Con Coleman

Shining river with sun and green fields and still bare trees.

Good morning.

Taking another go at TH White's 'Once and Future King'. Couldn't get into it before - something about the tone - but, after watching an excellent video by @jaredhenderson.bsky.social I'm having another try. So far so good, though I'm not looking forward to the bit with the unicorn...

#bloomposting

Blackthorn bushes in blossom with the sun shining through the branches.

Hello trees, hello birds, hello sky, hello blackthorn blossoms.

Currently enjoying every moment of Tim Flight's 'Basilisks and Beowulf: Monsters in the Anglo-Saxon World', a brilliant insight into the Dark-Age mindset.*

*Yes, 'Dark Age', because it sounds so much more exciting than 'early mediaeval'.

A wonderful book. If I remember right the film version wasn't too successful but still a fascinating watch.

Have just consumed Julian Barnes's 'Arthur and George' which was even more splendid than I remember from the first time.

It's given me an appetite for Victorian/Edwardian crime, so next up is 'The Suspicions of Mr Whicher'

I've just finished Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go' and have now realised he is one of my favourite authors. He says so much with such subtlety and transparency. So, next up, 'Remains of the Day'.

Is John Buchan still a neglected author either in this context or that of Scottish fiction?

The Faultlines of Earthsea — Con Coleman There is so much to love and admire about Ursula K Le Guin’s, A Wizard of Earthsea , not least that all the bad things that happen in the novel are the fault of the hero.

I'm re-reading 'A Wizard of Earthsea' and am reminded how humane it is. @ursulakleguin.com

I wrote a blog post about it years ago which I'm a bit proud of: www.concoleman.com/blog/the-fau...

Alright, alright. Done now. Jeez.

Ever hear of Harry Robinson?

He composed the scores to movies like 'Countess Dracula', 'Hijack!', and 'Hawk the Slayer', did the strings on Nick Drake's, 'River Man', and as if that wasn't enough, he wrote and performed on the greatest pop single ever made: 'Hoots Mon!' by Lord Rockingham's XI.

Splendid subject - looking forward to this.

Some players don't mind a bit of light rail-roading as long as it's still fun, especially if it's more like an obstacle course than a railroad. Event if the narrative is linear, it doesn't mean overcoming a series of challenges isn't a hoot!

A large crate of potatoes enjoying a beautiful sunset.

Here is a picture of a large crate of potatoes all enjoying a lovely sunset.

You're welcome.

Hello, Groovers.

That's about as deep as I can get right now.