Tag: books

Book of the Week

Kokoro, by Natsume Soseki, is the Japanese equivalent of books like Huckleberry Finn, A Tale of Two Cities, and Giants in the Earth, books you’re expected to read in school because they are classics. From the Western perspective, this is grimly funny in light of the general theme of the novel; for anyone who is familiar with the Japanese classics of pen and film, it’s not giving too much away to say the protagonist is very nearly the only character in the novel who doesn’t die. Shades of Ran.

But that is part of what makes it fascinating, because Kokoro is not depressing despite being almost entirely without hope. This may have been because Soseki was writing at the end of the Meiji era, a period as disruptive to a people as has ever been known to any group of human beings outside of lost tribes discovered in Papua New Guinea or the Amazon. It is deeply self-reflective, almost to the point of narcissism, and it is interesting to see how modern it feels in some ways despite being very much a product of its time and place. It certainly merits its status as a minor parochial classic.

In any event, the book suggests an answer to one question I’ve had about Japanese literature since I was first reading it at university, which is why it is so remarkably lethal. I mean, the average Japanese literary novel contains more deaths than the average Western horror novel, and suicide is a more commonly utilized ending device than marriage. Given Soseki’s influence and respected position in Japanese literature, this phenomenon is considerably easier to understand, as is the passive fatalism that pervades the work of modern Japanese writers like Haruki Murakami.

Brings the Lightning now in hardcover

For those of you who prefer your books in print, I’m pleased to be able to let you know that Peter Grant’s new and very well-regarded Western novel, Brings the Lightning, is now available in hardcover. Book One of The Ames Archives is 272 pages and retails for $19.99.

The production team is working hard at bringing all of our 40+ full-length ebooks into print; our current goal is to publish two ebooks and four print books per month. The next books to go into print will be John C. Wright’s Iron Chamber of Memory and the omnibus hardcover of There Will Be War Vols IX and X. We also intend to re-release A Throne of Bones in a new, royal octavo editions in July, case-bound hardcover and paperback.

From the reviews:

  • Lean and taut. A tale told well. Grant has written an old fashioned western, and the subject fits his writing style well. His prose is spare and straightforward, without any extraneous elements, flowery descriptions, or narrative asides. The plot is straightforward, yet interesting. And, best of all, he’s easy to read.
  • I’m primarily a science fiction,
    fantasy, and self help reader, but found this book very enjoyable. It
    was thoughtful and steady, some twists, with good solid characters and
    believable action. Usually westerns just don’t ring true like this one
    does. I’ve recently read The Heart of Everything That Is and Empire of
    the Summer Moon    , both non-fiction, and both fully supportive background
    for the story in Brings the Lightning. I’m hoping that there is another
    one in the works.
  • Wonderful! I am thrilled that a real western has been written once more. This book rings true to me having grown up amongst the last remnants of the world Grant writes about. 
  • Zane Grey has a peer! Mr. Grant, author of several other novels, brings his expertise to bear on this authentic Western. The characters are genuine, and the writing is true to life, with historically accurate details. You’ll like the characters, you’ll like the writing, and you’ll like the story. I can’t help but compare Brings the Lightning to Zane Grey’s novels, because that’s the only other author whose writings are comparable. HIGHLY recommended!
  • Author Peter Grant has done his homework, and it shows. Before the main journey even begins Ames has to deal with bushwhackers, Union occupation, and the aftermath of the Missouri guerrila war and Bleeding Kansas. The collection of colorful characters are entertaining too, including cheating gamblers, corrupt army officer, and the lecherous husband of a schoolmarm. Grant’s descriptions really add a “you are there” feel to the book. As someone who grew up on the plains, his descriptions of the terrain and dangers were spot-on. Grant also provides great how-to details, such as moving and defending a wagon train on open ground. Gun buffs will love the trip to the Nashville gunsmith early in the book.

There Will Be War vol. V

Castalia House is pleased to announce the publication of THERE WILL BE WAR Volume V. THERE WILL BE WAR is a landmark science fiction anthology series that combines top-notch military science fiction with factual essays by various generals and military experts on everything from High Frontier and the Strategic Defense Initiative to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. It featured some of the greatest military science fiction ever published, such Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” in Volume I, Joel Rosenberg’s “Cincinnatus” in Volume II, and Arthur C. Clarke’s “Hide and Seek” in Volume III . Many science fiction greats were featured in the original nine-volume series, which ran from 1982 to 1990, including Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, Gordon Dickson, Poul Anderson, John Brunner, Gregory Benford, Robert Silverberg, Harry Turtledove, and Ben Bova.

34 years later, Castalia House has joined with Dr. Jerry Pournelle to revive this classic science fiction series and make the previous volumes available to the public again. THERE WILL BE WAR is a treasure trove of science fiction and history that will educate and amaze new readers while reminding old ones how much the world has changed over the last three decades. Most of the stories, like war itself, remain entirely relevant today.

THERE WILL BE WAR Volume V is edited by Jerry Pournelle and features 21 stories, articles, and poems. Of particular note are “He Fell Into a Dark Hole” by Jerry Pournelle, “The Interrogation Team” by David Drake, “The Road Not Taken” by Harry Turtledove, “Masterplay” by William F. Wu, and “House of Weapons” by Gordon Dickson. It retails for $4.99.

In my opinion, Volume V is one of the stronger volumes in the series. I particularly like Wu’s “Masterplay”, which was influential in my subsequent decision to become a game designer. We have now published 7 of the 10 volumes in the anthology series, and expect to complete the series this year. Every fan of military science fiction will want to read all of them; for the serious collectors, Vols I and II are now available in a 700-page hardcover omnibus.

New Release subscribers, check your email, as you won’t want to miss the bonus book.

Book of the Week

I am very pleased to announce that Equality: The Impossible Quest, by Martin van Creveld, is now available in case bound hardcover for $24.99 on Amazon. Along with his friend William S. Lind, Martin is Castalia’s most important non-fiction author and he is one of the foremost military minds living today. Jerry Pournelle himself has observed that van Creveld is a necessary addendum to Clausewitz; one simply cannot hope to begin understanding modern war without becoming familiar with his distinction between trinitarian and nontrinitarian warfare.

Equality is Martin’s attempt to examine and understand the ill-defined and nebulous idea that has somehow become the ruling political metric of our times. From the reviews:

  • A work of amazing breadth, Martin van Creveld also explores the depth of the history of equality, while striking a healthy tone between conversational and scholarly. Reading through the book ends up being rather easy, as the writing is engaging, yet a plethora of footnotes intersperse the text for those who wish to either fact-check or read further. 
  • I’ve not read van Creveld’s work
    before, though I am familiar with his reputation and his theories in a
    secondhand way, but this book has definitely sold me on reading the rest
    of his work.
  • A must-have for every student of Western philosophy. 
  • If there was more justice in the
    world, this would be assigned to young students as a primer — or
    rather, as an inoculation against — this seductive political idea which
    has become so debased over the last 200 years. 

This is a hardcover for which I have personally been eagerly awaiting. Castalia will be releasing more print books, in paperback and hardcover, in the near future. The next three will be 4GW Handbook (paperback), Cuckservative, (paperback), and Brings the Lightning, (hardcover, paperback).

And speaking of Martin van Creveld, if you haven’t been periodically checking out his blog, you really should. He doesn’t post often, nor does he usually post original work, but he always selects very interesting and informative guest articles. (I have myself once had the honor of having one of my posts selected for a guest article, a distinction I would not trade for a dozen Hugos.) The latest, “Sarejevo on the Baltic?” by Karsten Riise, merits a read simply on the off-chance that it might correctly read the possibility that Russia’s unexpectedly successful Syrian adventure was a practice run for Ukraine and the Baltics.

Baltic Membership in NATO is Destabilizing

When both sides have good reason to feel insecure, the relationship between them becomes unstable and something dramatic may well happen. This is currently the case in the Baltic where Russia may feel an understandable need to take action to remove the future military threat from the three Baltic countries before proceeding to liquidate its unfinished business in the Ukraine.

Any Russian operation in the Baltic will have to take place before NATO’s growing presence there makes it too dangerous. By NATO Treaty, such an operation will be considered an attack on all NATO countries, the US included. But honestly: In such a case, will the US and Europe risk a nuclear war? Probably not. Thus Russia may bet on a limited conventional war; one which would lead to the end of NATO.

On 17 May 2016 one of Denmark’s largest newspapers, Berlingske Tidende, published an article by a retired NATO brigadier general. The article was written with some typical NATO rhetoric. But under the rhetoric the Danish brigadier general seemed to be genuinely scared. He fears that something violent may take place in connection with NATO’s maneuver, BALTOPS 2016, schedules to take place in the Baltic Sea from 3- to 19 June, as Russia’s window for action in that region may become smaller in the future. As I just explained, his worries are in line with own my analysis.

Russian Interest in (Temporary) Stabilization in Syria

The Russian operations in Syria bear strong similarities to those of the German “Legion Condor” during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. They enabled the Kremlin to test and train its most advanced weapons—and watch them working perfectly well. The lesson to NATO? Beware!

For a conflict in the Baltic, Russia will prefer to have all of its air force back after its success in Syria. Land operations in the Ukraine are better undertaken in the summer time, and a Baltic operation will have to take place before NATO builds up too many forces in the Baltic. Therefore Russia has an interest in reaching a settlement (at least temporary) with the West on Syria; one that may allow it to bring the rest of its military aircraft home. As NATO’s build up in the Baltic accelerates, Russia may only have short time left to act

Brings the Lightning by Peter Grant

Castalia House is very pleased to announce the publication of a new Western novel, Book 1 in The Ames Archives, Brings the Lightning, by Peter Grant.

When the Civil War ends, where can a former Confederate soldier go to escape the long memories of neighbors who supported the winning side? Where can Johnny Reb go when he can’t go home?

He can go out West, where the land is hard, where there is danger on every side, and where no one cares for whom you fought – only how well you can do it.

Walt Ames, a former cavalryman with the First Virginia, is headed West with little more than a rifle, a revolver, and a pocket full of looted Yankee gold. But in his way stand bushwhackers, bluecoats, con men, and the ever-restless Indians. And perhaps most dangerous of all, even more dangerous than the cruel and unforgiving land, is the temptation of the woman whose face he can’t forget.

When you can’t go home again – go West!

Earlier this year, Peter Grant, the author of The Maxwell Saga and The Laredo Trilogy, happened to mention that he was interested in reviving the classic Western, and was, in fact, engaged in writing one. While the thought of publishing a Western was appealing, my initial impression was that Castalia House had more than enough on its plate attempting to revive classic science fiction and fantasy, and besides, I’ve always been more of a Louis L’Amour fan than a particular fan of the genre.

But then it occurred to me that for many Western civilizationists who love liberty, the Western is central to our conception of ourselves, and moreover, that there was very likely a connection between the SJW infestation in SF/F and the loss of interest in the Western genre by the mainstream publishers. As we’ve seen everywhere from computer games to comics and RPGs, it is all one big cultural war.

And then there is the fact that Fair Blows the Wind is one of my favorite novels in any genre.

So, I got in touch with Peter, told him that Castalia would love to get on board with the Western revival, and offered to publish what I learned was not merely the novel that turned out to be Brings the Lightning, but was the first book in a series about a man named Walter Ames, a Confederate who finds that he can’t return home to the farm in Tennessee after the Civil War. Peter is a man of a vast and varied experience, and it shows in his writing; moreover, he is a stickler for historical research, especially where firearms are concerned.

If you have a soft spot for Westerns, or you are, like me, a L’Amour fan, I am confident you will enjoy the adventures of Mr. Walt Ames. Brings the Lightning is 229 pages, retails for $4.99, and is available only on Amazon. New Release subscribers should check their emails for the customary free bonus book offer.

From the early reviews:

  • Brings the Lightning is an
    excellent revival of the western genre popularized by the likes of Louis
    L’Amour and Zane Gray in years past. 
  • The gun nuts among his fans will be delighted at the myriad details about firearms he includes, deftly weaving them into the tale as his main character comes to depend on them for his livelihood and defense on the dangerous trip West. 
  • I found the novel to be on a par
    with the early L’Amour works such as Killoe, Fallon, Radigan, Hondo and
    Kilkenny    . Very much worth reading.
  • The storyline is L’Amouresque, but the writing style is much better. L’Amour told great stories, but let’s face it, some of his prose really clunked in places, whereas Grant’s is very smooth. 

UPDATE: Peter Grant’s own announcement of his first Western is here. It’s interesting to learn that the genre was so popular with the South African military.

    Book Bomb: Nethereal

    Larry Correia has announced his latest Book Bomb in support of 2016 Campbell Nominee Brian Niemeir. Brian is a friend of the blog, and of Castalia House, and so I’m quite happy to support Larry in his efforts.

    Nethereal is the first book in the Soul Cycle series. It’s $3.99 and is currently at #43,662 in Kindle. Larry describes it as “Space Pirates Go To Hell.”

    An announcement from Dr. Pournelle

    From Chaos Manor: Announcing Hardbound Edition: There Will Be War, Volumes I & II. The first two volumes of the 1980’s anthologies bound together in a hardbound edition. Obviously these are available as eBooks for considerably less, but if you want them as a book, this is your opportunity.

    There Will Be War Volumes I & II is 702 pages, casebound hardcover, and retails for $34.99 at Amazon. It may show up at other brick-and-mortar bookstores, but when that will be we do not know. It contains the complete contents of the first two volumes of Dr. Pournelle’s classic military science fiction series and marks the first time There Will Be War has ever been available in hardcover.

    The omnibus edition of Volumes I & II contain 42 stories, articles, and poems. Of particular note are “Reflex” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, the original “Ender’s Game” novella by Orson Scott Card, “In the Name of the Father” by Edward P. Hughes, “Cincinnatus” by Joel Rosenberg, “On the Shadow of a Phosphor Screen” by William Wu, and “Proud Legions,” an essay on the Korean War by T.R. Fehrenbach.

    We do not plan to release There Will Be War in paperback. The next hardcover edition will be Volumes IX & X. We designed these editions for serious fans of the series who intend to collect them; as you can see, the Vol. II cover is featured on the front while the Vol. I cover is on the back.

    The decline of the Big Five

    Author Earnings isn’t the only outlet to notice the ongoing decline of the Big Five publishers:

    Unit sales of e-books published by traditional publishers fell 13% in 2015 compared to 2014, said Kempton Mooney of Nielsen during a Thursday panel aimed at examining different publishing markets.

    Units fell to 204 million from 234 million in 2014. The high point of e-book sales was 2013 when units totaled 242 million units. While e-book sales fell in the year, print units rose 2.8%, to 653 million. As a result, e-books’s market share of units dipped to 24% in 2015, down from 27% in 2014. Mooney observed that some of the gain in print sales was due to the extraordinary popularity of adult coloring books last year. The e-book sales figures came from about 400 traditional publishers, Mooney said.

    In another look at e-book sales, Mooney reported that the Big 5 publishers’ share of e-book sales fell to 34% in 2015, down from 38% in 2014. In 2012, the Big 5 held a 46% of e-book unit sales. The loss of share of the Big 5 was made up by self-publishers and small publishers. Self-publishers’ share of the e-book market rose to 12% last year from 8% in 2014, while small presses accounted for 30% of e-book unit sales in 2015, up from 26% in 2014.

    Sticking to the children’s category, Mooney pointed to a recent survey that found 51% of children under age 9 are non-white. He said publishers that aren’t publishing books that can appeal to children from diverse backgrounds are losing “huge chunks of sales.”

    I devoutly hope the Big Five follow Mooney’s advice and devote increasing resources to pursuing readers from diverse backgrounds. One thing that we have learned from our various translations is that “diverse” readers simply don’t read as much, so the more they pursue the rainbow unicorn market, the easier it will be for independent publishers to continue to outcompete them for genuine markets that actually exist.

    SJW convergence is no foundation for effective business strategy.

    An actual conversation

    Other Guy: I don’t really know anything about this Rabid Puppies thing. What’s up with that?

    Vox Day: Oh, it’s just related to this science fiction award. Last year we took a bunch of nominations, so they made a big deal about it and vowed it would never happen again. Then this year, we took a few more.

    OG: So that’s why they’re pissed.

    VD: Yeah, pretty much. But also because we got things like “Space Raptor Butt Invasion” nominated.

    OG: What?

    VD: There’s this guy, Chuck Tingle, he’s a complete lunatic and he writes these crazy gay dinosaur erotica stories.

    OG: Doesn’t he have a book about boyfriend who is a plane or something too?

    VD: There’s one called “My Gay Billionaire Plane Boyfriend”, something like that, anyway.

    OG: Yeah, I read it! It was pretty good.

    VD: I’m a little alarmed to hear you’ve actually read that.

    OG: Yeah, well, you’re the one who knows the guy’s name.

    VD: Touche’.