Robert Sheckley, Dimensions of Sheckley: Selected Novels of Robert Sheckley
Still the funniest older sci-fi I've come across, it deserves to be praised on its own multi-faceted merits rather than being constantly compared to Douglas Adams, but I can't help being reminded with every bumbling bureaucrat and doddering deity.
Minotaur Maze (1990) ***
Postmodern classical wank, not that there's anything wrong with that. Some funny concepts, but more a warm-up exercise than a novel.
Roald Dahl, The Witches / Esio Trot / The Twits / The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me
Fun Learesque whimsy. Non-essential, but thoughtful filler for the omnibus.
Esio Trot (1990) ****
This formerly mysterious late 'novel' turned out to be another shortie, a realist senior rom-com more in line with his adult tales where irresponsible deception is rewarded.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince (1943) ***
The inquitive sod got on my nerves and the parables were tedious, but I superficially enjoyed the star trek.
Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows (1908) ***
Wodehouse from the riverbank. A bit twee without substantial nostalgic support.
John Ruskin, From The King of the Golden River or The Black Brothers. A Legend of Stiria (1851) ***
Classic elemental personification, but we only get the teaser.
Catherine Parr [Strickland] Traill, From Canadian Crusoes, A Tale of Rice Lake Plains (1852) *
Unpatronising, unsentimental, unpleasant survivalism.
Mary Louisa Charlesworth, From Ministering Children (1854) **
Saintly swots. Try reading it aloud without sounding like Carrie's mother.
'Oliver Optic' (William Taylor Adams), From The Boat Club, or the Bunkers of Rippleton (1855) *
Proto-Twain scrapes.
William Makepeace Thackeray, The Rose and the Ring, or The History of Prince Giglio and Prince Bulbo, A Fireside Pantomime for Great and Small Children (1855) *
Between the continental fairy tales and Poe's nightmares, England's contributions to the fantastic were just pathetic.
Christopher Pearse Cranch, From The Last of the Huggermuggers: A Giant Story (1855) ***
A fun clip from Jack and the Beanstalk: The Movie, I'd watch more.
Charlotte Mary Yonge, From The Daisy Chain; or, Aspirations. A Family Chronicle (1856) *
Grim soap episode, just missing the support line number and awkwardly silent credits.
A. L. O. E. [A Lady of England] (Charlotte Maria Tucker), From The Rambles of a Rat (1857) *
Why don't you just marry a rat already?
Thomas Hughes, From Tom Brown's Schooldays (1857) *
Give me the idealised naivety of a ripping yarn over this grim documentary.
Frances Browne, The Story of Merrymind (1857) ***
Quaint StoryTeller vibes, just add Muppets.
The Merchant of Venice (1596–98) **
I quite enjoy these, until I'm reminded that he didn't come up with any of the plots, just fleshed out the characters and made racist caricatures sympathetic. Jim Davidson claims the same about his creations though.
As You Like It (1599) **
Tangled and sappy pastoral symphony, but it's nice to get out.
