Elizabeth Moon - Deed of Paksenarrion

[PeterWilliam]

Almost a year and a half later...I started the omnibus a couple of days ago and the story/writing/character pulled me into its grasp quickly. I like Paks's development through the story and though she does come out on top quite often, it isn't after suffering a great deal.

Can't wait to see what you think by the end. This one is in my omnibus Hall of Fame.

 

[Erfael]

Can't wait to see what you think by the end. This one is in my omnibus Hall of Fame.

CRAP...shuffles the to-read pile around a little so Moon is nearer to the top. I'd say the same about the McKillip in the other thread.

 

[PeterWilliam]

CRAP...shuffles the to-read pile around a little so Moon is nearer to the top. I'd say the same about the McKillip in the other thread.

I'm really in for something classical, or lyrical, or both right now and I get the sense that Riddle-Master is it.

 

[Loerwyn]

Almost a year and a half later...I started the omnibus a couple of days ago and the story/writing/character pulled me into its grasp quickly. I like Paks's development through the story and though she does come out on top quite often, it isn't after suffering a great deal.

Keep going! I'll let you know my thoughts once you finish the first novel.

I have to say I'm finding her Vatta's War books (Space Opera with a slight military twist) to be much better. Kylara is, to me, a much more interesting and believable protagonist.

 

[Rob B]

Well, I finished Sheepfarmer's Daughter last night and liked it a lot. I like how Moon glossed over months/weeks at a time then focused on the more important scenes, although there seemed to be a lot marching happening.

The way in which Paks's superiors seem more than aware of her growing importance and connection to Gird works well.

I'm going to pause with the omnibus for a bit, dive into Surface Detail for a while and come back because I like the story of Deed very much.

 

[Rob B]

I'm going to pause with the omnibus for a bit, dive into Surface Detail for a while and come back because I like the story of Deed very much.

So much for that plan, as I stated in the Reading in August SF thread. The pull of what was going to happen next to Paksenarrion was too strong for me to keep aside.

 

[Loerwyn]

The pull of what was going to happen next to Paksenarrion was too strong for me to keep aside.

I should probably remove the stick from my backside and give the series another go, I guess. I'll wait until I finish Vatta's War, however, as I've only got two more to go.

 

[Rob B]

Finished off, Divided Allegiance, the second novel in the omnibus last night and was really surprised on how much of a cliffhanger the novel ends. From what I gather the three books were sold as one story and published as three books, but the fact that we don't have a clear indication of Paks's whereabouts at novel's end is...I don't know a little unsettling.

I think Paks's frustration with the Girdsman through the conclusion of the novel is very plausible, even if she wasn't tainted with evil. Again, from what I've read about the books, Mrs. Moon was frustrated by the not exactly holy portrayal of Paladins in Dungeons and Dragons and went about writing how true paladins would actually act (via wikipidia). Now I don't know how much RPG experience Mrs. Moon has, but either way, one of the criticisms I've seen leveled at these books is that they are like a D&D campaign novel. Granted the stock fantasy races are present and a lot of the holy magic is, at best, similar, but the writing is clear, the characters are empathetic, and the story even in its resonance has an air of freshness to it that really, REALLY works for me. In other words, the books (2 out 3 in the trilogy so far) are prime examples of a melding of heroic and military fantasy.

I like how the Duke came to her aid towards the end of the novel as well. What I'm also finding interesting, is that having read the two most recent books in this world, meeting characters referenced in those books for the first time.

 

[NickeeCoco]

Now I don't know how much RPG experience Mrs. Moon has, but either way, one of the criticisms I've seen leveled at these books is that they are like a D&D campaign novel. Granted the stock fantasy races are present and a lot of the holy magic is, at best, similar, but the writing is clear, the characters are empathetic, and the story even in its resonance has an air of freshness to it that really, REALLY works for me. In other words, the books (2 out 3 in the trilogy so far) are prime examples of a melding of heroic and military fantasy.

That's how I feel about them as well. I love the military aspect of them. For me, it grounds the heroic plot line. These are some of my favourite books.

 

[PeterWilliam]

I agree with both of you. I think the thing that made these books a favorite of mine was that, in many ways, Paks isn't the main character of the story/history, but she is the MC of the books themselves. Also, the story never gets lost on trails that are unbelievable, over-the-top or the patented 'happily-ever-after.'

 

[Loerwyn]

Eh, I liked the world building 'n' all, but I just couldn't get behind Paks. She was nice in her own way, but I just got frustrated with how tank-like she was. Boots to the head, near-death wounds a number of times, and yet she was as right as rain at the start of the second book. That annoyed me, because I felt like there'd be no real struggle to the books as she recovers from serious wounds in no time at all, and suffered no ill effect.

I might give them another go, though, once I've freed up my reading list a bit.

 

[Rob B]

Boots to the head, near-death wounds a number of times, and yet she was as right as rain at the start of the second book. That annoyed me, because I felt like there'd be no real struggle to the books as she recovers from serious wounds in no time at all, and suffered no ill effect.

I might give them another go, though, once I've freed up my reading list a bit.

What I bolded above is most certainly NOT the case towards the end of the second book and as the third book begins.

 

[Loerwyn]

What I bolded above is most certainly NOT the case towards the end of the second book and as the third book begins.

I know you can't tell, but my right eyebrow just rose in partial surprise.

I might have to give them a go again, then, but I've got to finish Vatta's War and potentially the first Serrano omnibus first

 

[PeterWilliam]

Yeah, before the end, Paks does suffer. In many ways she survives to become stronger. In others, you get the sense that pieces of her die and fall away.

 

[Loerwyn]

I'm not sure if that justifies me running after you with a big placard decrying spoilers or not.

Mind you, that's no worse than the spoilerific nature of most blurbs these days. The blurb of the third Hobb book (Assassin's Quest?) stopped me finishing the second book, but that means I avoided something I perceived to be quite daft.

 

[PeterWilliam]

I'm not sure if that justifies me running after you with a big placard decrying spoilers or not.

I don't think its spoiler material. I would write such a thing for a review. There is a long journey for Paks through the entire trilogy. Where she may appear to be protected with plot armor through portions of it, this is very much not the case, at least through the last half of the trilogy.

 

[Loerwyn]

Fair enough. I think you've managed to talk me into giving it another go later on, although I must admit it didn't take too much

It's sat there on my shelf looking so big and imposing. It feels wrong to leave two-thirds unread.

 

[Rob B]

Score one from the guys from the Omnibus District!

 

[beniowa]

I don't think its spoiler material. I would write such a thing for a review. There is a long journey for Paks through the entire trilogy. Where she may appear to be protected with plot armor through portions of it, this is very much not the case, at least through the last half of the trilogy.

Spoiler

Really? I thought opposite was true. I understand what Moon was trying to do with her character and with the paladins, but for me it never felt real, just contrived and convenient. I had no doubt whatsoever Paks would come through in the end or thought the plot would end in anything other than the way it did.

I still enjoyed the books, I just thought they could have been much better. I liked Sheepfarmer's Daughter the most since it was the least like the rest of the trilogy.

 

[PeterWilliam]

Spoiler

Really? I thought opposite was true. I understand what Moon was trying to do with her character and with the paladins, but for me it never felt real, just contrived and convenient. I had no doubt whatsoever Paks would come through in the end or thought the plot would end in anything other than the way it did.

I still enjoyed the books, I just thought they could have been much better. I liked Sheepfarmer's Daughter the most since it was the least like the rest of the trilogy.

I hear you, but one of the things sf&f readers have over many others, I think, is a highly developed intuitiveness. There are only so many ways left to try to twist and turn a plot and surprise the reader.