[Erebus]

...And thanks for the support. I truly appreciate it. You know how hard it can be sometimes.

Indeed I do, and you're very welcome. :)

[saintjon]

Okay so maybe this is a better thread to talk about getting the first 3 books in :D.

Anyways, I'm just at the part with Percepton now. I confess I was struggling a bit with the first portion of the book, but I suspect that's just as much because I haven't been sleeping enough and the other night when I did have some time to read I kept getting phone calls from an extremely agitated friend.

So I got a chance to read a bunch yesterday and last night and in two twists of a seemingly straightforward plot things have become very interesting indeed.

I like how you took the time to back up the thought processes of your characters, particularly Cairn. Actually Cairn in general is a pretty interesting character so far. Usually when I read about an aesthetic I find they're either a) some kind of crazy martial artist
b) a spell-caster of some sort or
c) dead

it's a nice departure to have a protagonist thinking man who is just that.

[Gary Wassner]

World building is not so easy and it can get tedious. But, you are past all of that now and from this point forward, you won't find any significant areas that get bogged down in description. I chose to get most of it out of the way early on, and I took the chance that my reader will indulge me.

You are just at the beginning of a long adventure. Each book is more and more intricate as the plots thicken and the characters develop in ways no one ever totally expects. Still, each book has a satisfying climax, so I don't think you will be disappointed.

Keep me posted.

[saintjon]

Of course!

I'm done foruming for the time being so I'm gonna go read it right now.

[saintjon]

Due to a long stopover in Wisconsin on this trip I was able to finish the Twins yesterday.

Man oh man, it really turned into a page-turner for the second half!

hmm, maybe I'll try some spoiler tags, if they don't work then avert your eyes or whatever if you haven't read the first book :D.

My favourite part was when Filaree and Cameron nearly drowned in that lake and the Lady saved them. The way you described it was great. It was like something out of one of those great old myths! I couldn't help but feel sorry for Cameron though. Poor bugger didn't have a very good time of it at all LOL.

One thing that seemed odd, but worked out okay, was Baladar taking off in the middle of the second assault. Well, maybe not in and of itself, but just considering that not so long ago he'd been berating himself for taking off at a bad time like that. The other world dying was great though!

It's good to read an honest to goodness well-done old school fantasy story though. A couple parts had me running through the LoTR soundtrack in my head (Colton mustering his evil army was great in that regard).

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the next one, which I'll probably start today or tomorrow.

[Gary Wassner]

So I didn't steer you wrong when I said to keep reading? Or when I suggested that you might like my books in the first place?

I am very, very glad, SJ.

In my mind, Baladar had no alternative. His city was on the brink of destruction and he had a choice to make. It could just as easily have been the wrong choice, but fate dictated otherwise.

[saintjon]

Oh no, I'm definitely reading them all and I would have finished the book anyways.

[saintjon]

Okay I felt it was time for an update, the second book is really good so far! Much more going on and now there's some representation of the frozen snowscape kind, which always appeals to my northern sensibilities :D.

[Rob B]

Well, I finished The Shards yesterday. Its nice to see Gary's evolution and maturation as a writer as the series progresses. I did a quick blog entry today (http://blogorob.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_blogorob_archive.html#11242954034787499 3) about the book.

Keep up the good work Gary!

[Gary Wassner]

Thanks Rob. I am glad to hear that I am keeping you interested.

I wonder sometimes if it's even possible to write over a period of years and not change significantly. With each book, as with any endeavour, the more experience you get, hopefully the better you hone your skills. The irony for me is that I can't go back and use what I know now to change the past, even though for an author, the past lives always in the present. Do readers really understand how difficult it is for an author to have any perspective until they have a book or two under their belt? I suppose that's what a great editor/author relationship is all about -what you can't possibly bring to the table at the onset, they supply to an extent. But that's a true luxury.