My Shelved, Yet Unread Books

      There are, of course, many books that I want to read. But first, as I naturally would do, I have quite a few books on the shelf yet to read. Half-Price Books will be the death of me.

      What do I have to read? The next three Dune Books, and a couple Louis L'Amour books (on the bottom of the picture). Right now, I'm reading Empire of the Sun, The Dark Tower #7, and the first Dune (top of the picture).

      Although only four of these books actually belong to me, you can see how much of a bookworm I am. Also, you can see the genres and styles of literature I'm into right now. Science-fiction, a genre I haven't explored much beyond Star Wars, is one that I'm very slowly stepping into. It's very much like walking into a cold pool- you have to take a while to get used to it. Post-apocalyptic fiction is one of my favorites- I Am Legend (the book, not the movie) is a prime example, and one I liked quite a bit. The Dark Tower series is part Western, part science-fiction, and part post-apocalyptic fiction- it's an amazing series with great characters, ideas, and a great plot. I've been living it since spring break earlier this year, and I almost can't bear the thought of being on the final book.

      Empire of the Sun, a Historical Fiction novel, revolves around the experiences of a young kid in Shanghai after the Japanese invade in the late 1930's. I find it to be a very emotional book, and it is based off the author's own experiences.

      Anyway, that's what I have on the shelf now- at least until I go to another bookstore.

Long days and pleasant nights,
Neal

A First-Edition Copy

      I have been recently reading Dune, a science-fiction novel first published in 1965, which I have borrowed. I also have borrowed a couple of the sequels- Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, and God Emperor of Dune. The copy I'm reading is the First Edition- straight from 1965. You can almost feel the age of the book in holding it, and it has that certain old-paper smell. I'm honestly hesitant to take it outside my bedroom but for its age- I don't want to damage such an old thing.

      Dune chronicles the actions of the Atreides house as they are forced to trade their Duchy over the planet Caladan for that over the planet Arrakis- a desert planet where water, essential for life, is a rare commodity. What does Arrakis have? Melange, a 'drug' of sorts that gives the user an extended life-span, heightened vitality, and increased awareness. The only drawback to Melange is in its addictive qualities, and withdrawal being fatal. It is the most valuable commodity throughout the galaxy, and is only found on Arrakis.
   
      The Harkonnen house forced the Atreides to move to this desert planet- their rivalry goes back millennia. The Harkonnens are rich, having worked their way up the ladder, while the Atreides are related to the Emperor of the Imperium by blood.

      The book itself is almost historical- being nearly 50 years since publication. The world has changed very much since the 60's, and I (being a history nerd) find everything from that era fascinating.

Long days and pleasant nights,
Neal