Jonathan Carroll

[JasonDavis]

When we were putting together the Asked and Answered books, I ran across a post by JMS where he recommended Jonathan Carroll's The Land of Laughs. Remembering that--by a strange twist of fate involving Neil Gaiman--I had a copy of the book in my cupboard, I started reading it.

Now, almost two years later, I've amassed a collection of almost all the man's books (only one eludes my bookshelf, but not for much longer) and I'm embarking on a marathon reading of his entire oeuvre.

So, given that he's one of JMS's favorite writers--with good reason--I was wondering if anyone else hereabouts had read his works.

No spoilers, please. I'm only mid-way through his second book...there's a long way to go.

[Jonas]

Read White Apples a long time ago. Liked it. It had a very B5-esque habit of switching between hilarity and profound sadness.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

I haven't heard of him. Where should I start?

[JasonDavis]

The Land of Laughs was phenomenal. Hell of a first novel.

[JasonDavis]

The disconcerting thing about Carroll's books (the one and a half I've read thus far) is that he starts things off in a very real-world kind of way and the dark fantasy element creeps up on you somewhere in the middle and startles you out of the normalcy that's been so carefully established. I'm still waiting for the weird in Voice of Our Shadow (his second novel)...

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Neat. I'll check it out if I can buy myself a few minutes

[JasonDavis]

Neat. I'll check it out if I can buy myself a few minutes

You can buy time? Who do I mail my cheque to if I want an extra day added to each week?

[JoeD80]

So, given that he's one of JMS's favorite writers--with good reason--I was wondering if anyone else hereabouts had read his works.

JMS also mentioned Bones of the Moon as a good place to start. I haven't read any of Carroll's work yet.

[SmileOfTheShadow]

You can buy time? Who do I mail my cheque to if I want an extra day added to each week?

Sure, I take paypal!

[JasonDavis]

JMS also mentioned Bones of the Moon as a good place to start. I haven't read any of Carroll's work yet.

From my minimal research, it would appear that Bones of the Moon is the beginning of a six-book arc. I've no idea how connected said arc is, but I'll report back when I reach the second of the sextet and have an informed opinion. Bones certainly has a lot of famous admirers.

Almost done with his second book, Voice of Our Shadow and I'm not even sure I could classify what kind of story it is; that's always a plus for me because if you can't reduce it to X meets Y, it must be reasonably original.

[JasonDavis]

I'm sorry to say that Mr. Carroll's second novel, Voice of Our Shadow, wasn't a work of genius like his first. Great set-up that didn't make for a satisfying pay-off. I'm still not entirely sure what happened at the end.

Oh, well.

On to the second of his books recommended by JMS: Bones of the Moon.