You are really into some good stuff here. Next to Bradbury, Simak is one of my favorite science fiction authors. If you want some laughs, try �They Walked Like Men�.

[This message has been edited by Chapter 31 (edited 05-09-2006).]

Finished Earth Abides by George Stewart. I liked it a lot. Still about midways in I Sing The Body Electric. I just started More Than Human by Ted Sturgeon. I like it so far, seems deep.

Some news. I have decided to quit my job of 13 years. I have been painting and doing drywall on my own. My knees are shot. Can't do ladderwork any longer. When I do, I can't hardly walk for days afterward. Plus, I'm burnt out on it. I applied at the bookstore near me. I went for an interview and I got called last week end. I got the job! I started Monday and so far I love it. Its a major drop in pay, but I will get some other irons in the fire. I work in a bookstore! It has a good ring.

Bot, I hope your lungs are OK. I've done some rock (not 8 hours a day, though!) and lots of painting, so I can relate. Jazz musicians have to do SOMETHING for money!
Good luck on your new yob! Uh, job!

As to the original topic:
I just finished "Bleak House", "The Romanovs: The Final Chapter" by Robert K. Massie, and a Rex Stout (Nero Wolfe) "The Rubber Band". Starting on Dandelion's book next!

Dandy, if you read this, do yourself a favour and read the Massie book!

I've been doing a lot of things I shouldn't (house and garden, including ladder work) while I can and not doing a lot of things I should (reading and writing.)

Thanks for the kind words B-Two. I think once I have everything down pat at the store, I will like it even better. I think my lungs okay right now, I always wore my mask.

I only wear my mask at times when hiding my emotional state seems prudent, like when meeting earthlings. I think it was Mr. Xxx that liked to use a smiley one for those encounters. Cynical, I think.
Besides sheetrock do you ever do plumbing? The water crossing the footpaths at our villa doesn't seem to be quite as cooling to the feet as it was last year.
Say, have you listened to the new book by Mr. Kkk? It's most amusing!
ell, Ylla says the meat's going to be reduced to a cinder if left in the lava for another second, so I'd better go.
More anon...

As added income we also have rental property, so I fix what I can be it plumbing or electrical or whatever. If I can't fix it, then I call a specialist in. We have one, two bedroom four plex, and two single family homes we rent. We are looking for another single family home now. I want another four plex but I don't think we can swing it at this time. There are some gorgeous new villa units they are building in the blue mountains. The have fountains and alot of tile and dark marble swimming pools. With gas prices so high now, its hard enough getting to the moon.

My favorite Simak novel is WAYSTATION. People mostly mention CITY whenever Simak is discussed but, other than the man and his dog on Jupiter, most of it hasn't stuck with me for some reason. "All The Traps Of Earth" is my favorite short story by Simak.

I'm kicking myself for not picking up THEY WALKED LIKE MEN when I had the chance. It's REALLY hard to come by nowadays. The blurb said it was a whole new approach to science fiction storytelling in that it was written in the detective/pulp style like Chandler or Spillane. I remember reading quite a few Heinlein short stories written in that style. I wonder who did it first?

Grasstains is back! I am totally into More Than Human. Its even effecting my dreams, some books do that. I'm three quarters through it. Its the best non-Bradbury book so far. Anyhow, welcome back. (hearing Welcome Back Cotter in head)

Ho-Ho

Thanks, Robo.

You really should try to find Sturgeon's collection STURGEON IS ALIVE AND WELL. I think you're also a soul-searcher, allowing yourself time to properly grok all that you take in. The overall theme in each story of that collection seems to be the search for one's own identity, or place in the world, and the acceptance of others. Love of self, and love for others. It's my most cherished book. The lessons learned in those stories I apply in real life daily.

And he never comes off as being preachy. Sturgeon's writing style changes from story to story in that collection, but he pulls it off brilliantly. One story he writes kinda like Kerouac with street tough kids slingin slang, and the next he hypnotizes you with the most poetic prose this side of Bradbury, then it's off to macho Hemingway territory, followed by a Stienbeck-ish character study, and finally ends up with a good old fashioned space opera shoot em' up. It's the best.

Grass,

I have that book, have not read it yet. I also got the ten book series of all his short stories, plus about four others. I haven't ordered any books in about a month so I may be over bookdrawals for now. Plus now I work in a bookstore! I will read that next maybe.

Lucky you. I haven't read many of his most famous stories, his books are hard to come by. I'd love to read his story "Killdozer" some day. What a great title. I've never read "Mewhu's Jet" either. If you can, let me know what they're like after you've read them.

Oh, and "The Chromium Helmut" story too.

The Killdozer was a movie on t.v. in the early seventies I beleive, that we watched and were enthralled by. I will let you know when I get to it. I didn't know that Sturgeon wrote it until recently.