Where are you? How many times must I turn?

[ashlyme]

My nightmares this morning at least had the decency to frame themselves as horror stories. But it's disconcerting to be both the reader who knows what's coming and the character who doesn't. I don't know if they escaped their doom; I woke up briefly then went back into what felt like the second chapter and that was... horrible. No idea where they came from - the weather's been bright and warm and that's done wonders for my mood. My dad's been ill, my nerves have been a bit ragged and haven't wanted to talk about it on the net, just post frivolous stuff until things blew over.

I managed to read and review an anthology on the Cambridge Chit-Chat Club for the M. R. James zine Ghosts and Scholars at least. With things unlocking a little I've predictably been going a bit wild in charity shops.(Rock n roll, eh?) Recent hauls have included a handbook to a collection of Edwardian taxidermied birds, which should be subtitled Things I Have Shot (I've got a theory it was written by one Colonel Sebastian Moran, late of Moriarty's gang); a coffee-table book on Bakelite radios; a 1950s pocket mapbook of Brum and a biography of Francis Dashwood (both presents for a friend).

I must have at least two or three friends who are DWJ fans - do any of you think highly of the Dalemark Quartet? I got it as a late birthday present. I don't mind a few spoilers!

Comments

[skygiants]

I love the Dalemark Quartet! It's much dreamier and less whimsical than much of DWJ's other work, but it's a really interesting story about the costs of revolution, and gods as myths and as people, and the arcs of history -- I'd put it in conversation with Alexander's Westmark and MWT's Queen's Thief books.

[ashlyme]

Thank you! From the cover blurb, it looks a bit darker than the few DWJs I've read. A friend gave it to me and said "it's fantasy about folk musicians, should be up your street." Called out much? I don't know either series you also mention!