Reading in March 2011

[suciul]

I'll be starting in on April's book of the month tonight, Ian Whates's City of Dreams and Nightmare. Thoughts next month in the discussion.

Finished up tonight with the March/April issue of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. I hope to post a review/overview in the next few days.

The irony is that City of Dreams and Nightmare is very sfnal - personally I would not consider it fantasy if pressed to choose between sf and f - but its sequel City of Hope and Despair is more fantasy-nal with a more-or-less standard UF thread out of two storylines.

Back on topic, I got Shadow at the Gate by C. Bunn a highly awaited sequel to the indie A hawk and His Boy and I am loving it, while today a copy of Kirsten Kasai Tatoo - sequel to her wonderful Ice Song which is another mixed genre novel, but one that today I would consider fantasy-nal - came and the epic trio (the new Bakker, Orullian, Beaulieu) should arrive shortly, so a very fantasy schedule for me next with Camera Obscura the only sf-nal title I plan to get to soon besides the above...

 

[Erfael]

The irony is that City of Dreams and Nightmare is very sfnal - personally I would not consider it fantasy if pressed to choose between sf and f - but its sequel City of Hope and Despair is more fantasy-nal with a more-or-less standard UF thread out of two storylines.

We do tend to get some cross-pollenization between SF and fantasy in the book clubs. Sometimes it's unclear from blurbs what a book is and we only find out after we read it. Other times it's up for debate and it could fall on one side or the other to different degrees. It'll be interesting to see what we think of it. I'm not cheating and discussing early, but so far, 50 pages in, it's pretty much all fantasy.

Actually, to add to that: The SF we accidentally read in the fantasy book club tends to be the sort that I don't think the participants in the SF book club would tolerate reading. Fantasy people seem to tolerate the bridge books more than the SF people do...

 

[algernoninc]

Finished The Hammer by K J Parker - it was indeed lighter in tone than previous books and also more straightforwatd in plot : the third son of a noble familiy exiled on an island is not satisfied with his decorative role imposed on him by his father and runs away from home. Gignomai is the customary brainiac always planning ahead and keeping his final goal masked. In a departure from the usual Parker style, the tehnological details are significantly toned down and the exploration of the theme of moral and ethic relativity is present but not so nihilistic as in previous books.
Highpoint for me were some unexpected laugh out loud moments and, like I said, the less ambiguous plotting. The ending was also great, but I don't want to give spoilers.

My conclusion : this is a good starting point for a reader unfamiliar with K J Parker.

 

[Corporal Blues]

Finished The Hammer by K J Parker - it was indeed lighter in tone than previous books and also more straightforwatd in plot : the third son of a noble familiy exiled on an island is not satisfied with his decorative role imposed on him by his father and runs away from home. Gignomai is the customary brainiac always planning ahead and keeping his final goal masked. In a departure from the usual Parker style, the tehnological details are significantly toned down and the exploration of the theme of moral and ethic relativity is present but not so nihilistic as in previous books.
Highpoint for me were some unexpected laugh out loud moments and, like I said, the less ambiguous plotting. The ending was also great, but I don't want to give spoilers.

My conclusion : this is a good starting point for a reader unfamiliar with K J Parker.

I read this one a little while ago too, but it was pretty much my first K.J. Parker experience...(I read Colours in the Steel a few years back, but nearly all recollection of it has since slipped my memory.) Since you say this is a good K.J. Parker starting point, what Parker book would you recommend moving to next?

 

[algernoninc]

I think The Engineer trilogy - starts with Devices and Desires. Ziani Vaatzes is the technological maverick, ready to lay waste to various kingdoms and city states in order to regain his loved ones. A prince, who is a master fencer is in love with a princess from a neighbouring kingdom. The Mezentine oligarchy is ready to go to war in order to protect its technological monopoly.
Oh, and I would leave The Company for last on you read list.

 

[Evil Agent]

Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy

Okay, I just finished Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. I've said it before, but I'll say it again... this is now in my Top 5 series of all time. Very well done! Also, I gather that some people didn't like the ending? I loved it, and thought it was very fitting.

Now, back to my re-read of The Hobbit.

 

[murf99]

Okay, I just finished Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. I've said it before, but I'll say it again... this is now in my Top 5 series of all time. Very well done! Also, I gather that some people didn't like the ending? I loved it, and thought it was very fitting.

Now, back to my re-read of The Hobbit.

Glad u liked it. I finished the trilogy about 6 months ago (read 3 of em in a row) and I feel the same way. Its probably in my top 3 fav series of all time, and JA is definitely my fav author at the moment.

Oh and I loved the ending too. Couldn't have made it any better imo.

 

[Erfael]

Okay, I just finished Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. I've said it before, but I'll say it again... this is now in my Top 5 series of all time. Very well done! Also, I gather that some people didn't like the ending? I loved it, and thought it was very fitting.

Now, back to my re-read of The Hobbit.

Just curious, Evil: Since this is now in your top five, what's out of it?

 

[Evil Agent]

Just curious, Evil: Since this is now in your top five, what's out of it?

My current Top 5 is probably Tolkien, GRRM, Hobb (Farseer), Erikson, and Abercrombie.

I'm not sure exactly sure who he bumped out of the list, but probably Bakker, Kay, or Jordan (I still rank Jordan up there, despite really disliking the latter half of the series).

And as for the ending of the trilogy, I really liked it in spite how harsh and grim it was... except for one thing:

Spoiler

What happened to poor Marshall West.

That was just too much for me! Brutal...

 

[Daddy Darth]

I have returned to my reread of A Feast For Crows after my Dan Brown detour. The Lost Symbol is one book that could not end fast enough.

Ah, Martin, sweet sweet Martin.

 

[Evil Agent]

I have returned to my reread of A Feast For Crows...

I'm going to be doing the same thing, in about a month, in preparation for A Dance with Dragons! It might be the weakest volume in the series, but it's still excellent. I've read AFFC twice, and really enjoyed it both times.

 

[Zsinj]

Reading the omnibus edition of Poul Anderson's "King of Ys". It's a great historical fantasy, imo, but I haven't seen much magic so far, or any monsters for that matter, and I'm a fourth of the way through the second book.

 

[Erfael]

I finished up next month's book club offering,City of Dreams and Nightmare by Ian Whates, earlier today. I'll reserve comments for the book club discussion.

Tonight I started in on my reread of Scott Bakker's The Judging Eye in anticipation of the upcoming release of White-Luck Warrior. For some reason, I really didn't want to start this one. I dove in, though, and have torn through 1/4 of it already. It's reminded me how much I love Scott's writing. Very descriptive and vivid, very interesting world.

 

[Evil Agent]

Tonight I started in on my reread of Scott Bakker's The Judging Eye in anticipation of the upcoming release of White-Luck Warrior. For some reason, I really didn't want to start this one. I dove in, though, and have torn through 1/4 of it already. It's reminded me how much I love Scott's writing. Very descriptive and vivid, very interesting world.

I haven't read any Bakker since finishing the first trilogy, a few years back. I should try to get around to new stuff sometime this year.

I finished Abercrombie's First Law trilogy a few days ago, and today I picked up Toll The Hounds. It's been over a year since I read any Erikson, and I've been kind of reluctant to start this one... because I hear it's the slowest in the series... but I finally decided to just do it. I'm about 70 pages in, and struggling a little to remember everything that's happened (especially since the last time I saw the continent of Genabackis was in Book 3, five books ago!)... but I'm already remembering how much fun Erikson's writing is. There's just something so entertaining and addictive about the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

I'm also continuing a re-read of The Hobbit, on the side.

 

[Corporal Blues]

My current read, Toll the Hounds is exposing gaping holes in my Malazan Memory Basket. Just over half way through and enjoying it for the most part.

 

[Evil Agent]

My current read, Toll the Hounds is exposing gaping holes in my Malazan Memory Basket. Just over half way through and enjoying it for the most part.

I feel the same way, having just started the book today. I felt pretty good about the last few novels, but I guess this one seems more difficult because we haven't seen this continent since Book 3. Anyways, I was browsing the always helpful Malazan forums last night, which are a great resource for refreshing your memory.

 

[Rob B]

My current read, Toll the Hounds is exposing gaping holes in my Malazan Memory Basket. Just over half way through and enjoying it for the most part.

... today I picked up Toll The Hounds. It's been over a year since I read any Erikson, and I've been kind of reluctant to start this one... because I hear it's the slowest in the series... but I finally decided to just do it. I'm about 70 pages in, and struggling a little to remember everything that's happened (especially since the last time I saw the continent of Genabackis was in Book 3, five books ago!)... but I'm already remembering how much fun Erikson's writing is. There's just something so entertaining and addictive about the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Heh...I'm kind of the same both as both of you. The last Erikson I read was Reaper's Gale almost two years ago in September 2009. I've had Toll the Hounds since that time and with all the other books that have leaped in front of it, I've been a bit hesitant to jump in since there are always some gaps for me with Erikson considering the scope and the months to years I take between reading each volume. That said, with The Crippled God also in my possession (as well as Dust of Dreams), I may do a marathon and plow through all three though if I want to finish before Christmas I should start soon....


As for what I'm reading - The Unremembered by Peter Orullian. I'm enjoying it, but I am finding it very familiar.

 

[Corporal Blues]

I feel the same way, having just started the book today. I felt pretty good about the last few novels, but I guess this one seems more difficult because we haven't seen this continent since Book 3. Anyways, I was browsing the always helpful Malazan forums last night, which are a great resource for refreshing your memory.

Ok, that's good to know, because I feel like I need to fill in some of those gaps. Thanks for the tip!

 

[DurzoBlint]

Finished A Darkness at Sethanon by Feist. It was okay but not as good as the First half of the series. The Magician storyline was much more entertaining. But I can at least say I have read Feist now and have completed the first Riftwar series. I think the problem was that I enjoyed the characters Tomas and Pug and didn't really care for the nobility. Unfortunately, the nobility play a much bigger roll in the second half of the series.

I am taking a quick break from SF/F and reading Nothing to Envy, a book on North Korea and then I will jump back into the genre. Just need a little breather and so that is what I will read. Not very far into it but I am enjoying it so far.

 

[MattNY]

I read through A Spell For Chameleon by Piers Anthony, which is the first novel in the Xanth world. I hadn't read those since I was a child, but had stumbled on an old thread here and I was in the mood for something light.

I honestly thought I would hate it..so I was pleasantly surprised that it was still enjoyable. Yes, the writing isn't the best and at times a bit immature, but I was able to overlook that and enjoy an old fashioned adventure tale.

To do a complete 180 after finishing that, I started my first re-read of A Game of Thrones to prepare for the TV series premiere in a few weeks. I haven't read the book in a few years now, and I am already glad I have brushed up on some events I didn't quite recall properly.