A rare find of Zelazny’s work that i hadn’t read. Reminded me how sadly this author is missed. He could write in the sense that he crafted a book with language; embellished a story with idea; and left the reader satisfied with the meal but looking forward to the next banquet.

This is such a fun book to read. Doesn’t so much draw one in to its mystery as seize by the throat and yank. The first “person” perspective has one smiling early but with a puzzled brow. Who is who or what even? Readers versed in the genres that zelaney plays in will start to smell out the plot, and as Zelazny pays light hearted homage to authors before him the reader should be left with at least a wry smile if not chuckling as I did at one cross dressing character.
My edition has illustrations by Gahan Wilson which could not be better or more apt.
Im still trying to “identify” some of the characters.

I like to think that only Rod’s bank manager is pleased he recorded “Do You Think I’m Sexy”.
My advice is avoid like Ebola anything with the aformentioned track on it. This is a best, very best, version of Rod’s recording history that mercifully forgets it exists.
Its the early Mercury years when Rod had a coterie of real rockers around who not only rocked but played.
Rod’s voice is Rod’s voice always distinctive. Like Cocker and Van and the forgottten Long John Baldry, he banged out a British variation of RnB and Soul, that went beyond mimicry, eg
“[I know] I’m Losing You”, and “Oh! No not My Baby”.
The standards are here; “Maggie May” “You Wear It Well” “It’s All Over Now” “Twistin the Night Away” and my favourite “Mandolin Wind”. How many of you remember Rod’s version of Hendrix’s “Angel” or the Stones “Street Fighting Man” I’d forgotten both and both well worth revisiting.
The complete suprise on this package of 17 songs was Rod’s version of “Man Of Constant Sorrow” which I swear I heard here for the first time. For this track and the obvious taste he must have once had I have forgiven Rod for the unmentionable song!

My CD is an Australian release picked up in a bargin bin Mercury 9848991 and bought in 2008.

I finally and belatedly got around to reading this and no suprises its a page turner. Gaiman is telling a tale around story telling and he is a talented weaver.
Was expecting a work that more directly “sequalised” to American Gods but all one can really say is that its in the same universe. Ours or another is an open question! Think of it as a side dish enhancing the flavours or, to be hoped, an apperatif.

Fat Charlie is a sympathetically drawn character who’s easy to like but its not long before the reader is yelling “get a backbone damn you”. Gaiman slowly slips in pieces of plot that start to give Charlie a bit more colour to add to his conflict and at the same time in slides his “brother” doing an amoral and getting down and dirty moonwalk.Poor Charlie, hey but Spiders cool. Spider will make things happen; and boy does he MAKE things happen. Charlie goes from put out, to hurt, to a slow fuse anger. Full blown [justified] sibling rivelry in 3 days! Charlie not one of lifes doers – does; the plot kicks up a gear and then another. The female characters round out a bit as the pace picks up.
Humour and understatement play their parts lulling the reader along till, as to be expected with Gaiman, the darker elements surface driving a climax.
Somehow it resonated for me with Neverwhere and the only obvious connection being Lenny Henry and perhaps some of his comic character creations.
Also sits nicely along Douglas Adams “Dirk Gently” novels.

A Quantum Murder – Peter Hamilton
Came to read this earlier novel after reading the Confederation Universe novels. Enjoyed it immensely! Interesting backdrop, post global warming with political and environmental consequences. Interesting characters. Greg a “empathetic” warrior boosted with psi talent and a back history good enough to fill 6 more novels is the only one really drawn in any depth and then just enough. But the story and the mystery are what carries the book. It is a detective mystery and a closed room murder with SF flavours-hence the title. Would make a good movie for Brad and Jolie!