tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post184614026396675706..comments2024-03-27T22:39:08.396-04:00Comments on Sweet Freedom: FFB: SELECTED STORIES by Fritz Leiber (Night Shade Books 2010); SELECTED STORIES by Theodore Sturgeon (Vintage/Random House 2000); VIRTUAL UNREALITIES: THE SHORT FICTION OF ALFRED BESTER (Vintage/Random House 1997)Todd Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-78641801292700440882016-09-26T05:04:29.364-04:002016-09-26T05:04:29.364-04:00Thanks, Steve! We'll see about keeping it goin...Thanks, Steve! We'll see about keeping it going, and getting past the interruptions that have been arising on some of the more labor-intensive projects. I'm rather embarrassed about how long it's been since I could do a Overlooked A/V, given how many have continued to post. And missing Underappreciated Music for August...and drawing together the Seon Manley and GoGo Lewis post...Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-73651626250887914602016-09-25T11:51:17.458-04:002016-09-25T11:51:17.458-04:00I always enjoy your writing about short stories, p...I always enjoy your writing about short stories, particularly when they are all by authors I like a lot. I don't have the Leiber, and there are three stories in that one that I don't recall from the names and may not have read.<br /><br />As you said, they all have "selections I might tweak, but not change wholesale." For all of them, I have a "How could they have left out..." feeling, but more importantly, I <i>don't</i> have a "How could they have included..." reaction. There are a couple of stories I don't especially like but nothing I think is a truly poor story. <br /><br />You have pretty much staked out anthologies, short story collections, and old magazines as your personal discussion areas and you do a great job with them. I always look forward to your FFB posts and hope you keep them going.<br />SteveHLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04017186128084713758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-5112316004856802032016-09-23T14:13:04.477-04:002016-09-23T14:13:04.477-04:00Thanks, folks...and I suspect Patti snagged the fi...Thanks, folks...and I suspect Patti snagged the first attempt to post this essay, which was messed over by a Blogger glitch (or one which this Apple machine forced on Blogger), Steve.<br /><br />Richard, you are very kind...part of what drove this selection was that I was up overnight with a couple of sick cats, and not for the first time this week.<br /><br />And, you, too, Sergio...yes, indeed, such collections are by their nature a collection of chestnuts for the most part, with the exception of a few relatively rare choices (or the previously unpublished entries in the Bester volume). I'll be adding the links to the previous reviews on my blog of such volumes as THE GHOST LIGHT, which with its fine long autobiographical essay by Leiber is very comparable to the similar Jorge Luis Borges THE ALEPH, AND OTHER STORIES 1933-1969...Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-75279052842187429172016-09-23T13:12:18.331-04:002016-09-23T13:12:18.331-04:00Great overviews Todd, as always. I don;t actually ...Great overviews Todd, as always. I don;t actually have any of these but I am fairly sure I have nearly all the stories one way or another. I am particularly fond of the GHOST LIGHT collection of Leiber's with its really great essays and remembrances within. Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-83657756105168561342016-09-23T12:11:28.897-04:002016-09-23T12:11:28.897-04:00I have the Leiber and Sturgeon, but not the Bester...I have the Leiber and Sturgeon, but not the Bester. Excellent review (as always).Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-63746281534142560372016-09-23T09:50:43.705-04:002016-09-23T09:50:43.705-04:00Todd, I haven't read your post yet, but I want...Todd, I haven't read your post yet, but I want to let you know I couldn't get this to open on the FFB site.SteveHLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04017186128084713758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-47666947235588728732016-09-23T09:15:56.326-04:002016-09-23T09:15:56.326-04:00Great writers, all. I've got the Leiber and Be...Great writers, all. I've got the Leiber and Bester but not the Sturgeon. I did spring for the 13 hardcover volumes of his complete short fiction so I've got it covered. Hard to pick a favorite of the three.Scott Cupphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13082054067551991645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-24978873322269683122016-09-23T08:29:32.720-04:002016-09-23T08:29:32.720-04:00Nope...and I still have a bit of each left to read...Nope...and I still have a bit of each left to read...Todd Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815516018079824802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8525415828746712027.post-45556216399188765362016-09-23T08:25:41.445-04:002016-09-23T08:25:41.445-04:00I own and read all three of these excellent books....I own and read all three of these excellent books. It just doesn't get much better than Leiber, Sturgeon, and Bester!Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04546161337366365635noreply@blogger.com