It's September 30; do you know where Snuff is?

[rolanni]

Yes, that's right!  Tonight, Steve and I begin our annual, chapter-a-night read of Roger Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October.

For those who are not familiar, the book is sort of an advent calendar for Halloween, with each chapter reporting on the events of a single day in the month of October, until we reach The Biggest Day of All.

Because this is not the story of just any Halloween.  No, the book describes the days leading up to one of the Halloweens, when there is a full moon on the night itself.  On this rare night, real danger arises, and the fate of the world is decided by a handful of odd people, and their companion animals.  Will the way be opened for change?  Or will it remain closed, and the world as we know it remain the same?

No, I'm not going to tell you.

People have told me that it's impossible to read the book one chapter a day.  Steve and I have never had any problem doing so, across the decade or so since we've adopted the tradition -- which was first brought to our attention by Vicky Brown of fond memory,  and other denizens of the Friends of Liad mailing list.  We alternate reading a chapter aloud each night, after flipping a dollar coin for the privilege of reading the introductory chapter, which takes place on September 30.

A Night in the Lonesome October was out of print for a number of years (our preferred copy is a slightly decrepit hardcover, published by AvoNova in 1993).  A couple years ago, it was reprinted in trade paperback by the Chicago Review Press, as part of its Rediscovered Classics series, so you can have your own copy, or, in our case, a back-up copy, for the sad day when the hardcover becomes too frail to read.

So!  Who's with us this October?

Comments

[thewol.livejournal.com]

Me! Me! Me! I got this book because you mentioned how much you and Steve loved it, and I fell in love with it, too.

Also, you mention "companion animals" -- I think we should call them "companimals."

[attilathepbnun.livejournal.com]

Me! Me! *waves hand* As soon as I find my copy, that is ....

[pedanther]

Another one here who was introduced to the book through your enthusiasm for it. I don't think I'm doing the re-read this year; I'm not sure where my copy is, beyond "probably somewhere in one of those boxes I haven't unpacked yet".

I haven't had any trouble re-reading the book one chapter per day, but I have to admit that I didn't even try the first time I read it.

[mlknchz.livejournal.com]

This is an excellent tradition! Good for you!

[mbernardi]

Just bought the ebook edition and will commence reading after breakfast.

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

I suspect that you have bought another book. It doesn't look like the Zelazny story is available in ebook.

[pedanther]

But on the other hand, says I to myself, what are the odds that there are *two* books called "A Night in the Lonesome October"? So I went looking - and it appears that there is indeed an ebook edition now. Publication date: October 2016.

[filkferengi]

There is actually a book by Richard Laymon called _Night in the Lonesome October_ [without the "A"].

I'm glad Our Authors have a back-up copy, though. Even used, copies are quite expensive online.