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The Seven Heavens of Summer Reading III: The Platypus Reads Part LXXVI

September is just around the corner and that means that Summer is nearly at an end.  On that note, it's time to announce this year's winners for "The Seven Heavens of Summer Reading."

Moon: Lilith by George MacDonald  Constancy and inconstancy form a central motif in this weird tale turned Universalist allegory.  As a symbol of this stand the various moons that govern the nightly changes of MacDonald's imaginary world.

Venus: She by H. Rider Haggard  The colonial administrator turned author brings us a vivid picture of Venus Infernal in this seminal work of adventure pulp.

Mars: Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein  One of the great soldier's novelists since Kipling, Heinlein easily captures the slot devoted to the god of war.  On the bounce!

Mercury: From Alpha to Omega by Anne H. Groten  I tried to teach myself Greek this summer.  Not the best thing to try during a major move.  Still, what better book could there be for this summer's language award?

Sun: Education For Human Flourishing by Paul Spears and Steven Loomis  For the heaven of scholars, only one book this Summer will do.  If you are an educator, read this book.  ... and that's all I'll say pending an opportunity for a fuller review.

Jupiter: Hellboy Volume 9: The Wild Hunt by Mike Mignola  This is hands down the best Hellboy comic to date.  Just when you think you know where Mignola might be going with things he completely "blows your mind."  Oops!  Was that a spoiler?  I'll say no more then.

Saturn: At The Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft.  Lovecraft is all about endings and doom.  Ok, there are a few other things he's on about too; mainly Southern New England.  Still, cosmic horror at the South Pole?  Could there be a more Saturnine work?

Well, there you have it folks.  Hopefully, you had some time for your own fun and informative reading list this Summer.  Right now, it's back to the salt mines for me.  See you on the flip side!  And remember, reading is always good for you.  Unless it's the Necronomicon.  Then it's bad.  ...very, very bad.

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