Reading in January 2009

[Hobbit]

Hello all: Happy New Year to one and all from SFFWorld!

Christmas is now pretty much over. Hopefully you got lots of books to read, or are about to buy in the sales!

Consequently, this is where you tell us what you're reading in Fantasy this month. Good or bad, please let us know what you thought.

In a similar way, the first part of our usual (but in this case, 2008) review is now up HERE. Say what you think HERE. The rest of the review (SF, Film, 2009 hopes) will appear in the next few days. We like to keep things to their appropriate times, you see...

You might also want to make your choices known HERE in Rob's 'Favourite Reads' mega-vote, and also HERE, looking forward to 2009.

Over to the Book Clubs....

The Fantasy Book Club discussion is on a recent book publication: Melusine by Sarah Monette.

Best wishes for the New Year!

Mark / Hobbit

 

[Evil Agent]

Woohoo! I'm first for the month, AND THE NEW YEAR!

I'm still reading Steven Erikson's Reaper's Gale (his books take me at least 4 weeks to plough through) but I'm also starting some non-fiction (John Lennon biography).

I also just re-bought the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion in the new Alan Lee illustrated paperback editions (except for The Silmarillion, which is illustrated by Ted Nasmith, but it's still the first time that the illustrated version has been printed in paperback) that have recently been published here in Canada. They are beautiful! This is probably the 4th edition of LOTR that I've purchased.

 

[ObtusePunubiris]

Still making my way through some Erikson as well; The Bonehunters for me. This is the first of his books that didn't lock me in right from the start. It took 300 pages or so to really get going, but it is definitely going now. That's not to say the first 300 pages were bad, just not quite as good as everything that has come before. Still only about a third of the way through this one, but I'm hoping to knock it out over the long new years weekend.

Next up, Phantom by Goodkind. After that, just one more and I'm done with him.

 

[dingaleboom]

Hi, New in here

I'm reading The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. I've been reading it fot the last month or so. It's good, but not excellent. I like some of the main characters, but they're not very well developed. IMO. I'm also reading Watchmen by Alan Moore - I'm not a big fan of graphic novels, but this one is pretty good! After that I hope to start reading a comic book, The Joker.

 

[BrightStar]

I'm reading The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. I've been reading it fot the last month or so. It's good, but not excellent. I like some of the main characters, but they're not very well developed. IMO. I'm also reading Watchmen by Alan Moore - I'm not a big fan of graphic novels, but this one is pretty good! After that I hope to start reading a comic book, The Joker.

Took me a while to get into that series (probably not until the end of book one) but once I did, it became a firm favorite of mine. The Black Jewels trilogy is one of few that caused me to care so much for the characters that I almost cried at certain points.

I'm still reading Black Ships at the moment. I'm still enjoying it, but for some reason, not as much as I was (can't work out why). It's beginning to feel like a bit of a drag - though I'm far from thinking of giving up. I think I'll be seeing this one through to the end.

 

[PeterWilliam]

Just finished the first 5 Chronicles of Amber. Actually sitting next to the TBRP and toying with which one next (need a bit of a break from the realm of Amber).

 

[Astra_]

1/5 into Assassin's Apprentice. Very easy going book. Cannot wait until Fitz grows up. Don't like reading about 13 years old acting as if they are wise, smarter, bolder than me at 34.

 

[Astra_]

The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop

Is it finished trilogy?
I checked FantasticFiction and they list at least 3 more books, the last one was not published yet.

 

[cgw]

Reading the dragon series by EE Knight. Just finished the second book.
Missing is my number one criteria for fantasy - some sort of magic or power. I have to say they are fantasy, and nothing but fantasy though. Sort of McCaffery's Pern without the scifi background and with more traditional fantasy characters.
A nice light read that leans to YA.

 

[dingaleboom]

The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop

Is it finished trilogy?
I checked FantasticFiction and they list at least 3 more books, the last one was not published yet.

To my understanding the Black jewels is a trilogy, and the other books, like Dreams Made Flesh are books happing in the same world, but are not directly related to the Trilogy. Unfourtunatly, I won't bother reading them - Bishop did create an original world, but it's not very well defined, IMO. I think she had a great idea, but didn't know how to execute it.

 

[Aurian]

I loved the trilogy, but I agree that the other books set in the same world seem to be a big step down... I think the problem is that the trilogy had some big events and books taking place after that just feel like a let down.

I did like the Invisible Ring that took place before the events of the trilogy, but the latest one was rather meh. I wish Bishop would write about the events that created the jewels - the little sample in the short story from Dreams Made Flesh was quite interesting....


Presently reading Deep Water by Pamela Freeman. Quite interesting so far...

I also just finished Dewey, the Library Cat which was supposed to be a Marley and Me for cat lovers and librarians, but I just didn't see the appeal really. It felt more like a history lecture about the changing face of a small town in mid-US, and while interesting enough, it wasn't what I bought the book for. I wanted more funny cat stuff

I have no problem with more serious books, but I bought the book for light reading to amuse me before going to sleep. This wasn't what I expected.

 

[Singularity101]

Well, my new year is starting out with a bang... Here's my list of books for January 09'..

The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

The Stealer of Souls - Michael Moorcock
(The first book in the Elric Saga series)

Magician: Apprentice - Raymond E. Feist ( currently reading )

Exile (Book 2) - R.A. Salvatore

Lord Fouls Bane (Book 1 Convenant Series) - Stephen R. Donaldson

This sould be fun

 

[AuntiePam]

Took me a while to get into that series (probably not until the end of book one) but once I did, it became a firm favorite of mine. The Black Jewels trilogy is one of few that caused me to care so much for the characters that I almost cried at certain points.

Me too. I fact, I think I did cry a few times. She's brilliant at conveying emotions. My only problem with the series (and it's just a nitpick) is that I never got a sense of the setting, particularly the time and place. Was it modern? It's been years since I read the books, but IIRC, there was running water and flush toilets (maybe even electricity?), but other aspects were primitive. It was kinda surreal, actually -- like a play on a bare stage.

 

[Jorgen]

Happy New Year, everyone!
I'm so glad Melusine gets to be The Book of the Month... Recently read the first two books in the series and was fascinated by the sheer elegance of her writing, the switching viewpoints (and switching styles for the two protagonists with different social backgrounds); it reminded me strongly of Robin Hobb's Farseers' Trilogies... but very original nevertheless... though there are, imho, "winks" to other great fantasy authors along the way...
Just finished "Declare" by Tim Powers. Awsome!!! A perfect blend of a spy novel, le-carre-style, and fantasy. It is so well-researched and so brilliantly put together (jinn metaphysics and modern history) that it gives one shivers and makes one think: and if this was all true? Well, each Powers' book I picked up turned out to be a masterpiece, so no surprises here )) ...
Brent Weeks' Way of Shadows was a let-down.
And... What do you think of Karen Maitland's COMPANY of LIARS? Has anybody read that?

 

[Gilgamesh]

Happy New Year!

Last night I finished The Courts Of Chaos, the 5th book of The Chronicles of Amber. That completes the Corwin Cycle for me . Before I start the Merlin Cycle, I'm going to read A Clash Of Kings.

I really liked Roger Zelazny's Amber. The surrealist nature of the book, surprisingly for me, is very captivating. I hope the remaining 5 books are as good as the first 5. But first, I have to read what's happening in the world of A Song Of Ice And Fire.

 

[U-Borat]

am veritably gobbling books up, already finished Song of the Beast by Carol Berg and Brent Week's new trilogy in the new year.

 

[Apathy]

Well, my new year is starting out with a bang... Here's my list of books for January 09'..

The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

The Stealer of Souls - Michael Moorcock
(The first book in the Elric Saga series)

Magician: Apprentice - Raymond E. Feist ( currently reading )

Exile (Book 2) - R.A. Salvatore

Lord Fouls Bane (Book 1 Convenant Series) - Stephen R. Donaldson

This sould be fun

Pimpin. Not familiar with Exile though. Tell me if it is a worthwhile read. You may not like Lord Foul's Bane, it is not exactly the most enjoyable read.
But all the others you got are very good....Heh heh heh heh....

 

[Seak]

It's just like me to butt in where I'm not wanted, but Exile is in the Dark Elf Trilogy. It's a very fast-paced, action-filled story. I enjoyed it immensely.

 

[Haliax]

Right now my to read pile includes:

Gardens of the Moon- Steven Erikson
Magician: Apprentice- Feist
Magician: Master- Feist
Lies of Locke Lamora- Scott Lynch
Sinner- Ted Dekker

From there it all depends what series I enjoy the most. I have a feeling I'll end up reading the rest of the Riftwar Saga, then Red Seas Under Red Skies, and then see what I think of Erikson.

 

[BrightStar]

My only problem with the series (and it's just a nitpick) is that I never got a sense of the setting, particularly the time and place. Was it modern? It's been years since I read the books, but IIRC, there was running water and flush toilets (maybe even electricity?), but other aspects were primitive. It was kinda surreal, actually -- like a play on a bare stage.

Good point. I'm not sure though, although I found the Black Jewels world to be a bit vague, I actually liked that about the series. It made me want to read more! My reading tastes have changed a bit since then though, so if I were to read it again, I might find it more of a noticeable issue this time around.

I've been meaning to re-read that series for such a long time now, but always get distracted by the ever-growing "to read" pile of books that I still have to get through.

Anyways, finished Black Ships today. Overall, I was very satisfied with it, although I'm not sure about the ending. I felt the book would have been stronger if it had ended sooner.

Next on my reading list: Flightless Falcon.