brag, brag and more brag

[realthog]

ellen_datlow has been bragging to all who'll listen about the fact that her mom has given her a good "review" for Inferno, so there is at least precedent for my own nauseating cock-a-hoopness over having received likewise from my daughter, who has read my novel The Dragons of Manhattan as part of the memed "50 Book Challenge":

Book 27 was The Dragons of Manhattan by that deeply neglected author, John Grant, who should be more highly recognised by everyone ;) He wrote it a few years ago and it was published as an e-book by Blue Ear, but has recently been published as an actual paper version (which is much easier to read.) I'm not as convinced as its reviewers that it's on a par with Swift, but it's certainly a viciously funny topical pastiche which will make anyone with even a passing awareness of current US politics weep with laughter*. The plot with the dragons in should ensnare the fantasy reader too.

*Assuming of course they're a pinko liberal who thinks George W Bush is not a fantastic, divinely inspired president we should all support wholeheartedly in whatever plan his puppeteers come up with next.

I do of course dispute hotly her implication that the book's not on a par with Swift, but obviously I'm delighted about the rest!

By the way, I'm still authorized to send FREEEE PDFs of the book to those who might review it on their blogs or elsewhere. For more major venues, I might be persuaded to part with a paper copy. Either way, e-mail me via LJ's system, citing your address and/or e-address. Also, for US readers, copies are for sale from my website.
 

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Oh, this sounds awesome! When I get a book buying budget again, this is a must.

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

Hee! When even your family likes a book, it must be good!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Cute! ". . . on par with Swift" can be argued in your favor. The humor and sarcasm are certainly on par.

Oh, and Paul, you might want to take a ride over to http://imago1.livejournal.com/18920.html
and read Laird's "beard" comment (under my comment). Tee hee.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tipoff about Laird's comment. I've just been adding adolescent graffiti there.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

And I hadn't even started to threaten to cut her out of my will, honest!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for the kind comment!

"When I get a book buying budget again"

Sympathies. I know the feeling all too well . . .

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

I'm more than half-way through it, and enjoying it immensely (I read a big chunk of it yesterday waiting to see the dental hygienist). I'll agree it's not quite Swift, though better than Peter Pindar or Henry Carey. (I'm in an eighteenth-century sort of mood, after having my mouth assaulted and debating with my {Helleno-American} dentist whether or not Hygiene was a Greek divinity, Gail and I went to see the exhibition of Houdon sculptures at the High; the stern Roman George Washington was a remarkable contrast to the rather merry Ben Franklin, and the Roman Consul Voltaire was extraordinarily avuncular.) Now, for a suitable remuneration, I might be persuaded to compare it favourably to Voltaire, who was no mean satirist.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Oodles of thanks for the kind words! Of course, any comparison with Voltaire would be gratefully received . . .

Myself, I felt, after the euphoria over the Blue Ear reviewer's comparison with Swift had died down a bit, that it was probably justified -- not in any egotistic sense but simply in that I was doing the same thing as Swift: eviscerating contemporary fuckwit ideologues.

That said, I'd be possibly even more delighted to be compared with Voltaire!

Does my egotism know no bounds?

Probably not. Ask Pam.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

How does your head get through doors? (Unless, perchance, you happen to be a shapeshifting dragon yourself?) I am enjoying the story immensely.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"How does your head get through doors?"

Curiously, Pam makes very similar remarks quite frequently. Just one of those odd coincidences, I suppose.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

That's an important function of wives, keeping husband's heads from getting too swollen. Or so mine tells me.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Yes, mine tells me that too. Often.

Very, very often.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

I wonder why.