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Thursday, July 17th, 2008
10:30 am - Newbie

gargirl
Hello to All.   I just recently discovered Caitlin Kiernan through a copy of Silk  I found at Barnes & Noble.  I went out and picked up; Threshold, Low Red Moon and Murder of Angels and will be reading them soon.   Her writing style is so hypnotic, I absolutely love her.

What are people's favorite books by her? 

current mood: curious

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Thursday, April 24th, 2008
9:57 am - Mice, Men, and Best-Laid Plans + Kiernan's Biographical Blurbs

eldritch00
In case anyone is curious, I'm nearly done with Tales of Pain and Wonder--four stories left to read, following the alternative table of contents. It's so damn good that I find trouble writing something about each of the stories, at least for the moment.

I can't decide whether I prefer this to To Charles Fort, with Love. More precisely, I refuse to decide as to which one I prefer: both are equally solid clunker-free collections.

You can tell that both volumes are by the same author, Kiernan having been consistent in the kind of stories she tells so well. At the same time, however, there clearly are differences between one set of stories, indicating her development as a writer along certain lines rather than others.


Strangely, what has been going through my head--aside from these wonderfully weird stories--are the author biographies that appear in her books. Without pulling every title by her from my shelves, here's what I remember:

The one for Tales of Pain and Wonder is relatively straightforward. The Dry Salvages mentions what's under the ice at Europa, To Charles Fort with Love (I think, but it could be another book) mentions her as "an enemy of consensus reality" (who cooks chili), and The Five of Cups has that bit about her past life as an Egyptian royal embalmer.

I got around to wondering whether these biographical blurbs are copyrighted. If not, I'd like to put 'em up on Wikipedia or something, just so other people can read them and be as amused as I am. I'd do it if it's legally allowed, if I have the time, and if I have all the editions of her books. That first one is still open to question though, and the latter two conditions don't apply to me.

current mood: contemplative
current music: "Planet of Sound" by the Pixies

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Monday, April 21st, 2008
10:40 am - Here Comes the Pain (and Wonder)

eldritch00
At last, my long-awaited copy of Subterranean's reissue of Tales of Pain and Wonder has arrived. I'm so glad I chose to pre-order this--the Tails of Tales of Pain and Wonder chapbook is thicker than I expected it to be.

Having the chapbook helps me feel better, too. Although my copy of Alabaster did come with the "Highway 97" chapbook, I can't help but feel frustrated that I bought The Dry Salvages without "The Worm in My Mind's Eye."

(Anyone who has it can leave a comment with copious descriptions that torment me with what I missed!)

My plan for reading Tales of Pain and Wonder  )

Last bit: [info]corucia, who should be a member of this community, has posted pictures of his (or her) Kiernan collection on a Web site.

current mood: excited
current music: "Shadowplay" by Joy Division

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Friday, March 28th, 2008
9:38 am - Beowulf

eldritch00
I've neither seen any film adaptation nor read any other version of the tale, but so far, I'm really enjoying:


(Two reviews here and here.)


So how many of you have read this? And how many of you are so thankful that Kiernan wrote the novelization, that she's probably the most appropriate person to do it? How many of you are thinking about Threshold, especially the author's comments about how it almost was a contemporary retelling of the Beowulf tale? I wish I had a copy of the revised trade paperback reissue to re-read...

current mood: curious
current music: "Happiness is a Warm Gun" by the Beatles

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Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
8:03 pm - Bookstore Display

francis_clay

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Monday, March 10th, 2008
11:12 pm

francis_clay
I'm reading bits and pieces of Les Fleurs Empoisonnees to my roommateboyfriend, actually asking him about the sweetbreads des champignons because he's a foodie.  I then read to him the menu on p25 and I end up getting a microlecture on terrapin soup and how terrapin was a Edwardian delicacy. I describe the Stephens Ward Tea League and Society of Resurrectionists as... well... kind of Designing Women meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Seriously.  I see, hear Dixie Carter as Miss Aramat. 
I mention that Miss Aramat considers 1914 the year the world ended, and Perry's reaction was "well, then there you go," how the menu was very 1914.
He was impressed.  So am I.  I've always appreciated the menu, but the depth of it was unnoticed til tonight.

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Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
11:40 pm - Silk: (I was told I should cross-post this here.)

dragontdc
Even though I got the job, (having been unemployed since June), the first paycheck is a long way off and we need prescriptions and groceries before then.

So I've put one of my few really valuable books on eBay. A limited edition (lettered R of 26) boxed Silk by Caitlin Kiernan, with art by Clive Barker, and an afterword from Poppy Z. Brite. Signed by all 3, with the inclusion of a CD of Caitlin's band (signed by her as well) performing songs from the book. The cover price was $275.00 back in 1999. The Auction starts at $250.00.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200205447885

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Friday, December 14th, 2007
12:03 pm - A Few Recent Appearances of Kiernan's Fiction + A Recommendation

eldritch00
Maybe I should have broken this long single entry into several shorter ones, but old habits can be like John McClane...

For years, I've looked on the Gauntlet Press edition of Tales of Pain and Wonder and despaired at ever being able to buy it from the few sellers handling this out-of-print edition.

Read more... )

current mood: hyper
current music: The Colourfield's Deception

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Sunday, November 18th, 2007
2:25 pm - CRK on Lovecraft and King Kong.

francis_clay


It's been quiet in here. Howzabout we go through the novels, one a month, starting with the re-release of Silk?

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Friday, June 15th, 2007
7:28 am - Into the Dreamlands available on Amazon!

highway_west


IntotheDreamlands



Amazon is selling copies of Into the Dreamlands for $11.55!!!!! That's a great deal!!!! You save 32%!!!

Into the Dreamlands includes a reprint of Caitlin R. Kiernan's wonderful short story "So Runs the World Away."

You can find it by click the picture above or going to: http://www.amazon.com/Into-Dreamlands-Jason-Andrew/dp/0979422108

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Wednesday, March 7th, 2007
11:07 am - Review of "Daughter of Hounds" posted on Fantasy Book Critic

cervantor

Hi everyone. Sorry to bother you but I recently posted a review of Ms. Kiernan's novel "Daughter Of Hounds" on my blog Fantasy Book Critic. Here's an excerpt: 

Always on the lookout for a new author to sink my teeth into, I first heard about Caitlin R. Kiernan when I saw that her latest novel "Daughter Of Hounds" was being released in January ’07. Upon further research, I discovered that this was merely the newest entry involving psychic Deacon Silvey. Knowing that, I decided to check out Ms. Kiernan’s previous works first, starting with her sophomore effort novel "Threshold". 

To check out the full review go to http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/. Let me know what you think Thanks and much love & respect.

 

Robert
www.fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com

http://www.myspace.com/fantasybookcritic

 

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Tuesday, February 27th, 2007
10:33 pm - Knee Jerk Abasiophilia Response (on "A Season of Broken Dolls")

stsisyphus
Here's a link back to my original post on "A Season of Broken Dolls" from Sirenia Digest #15. Otherwise, the full text is behind the cut - just depends on which button you want to click.

All Clues. No Solutions. )

I think I've gone on way too long about this, and certainly in no seriously scholarly or coherent way. I didn't mean for this to be a formal review or critique - mostly just a response to a work which kindled a very odd sensation. I'm sorry to say that I don't have any conclusion or need little synopsis to tie things up neatly. I'm afraid that you'll simply just have to read the story for yourself & make your own decisions. Anyway.

-StS.

current mood: sore
current music: Baying Dogs.

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Friday, February 16th, 2007
11:55 pm - Accelerated Reading for Low Red Moon

francis_clay
I was testing one of the distributor's databases today and I ran a search on CRK, and I was pleasently surprised to see AR info for Low Red Moon. The AR program is where a company provides a list of comprehension questions on computer to the schools- for a fee of course- and students strive to get points. The books are weighted- LRM is a 21.0 pointer with a listed reading level of 6.5. Lalita Tademy's Cane River (an Oprah book) is ranked at 20.0. James Baldwin's Go Tell It On The Mountain is only a 13.0.
Anybody here have access to the AR questions? I'd love to see what the LRM listing is like.

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Monday, January 15th, 2007
9:41 pm - Audio books?
mercurygrrl I assume it doesn't exist yet, but are any of Kiernan's books made into audio books? I really want my boyfriend to read them, but right now he don't have time to "read" books except for when he's in the car...

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Sunday, November 5th, 2006
3:42 pm - alabaster review

jlundberg
I just posted my capsule review of Alabaster over at LundBlog. Hope y'all enjoy.

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Thursday, October 12th, 2006
10:00 pm - Review of Alabaster

sword_of_athena
http://newsletter.austgate.co.uk/2006/10/horror-newsletter.html

Review of Caitlin Kiernan's Alabaster
Alabaster is a bind up of the Dancy Flammarion stories. We first met her in Threshold but this collection takes the character on a great journey which really showcases Kiernan's range of styles. Usefully the chapter listing comes in two forms, as published and chronologically.

I've liked her work since her debut novel (though I must have read some short stories to stumble on to it). Her imagery and creation of a sense of wonder one with the grotesque invading the real won me over as did her control of the narrative (try her graphic Dreaming graphic novels). She takes the idea of the god game with Dancy facing and abandoning her guardian angel and devils and works it into something really quite special.

She builds from the Bradbury-esque opening story into the style of the Gothic which is unique to her in the final story, subverting many ideas and archetypes.

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Tuesday, October 10th, 2006
11:23 am - Contacting Subterranean?

tanthe
I hate to have to post this here, but I'm not sure where else to ask, and most of you probably do have dealings with Subterranean in the course of getting a hold of Caitlín's work.

I was wondering if anyone else here has trouble contacting Subterranean Press? Over the years I've never had any problems with orders from them (and as such have never really needed to have contact with them), bar one.

I placed an order for 3 books a long time ago (by now), and to date have never received any of them, though they've all been released. I've emailed at least 1-2 dozen times, from 4 different email accounts, I've sent a letter, a fax, and I've left a message on the answering machine. I get no reply. If anyone has any suggestions as to how I can get a hold of them, I'd love to hear it, because I'm at my wit's end, having pursued all avenues availible.

It's very frustrating having all these problems contacting Subterranean, as I've been a faithful customer for about 8+ years now and have always recommended them to anyone who would listen... however, given the total lack of response/customer service, I find myself hesitant to continue doing so.


~Marieke


Edit: Persistence paid off, and I received a box in the mail with the books. Yay! (still no email or anything from them though, heh). - Oct 18

current mood: frustrated

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Saturday, August 26th, 2006
8:38 pm - Alabaster

drkest_sun
Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone has received their copies of Alabaster yet? Sorry, for not posting anything for awhile. I got behind. I hope we can pick up again.

Also [info]octoberland, do you think you could send back The Cipher? I have a friend here who is interested in reading it. I hope you liked it![info]

current mood: blah
current music: movie altered states

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Saturday, July 15th, 2006
6:40 pm - "A Redress for Andromeda"

eldritch00
Of the three stories that make up The Dandridge Cycle, "A Redress for Andromeda" was the first to be written and published. Because of this, I felt we should try our best to re-read and discuss it as if it was a stand-alone story.

After all, in the afterword appended to the piece as it was reprinted in To Charles Fort, with Love, Kiernan mentions being unaware at this point that she would "eventually write so much more about the old house by the sea (217)," even if barely a month went by before she began work on what would eventually be the second story in the Cycle: "Nor the Demons Down Under the Sea."

The Kind of Entry LJ-Cuts Were Made For )

current mood: contemplative
current music: This Heat [1978]

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Friday, July 7th, 2006
1:35 pm - Community (Re-)Reading of "A Redress for Andromeda"

eldritch00
EDIT: Dammit, I'm sorry, but I did a boo-boo and ended up deleting the original post. Sorry for the loss of your comments on that one. To repeat the most important point, these stories may be found in To Charles Fort, with Love, the three of them ending the book.

Anyway, it's time to read "A Redress for Andromeda," and I'll post my thoughts on it around the 15th, maybe a day or so earlier, and we can then start discussing it next weekend.


ORIGINAL POST:

Hi, everyone. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to decide, but let's do the Dandridge Cycle, beginning with (er, of course)...

"A Redress for Andromeda"


Since this is the earliest published story among the three, let's try to imagine reading this first as a stand-alone.

Then, as we follow up with "Nor the Demons Down Under the Sea" and finally "Andromeda Among the Stones," we can start drawing connections between the prior story and the current one.

Depending on how that discussion ultimately progresses, we may or may not end the whole thing with a fourth discussion that tackles all three as a whole.

Does that sound all right for everyone?

One more question: do we read it now and start discussing on the 8th? Or do we give ourselves more time and aim for the 15th for my entry on "A Redress for Andromeda"?

current mood: annoyed at myself
current music: "The Look of Love" - ABC

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