I recently finished reading A Wreath for the Enemy by Pamela Frankau. The title jumped out at me in the bookshop, and I picked it up not knowing what to expect. I was mesmerised from start to finish. I looked up Frankau online, and she had an incredible life. I was puzzled that I had never encountered any of her books before, as she wrote prolifically…and then I saw that most of them are out of print. So I went on a quest to a shop specialising in rare and antiquarian books. They didn’t have any in stock, but they told me I’d find a couple of titles online, and gave me the address of a members’ library in Nottingham that has a complete collection. I’ve applied to join for the sake of getting my hands on the rest, even if it does mean a four-hour return trip. I’m curious to hear about other people’s best late and accidental discoveries. Which author do you wish you’d read sooner, and why?
Norman Mailer (Ancient Evenings, The Deer Park, Tough Guys Don’t Dance) Mircea Cartarescu (Solenoid/Blinding) Brian (B.) Catling (Vorrh Trilogy) Steve Erickson (Days Between Stations, Zeroville)
Tell me what you think about the Vorrh trilogy. I’ve read up to halfway through The Erstwhile. Do you see analogy and deeper meanings in the story? Hat do you like about them? I’m so enthralled with the books, but haven’t found many people who know about them.