Just finished Adrian Tchaikovsky's Empire in Black and Gold, and I'm disappointed. Beyond the insect-kinden concepts, this book is pretty much standard fantasy lite fare...
Is Fantasy lite like YA?
Just kidding. That was my concern around these picking up these books - the concept seemed interesting, but I had a worry the execution wasn't there. You seem to be the first detractor I've seen Pat - anyone else have a negative view of this book?
So, another long period without posting much about what I've been reading here. Not much fantasy recently:
Fables: Legends in Exile, Bill Willingham (graphic novel) - I bought this based on a recommendation of the series by Cory Doctorow. I was pretty underwhelmed, and would be interested in seeing if anyone can tell me if it picks up at all.
Hellboy: Strange Places, Mike Mignola (graphic novel) - This one expanded upon the Hellboy universe a fair bit, which was interesting. Plus the big nod to William Hope Hodgson was pretty cool.
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess (SF) - Not bad. I struggled with slang through the first quarter, but aprreciated it when I got into the rhythm. There's something abour about dystopian SF in my recent reads that doesn't quite ring true for me though, and I'm finding it less appealing as a sub-genre.
Seeds of Change, edited by John Joseph Adams (SF) - Only 2 or 3 of the stories really interested, forgetable apart from that. Weakest anthology by Adams so far.
Blink, Malcolm Gladwell (non-fiction) - More interesting stuff my new favourite genre, pop psychology/neuroscience.
The Born Queen, Greg Keyes - The concluding volume of this epic fantasy series. While I'd forgotten some of the plot points and minor characters, overall it was pretty easy to slip back into this series. OK stuff, my disinterest in epic fantasy probably didn't help. I couldn't recall if some of the plot points around the magic system were introduced in previous novels or introduced here - either way they involved me remembering made up names, organiations and relationships thatr I didn't particularly care about. This book (and series) was at its best when keeping focus on some of the characters and their interactions, rather than the overarching political and end-of-the-world storyline.
Caine Black Knife, Matt Stover - Unfortunately didn't blow me away as I was hoping. I think by largely being set on Overworld I missed the contrast with the future earth (hang on, now I'm contradicting myself asking for dystopian SF). One of my favourite scenes in the novel was actually set there, and didn't involve fighting. Gasp!
Young Caine didn't quite hold my interest as much as Old Caine, and at times the tense jarred me - it didn't feel right at times. Stover still writes great action scences, I'd go as far to describe him as the best author at writing hand to hand combat I've read. I was also a bit peeved at the slightly open ending - I didn't know there was going to be another book, let alone one closely tied to this. Overall comment: Good, but it's no Blade of Tyshalle.
