Sunday, May 30, 2010

Ghost and Horror Stories by Ambrose Bierce

Don't expect the horrifying ghosts of M.R. James in Bierce's writing; Bierce is more about moral horror.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The First Eagle by Tony Hillerman

Another Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee Navaho Tribal Police novel. The best part of these novels is the author's evocation of Navaho culture, his plain, direct style of writing, and the understated but genuine way he develops his characters. Sometimes it's not too difficult to guess the identity of the murderer, as it was in this case, but then, the mystery is only of secondary importance for me. I've read a number of the Leaphorn/Chee novels by now, and Leaphorn and Chee have come to seem like old friends who I look forward to meeting again; this is what I really want in a series and Hillerman delivers.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Last Superstition by Edward Feser

Feser takes on the "New Atheists" in this work. To do so, he introduces his Aristotelian worldview and shows why modern philosophy in general is inadequate. Probably the best takedown of the New Atheists that I have read. Also includes Feser's take on the Intelligent Design movement, of which Feser is not a fan.

Aquinas by Edward Feser

Good introduction to the philosophy of the master.