Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. (My Goodreads Review)

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A strange and bizarre world of Britain during the Napoleonic period. Mr Norrell seems like a rather bland and boring man. Yet he is a magician. A good one too. He is very reclusive and hides away from the world. The characters in this story are wonderful. Especially when, after a time, Johnathan Strange comes into the tale. The reclusive Mr Norrell has managed to stop some of the less reputable magicians, from the North of England, from practising. He reluctantly moves to London and equally reluctantly starts to socialise with affluent people. His magic soon becomes a talking point as he starts to indulge some peoples' and government's needs. There is also a parallel world where fairies communicate during spells. The story is rather deep in parts but very entertaining. If you like Dickens type characters or Titus Groan etc, I think you will be a big fan of this story. A splendidly written work.

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Carson of Venus by Edgar Rice Burroughs (My Goodreads Review)

Carson of Venus by Edgar Rice Burroughs

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I read this many decades ago. I think I was lured by the front page picture, which is not the one on the cover for this review. I remember there were Amazon women and submissive wimpy men in one part. I thought it might be along the line of Conan the Barbarian in space or something like that. It was ok, but it was not a story that gripped me. Obviously, pulp sci-fi/fantasy which is fine if you like this sort of thing. There are many people that like such escapism but it was not for me and I never followed the series after reading this.

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The Lord of the Rings (My Goodreads Review)

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this back in 1979 when I was eighteen and I could not put the trilogy down. I absolutely loved this story and became totally engrossed in the wonderful and dangerous world of Middle Earth. I missed my stop on the train several times when reading, during my commute, to and from London. I found corners during my break times to read.

I can honestly say, that this was a wonderful story that made me sad when I got to the end of it all. Sad because I would leave this wonderful fantasy world. In my view, the best ever fantasy saga of all time. It was also great to have read it as an impressionable naive eighteen year old kid. Being spellbound was more rewarding at that young age. This story has a very special place in my heart as I’m sure it does for so many other people too.


C.A. Powell
The Last Days of Thunder Child




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Science Fiction Book Covers - 2nd

Old Science Fiction Book Covers.

I would walk around book stores and dream in the science fiction section. I would imagine I could travel in space and visit some of these worlds depicted in the cover images. Sometimes the covers bore no reflection of the story and some did, like the good old War of the Worlds. 

I just love anything that provides the fantasy of escape from the world I live in. I'm not complaining, my life is great. I just sometimes think escaping into these books is wonderful. The images on the front cover are compelling. They make me pick up the book and read the synopsis.