[Leiali]

I try not to read reviews too closely as I don't wish to find out more than is necessary about a book I am about to read, I usually come back to them after reading it, but in the case of this particular book, there seems to be enough of a fuss being madethat I took a peek. So, I'm going to order it as soon as I stop writing. Amazing sanctions here.

One thing both Rob and kcf say which I find interesting is that every usual trope is utilised here - one thing I love about fantasy is the interpretation of old ideas - retelling familiar, comfortable (fairy) tales in a different and sometimes challenging way. This sounds as though the author understands that qaulity in his readership and milks it for all its worth :) Any idea when we get it here in the UK?

[Werthead]

Amazon.co.uk is stocking the US version (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Name-Wind-Kingkiller-Chronicle-Day/dp/075640407X/ref=sr_1_1/203-1857204-0473550?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1172777938&sr=1-1) of the book from the end of March. Quite reasonable as well (£12).

Ah, and it looks like the extremely-on-the-ball Gollancz has snapped up the book as well for a UK edition in September. It may be worth hanging on for that, if only as the cover will, inevitably, be far superior to the perplexingly bad US effort.

Pat Rothfuss is currently doing a Q&A over on Dragonmount (http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11821&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0) as well.

[kcf]

I'm also doing an interview with Rothfuss for FantasyBookSpot and I plan to specifically ask him about his use of fantasy tropes.

[Drew Bowling]

Rothfuss uses fantasy tropes, but he uses them well. Many elements of his novel--world building, prose construction--are solid but not magnificent. What's so great about The Name of the Wind, then? Why all the hype?

The characters are masterfully rendered, and the ways in which Rothfuss maps the psychological complexities of his protagonist, Kvothe, are superb. In narrating his tale, Kvothe makes it his own and, in doing so, remakes what would have been a merely good traditional fantasy into something truly magical.

Drew

[kcf]

Drew get's it right - it's the characterization that makes this stand out so much. The plotting is also done quite well - the world-building and prose are functional and adequate (they don't take anything away, but they don't stand out either).

[Beleg]

Waiting for an excerpt...

[pat5150]

I talked to Betsy Wollheim and they're expecting the site to be ready any day now...

Patrick

[Eventine]

Well, it would appear that after 2 months we already have our Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell/Lies of Locke Lamora for 2007.

[JohnH]

That is damning with faint praise in some books...well one.

[Eventine]

I was more talking in terms of hype, having not read this one yet.