to other books, and discussing the other works by these authors, but if discussion could be kept to the topic of how it relates to thee novels, I would appreciate it.
I’m kind of embarrassed to admit that I’ve only read two of the books on the list, and both of them, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland were read more than 20 years ago. It’s one of the reasons I picked this class, as I really do need to start reading more, and this seemed like a good introduction into some of the stuff I used to enjoy. This is a writing and speaking intensive class, so I will not only be writing papers, but having to do some presentations as well.
So what do you say? Anyone feel like reading some fantasy and horror books and talking about them? I will post the dates for when I will be reading them when I get a syllabus, but feel free to read and discuss them whenever it is convenient for you. As such, this thread will be full of spoilers. I’d rather everyone just accept that for this thread, and not worry so much about spoiling.
Without further ado, here is the list of books I will be reading from January 19th, through May 17th.
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
The Woman In Black
Black Hole
The Exorcist
The Exorcist
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
Sharp Teeth
Coraline
Dead Witch Walking
Hellboy: Seed Of Destruction
Hole: Consumer Culture, Volume 1
Geez, why didn't I think of this when I was in college?
"Hey guys, study, err, I mean, leisurely read this material along with me!"
Why, sure thing there Tom, whitewashin' that fence looks FUN!
(I'm teasing, of course. Looks like fun, if I had enough free reading time to keep up.)
Geez, why didn't I think of this when I was in college?
"Hey guys, study, err, I mean, leisurely read this material along with me!"
Why, sure thing there Tom, whitewashin' that fence looks FUN!
(I'm teasing, of course. Looks like fun, if I had enough free reading time to keep up.)
I forgot to mention, there is a nominal fee to take part in this...
Bah, why were all my classes focussed on things like economics, human resources, accounting, ethics and the like... Stupid Business 
Never ceases to amuse/annoy me in equal measure that they renamed HP1 to 'Sorcerer' because they US publishers figured American kids would never read a book with the word 'Philosopher' in the title 
Also : The Woman in Black is probably one of my favorite ghost stories ever. Might just have to track down that audio version I have somewhere and give it another listen.
A couple on this list that I've always meant to get around to reading so this might be a good excuse to finally pick them up. Dunno about that Kim Harrison one though...looks like it's treading dangerously close to Twilight territory for my liking...
Dunno about that Kim Harrison one though...looks like it's treading dangerously close to Twilight territory for my liking...
Read that one a few years back. It's much closer to early Anita Blake than it is Twilight and, personally, I didn't find it all that good. Kelley Armstrong is a much better author in a similar vein.
Bah, why were all my classes focussed on things like economics, human resources, accounting, ethics and the like... Stupid Business :(
Yeah, this is my last hurrah. My next two and half years will feature twelve math, two econ and two logic classes.
Seems a lot more Horror than Fantasy focused. I can't say I agree with the reading list either - King and Lovecraft seem like essential reading in a comprehensive discussion of Horror literature, and the fact that fantasy luminaries such as Martin and Erikson are missing just makes me cry.
All subjective, of course, but just had to add my two cents
I've been meaning to head to the library lately. I'll try to take this list with me and see what I turn up with.
I've been meaning to head to the library lately. I'll try to take this list with me and see what I turn up with.
14 year old boys with hair down to their left jawline and dog collars on their wrists that stare at you with the sound of Linkin Park coming out of their pitch black iPods.
What's up with two versions of The Exorcist (which is a f*cking creepy book, IMO)?
What's up with two versions of The Exorcist (which is a f*cking creepy book, IMO)?
The second one is an in-depth look at the events the book was based on, as well a look at what went into the making of the movie.
I agree that there seems to be some holes in the offerings. Lovecraft would have been great, but I've read enough Stephen King that it doesn't bother me that he was missed. I've probably read a dozen of his books, but still need to get back into the Dark Tower series. I stalled on the third book.
But I'm willing to give the professor the benefit of the doubt in his selections, as I'm sure he has picked out books that will address issues that he wants to cover in the class. I mainly thought it was a nice mix of books I know I should read, with some I am not familiar with, but seem to be good. I don't think adding these books to the list of things I have read will hurt me.
Overall, it should make for an interesting semester. Considering I will be taking biology and calculus at the same time, it will probably cut into what little gaming time I had to begin with.
It seems to me that if you're going to look at Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard should also be considered. The man practically invented the modern fantasy novel.
Prozac wrote:Bah, why were all my classes focussed on things like economics, human resources, accounting, ethics and the like... Stupid Business :(
Yeah, this is my last hurrah. My next two and half years will feature twelve math, two econ and two logic classes.
Sucker.
I agree that there seems to be some holes in the offerings. Lovecraft would have been great, but I've read enough Stephen King that it doesn't bother me that he was missed. I've probably read a dozen of his books, but still need to get back into the Dark Tower series. I stalled on the third book.
He lost me on the dark tower at Wolves of the Calla(?), what with the ....
Dr Doom robots wielding light-sabres and (I shit you not) deadly Quiddich snitches. I like how it tied in to Salems Lot and some of his other stories though.
Suppose I should try to finish these one of these days just to get them out of the way
Also, I picked up the latest King Book but, correct me if I'm wrong, but going by the cover and teaser blurb....did he just completely steal the plot of the Simpsons Movie?
He lost me on the dark tower at Wolves of the Calla(?), what with the ....
Yeah, I barely even remember anything that happens after that point. Three giant novels and I have a hard time recalling what they contained. On the other hand, the first 2 books I recall vividly.
Reminds me of the time I took a young adult lit class as one of my requirements for my degree. Great class, not just because of the reading list, but the prof was great, too. The best part about the class was that all of the books for the class could be finished in a couple hours. They all looked like regular paperbacks, but as is typical with young adult lit and the desire to stir some kind of confidence from reading, the typeset was much larger and spacier than it needed to be. It was an evening class, so every week when we discussed a new book, I read it in the few hours between my day classes ending and the beginning of the night class.
Lovecraft is a gaping hole in this course, that's for sure. I can't think of one instance of his work that I've read that I ever disliked for any reason. There's something about his imagery that grabs my imagination. I like it when authors can do that.
Martin is missing from the fantasy side of things, but what's missing is a true, and yet under-appreciated, master of the genre, Guy Gavriel Kay. Tigana is a bit hefty for a semester-long class, but there are a few other selections of his that aren't terribly overlong.
No Dracula? I know its pretty over-read but that is pretty much the foundation of modern horror and vampire fiction. Maybe they just figure everyone read it in high school. The omission of King and Barker seems odd as well. If you don't want them read directly at least throw in some Lovecraft and examine him as a sort of progenitor of modern horror.
the fact that fantasy luminaries such as Martin and Erikson are missing just makes me cry.
I can forgive them for omitting GRRM. I find the Song of Ice and Fire fairly entertaining but I don't find them to be really deep. I don't really think Martin has much to say really beyond a pathological obsession with cruelty to horses tempered with an equal obsession with food and sex with under-aged girls. To introduce, say, Game of Thrones into a Lit Class is just an open invitation for the clever class members to snark on it for a day and discard it.
I've probably read half of those books and I'm surprised by the inclusion of Kim Harrison. Though I'm guessing from others on the list that they're trying to hit the new pulp horror in addition to the "classics" in order to round out one's perspective. Otherwise the inclusion of HellBoy would also confuse me. My wife has literally read all of the Kim Harrison witch novels at least 3 times and she describes the books as a female knock-off of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (which she also loves).
I'm totally up for reading some of these books. There's a few of them that definitely intrigue me that are on your list, while others I'll probably pass on. But it'll be fun to read and discuss. 
To introduce, say, Game of Thrones into a Lit Class is just an open invitation for the clever class members to snark on it for a day and discard it.
As opposed to Harry Potter and Hellboy?
This is a class on Fantasy and Horror, not high literature. Nothing that could be presented would be without flaws, and very little Fantasy and Horror can be considered "very deep". I just think that if you took a survey of fantasy fans on this site and asked them who their favorite current author was, GRRM would be at the top (The thread on the HBO show is oozing with neverending fanboy delight), and with good reason.
It could've been worse, it could've been Twilight. I find it strange that Lovecraft has been omitted seeing that he is awesome in every which way. Racist yes, but still awesome! You should probably check him out outside of the curriculum. You know you want to. Go ahead! 
I'll nth suprise that Lovecraft isn't included. Considering how much Hellboy is inspired by the Cthulu Mythos, it's baffling.
Amoebic wrote:I've been meaning to head to the library lately. I'll try to take this list with me and see what I turn up with.
14 year old boys with hair down to their left jawline and dog collars on their wrists that stare at you with the sound of Linkin Park coming out of their pitch black iPods.
I'm totally okay with getting ogled by nubile young mens while getting my book on.
For anyone interested in this, we are reading Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this week, and Susan Hill's The Woman in Black for the following week.
Also, some of you will be pleased to know that the semester started off with a bunch of short stories, and we did get an H.P. Lovecraft story in, Pickman's Model. To be honest, I wasn't all that impressed with the story. I much preferred Dicken's The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton and M.R. James' Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad. If you are interested in these short stories, I've found them on the net pretty easily.
We also read a few Japanese, Chinese,and Indian ghost stories. The majority of those were pretty bad. Although The Story of Imi-Nahi-Hoichi was a pretty good tale.
I'll nth suprise that Lovecraft isn't included.
Make that n+1. One story does not do justice to a paragon of the genre of Spec-fi.
I saw The Woman in Black as a minimalist show in London years ago (I think there were like, 2.5 actors, and very few props). Scared the SH!# out of me. I bought a t-shirt and everything.
Cool course, and they never really get the book selections right. I took both Arthurian Lit and Science Fiction courses in college. The sci fi course did Heinlein, but it was Have Spacesuit, Will Travel. The greatest sci fi author, and we read one of his books aimed at juveniles.
Stengah wrote:I'll nth surprise that Lovecraft isn't included.
Make that n+1. One story does not do justice to a paragon of the genre of Spec-fi.
I agree, actually. I'm kind of disappointed that it was just that one story. But the professor really is using different books to illustrate different ideas, so I don't mind getting introduced to a wider selection.
I think Stephen King should have been included, but then, I've already a read of a ton of it. And that may have to do with why there is so little Lovecraft and no King.
Oh! Thanks for bumping this, I forgot to go to the library. Will try again soon.
Oh! Thanks for bumping this, I forgot to go to the library. Will try again soon.
No problem. For what it's worth, I picked up RLS's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which included several other short stories, for $5 at Barnes and Noble last weekend.
Also, as I am reading this, it is actually kind of interesting to comapare this to the BBC miniseries, Jekyll. The themes that are play in here were actually used quite effectively in the TV series. The professor has asked us to note the significance of how the characters relate to each other as friends, as well as the role that the homes play in the story. This plays into the series quite well.
For anyone interested in this, we are reading Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this week, and Susan Hill's The Woman in Black for the following week.
If I have time, rereading Hyde would be a good way to spend it.
boogle wrote:Stengah wrote:I'll nth surprise that Lovecraft isn't included.
Make that n+1. One story does not do justice to a paragon of the genre of Spec-fi.
I agree, actually. I'm kind of disappointed that it was just that one story. But the professor really is using different books to illustrate different ideas, so I don't mind getting introduced to a wider selection.
I think Stephen King should have been included, but then, I've already a read of a ton of it. And that may have to do with why there is so little Lovecraft and no King.
Cool course, and they never really get the book selections right. I took both Arthurian Lit and Science Fiction courses in college. The sci fi course did Heinlein, but it was Have Spacesuit, Will Travel. The greatest sci fi author, and we read one of his books aimed at juveniles.
I've run into this idea a few times, and while I sympathize with recommending books with rationales such as "you have to read this because it's awesome" or "this is one of the 10 most important books in the genre," I think professors have to come at their lists by starting with concepts they want to hit instead of with books or authors they think are important. Sometimes this means they pick a title because it doesn't deviate from the genre standard in any meaningful way--as a way of familiarizing students with the genre's conventions. So the prof gets a list of important concepts and then tries to pick books that will hit as many of those concepts as economically as possible. A lot of times this means picking something like "Have Spacesuit," since it's fairly simple, readily available and quick--and the professor gets to give a little nod to Heinlein in the process.
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