Nicholas Guild

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Mechthild, I'm glad you explained Tiglath's belief system and the meaning of the blind man. I didn't understand that before.

You mean you've read them all but those three? You're going to really like Lost and Found Man. I read that one much later, after I'd already been reading Guild. I was stunned that with the very first book he was a fully realized writer of stature. No fumbling about or practice runs. The Linz Tatoo is also great. The President's Man, well, I've already said I thought the plot was a stretch, critics thought so, too. But, again, the writing is first rate.

Yes, isn't that something that Marta found a rare copy of Blood Star (worth a bit of money now) free for the taking? She didn't say if it was a hard back or not, or what condition it was in--you know, not beat up and with a dust jacket. I wonder if it is a first edition?

>>By Tucker   (Friday, 16 May 2003 10:54)



Tucker, I'm trying to talk myself into buy a copy of THE BLOOD STAR , which would be easyer if I were convinced the current market price was of lasting value. Unlike Guilds other books I haven't seen a copy for sale in paperback. Because of the unavailability, I'm wondering if THE BLOOD STAR ever came out in paperback and if Guild does'n have a problem with his publishers.
Happy reading.

>>By Mechthild   (Friday, 16 May 2003 19:24)



Who's to say whether a book will hold its value? I own all of Guild in first editions simply because after reading Old Acquaintance I started to collect him.

I do think he had "trouble" with his publishers. Almost ever book he wrote was favorably reviewed in The New York Times Book Review (among others, like Publisher's Weekly), yet there wasn't, as I am able to tell, an effort to take out ads for him or to send him out on book signings. The publisher for Angel did take out ads. If women had seen him, in the flesh, I'm sure they would have purchased his books on his looks alone, LOL. He is a handsome man. I also think his press runs were too small. Several times I had to "order" one of his new books through my bookseller, the new one not being automatically "sent out" like, say, a new John LeCarre.

Richard Hoyt (Cool Runnings, the book, not the movie) tells me that publishers have "favorites" which they push and give larger press runs. When the people at Viking told him "you can't write humorous spy stories. It's not done", and gave him a small press run, he promptly ran away to another publisher.

You know, William Manchester will not be finishing his triolgy on Churchill. Manchester had a stroke and can no longer write. Maybe Guild has health problems.

Yes, good reading to you, too.

>>By Tucker   (Friday, 16 May 2003 23:46)



The Guild Discussion Group from which I first accessed to here is currently no longer listed on that web page and I'm wondering if new commers can still click on to this site?

Tucker , except for you, Marta and I it's been a little quiet and we are filling up these pages. Great reviews don't = sales, and everything is about money. In my city there are 17 public library branches, 2 copies of The Assyrian and one of The Blood Star, a few copies of Angel and lots of copies of Chain Reaction.We have a great exchange program here, you can request books nationwide or locally and return them at anny library. I frequent the one on my way to work, a copy of the Assyrian was returned there and I found Guild. I now have all books except The Blood Star and just feel a little frivelous about buying an expensive book, that I've red just because I'd like to have it. Some books stick out in my mind for ever, but some authors that I loved in the past now seem so bland. How do you think word processing has changed writing? In some instances books are so more discriptive , at other times I feel they are mass produced.

>>By Mechthild   (Saturday, 17 May 2003 09:06)



Mechthild, I found this site on Google. I bookmarked it. I simply go to my "favorites" (that's what my server Juno calls it) and click on this site and here I am. When I find that I no longer am interested in a site, I delete it.

I read very little mainstream fiction. I have a "stable" of fiction authors, ie., Clyde Edgerton, Richard Hoyt, John LeCarre, Len Deighton ( his 9 volume series featuring Bernard Samson is not to everyone's taste, but with your background you might like "Winter" a saga of a German family--from which Bernard came--starting in the early 1900s. Deighton's non fiction is first rate by any standard), Ross Thomas (he died in Dec. 1995), and W. T. Tyler (The Ants of God and The Man Who Lost The War).

I read mostly non fiction. Travel, memoirs, biography, etc,. Libraries have to cull because of space, so books that sit on the shelves instead of circulating get the heave ho. Inter-library loan, however, will get you most any book from a library somewhere in the system. I once waited a long time then got the book I'd ordered from The Library of Congress!

I buy books that I already know I'll want to keep. Even then, as you say, my interest sometimes wanes on re-reading and I get rid of them.

Yes, we've put a lot of words on this site. Google has some thousands of hits when you type in Nicholas Guild, but this site, with a discussion option, is the only one I've come across for him.

>>By Tucker   (Saturday, 17 May 2003 16:30)



Mechthild, I forgot to address your question about writers using computers. I suppose it makes it easier for them, but even now some of them still write by hand and their transcriber uses the computer, LOL. And, yes!, I notice so many writing to the money. So many times I find an author that's written many books but I like only one, like Carolyn See's "Handyman". And, I forgot to include Thomas Perry and Carl Haaisen. Perry's last book was sort of a dud, but everyone has a bad day now and then. What we don't have, because of costs, is good editing. So many books are just full of stuff that should have been left on the floor.

>>By Tucker   (Saturday, 17 May 2003 16:46)



The copy of the Blood Star i found in the 'take whatever you'd like' bookstore is a hardcover, with jacket, in perfect condition. I believe it's a first addition.
methchild - you might want to buy it. i read the Assyrian in the early 80's, and then again just a few months ago, and it was like reading it for the first time. But you would probably do better just going into old used book stores, rather than places that specialize in rare and out of print books. It's more special that way.

It just hit me why Guild did not have tiglath fight his brother for the good of the empire - because in real life, he didn't.
I, have known the history of Sennacherib before, and Eashardon, but never heard of Tiglath. Guild really just do his research to find out about him, and moved into his mind. Or maybe he didn't exist, as Eashardan did. .
eventhough i want the third book to come out, i wouldn't want the seductive brilliance to become watered down - like it did with Ann Rice. The first two books were so unique and involving, but after they kept coming out i felt like I was reading gay porn books, instead of peering into the mysteries of immortality.

>>By marta   (Sunday, 18 May 2003 03:10)



tucker,
did you have guild's exact birthday? if not, do you know a way to get it
(I'd like to look at hs stars)

>>By marta   (Sunday, 18 May 2003 03:21)



Marta, Are you planning an astrological chart on Guild? He was born in San Mateo CA, 5 November 1944. With Anne Rice all is on a steep incline down hill.

Tucker, Thanks for your input. I don't see myself as a main stream reader. My mom, who still teaches literature in both French and German, introduced me to the "Classics" at a young age. I love discriptive scenery and settings of the kind were you can transport yourself into the scene, add to this indebth character development. Reading in English is like partaking of a smorgasbord. Its a fusion of Norman and Saxon with a minimum of two synonyms for evey word. There's nothing like curling up with a good book on a rainy day. Meanwhile Lukas is on a train to Zurich, I've been to some of these cities and Guild does a good job stereotyping. I agree, good looking, but an awful dresser-ageing well too. I like the picture in ANGEL.

>>By Mechthild   (Sunday, 18 May 2003 08:15)



Marta, This just occured to me. Eshardan had lots of brothers, in historical fictions its not uncommen to borrow on of these to fit your plot, normally a well researched author adds an Authors Note at the conclusion of the novel explaing the liberties taken and the historical facts. The Assyrian is a work of fiction. Anne Rice gave me the shock of my life under the sydonym of Anne Rampling she wrote a seris of books BEAUTY. I was totally schocked after reading just two pages and emberassed to have checked them out, it was unadulterated porn. If you are easily offended by sexual exploits you would not want to read RAPTOR which equates to predetor or a bird of prey, although this is a very historically correct fine novel.

>>By Mechthild   (Sunday, 18 May 2003 10:25)



Obviously writing THE ASSYRIAN involved research of major proportions. Tracking the composition and movements of the army is a task initself. Within the covered time frame Guild has the historical figures Sennacherib and Esharadon. Esharadon is not the heroic figure epics are based on, so he creates a foil the brave, beloved brother Tiglath. Esharadon has many brothers so its not impossible that among them someone like Tiglath could have lived. Tiglath has moral an spritual values that wont allow him to kill Esharadon but also he really can't win because in history he does'n exist. Does this make sense?

>>By Mechthild   (Monday, 19 May 2003 08:41)



Mechthild.,
Another book then i know you would cherish is called The Horseman, by Kesselman i think. it's originally in German. I found it in the drawer of an old funky hotel room in Amsterdam about 20 years ago.
It's out of print, but maybe not so rare. Some time ago i rented the movie, starring Omar Sharif. I really liked it - photography was superb. It's about the Buzghashi in Afghanistan - maybe set in the 40's.

Will i do an astrological chart on Guild? %100 absolutely - and of course I'll share what i get on him. And guess what - I'll bet he reads this site at least once a week. In case, "We all love you anyway, and you don't have to write a thing if you don't feel like it!"

And, Mecht - your view on Easharadon and the history is exaclty what i was trying to say.
p.s. i just received another international news report that the Assyrians in Northern Iraq (their birthplace) are pleading for help to stop the Kurds from their currentant and constant massavres of Assyrian villages - of which there are about 212.

>>By Marta   (Monday, 19 May 2003 16:38)



i don't think new people can find this site anymore

>>By marta   (Monday, 19 May 2003 19:58)



Marta, War changed the course of my life and being a child I had no choices. I don't know how one could stop those century old anemosities, Iraq, Afiganistan, Jugoslavia, Ireland are only small examples. How terrible about the bay in Bagdad who lost his intire family and now a big deal is being made about fitting him with new limbs-so sad. All this is a poor testament to mankind.

Thanks for the book suggestions> eventually I'll check on those and the ones recommended by Tucker. I'm inspired to work on an unfinished oil painting first. My mother is reading THE ASSYRIAN and loves "the archaic language" would she be surprised if she red any of the other Guild books. Marta, my server is AOL and this site was gone for weeks but is back now. I hope we wren't talking too much and turning others off?
Schlama-luch

>>By Mechthild   (Monday, 19 May 2003 20:32)



Anyone can find this site if they use Google. This discussion site is one of the first ones mentioned. How can we talk too much if this is the only place I've found, so far, to "talk" about Guild?

>>By Tucker   (Tuesday, 20 May 2003 10:31)



Don't get mad at me.Would you listen. Of your suggested authors The wild west sounds best.

>>By Mechthild   (Tuesday, 20 May 2003 13:59)



Tucker, I ment to say, I checked out sites on Edgerton, Hoyt and Deighton. I'm sure you've seen the Deighton site is heavily dominated by a few people which would scare a newcommer from saying a thing. Of the three , I'm most likely to read Edgerton

>>By Mechthild   (Tuesday, 20 May 2003 22:19)



Mechthild, Edgerton writes about people who live in small southern towns. He wrote one western, "Redeye". Go to his site and read his short story, "The Picadilly". This will give you an idea of his style. He is funny and more than a little mischievious.

Sappho was Greek. Very little of her writing is known but, of what there is, there must be translations somewhere.

Yes, on most discussion sites there are bullies who seem to think they know everything.

I'm not mad. I'm grateful to all who come here. You and Marta have greatly expanded my understanding of The Assyrian and The Blood Star. Where did you find a site for Hoyt and Deighton?

>>By Tucker   (Wednesday, 21 May 2003 08:16)



Tucker, I have a full page translation of the Dante quote. THE BLOOD STAR also has a greek quote by Longinus, I can get all this translated if I could figure out how to transcribe the character on e-mail. This can be done, but could be time consuming if you don't know how.
Like Guild I found Hoyt and Deighton and Edgerton on the Web.I'm sure you've been there.
I didn't find Lukas as sympathetic a character as Guinness-again the bad mother syndrom.

Marta, Is the movie you rented "Laurence of Arabia"? Do you have a first name for Kellerman?

>>By Mechthild   (Thursday, 22 May 2003 20:14)



Marta, I have looked for "The Horseman" by Kesselman until I'm crosseyed. I found a book by that name by Kristina O'Donnelly. It's about the rivalry between the Turks and the Kurds. It is the first book in a Quintet called "Lands of the Morning". That it?

>>By Tucker   (Friday, 23 May 2003 10:28)



dear guys,
the book is definitely called The Horseman. the author is Joseph Kessel. (kesselman might have been the name of a boyfriend i had in formentera in the early seventies).
It's as astounding as the Assyrian and Bloodstar.
I have the video in front of me. it stars omar shrif as the horseman, and Jack Palance plays his incredibly indescribable Father. The movie is excellent actually, but only about a third of the book. It's directed by John Frankenheimer.

One of the marvels of Guild is the way he easily uses the metaphors and similies of such ancient times. Like:
when describing an overweight woman who sat down on the floor
"Her backside resembled a large sack of grain that had split down the middle."
wow

'Her backside looked like a sacck full of grain that split down the middle."

>>By marta   (Tuesday, 27 May 2003 05:08)



someone just recommended Testament. Has anyone read it?

>>By marta   (Tuesday, 27 May 2003 05:10)



Thanks, Marta. I've ordered a copy of The Horsemen. I'll wait until I've read the book to watch the movie.

Yes, my mind is continually stimulated by Guild's similies and allusions. I've read all his books many times. Maybe I'm just a "duh" but I enjoy them all over again, each time.

>>By Tucker   (Tuesday, 27 May 2003 06:12)



Thanks Marta, I'll get a copy of THE HORSEMEN ,Joseph Keller has a big French fan club. You have travelled a lot and in the past so have I, maybe you could share that with me?

Tucker, you're not a dud! The books you keep are those you read again and again.I picked up a copy of THE FLOAT PLANE NOTEBOOKS this is interesting because of an experience I had in the Smokey Mountain hills of NC, back when. Their is a little place, Sylva, it's magical,
untouched., and my cousin lives their and visits her 80 year old dad in Miami.

I'm now reading THE LINZ TATOO>Hello, from me to you

>>By Mechthild   (Tuesday, 27 May 2003 10:39)



Schlama leveyone
One of the best trips i did was touring the Peloponeses and such using the penguin series by Pausinias a guide. He wrote in latin a kind of travelogue for Romans who might want to tour their ever-growing empire. You can follow the old roman roads right through different cities and villages and often remnants of the roads are actually still there. And when you see a ruin, you can read about it as he described it then - like, 'the baths are to the left of Aphrodite's temple.'
fun.
love reading Gore Vidal's Julian the Apostate, too. Another kind of travelogue,. . He fought to get rid of the tne Christian God in Byzantium, and to give back the temples to tthe Roman gods and goddesses, but , alas , his efforts were fo naught once Constantine began to rule.
Vida; is the quite the wit with this.
in it, also a magnificent description of Julian living in Paris, when it was a samll fortress on a hill of mud where the two rivers joined. And that was it. the whole citiy!   (Wednesday, 28 May 2003 01:18)



Mechthild, you're gonna love Edgerton's "Notebooks". Linz Tatoo is a real page turner, eh? The hero plays the cello and I swear I can hear the music he plays.

Marta, I envy you. My travels have been mostly in books, and thank the gods for writers. If you read Latin, you are in an increasingly small group.

>>By Tucker   (Wednesday, 28 May 2003 04:03)



You don't merrit commend!!!!!!!!!

>>By Mechthild   (Wednesday, 28 May 2003 04:07)



My grandfather served as a medick at the battle of StGermain in WWI. He was a musician. Please excuse me, I am so sensetive about this subject.Also, about the death of my father. My family in Germany were not bad people.

>>By Mechthild   (Thursday, 29 May 2003 11:09)



Mechthild, I don't know what I've done but I am so sorry I did it. The loss of loved ones in war leaves lifelong scars on the minds of the living. Especially when "history" judges one side or the other as being "the bad guys". We here in the United States have only to look to our war between the states--The Civil War, 1860-65--the origins and outcome of which is the cause of anguish between the citizens of the North and the South even today.

Please know that I believe the general public of any country are many times mistakenly called to arms by their leaders and that huge numbers of good people are caught up in a conflict--and die as a result--that is contrary to what they would do if not ordered to do so.

Please forgive me for causing you hurt. This was never my intention.

>>By Tucker   (Thursday, 29 May 2003 16:28)



Tucker, my feelings are in no way your fault! But I am depressed reading THE LINZ TATTOO. Its so well written. I keep seing the faces of my relatives, family friends ,the local butcher , our pharmacist etc. all these people were a part of the war and to a kid they seemed so normal, and now I wonder did they have a dark side? Mainz was a rubble of bombed out buildings, and reconstruction didn't take place untill the latter part of the 50ties. Also, my father died for no good reason and now his only daughter and grandchildren live in the states. It's so horrific and pointless, that's why I ususally avoid books and movies covering this topic. This isn't the place to vent my feelings. Thanks for the moral support.

>>By Mechthild   (Friday, 30 May 2003 08:00)



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