RIP John Crowley

[RedMage]

I saw on Blue Sky today that author John Crowley has passed away just today at the age of 83. Search results only have social media posts so far from Reddit, Facebook and others saying he's died. RIP John Crowley.

 

[Hobbit]

Just hearing that myself.

I have his Aegypt series I keep meaning to read!

Anybody any other favourites? Little Big? Engine Summer?

 

[Prairie_Dog]

Just hearing that myself.

I have his Aegypt series I keep meaning to read!

Anybody any other favourites? Little Big? Engine Summer?

I think The Deep may be his best work that I have read at least. The strange tale of the Reds and the Blacks and their strange visitor is really good, and it’s a short novel.

I’ve been meaning to read his more recent novel Ka from 2017, but I haven’t got around to it yet. Maybe I should make time for it now…

 

[Fryan]

Sad news! I’ve been meaning to read his stuff for ages. I have a copy of Beasts on my shelf. I’ll need to prioritize it once I’m back with my library.

 

[Hobbit]

Engine Summer I'm told is the one to read; I haven't yet, though.

 

[Westy]

Engine Summer I'm told is the one to read; I haven't yet, though.

Same here.

 

[Fryan]

I just scooped up an ebook omnibus with Endless Summer, Beasts and The Deep. So I’ll be giving Crowley’s work a go sooner than later.

 

[Randy M.]

I read The Deep and liked it but haven't gotten back to him. He's a constant on my TBR with Engine Summer and Little Big and a story collection, but I always seem to turn away to something else. I'm sorry to hear he's passed.

 

[Ropie]

I also remember Engine Summer, which is such a great title, as one of the first SF recommendations I heard about when I got back into SF in the early 2000s. I never got round to it, though. I will seek it out.

edit: Just bought myself a SF Masterworks copy

 

[Fryan]

Thanks to everyone who said to read Engine Summer. I finished it this morning over a cup of coffee. I really enjoyed it. Fantastic writing and a captivating story.

I’m not sure I “got” everything. The stretch of the book with Dr. Boots’ List stuff had my head in a fog of confusion, but in the end I came away feeling pretty happy overall. Definitely a book that warrants a reread to catch all the little hidden stuff in it.

I feel like anyone who has enjoyed Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun and Long Sun will find themselves on equally fertile soil with Engine Summer…but this is a bit more of a warmer narrative than Wolfe.

 

[Hobbit]

I feel like anyone who has enjoyed Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun and Long Sun will find themselves on equally fertile soil with Engine Summer…but this is a bit more of a warmer narrative than Wolfe.

Oh, that's an interesting point. Not the first time I've heard similar... and yes, I am working on the Wolfe books... it's only taken 40 years...

 

[Fryan]

Oh, that's an interesting point. Not the first time I've heard similar... and yes, I am working on the Wolfe books... it's only taken 40 years...

I only made it through the Shadow and Claw omnibus. It was good, but really challenging and laborious to get through.