how very thoughtful

[rushthatspeaks]

Have just gotten in the mail a copy of Tim Powers' The Anubis Gates, which a) I did not previously own, and b) is one of the two Tim Powers novels I actually like. (The other one is The Drawing of the Dark, and I do not enjoy but admire Last Call; the rest I have either failed to finish or regretted not failing to finish.)

It has a very nice note with it, indicating that it is a gift, but it doesn't say from whom. If whoever sent it is reading this, thank you very much! And also, if your anonymity is unintentional, it would be neat to know who to thank.




one of these days I should actually write that essay I've been meaning to write since the books came out about how Powers' Declare is *literally* the Evil Version of John Crowley's The Translator, but as this would involve rereading Declare I have not been able to manage it yet

Comments

[liv]

Were you taking part in my sweetie's secret Santa style book exchange again this year? You were my recipient last year, so maybe your mysterious book sender is from that? You may get further information from the Elfster site if this guess is right.

[rushthatspeaks]

... Eep! You're right! I signed up for it, and was like, Elfster will send me reminders, but apparently it has not. Welp, I know what I'm doing with the rest of my day.

Thanks.

[hunningham]

I am always fascinated by how other people react to books. Declare is the only book by Tim Powers which I have finished and enjoyed. I keep on trying other books he has written, but either meeh or I bounce off them hard.

[larryhammer]

I look forward to that essay, when you finally manage it.

(Who knows, it may get me to attempt The Translator again.)

[starlady]

Well, that is two more Tim Powers books than I have managed to like, though I have only read two and that was enough.

[rushthatspeaks]

I read The Drawing of the Dark first, is the thing, and it's all been downhill from there.

[cyphomandra]

Ooh: I did not enjoy Declare but loved The Translator; hadn’t thought to pair them at all, but would be fascinated to hear your thoughts.

I do like Last Call as well as Dinner At Deviant’s Palace and The Stress of Her Regard, but have bounced off everything else he’s written since the mid-90s - checking his bio has just reminded me that there must be an abandoned half-read copy of Medusa’s Web somewhere in my house. I’d completely forgotten about it.

[wild_irises]

Just datapointing: I like Anubis Gates, and didn't care for Drawing of the Dark. I have liked a couple of others since then, notably Last Call, but in general when I look at a list of books-to-read, Powers slides down it rather than up it.