Every day, as new books come out, old books gather more and more dust—not the fortunate few which are regarded as classics, but the unfortunate multitude which now lie unread and forgotten in antique stores, landfills, and Grandma’s basement.
Some of them are great. Recently, I read “Ralph Herne” by W.H. Hudson, published in 1888, a novel which describes, in vivid detail, a deadly pandemic which swept through Argentina. Besides being topical to our recent medical experience, it’s a great novel in its own right. But who else, besides myself, read that book last year? Maybe one other? Maybe two? Maybe zero?
What are some really good books, say at least 30 years old, which nobody ever talks about, book clubs never read, Barnes and Noble never stocks, Netflix never adapts—but which you enjoyed, and you feel deserve to be remembered?
by Smathwack
7 Comments
The Indiana Jones choose your own adventure books by (not that) R.L. Stine. If you like Indy and you like cyoa, grab one if you see it. Not high art, but a short afternoon’s silly fun.
The Man Who Never Missed by Steve Perry
The novelization of The Terminator by Frakes. It is out of print and considered a top ten movie novelization.
I don’t know, I’ve forgotten them.
[A Night of Serious Drinking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Night_of_Serious_Drinking) by Rene Daumal an absurdist mix of Dante’s Inferno and Gulliver’s Travels.
Earth Abides by George R Stewart is a really extraordinary post apocalyptic novel.
Quicksilver by Fitzroy Davies
A novel from the 1930 about a company touring Romeo and Juliet in the US. It is loosely based on Katherine Cornell’s tour. Our sanitized Hays Code version of the 1930s is swept aside by the characters who live free, impulse driven lives.
That one with the guy that did that thing.