Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is our Old School Classic Group Read for May 2023.

This is the No Spoiler Thread
The Spoiler Thread will open on the 1st.

This early posting of the No Spoiler thread is to discuss any non-plot issues pertaining to the book.

Appropriate Posts can contain:
1. Information about the author.
2. Compare editions/translations.
3. Any historical or background information
4. Are you familiar with this author’s work? Do you have any expectations going into the book?
5. What made you decide to read this book?
6. Any fan fiction that you have read or would like to read? Just link the books.
7. If you loved the book and want others to share in that experience, use this thread to motivate others, again save plot specifics for the Spoiler thread
8. If you hated the book, it would be best to keep that for the spoiler page

Sara wrote: "Any fan fiction...."

Oh yeah!

Jules Verne published a sequel called An Antarctic Mystery

Charles Baudelaire was also inspired by Poe's novel. "Voyage to Cythera" rewrites part of Poe's scene (view spoiler)[where birds eat human flesh. (hide spoiler)]

H. P. Lovecraft: At the Mountains of Madness

According to Wikipeadia: "Scholars, including Patrick F. Quinn and John J. McAleer, have noted parallels between Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and other Poe works. Quinn noted that there were enough similarities that Melville must have studied Poe's novel and, if not, it would be "one of the most extraordinary accidents in literature".

That is some serious fanfic!

I have a really dumb question: What exactly are we reading? Edit: Answered in #5: Only Pym.

The original nomination was just the single story, but somewhere during the nomination process it changed to a collection The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and Related Tales including 8 maritime-themed short stories. It was also this collection that won the poll.

The short stories are:
MS found in a bottle -- (1833)
Loss of breath -- (1832)
Mystification -- (1837)
How to write a Blackwood article -- (Nov 1838)
A descent into the maelström -- (Apr 1841)
The pit and the pendulum -- (1843
The balloon hoax -- (Apr 13, 1844)
The premature burial. (Jul 31, 1844)

Personally I think we should include the short stories since that was what won the poll.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "I have a really dumb question: What exactly are we reading?

The original nomination was just the single story, but somewhere during the nomination process it changed to a collection [book:The Nar..."

My best guess as to how the collection was listed in the poll is this: if you search on the title, the first listing is for the collection, second for single title. The mod may not have realized this, since it’s such a long title that the complete title isn’t visible and just added the first listing. The nomination was for the single title and that is what people seconded. I’d say if you want to read the collection listed in the poll that includes the short stories, go for it, but I think most people will be concentrating on the one title.

Thank you, Heather, as that is exactly what happened. The nomination and second were for the single title and reading of any other stories is optional. I was very careful to make sure that it is only the single title that is listed on the thread here and on the bookshelf.

As for the fanfic stuff, Mountains of Madness doesn't have too much of a connection, i mean it it is connected it literally suggests Poe was inspired by ancient legends relating to these mountains but its not like any sort of sequel.

An Antarctic Mystery by Verne is ok , i think its also known under the much more interesting title the Sphinx of the Icefields.
But it actually feels kind of insulting to Poe like it takes such a very different angle and feel on events its hard to say if Verne actually liked or hated Poe's original.

There is another sequel in english A Strange Discovery by Charles Romyn Dake (1899) that one is pretty interesting, its half sequel half just random discussions and stuff.
I know of at least one other sequel from the 40;s but its french and doesn't seem to have ever been reprinted or translated. La Conquête de l'Eternel (1947) by Dominique André .

All of them get amalgamated references in Alan Moore's, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comic series, most notably in the volume Nemo: Heart of Ice .

This one I've never read before so I definitely plan to join in reading it if I can

Has anyone found a good, free audiobook version?

Librivox
https://librivox.org/narrative-of-art...
has one. Anyone tried it?

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Has anyone found a good, free audiobook version?

Librivox
https://librivox.org/narrative-of-art...
has one. Anyone tried it?"

No, I bought one of the Audible versions, but it was very cheap on Audible USA anyway, only $4. I have a print copy as well.

Please open the spoiler tread.

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Please open the spoiler tread."

My apologies. Thanks for letting me know.