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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

the Luck Child, again--

Yesterday I wanted a kiss from the Luck Child, and today I have got it--a gorgeous glory of a review in Strange Horizons from that wonderful reviewer who always sees what no other reviewer sees, Tom Atherton of Wales. It's strong and wide-ranging and full of insight, delineating aspects of the book I like to see revealed. (He's even got a few criticisms, and I can tell you that he's the sort of reviewer whose remarks I will remember, next time I am revising a novel.)

Earlier he wrote an equally insightful review of Thaliad (and he begins this review with Thaliad) that pleased me very much--even, I can say, enlightened me. I am infinitely grateful to him for the results of his story-mining and contemplation.

I have sometimes doubted that beauty and perception can find their reward in our culture of trend and frantic change and celebrity. The fact that Strange Horizons has picked up Tom Atherton as a reviewer is heartening.

***
In more Luck Child news, most or all of my marked galley pages turned out to be not lost forever but scattered about "in the mail bin."

***
Images in this post: Art for Glimmerglass (Mercer, 2014) by Clive Hicks-Jenkins of Wales, book design by Mary-Frances Glover Burt of Georgia. Art for Thaliad (Phoenicia, 2012) by Clive as well, with design by Andrew Wakelin, also of Wales. May I just confess that I love Wales?
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10 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:44 AM, March 25, 2015

    I confess that I never wrote and posted a "review" _Glimmerglass_ for dozens of reasons -- all of them because of my shortcomings and preoccupations rather than anything pertaining to the book -- but I will by action rather than words give _Glimmerglass_ my highest praise: in other words, because only one visit was not nearly enough balm for the soul, I am returning for another restorative visit to Cooper Patent, and I am sure that repeat visits will happen in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marly Youmans10:28 AM, March 25, 2015

      Ah, thanks, Tim--glad you enjoyed a trip to that peculiar little village!

      Delete
    2. Robbi N.3:11 PM, March 25, 2015

      I have to second this. My preoccupation and laziness kept me from making comments on the book's Amazon page.

      Delete
    3. Marly Youmans3:48 PM, March 25, 2015

      Well, I'm grateful when people do but understand when they don't. I am pulled in many directions and often don't do as much as I would like to do for other writers.

      Delete
  2. marja-leena11:56 AM, March 25, 2015

    Congratulations on the excellent review! Now I want to reread Glimmerglass with new understanding and even more appreciation.

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    Replies
    1. Marly Youmans12:01 PM, March 25, 2015

      Oh, that's a nice compliment for Tom Atherton! I did not know his reviews until he reviewed Thaliad, and I was so surprised that he didn't review (back then) beyond his own site. He's awfully good, well read and quick to catch on to subtleties and allusions.

      Delete
  3. scott g.f.bailey12:45 PM, March 25, 2015

    How lucky! Hurrah, little USPS imps!

    And Atherton's review gives me the kick I needed to finally write about the second half of Glimmerglass. Any day now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marly Youmans3:46 PM, March 25, 2015

      Oh, look at that--even more luck! I always find what you have to say so interesting.

      And yes, imps!

      Delete
  4. Robbi N.3:11 PM, March 25, 2015

    Glad they found some of your pages!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marly Youmans3:46 PM, March 25, 2015

      Yes, it's much better to have the notes that include why I did or didn't do things.

      Delete

Alas, I must once again remind large numbers of Chinese salesmen and other worldwide peddlers that if they fall into the Gulf of Spam, they will be eaten by roaming Balrogs. The rest of you, lovers of grace, poetry, and horses (nod to Yeats--you do not have to be fond of horses), feel free to leave fascinating missives and curious arguments.