Fantasy Reading in October 2014

Read through the last stories in Lucius Shepard's The Dragon Griaule collection. Yeah, there were some male gaze issues, but I can ignore these problematic elements when somebody can write such dense, complex and evocative prose - you can sink into his paragraphs. Best stories for my money were 'The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule', 'Father of Stones', and 'The Skull', but none were duds. Apparently there's a last Griaule story that surfaced after Shepard's death - 'Beautiful Blood' - and I hope that becomes more widely available. It's a shame it didn't make it into this collection so all the stories could live together.
 
I finished City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. The non-medieval secondary world setting with early 20th century technology was refreshing and had a full and interesting history. Also, the characters were quite interesting and well fleshed out. This book had about everything: gods, magic, a city destroying monster, political intrigue and suspense, and a murder mystery. About the only thing not present was a quest/journey.
I was a little hesitant to read another book by Bennett since I didn't really enjoy The Troupe but I'm glad my experience with the new book was a lot different. I highly recommend CoS.
 
And that perhaps you might be better served by that very nice Felix Castor series.
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Ooh, no, I like that series. Mike's a great guy too. I did review the first book here, many moons ago. (Actually 2007: link HERE.)

I am told The Girl With All the Gifts is good, too, but haven't read it yet.


EZ:
I finished City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. The non-medieval secondary world setting with early 20th century technology was refreshing and had a full and interesting history. Also, the characters were quite interesting and well fleshed out. This book had about everything: gods, magic, a city destroying monster, political intrigue and suspense, and a murder mystery. About the only thing not present was a quest/journey.
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To be honest, the lack of a quest for me can only be a good thing. That's another plus for this one, then!

M.
 
Today, I finished Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan. While I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Blood Song, it was still a great book. It just took me a while to adjust to the new POV characters.

Recently, I also finished The Garden of Stones by Mark T. Barnes. This one was difficult at first because the author throws you right into the thick of things with no explanation. But I found that I liked it once I figured out what was going on.
 
Hobbit said:
Ooh, no, I like that series. Mike's a great guy too. I did review the first book here, many moons ago. (Actually 2007: link HERE.)
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Now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure that you'd mentioned having read this series on a previous occasion *hangs head in shame for forgetting*. My apologies, but meanwhile I hadn't been aware of the link, so that's a positive and thanks for that. :)

I am told The Girl With All the Gifts is good, too, but haven't read it yet.
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I hope that you like it when you do.
 
I've recently finished reading Eyes Like Sky and Coal and Moonlight, by Cat Rambo. It's an impressive collection, showing an inventive imagination and a poetic (but not flowery) way with words. I'd never read anything by her before, but there is no doubt I'll be seeking out her stories in future.
 
Recently finished The Iron King by Druon, the book that is said to influence GRRM for ASOIAF. It was a short book with some political intrigue but nothing as complex as Martin's series. It is based on historic events and was good enough that I will go and pick up the second book tonight after dinner.

Currently listening to American Elsewhere by Bennett and it is good but not as advertised. I guess the hype got to me. Still a good listen but was hoping for more.

Also reading Premonitions by Schultz. Not very far in it but it already has a good vibe.
 
Restarted Ian Esselemont's Assail. I'm enjoying it more than when I first started it. So far, the only thing I'm not sure about is the introduction of a Tiste Andii with amnesia. I'm really hoping it's not who I suspect it might be. I'll have to see how that pans out. Apart from that, really good, really enjoyable.
 
Finished The Burning Stone (Crown of Stars #3) by Kate Elliott. This series is so frustrating. There's a lot of interesting stuff. I care about most of the characters. But the pace is so freaking slow. I feel like Elliott's editor could have been stricter. There were a lot of scenes that could have been condensed and worldbuilding details that weren't necessary (at least in my opinion).

I did like it. I just wish it had been a bit shorter.
 
The River of Shadows...

... by Robert V.S Redick.

Great read and a refreshing new take on a fantasy novel being solely centred on a ship with great classical 'whodunnit' plot devices.
 
I read John D. Brown's Curse and Raveler, books 2 and 3 of his Dark God series.
Here are the links:

http://www.amazon.com/Curse-The-Dark-God-Book-ebook/dp/B00MQCAPB4/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0HNZEGZ741VJ2T9PXTNH

http://www.amazon.com/Raveler-The-Dark-God-Book-ebook/dp/B00N81FPD0/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1FVS1V0VAQ6J8E82AQ54

John's journey to books 2 and 3 is interesting in that book 1 was originally published by TOR and titled Servant of a Dark God. There were some snafus with the publication of book 2, which delayed its release. Long story short, John regained the rights to his book and decided to self-publish. I know this because of John's blog, which I regularly read since he offers great advice on writing and now, self-publishing.

These two books are a strong continuation of the story begun in Servant. In both sequels, the dialogue remains smooth and even witty at times. What I found particularly appealing was the hidden dystopian nature of the world, which I thought was well done as well as the questions John raises about the choices we make when it comes to safety or even the nature of slavery. Also of note, the two books are really just two parts of a larger whole. Not a crit, but while the narrative flow is crisp, I would have preferred more Talen in book 2 rather than so much of his viewpoint left for book 3. However, none of that detracted from the IMMENSE action sequences at the end. Non stop but it wasn't like a Hollywood film where the action simply serves to show off the special effects. This was action with purpose. Loved that. Additionally, John spent the money on a good editor because the typos in both books are few.

I really am enjoying this story, and I look forward to reading the next one as much as anything on my To-Read-List.
 
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I have just finished Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, a weird and fascinating study of both an area where strange rules seem to apply and of an introvert. I haven't read the two other installments of the trilogy yet, so I don't know if they are up to the same standard.

To get into the October spirit, I'm now reading Engines of Desire by Lisa Llewelyn, The Dark Eidolon by Clark Ashton Smith and In The Mean Time by Paul Tremblay. The latter, especially, is shaping up to be rather good. I also need to read Morgan's final book in his trilogy, The Dark Defiles
 
Surt said:
I have just finished Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, a weird and fascinating study of both an area where strange rules seem to apply and of an introvert. I haven't read the two other installments of the trilogy yet, so I don't know if they are up to the same standard.
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Unfortunately I don't think they are; the second book actually becomes a bit of a slog (the whole book is set inside the Southern Reach facility), and the third is at least better (it's set back in Area X) but not as good as the first. I was quite disappointed actually, but at least Annihilation was great. You may think difference of course.
 
Ugh, that doesn't sound to promising. Vandermeer has always had problems finishing his stories, and I had hoped that he would do better this time. Oh well, I have to read them any way.
 
Westsiyeed said:
Unfortunately I don't think they are; the second book actually becomes a bit of a slog (the whole book is set inside the Southern Reach facility), and the third is at least better (it's set back in Area X) but not as good as the first. I was quite disappointed actually, but at least Annihilation was great. You may think difference of course.
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The second book is definitely a big shift in tone and focus. I think it's a brilliant move, if the story had stayed in Area X (especially if it stayed with the biologist) there's a strong chance it would have felt like just a pale continuation of the first. Instead it takes the story in a new direction, opens up the wider story of what's going on. Yeah, it feels slow in some places, especially early on, but never uninteresting (in my opinion). He's talked about his love of John le Carre often, and I can see some similarities with Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (the only le Carre book I've read). It's a risk, as it does feel quite different, but I thought it was one that paid off. Obviously not for everyone, though :) I'm about halfway through Acceptance now, and I'm loving how it brings the two earlier books together without feeling like a re-tread of either one. I'm just at a point where it feels like many of the mysteries and uncertainties are about to be revealed (trying to keep this spoiler free...) through the writings some of the characters receive that detail more of what's happened in the gaps since book 1.
 
Began reading 'Ash' by Malinda Lo- a re-telling/twist of Cinderella and got hooked! takes a few chapters to get into it- quite slow paced to begin with, re-telling the typical Cinderella story with minor changes. However, after all of that was past, i couldn't put it down- especially when you realise Ash and Kaisa's relationship blooming... Then read 'Huntress' (also Malinda Lo) which is a kind of un-linked prequel. Also amazing, and more fast moving!
 
Finished Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon. I enjoyed it. It wasn't great, but it was a good read. I also liked seeing a military fantasy where there are actually characters you can recognize as the good guys. There's death and violence in this book, but it is not as dark and gritty as authors like Cook and Erikson.
 
algernoninc said:
I'm reading The Widow's House by Daniel Abraham. I have no idea yeat who the widow in the title is (possibly Clara Kalliam?) but I love the possiblities introduced by the addition of the flying lizard. I'm also liking the characters and the prose a little better than last month's Tower Lord, which was a step down for me after Blood Song.

Also read a wonderful fairytale by Patricia McKillip : The Bell at Sealey Head, one of her funnier and more romantically inclined stories.

edit: I forgot to add a fantasy themed comic book series : Thorgal written by Jean Van Hamme and illustrated by Roszinsky (spelling?) . I enjoyed it very much with its mix of historical viking adventure, mythology involving Norse Gods and a bit of science-fiction. Great characters and artwork.
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This is a great series and it is being published in the US and UK as well. It seems to be garnering a bit more acclaim in English language, but for many Europeans it's been the big hit series in historical Fantasy for 30 years It's a great series, especially the stunning artwork by Rosinsky.
I actually like the later volumes ( 29-33) the best in terms of his style, it's become even prettier.

As for Daniel Abraham, intrigued by the course set in Widow's House, I keeap hearing about, but I still need to read Dragon's Path, and the entire Long Price quartet. Woefully behind, in other words, but that applies to so many authors.
 
Reading my first Joe R Lansdale after a discussion in the Halloween thread. Love it, and I wonder why I waited so much t ogive it a try. I guess I still regard horror as the poor cousin of fantasy. The Bottoms has elements of A Boy's Life by Robert McCammon and To Kill A Mockinbird, as it deals with a boy growing up in East Texas during the Great Depression, Segregation, a serial killer and a monster that may be haunting the woods nearby. Lansdale is a great storyteller.
 
With Halloween on its way, I am re-reading A Night on the Moor & Other Tales of Dread, a collection of short stories by R. Murray Gilchrist.
 
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