digging for roots to see what grows below but there is no untangling of that weave so cover it back with soil
A poem prompted by a randomly selected Elder Futhark rune.
Today’s rune is pertho, which has a disputed meaning and there is some indication that the ascribed meanings might be corruptions. The general consensus is that there is likely some relationship to ørlǫg (fate/destiny), luck/gambling or hidden knowledge.
Please visit my Elder Futhark pages at sceadugenga.com for additional interpretations of the runes based on multiple references and personal reflection.
I started reading Jhereg by Steven Brust last night as part of my recent determination to create some air between my brain and various digital and social medias (streaming services including YouTube, mass-social media, news sites, video games, & etc.). I am annoyed with myself now that it has taken so long to read his writing aside from Freedom and Necessity.
I hope that no one is offended when I say Jhereg is just the kind of pulp fiction I was looking for. It is not high literature, nor does it pretend to be. The novel is a fantasy tale of an assassin and mobster, Vlad Taltos, who happens to be a second-class citizen (because he is human) in a fantasy city full of thievery, deception and double-crossings. Plus, he has magic and a reptilian familiar.
And, so far, it works — as a bit of a hard-boiled noir and fantasy crossover. A movie with similar DNA (except set in a futuristic Earth instead of a medieval fantasy world) might be Blade Runner.
Like The Witcher books I’ve been re-reading, it has an easy flow to the storytelling that I think might be missing from a lot of the more recent writing out there. Even some of books I’ve enjoyed that have been written in the past 25 years seem to be trying real hard to be “good literature” when they are, at their base, pulp novels. Or, maybe, I’m just more tuned into penny dreadfuls, pulp fiction, and weird tales and would prefer to read that birdcage liner stuff.
Sometimes I wonder if we put too much emphasis on structure, formulae and erudition, and not enough on merely telling a “ripping yarn”. I certainly don’t know. But I’m sure there are tons of opinions about the matter.
On whim and a lark, I added feta to my breakfast of steel cut oats, almonds and pepitas. I have added feta with mushrooms, sausages and eggs on my oats in the past, but was hesitant without the other savory ingredients.
FYI: It tastes damn good, it is less work, and it is better for me than adding a tablespoon of chocolate chips when I don’t want to go through the hassle of frying up eggs, sausages and mushrooms.
grey fading crabbed hand clutching for the only, sleep her slow eyes follow, arthritic waiting on a sharp grin crooked while he shambles thresholds waiting for felling to come
On the opposite end of the spectrum from my recent nationwide chain bookstore experience, I found plenty of things to throw my money at last night at the used bookstore last night. It absolutely made up for the disappointment I experienced on Sunday.
For the same cost as buying a single hardcover, I managed to snag five used mass market books and one QP paperback. That’s six books, my friends, for just over $30. And all in good to fantastic shape. And I held back, because there were a few other titles I considered adding to the pile.
Now I’m set for a couple of weeks of reading material, including those books I already have in my possession that I plan to read.
destiny is cruel and uncaring making itself known by streetlight halo wee hours leaving restless and waiting those wraiths that haunt still the night, unforgiven
come with me and let us slumber and dream without nightmare or pain let our winter bury us under for long dark nights our bones entangled skin drawn tight let us slumber in that everlasting kiss and evermore
I went to one of the few big bookstores with physical storefronts remaining yesterday. I don’t need to name names. It was not the best experience and I had not realized just how far things had fallen since I last visited large chain bookstores.
Where it used to be shelves upon shelves of books to choose from, their inventory was greatly diminished and nearly half of what remained was only tangentially related to books. Lego. Jigsaw puzzles. Stuffies. Overpriced boardgames. Toys. Journals and bags to carry those journals.
