2003 releases read

Status
Not open for further replies.
This year I have read the latest David Gemmell book, White Wolf. It has to be said that I enjoyed the book, any David Gemmell fans should certainly read it, especially if you are a fan of Druss. The main character, Skilgannon, is along the same lines of Waylander, (a loner who doesn't really want to get involved and who has a dark past) but there are enough differences between them to make Skilgannon his own character.
By the way, Jon Shannow, well done. He's one of my best characters, good choice of name.
I have also read the latest in the Sword of Truth series, Naked Empire by terry Goodkind. Unfortunatly this book was a great let down, especially as this series is one of my favourites and contains my favourite book. It just seems repetative, too much like others in the series and full of un-needed speaches. I wouldn't bother reading this unless you are a fan of the series and just want to see how it ends.
 
Wolves

This was my most anticipated release of 2003. After 6 six years of anticipation Wolves of the Calla, the fifth installment in The Dark Tower series finally came out in November. Beautiful edition with sewn board, lots of illustrations, and decorated endpapers was well worth the high price (especially if you could find it on sale). It matches the reissues put out earlier this year, which is nice since I dropped a wad of cash to replace my worn paperbacks.

Of course, the most feared aspect of the new release was how King was going to integrate Father Callahan (from Salem's Lot) into the story. Those fears were ungrounded as his introduction into the story was carried out beautifully. His backstory (covering the time handled since Salem's Lot) was a lovely story in itself and King (from personal experience) was able to handle the ever-delicate topic of addiction without leaning towards the mawkish.

The main storyline of The Dark Tower was carried ahead much more so than it was in Wizard and Glass. They are so much closer now, and I believe that this will certainly be well-wrapped-up by the seventh book.

As to the controversy surrounding the last few pages, I'm sure that some will object to the seeming direction King is taking with the series. I trust him to write the end of this series well. It would actually be exciting if King could pull off this series with Stephen King being an author writing about Roland and his ka-tet being fictional characters. Metafiction baby.

I can't wait for A Song for Susannah

DrB
 
Way of the Wolf by E. E. Knight.

Two of the most cliche'd subjects for any sf/f author to tackle are the Vampire and Post-Apocalyptic Earth. I have reached the point in my reading life where I will rarely pick up anything with a vampire in it.

But, I'm glad that I got this one. Please visit Knight's website for all of the appropriate backstory and setup. This book was originally self-published through the now-defunct outfit iPublish. It was picked up by Roc and released as a mass-market paperback in September 2003.

This book would appeal to all fans of both science fiction and horror. If you care for such things, I would argue that this book would fall into that new Mieville-genre of science fantasy. The action, characters, situations, and overall feel of the book called to mind the Caine series by Matthew Woodring Stover. I know that there are many fans of his running around the board, so I would enjoin them to get their hands on this book immediately.

It is the first in a series. Mr. Knight is well ahead of his publishers. He is currently wrapping up the fourth book, and has plans for an additional eight. The second is coming out in May 2004, and is titled Choice of the Cat.

For those so inclined, the series has a forum here. Mr. Knight is a regular poster there, and appears to enjoy interaction with his fans.

This was probably one of my favorite reads this year and it was unexpected, to say the least.

DrB
 
Last edited:
Hmm, I am quite fond of the Post-Apocalyptic Earth setting actually, but I do so strongly dislike Vampires. In fact I try to avoid them whenever I can.

What makes you so enthusiasting Doc, given that you share my vampiric distaste?
 
Way of the Wolf

This is not your same-old bloodsucker novel. I imagine it has a scifi genre label is due to the nature of the vampire itself. In the world that Knight has created, a race of DNA-altering beings called the Lifeweavers were able to spread throughout the universe via the Interworld tree. This portal/gateway system was created by an older form of beings that existed before the Lifeweavers called the Pre-entities. These Pre-entities existed by living off of the 'life-auras' of different species, making them almost immortal through the process. The Pre-entities traveled around through the tree that they built feeding off of species on different planets, even visiting the earth in our pre-history (wiping out the dinosaurs).

Eventually the Lifeweavers discovered how to use the Interworld tree for themselves. They can change their appearance at will, by manipulating their DNA, and appeared to our ancestors as gods and avatars. They were peaceful, and were mostly here to help, not only Earth but other planets. On a planet called Kur, some of the Lifeweavers were able to discover the secret to near-immortality by studying relics from the Pre-entities. These Kurians (as the vampires are called) then traveled to Earth over the centuries. With their various creations they created the myth of the vampire by feeding on the 'life auras' of humans. But never in an organized fashion. Eventually they came to earth in force, and gained positions of power around the world, by disguising themselves in human form. They orchestrated the eventual downfall of the human race, by manipulating governments, the economy, etc. Then they assumed command of the World and instituted their New World Order in roughly 2022.

The interesting thing of the story is that the other Lifeweavers, those not on the planet Kur, are outraged by the treachery of the Kurians and their betrayal of their code, which was to not hurt anyone. They have been waging a war against the Kurians over the galaxy by using the Interworld Tree. Earth, as it is now, is only one of the fronts for that battle. But it is the subject of the books, of course.

The Lifeweavers use humans as their weapons in the war. Not many of the humans know this. There are freeholds within Kurian-held territory, where humans can defend themselves against the Kurians and live freely. The defensive forces are mostly Guards, who protect. There are three highly advanced groups of forces who take the battle to the enemy. All three have met with one of the Lifeweavers and have had certain 'potential' within themselves turned on by the Lifeweaver's manipulation of their DNA. They are still human but have acquired special traits like heightened senses and stamina. The three groups are Wolves, Cats and Bears.

Wolves are the most numerous and enter enemy territory in small assault groups to hit them where they are vulnerable and then run. They are basically guerilla troops.

Cats work alone in enemy territory, often gathering information, or sabotaging them.

Bears are a stand-up fighting unit. They willing engage enemy forces, and are the real power of the humans.

The cool thing about the Vampires is that they never touch their victims to take their 'life auras.' Through their ability to manipulate DNA, they have developed Reapers. Reapers are basically all of the worst features of Nazgul and Velociraptor in one package. They are super killing machines who live off of the blood of their victims. They have a scaled, sharp tongue which they stab through their victims neck to suck blood out of the heart. While they live off of the blood, the Kurian lord who controls them, acquires the 'life aura' to sustain his own life.

The Kurian lords control certain territories. However, they fight against each other for power, and control of certain industries or land. Within a certain area, there are groups of humans, called Quislings, who work for the Kurians and police their fellow humans. They are basic scum, each trying to earn a brass ring, by selling out other humans. The brass ring is given by a Kurian lord and ensures that they won't be food for that lord, and gives them protection against other Kurians. The Quislings do things like round up vagrants and send them to the Kurians for lunch. There are bounty hunters who go out and hunt humans to sell to the Kurians.

The Kurians don't do any fighting themselves. They are like big mob bosses whose underlings do all of the dirty work. The Reapers are able to sense 'life aura' and go out and hunt people in the Free zones. The Wolves and Guards are in place to stop that. The Wolves can avoid the Reapers by learning to suppress how much 'life aura' they are producing and can escape from rough situations that way.

The Wolves will rarely be able to fight a Reaper and win. Only in full daylight, or when the Reaper has just taken a meal and is listless can they hope to face them in a fight. The Reaper has a skeleton of 'carbonite' (or so they call it, remarking they think the provenance of the word comes from 'some old movie') which renders it difficult to attack. The robes that they wear are bullet-resistant. The only way to kill them is to sever the head (not a stake through the heart).

Since the Kurians can manipulate DNA they also have another host of baddies that can be called into action against the Rogue humans.

At any rate, not your standard vampire novel. I found it very interesting that Knight was able to present his vampires in a context of the vampire mythos and the history of the planet in a way that was logically consistent. That overtime the separate beings of Kurian and Reaper eventually merged into one Dracula-esque being who is usually portrayed in the culture.

I found it appealing because it took a conventional trope of the horror genre and added a scifi spin which is, to my knowledge, unique to this series.

DrB
 
I agree it sounds interesting, especially the whole world he seems to have built around it. Also, the vampires seem to be more like aliens on Earth instead of normal humans with a large set of front teeth, which is a major plus.
 
I am glad Way of the Wolf seems to be good. I have it, but have not read it yet. Locus listed it a while ago, and gave the name of the author -- I think E.E. Knight is a pseudonym, the other name was not someone I had ever heard of.


I recently finished Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett. It was a loaner from the local library. I liked a lot about the story: the tale itself, several neat new characters, another odd place on the Disc. After the book was over though I felt a bit cheated by a plot twist that he used to change the premise of the book. It is on the back of the book about Polly enlisting, as a man, to find her brother. TP then does the unexpected, and I felt it took the drama and the tension out of the story. It also lessened the impact of the 'story as mirror of reality', however it did add subtle layers and depth to the question of 'what is he really saying'.

Some parts were funny, and some were touching. I liked it, but it was not quite up to what I was expecting.


Now finishing up Druid King by Norman Spinrad, and Stars an anthology of SF & Fantasy writers who have written stories inspired by Janis Ian songs, edited by Janis Ian and Mike Resnick. Both books are courtesy of my local library.
 
Unfortunately, it has been a beautiful autumn in my little corner of the world and the distractions have been plenty. But here are a few more to throw out onto the list. Some rather odd reading occurences allowed me to partake of some work that I normally would not. Somewhat to my dismay.

Confidence Game by Michelle M. Welch
An odd work. Welch bravely struggles with a rather determined but unfortunately, sparse approach to storytelling. She doggedly strives to make sure that the reader is always a step or two behind her. She wants the finale to be profound it seems and that just will not happen if the reader actually can make sense of the motivations and even the actions of 90% of the characters. Welch seems to be a fan of Le Carre and George Orwell from her style and societal structuring. It is a shame really because so much of her hard work seems aimed at confounding what otherwise could be a very good story. Making a reader work is just plain silly when telling a story. And while it can be quite interesting to slowly peel details back page by page, it shouldn't be such a challenge. It will be interesting where she takes her world in the next novel due out next year.

Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman
Pullman wrote me a postcard and sent it C.O.D. from the most distant corner of the globe. It is ridiculous that this small effort was actually put into print. The short story is quite nice but is shorter than the average magazine article by half. If you are looking for something with meat on it that will occupy you for an afternoon, well read this about four or five times. Still it was a taste of Pullman's work that has me hoping that such an incredibly slight effort means The Book of Dust is going to be on its way sometime soon.

Southern Fire by Juliet E. McKenna
I enjoyed this book. I was surprised that I had. My only prior experience with McKenna was her first 'Tales of Einarrian'(sp?) work. A book I found slow, ackward and poorly conceived. Yet this towers well over former work to the degree that I will probably pick up the rest of her first series in hopes that the current standard was exercised there as well. Great society and culture. A Indo-Asian flair that is fresh and quite interesting. McKenna clearly has done some research and yet the work does not suffer. Probably because McKenna is comfortable enough to just let it set the tone for the novel's background and helps shape the story without actually becoming the focus. Nicely done. In this book, McKenna provides a great turn at politics that is interesting and compelling. Well-written machinations of the great and not-so-great are a favorite of mine so that helped. A nice twist at the end and a suitable wrap up of most of the major plots without drawing things to a tidy close (letting the door open for Northern Storm due out next year) makes this work very accessible to the series weary.

The Elder Gods by David Eddings
Or: 'how I wasted an afternoon I shall never get back all for familial love and loyalty' Picture the flyer from my nephew's day school. Advertising books for students to buy. In my day, it was stuff by Roald Dahl, Madeleine L'Engle, perhaps C.S. Lewis and of course lots of anonymous stuff by Scholastic and Penguin. I love that the next generation of our clan has taken to reading. It is the legacy pass on from my mother to her children and now her grandchildren. I cannot drop the torch...do you see where this is going? All I can say is that this book was the poorest excuse of a book published since Paolini got his first and Newcomb got his second. Bad book, bad. Truly this is a book where absolutely nothing happens. Nothing. And while this is boring and pathetic, the fact that the Eddings' and their edior considered it enough of a 'book' to be published might make the absence of any action a lesser of the evils. Bad, bad bad book. If the eddings ever get introduced to karma, I hope she makes them sit for eternity and watch television with a endless 'Please Stand By' notice on it. And nothing else.

Stravaganza: City of Stars by Mary Hoffman
Another familial effort. But so much more appreciated. Part of its charm lies in my own love of the region of the world that Hoffman has captured so well in her alternative Italy. Clearly this area holds the same beauty for the author as it does for me. I am a kindred spirit in that, so the foundation is already there. Hoffman follows up with a rather nice story that asks for a simple suspension of disbelief (or the assumption of instance acceptance of something that goes against everything we believe to be true about the universe). It works. Rather well. The book is aimed at the YA market and hence my screening read. I enjoyed the book thoroughly though and even the equestrian theme was nice; not ending up as a girl-pony story at all. Definitely worth checking out. Please note that this is a second book and the first should be read prior. A third book is supposed to be due next year, I believe.
 
Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb

One of the best books I read this year. She's masterfully connected the loose ends of the story without becoming overly dramatic.
Regarding all the revelations which had to come there would have been material a plenty for heartbreaking reunions. But she avoided the forseeable and handled the events with emotion but didn't let the past dominate the story. Great.

She lay the stress of the story to the events in the ice and created the most beautiful and moving scenes there.

On the other hand, there are still some unsolved questions, such as Fitz's new role in the kingdom, his wit, the future of the dragons, what's happening in the Fool's far home country and so on.

So I wouldn't be surprised if there would some kind of follow up. Hopefully!
 
Inheritance by Simon Brown
Not a bad book for what is the author's first try. This is the first time it has been made available here in the U.S. and I believe the series is finished and fully published in Australia. The next book is due out in the mid-spring of 2004. It is possible that the series will be complete here in the U.S. by the end of next year. So for those looking for a fast-paced, light adventure fantasy, you might want to give it a try. Note that this is definitely a freshman effort, though. Brown is still a bit wobbly in some things. And it is a bit trite in some places. And a rather interesting world is hampered a bit by Brown's strained ability to convey a visual sense of his world. He also suffers from blatant plot contrivance. But, for a first novel, it does its job nicely. And since it is out in ppbk, it makes for an inexpensive gamble.

In the King's Service by Katherine Kurtz
After a few years, Kurtz returns to her world of the Deryni with this first book in a proposed trilogy (it should be noted though that absolutely nothing is mentioned about it being a series in the book). Set-up books are all well and good. The first novel in a series that relies on a chronological expansion almost has to be a set-up novel for the most part. That does not mean, though, that nothing can happen. And yet, much like the latest offering by the Eddings' bookmill, this book is one of the worst offerings of this year. Particularly because Kurtz can do much better and she has a wonderful world at her fingertips to delve into and explore. She does explore her world to some extent and it remains rich and complex and fascinating. Her characters tantalize with interest and a hint at layering. Yet, really, nothing ever comes to term in this book. Even as certain plotlines are resolved, there is a sense that it is mere filler and does not really have much (if any) bearing. King Kelson's Bride was bone thrown to determined (i.e. pestering) fans. And it showed. It was bland, insipid and was little more than an expanded short story. Expanded with little to nothing in terms of story or plot. It should have been a short story. This too reads as a short story or perhaps, two or three cobbled together. True, the jumps in time only serve to underline this feeling. But Kurtz really does not seem to have a passion for writing in this old, familiar world. The book (and series) is a prequel of sorts. And therein lies another problem. Prequels are hard to do. Especially when the action takes place almost immediately before a previous work. It can be hard to write compelling action when the outcome is already known. And the work can suffer if the author is not careful to make sure that a reverse continuity is maintained. The slightest hint of revisionism (if even accidental) can be fatal to a fan well familiar with the world in which the works are set. There are whispers of such in this latest entry by Kurtz. A more savvy fan might be able to be more specific. But overall, this work suffers, not just from a slight timeline clash, but from a truely compelling offering by the author. I don't get a sense that Kurtz is truly committed to this world or the plot. It seems phoned in, and that is a real shame.
 
Dr B's post removed by request. Have edited JohnH's post therefore to keep it tidier.


I am really enjoying Dan Simmon's Ilium at the moment (not really Fantasy, though there are overtones...); and I keep dipping into Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver. Very unusual for me to try more than one book at a time, but am really enjoying these two. Quality characterisation, and a depth which is deceptive, kept alive by an interesting narrative/s. Stephenson's in particular is slow to unfold but it is still gripping. Simmons's is just gripping. :)

Will say more when I've finally finished them as this is a 'read thread') ...though they are BIG books! :)

Hobbit
 
I've been meaning to write in this thread all year but a combination of laziness and lack of time has prevented me. Here's a start:

To Ride Hell's Chasm, Janny Wurts:

Based on the blurb I expected a standard chase story told from the perspective of some "surprisingly cunning, resourceful and independant princess. You know, the type that tends to pop up all across the fantasy genre.
Instead, the first half of the book treated me to a well written mystery, with the protagonist a city guard subjected to racism from pretty much everyone around him. I found it hard to put the novel downf or the first half. The novel then resonably seamlessly moves into a siege and chase sequence, but it's here that it runs off the rails a bit. Wurts' elaborate prose doesn't lend itself to the tight, fast paced action sequence she's attempting to write. Maybe it was my poor concentration, but I'd found it hard to focus on what was actually happening to the characters at times.
All said, it was a reasonable book and good to see that Janny actually can write a self enclosed story (hurry up with Stormed Fortress!!!)


The Other Wind, Ursula Leguin:
This book is the ending that the Earthsea series really deserved. A lot of people really felt that Tehanu missed the mark, myself included. This book reminded me of the author that Leguin can be - well written characters, a good storyline, poignant moments - and all in only 250 pages. It does a great job of closing up the series. I believe that all the big fat fantasy authors out there should be forced to read this book and learn a few lessons on how to write a great story without rambling on for 500 pages more than needed.


House of Chains, Steven Erikson:
I'm not sure what to write about this one. Erikson has lost a bit of momentum (I suppose it's hard not to after Memories of Ice), but still pushes his storyline along. Erikson has enough side characters in his novels that he could write the rest of his life fleshing them out - and that's sort of what this novel feels like. What could have stayed comfortably as background characters rise to prominence in this novel, and while it probably will mesh into the long term storyline it does smell a little of filler. How many characters can undergoing startling metamorphis before the whole world is filled with gods? That aside, the book did benefit from the start being dedicated to one character rather than the multiple view points we've been used to - this is a technique I'd like to see Erikson use more.
 
Well even as the year draws to a close and the advent of what looks to be one of the best years of fantasy looms, I have been lucky to read a couple of rather remarkable books. And some not so remarkable.

Impossible Odds by Dave Duncan
Stands in the remarkable category. Not as strong as the previous efforts by Duncan, but still a delightful chapter in what has become a must-read series. I am not sure exactly what the weakness was here. The last novel of "The King's Blades" also took place (for the most part) in foreign climes. So I don't think that had anything to do with it. Perhaps it was Duncan's determination to keep twisting things so as to keep the reader guessing. I think that it was a bit too obvious and leaped out in the work in a way that detracted from the overall story. Also, I don't think Duncan truly created any memorable characters that have populated the previous novels.

Still, saying this is a weak effort by Duncan is like saying that Neuhaus is the pedestrian chocolate of Belgium. Not complaining anytime some of either is thrown my way. It was a fast-paced, well wrought tale all in all and I look forward to the next installment eagerly.

The Devil's Armor by John Marco
I keep going back to Marco hoping that he will somehow rise above his previous efforts and deliver the promise that I sense lurking within. His work is readable, but it just somehow falls flat. Unfortunately, this latest work stumbles quite a bit. still readable, but there are many more releases this year that should be considered first. This also suffers from basically being a set-up book for yet another quest.

I think one of the greatest flaws in Marco's work is that he has to not only make every single character flawed, but tragically flawed. 90% of his characters are so heavily shaded in gray that they lose any dimension whatsoever. And, as Marco flits between points of view faster and broader than a reality show, character motivation becomes rather bland. We know what each and every character is up to and why. This tends to leave little to the imagination and even less to suspense. Stock characters die to prove that life basically is hard and horrid in this world and that bad things can happen to good people. Problem is that the lack of scope within the plot and characterization leaves little empathy or regard on my part. The prose is tight and that is definitely something Marco has only improved on. He can tell a story well. He just has trouble telling a good story.


Fudoki by Kij Johnson
Wow! I was completely enthralled with this one. I had read and was rather disappointed in her previous work, The Fox Woman. However, this novel was very well written. Unlike her first work, this new offering has a much greater warmth if you will. Johnson loses the detachment in the first one and truly develops her characters in a way that is engrossing and left me wanting more. Definitely a must read for any who desire an Asian influence in their fantasy. Actually it is just a must read. I did think it started out a bit slow, but once it found its pace it was perfect. Both main characters are fully drawn without having to know every mole, hair and wart. Which makes the ending all the more surprising and pleasing.

The Dragon Sorceror by John Gregory Betancourt
Not sure what to call this. It was a short story expanded into... a slightly longer short story. First time I have read anything by this author. The story could well have fit in just about any fantasy franchise to be honest. Certainly not bad, but there really was not much there. In many ways it reminded of the type of story you read in an homage anthology. It could have been plunked down in the seas of Midkemia, Mallorea, Mazalan, Middle-Earth even. Don't bother unless you are looking for something incredibly simple, quick and totally lacking any need of commitment by the reader.

Dragon's Treasure by Elizabeth A. Lynn
Another wow. Perhaps it helps that I have been waiting five years for this book. Perhaps it helps that not having re-read Lynn's Dragon's Winter, I was a bit apprehensive as to (1)whether the plot would be accessible after all this time or totally lose me and (2) whether the quality with which I viewed the earlier book would hold up over time.

The plot was slightly tricky a page or two in. But I relaxed and just kept on. I think I was trying to hard to place events, people etc. and so was reading into various parts more than I sould have. Once in, the journey was effortless. And yes the quality held as well. A great read. Lyy is a sparse writer. And yet manages to convey and incredible amount of atmosphere in a few words. There is such a richness to her world that she really only touches upon. It begs for further exploration on my part. I only hope that she will comply. Lynn manages to create not only readable flawed characters, but she also imbues them with a savage and brutal nature that might offend those with more tender sensibilities. If you like your hero to only fight against people face to face or if you stubborn cling to the notion that nobility is a far greater thing than survival. If you think that justice is served cleanly and tidily like a 'very-special-episode' of your favorite family sitcom (i.e where Arnold learns that people with handicaps are people too!), then this might not be for you. Lynn does not shy from writing characters who are 'good' and yet exhibit sudden and senseless violence and cruelty. She makes it work wonderfully. I am so hoping that Dragon's Shadow is not a urban myth.
 
Now that 2003 is almost over, I'll have to go through this excellent list and then try to figure out which ones will be worth buying in massmarket in 2004 :)

Maybe someone is ambitious enough to compile a list for our consumption :)
 
the Crystal City-Orson Scott Card

I recently read the Tales of Alvin Maker. WHen I finished the fifth book i was having a hard time finding out if there were any more books in the series. I was very excited to find out that the sixth book in the series was coming out in less than a week, although it took another three weeks for the library to get it. I guess that is why I usually buy them.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I don't think I would say it was my favorite in the series, but it was good. I think that Card's conception of an alternate history for the united states which includes the use of magic facinating. I love how he incorporates real historical figures who are sometimes very similar to their real counterparts, and sometimes completely different. THere is a lot of conflict in the books over such issues as slavery, and I thik that card does good job giving us a variety of characters with varing opionons about all of the problems going on in thier world. I think they are worth reading. and I would definetely recommend them, although like I said only the last one actually fits this post. One note though his publication dates for these are spuratic with gapes as large as six years (book five was published in 1998) SO don't bother reading them if you don't enjoy waiting, because I don't think he is finished yet.
 
Just a few more to squeeze in (though I will probably have one or two after the official end of the year that won't be posted until the holidays give me time).

The Destroyer Goddess by Laura Resnick. The wonderful second-half of the fantastic "In Fire Forged". Please note -- this is not a sequel to The White Dragon but an immediate continuation of the story. Resnick delivers and wraps things up while still leaving a few matters with enough still to write a few more stories in this fascinating world. Her afterword reiterates her plans for the next two books to go afield a bit with new characters and settings. Regardless, Arena will be greatly anticipated and hoefully will be out as planned in late 2004.

1610: A Sundial in a Grave by Mary Gentle. A bit of a drag. Gentle has the habit of trying to tell what is a great story but just does not seem to get a tight and engaging effort out. It drags. It meanders. Which is a shame. I think part of the dragging results in Gentle creating a character that is not only unsympathetic but perhaps is so overdrawn as such that it just ceases to matter what will happen next. Gentle does not seem to understand that pathetic and reprehensible can go a bit too far. I did not end up disliking the character which may have worked. Instead, I ended up withdrawn from what almost borders on the silliness of this character's downright sad, small life. Sad and small just don't equate when the plot tries to drive the doings of the cosmic and earthshaking. Even in small steps. I was not a huge fan of "The Book of Ash", so this was not a huge disappointment. Still, I thought it could have been a bit better and wonder just where the editor was. A bit of control in that area might have resulted in a much better tale.

Magic's Song: Tales of the Harper Mage by Laura Underwood. A nice collection of short stories. Half are brand new, the other previously published in magazines. Underwood has a nice ability to tell a story. It gets slightly monotonous that the set-up of the main character's abilities and limitations gets a through round each tale. However, each is short, concise and well told. Underwood has a few novels out and a new coming in the late spring of 2004 that I shall have to check out.
 
Way of the Wolf

I'll have to second DrB's recommendation for Way of the Wolf. Read his post yesterday, went out and bought it that evening, finished it this morning.

Thanks for the prescription!
 
Three collections of short stories which are very recommendable.
Haven't paid much attention to short story collections before - except Legends - so maybe someone here can give me some good recommendations in return?

Michelle West, Speaking with Angels


Collections of very early short stories to later ones.
She proves her exceptional talent to invoke and deal with emotions. The language is equally engaging which shows her poetry backgound. Engaging to read but not advisable when you need something to cheer you up. More for your brooding kind of days.

30th Anniversary Daw Collection Fantasy

Stories by Norton, Rawn, Lackey, Huff, Lee, Zucker Reichert, West and others.
A great collection and definately worth buying. Especially West's story, which is the longest and takes place in the sun sword world.

30th Anniversary Daw Collection Science Fiction

Stories by Stableford, Aldiss, Pohl, Tad Williams, Cherryh, Friedman, Kate Elliott and others.

I'm not into science fiction very much. I appreciated the stories anyway. A nice collection of grand authors. It's good to get to know authors you know by name but didn't come around to actually buy yet.
 
A few last minute reads I managed to squeeze in over the holidays.

Ill Wind by Rachel Caine. I usually don't take to contemporary 'real world' settings. However, this was quite charming. Fast-paced, well written and nicely thought out. It also manages to resolve itself for the most part so that even though a part of the series, there is no need to fear long-term commitment. And released in paperback. Makes a perfect way to top off that extra $8.00 or so on the gift certificate from Aunt Luddie.

Lair of Bones by David Farland. I know I keep saying this, but I think this series has finally become banal enough for me to drop. There really is no sense that what started as a progressive series, really has any idea as to what the final goal really is. Look at what happend to Goodkind and David Drake when they took that route.

Gates of Heaven by Curt Benjamin. I had pretty much given up on this series, until completionism bit me in the tookus. Seems this was the final book in the series and I just had to give in and attempt to read it and hope that perhaps resolution would add a bit of quality to what otherwise was a a rather lackluster affair. Well, three times was not the charm. Still for those that like Benjamin's style, this might not disappoint. Frankly, I found that Benjamin made his main character extremely dense and a bit too typically prone to make just the wrong decesion. By the third and final book, I would have hoped that Benjamin was comfortable enough as a writer to be able to create drama, tension and suspense without having to rely on an endless array of stupid mistakes. Coupled with a rather disengaged way of telling the story as a whole, and this is the nail in the coffin of Mr. Benjamin's career of selling books to this particular reader.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Sponsors


We try to keep the forum as free of ads as possible, please consider supporting SFFWorld on Patreon


Your ad here.
Back
Top