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Smiley

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Posts posted by Smiley

  1. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on September 29th, 2018 [00:30 A.M. (GMT), September 30th], for a discussion of "The Fight"  by Augustus Baldwin Longstreet.  The story is one of an anthology of vignettes Georgia Scenes: Characters, Incidents, &c., in the First Half Century of the Republic  ©1840 and published by Harper & Brothers, New York, in 1850.  Longstreet was an American lawyer, minister, educator, and humorist, known for his book Georgia Scenes. 

    The story is an entertaining one depicting and incident allegedly occurring somewhere in Georgia in the early 19th century, and is a contemporary look at the culture and mores in the antebellum South.  I think you will find it interesting.

    The story may be found online at:  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/HNS/Yoeman/fight.html

    An html copy of the entire book is on the UNC website and the story may also be cut and pasted from there at:  https://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/longstreet/georgia.html

    Meeting place: 

        Webchat:  http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner  

        mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I  hope to see you all for what promises to be a great chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

    •  
  2. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on September 15th, 2018 [00:30 A.M. (GMT), September 16th], for a discussion of "Stratis' Remington"  by Pau Kennebeck.

    The story delves into the difficulties faced by a writer attempting to find publishers willing to buy his stories, but also into an author's methods of finding inspiration.  Having a friend who is computer literate helps.  I think you will enjoy the story and appreciate its subtle humor.

    The story is available from Carve Magazine:  https://www.carvezine.com/story/2015-spring-kennebeck 

    Meeting place: 

        Webchat:  http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner  

        mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I  hope to see you all for the chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  3.  

    Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) September 8, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) September 9th -- for a discussion of "Strangers" by E.B. Axelrod

    This is a love story, of the poignant kind...boy meets boy, boy loses boy...

    I'm pretty sure there is more content between the lines than on the surface.  I am also not sure I understand the story, but I think we will have a lot of fun discussing it.

    The story is a relatively short one and an easy read.  It's available at:  http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/Stra1020.shtml#1

    Meeting Place:  #Readers_Corner 

         Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you there.

    ps:  Here's the link to the story I told you about at our last meeting (the longer one story that met with mixed interest).  "Ghost Flotilla U-boats: Embarkation" by Susan R. Matthews is available at:  https://www.baen.com/readonline/index/read/sku/9781625796448 

    It's chapter 5 of the anthology and available on line of for download in just about any e-reader format known to man.   If you manage to find a half hour or so and the spirit moves you, check  it out.

     

  4. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) September 1st, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) September 2nd -- for a discussion of "How We Marched Through Georgia" --a Union Soldier's Tale of the Civil War by Robert Hale Strong.

    One of the most thoroughly and accurately recorded wars in history was the American Civil War, not so much because of the reports submitted by battlefield reporters and the after action summaries submitted by the commanders, but because of the propensity the majority of the fighting men, both Union and Confederate, to write candidly about their experiences, and without censorship to keep those words in personal diaries and/or send them home in letters to their loved ones.  Those personal papers have been available to historians for years and have provided a wealth of accurate information, untouched by any spin-doctors.

    This weeks discussion will look at an extract of some of the personal observations of a Union soldier during the final stages of the war.  I think you will find the tale entertaining as well as informative.

    The tale is available on line at:   http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/06/25/history/marched-georgia-union-soldiers-tale-civil-war.html

    The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  5. Now that I am home from vacation, with a newly repaired internet connection, I hope to see you at our next Readers' Corner discussion.  Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) August 25th, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) August 26th -- for a discussion of "The Umpire"  by Adan Berkowitz.

    This story, deals with a couple of topics dear to my heart, fatherhood and youth athletics.  It's a pleasant read, and on the surface at least, deals with the issues faced by all amateur sports officials (the ability to live with the consequences of a bad decision as well as the ability to deal with the parents who take sports a bit to seriously.)  It also deals with more lasting decisions of one's personal life.  It's provided by one of our favorite sources, The Saturday Evening Post.  I think it will make for an interesting discussion.

    The story is available on line at:  http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/07/06/post-fiction/contemporary-fiction-art-entertainment/the-umpire.html

    The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  6. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) August 18th, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) August 19th -- for a discussion of "There Will Come Soft Rains"  by Ray Bradbury.

    This rather short tale dates to 1950 at the beginning of the "let's all build a bomb shelter" frenzy in America.  Bradbury borrowed several memes of the era as well as some optimistic views of the development of the networked house.  When it was originally written the story was supposed to take place in 1985, in that year the story was revised to have it take place in 2026.  Other than that solitary edit, the story seems to have survived the passage of time.  I think you will enjoy the story and that it will lead to a spirited chat.

    The story is available on line at:  http://www.btboces.org/Downloads/7_There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury.pdf

    The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  7. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) August 11th  -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) August 12th -- for a discussion of "By Echo Light" by Tim Powers.

    Powers is an award winning, prolific author of "speculative fiction" and horror tales.  This story,  written in 2017, is set in the strange world of Power's novel  "Alternate Routes"; the story is, however, quite capable of standing "on its own".  It is a strange story to categorize, but I venture that it most nearly fits in the genre' of ghost story.

    Stormy suggested that we discuss this story, and after reading it I agree that it is one we will enjoy discussing in #readers_corner. 

    The story is a relatively short one and an easy read, and I believe you will enjoy it.  It is available from the Baen Books web site at:  https://www.baen.com/by-echo-light

    Meeting Place:  #Readers_Corner 

         Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    Following the test of the story on the web site above, there is a brief bio of the author.  You might spend a moment or two reading it to get some insight into his personality.  I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  8. As we discussed during our chat on July 21st, there will be no Readers' Corner Chat on Saturday, the 28th.

    Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) August 4,2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) August 5th -- for a discussion of  "A Holy War, A Lucifer Jones Story" by Mike Resnick.

    We discussed another one of Mike Resnick's "Lucifer Jones" stories on July 14th ("Treasure Island, A Lucifer Jones Story") on July 14th and everyone at that discussion expressed an interest in doing another in the series.  Our next discussion will pick up the story of Lucifer Jones where the last one left off, as Lucifer completes his escape from the pirates and continues his self propelled sea voyage towards Australia.  I think you will enjoy it as much as you did the last one read.

    The story is available on line at:   https://subterraneanpress.com/magazine/spring_2012/a_holy_war_a_lucifer_jones_story_by_mike_resnick

    The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com:

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our discussion.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  9. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) July 21st  -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) July 22nd -- for a discussion of "The Fly" by Katherine Mansfield.

    Katherine Mansfield Beauchamp was born in New Zealand in 1888, and is viewed  as one of the pioneers of the "modern" English language short story.  She studied at Queens College in London, England and travelled in Europe, then returned to New Zealand briefly before growing dissatisfied with the treatment of the Maori. She returned to England and continued her writing career.  She died of tuberculosis in 1923.

    This story was written was first published in 1922.  It makes obvious reference to the deaths of allied soldiers in World War I.  It may also be a subtle condemnation of the handling of that War by the political and/or military leadership as well as of the New Zealander's treatment of the native Maori.

    The story is a short one and an easy read, and I believe you will enjoy it.  It is in .pdf form on many sites (just google "The Fly by Katherine Mansfield", it is available in a more easily readable font at  https://commapress.co.uk/resources/online-short-stories/the-fly

    Meeting Place:  #Readers_Corner 

         Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  10. Circumstances have forced us to reschedule our July 7th chat to July 14th.

    Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) July 14th, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) July 15th -- for a discussion of  "Treasure Island: A Lucifer Jones Story" by Mike Resnick.

    Mike Resnick is a prolific writer of Science Fiction, both short stories and novels.  He has received several prestigious awards for his works, including five Hugos, science fictions most coveted honor.  Most of his stories are humorous, well in truth they are downright funny, and many involve the adventures of unlikely "over the top" characters not quite fitting the heroic mold.  This weeks story is one of them.  I am sure you will enjoy it.

    The story is available on line at:   https://subterraneanpress.com/magazine/winter_2012/treasure_island_a_lucifer_jones_story_by_mike_resnick

    The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com:

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our discussion.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  11. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on June 30th, 2018 [00:30 A.M. (GMT), July 1st], for a discussion of "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas"  by Ursual K. LeGuin.  

    Le Guin (October 21, 1929 -- January 22, 2018) was a prolific writer of novels and short stories, most of them in the Speculative Fiction genre'.  She received many awards for literature, most (but not all of them) in the for her science fiction and fantasy works.  If you are interested in more about this iconic writer of imaginative fiction you should check the wikipedia article on her ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_K._Le_Guin ).

    "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas"  is a study in parable involving humanity and ethical behavior.  It is very well written and, in my opinion, a very powerful work.  I don't know whether you will enjoy it, but I do believe you will find it difficult to put down and will appreciate its message.  I know it will make for an excellent discussion.

    The story is available in PDF format at:  http://www.mccc.edu/pdf/eng102/Week 9/Text_LeGuin Ursula_Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas.pdf   

    Webchat:  http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner  

    mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I  hope to see you all for the chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  12. Please join us for our next chat in #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) on June 23rd,2018 [00:30 A.M. (GMT), June 24th], for a discussion of "An Eagle's Flight" by Brendan DuBois. The story is one of the "free reads" offered Baen Books in its online catalog.  The story is a very unscience-fictionish, scifi tale, and I think that every one (even those who do not enjoy scifi) will enjoy it.  

    The story is available on the Baen Books web site at:  https://www.baen.com/readonline/index/read/sku/9781625796448

    The URL will take you to a cover page of the 2018 anthology of free stories.  Click on "Next" (top right corner of the page) then select the story from the list that appears. 

    Webchat:  http://koach.com/cha...=readers_corner  

    mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I  hope to see you all for the chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

     

  13. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) June 16th, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) June 17th -- for a discussion of "A Ghost Story" by Mark Twain

    This little gem from Mark Twain's pen is a bit of a tongue in cheek satire of "horror" tales as well as a sharp stick in the eye to gullibility and to P.T. Barnum's "believe it or not" cynicism.  It starts off as though it is a very well crafted ghost story then rapidly turns into a parody.  I think you will enjoy it.

    The story capitalizes on the publicity surrounding the alleged discovery of a fossilized giant in Cardiff, England and subsequent exposure of the fossil as a fraud.  Like most of Train's writings it displays his keen wit and utter disdain for frauds.  I think you will love the story.

    The story is available on line at:  https://americanliterature.com/author/mark-twain/short-story/a-ghost-story  

    The #Readers_Corner is available at Koach.com

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  14. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST)  June 9th, 2018 -00:30  A.M. (GMT) June 10th  -- for a discussion of "Bus Fare" by Caitlin R Kiernan.

    This story is an imaginary twist on the old fashioned horror stories we are familiar with--werewolves, vampires, cannibals, zombies and just about anything that goes bump in the night.  There may even be a moral buried in it should you look hard enough.  I think we will be able to have some fun with it.

    The story is available on line at the Subterranean Press website:  https://subterraneanpress.com/magazine/spring_2014/busfare_by_caitlnr._kiernan

    Meeting Place:  #Readers_Corner 

         Webchat: http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see you all at our chat.  Don't forget to bring a friend.

  15. Please join us for our next chat in  #readers_corner at 8:30 P.M. (EDST) June 2nd, 2018 -- 00:30  A.M. (GMT) June 3rd -- for a discussion of "Sardines, Sandbox, Devil"  by Katie Young Foster.

    This story is a bit unusual and difficult to categorize, but in my opinion it is an excellent one that should prove both entertaining and interesting to all of us.  Much like last weeks story which is a first person reflection on a man's youth, this one delves into the personal memories of events which formed a young person's character, in this case of a young woman.  The tale is a recent offering of Carve Magazine, a reliable source of well written and thought provoking fiction.  I feel confident that the story will provide ample material for a stimulating discussion.

    The story is available on line at:  https://www.carvezine.com/story/2018-spring-foster

    As usual, the chat will be in the #readers_corner chat room on Koach.com

         Webchat:  http://koach.com/chatlogin.php?chan=readers_corner

         mIRC Users:  /server -m chat3.koach.com:6667 -j #readers_corner

    I hope to see all of you there, and please -- don't forget to bring a friend.

     

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