It was on my long list of to be reviewed books, mostly because it’s one of my favorites. The books I’ve already read are actually taking me longer to review since I have to go back and read them, but someone in my inbox told me I should review it so it’s the first on my list now to review.
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Another short that I absolutely loved, so why not bundle my two favorites to review.
A Court of Thorns and Roses Series (1-3) by Sarah J. Maas
I read the series last summer and I have to revisit my thoughts of the series, but I did immensely enjoy them. I’m not reviewing the last book, A Court of Silver Flames, because I haven’t read it, yet and I’m sorta hesitating until the next book is released (Mostly because I hear it might be around Azrael, so might as well bundle the two books together).
Throne of Glass Series (1-7) by Sarah J. Maas
literally just finished the last book yesterday and while I did review the first one and wasn’t all that excited to read the rest of the books, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I never doubted Sarah J. Maas (one of the few authors I like off of BookTok), but the first two books were an uphill battle to get through. Though the last books make me emotional unstable…I’ll just save the rest of my comments for the reviews.
Space Spiders, Lunatics, and Airships : Moon Voyage stories in Wilson Library
It’s a full moon tonight, so we thought that it would be a great time to feature our favorite moon voyage story in Wilson Library Special Collections–the only problem is, we couldn’t decide between these three amazing narratives! So we need your help, Tumblr followers! Read below, and help us decide which contender is the ultimate sci-fi adventure!
Contender 1: One of the earliest recorded moon voyage stories, Lucian’s “True History”was written in the second century AD in ancient Greece. This “true” history is filled with fantastic travel narratives, including the moon-voyage adventure in which a crew accidentally lands on the moon after their ship gets carried into the sky by an enormous gust of wind. The men then take part in a fantastic space battle between the alien armies of the sun and moon. (Bonus points: the space battle features giant spiders who spin web-bridges to lead their army across the sky).
Contender 2:A Trip to the Moon (1765) was written by sir Francis Gentleman under the very appropriate pseudonym, Humphrey Lunatic. In this story, Humphrey falls asleep in a beautiful grove and (much to his surprise) wakes up in the Lunar world. How does he get transported, you might ask? The pamphlets in Humphrey’s pockets (which were, apparently, originally conceived in the Lunar kingdom) attract a tractor-beam that pulls Humphrey up towards the moon. Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, this story is memorable both for its whimsy, and for its cutting social commentary. (Bonus points to Francis Gentleman for both his amazing pen name, and also for including an elaborate family lineage for the “Lunatic” family that includes an ancestor named Whimsical Lunatic, Esq.).
Contender 3: Last but not least, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfall” (1835) features a slightly more technologically advanced means of conveyance. In this story, the protagonist takes an airship to the moon. Not only is this story an interesting moon-voyage account in its own right, but in addition, it was in fact, originally created as a hoax. Shockingly, Poe’s tale was not the only moon hoax of 1835, but was second in renown to the “great moon hoax” of the same year. In this moon hoax, the New York Sun (a tabloid newspaper) published a series of articles on fake “celestial discoveries”–which included the discovery of a species of intelligent lunar bipedal beavers. (Bonus points to Poe for not only creating his moon-travel hoax, but also for dreaming up his 1844 balloon hoax–in which he convinced readers of the New York Sun that a man had crossed the Atlantic in just 3 days in a new form of airship).
Got opinions on which of these three is the best moon voyage story? Comment below to let us know your pick!
On April 5, 1926, the incomparable Roger Corman was born! Without even a kernel of doubt, we proclaim that Corman is one of the most important figures in film history. The great man pioneered indie filmmaking, brought the works of several venerated foreign masters to the States, launched the careers of EVERYONE (Martin Scorsese, Jack Nicholson, James Cameron, and Francis Ford Coppola are just a few of the graduates from the Corman Film School), and has produced/directed some of the most eXXXquisite genre movies that cinema has to offer. His Poe films are among the best Gothic thrillers in eXXXistence, skillfully marrying shock-show tactics with arthouse techniques. Corman’s best is divine, and his worst is just fine! The man is an absolute giant, and he will always be a true icon of the moving picture. Long live King Corman!
The Price is F-right with this week’s groovy movie! Ever had your palm RED? Then let Vincent Price read your future in this sickly scream-story! It’s pure POE-try as Prince Vince tries to corrupt a young woman in a plague-ridden kingdom. Prepare for the scarlet scares of… “The Masque of the Red Death!”
Another practise at speedpainting. As for the Autumn is upon us, I’ve been thinking about reading some true gothic novel lately. Imagine my thrill while, in that mood of course, I started to watch the ‘Altered Carbon" and saw the character of Poe there. Well played Netflix!
From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were—I have not seen As others saw—I could not bring My passions from a common spring— From the same source I have not taken My sorrow—I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone— And all I lov’d—I lov’d alone— Then—in my childhood—in the dawn Of a most stormy life—was drawn From ev’ry depth of good and ill The mystery which binds me still— From the torrent, or the fountain— From the red cliff of the mountain— From the sun that ’round me roll’d In its autumn tint of gold— From the lightning in the sky As it pass’d me flying by— From the thunder, and the storm— And the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) Of a demon in my view—
