He really is very special. A good way to approach his oeuvre is chronologically, so after 'The Furies' you are ideally placed to read 'Pavane'. He has loads of stories (and cover art credits) in those issues of Impulse you bought from Bob - including some as Alistair Bevan and artwork credits as John Kingston. I'd love some of his original art, but who knows where it would be? I might ask Jim Burns, actually....there'll be another short video about one of his stories soon, by the way!
@@JulesBurt Thanks chum. I have to catch up on my collecting of Impulse really, as Keith did most of the covers and they're always a good read. I'd like to track down some of his artwork- originals that is- but have no idea how to start.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal well, we do know a guy with at least three more sets available 🙂 That Masterworks edition of Pavane looks good although I'm tempted to read a vintage copy, for authenticity 👍
Excellent video as always, Stephen. I would’ve never investigated this author without your enthusiasm for his work, so thanks for this video . Much like the in-depth video on Colin Wilson, I really enjoy these videos where you reveal the countryside and its relation or influence on the work of the author. It’s always interesting to see the real world places where the creativity flows from.
Thanks again Jack- I very much like these location shoots, I want to do more, I have another idea at present in for one which is fairly local, but others are further afield...we'll see!
Excellent work with this video, I love the editing between walking through the landscape and explaining the importance of Keith Roberts' work. I'm really keen to read his SF novels now! Most intrigued by "Pavane", much appreciate your SF erudition here Steve keep it up and be well!
Many thanks again for your kindness, Aniket, great to hear from you. Get stuck into 'Pavane' first, take it slow, it will blow your mind with its quality.
I've enjoyed many of Steve's author recommendations, but Keith Robert's is the jewel in the crown for me. I have now read Pavane, The Grain Kings, Molly Zero, all brilliant. But The Lordly Ones was my favourite so far, next stop The Chalk Giants.
Thanks Steve- yes, 'The Lordly Ones', with those two amazing variants on the stories of the toilet attendant in the apocalyse, fantastic. 'The Chalk Giants' is painfully good, especially the opening segments, then it goes off at a wild tangent. I'm quite in awe of it....
MANY thanks, you're very kind, glad you like the channel, you get a credit in the next video I film for your super-thanks, but it may not pop up for a week or two as I am still ahead with already-filmed material despite current illness- so the beer may be off for now, but the tip really does help support the channel.
What a fantastic video!! I can’t imagine how long it took to write, film, and edit this. Just another amazing video from the best channel on RUclips. This video is something I could see being shown on network TV, it’s that well done. Beautiful scenery with well thought out commentary from an amazing presenter. Steve, please be very, very proud of yourself! Cheers!
Thanks my friend. Just think of what I could do with a pro crew, some time, a budget, good health and someone with technical ability- I'm a klutz, I can see two or three major flaws with this on that front, but I just wanted to get it out there. These days a good camera and great locations can get you a long way, the rest is judgement and the tech ability to not **** things up- that latter part is where my limitations lie, but it is what it is. As for the writing, I improvised it from existing knowledge, nothing is on paper in this case.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I'm even more impressed that there wasn't a script. I'd love to be able to talk about a topic that in depth just off the cuff.
Great video, thanks Steve, it engendered a sense of homecoming. The last time i was in Corfe was with Keith, he was good company. I think you got the balance between discussion of Keith's work and discussion of landscape spot on. (I'm honoured to have been special executivised.)
James, it was my delight and I will do more on Keith. We have YOU and other friends to thank for helpging bring Keith's later visions to print, for which I, and many others, will always be grateful.
Out & About and SF brought together in yet another excellent video. I once visited Swanage and Corfe Castle (many years ago, maybe thirty years now). I wasn't aware of the Roberts connection back then, having only recently learned about him through your channel. Great to see all these rare book covers. I can tell, you put a lot of time and effort into this one. The twenty minute length works well for me (and leaves me wanting more). Hugely enjoyable. As always, Steve, many thanks.
Thanks Clive- I thought you'd enjoy it - it was a tough shoot, as I was suffering with my current ailment on both shoot days. Ironically, whenever I post one of these 'SF Out & Abouts', the first response is that I instantly lose a subscriber- obviously weeding out those who can't think outside the box, which is, of course, where SF should be -beyond the assumptions of the unimaginative. Others like yourself seem to see them for the true novelty they are...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal The diversity is one of the strengths of your channel. How can it ever be just SF, just punk rock, or just Out & About? It keeps us interested and inspired. Hopefully it'll be a case of lose one sub, gain two (or more). The Out and About videos in particular bring me much joy and are a reminder of just how beautiful some parts of the UK really are.
After this video, I obtained a copy of Pavane, which I finished last night. What a magnificent piece of writing. Starting off as an alt-history, it slowly becomes a complex net of intrusions of possible future into the past or the past burrowing into tomorrow. Thank you, Stephen.
Great video, Steve. I’m in the midst of Pavane at the moment and this look at his country is a delightful assist to the mind. Quite a bit different from the US city I see out the window. Looking forward to more on Keith - the most skillful and measured SF prose I’ve read in a long while.
Love, love, love this video. The whole aesthetic from music to places was just beautifully portrayed and as a whole it gave me a very 'outer-worldly' feel. Brilliant piece. My favorite video on this channel. Thank you for all the hard work put in to it. I've also ordered Pacane, The Furies and The Grain Kings
Phenomenal video. As much as I enjoy your expositions on whatever you're discussing, leaving what seemed like at least half a video as scenes of the countryside with subtitling really drove home the point you were making. I'd already started on my Roberts collection some time ago thanks to you, and I fear this will only add urgency to the search; much to my delight but my wallet's pain. Thanks, Steve!
I felt it was the best way to underline one of Keith's key impacts on me and others as a writer- the way that place colours character and plot and can broaden what people mistakenly feel is a particular setting of venues they'd instantly recognise as Science Fiction, showing those people that SF as for a very long time been broader than the cliches screens have shown them. Which leads me to the point 'Where have TV and film-makers been when it comes to Roberts/ Make 'Pavane' like a costume drama, NOT like people's expectations of SF and you have screen gold,'. And maybe Robert Macfarlane will discover him for the masses one day...
I think this type of video plays to your strengths. Beautiful walks, insightful remarks, great SF recommendations. Looking forward to reading both Roberts and Holdstock. Some of the landscapes remind me of the Canadian prairies. Interesting to think of modernity as an aberration. A lot of SF leans into this idea.
Well, I hope you'll revisit 'The Furies' with this video in mind- do watch the Kerosina video on the channel too, it's a fascinating insight -even if I do say so myself- into Keith's character and the work of the definitive British small SF Literary press of the 1980s, which also published PKD, Gene Wolfe and others. Keith's character explains a lot about some of the lyricism and dark terseness of his work and his power grows with re-reading. Thanks also for the praise, I love making this kind of video, though it's too 'not obviously SF' for readers with a more limited understanding of what the genre actually is.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I was thinking the same thing as you were walking down the path early in the video, perhaps I should revisit The Furies. Another video idea I have is to revisit books. Time and increasing the breadth of my reading may alter my opinions. This old dog wants to continue learning until my last breath.
@@vintagesf -Same here, man. Incidentally, I meant to add that if you try Holdstock, a great place to start is 'Mythago Wood', which is set in Shropshire. Holdstock's work up until and including this point has the feel of Fantasy, but is SF- it's kind of Jungian, as he links deep history and archaeology to time vortex ideas re physics. If you re-read the opening section of 'The Furies' where the narrator describes his work, cottage and red car, that's very much Keith- or his fantasies- as a young man. He illustrated many of his own and other SF books, including most of the covers for 'SF Impulse' magazine.
Great vid Stephen, been interested in the science fiction genre since discovering your channel and just picked up Pavane, love the level of passion and knowledge you have for the genre, quite rare to stumble upon channels like this nowadays, true class
You're very kind. I am the real thing, even if I say so myself: someone has to try and raise the bar in terms of history and context of SF on booktube- there's lots of enthusiasm, but not enough study, I feel. I'll keep on and try and retain your fealty.
Have never read Keith Roberts but am intrigued now. I've a good friend (deceased) who was fascinated by Druidal Britain. You really invoked that spirit here, OB. The stark beauty of the landscape bereft of trees for the most part, the castle ruins, your well thought out locations to help tell the story brought me back to those inspired discussions regarding same with my old friend. Had not thought about him for quite some time until now. This episode resonated with me on many levels difficult to describe. Well done. Your walk in those environs reminded me quite vividly of Du Maurier's "House On The Strand" which awakened my subconscious memories as I read it, memories most probably having been at least partially formed whilst walking in those barren heaths in some God-only-knows other life. Thanks much for the out of body experience! Cheers.
Particularly enjoying the music around 12.30 amongst the Chalk Giants. I feel a powerful connection to the British landscape in ways that I don't experience "abroad". Perhaps I experience similar in parts of Brittany. Reflecting upon your shots of Corfe I found Aigues-Mortes in the Camargue (Kamarg: Count Brass) very impressive. Love the bee/wasp cover on your copy of 'The Furies'. My daughters blew bubbles on the stage with Nik Turner at a small music festival above the Cerne Abbas giant... magic. Thinking also of Julian Cope, albums such as 'Interpreter', his 'Head Heritage' website and book 'The Modern Antiquarian'. Thanks as always for the video. K
Thanks Keith- I enjoyed that Bristol-based video you suggested too, by the way, many thanks. Yes, Cope- hosted him for an event once for that very book, still have it, finally OP now and quite collectable, great work. Yes, that primal connection we feel to the landscape is a special thing- I have a similar but different thing in Italy, where the beauty of the place is enhanced by the deep cultural associations I feel with Europe's Classical and Romantic past. I am hoping to visit the USA in 2025 for the first time and will be fascinated to see what feelings that brings. I'm in Paris in the autumn for a few days, would like to see the Moorcockian Camargue someday! Thanks for your comments on Steve's music- it's all available at steveholmes.bandcamp.com - we were musical collaborators back in the early 80s and I think he's really brought something special to my work here.
Fascinating stuff Steve, especially as I've visited some of these locations - but hadn't realised their link to SF via Keith Roberts. Some great English landscape photography as well.
Excellent visual tour, very enjoyable. I had never heard of Keith Roberts before seeing one of your videos a few months back. Since then, I've only read Pavane, but thought it was excellent, certainly one of the best alternate history books I've ready. I've got Molly Zero pretty high on my TBR list and should get to it later this summer.
'Pavane' has been pretty much in print consistently since the early 80s and pretty much available before that, but Keith's other work has suffered enormously since the early 80s due to (1) his difficult attitude and interactions with publishers (2) their own inability to treat his work with the utmost respect it deserves and (3) the movement of the British SF readership as a mass toward revisionist space opera. He's sometimes a demanding and difficult writer, but incredibly rewarding and for me second only to Ballard, Priest and M John Harrison in the Modernist British Literary school - the New Wave, that is. I think you'll love 'Molly', let me know what you think when you've tackled it.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Your comments about revisionist space opera really resonate with me. I was a big SF reader in my teens and 20’s (late 1970s-1980s) but lost interest in the genre and have only started dipping back in during the past couple of years. I started off re-reading some of my favorites from the past (PKD, Vonnegut, Gibson, etc.). I then dipped into some more contemporary SF after watching recommendation videos on RUclips (James Corey, Banks, Reynolds, etc.). Unfortunately, most of these novels really did not hold my attention at all. I found them overly long, often taking hundreds of pages to get going, with rehashed tropes, overly plot driven but short on character development and lacking anything new, interesting or thought-provoking in terms of themes. Even worse, most of these had clunky, wooden prose. I feel fortunate that recently I’ve read some stunning SF for the first time that completely blew me away (Roadside Picnic, Triffids/Chrysalids/Cukoos, Book of the New Sun, Dying Inside/Book of Skulls, etc. I haven’t read much in terms of British New Wave SF, so Ballard, Priest and MJ Harrison are all virgin territory for me. Any suggestions on where to start for these 3?
@@kkchome - Yes, SF has been suffering from bloat for decades now, mostly due to publishers insisting it 'compete' with the way Fantasy publishing went after 1977 into series and endless padding. This infuriates me, as I see SF and Fantasy as fundamentally different, the new versus anachronism. With the British New Wave- because it is still very innovative now when compared to SF at large, it is best to start with early works - Priest's 'Indoctrinaire' and 'Fugue For A Darkening Island', Ballard's 'The Drowned World' and M John's 'The Committed Men'. These are not their most accomplished works, but are starting points that put them into context as SF writers in those times- I'd then suggest moving forward chronologically- Ballard peaks in the early 1970s, Priest and Harrison in the early 80s.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Wow, just finished Molly Zero this afternoon. Absolutely brilliant! Pavane is great, but Molly Zero really resonated deeply with me. That opening paragraph.... Damn! I'm looking forward to reading more of Keith's work.
Do. I love all of Keith's books- 'Pavane' is clearly the early keynote work, but 'The Chalk Giants, while difficult at times, is incredibly ambitious and rewarding, but requires careful reading - the opening sequences and frame narrative featuring Stan Potts are the most painful and raw looks at the English Catastrophe I've ever encountered and I'm in awe of those parts of the book.
A marvelous video. Roberts was a wonderful writer. I first heard of him from David Pringle's book "Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels" which included "Pavane."
Yes, David's book itself a great read, bit inspiration to me too. I enjoyed shooting this video, though it was a tough project at times to complete. There's another about him on the channel posted only a few weeks back, check it out, lots of anecdotes.
Great video beautiful English countryside and another brilliant author to explore. I only have pavane and a short story in stars of Albion . Will pick up molly zero and chalk giant all sound fascinating more on my tbr list.
Many thanks. Lots more on Keith to come, including the later obscure works- also, check out the Kerosina video on the channel, a fascinating look at the small press that would publish him when no-one else would, with interesting anecdotes about his character...
I have loved Roberts' work for many years, made the pilgrimage to Corfe, and managed to collect many rare copies of his books including some of his personal collection. I wish I had met the man himself.
Great video Stephen, loved the music choice! You have inspired me here to dig out all my old SF Impulse magazines and Keith Roberts paperbacks and read and re-read everything. Also I am inspired to re-visit Wiltshire and the stone circles, very unique and very English, I must do some photography there.
Yes, Wiltshire and Dorset are amazing. There'll be a couple more KR videos coming this autumn, one will be an exclusive look at some archive material I'm acquiring.
I really loved this video. The setting is such a juxtaposition to what one typically conjures to mind with SF but that makes it all the more fascinating. I would love to visit the area some day.
Thanks very much, glad you liked it. It is a fantastic part of Britain as you see. There's a video coming up soon that shows more of Avebury and there's an SF locations playlist on the channel, where I discuss a Wells story set in Capri Italy (on site) and a Colin Wilson story set in Wales (again on site). More like this will follow. Well, that's the main problem with SF in the mass media- our expectations of what it is are shaped by what we see on screens and what we see on screens is predominantly the US magazine pulp space opera variant. SF is of course far broader in scope than this and Roberts- although he did sometimes set things offworld (such as his classic story "The Passing of the Dragons") cleaved to the Wellsian tradition- it's worth remembering that when Hugo Gernsback founded 'Amazing' in 1925 and coined the term 'Scientifiction' - altered to 'Science Fiction' the following year, he referred to Wells, Poe and Verne as the precursors of what he wanted to do. Wells is, above all others, the writer who really brought the majority of key tropes from Proto SF into focus and became the definitive writer who pioneered the genre- pioneers are always ahead of the genre being named. Wells also wrote mainstream social novels and his influence is super-prevalent in British SF, from Wyndham to Ballard, Priest to Roberts and beyond into the present day. Stapledon was the other key British SF writer who inspired Clarke and the school that followed him like Baxter and Reynolds.
Oh wow, I know this area well. We used to go for Crop Circle hunting. Lovely area. Avebury and Silbury hill, the barrow, endless fields, great pubs, a bit of camping. I will have to dig out my old Keith Roberts novels if I can find them.
I loved making this video, despite it being difficult at times over two days- the hardest part is getting to these places when there are no people around.
really enjoyed this background info. i just finished the chalk giants and have learned that the american version is missing a lot of stuff! will have to try to track down a version that has it all as i really enjoyed it. in fact, i want to read more roberts. thanks again for bringing him to the forefront of my attention, steve. cheers
Always a pleasure to bring KR's work to an appreciative audience. You must get a UK edition, though I think the US Cosmos Wildside edition may have the full text. He was a master, as you can tell....
Thank you so much for this one, Steve. Discovered your channel a good while back, but check in so infrequently that I only now discovered this one that enriches reading of one of my favorites, Keith Roberts. I've only read Pavane, The Chalk Giants and The Boat of Fate so far. But Chalk Giants has that special resonance for me, and the Hutchinson hardcover is still one of my prize literary possessions. The American edition was unforgivable, stripping out the poignant richness that the Stan Potts framing story brings to the whole. --In future, I'll try not to be such a stranger to your channel!
Thanks very much. Please do catch up, as quite honestly, given the small views here versus the effort I put in, I'll be folding the channel unless it gains ground - though mass growth is unlikely since I don't spend my life producing clickbait but instead look at the real meat.
Thanks for the compliment. You might want to try Plagued By Visions - I do some Horror as it's something I've always read, but I'm now at the stage in life where I'm unlikely to explore recent stuff. My mate Matt at Bookpilled has done some stuff with Plagued By Visions - Juan, I think his name is...and he's certainly a serious commentator.
Landscape as character ( like Return of the Native). ALSO I found a copy of a Panther paperback of The Other Man by Giles Cooper ( alternative history ?). Do you know it ? Do you rate it ?
@@ianjohnson263 That's a very uncommon book, a novelisation of the teleplay by its author. It was a very well received but obscure now TV drama which I'd love to see. A similar thing is the film 'It Happened Here' which is well made but quite dull in some ways. Keith's story "Weihnachtsabend" from 'The Grain Kings' is well worth reading, an amazingly subtle Hitler Wins alt-hist.
I was in a band in the late 80s called Pavane. We were popular around Manchester, especially with the students and even did a live set for BBC Manchester on the Terry Day show. Everyone wanted to know where the name came from and we enjoyed telling them about the novel and what little we knew about Keith Roberts.
Great video and Gorgeous landscape. Reminds me quite strongly of the landscape described in Steven King's 'Fairy Tale'. In fact it's pretty much dead on. Question, what did they do with the remains found in the barrow? I don't imagine they could leave them there unprotected. But moving them would seem sacrilegious.
Nice video, not visited that area of England much, i'm stuck in the pennines, with few complaints though. Ive ordered a copy of the Chalk Giants and will give it a go.
It's a demanding read, so go slow- and it changes direction dramatically- ambitious and unique. Hope you like it, but if you've not read Keith before, I'd suggest something else first - 'Pavane', 'Molly Zero', 'The Furies'.
really enjoyed this video never been to any of these places (i'm untraveled sadly) but it looks lovely i really connect with people who write about the landscape and locations probably because i love the landscape where i live at the moment Cardiff (well in and around Cardiff) and where i grew up around Ludlow (which also gets a nice shoutout in Pavane) anyway great video! I will need to get my hands on some more Keith Robert.
I've only read Kiteworld when I was really young and enjoyed it, but I think I would; have enjoyed it more had I known what I know now about history. Hope you're doing better.
It is very strange what happens to our memories. I visited Corfe Castle while I was on holiday in Dorset, after reading Corfe Gate. My memory is nothing like your film. I remember having a drink in a pub garden just outside the entrance to the castle, and a tower with a heavy lean towards the path as we walked into the castle. It looked as if it had been damaged by one of the cannons in the story. I have no memory of the beautiful parts of the building which you showed. Do you think I was in a different cycle of time? I'm looking forward to your look at some of the later books. I liked the Kaeti stories, but Grainne didn't work for me. It was just too personal a look at Keith's own life. He also attempted a detective story about re-enactment war gamers (The Road to Paradise) which was well-written, but gave the impression that his heart was not really in it. I wait to see what you think of these.
I shot a lot of footage at the castle, but it was far more crowded than I had expected on a weekday in early June outside of school holiday periods- so I was very selective in the shots I used, as I hate having crowds of people in my frame. Basically, I hadn't researched the location before going there and the way Keith describes it in 'The Chalk Giants' gives a different impression - but then he wrote it in the early 70s and fifty years later, I imagine it's changed a lot - not in terms of the castle and village buildings, but the heritage structure, entrance, access etc. I bet it was less formal, then. It is very fragmentary from the canon damage in the civil war and I thought some of the shots revealed that- how long ago did you visit? It's a very, very impressive place, I thought. I've read everything by Keith except 'Drek Yarman', the sequel to 'Kiteworld' which was a magazine serial yet to be collected into book form- though I've not revisited much of the later work for some time. I enjoyed everything I read by him, but I agree that 'Grainne' and 'Lemady' are quite personal and subjective, but why not, I feel?....though this is no doubt why publishers were not so keen on these books, not to mention his relations with all the major houses he'd worked and fell out with. 'The Road To Paradise' is perhaps his least typical book and while I wasn't wholly convinced at the time, I do need to re-read it as it was so original, I felt. Maybe both of us were in a different cycle of time...! Good to hear from you...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I think I was in Dorset in 1981, so it's not surprising that it has changed a bit. The Civil War was only just over then, and you were hardly born! I reread Road to Paradise quite recently, and did enjoy it. I thought he lost control by the end, but it was interesting to see him doing something with hardly anything of the fantastic in it. I think I must be on the same cycle of time as you. I own the Drek Yarman story in Spectrum magazine where it appeared, but I haven't read it either. This is getting spooky!
@@allanlloyd3676 Yeah, I bet it looked a bit diff in 81. I must get around to picking those mags up- though I'd love it of someone collected them and published 'Drek Yarman' as a book.
Well, you have a LOT of great works ahead of you. I love 'The Furies' too, but wait until you get to 'Pavane', 'The Chalk Giants' , 'Molly Zero' and 'Kiteworld'.
Well, the Wiltshire shoot was blessed by blazing sun, but the Dorset stuff was darker, rather like the events that take place in Keith's books in those locations.
Stephen- This video is edifying SF perfection. Not only do you wander through the mind and oeuvre of Roberts, but you contextualize his life and work within the English landscape. Much has been written in the past decade about space and place, but this recent video exemplifies the use of place-theory in service of literary analysis. Thank you!
Many thanks. I haven't got the tech to do the greenscreen stuff it seems everyone else on the Booktube SF 'community' seems to use, but in a way that ensures I find other ways- and there is more to SF than the usual starscapes, I think.
I've read "Pavane", which is excellent. I've also read his collection "The Lordly Ones", which I didn't like; I'm sorry to say, that I couldn't find a gem amongst them. I've also read Robert Holdstock's "Mythago Wood", which is at least as good as "Pavane". I've also read the sequel "Lavondyss", which wasn't nearly as good.
You mean 'Lavondyss'. Shame you didn't get on with 'The Lordly Ones', I think the title story and "The Comfort Station" are superb, but they are more like 'The Chalk Giants' than 'Pavane', edgier and more experimental.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Yes, that's right, I do. "The Chalk Giants" sound more pastoral or hardyesque, which "The Lordly Ones" weren't. I think I might have been better off with them.
I reread my paperback copy of Pavane so many times that it fell apart. I confess to skipping the Inquisition parts because they're so grim. The Kindle version includes The White Boat story which, for some reason, no one seems to like.
About Keith? Well, there will be another video in a few weeks, but in the meantime, search for the Kerosina video on this channel, which goes into the background of the British small publisher who would publish his books when no-one else would- and you'll discover some facts about his character.
![This Is Why I Read Obscure Science Fiction Novels [100 Book Challenge #43-45]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uv6kzuq14VY/mqdefault.jpg)
For more information about Keith Roberts' character, watch this ruclips.net/video/QVFR2xl6D0M/видео.html
Thanks for turning me onto Keith last year. I'm most pleased that i have so many great books by him ahead of me.
He really is very special. A good way to approach his oeuvre is chronologically, so after 'The Furies' you are ideally placed to read 'Pavane'. He has loads of stories (and cover art credits) in those issues of Impulse you bought from Bob - including some as Alistair Bevan and artwork credits as John Kingston. I'd love some of his original art, but who knows where it would be? I might ask Jim Burns, actually....there'll be another short video about one of his stories soon, by the way!
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Thanks Steve, yes, Pavane is now my next read by Roberts, looking forward to it. Great video mate.
@@JulesBurt Thanks chum. I have to catch up on my collecting of Impulse really, as Keith did most of the covers and they're always a good read. I'd like to track down some of his artwork- originals that is- but have no idea how to start.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal well, we do know a guy with at least three more sets available 🙂 That Masterworks edition of Pavane looks good although I'm tempted to read a vintage copy, for authenticity 👍
Thanks Steve.
Cheers Greg, very kind!
Excellent video as always, Stephen. I would’ve never investigated this author without your enthusiasm for his work, so thanks for this video .
Much like the in-depth video on Colin Wilson, I really enjoy these videos where you reveal the countryside and its relation or influence on the work of the author.
It’s always interesting to see the real world places where the creativity flows from.
Thanks again Jack- I very much like these location shoots, I want to do more, I have another idea at present in for one which is fairly local, but others are further afield...we'll see!
Excellent work with this video, I love the editing between walking through the landscape and explaining the importance of Keith Roberts' work. I'm really keen to read his SF novels now! Most intrigued by "Pavane", much appreciate your SF erudition here Steve keep it up and be well!
Many thanks again for your kindness, Aniket, great to hear from you. Get stuck into 'Pavane' first, take it slow, it will blow your mind with its quality.
I've enjoyed many of Steve's author recommendations, but Keith Robert's is the jewel in the crown for me. I have now read Pavane, The Grain Kings, Molly Zero, all brilliant. But The Lordly Ones was my favourite so far, next stop The Chalk Giants.
Thanks Steve- yes, 'The Lordly Ones', with those two amazing variants on the stories of the toilet attendant in the apocalyse, fantastic. 'The Chalk Giants' is painfully good, especially the opening segments, then it goes off at a wild tangent. I'm quite in awe of it....
I've been really enjoying the channel. Have a pint (or two) on me!
MANY thanks, you're very kind, glad you like the channel, you get a credit in the next video I film for your super-thanks, but it may not pop up for a week or two as I am still ahead with already-filmed material despite current illness- so the beer may be off for now, but the tip really does help support the channel.
What a fantastic video!! I can’t imagine how long it took to write, film, and edit this. Just another amazing video from the best channel on RUclips. This video is something I could see being shown on network TV, it’s that well done. Beautiful scenery with well thought out commentary from an amazing presenter. Steve, please be very, very proud of yourself! Cheers!
Thanks my friend. Just think of what I could do with a pro crew, some time, a budget, good health and someone with technical ability- I'm a klutz, I can see two or three major flaws with this on that front, but I just wanted to get it out there. These days a good camera and great locations can get you a long way, the rest is judgement and the tech ability to not **** things up- that latter part is where my limitations lie, but it is what it is. As for the writing, I improvised it from existing knowledge, nothing is on paper in this case.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I'm even more impressed that there wasn't a script. I'd love to be able to talk about a topic that in depth just off the cuff.
@@comicbookcrazy It's an old habit with me, decades of book talking in work and in the pub...
Great video, thanks Steve, it engendered a sense of homecoming. The last time i was in Corfe was with Keith, he was good company.
I think you got the balance between discussion of Keith's work and discussion of landscape spot on.
(I'm honoured to have been special executivised.)
James, it was my delight and I will do more on Keith. We have YOU and other friends to thank for helpging bring Keith's later visions to print, for which I, and many others, will always be grateful.
Out & About and SF brought together in yet another excellent video. I once visited Swanage and Corfe Castle (many years ago, maybe thirty years now). I wasn't aware of the Roberts connection back then, having only recently learned about him through your channel. Great to see all these rare book covers. I can tell, you put a lot of time and effort into this one. The twenty minute length works well for me (and leaves me wanting more). Hugely enjoyable. As always, Steve, many thanks.
Thanks Clive- I thought you'd enjoy it - it was a tough shoot, as I was suffering with my current ailment on both shoot days. Ironically, whenever I post one of these 'SF Out & Abouts', the first response is that I instantly lose a subscriber- obviously weeding out those who can't think outside the box, which is, of course, where SF should be -beyond the assumptions of the unimaginative. Others like yourself seem to see them for the true novelty they are...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal The diversity is one of the strengths of your channel. How can it ever be just SF, just punk rock, or just Out & About? It keeps us interested and inspired. Hopefully it'll be a case of lose one sub, gain two (or more). The Out and About videos in particular bring me much joy and are a reminder of just how beautiful some parts of the UK really are.
After this video, I obtained a copy of Pavane, which I finished last night. What a magnificent piece of writing. Starting off as an alt-history, it slowly becomes a complex net of intrusions of possible future into the past or the past burrowing into tomorrow. Thank you, Stephen.
My pleasure. If someone discovers Keith and enjoys his work after I mention him, I'm always over the moon.
Great video, Steve. I’m in the midst of Pavane at the moment and this look at his country is a delightful assist to the mind. Quite a bit different from the US city I see out the window. Looking forward to more on Keith - the most skillful and measured SF prose I’ve read in a long while.
Yes, an absolute master.
Love, love, love this video. The whole aesthetic from music to places was just beautifully portrayed and as a whole it gave me a very 'outer-worldly' feel. Brilliant piece. My favorite video on this channel. Thank you for all the hard work put in to it.
I've also ordered Pacane, The Furies and The Grain Kings
Thanks Mike, let me know how you get on with the books.
Phenomenal video. As much as I enjoy your expositions on whatever you're discussing, leaving what seemed like at least half a video as scenes of the countryside with subtitling really drove home the point you were making. I'd already started on my Roberts collection some time ago thanks to you, and I fear this will only add urgency to the search; much to my delight but my wallet's pain. Thanks, Steve!
I felt it was the best way to underline one of Keith's key impacts on me and others as a writer- the way that place colours character and plot and can broaden what people mistakenly feel is a particular setting of venues they'd instantly recognise as Science Fiction, showing those people that SF as for a very long time been broader than the cliches screens have shown them. Which leads me to the point 'Where have TV and film-makers been when it comes to Roberts/ Make 'Pavane' like a costume drama, NOT like people's expectations of SF and you have screen gold,'. And maybe Robert Macfarlane will discover him for the masses one day...
I think this type of video plays to your strengths. Beautiful walks, insightful remarks, great SF recommendations. Looking forward to reading both Roberts and Holdstock. Some of the landscapes remind me of the Canadian prairies. Interesting to think of modernity as an aberration. A lot of SF leans into this idea.
Well, I hope you'll revisit 'The Furies' with this video in mind- do watch the Kerosina video on the channel too, it's a fascinating insight -even if I do say so myself- into Keith's character and the work of the definitive British small SF Literary press of the 1980s, which also published PKD, Gene Wolfe and others. Keith's character explains a lot about some of the lyricism and dark terseness of his work and his power grows with re-reading.
Thanks also for the praise, I love making this kind of video, though it's too 'not obviously SF' for readers with a more limited understanding of what the genre actually is.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I was thinking the same thing as you were walking down the path early in the video, perhaps I should revisit The Furies. Another video idea I have is to revisit books. Time and increasing the breadth of my reading may alter my opinions. This old dog wants to continue learning until my last breath.
@@vintagesf -Same here, man. Incidentally, I meant to add that if you try Holdstock, a great place to start is 'Mythago Wood', which is set in Shropshire. Holdstock's work up until and including this point has the feel of Fantasy, but is SF- it's kind of Jungian, as he links deep history and archaeology to time vortex ideas re physics. If you re-read the opening section of 'The Furies' where the narrator describes his work, cottage and red car, that's very much Keith- or his fantasies- as a young man. He illustrated many of his own and other SF books, including most of the covers for 'SF Impulse' magazine.
Great vid Stephen, been interested in the science fiction genre since discovering your channel and just picked up Pavane, love the level of passion and knowledge you have for the genre, quite rare to stumble upon channels like this nowadays, true class
You're very kind. I am the real thing, even if I say so myself: someone has to try and raise the bar in terms of history and context of SF on booktube- there's lots of enthusiasm, but not enough study, I feel. I'll keep on and try and retain your fealty.
A wonderful video that makes me want to read Keith Roberts, which I will. Mission accomplished, Steve.
I think you'd really appreciate his talent, Dan- he's a signature author for me, up there with the absolute greats.
Have never read Keith Roberts but am intrigued now. I've a good friend (deceased) who was fascinated by Druidal Britain. You really invoked that spirit here, OB. The stark beauty of the landscape bereft of trees for the most part, the castle ruins, your well thought out locations to help tell the story brought me back to those inspired discussions regarding same with my old friend. Had not thought about him for quite some time until now. This episode resonated with me on many levels difficult to describe. Well done. Your walk in those environs reminded me quite vividly of Du Maurier's "House On The Strand" which awakened my subconscious memories as I read it, memories most probably having been at least partially formed whilst walking in those barren heaths in some God-only-knows other life. Thanks much for the out of body experience! Cheers.
Roberts is an essential read for anyone keen on good prose and the importance of place. As you like 'Strand', you must read 'Pavane' at least.
After reading a few of his books i tried to find someone on youtube talking about him. Here i am. Thanks for making these
Pleasure. Do watch the other video I made about meeting an old friend who used to be his publisher.
Particularly enjoying the music around 12.30 amongst the Chalk Giants. I feel a powerful connection to the British landscape in ways that I don't experience "abroad". Perhaps I experience similar in parts of Brittany. Reflecting upon your shots of Corfe I found Aigues-Mortes in the Camargue (Kamarg: Count Brass) very impressive. Love the bee/wasp cover on your copy of 'The Furies'.
My daughters blew bubbles on the stage with Nik Turner at a small music festival above the Cerne Abbas giant... magic. Thinking also of Julian Cope, albums such as 'Interpreter', his 'Head Heritage' website and book 'The Modern Antiquarian'.
Thanks as always for the video. K
Thanks Keith- I enjoyed that Bristol-based video you suggested too, by the way, many thanks. Yes, Cope- hosted him for an event once for that very book, still have it, finally OP now and quite collectable, great work.
Yes, that primal connection we feel to the landscape is a special thing- I have a similar but different thing in Italy, where the beauty of the place is enhanced by the deep cultural associations I feel with Europe's Classical and Romantic past. I am hoping to visit the USA in 2025 for the first time and will be fascinated to see what feelings that brings.
I'm in Paris in the autumn for a few days, would like to see the Moorcockian Camargue someday!
Thanks for your comments on Steve's music- it's all available at steveholmes.bandcamp.com - we were musical collaborators back in the early 80s and I think he's really brought something special to my work here.
Fascinating stuff Steve, especially as I've visited some of these locations - but hadn't realised their link to SF via Keith Roberts. Some great English landscape photography as well.
Thanks Paul- I enjoy shooting outside, for all its challenges!
Excellent visual tour, very enjoyable. I had never heard of Keith Roberts before seeing one of your videos a few months back. Since then, I've only read Pavane, but thought it was excellent, certainly one of the best alternate history books I've ready. I've got Molly Zero pretty high on my TBR list and should get to it later this summer.
'Pavane' has been pretty much in print consistently since the early 80s and pretty much available before that, but Keith's other work has suffered enormously since the early 80s due to (1) his difficult attitude and interactions with publishers (2) their own inability to treat his work with the utmost respect it deserves and (3) the movement of the British SF readership as a mass toward revisionist space opera. He's sometimes a demanding and difficult writer, but incredibly rewarding and for me second only to Ballard, Priest and M John Harrison in the Modernist British Literary school - the New Wave, that is. I think you'll love 'Molly', let me know what you think when you've tackled it.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Your comments about revisionist space opera really resonate with me. I was a big SF reader in my teens and 20’s (late 1970s-1980s) but lost interest in the genre and have only started dipping back in during the past couple of years. I started off re-reading some of my favorites from the past (PKD, Vonnegut, Gibson, etc.). I then dipped into some more contemporary SF after watching recommendation videos on RUclips (James Corey, Banks, Reynolds, etc.). Unfortunately, most of these novels really did not hold my attention at all. I found them overly long, often taking hundreds of pages to get going, with rehashed tropes, overly plot driven but short on character development and lacking anything new, interesting or thought-provoking in terms of themes. Even worse, most of these had clunky, wooden prose. I feel fortunate that recently I’ve read some stunning SF for the first time that completely blew me away (Roadside Picnic, Triffids/Chrysalids/Cukoos, Book of the New Sun, Dying Inside/Book of Skulls, etc. I haven’t read much in terms of British New Wave SF, so Ballard, Priest and MJ Harrison are all virgin territory for me. Any suggestions on where to start for these 3?
@@kkchome - Yes, SF has been suffering from bloat for decades now, mostly due to publishers insisting it 'compete' with the way Fantasy publishing went after 1977 into series and endless padding. This infuriates me, as I see SF and Fantasy as fundamentally different, the new versus anachronism. With the British New Wave- because it is still very innovative now when compared to SF at large, it is best to start with early works - Priest's 'Indoctrinaire' and 'Fugue For A Darkening Island', Ballard's 'The Drowned World' and M John's 'The Committed Men'. These are not their most accomplished works, but are starting points that put them into context as SF writers in those times- I'd then suggest moving forward chronologically- Ballard peaks in the early 1970s, Priest and Harrison in the early 80s.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I just finished Fugue For a Darkening Island and absolutely loved it. Thanks for the recommendations!
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Wow, just finished Molly Zero this afternoon. Absolutely brilliant! Pavane is great, but Molly Zero really resonated deeply with me. That opening paragraph.... Damn! I'm looking forward to reading more of Keith's work.
Enjoyed Molly Zero on your recommendation and will definitely go for more.
Do. I love all of Keith's books- 'Pavane' is clearly the early keynote work, but 'The Chalk Giants, while difficult at times, is incredibly ambitious and rewarding, but requires careful reading - the opening sequences and frame narrative featuring Stan Potts are the most painful and raw looks at the English Catastrophe I've ever encountered and I'm in awe of those parts of the book.
A marvelous video. Roberts was a wonderful writer. I first heard of him from David Pringle's book "Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels" which included "Pavane."
Yes, David's book itself a great read, bit inspiration to me too. I enjoyed shooting this video, though it was a tough project at times to complete. There's another about him on the channel posted only a few weeks back, check it out, lots of anecdotes.
Great video beautiful English countryside and another brilliant author to explore. I only have pavane and a short story in stars of Albion . Will pick up molly zero and chalk giant all sound fascinating more on my tbr list.
Many thanks. Lots more on Keith to come, including the later obscure works- also, check out the Kerosina video on the channel, a fascinating look at the small press that would publish him when no-one else would, with interesting anecdotes about his character...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Thank you for all the hard work it’s very much appreciated 👍🏻👍🏻
I have loved Roberts' work for many years, made the pilgrimage to Corfe, and managed to collect many rare copies of his books including some of his personal collection. I wish I had met the man himself.
Same here!
Hey Stephen, seems a lot of folks are throwing into the kitty here so, I'm happy to do so as well. Cheers.
Very kind as ever, Rick, thanks!
Great video Stephen, loved the music choice! You have inspired me here to dig out all my old SF Impulse magazines and Keith Roberts paperbacks and read and re-read everything. Also I am inspired to re-visit Wiltshire and the stone circles, very unique and very English, I must do some photography there.
Yes, Wiltshire and Dorset are amazing. There'll be a couple more KR videos coming this autumn, one will be an exclusive look at some archive material I'm acquiring.
I really loved this video. The setting is such a juxtaposition to what one typically conjures to mind with SF but that makes it all the more fascinating. I would love to visit the area some day.
Thanks very much, glad you liked it. It is a fantastic part of Britain as you see. There's a video coming up soon that shows more of Avebury and there's an SF locations playlist on the channel, where I discuss a Wells story set in Capri Italy (on site) and a Colin Wilson story set in Wales (again on site). More like this will follow.
Well, that's the main problem with SF in the mass media- our expectations of what it is are shaped by what we see on screens and what we see on screens is predominantly the US magazine pulp space opera variant. SF is of course far broader in scope than this and Roberts- although he did sometimes set things offworld (such as his classic story "The Passing of the Dragons") cleaved to the Wellsian tradition- it's worth remembering that when Hugo Gernsback founded 'Amazing' in 1925 and coined the term 'Scientifiction' - altered to 'Science Fiction' the following year, he referred to Wells, Poe and Verne as the precursors of what he wanted to do. Wells is, above all others, the writer who really brought the majority of key tropes from Proto SF into focus and became the definitive writer who pioneered the genre- pioneers are always ahead of the genre being named. Wells also wrote mainstream social novels and his influence is super-prevalent in British SF, from Wyndham to Ballard, Priest to Roberts and beyond into the present day. Stapledon was the other key British SF writer who inspired Clarke and the school that followed him like Baxter and Reynolds.
Oh wow, I know this area well. We used to go for Crop Circle hunting. Lovely area. Avebury and Silbury hill, the barrow, endless fields, great pubs, a bit of camping. I will have to dig out my old Keith Roberts novels if I can find them.
I loved making this video, despite it being difficult at times over two days- the hardest part is getting to these places when there are no people around.
Great video, superb stuff.
Many thanks Nick, very kind!
@outlawbookselleroriginal Without your channel and content, I wouldn't have discovered Keith Roberts, so thank you !
really enjoyed this background info. i just finished the chalk giants and have learned that the american version is missing a lot of stuff! will have to try to track down a version that has it all as i really enjoyed it. in fact, i want to read more roberts. thanks again for bringing him to the forefront of my attention, steve. cheers
Always a pleasure to bring KR's work to an appreciative audience. You must get a UK edition, though I think the US Cosmos Wildside edition may have the full text. He was a master, as you can tell....
Thank you so much for this one, Steve. Discovered your channel a good while back, but check in so infrequently that I only now discovered this one that enriches reading of one of my favorites, Keith Roberts. I've only read Pavane, The Chalk Giants and The Boat of Fate so far. But Chalk Giants has that special resonance for me, and the Hutchinson hardcover is still one of my prize literary possessions. The American edition was unforgivable, stripping out the poignant richness that the Stan Potts framing story brings to the whole. --In future, I'll try not to be such a stranger to your channel!
Thanks very much. Please do catch up, as quite honestly, given the small views here versus the effort I put in, I'll be folding the channel unless it gains ground - though mass growth is unlikely since I don't spend my life producing clickbait but instead look at the real meat.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal i hear you and sympathize with the plight. Great work should be rewarded, so I'm on it, starting today....
I wish I could find a channel on RUclips of this class, depth and quality about my other great obsession: Horror Fiction.
Thanks for the compliment. You might want to try Plagued By Visions - I do some Horror as it's something I've always read, but I'm now at the stage in life where I'm unlikely to explore recent stuff. My mate Matt at Bookpilled has done some stuff with Plagued By Visions - Juan, I think his name is...and he's certainly a serious commentator.
Reading Pavanne, got 4 others in waiting ( Kite/Grain etc). Love the Thomas Hardy of Science Fiction reference, totally get that.
Yes, the personal darkness and tragedy of Hardy is very much there in Keith's work.
Landscape as character ( like Return of the Native). ALSO I found a copy of a Panther paperback of The Other Man by Giles Cooper ( alternative history ?). Do you know it ? Do you rate it ?
@@ianjohnson263 That's a very uncommon book, a novelisation of the teleplay by its author. It was a very well received but obscure now TV drama which I'd love to see. A similar thing is the film 'It Happened Here' which is well made but quite dull in some ways. Keith's story "Weihnachtsabend" from 'The Grain Kings' is well worth reading, an amazingly subtle Hitler Wins alt-hist.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Grain Kings is next !!
I was in a band in the late 80s called Pavane. We were popular around Manchester, especially with the students and even did a live set for BBC Manchester on the Terry Day show. Everyone wanted to know where the name came from and we enjoyed telling them about the novel and what little we knew about Keith Roberts.
Cool!
Hope it spread the word.
Great video and Gorgeous landscape. Reminds me quite strongly of the landscape described in Steven King's 'Fairy Tale'. In fact it's pretty much dead on. Question, what did they do with the remains found in the barrow? I don't imagine they could leave them there unprotected. But moving them would seem sacrilegious.
Well, there is a more direct connection between Roberts and King which I'll detail in an upcoming video...
you're right I have never heard of Keith Roberts
There you go! Try 'Pavane'.
Nice video, not visited that area of England much, i'm stuck in the pennines, with few complaints though. Ive ordered a copy of the Chalk Giants and will give it a go.
It's a demanding read, so go slow- and it changes direction dramatically- ambitious and unique. Hope you like it, but if you've not read Keith before, I'd suggest something else first - 'Pavane', 'Molly Zero', 'The Furies'.
really enjoyed this video never been to any of these places (i'm untraveled sadly) but it looks lovely i really connect with people who write about the landscape and locations probably because i love the landscape where i live at the moment Cardiff (well in and around Cardiff) and where i grew up around Ludlow (which also gets a nice shoutout in Pavane) anyway great video! I will need to get my hands on some more Keith Robert.
I've only read Kiteworld when I was really young and enjoyed it, but I think I would; have enjoyed it more had I known what I know now about history. Hope you're doing better.
I need to re-read it, it's been a while. Great book though, read it twice when it came out.
It is very strange what happens to our memories. I visited Corfe Castle while I was on holiday in Dorset, after reading Corfe Gate. My memory is nothing like your film. I remember having a drink in a pub garden just outside the entrance to the castle, and a tower with a heavy lean towards the path as we walked into the castle. It looked as if it had been damaged by one of the cannons in the story. I have no memory of the beautiful parts of the building which you showed.
Do you think I was in a different cycle of time?
I'm looking forward to your look at some of the later books. I liked the Kaeti stories, but Grainne didn't work for me. It was just too personal a look at Keith's own life. He also attempted a detective story about re-enactment war gamers (The Road to Paradise) which was well-written, but gave the impression that his heart was not really in it. I wait to see what you think of these.
I shot a lot of footage at the castle, but it was far more crowded than I had expected on a weekday in early June outside of school holiday periods- so I was very selective in the shots I used, as I hate having crowds of people in my frame. Basically, I hadn't researched the location before going there and the way Keith describes it in 'The Chalk Giants' gives a different impression - but then he wrote it in the early 70s and fifty years later, I imagine it's changed a lot - not in terms of the castle and village buildings, but the heritage structure, entrance, access etc. I bet it was less formal, then. It is very fragmentary from the canon damage in the civil war and I thought some of the shots revealed that- how long ago did you visit? It's a very, very impressive place, I thought.
I've read everything by Keith except 'Drek Yarman', the sequel to 'Kiteworld' which was a magazine serial yet to be collected into book form- though I've not revisited much of the later work for some time. I enjoyed everything I read by him, but I agree that 'Grainne' and 'Lemady' are quite personal and subjective, but why not, I feel?....though this is no doubt why publishers were not so keen on these books, not to mention his relations with all the major houses he'd worked and fell out with. 'The Road To Paradise' is perhaps his least typical book and while I wasn't wholly convinced at the time, I do need to re-read it as it was so original, I felt.
Maybe both of us were in a different cycle of time...! Good to hear from you...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal I think I was in Dorset in 1981, so it's not surprising that it has changed a bit. The Civil War was only just over then, and you were hardly born!
I reread Road to Paradise quite recently, and did enjoy it. I thought he lost control by the end, but it was interesting to see him doing something with hardly anything of the fantastic in it. I think I must be on the same cycle of time as you. I own the Drek Yarman story in Spectrum magazine where it appeared, but I haven't read it either. This is getting spooky!
@@allanlloyd3676 Yeah, I bet it looked a bit diff in 81. I must get around to picking those mags up- though I'd love it of someone collected them and published 'Drek Yarman' as a book.
Love Keith Roberts!
Only read The Furies by Roberts, but I was surprised by how much I loved it.
Well, you have a LOT of great works ahead of you. I love 'The Furies' too, but wait until you get to 'Pavane', 'The Chalk Giants' , 'Molly Zero' and 'Kiteworld'.
Love this - especially after reading Pavane
Glad you enjoyed reading it, Jane.
lovely day!
Well, the Wiltshire shoot was blessed by blazing sun, but the Dorset stuff was darker, rather like the events that take place in Keith's books in those locations.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal both are great tone setters for the books.
I showed this to my kid Liam who looks forward to meeting you in Bath in September…
It'll be great to see you both...
Stephen- This video is edifying SF perfection. Not only do you wander through the mind and oeuvre of Roberts, but you contextualize his life and work within the English landscape. Much has been written in the past decade about space and place, but this recent video exemplifies the use of place-theory in service of literary analysis. Thank you!
Many thanks. I haven't got the tech to do the greenscreen stuff it seems everyone else on the Booktube SF 'community' seems to use, but in a way that ensures I find other ways- and there is more to SF than the usual starscapes, I think.
I've read "Pavane", which is excellent. I've also read his collection "The Lordly Ones", which I didn't like; I'm sorry to say, that I couldn't find a gem amongst them. I've also read Robert Holdstock's "Mythago Wood", which is at least as good as "Pavane". I've also read the sequel "Lavondyss", which wasn't nearly as good.
You mean 'Lavondyss'. Shame you didn't get on with 'The Lordly Ones', I think the title story and "The Comfort Station" are superb, but they are more like 'The Chalk Giants' than 'Pavane', edgier and more experimental.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Yes, that's right, I do. "The Chalk Giants" sound more pastoral or hardyesque, which "The Lordly Ones" weren't. I think I might have been better off with them.
I reread my paperback copy of Pavane so many times that it fell apart. I confess to skipping the Inquisition parts because they're so grim. The Kindle version includes The White Boat story which, for some reason, no one seems to like.
I have to say I've never been fussed on 'The White Boat' (I have several editions of Pavane) either and I'm a huge KR fan.
😊👍
Thanks very much!
Tell me more
About Keith? Well, there will be another video in a few weeks, but in the meantime, search for the Kerosina video on this channel, which goes into the background of the British small publisher who would publish his books when no-one else would- and you'll discover some facts about his character.
@@outlawbookselleroriginal ty friend!
Harry Metcalfe country?
Not sure who he is? Some friend of Jeremy Clarkson is my first google result...
@@outlawbookselleroriginal Neighbour of his apparently. Cotswolds
@@northof-62 -Right. The Cotswolds are a good bit further North of Dorset, though the do touch some of Wiltshire and are quite close to where I live,