Anyone else like Saki?

Mike L · 01-28-2011, 12:23 PM

I have just discovered Hector Hugh Munro, a British humourist who wrote under the pen name Saki. His Chronicles of Clovis (short story collection) is available for download. Probably some of his other works are too.

His stories are highly amusing, written in a style that's reminiscent of (but which pre-dates) P. G. Wodehouse. He also has a touch of O. Henry about him, and maybe a dash of Mark Twain.

If you like short, witty, satirical stories, give Saki a try, and let me know what you think of him.

HarryT · 01-28-2011, 12:27 PM

Oh yes, a wonderful author! Very, very witty.

Snowman · 01-28-2011, 03:26 PM

I completely agree. I was first introduced at school when I was 11 (more than 45 years ago, *cringe*), with the short story "The Lumber Room", which I have re-read with great enjoyment many times over the years. Once hooked, I very quickly found all of his works in the library - somewhat to the detriment of my school work at the time, I am sure.

Incidentally, the same book of short stories also contained the excellent story by E. M. Forster "The Machine Stops". A bit frightening for a youngster, but I think that my love of sci-fi came from this.

I'm still on my second version of the complete Saki (in hardback), although it is getting very tatty. The first one, a paperback, fell to pieces long ago. Now you've reminded me, I will have to try and find a complete e-version. Clovis will hold me for a while, fortunately.

snowman

poohbear_nc · 01-28-2011, 03:36 PM

A truly splendid author.

IMHO I think that "Esme" is the howlingest funny story every written.

dwig · 01-28-2011, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

...written in a style that's reminiscent of (but which pre-dates) P. G. Wodehouse. He also has a touch of O. Henry about him, and maybe a dash of Mark Twain...

A list of authors who all rank very high on my list of favs along with Saki.

I was introduced to Saki at a tender age through his story "The Open Window", which remains one of my favorite short stories and one that I have read many times.

CazMar · 01-28-2011, 06:25 PM

Yes, very highly recommended. Some of the Chronicles of Clovis didn't really grab me (but of course Esme is a masterpiece). His other "dark" stories like Sredni Vashtar are brilliant - and rather unsettling!

GA Russell · 01-28-2011, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the reminder! I've just downloaded two of his from the MR library.

kurzon · 01-28-2011, 09:31 PM

Yes, my favourite short story ever is "Sredni Vashtar". I also like the Clovis tales.

Mike L · 01-29-2011, 04:20 AM

Thanks for all your replies. It's good to hear Saki is so popular.

Dr. Drib · 01-31-2011, 06:46 AM

I first read him in middle school.

But your thread got me thinking, and I'm going to download something and re-read some wonderful stories that I dimly remember.

Don

fruiter · 02-03-2011, 02:05 PM

I had heard of Saki some time ago in passing - he sounds very interesting now! I'll have to find what he's written and how to get his books.

Ea · 02-04-2011, 01:38 PM

I think the first Saki story I read was in my English class school book. Great author, I like his humour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

Incidentally, the same book of short stories also contained the excellent story by E. M. Forster "The Machine Stops". A bit frightening for a youngster, but I think that my love of sci-fi came from this.

Definitely an excellent story. And the most interesting and intelligent critical comment on the Internet (and like technologies) I've read - despite the fact that it was written in 1910.

jgray · 02-06-2011, 01:39 AM

I first read this in HS and again a few years ago. Still very scary.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Interlopers

Wait for a dark and stormy night to read it

Joe

Roger Manley · 02-06-2011, 03:31 AM

A great, much under appreciated author. I was introduced to his work 55 years ago but still enjoy his writing.

Although he is thought of as quintissentialy English I think he was actually born in France.

RM

beppe · 02-06-2011, 07:58 AM

I found those on MR, downloaded them and read a couple of pages.
He sounds very nice. Thanks to all of you.

Beasts, Super-Beasts. v 1.0. 3 Sep 2007
The Chronicles of Clovis. v.1.0. 3 September 2007
Reginald in Russia and other Sketches, v1 29 Jun 2008

01-28-2011, 12:23 PM	#1
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Anyone else like Saki? I have just discovered Hector Hugh Munro, a British humourist who wrote under the pen name Saki. His Chronicles of Clovis (short story collection) is available for download. Probably some of his other works are too. His stories are highly amusing, written in a style that's reminiscent of (but which pre-dates) P. G. Wodehouse. He also has a touch of O. Henry about him, and maybe a dash of Mark Twain. If you like short, witty, satirical stories, give Saki a try, and let me know what you think of him.

01-28-2011, 03:26 PM	#3
Snowman Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 3566 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London UK Device: iPhone 5, Kindle K3, Kindle Voyage	I completely agree. I was first introduced at school when I was 11 (more than 45 years ago, cringe), with the short story "The Lumber Room", which I have re-read with great enjoyment many times over the years. Once hooked, I very quickly found all of his works in the library - somewhat to the detriment of my school work at the time, I am sure. Incidentally, the same book of short stories also contained the excellent story by E. M. Forster "The Machine Stops". A bit frightening for a youngster, but I think that my love of sci-fi came from this. I'm still on my second version of the complete Saki (in hardback), although it is getting very tatty. The first one, a paperback, fell to pieces long ago. Now you've reminded me, I will have to try and find a complete e-version. Clovis will hold me for a while, fortunately. snowman Last edited by Snowman; 01-29-2011 at 02:01 PM. Reason: age correction

01-28-2011, 06:51 PM	#7
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Thanks for the reminder! I've just downloaded two of his from the MR library. Last edited by GA Russell; 01-28-2011 at 07:03 PM.

02-06-2011, 01:39 AM	#13
jgray Fanatic Posts: 548 Karma: 2928497 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Clara 2E & Sage	My favorite I first read this in HS and again a few years ago. Still very scary. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Interlopers Wait for a dark and stormy night to read it Joe

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01-28-2011, 12:27 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Oh yes, a wonderful author! Very, very witty.

01-28-2011, 03:36 PM	#4
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,865 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	A truly splendid author. IMHO I think that "Esme" is the howlingest funny story every written.

01-28-2011, 06:25 PM	#6
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	Yes, very highly recommended. Some of the Chronicles of Clovis didn't really grab me (but of course Esme is a masterpiece). His other "dark" stories like Sredni Vashtar are brilliant - and rather unsettling!

01-28-2011, 09:31 PM	#8
kurzon Andrea K Höst Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Yes, my favourite short story ever is "Sredni Vashtar". I also like the Clovis tales.

01-29-2011, 04:20 AM	#9
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Thanks for all your replies. It's good to hear Saki is so popular.

01-31-2011, 06:46 AM	#10
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	I first read him in middle school. But your thread got me thinking, and I'm going to download something and re-read some wonderful stories that I dimly remember. Don

02-03-2011, 02:05 PM	#11
fruiter Connoisseur Posts: 79 Karma: 438 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 3; WISEreader N526	I had heard of Saki some time ago in passing - he sounds very interesting now! I'll have to find what he's written and how to get his books.

02-06-2011, 03:31 AM	#14
Roger Manley Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: La Vendee (Dept. 85), France Device: Sony PRS 650	A great, much under appreciated author. I was introduced to his work 55 years ago but still enjoy his writing. Although he is thought of as quintissentialy English I think he was actually born in France. RM

02-06-2011, 07:58 AM	#15
beppe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,161 Karma: 81026524 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Italy Device: Kindle3, Ipod4, IPad2	I found those on MR, downloaded them and read a couple of pages. He sounds very nice. Thanks to all of you. Beasts, Super-Beasts. v 1.0. 3 Sep 2007 The Chronicles of Clovis. v.1.0. 3 September 2007 Reginald in Russia and other Sketches, v1 29 Jun 2008

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