Classic Returns
By Michael Rogers -- Library Journal, 6/1/2008
Fiction
Ambrose, David. The Man Who Turned into Himself. Picador. 2008. 197p. ISBN 978-0-312-42768-9. pap. $13. FBased on the "many worlds" theory of quantum physics, Ambrose's 1993 novel follows Rick Hamilton, who rushes to his wife after a horrible premonition only to find her dead on the road. Suddenly, she's alive again, and he's someone else. Kinda weird, but LJ's reviewer found it "a fascinating tale."
Dick, Philip K. Five Novels of the 1960s & 70s. Library of America. Jul. 2008. 1128p. ISBN 978-0-59853-025-4. $40. FJonathan Lethem is back as editor of this second Dick volume for Library of America (LOA). This one corrals Martian Time-Slip; Dr. Bloodmoney; Now Wait for Last Year; Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said; and A Scanner Darkly, which some say is his best work. Five novels plus all the standard LOA extras for $40. Jump on it.
Harrison, Colin. Manhattan Nocturne. Picador. 2008. 371p. ISBN 978-0-312-42762-7. pap. $14. FReleased in 1996, Harrison's novel introduces Porter Wren, a sleazy scandal-sheet reporter by day and solid family man by night. A hottie widow asks Wren to investigate her husband's unsolved murder, leaving Wren up to his neck in blackmail, sexual obsession, and more and making his own life tabloid news.
Hubbard. L. Ron. The Great Secret. ISBN 978-1-59212-371-1.Hubbard. L. Ron. If I Were You. ISBN 978-1-59212-359-9.
Hubbard. L. Ron. Spy Killer. ISBN 978-1-59212-302-5.
Hubbard. L. Ron. Under the Black Ensign. ISBN 978-1-59212-339-1.
ea. vol: Galaxy. Sept. 2008. 121p. illus. pap. $9.95. F
Hubbard wrote a ton of pulp stories in every genre during the 1930s and 1940s. Galaxy is reissuing all of them in paperback—80 books in all (told you it was a ton). Each book features a killer pulp cover along with other illustrations, a glossary (parts of a ship for the briny swashbucklers, etc.), and background on the author.
Macdonald, Ross. The Blue Hammer. 269p. ISBN 978-0-307-27906-4. Macdonald, Ross. The Instant Enemy. 239p. ISBN 978-0-307-27905-7.ea. vol: Black Lizard: Vintage. 2008. pap. $14.95. M
Originally released in 1976 and 1968, respectively, these two Lew Archer mysteries find the detective on seemingly simple cases, but, as Macdonald's many readers know, nothing, alas, is ever simple for the hard-boiled gumshoe. Macdonald is one of the gods, and you should have his books on your shelves.
Melville, Herman. Israel Potter: His 50 Years of Exile. Penguin Pr: Penguin Group (USA). (Classics). 2008. 247p. ISBN 978-0-14-310523-7. pap. $15. FPublished in 1855, Melville's fictional biography is his only historical novel. It tells the story of Israel Potter, a Revolutionary War hero and Bunker Hill survivor who ultimately ends up on the streets of London. Melville mixes fact with fiction and real characters (Ben Franklin) with invented ones.
Nonfiction
Carson, Rachel. Under the Sea-Wind. 184p. ISBN 978-0-14-310496-4. pap. $15.Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Nature and Selected Essays. 415p. ISBN 978-0-14-243762-9. pap. $14.
Muir, John. The Mountains of California. 264p. ISBN 978-0-14-310525-1. pap. $13.
ea. vol: Penguin Pr: Penguin Group (USA). (Classics). 2008. NATURE
To assist the Nature Conservancy's "Plant a Billion Trees Campaign," which aims to put the trees in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, Penguin is rereleasing a handful of nature classics.
Ellison, Harlan. Harlan Ellison's Watching. Edgeworks Abbey. 2008. 465p. index. ISBN 978-1-59582-056-3. pap. $12.95. FILMWhen he wasn't churning out top-shelf stories, Ellison doubled as a film critic. This 1989 volume collects his musings on film of the 1960s on up (more than 50 essays). He's not a guy to pull his punches when offering his opinions; in fact, he'll actually cram them down your throat with glee. Whether you agree with him or would prefer to string him up by his Buster Browns, Ellison is always greatly entertaining. This edition sports a new intro by Leonard Maltin.
Josephson, Matthew. The Politicos: 1865–1896. Commons. 2008. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-9814579-0-1. $35. HISTReleased in 1938, this title was Josephson's sequel to his earlier work, The Robber Barrons. Both books were well received by critics, but this was especially praised for its in-depth analyses of the nation's history and economy during the period. Considering we're currently living in perilous political and economic times, this book still has lessons to teach.
Nabokov, Vladimir. Nikolai Gogol. New Directions, dist. by Norton. 2008. 172p. index. ISBN 978-0-8112-0120-9. pap. $14.95. LITNabokov's 1959 portrait of fellow Russian Gogol offered a different take from previous studies. He debunks the theory that Gogol was the Russian Dickens, claiming that his comedy was much more severe, and blames the misrepresentation of Gogol's work on bad translations and crude interpretations. Solid for the academics.
Packard, Vance. The Hidden Persuaders. Ig Pub. 2008. 240p. ISBN 978-0-9788431-0-6. pap. $14.95. PSYCHReleased in 1957, this was the first book to probe how print and TV advertising manipulates the public in order to sell products. The same methods can be applied to influence our thoughts on everything, from what we buy to whom we vote for. Interesting stuff.
