Books: Starliners, Hobbits, Hobbits Again, Defenders, Pandas, Tea Parties, And Women

Starliners by Stewart Cowley

My third book in the Terran Trade Authority series, this volume is dedicated to starlines, as in "airlines in space". Unlike Spacecraft and Space Battles, its subject matter is entirely commercial, not military, and it's mostly about the organizations, not their vehicles. It is thus rather dull. The art continues to be pretty, though.

The Annotated Hobbit, annotated by Douglas A. Anderson

This is a fascinating read, especially for A) its eludication of the differences between the first edition of The Hobbit, and the post-LOTR version, and B) for "The Quest Of Erebor." The latter is from Tolkien's unpublished-at-his-death notes, and is set just after the crowning of Aragorn at the end of LOTR. In it, Frodo & Co. ask Gandalf, "Hey, why the heck did you send Bilbo on that quest with the dwarves back when? What were you thinking, anyway?" The explanation is interesting, and ties together a lot of Middle-Earth history. (It appears, alas, to be incompatible with the movie-verse, since in the movies Gandalf had not heard of the Necromancer until after choosing Bilbo.) Quite recommended.

The Art Of The Fellowship Of The Ring by Gary Russell

A lovely selection of art from the making of the first part of the LOTR movies. Includes a map of Bag End, which was a big part of why I wanted it. Recommended.

Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders v2 by Englehart, Wein, Buscema, and Brown

I've developed a fondness for the Defenders, Marvel's "non-team", particularly Valkyrie, with her outstandingly odd origin story. And, when I saw this volume included the issue where Magneto is reduced to infancy at the UN, I couldn't pass it up. (That being a key moment in later issues of X-Men.) Recommended to fans of 1970s comics.

Chu's Day by Neil Gaiman and Adam Rex

A very slight story (there are only 132 words in the whole thing) about a baby panda who sneezes. It's beautifully illustrated, though the text comes perilously close to "We could publish Gaiman's grocery list and people would buy it" territory.

Tea Parties For Dads by Jenna McCarthy

A neat little guide to Things Your Daughter Will Probably Like Despite Your Efforts To Raise A Tomboy (glitter, unicorns, tea parties), and how to survive them as a dad, including crafting tips, book recommendations, and such. Pretty good, and not boring.

More Women Of Wonder, edited by Pamela Sargent

A solid collection of SF&F stories by women, mostly about women, compiled in the 1970s. Includes a Jirel of Joiry story, Leigh Brackett, Russ, Le Guin, and Joan Vinge, among others. Recommended.