Yesterday's Chapter One
That was, of course, the first chapter from Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination" originally titled "Tiger, Tiger". It could be seen as a "Count of Monte Cristo" set in the 25th Century, were it not for the thematic differences between the two. Alas, that's all I can say. I won't spoil anything for those of you who intend to read it still.

Today's Chapter One
It's a Fantasy novel today... one that I've yet to finish. Thanks to K8 for the book(s). Here's a hint: the writer's initials are L.D., though he was also known as Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett.

   In their ruddy jackets of leather that reached to their knees, the men of Erl appeared before their lord, the stately white-haired man in his long red room. He leaned in his carven chair and heard their spokesman.
   And thus their spokesman said.
   "For seven hundred years the chiefs of your race have ruled as well; and their deeds are remembered by the minor ministrels, living on yet in their tinkling songs. And yet the generations stream away, and there is no new thing."
   "We would be ruled by a magic lord," they said.
   "So be it," said the lord. "It is five hundred years since the people have spoken thus in parliament, and it shall always be as your parliament saith. You have spoken. So be it."
   And he raised his hand and blessed them and they went.
   They went back to their ancient crafts, to the fitting of iron to the hooves of horses, to working upon leather, to tending flowers, to ministering to the rugged needs of Earth; they followed the ancient ways, and looked for a new thing. But the old lord sent a word to his eldest son, bidding him to come before him.
   And very soon the young man stood before him, in that same carven chair from which he had not moved, where light, growing late, from high windows, showed the aged eyes looking far into the future beyond that old lord's time. And seated there he gave his son his commandment.
   "Go forth," he said, "before these days of mine are over, and therefore go in haste, and go from here eastwards and pass the fields we know, till you see the lands that clearly pertain to faery; and cross their boundary which is made of twilight, and come to that palace that is only told of in song."
   "It is far from here," said the young man Alveric
   "Yes," answered he, "it is far."
   "And further still," the young man said, "to return. For distances in those fields are not as here."
   "Even so," said his father.
   "What do you bid me do," said the son, "when I come to that palace?"
   And his father said: "To wed the King of Elfland's daughter."

Comics: Off the Cuff
I like to go to The Fourth Rail to get early reviews of comics that have not yet come out. I sometimes wonder if by reading these, I suffer having my own opinions colored by theirs. But I've picked up more than one series because of them, so I keep going.

Perhaps I should do a regular feature on this blog - Comics: Off the Cuff. It'll be my version of Snap Judgements. Perhaps...