I just bought.....

[Leiali]

It was my birthday last week (not that anyone here noticed )
So I got given some books - two historical novels (one by Tracey Chevalier which should be interesting) and a star trek book....not sure what I'll think of that as I don't read tie in books.
I also got a voucher so I bought what I really wanted, The Darkness that Comes Before by R Scott Bakker. And my friend got me The Briar King by Greg Keyes for really cheap when she went out to the states (not fair! Books should always be that cheap) - but I don't have that in my sticky paws just yet. I expect big things from these two books. But I have to wade through loads of borrowed/bought books before treating myself to them!

 

[Eventine]

On the weekend I picked up half of the first Legends anthology (I've been looking around for this one for a while so I could get a GRRM fix), The Lion's of al-Rassan by GGK and The History of the Runestaff by Michael Moorcock (my first taste of his work).
Now to find some time to read...

 

[Julian]

It was my birthday last week (not that anyone here noticed )

Ah, but that's a good thing. If no-one notices, you get to stay 29 for ever...

 

[Erfael]

Ah, but that's a good thing. If no-one notices, you get to stay 29 for ever...

I have a friend who started to only celebrate the anniversaries of his 29th birthday, never the 30th.

And I picked up two compilations this week which contain the first 6 Thieves' World books, editied by Aspirin. And I also picked up Beagle's A Fine and Private Place.

 

[Leiali]

I have a friend who started to only celebrate the anniversaries of his 29th birthday, never the 30th.

I think people would cotton on fairly quickly........Especially since a lot of my friends turn thirty next year!

I forgot to say that I picked up Memories of Ice (Steve Erikkson) for really cheap two weeks ago. And Big Planet (Jack Vance) last week for £2...in the SF classics series - the ones with the bright yellow cover. Not bad bargain hunting ay?

 

[FicusFan]

I just got a few things:

Conqueror Fantastic Edited by Pamela Sargent, PB.

From Amazon:

"Editor Sargent asked this collection's contributors to choose "conquerors" from history or legend and imagine fantastic, and not purely historical, alternate careers for them. Their responses amount to a very odd lot of figures and developments. There are no fewer than three variations on Alexander the Great, who still seems to tower over the historical and mythic landscapes more than two millennia after his death. There are also Genghis Khan, legendary Japanese empress Jingu (in a story by Kij Johnson that is, not surprisingly, one of the best entries), Napoleon, Hitler, John Wayne, the Kennedy family, and Lyndon Johnson. All are developed originally, and the writing overall is high quality.

Authors include: Michelle West € Pamela Sargent € Jack Dann € George Alec Effinger € Ian Watson € James Morrow € George Zebrowski € and more... "

In the Blood by Nancy Collins, TP. And I just realized I already have this in the Sonja Blue Omnibus: Midnight Blue: The Sonja Blue Collection - So I am going to have to take it back.
I hate it when they can't be honest in the new book and say it was previously published.

 

[Julian]

And I also picked up Beagle's A Fine and Private Place.

Ah, -

The grave's a fine and private place
but none, I think, do there embrace

Interested to know what you think about that one, Erfael.

 

[Erfael]

Ah, -

The grave's a fine and private place
but none, I think, do there embrace

Interested to know what you think about that one, Erfael.

I'll let you know. It was on the Mythic Journeys recommended reading for the conference a few weeks back. Can't decide what to read next, though...I treasure my standalones as they're usually so much better than anything in a series, and usually twice as expensive.

Do we have a revised date for ERE's Worm O? One that we'll all stick to?
--I've been meaning to read the Worm ever since it was given to me with the warning "This is the worst book ever written."

I beg to differ. I think Gertrude Stein's How to Write is the worst book ever written. And if anyone can explain that book to me to my satisfaction, I'd think of sending them money.

 

[Drakonslair]

Just bought and read the Amulet of Samarkand by Johnathon Stoud

Also got books II -> IV of Stephen Kings Dark Tower Series

 

[Zsinj]

I just bought book two in The Symphony of the Ages Series: "Prophecy" by Elizabeth Haydon about a week ago, and today I bought "Michael Moorcock's Elric: The Tales of the White Wolf" today frim the used bookstore. I'd say I got a very good deal on it, seeing as how the book was hardback, in near-mint condition, and only $6.30! I snatched it up right when I saw it, because I don't believe you can find that book hardly anywhere anymore, unless you order it. Plus, out of the many authors that wrote the short stories contributing to this book, my favorite sf/fantasy author Tad Williams is included!

 

[Mithfânion]

Re; A fine and private place

A typical example of a book with great promise that only partially fulfills IMO. It was the most appealing of Beagle's works, so I started with this one. It has potential to be this incredibly tragic love story, a melancholy story like few others. But it never happens. Beagle only goes to the fringes of real emotions and creates a novel that lingered with me, but not one I would list in my top 10. Characterization just wans't quite up there, and in a story which is very thin on plot already, that's just not good enough. The talking bird was superb though, possibly the best animal character I've ever read about.

Much better than the Last Unicorn though, that was tremendously dull.

 

[Shayna]

I have been very busy of late and really have not had a chance to sit down and write here what I have recently acquired!!

I have been to both Chapters and the bookmarket...so i have a few in hand!

First...a message for "Hobbit"!! I got the book!!! James Herberts' - "The magic Cottage!!" Happy...Happy, Happy Camper!!! Whoo- Hooooo!!! My friend picked it up when she was over in England(had no problem)!! (Of course, I had no doubt)
Also...This was a surprise----I found a book of Clive Barkers'-Weaveworld/Cabal(which I have never seen before, together that is) in the used bookstore I go to. I picked it up (HCB) for about $5.00(canadian). It was published in the UK!! Great find, eh??

When I was in Chapters, I got St. Kings'- Everything's Eventual in the bargain section! And also Tad Williams'(paperback) - War of the Flowers! Hopefully the hardcover will go on sale sometime!

Forgot one more...picked up Weird Vampire Tales at the book market too!

later!!

 

[Erfael]

When I was in Chapters, I got St. Kings'- Everything's Eventual in the bargain section!

Just a tip: I think they printed far too many of these things. Every big store I go to has a pile of them in the bargain books section if anyone is interested in picking it up in HC for cheap.

 

[Hobbit]

Very pleased to hear you got the book, Shayna.

I really liked War of the Flowers but that's been talked about elsewhere in the Forum.

Ficus - sell the Sonja Blue series to me (not literally, but you know what I mean! ) I've heard a lot about it, but sadly not available easily here in the UK - so too the St Germain series, which I also quite fancy. I have read a short story from each (a long while ago!) and seem to remember quite liking them, but am interested in what you (and others!) think. Worth a try?

Hobbit

 

[Leiali]

It has been years since I read them, but I would say absolutely Hobbit, they are an excellent read. It is not often you read a series of book with a female protagonist like Sonja. Though I remember little about them, I remember thinking - pretty amazing!

 

[Khallandra]

A couple of Michael Morecock purchases how very weird I bout Dreamtheif's Daughter yesterday

And The Charmed Sphere by Catharine Asaro (first Luna imprint book I read and it has less romance than a Goodking novel I don't see what the big deal is)
Tower of Ravens by Kate Forsyth

 

[Hobbit]

It is not often you read a series of book with a female protagonist like Sonja.

I guess that shows a little bit how things have changed, Leiali. Nowadays there's a lot more around like that - the illustrious Buffy amongst many others - erm, Hamilton's Anita Blake, the character in Dhampir whose name escapes me, Molly Zero from William Gibson's SF book Mona Lisa Overdrive and no doubt lots of others. Strong female characters are en vogue, it seems.

Thank you though - I've added that one to my list, especially if the US exchange rate remains good for me at the minute....

Oh - and belated birthday greetings,Leiali .

Khallandra - Dreamthief's Daughter may not be the best Elric to start with, but it'll be interesting to read what you think. It is short!

Hobbit

 

[Leiali]

Thanks Hobbit!

I have to say that I am quite fussy about my female protagonists, I do not find Anita blake enough of a feminist - she is kind of masculine, and her sexuality seems to be based completely on external influences, mainly men who like her..Buffy is cool though. I guess Sonja Blue was a bit ahead of her time.

Sorry, I spammed. I haven't bought a book in the last two days.

 

[Shayna]

Thanx Erfael......I will probably look more often to the bargain tables!!

Thanx Hobbit! Sorry to go off topic, but would like to know in which forum(or section) to find the write up on War Of The Flowers?? For after I finish the book!!

 

[Hobbit]

Two 'Thank You's'.....

Shayna - if you do a search using the words Flowers and Williams you should get a good list. Here's probably about the best, though.


Oh, and trying to keep the thread on topic, I've just bought Stephen King's Song of Susannah, as it was £10 instead of £20 (erm: $15 instead of $30?). As I haven't read Wolves of the Calla yet (bought last December), I've clearly got some catching up to do!

Hobbit