Book review: The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Believe it or not, the guy who wrote the Sherlock Holmes novels also wrote other books. The Lost World (not to be confused with Michael Crichton's story by the same name) takes place in early 20th century England and South America.

The story is told as a narrative from the perspective of Edward Malone, a newspaper journalist. When Malone's girlfriend tells him that she won't marry him because he doesn't throw himself into danger to earn her glory, the lovestruck fool goes out and does just that. He joins a small group of explorers setting out for South America in search of a mysterious plateau that is supposedly home to all sorts of prehistoric animals -- animals that have long since been extinct everywhere else in the world.

The purpose of the expedition is to disprove the assertions made by Professor Challenger (a character who appears in a few other Doyle books as well), the man who discovered this "lost world" and was then laughed at by the entire scientific community when he publicized his findings. So the four explorers -- Malone, Challenger, another professor, and a hunter/sportsman -- set off to find this plateau, with the help of some native guides. They eventually do find it, and their unexpected troubles ascending to it (as well as leaving) are highly engrossing as told by the narrator.

In creating Malone as his narrator, Doyle has made an excellent choice. Malone is articulate, detailed, and funny. His wit and observations make what could otherwise be a dry science fiction book into an absorbing, entertaining story.

The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is not a particularly long novel.  Many different editions of the book have been produced since it was first published in 1912.  The Dover paperback edition (176 pages) is available for $5.14 from Amazon ($8.00 from Dover).

Doyle has a well-paced, uncomplicated writing style that is easy to follow and pleasant to read.  Any fan of adventure stories (particularly stories like Stevenson's Treasure Island or Wells' The Time Machine) will likely enjoy The Lost World.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2010. This version has been updated.)

(Disclaimer: I earn a commission on Amazon sales made from links in this post.)

Book review: Skeleton Crew, by Stephen King

Skeleton Crew is one of the many collections of Stephen King's short stories that have been compiled over the years.  Some of the stories in the book are better than others. Some are scary, some are freaky, some are light, and some are so twisted that you'll have no idea what the heck they are about.

"The Mist" is the best story of the book. It's also the longest.  I read it many years ago, long before the movie was released, and it's one of the few King stories that have been done justice on the big screen.  Since the movie came out, "The Mist" was re-released as a standalone book.

"Here There Be Tygers" is a funny little tale that will make anyone who ever had a grade-school teacher that they hated smile wistfully. "The Raft" is another good story, well-narrated and quite strange.

One of the stories especially, but others to lesser degrees, makes you wonder just what goes on inside Stephen King's head. "Milkman #2" is the weirdest story I've ever read, and I think it will hold that title for quite a while.

Not all of the tales are great. "The Reach," "The Reaper's Image," and "Nona" were stories that I didn't particularly enjoy; other readers will probably find stories in this collection that they don't like. However, overall the book is a good read, and it gives the reader a slight insight into how King's mind works. The end of the book includes a section that tells a little bit about the history behind some of the stories, written by the author himself. And the book also has a good introduction, which King fans will like.

Skeleton Crew is available for purchase online from the typical booksellers, including Amazon.  Several editions have been released.  It can probably be found in most major brick-and-mortar bookstores as well, under Horror or Thriller.

If you like Skeleton Crew, some of King's other short story collections include Night Shift, Nightmares & Dreamscapes, and Everything's Eventual.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2009)

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Currently open haiku contests 10/1/25

Below is a list of contests for haiku and related forms. All are currently open as of this posting; each contest's deadline is listed before the contest link.

Symbols used:

$ = Monetary prize
$ = Entry fee
º = Limited submission eligibility; see publisher's guidelines
* = Contest host/sponsor claims all rights to submitted poems

And onto the contests:

- 10/13/25: Best Haiku Anthology Competition $ $

- 10/15/25: Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest $ $

- 10/30/25: Haunted Haiku Contest

- 10/31/25: Basho-an International English Haiku Competition

- 10/31/25: San Francisco International Competition for Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka $ $

- 1/31/26: San Francisco International Competition for Rengay $ $

- 1/31/26: Snapshot Press Haiku Calendar Competition $ $

- 2/28/26: World Children's Haiku Contest - Regional Contest º *

- 5/1/26: San Francisco International Competition for Haibun $ $

Good deals on used scifi, fantasy, and horror anthologies on Amazon

If you're not averse to buying used books, Amazon has a couple of good deals right now on best-of-the-year speculative anthologies. Prices include shipping.

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Sixteenth Annual Collection, $6.33

- Very good condition, hardcover

- Edited by Gardner R. Dozois

- Includes Ursula K. Le Guin, Bruce Sterling, others

The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Eighth Annual Collection, $6.34

- Good condition, hardcover

- Edited by Ellen Datlow

- Includes Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Stephen King, Jane Yolen, others

On a related note, Amazon is also selling a collection of H.G. Wells' tales, The Door in the Wall And Other Stories, for just $4.45 (paperback). All profits from this book support the  Freeriver Community Project.

Disclaimer: I may earn a commission on Amazon sales made from links in this post.