[Groop]Groop Summer Reading List

[Tracy Parrow]

I remember the Evan Tanner series. I encountered them when I was a teenager
(it's a tribute to them that they're still in print), and was reintroduced
to them in college, when Larry gave me some to read. Goof choice, Larry!
Appropriately silly, and fun and easy to read. Good beach material.

Love, from, Unirabbit

P.S. Larry: My father isn't going to die, after all, call me for the
outrageous (in a bad way) story about his doctor.


----- Original Message -----
From: <SheikOfEntropy@aol.com>
To: <groop@groo.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2000 10:53 PM
Subject: [Groop]Groop Summer Reading List


> "One has to do idiot things from time to time, if only to assure oneself
that
> one is a human being and not a robot."
> -Evan Tanner, the hero of Lawrence Block's TANNER'S TWELVE SWINGERS
>
> Yeah, I know, people usually END their email with a quote, but this is
sort
> of relevant to the topic: The Groop Summer Reading List!
>
> Okay, I know it's not quite summer yet, but this is supposed to prepare us
> for summer reading, dig?
>
> The idea is simple:
>
> 1) Suggest a book, series of books, comic book (single issue, graphic
novel
> or series) or other reading material that you believe the average Groo
reader
> would enjoy AND that you think most of the Groop is likely to be
unfamiliar
> with. Stick with ONE suggestion, because forty people suggesting a dozen
> books each will probably mean none of us will get around to reading ANY of
> the suggestions. Right?
>
> 2) Give a brief synopsis, WITHOUT SPOILERS PLEASE, with just enough detail
to
> suggest the basic premise of the book and entice our curiosity.
>
> BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
>
> Let's make a concerted effort to actually READ each other's picks, and
send
> PRIVATE critiques to each other. I stress PRIVATE so that we avoid SPOILER
> situations.
>
> Stuff like Stan's USAGI YOJIMBO, Mark's DNAGENTS, Sergio's BUZZ & BELL or
> even popular madcap fare such as THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY,
> although excellent choices, are a bit obvious. Let's get obscure, and
really
> dig up some old favorites and toss out new treats to enjoy.
>
> I'll start by suggesting Lawrence Block's EVAN TANNER series of short
novels.
>
> Originally published in the 1960s, they are WONDERFULLY dated, and should
be
> read in the order of publication (to follow) to get the most out of them.
> Block likes to collect minor recurring characters along the way, and often
> references events from previous installments in a humorous way.
>
> Series Synopsis:
>
> Evan Michael Tanner is a Korean War Veteran who had a piece of shrapnel
slice
> away his brain's sleep center. Tanner, thus, is physically unable to
sleep,
> and is awake 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
>
> Talk about INSOMNIA!!!
>
> He meditates to rest his body and mind, and fills his abundant spare time
> learning languages, writing other people's doctoral theses for fun and
> profit, and joining lost causes, revolutionary cells and subversive groups
> from around the globe.
>
> (NOTE: some of what Block considered a lost cause in the 1960s - like a
> Soviet-free Serbia, has come to pass. I guess truth IS stranger than
fiction.
> He even predicted the kind of strife and infighting such freedom would
likely
> cause).
>
> Then there's The Chief, head of a super-secret American Spy Agency, a
> competitive rival of the CIA, who mistakenly believes Tanner is one of his
> agents, and keeps trying to send him on missions that Tanner wants no part
of.
>
> Very funny stuff! The series goes as follows:
>
> The Thief Who Couldn't Sleep (1966)
> The Canceled Czech
> Tanner's Twelve Swingers
> Two For Tanner
> Tanner's Tiger
> Here Comes a Hero
> Me Tanner, You Jane
> Tanner on Ice (1999 series revival)
>
> -Larry Steller AKA The Sheik Of Entropy
>
> _______________________________________________
> Groop maillist  -  Groop@groo.com
> http://mailman.newdream.net/mailman/listinfo/groop
>
>