#204 The Decline & Fall of the Habsburg Empire (1989)

Author: Alan Sked
Title: The Decline & Fall of the Habsburg Empire 1815-1918
Genre: History
Year: 1989
Pages: 280
Origin: a tried and trusted library book
Nod Rating: 3 nods out of 5

‘The Habsburgs were Europe’s greatest dynasty.’

The Habsburgs were a family that ruled much of central Europe for many centuries, from the medieval world to the modern. They fought great territorial wars against the French, perhaps most famously Napoleon some two hundred years ago. And after the great general’s final defeat at Waterloo in 1815, the Habsburg family survived to see a changing, industrialising world. Yet by the end of the First World War the empire was shattered into numerous countries and states, and the Habsburg dominance was never to return. It is these final hundred years that the historian, Alan Sked, has decided to focus on in the hope of finding just when the decline of their rule began.

Rather than a narrative account of the last one hundred years of the empire – from the final defeat of Waterloo to the defeat of the German forces at the hands of the western allies in the Great War – Sked investigates some of the big arguments surrounding the demise. These arguments focus on the all-powerful and pervasive figure of Metternich and his widely touted “System”; the causes and impact of the 1848 revolutions that spread across the continent; the coming together and relationship of the reformed Dual Monarchy between Austria and Hungary; the road to the First World War, labelled her by Sked as ‘the road to disaster’. If too great a number of pages is devoted to the consequences of 1848, perhaps too little room is given to the big figures of the period, including Metternich – who merits a whole chapter – himself. The famed historian Carlyle is quoted as having said that history is the biography of great men; but this is an interpretation not viewed by Sked. Biography is skewed in the place of analysis; with the author stating that there is not space for a recounting of events: either from a narrative or biographical perspective.

Sked’s conclusions are interesting to read; the biggest of all, perhaps, is the use of the words ‘decline and fall’, with Sked arguing that such terms is ‘misleading’. He discusses the idea that the empire could have continued to exist, if only defeat in the First World War did not happen. A German victory would have seen the empire’s survival in some form or another, but such speculation is beyond the pale of serious analysis: and a German victory would change the map of all Europe and the world forever, including what it meant for the survival of the Russian revolution and the stunted rise of a Hitler. Perhaps a different question to ask is: how did the Habsburg empire survive for so long? Even in Metternich’s day – in the first half of the nineteenth century – it was already becoming an anachronism, what with the rise of new nation states. Austria-Hungary’s bizarre set-up of a multitude of tongues and peoples being tied to a personal monarchy is a feature more fitting of the medieval age. But yet it continued and survived, due to the strong efforts of Metternich, and despite the growing forces of nationalism, of liberalism, of revolution, and the new kid on the block to the north of it: Germany.

Researched, written and published at the tail-end of the Communist era in eastern Europe, Sked’s analysis is rooted in Cold War rhetoric. But, like all good historians, he was aware how his own interpretations of the facts would change with succeeding generations, noting how fresh interpretations would bring about new meanings. Sked himself, within the book’s introduction, notes just this, hoping that the ‘book might encourage others to help fill in the gaps.’

Greatest dynasty, as Sked claims, perhaps. However, despite being rooted in deep research and rational analysis, this book falls short of being “the greatest” account on the Habsburgs. The dynasty was filled with too many rich characters for them to be dismissed in place of hard, Gradgrind-esque facts; although there is a mind with its light on in this book, there is the distinct lack of a beating heart.


Buy it here

#203 Juliet, Naked (2009)

Author: Nick Hornby
Title: Juliet, Naked
Genre: Novel
Year: 2009
Pages: 240
Origin: bought for £1.99 from a Second Hand Bookshop
Nod Rating: 3 nods out of 5

The last time the Worm read a Nick Hornby book was back in late 2009. The book was A Long Way Down, and the Worm had this to say:

‘Has Nick Hornby – one of our most celebrated British writers of recent times – gone off the boil for good? A Long Way Down continues in the un-thrilling vein of previous novel How To Be Good. The energy of High Fidelity has fizzled. It is the Worm’s sincere hope it will return.’

Since that review Hornby has continued to write; however, the Worm was not keen to continue reading. The Worm had always read each new Hornby release, including the earlier stronger works of Fever Pitch and High Fidelity; yet, it was a reading custom of diminishing returns. About A Boy was worse than High Fidelity, and How To Be Good was worse than About A Boy, and then A Long Way Down was worse than…well, you get the point. Hornby’s 2007 effort – Slam – has been completely ignored. But having felt sore and bruised from the most recent novel reading experience (Mary Shelley’s The Last Man), a nice, warm, easy read was in order. Please step down, Hornby’s Juliet, Naked.

But the question on all of your lips is: “Has the fizz returned?”

The jacket of the book would have us believe so: the Observer deemed it ‘pitch-perfect’, whilst the Spectator called it ‘Hornby’s best novel to date’. It is neither of these things, and does not reach the heights of Hornby’s truly best, High Fidelity. But, and this is a large but, it does mark the author’s return to form.

The plot finds a late thirty-something woman, Annie, regret her decision to ever hook up with her partner, Malcolm. Malcolm loves only one thing: a reclusive former rock-star, Tucker Crowe, whose “masterpiece” was an album about a woman named Juliet back in the mid-1980s. Having released a new compilation to rake in some cash – Juliet, Naked – Annie finally realises just how deluded her partner is; and a scathing, sobering review of the album leads to an email acquaintance with Tucker Crowe himself. Hornby focuses on the characters of Annie and Tucker, as both of them look back on the mistakes of their lives.

Similarly to all of Hornby’s novels, he seems incapable of finishing these plot stands successfully (however, the final two pages – in the format of an online forum – is probably his best final two pages to date). But Hornby’s gift has never been of good pacing, of plot nor of suspense; but rather of creating and developing interesting and warm characters. Such characters are usually out of touch with their time and with the majority of other people, but yet such people make the cornerstone of Hornby’s readership.

The Worm read the book in a handful of sittings; it proved the perfect tonic to reignite with reading once again. No, it is not a classic; and no, it will not make any lists of great novels. However, Hornby has shown he still wields his strong touch to create believable characters and their messed-up relationships in a funny world. For fans of Hornby’s back catalogue, put Juliet, Naked on the shopping list for the next holiday.

Buy it here!

#202 Rising Stars (1999-2005)

Author: J. Michael Stracynski
Title: Rising Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel
Year: 1999-2005
Pages: 600
Nod Rating: 4 out of 5 nods

Rising Stars is a widely renowned comic series written principally by J. Michael Stracynski (he of Babylon 5 fame) and many other talented artists. It comprised 24 issues and was printed between 1999 and 2005, with a delay of 3 years caused by a dispute between the writer and publisher. It deals with the usual fare of the graphic medium: people with superpowers. But Rising Stars is notable for its interesting take on how a world would receive such superheroes.

A brief synopsis, perhaps: during one night a meteor crashes nearby a small town in mid-west America, causing all those in utero at the time to develop superhuman powers as they grow older. There are 113 such “specials”, some of whom have the powers of Superman, whilst others have smaller, rather useless abilities. These range from the usual seen-it-bought-the-Tshirt type skills (a boy who can control fire; someone who can fly; a super-genius) to the unusual (including a girl who appears as the dream woman to whoever locks eyes on her; someone with a telepathic singing voice; and televangelist flying transvestite).

The story is seen in the perspective of one of the specials, Poet, who mourns the death of all the others born with powers. The reader charts the childhood of the group and their growth into adulthood, including many of the problems caused by being different to others. Some fit into society and assume superhero status (such as the police officer Matthew Bright and the costumed Jason Miller), with others becoming criminals or wishing they never had such powers to begin with. It is revealed that the death of one of the 113 results in greater powers for the remaining number, something which is abused by some of the greedy, scheming specials.

The 24 issues cover several larger story arcs, jutting forward many times during the series. The first half is undoubtedly the strongest (including the battle for Chicago between the specials). The second half finds the remaining specials taking an enlightened lead in society, using their powers for the good of mankind; this results in one of them – the Batman wannabe and idealist Ravenshadow - becoming President of the USA. As expected by Poet’s lone existence in the first issue, such efforts come to an end with a wipe-out of the specials; however, to spoil the rather bizarre, cosmic ending would be to do you, the reader, a great disservice.

The series is strongest when concentrating on a particular character for an issue; notably that of Jason Miller’s attempts to rid the world of nuclear arms and the fall-out caused to his young family. And more than the strength of the characters, the idealism of the series is something to behold and applaud. Rather than aim to wow his audience with death-defying stunts and superhero punch-ups, Stracynski sets out to show motivation to build a better world. One of the messages appears to be that we all have it within us to do more to help others and the planet, with or without special powers. When compared to other moronic comic titles, Stracynski deserves a great bundle of credit.

The Worm was pointed into the direction of Rising Stars due to a ‘Thirty Comics to Read’ webpage (http://www.empireonline.com/features/30-comic-books-you-should-have-read/p3). It is a page worth visiting for anyone with more than a fleeting attraction to graphic novels. The idiocy of much of the comic industry will go passed unnoticed; and yet Stracynski’s interesting series will remain.

Buy it here!

#201 Guns (2013)

Author: Stephen King
Title: Guns
Genre: Kindle Single/ Political Essay
Year: 2013
Pages: 25
Origin: read on the Worm’s Kindle
Nod Rating: 3 nods out of 5

‘In the wake of the Sandy Hook shootings, gun advocates have to ask themselves if their zeal to protect even the outer limits of gun ownership have anything to do with preserving the Second Amendment as a whole, or if it’s just a stubborn desire to hold onto what they have, and to hell with the collateral damage. If that’s the case, let me suggest that fuck you, Jack, I’m okay is not a tenable position, morally speaking.’

Stephen King is known for his stupendously large output of horror fiction. Plenty of his novels and short stories have been transformed into film: including friendship that blossoms in The Shawshank Redemption to the crazed utterances of Jack Torrance in The Shining. Yet in his latest offering – Guns – he takes a different tact. Not the world of fiction, but rather a message and sane voice on the issue of gun control in the United States.

It is the Worm’s first read of a Kindle Single; what is this – not down with the lingo? A Kindle Single is an e-book published through Amazon; taking its name from music singles that are shorter than albums and EPs. It is less than a book, but larger than a magazine article; and all this for the small sum of 99 pence.

During the course of this engaging, extended essay – in what The Guardian deems a ‘passionate, angry essay’ that opens up the question of reform – King puts his distinctive prose to work in the hope of putting to bed some of the myths surrounding the gun control debate. Furthermore, he attempts to do so without resorting to ‘useless screaming’. As a gun owner, he summarises the debate into one central question: should the country introduce greater control or not.

King is a realist, and this is a point he continually hammers home:

‘Let’s talk about reality. The death toll at the Sandy Hook school was 26, and I mourn every one of them, but the number of homicides in Chicago last year exceeded 500. That’s 200 more than the number of American troops killed in Afghanistan during the same period. And let’s remember that our troops volunteered to go in harm’s way. Their bodies come home to parades and flag-draped coffins. The dead of Chicago – 107 of them children, some just waiting to get on the school bus – don’t get the hero treatment, but they are just as dead.’

He pinpoints the plethora of guns being sold every year; in 2012 alone, Californians bought three-quarters of a million rifles and handguns meaning the streets are awash with firearms (‘Honey, that’s a lot of firepower’). He asks just how many guns would a person need for them to feel safe in the home. Furthermore, he questions the idea that owning a gun is enough to be safe, stating the awful example of Herbert Clutter in 1959 who was unable to reach for and use his own firearms when attacked: ‘I guess the question is, how paranoid do you want to be? How many guns does it take to make you feel safe? And how do you simultaneously keep them loaded and close at hand, but still out of the reach of your inquisitive children or grandchildren?’

Also discussed is the case of mistaken intruders, such as that of Desire Miller in 2012 – with hundreds of cases occurring in the past few years. Some of the myths busted include the ludicrous claim that gun control could lead to a dictatorship. This particular point has been seized upon by gun enthusiasts who are always willing to label Obama as either “Communist-in-Chief” or the next Adolf Hitler (without hinting that they realize the patent contradiction). King, seemingly acquainted with the actual events in History, takes exception to this: ‘”Take away the people’s right to bear arms totalitarianism follows!” these Jeremiahs cry. “Look what happened in Germany!” No, no, no, no.’

But King also attacks the position of the media, especially those who finger-point to violent computer games and his own fictional works. He hates the hyped up attention given by news channels: ‘…what cable news does best now begins, and will continue for the next seventy-two hours: the slow and luxurious licking of tears from the faces of the bereaved.’

King’s suggested answers to such killings include the need to limit the amount of ammunition that is available: restricting people from buying thousands of rounds of ammo. He points to the example of Australia, where since the Bryant shootings gun related deaths have decreased by almost 60%. Such statistics show the need for gun control to be the sensible thing; even if the moral thing could be debated. As he notes: ‘You don’t leave a can of gasoline where a boy with firebug tendencies can lay hands on it’

For 99 pence, King’s Guns cannot be disputed. It is especially recommended for those involved in discussing and debate the gun control debate. Hopefully, it can help calm some of those arguments in the hope of reaching a common sense agreement. As for the Worm, he has another Stephen King book on the horizon: The Shining. Whilst the Worm is suitably impressed by the Kindle Single premise to hope that it catches on, bringing across more hard hitting ideas to the public in an accessible format.


Buy it here:
http://www.stephenking.com/promo/guns/