Nine Things I Think I Think
Clearly, the Black Gate-verse wants to know some more Things I Think I Think, since it’s been three weeks since that last time I shared that. I mean, The Bob View is certainly nerd-centric and somewhat….different. So, without further ado (and leaving out a couple numbers…)
1) I LIKE MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN
This is a brand new Fox shows, four episodes in. The lead is Kiefer Sutherland’s brother, Rossif. I recently watched him on the excellent Three Pines (a show that TOTALLY deserved a second season). I’d never guess he was Donald’s son, looking at him. But I think he’s REALLY good as a former big city, divorced dad, being sheriff in a small, waterfront town. I didn’t watch Smallville, but Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang) is the other lead. I did see her in season one of Reacher.
I really like that I can play ‘I Know that Actor’ (if you follow me on Facebook, you’ve seen that game MANY times) with the great guest stars, ala Columbo, Monk, Suits, and so many other shows I enjoy. So far, I’ve seen James Cromwell (LA Confidential), Erica Durance (a Hallmark favorite), Stana Katic (Beckett in Castle!), and Jason Gray-Stanford (Monk’s Randy Disher). My favorite new show so far.
2) I HATE BEING BETWEEN BOOKS
I sometimes find that when I finish a book, I can’t find the next one I want to start. Now, it’s not a physical thing, it’s mental. I own over 2,000 physical books, plus a lot of e-books. I don’t have a problem re-reading, either. But I finish something, and I just can’t figure out my ‘mood.’ I will start a half-dozen short stories, or novels, by different writers. Or even the same one. Different genres. I stare at my shelves for a half hour, trying to pick out something.
And nothing hits right. It’s SO weird. Right now, I’m trying to stay in the sword and sorcery genre – or anything Robert E. Howard or Harold Lamb. But I just can’t find it. I look at my Mystery shelves, and it’s like when you stare in the fridge, or the cupboard, and nothing looks good.
I’m still listening to a couple audiobooks as part of my day. And I’m still working through one of the Marvel Conan Omnibuses. But I put two books back on the shelf yesterday. It’s not a reading malaise. I need a name for this. And I need a cure. It’s quite possible that Glen Cook’s most recent Black Company Book, Port of Shadows, will fill the bill. I read a couple chapters last night as the Cleveland Guardians ruined my evening.
3) FORTNITE REMAINS FUN
I’ve talked about Fortnite before. First and foremost, it was a way to reconnect with my son after my divorce. And now that he’s a teen with five of six high school classes being AP, it’s one of the few ways I get to spend time with him.
But in of and itself, it’s a cool thing. I’ve gotten good, and I try to win and complete quests, but I also like to have fun. I want to enjoy playing. And I pretty much do. The skins are both fun, neat, and frequently tied into pop culture. I don’t do Anime, but Sean has liked a bunch of those. Family Guy, Marvel, Star Wars, Nightmare Before Christmas – constant options. And you can actually play, and get new skins, without paying anything.
you can buy an initial Battle Pass for like $10. If you complete it each season, you earn enough in-game coins, to pay for the next Battle Pass, with some left over. There’s always the option of buying more coins and buying skins, of course. But this latest chapter (Dr. Doom themed) has included Battle Pass skins for Gwen Stacy, War Machine, Peelverine (Fortnite’s Peely banana character as Wolverine), Emma Frost, Captain Jones (FN’s Jonesy character as Capt. America), Mysterio (SO cool!), and Shuri (Black Panther). I didn’t pay for any of those. And there are multiple variations of the skin you can earn in game with quests. There was also a new Dr. Doom skin (I had earned one previously).
I generally play Solo, or with my son. And you can turn your mic to only be on with folks you’ve friended. THAT is a key for me. But I played with a new person this weekend who has my odd sense of humor, and it was a fun couple of hours. You can play for ten minutes, or three hours. It all works. Fun game, and It’s only a cash drop if you choose to make it one. And you can play on your own, or with up to three others, however you want.
4) AUDIOBOOKS ARE PERMANENTLY A PART OF MY LIFE NOW
I’m old. I like reading physical copies of books. But I do find reading on my Fire Tablet is easier. Especially compared to old paperbacks with such small print. And also, audiobooks fit my lifestyle. I can listen in the car, while I’m writing, running at the gym, in bed at night. I have some regulars that I can put on and it doesn’t matter if I’m not totally paying attention, or I fall asleep.
I listen to books I’ve read – ones I would NOT have time to actually re-read. I did the entire Black Company by Glen Cook, and it was great to revisit. Same with the first four books of Thieves World (I did re-read the first Wizardwall spin-off after that).
And I listen to new books, like the SPQR series from John Maddox Roberts, which I love. And I’m on volume four of Seabury Quinn’s Jules DeGrandin.
Audiobooks work for me, which is why What I’ve Been Listening To is a semi-regular feature here. I am, once again, immersed in Tony Hillerman’s Navajo Tribal Police series, which I never tire of re-reading and listening to. I’m in for audiobooks. Period.
5) ONLINE BETTING BRINGS A WHOLE NEW GALAXY OF FRUSTRATION TO SPORTS
I’m not pushing anybody to engage in this exasperating activity. I’ve been big into sports my whole life. I think I’m pretty knowledgeable about it. Three weekends ago – perhaps swayed by Kevin Hart – I signed up for Draft Kings. First weekend I went 1-9, with several totally improbable things happening.
Second weekend, I was way more diligent and made some bets related to only two games. I won back all I had lost, and more. So, this weekend, I only made one bet, kind of ‘on the fly,’ Two teams combined to score 18 points less than they have all season, and I lost a bet by two points. I’m still ahead, but I’m just doing this to see if I’m smart enough to win. I’m not betting large amounts, and I don’t need the money. But man: it ain’t fun so far!!
6) THAT WAS WEIRD
Dr. Strange just popped in, said “I need your Seven” and went back through a portal. He also complimented me on my Sherlock Holmes bookshelves. Really weird.
7) SEE NUMBER SIX
The whole Dr. Strange thing…
8) I NEED TO WRITE A DANTE’S INFERNO-RELATED POST
I really enjoyed reading Dante’s Inferno. I got through Purgatorio, but it wasn’t as good. I quit Paradisio – reading about the really good people was boring. I mean, c’mon. But I often make a comment about something annoying – like people who take their food out of the microwave early and leave the timer blinking – as deserving a special circle in Hell. I am totally going to do a post with at least my nine favorite such items as getting their own circles. I think that’s gonna be fun.
9) IT’S HARD COMING UP WITH TEN THINGS
Which is why we are ending on Nine, this time. Now I’m gonna go knock off the Daily Quests in Fortnite.
Things I Think I Think
Five More Things I Think: Marvel Edition (September 2024)
Ten Things I Think I Think: Marvel Edition ( September 2024)
Five Things I Think I Think (January 2024)
Seven Things I Think I Think (December 2023)
Talking Tolkien: TenThings I Think I Think (August 2023)
A (Black) Gat in the Hand: Ten Things I Think I think (August 2023)
5 More Things I Think (March 2023)
10 Things I Think I Think (March 2023)
Bob Byrne’s ‘A (Black) Gat in the Hand’ made its Black Gate debut in 2018 and has returned every summer since.
His ‘The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes’ column ran every Monday morning at Black Gate from March, 2014 through March, 2017. And he irregularly posts on Rex Stout’s gargantuan detective in ‘Nero Wolfe’s Brownstone.’ He is a member of the Praed Street Irregulars, founded www.SolarPons.com (the only website dedicated to the ‘Sherlock Holmes of Praed Street’).
He organized Black Gate’s award-nominated ‘Discovering Robert E. Howard’ series, as well as the award-winning ‘Hither Came Conan’ series. Which is now part of THE Definitive guide to Conan. He also organized 2023’s ‘Talking Tolkien.’
He has contributed stories to The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories – Parts III, IV, V, VI, XXI, and XXXIII.
He has written introductions for Steeger Books, and appeared in several magazines, including Black Mask, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, and Sherlock Magazine.
I totally get the staring at the bookcases wondering what to read (or reread next). I used to polish off a book in two days or less now a simple pulp novel is taking a week or worse set aside for a stab at something else. I have been jumping from Texas Rangers and Masked Rider to Black Bat and the Phantom Detective recently. A Matt Helm novel interrupted the flow since enough years had gone by couldn’t quite remember the plot. Favorite of that series is The Betrayers. The magic of rereading Captain Blood finally dimmed upon what was probably the sixth or seventh reread in over 50 years. Basically, I feel your pain.
One of my friends once described this with word (or two), and I cannot remotely remember what he said.
But I think a lot of us have that feeling. And it’s weird. Because we’re DYING to read something, but can’t pick the right thing and get started.
Glen Cook’s most recent Black Company novel, Port of Shadows, ended the agony. I revisited the series earlier this year via audiobook. And I had not gotten around to reading this one yet, so I decided to try. And it’s working. I was hoping to stay in the sword and sorcery milieu, so we’ll see if the next choice follows suit.
Over 2000 books? Wow. As I near the end of whichever book I’m reading, I scan the bookshelf. Should I follow up that book of sci fi short stories with a fantasy novel? Should I grab one of the many 200 page (max) paperbacks or tackle a 800 page mammoth? David Brin’s “Startide Rising” has been pulled out so many times, only to be placed back onto the shelf the next morning as I change my mind. Same with Mercedes Lackey’s “Black Gryphon.” So many good choices. Not a bad dilemma to have.
Have you considered reading outside the usual genres? Or even reading nonfiction?
My observation is that as sf and fantasy readers get older, they read less genre fiction and more history.
I have large collections of Jack the Ripper and Victorian Crime, US Civil War, Constitutional Convention of 1787, Watergate, and books on writing. I also do non-fiction. It’s just figuring out what I am ‘in the mood’ for. I could go on a year-long Civil War read/re-read dive some day…
Strongly agree on Three Pines deserving a second season; wonderfully cast show and a smart adaptation of a fine mystery series. Shame they only gave it one before pulling the plug.
Alfred Molina was terrific in that. I think he would be a good Inspector Maigret.
He was not great as modern day Poirot. But he did a radio play of Murder on the Links, and he nailed Poirot that time!
“What to read next….” – such a familiar feeling! During my last couple of bouts of indecision regarding novels, I’ve taken to reading a few single author short story collections and anthologies simultaneously, jumping between them from story to story, sometimes with a non-fiction work tossed in for more variety. This keeps me reading until, eventually, I decide upon the next novel I want to tackle.
Also here to commend on the stuck-between-books thing. 👋 I’ve heard a few clever and not-so-clever terms for it over the years, but mostly in high school pre-social-media, so not sure how widespread they are. My favorite is “librariopause,” seeing as it’s the boundary between two books or hankerings, and a bunch of candidates seem to be magnetically repulsive until we find the right one.
“Bookstipated” was another one.
“Reading malaise” is probably the most “normal” description.
“Anti-gnosi” seemed a bit forced. Some reference to Greek and reading that was supposed to be a sidelong reference to “it’s all Greek to me” somehow…?
Anyway, whatever that state of being is, it stinks to be stuck there. I’ve lately been there between audiobooks. Happily, some book series I collect are due to release new sequels this month, with the blessing of simultaneous audio publication– just gotta hold on a few more days!
I’ve thought of malaise before. But I feel like that would describe me not wanting to read. As opposed to what to read. 🙂
I should probably do a deeper dive into this ‘phenomenon’ and write a post on it.
I’m glad it usually passes within a few days. Though I don’t know what I’m going to read when I finish Port of Shadows.
Ah-hah! Yes, an investigative post on the phenomenon sounds like just what we need. Surely, there is some scientific literature out there on it, even if it only ever vies for the igNobel prize.
Book suggestion for after Port of Shadows:
“The Design of Everyday Things” 2nd Edition.
It’s proving remarkably compelling and entertaining. Broke through my librariopause entirely.