Supplement Four
Mongoose
I went to meet a friend for dinner tonight, and I had an hour or so to kill before he got off from his work. So, I slipped by the used bookstore while I was waiting on his call.
I'd just finished the finale of the ROME HBO TV series on DVD. Fantastic freakin' show. Better than 300. Better than Galdiator. One of the best series I've ever seen. I put it up there with the new Battlestar Galactica, Lonesome Dove, and The West Wing.
I've never been that interested in ancient history, but, things change. My curiosity gets peaked. And, I find myself wanting to know more. I've always been that way.
I decided that I really wanted to read a good, researched historical novel about Rome rather than a history text. I do like reading history (more so, the older I get), but, I really want a compelling narative wrapped around the true life events.
So, I asked around here and on another board. I asked a few people who have similar tastes as mine. I was a bit shocked to see that there weren't too many suggesting that came in. It seems that not too many people in my net or personal circle have read anything about ancient Rome.
At work today, I did a quick search, and I found some candidates, finally setteling on Colleen McCullough's series that starts with The First Man In Rome.
Well, at the bookstore, I search, and found, McCullough's book. Picked it up, saw the glossary, the latin pronounciation guide, the guide to Roman naming conventions, the various maps, and the several illustrations of the major players. Then, I read that she'd done the entire book--the research, the 1076 pages of prose, and even the illos--by herself, with no outside help, and I smiled. I knew I had found THE historical novel to read.
The glowing reviews on Amazon sure didn't hurt, either.
So, S4 was happy.
My friend still hadn't called, and I had a cupon for 15% off. So, I tried to remember other things to put on the shelf--things I'd decided to read. I have never read Hemmingway, and I love the Bogey and Bacall flick To Have And Have Not (I understand the book is supposed to be quite different). So, I went looking for it.
And, found it. Two for two.
My friend still hadn't called, so I drifted, as I always do, to the science fiction and fantasy section. I'm looking around, trying to find the 5 or 6 books that are missing from my Conan collection, or the 2 books missing from my Horseclans collection, and what do I stumble across?
This is why this thread has the subject line it does.
I looked up, and I saw, sitting there on the shelf, all in a row, all six books in Andrew Offutt's Cormack Mac Art series.
All six of 'em! Just sitting there.
I go through used book stores quite often. I like the treasure hunt. I like to try new things at low cost.
And, I completely love it when I discover finds like this.
I'd seen an Offutt Mac Art book, here and there, but I'd never got one before. But here...HERE..were all six, just waiting to be picked up.
I did.
I even went around the corner to see if they had the Howard volumn containg the few Mac Art stories he wrote.
They had that one too!
I plopped down my 9 books, batting 300, and I slapped down my 15% off cupon, right next to it. And, $14 bucks later, S4 is a very happy camper...
...driving to meet his friend for dinner
...top down, Summer night wind blowing, Jimmy Buffett blaring from the stereo...
...and 9 excellent books in his trunk.
Maybe I should go play the lottery tonight.
Nah...I better not push it.
I'd just finished the finale of the ROME HBO TV series on DVD. Fantastic freakin' show. Better than 300. Better than Galdiator. One of the best series I've ever seen. I put it up there with the new Battlestar Galactica, Lonesome Dove, and The West Wing.
I've never been that interested in ancient history, but, things change. My curiosity gets peaked. And, I find myself wanting to know more. I've always been that way.
I decided that I really wanted to read a good, researched historical novel about Rome rather than a history text. I do like reading history (more so, the older I get), but, I really want a compelling narative wrapped around the true life events.
So, I asked around here and on another board. I asked a few people who have similar tastes as mine. I was a bit shocked to see that there weren't too many suggesting that came in. It seems that not too many people in my net or personal circle have read anything about ancient Rome.
At work today, I did a quick search, and I found some candidates, finally setteling on Colleen McCullough's series that starts with The First Man In Rome.
Well, at the bookstore, I search, and found, McCullough's book. Picked it up, saw the glossary, the latin pronounciation guide, the guide to Roman naming conventions, the various maps, and the several illustrations of the major players. Then, I read that she'd done the entire book--the research, the 1076 pages of prose, and even the illos--by herself, with no outside help, and I smiled. I knew I had found THE historical novel to read.
The glowing reviews on Amazon sure didn't hurt, either.
So, S4 was happy.
My friend still hadn't called, and I had a cupon for 15% off. So, I tried to remember other things to put on the shelf--things I'd decided to read. I have never read Hemmingway, and I love the Bogey and Bacall flick To Have And Have Not (I understand the book is supposed to be quite different). So, I went looking for it.
And, found it. Two for two.
My friend still hadn't called, so I drifted, as I always do, to the science fiction and fantasy section. I'm looking around, trying to find the 5 or 6 books that are missing from my Conan collection, or the 2 books missing from my Horseclans collection, and what do I stumble across?
This is why this thread has the subject line it does.
I looked up, and I saw, sitting there on the shelf, all in a row, all six books in Andrew Offutt's Cormack Mac Art series.
All six of 'em! Just sitting there.
I go through used book stores quite often. I like the treasure hunt. I like to try new things at low cost.
And, I completely love it when I discover finds like this.
I'd seen an Offutt Mac Art book, here and there, but I'd never got one before. But here...HERE..were all six, just waiting to be picked up.
I did.
I even went around the corner to see if they had the Howard volumn containg the few Mac Art stories he wrote.
They had that one too!
I plopped down my 9 books, batting 300, and I slapped down my 15% off cupon, right next to it. And, $14 bucks later, S4 is a very happy camper...
...driving to meet his friend for dinner
...top down, Summer night wind blowing, Jimmy Buffett blaring from the stereo...
...and 9 excellent books in his trunk.
Maybe I should go play the lottery tonight.
Nah...I better not push it.
