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September book of the month
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Message 1.Â
Posted by SequoiaTree (U2266143) on Monday, 19th September 2011
The Anubis Gates
I was given a copy of this book by a friend, and after the first few pages, was hooked.
In 1985 an American professor of English arrives in London to give a talk on Samuel Taylor Coleridge to a select group of enthusiasts. He is well qualified to give the talk, as he is currently working on a biography of Coleridge. While in London, he hopes to continue his research, and in particular to find out more about an obscure nineteenth century American poet who seems to have been present at the lecture given by Coleridge that is to form the basis for the talk. He is also fascinated by reports in the newspapers of the times of the appearance on several occasions of dancing apes, and hopes to find out more information on this as well.
On arriving in London, he learns that the group is to attend the actual lecture by Coleridge, by traveling through one of many gaps in the fabric of time – the Anubis Gates of the title. By being in the right place at the right time, and with a sufficiently strong power source, it is, according to the wealthy businessman who has organized the event, possible to travel to any time, and back again. The professor agrees to go along with the group, and they assemble on the Hackney Marshes, appropriately dressed and equipped for their brief excursion back in time. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, plenty, as it happens. To begin with, they are not the only ones taking advantage of this particular time-portal; the other would-be time travelers are beings of a very different kind from the group accompanying the professor. Then the professor becomes separated from his group, and fails to make it to the rendezvous in time to make the jump back to the twentieth century. He is left to fend for himself in nineteenth century London, a task for which he is at the outset at least completely unprepared. The story goes through many twists and turns, in the course of which he discovers the identity of the obscure American poet – and in the process comes upon a kind of literary Grandfather Paradox - and unravels the mystery of the dancing apes. The book ends with one final twist in the tale/tail.
This is definitely one for those who enjoy a walk on the weird side! -
Message 2
Posted by Bette (U2222559) on Monday, 19th September 2011
Thanks for opening this discussion, Sequoia.
I have to confess that I took the wrong book on holiday last week, so am going to start 'the Anubis Gates' today! Sorry. I'll be back anon with my comments.
For those who wish to know more about the Book of the Month Club, here is the general thread which explains how it functions, and gives links to previous discussions and forthcoming books for the rest of this year. If anyone would like to introduce a book in 2012, please post on this link:
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Message 3
Posted by SequoiaTree (U2266143) on Monday, 19th September 2011
Sorry Bette, didn't realise I needed to post in the Bull as well.
I've now done it, with a link to the September discussion. -
Message 4
Posted by Babs (U12089863) on Monday, 19th September 2011
Just butting in to say, thanks for posting this - I've bought the book on the strength of it, simply because you have painted such an intriguing view of it.
Sounds good! -
Message 5
Posted by Bearhug (U2258283) on Monday, 19th September 2011
I picked this up in the library some years back, just on the offchance, and was really pleased I did. (Not all such random selections are so great.) I then proceeded to read their entire Tim Powers collection, which turned out to be all two of them. He's written more, and I don't understand why he's not more widely known and available.
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Message 6
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Wednesday, 21st September 2011
Horrobin - terrifying for all sorts of reasons.
I once saw a Punch and Judy show (which I love) in which Punch started the performance by lying on his back and kicking his legs in the air.Couldn't help thinking of Horrobin's Spoon Size Boys -
Message 7
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Thursday, 22nd September 2011
Well looks like no one read this.Don't know why.It's a romp and a pantomime.The villains, so very villainous and the heroes full of spunk and pluck.
Favourite scenes are Horrobin stalking his prey at the docks, the description of his stilts thumping the wood gave me shivers, and the summoning of the fire demons who will only talk to the gypsy's boots.
The end is a bit garbled maybe but it hurtles along so swiftly you barely notice the cracks.
It's probably one of my most frequent rereads.Every few years or so after I can't quite remember the intricacies of the death of the soul switching werewolf, it's time to pick the book up again.
If you're going to buy this, get several copies.If you lend it out, you never get it back. -
Message 8
Posted by Bette (U2222559) on Thursday, 22nd September 2011
Give it time, SN. This is usually a slow-moving thread, and people can and do pop in over a couple of weeks. I've started the book, but haven't got far enough to comment, yet.
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Message 9
Posted by Babs (U12089863) on Friday, 23rd September 2011
My copy arrived yesterday, and I started reading it this morning (at 4am!). Have read the prologue and a couple of pages into the first chapter, and I'm gripped by it already.
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Message 10
Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Thursday, 29th September 2011
Hi SequoiaTree, Sorry to come late to the party, but I was away and only picked up The Anubis Gates from the library yesterday.
I can see why many people find the book a great read, but I couldn't really get into it - I think you put your finger on it in your last sentence:
"This is definitely one for those who enjoy a walk on the weird side!"
Strange, because I like (most) sci-fi and dystopian fiction. However, I seem to have a mental block when it comes to fantasy, horror and the supernatural. Go figure.
Actually, I did find parts of the book engrossing, and sometimes found it hard to put down; trouble is, I then had trouble making myself pick it up again. I did rather like the twist at the end, btw.
Anyway, for Tim Powers fans, I wonder if this book, recently reviewed in - ahem - the Waitrose Weekend publication, might be of interest: 'To Say Nothing of the Dog' by Connie Willis. It is a science-fiction fantasy dressed up as a Victorian novel, with and includes time travel and a Gothic villaines. Val McDermid recommends it, if that is any encouragement!
Rusty -
Message 11
Posted by Sea Nymph (U1474682) on Thursday, 29th September 2011
The book group that Soup Dragon goes along to sometimes has been plodding through and hating American Gods by Neil Gaiman.
Now this is a great book (Soupy thinks so too) but obviously hasn't found its way into the hearts of those readers.
Maybe fantasy books are a harder sell for the general reader because you have to peep behind the magic to see what the book is actually saying.
Not that The Anubis Gates is saying very much beyond here's a story about time travellers versus 19C Egyptian magicians, so hang on for a bumpy ride -
Message 12
Posted by Bette (U2222559) on Saturday, 15th October 2011
Actually, I did find parts of the book engrossing, and sometimes found it hard to put down; trouble is, I then had trouble making myself pick it up againÂ
Oh dear, this is what I have found. I've read half the book, and enjoyed some of it quite a lot - but then RL called, I put down the book, and have not managed to pick it up again. Sorry, it is just not a good time for leisurely reading for me at the moment. I can't remember ever enjoying a sci-fi novel, so this one engaged my interest more than any other. I enjoyed the actual style of writing. -
Message 13
Posted by kittismum (U2266865) on Saturday, 15th October 2011
I brought this book last week after looking at this thread and was willing to give it a try although I have never read this genre before. I have to say I couldn't put it down and although I usually go to bed well before 9pm I had to stay up late a few nights to finish it off. It was a very good book and I am terrified of Clowns in RL. I think my brain didn't let me imagine too much, only what it knew I could take - if that makes sense. It was good to read a book that scared me and entertained me at the same time and I will look at his later books and give them a try too. Thanks for the push to read something I wouldn't usually try. Gwen x
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Message 14
Posted by th_ange (U2258550) on Saturday, 15th October 2011
Am on my 3rd copy of this, the other two having fallen to pieces in the dim and distant past. It's my other favourite book of all time ever. I have read it so many times, but it seems that every time I reread, I find something new in it.
Brill. -
Message 15
Posted by Bette (U2222559) on Sunday, 16th October 2011
Thanks for your views, Charltongirl and th'ange. This is definitely a book I am keeping and intending to finish. Trouble is, I still have to finish the /next/ book (half-way through).
Anyway, this appears to be a book that has mixed reactions. It was certainly outside my 'comfort zone' but, as is often the case, I am glad I have read what I have, and I have/am modifying my prejudices re Sci-Fi.
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