I just received from a friend a (late but only because of the post) Christmas present in the form of a collection of John Milton's poetry including the complete Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained from 1849.

I've expressed before, probably too much, on this forum that I am not religious, but for me, Paradise Lost is the greatest piece of writing ever written in English. I've read it about 5 times (on my Kindle to go back to what C_A said) and I almost never reread anything. Every time I finish it I want to start again. This gift is quite possibly one of the best presents I have ever received. It might be one of my most precious possessions. If a fire starts in my house, I will, of course, grab my wife and drag her to safety, but she better be holding this book at the time because if not I'll be going back in. I want to be buried with it.

   As many of you know, for reasons already mentioned I haven't been able to read a full book for over four years.  That situation is somewhat resolved so it's time to reenter that wonderful world. 
    As I kid I never read books because school tried to force us too.  I resented books for that reason.  When we had to do a book report I'd read the front and back covers of the book only. I was imaginative enough to create a passable book report from just that. 
    For a few years of my life, mostly while I went to college, I was the graveyard shift security guard at a fiberglass plant.  It was then that I discovered what I had been missing and how wonderful and enlightening books are.  I read all of the classics they tried to force me to read in school and loved them.  I read every kind of book I could get my hands on. 
    Anyway, to get back into it I'm going to reread an excellent book I first read almost twenty years ago, Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose.  It's about Jefferson, The Louisiana Purchase, but mostly it's about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  It's one of my favorite books of all time.  What an adventure! 
    The thing that I took away mostly from the book was how different men were back then.  Those guys truly had brass balls. 
     Anyway, if you like adventure and history I very highly recommend this book.

Just started the John Silence stories by Algernon Blackwood. One of the first occult detectives.

You have, my friend. And I am equally glad that I found you.
This one is my favorite.

I loved LotSP because the entire arc where they first make their skycrafts and then fly them through the deepwoods feels so free. It is my favourite part of any book ever. I also enjoyed the Twig saga but I had some kind of disdain for Quint. He felt too perfect but the setting of CotG certainly was mysterious and I understand your enthusiasm. 

Have you read the Cade saga? It is the very final ending to the series and they reveal the entire secret behind the edge so to say. 

A third one!?
The most awesome community has the highest concentration of the most awesome book series.

Slyngorm wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2021 at 8:03am:



REH basically created the modern heroic fantasy genre.
One of my all time favourite authors and poets.

Always thought if I got a time machine I'd go back and stop him committing suicide.
The guy was really just hitting his stride when he killed himself. 

The later stuff set in the west was just genius.

Other ways he's influenced modern literature.
Take the jack reacher series - reacher is basically the modern conan.
Loner who's just so hard he can go anywhee and do anything without worrying about other people.

Along with peter o'donnell, Robert Ervin Howard is probably one of the most underrated authors of all time.

Don't bother with the posthumous conan books. Just trash.