The Vulgar Eclectic
Vulgar: of the usual, typical, or ordinary kind
definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster
Eclectic: composed of elements drawn from various sources
recent blog posts
- Accidental gallery
- At the Earth’s Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
I recently finished reading At the Earth’s Core (1914) by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This is the first of the Pellucidar novels, a series that went on to include seven books in which the protagonist David Innes and others explore a Hollow Earth setting.
Reading this was a classic ERB experience. Action, adventure, creatively imagined creatures, societies, and characters, as well as a protagonist committed to chivalrous conduct, honor, and courage in the face of adversity make for a rousing tale.
“And there I was, unarmed, and, with the exception of a loin cloth, as naked as I had come into the world. I could imagine how my first ancestor felt that distant, prehistoric morn that he encountered for the first time the terrifying progenitor of the thing that had me cornered now beside the restless, mysterious sea.”
Dust jacket illustration of 1922 hardcover edition 
At the Earth’s Core was first published as a serialized 4-part story in All-Story Weekly in 1914 - Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol
A book jot from February, 2021:
I finished reading Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol, translated by Peter Constantine. This is an unusual book. It follows the titular character and his two sons, Cossacks from the historical past, in the 16th or 17th century. It reads almost like an epic folktale, with beautiful passages of descriptive language. There is much, to use an oft-repeated word from the story, carousing. And much, much violence. It is reminiscent of The Iliad, so much so in certain ways that it must be purposeful. Just as Homer punctuated dramatic scenes with drawn-out similes, Gogol uses beautiful imagistic comparisons to bring pause and attention to moments of action. He also uses name-lists in the Homeric tradition.
There is a lot to think about concerning how this tale speaks to issues today; probably too much to get into here, but it makes for a very interesting read. The action is incredible, the characters and their motivations memorable, and the writing is very beautiful. There are parts of it that are difficult to get through because of the framing of the narrative through the eyes of 16th century Cossacks. There is a great deal of very ugly prejudice.
Has anyone read this? I would be interested to hear any thoughts about it.
- Sixty years
- The Hard Switch by Owen D. Pomery
I finished reading The Hard Switch (2023), a graphic novel written and illustrated by Owen D. Pomery. It’s a science fiction tale set in a world in which interstellar travel has long been an established reality thanks to a mineral called alcanite. However, the end of such travel is fast approaching, as the finite galactic supply of alcanite is almost completely depleted.
The plot focuses on a small group of companions who scavenge alcanite from old shipwrecks amidst a world that seems to be falling apart, with everyone scrambling to get to a world they will have to stay upon once interstellar travel ceases to exist. Ada, Haika, and Mallic (an eight-limbed cephalopod) make a memorable team as they navigate a world increasingly unraveling at the seams, trying to stay alive while holding on to their humanity.
The artwork is unique, clean, and beautiful. The dialogue and characterization are solid and the plot unfolds in an unforced, graceful fashion. All the parts of this book combine to make a whole that is a very enjoyable reading experience.
