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MARK FORSYTH: THE ETYMOLOGICON - A Circular stroll through the connections of the English Language - ICON Books HB

What is the actual connection between disgruntled and gruntled? What links church organs to organised crime, California to the Caliphate, or brackets to codpieces? The Etymologicon springs from Mark Forsyth's Inky Fool blog on the strange connections between words. It's an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language, taking in monks and monkeys, film buffs and buffaloes, and explaining precisely what the Rolling Stones have to do with gardening.

I was alerted to this by a publicist who emailed me, and I have to say that this marvellously entertaining book is exactly what I was expecting Stephen Fry's PLANET WORD to be like - examining the origins of words and how they connect to each other. That programme, and the book that accompanied it, should have been called PLANET LANGUAGE, and both were a huge disappointment to me. This book, however, is an absolute gem. Mark Forsyth's "The Inky Fool Blog" is now a regular stopping place for me. His knowledge of where words originate from and their original meanings are both consummate, and it is an absolute pleasure to read his book. Find out the origin of Butterfly, for example, and what the word poppycock means. The way he finished one essay and leaves you wanting more, then begins the next essay with a reference from the last is superb. The words he chooses to illustrate his essays are brilliant, and the whole thing is put together in a way that will have you proclaiming what you have just discovered to your spouse, your friends, your family. It's an example of someone clever being very clever indeed, and I take off my hat to him. He examines words that we take for granted, tells us their meanings and why they now mean something entirely different, or at least how we misuse them. I want this book to be never-ending, which is why I shall be visiting The Inky Fool Blog on a regular basis, and hope there's a second Etymologion very soon. Icon, you have a real winner here!

Continued from above:

This year is enormously important in the world of publishing, with three huge events coming off, beginning this month, with the second book in M K Hume's incredibly magnificent Merlin series, PROPHECY: DEATH OF AN EMPIRE. I'm re-reading the first book now in preparation for its arrival, which I think will be very soon! Secondly, the new Dark Tower book from Stephen King, THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE, is published some time in March, I believe, and that is also eagerly awaited, along with the reissue of all seven Dark Tower novels around the same time. Thirdly, the JOHN CARTER OF MARS movie from Disney premieres in March, and this will, I hope, finally bring Edgar Rice Burroughs to the notice of a whole new generation of people as they discover his brilliance. There are plenty of stunning versions of the John Carter novels around, probably the best right now is the one from English Rose Publishing pictured right, which gives you the first five stories in one volume and has the brilliant cover art of J Allen St John, the original illustrator of the first published version a hundred or so years ago.

US publisher IDW has reprinted THE ART OF JOE JUSKO, and my friends at Diamond Book Distributors, who distribute IDW books (amongst many others, of course, in the UK) were kind enough to find me a copy to include in this month's issue. Joe Jusko has been my favourite fantasy/adventure painter since the time I first discovered him. It was his illustrations from various Edgar Rice Burroughs classics, like Pellucidar, Tarzan and John Carter, and, of course, his stunning visualisations of Vampirella, who preceded Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reintroduced us to vampire lore as early as 1969 in Warren Publishing's now classic monthly magazine. Hundreds if not thousands of artists have attempted to do Vampirella justice, but it's Joe Jusko who eclipses everyone. She is, in his hands, simply, stunningly beautiful, as are all of his heroines, including Red Sonja, Lady Pendragon, and Dejah Thoris. It is a privilege for me to be able to review Joe's book in this issue - you'll find it in two places, on the nonfiction page, but also on the Graphic Novels and Comic Books page, where it is my Editor's Choice for January. I have always marvelled at artists' ability to accurately paint living legends, like Drew Struzan's Harrison Ford pictures from the Indiana Jones films, and as Han Solo in the Star Wars films. In THE ART OF JOE JUSKO you'll find a stunning picture of the original cast of Star Trek, showing Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelley, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and James Doohan in Star Trek garb. It's not a photograph, but it's photorealistic, and it will take your breath away. The book is fantastic. It has characters in it that you dream about, read about in your favourite fantasy and science fiction stories. I used to think that no one did this sort of thing better than Boris (I always preferred him to Frank Frazetta, for some reason). Having read this book from cover to cover, I now revise that opinion. Joe, you are simply the best. The book is published in the new year, 3rd January to be precise, and it is expensive. It will set you back more than £30 in the UK. But it's worth it. It's a book you can take off the shelf and just appreciate. Turning the pages will bring you closer to the characters you know and love from the books you read, from the comics you read, and from the films you see. It's a fine art book, it's larger than life, and when it comes to my review of 2012 books, it will be my nonfiction book of the year. I won't forget it, because there won't be a week goes by without me laying out my copy in front of me on the dining table and just drinking in the talent, the unbelievable beauty of the most gifted of all fantasy/adventure artists in the world. If you only buy one art book in the coming year, make it this one. It will inspire you and your dreams. It is, quite simply, sublime.

I remember quizzing my English teachers about what makes a book a classic, way back in 1962, arguing that just because an author's work was popular, it didn't mean it couldn't be classic literature. Over the intervening years I've been proved right. I claimed, back then, that the books I was reading (when I should have been reading Dickens, Austin, Bronte etc.) would be classics, and they now are. TARZAN OF THE APES and JOHN CARTER are classics; Dennis Wheatley's THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is now regarded as a horror classic with the same pedigree as DRACULA; Leslie Charteris's THE SAINT stories are now cult classics, as are the WHITEOAKS SAGA by Mazo de la Roche. And STEPHEN KING's novels have been likened to those of CHARLES DICKENS. Just because they are readable doesn't mean they are rubbish. I believe we will see an explosion of JOHN CARTER merchandise in the coming months, including new versions of the books, and many comics and graphic novels. Dynamite Entertainment already have WARLORD OF MARS, WARLORD OF MARS: DEJAH THORIS and WARRIORS OF MARS comics and graphic novels under way, but there is room for plenty more, and dozens of talented, brilliant artists to pull it off. Disney themselves have a book coming, JOHN CARTER OF MARS: A VISUAL COMPANION, and I'm awaiting details of that right now. Gollancz, a division of Orion Publishing, have a handsome new TARZAN OF THE APES coming next summer, of which more nearer the time. I already have a regular Stephen King page, and in this issue you'll find more stunning cover art for the Dynamite John Carter and Dejah Thoris comics, and with the film almost upon us, this will become a regular monthly EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS page. Next month I'll introduce a regular ENID BLYTON page - she's another popular author many of whose novels are now regarded as children's classics.

These are exciting times in the publishing industry, and I firmly believe that the printed word will survive well into this century. There are certain things you cannot do with a Kindle, and I for one am just not ready to forsake my books for an electronic device. What would I put on my bookshelves? Yes, they get dusty, but if you look after them, they will bring you joy for centuries, as they always have done. I still have my KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE Regent Classics from the 1950s; it still brings me joy and has prepared me for the new joy of reading Marilyn Hume's Arthur and Merlin series. I don't think you'll find the Regent Classics version available for the Kindle just yet. It sits behind me on the "small" bookcase. Marilyn's Arthur and Merlin series sit alongside my treasured rows of Stephen Kings and Edgar Rice Burroughs collection, soon to be joined by the new Merlin. I can't wait.

A BRIEF REVIEW OF 2011's PUBLISHING HIGHLIGHTS:

If you've been paying attention to the carousel of images above, you'll maybe have noticed some titles that were published earlier this year - it's worth remembering that Titan Books continue to push out some very special art books, including this month's Nonfiction Book of the Month, Chris Foss: HARDWARE, last month's DREW STRUZAN book, and their history of Hammer Films, which includes THE HAMMER VAULT, published this month and reviewed elsewhere in this issue; they also gave us THE ART OF HAMMER, and KEEPING THE BRITISH END UP, a saucy look at British cinema from the 1950s onwards. Their library of Hammer titles is already comprehensive but they manage to find new titles to entertain us, and THE VAULT is a splendid book, as you'll find out on the Nonfiction page. I shall be doing a feature on Hammer Films and the Titan books that celebrate them in the new year. Carlton/Prion have given us a brilliant collection of Commando Flexibacks and paperbacks this year, but my overriding memory is of the brilliant BEST OF DENNIS WHEATLEY hardback that was published in July. That and the sumptuous BEST OF THE VICTOR BOOKS FOR BOYS, which I can't stop raving about even now!

Harper Collins have just published the beautiful ART OF THE HOBBIT, a collectable slipcased edition featuring the author's own designs and illustrations - you'll find a feature on that title in this issue, but earlier in the year, the sixth novel by Bernard Cornwell in his Making of Britain series was published, FALL OF KINGS - best in the series yet, but I always say that, I believe! Way back in the mists of the early months of 2011, M K Hume kicked off her fantastic MERLIN series with PROPHECY CLASH OF KINGS, definitely the best account of Merlin and Arthur I have ever read, and volume two, PROPHECY DEATH OF AN EMPIRE, is published by Headline early January. I cannot wait for that, it will be a fitting start to 2012! Carmen Reid's St Jude's series continued unabated in 2011, with PARTY GIRL. And ENGLISH ROSE PUBLISHING brought us a stupendous five-book volume of John Carter of Mars by the great Edgar Rice Burroughs to get us all in the mood for the fantastic movie that's coming in March of next year, accompanied by two brilliant graphic novels from Dynamite, both of which are featured on the graphic novels and comics page in this issue. Yahoo Movies has an excellent page with photos, commentary and a teaser trailer from part one of Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT movie here. It looks absolutely fantastic, and Martin Freeman should excel in the role of Bilbo Baggins. It's a long time to wait, but it will be worth it. Another epic from Jackson...

Finally, Sherlock Holmes continues to make the news with the new BBC TV series next year and the second Robert Downey Jr movie this Christmas, and to celebrate, Collector's Library produced a sumptuous COMPLETE SHERLOCK HOLMES, gold-leafed and with a ribbon place marker, while BBC books brought out two very readable, very collectable paperbacks, hopefully more to come! You will understand, I hope, that this is just a tiny fraction of the hundreds of books I've reviewed throughout this year, and an even tinier fraction of the thousands and thousands of books published during 2011. I try to bring you the best titles, and looking back at what I've just written, I believe I just may have succeeded, especially in this issue's selection of stunning nonfiction books! All of the books you see scrolling past on these pages are available either online or from good bookshops and supermarkets, often at very reasonable prices. If you're stuck for something to give you're friends and family for Christmas, I'm absolutely sure you'll find something in the pages of this month's Books Monthly. See you in 2012! And have a great, safe, happy Christmas and New Year... The next issue of Books Monthly is scheduled for publication just after Christmas, but I think you'll probably have your hands full by then. Although there just might be some new titles you may want to know about and rush round to buy...

The seventeenth of Elizabeth George's excellent Inspector Lynley series is published, BELIEVING THE LIE, by Hodder. Read the review on the adult fiction page.

RYLAND PETERS & SMALL's fantastic range of themed stationery is featured in this issue - there are some stunning designs to choose from, and the range includes notebooks, organisers etc. Well worth a look!

SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE by KATIE DALE is this month's Children's Book of the Month - it's out early February and is absolutely brilliant. Another terrific teen/YA read is THE FUTURE OF US by JAY ASHER and CAROLYN MACKLER - it's about looking too far into the future and not liking what you might see there... Both of these excellent tales are published by Simon and Schuster.

My nonfiction book of the month for January is Titan Books' THE HAMMER VAULT. Titan have a long history with Hammer Films, and this is the fourth book by Marcus Hearne. There is some overlapping material, but it's a brilliant read, and confirms my belief that Hammer played a very important part in the British film industry. So much so that I've started to collect some of the older films on DVD, beginning with DRACULA, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE and THE VAMPIRE LOVERS. I might even share my thoughts with you about these wonderful films in a separate feature next month! Stay tuned for more...

Will you get to see the BBC's latest version of Mary Norton's THE BORROWERS at Christmas? Though I haven't seen it yet, of course, I still believe the previous adaptation, with IAN HOLM and PENELOPE WILTON was better, but it's nice to get the book out there in the public eye again. A new ITV drama documenting the young Inspector Morse, entitled ENDEAVOUR, is also on very soon, and looks terrific. I wonder if there will be any spin-off books? Way back in the depths of the 1970s/1980s, if there was a new TV series, at least you could expect a novelisation to turn up in the bookshops. Nowadays that doesn't seem to happen - I wonder why? The last novelisation of a film/TV series I can remember is GLADIATOR - it was utterly dire, so maybe the standard of writing novelisations has bombed with this new century (which is turning out to be something of a nightmare...) I can't see things getting any better this year, not while here in the UK we have a government comprising mostly millionaires who are so far out of touch with reality it beggars belief... Not a very positive note to start 2012 with, I'm afraid, but at least we still lead the world with fantastic books, and there are some real stunners on the way again this year. Well, we're way past the shortest day and can now look forward to the Spring. At least Mother Nature always delivers, even if our politicians don't.

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