I am a first week, founding member of the Mark Steyn club-circa 2017.
The main benefit of membership is a feature called "Tales for our Time" in which he reads 100 year old (plus or minus) books in a wide variety of genres in 20-minute increments.
He has had major health problems lately-so that was the topic of my comment.
https://www.steynonline.com/14530/this- ... ry-of-ours
His lead-in
>>"However, David Wrolson, a First Week Founding Member of The Mark Steyn Club, is looking a little ways down the road:"<<<
My comment
>>>"Founding member here who is enjoying Bulldog Drummond. Not to be maudlin, but are there safeguards in place to keep the Club active in the event of your demise? Namely the audiobook readings. I have several of the serializations to catch up on and I would like to keep the ability to do so in the future."<<<
His response
>>>"Not sure if "maudlin" is the word for my demise; I'm not Little Nell, am I? But, just to reassure you, David, in fact I died nine weeks ago. The site's been totally AI since then, and so far only three people have noticed."<<<
Since I have major pull there now-I am going to recommend a couple of books for his future consideration.
I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
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Spock
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tlynn78
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Re: I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. -Thomas Paine
You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. -Ayn Rand
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire
You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. -Ayn Rand
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire
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Spock
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Re: I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
To (probably) no one's surprise-I threw out a request for a selection from George MacDonald Fraser's "Private McAuslan" stories for his "Tales for our Time" feature.
It is kind of a fun thing. Steyn is on his 65th tale. The current one is from Chesterton.
They are a wide-ranging selection from mysteries and thrillers to science fiction and dystopias to Wodehouse.
I note that PC Wren is missing from the catalog. I will probably throw out a request for some Wren. The obvious one is Beau Geste-but as he tends to choose lesser known works by authors I might read Wren's "Cupid in Africa" as my next Kindle book and see if I like it.
Regarding lesser known works-the very first "Tale' was "Tragedy of the Korosko" by Arthur Conan Doyle which dealt with tourists on the Nile getting kidnapped by the Mahdi.
He also just recently finished "The Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie.
It is kind of a fun thing. Steyn is on his 65th tale. The current one is from Chesterton.
They are a wide-ranging selection from mysteries and thrillers to science fiction and dystopias to Wodehouse.
I note that PC Wren is missing from the catalog. I will probably throw out a request for some Wren. The obvious one is Beau Geste-but as he tends to choose lesser known works by authors I might read Wren's "Cupid in Africa" as my next Kindle book and see if I like it.
Regarding lesser known works-the very first "Tale' was "Tragedy of the Korosko" by Arthur Conan Doyle which dealt with tourists on the Nile getting kidnapped by the Mahdi.
He also just recently finished "The Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie.
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Spock
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Re: I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
It now appears that Mark and I are on a first name basis. LOL
In all these years, I think I have only posted 4 times on SteynOnline. Those 4 have all been in the last week or whatever.
The first was referenced in the original post in this thread. Then I posted 2 things requesting a selection from George MacDonald Fraser. The first was pretty broad, so I replied to myself and provided specific details.
Now, this. I think he liked my ending where I am toddling off to listed to episode 4.
https://www.steynonline.com/14562/a-great-many-things
>>>David, a First Week Founding Member from Minnesota, says:
With The Flying Inn I am getting the full radio serialization effect as I am following along as we go and eagerly anticipating the next installment. This adds a lot as for most of those I have listened to they are deeper in the catalog so binge listening is more common.
It is fun waiting for one to drop and you will have to excuse me now as I have Episode Four to listen to.
And off he goes. But David is quite right. There are two ways to enjoy our Tales for Our Time.<<<<
In all these years, I think I have only posted 4 times on SteynOnline. Those 4 have all been in the last week or whatever.
The first was referenced in the original post in this thread. Then I posted 2 things requesting a selection from George MacDonald Fraser. The first was pretty broad, so I replied to myself and provided specific details.
Now, this. I think he liked my ending where I am toddling off to listed to episode 4.
https://www.steynonline.com/14562/a-great-many-things
>>>David, a First Week Founding Member from Minnesota, says:
With The Flying Inn I am getting the full radio serialization effect as I am following along as we go and eagerly anticipating the next installment. This adds a lot as for most of those I have listened to they are deeper in the catalog so binge listening is more common.
It is fun waiting for one to drop and you will have to excuse me now as I have Episode Four to listen to.
And off he goes. But David is quite right. There are two ways to enjoy our Tales for Our Time.<<<<
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Spock
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Re: I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
As Mark and I are now on a first name basis-LOL.
I have suggested 2 more ideas for inclusion in the Tales For Our Time catalog,
In addition to hoping for a selection from GMF, I requested
1)"That Hideous Strength" by CS Lewis which perfectly fits the spirit of the project. This is manifestly not a children's book and even though it is the final book of a trilogy it works perfectly fine on its own.
I recommend this book to anybody and among other things the humorous payoff at the end makes it worth it. Think of a slightly more risque version of twitterpated from Bambi. I re-read this part the other night and the humor still stands up-"Oh, No-the elephants are going to wreck the garden" and "If we don't get the bears out of the kitchen they will become a married couple in there."
2) I noted that there is no PC Wren in the catalog and said "Beau Geste" is the obvious choice-but that I am following Mark's example and reading a lesser-known work from Wren-I just started his "Cupid in Africa."
I have suggested 2 more ideas for inclusion in the Tales For Our Time catalog,
In addition to hoping for a selection from GMF, I requested
1)"That Hideous Strength" by CS Lewis which perfectly fits the spirit of the project. This is manifestly not a children's book and even though it is the final book of a trilogy it works perfectly fine on its own.
I recommend this book to anybody and among other things the humorous payoff at the end makes it worth it. Think of a slightly more risque version of twitterpated from Bambi. I re-read this part the other night and the humor still stands up-"Oh, No-the elephants are going to wreck the garden" and "If we don't get the bears out of the kitchen they will become a married couple in there."
2) I noted that there is no PC Wren in the catalog and said "Beau Geste" is the obvious choice-but that I am following Mark's example and reading a lesser-known work from Wren-I just started his "Cupid in Africa."
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Spock
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Re: I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
I do not know my PC Wren well enough. I am going to have to rectify that.
There is a "Beau Geste" trilogy (I think) and I plan for that to be one of my harvest books. Something to read when I unload semis and run the corn dryer and such.
I am about 20 % into "Cupid in Africa" and it appears to be heading for the WW1 East Africa campaign. One of the more interesting sidenotes of history. And here I thought-he just did French Foreign Legion stuff.
There is a "Beau Geste" trilogy (I think) and I plan for that to be one of my harvest books. Something to read when I unload semis and run the corn dryer and such.
I am about 20 % into "Cupid in Africa" and it appears to be heading for the WW1 East Africa campaign. One of the more interesting sidenotes of history. And here I thought-he just did French Foreign Legion stuff.
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Spock
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Re: I Got a Smart-Alec Non-Political Shoutout from Mark Steyn
I am really enjoying "Cupid in Africa." I can't believe I waited this many years to dig into Wren.
Re-Steyn.
Somebody made an on-topic comment there about Flashman so I was able to spring into action in my superhero mode. I am "God's Own Bore regarding the non-Flashman Books of George MacDonald Fraser." Everybody should have one superpower and that is mine.
Always happy to lend a hand and hopefully get somebody to read the "Private McAuslin" stories.
Re-Steyn.
Somebody made an on-topic comment there about Flashman so I was able to spring into action in my superhero mode. I am "God's Own Bore regarding the non-Flashman Books of George MacDonald Fraser." Everybody should have one superpower and that is mine.
Always happy to lend a hand and hopefully get somebody to read the "Private McAuslin" stories.