Reading in October 2009

[Winter]

I've heard excellent reviews on The Malazon Empire but I wonder, is the series only good at the first books, like The Sword of Truth, when I had to struggle with each repeating sentence?

I have read all of the Malazan books except for the latest one. I actually prefer the later books to the earlier ones, but it seems that I am not in the majority. Best way to find out is to read them.

---

Just finished Contract by Si Spurrier. It was a very good story, with some wonderful imagery, but it was dragged down a bit by excessive repetition and Overzealous Use Of Capitalization. I have moved on to Canticle by Ken Scholes, which immediately struck me with a nostalgic longing to reread the first. Considering the very large stack of books waiting to be read, this is not going to happen. Still, loving the book, though I find myself forced away from it often by the desire to make it last.

 

[ObtusePunubiris]

Finished The Paladin by Cherryh this evening. Good book. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing terribly special about it either. Cherryh has a talent for writing interesting relationships and that's the main thing this book has going for it.

Next up, Tigana by Kay

 

[Rob B]

In one sitting last night, I read Douglass Clegg's Isis, which I enjoyed. Nice, evocative, and dark if somewhat predictable tale.

 

[Randy M.]

In one sitting last night, I read Douglass Clegg's Isis, which I enjoyed. Nice, evocative, and dark if somewhat predictable tale.

I agree, with a quibble: "Predictable" has a negative connotation. I think there must be -- or should be -- a word with a similar meaning but with the connotation of, "Yes, I knew what was coming but the sense of impending [insert emotion of choice] implicit in the tale was one of its pleasures." Have yet to find that word, but I haven't given up looking.

Randy M.

 

[Hobbit]

Ah, the joy of wordage - I was thinking 'comfortable', but then that doesn't really work with your context either, Randy.

As for reading: Not really a genre book, but a genre writer: Susan Hill (ghost/horror writer) has published a book called Howards End is on the Landing: A year of reading from home This is where the writer decides to stop buying books, stay off the Internet and concentrate on reading her enormous 'to-be-read' pile. Reading books she's bought but forgotten, books she'd not realised she'd had, for anyone who's a lover of books it's a charming and engaging read. More Austen than Abercrombie, though.

Mark

 

[PeterWilliam]

Randy,
How about intuitive? I know it's not exactly it, but as close as I could get on a whim.

 

[Gilgamesh]

how about "not surprising"

 

[tyriseus]

I agree, with a quibble: "Predictable" has a negative connotation. I think there must be -- or should be -- a word with a similar meaning but with the connotation of, "Yes, I knew what was coming but the sense of impending [insert emotion of choice] implicit in the tale was one of its pleasures." Have yet to find that word, but I haven't given up looking.

Randy M.

I don't know if there is a single word that can conjure such meaning - drawing from my all too limited vocabulary I can't at least. If you don't mind the adverb use how about 'conventionally enjoyable.' Weak I think as I don't think it truly conveys what your looking for - but hey, I am supposed to be working after all...

Perhaps we should just create a word and let the rest of the world pick up on it at their own pace.

 

[Rob B]

I agree, with a quibble: "Predictable" has a negative connotation. I think there must be -- or should be -- a word with a similar meaning but with the connotation of, "Yes, I knew what was coming but the sense of impending [insert emotion of choice] implicit in the tale was one of its pleasures." Have yet to find that word, but I haven't given up looking.

Randy M.

Fair point Randy. In my review I do go into more detail, but predictable is a word that can leave a bad taste in the mouth.

 

[Randy M.]

Randy,
How about intuitive? I know it's not exactly it, but as close as I could get on a whim.

Y'know, that's at least in the neighborhood.

A number of years ago I saw a critic describe Laurel and Hardy movies in much the same way. He said part of the enjoyment was knowing what the characters would do, knowing Stan would make Ollie angry, Ollie would huff and rant and you'd eventually hear, "Well, Stanley, this is another fine mess you've gotten me into," but the boys would eventually pull together to mess it up in tandem. With horror, while the emotion is different, a lot of the scariest, or anyway, most affecting stories rely on us knowing what's coming and not being able to duck.


Anyway, last night I finished, My Work is Not Yet Done by Thomas Ligotti. This is about the darkest book I've read since Nathaniel West's Miss Lonelyhearts, and is a deeply satirical and fundamentally bleak look at this age of conglomerates and multi-nationals and their effect on the people who work for them. The book is also satirical of the types of people who work for them, in pursuit of which Ligotti uses a distinctive authorial voice to attack the pompous silliness of a belief in individual identity. And if that sounds at all contradictory...well, yes -- it certainly makes gaging Ligotti's stance on that issue somewhat more complex.

Seriously, if you haven't read it and if you want your mind warped, pick this up. It's not for the faint of heart, though. Ligotti is not a merchant of splatter, but he is not fearful of using the grotesque and disturbing in pursuit of his story.


Over the weekend I picked up Lovecraft Unbound, edited by Ellen Datlow. It decided me that I needed to reread a bit of HPL before diving in, so I've pulled out Tales of H. P. Lovecraft, edited by Joyce Carol Oates.


Randy M.

 

[Winter]

Seriously, if you haven't read it and if you want your mind warped, pick this up. It's not for the faint of heart, though. Ligotti is not a merchant of splatter, but he is not fearful of using the grotesque and disturbing in pursuit of his story.

Randy M.

...I want my mind warped...

I already had my eye on it for some time, but I guess this means I will actually have to give in and buy it at some point. I'm waiting for the day that my nightstand just crumbles under the weight of the multi-stack... either that or gains sentience/animation and runs away exclaiming a mixture of curses at me and howls of glee...

---

Still reading and enjoying Ken Scholes' Canticle. For some reason I can only force myself to read a chapter at a time, then it goes back down while I find something else to do and long to pick it back up the entire time.

 

[immortal_kane]

I am reading Mike Resnick's "Stalking the Dragon". Very amusing as always. There is not much of a plot, but lots of great one-liners. The book is much stronger than "Stalking the Vampire" and various short stories in John Justin Mallory series, however it is nowhere near the greatness that is "Stalking the Unicorn". I am already on my 3rd copy of this book. I refuse to get a new trade paperback edition. John Justin Mallory in a fedora on a darkened street next to Felina and the elf is the best cover in my opinion.

Check out my sword and sorcery tale - "Temple in the Forest" in the Stories area of sffworld.com

 

[DurzoBlint]

Just finished The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott. Didn't start the book with any expectations and was pleasantly surprised when I finished the book. Has some fantasy and some horror but, not sure if I would classify it as either.

Elliott has allowed room for a sequel and I hope he decides to return to the series.

Starting A Storm of Swords by George RR Martin. I hope it moves at a quicker pace than A Clash of Kings. I doubt I will be disappointed but, aCoK moved a bit too slow for me.

 

[Daddy Darth]

Just cracked the 300 pg mark on reread of Knife of Dreams. It is plodding along. My favourite part of this one is Perrin's quest to free Faille. I really believe it. Mat is lots of fun but I do not enjoy the time he and his gang have spent with Luca and the travelling circus - probably my least favourite aspect of the whole series. He is about to make a break for it though.

the days are ticking away...its getting closer...almost have the next one in my hands.

 

[Dyloot]

I just finished Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, a gem I can't believe I missed until now. I knew Bujold by reputation for her SciFi work but hand no idea she had written such wonderful novels in the fantasy realm. I'd especially recommend Curse of Chalion to Robin Hobb fans or to those looking for a quick read that isn't part of a large series. There is a sequel, Paladin of Souls, but only one AND it won a Hugo. Not too shabby.

 

[Winter]

Just finished The Pilo Family Circus by Will Elliott. Didn't start the book with any expectations and was pleasantly surprised when I finished the book. Has some fantasy and some horror but, not sure if I would classify it as either.

Elliott has allowed room for a sequel and I hope he decides to return to the series.

I loved The Pilo Family Circus and hope that he continues as well. Right now, I would like to read his other book, Strange Places, which is about his life with Schizophrenia, but it seems to only be available from Australia.

 

[Evil Agent]

Finished The Two Towers (7th reading) and moving on to The Return of the King. Best books ever.

On a completely different note, I'm moving as far away from fantasy as possible by reading The God Delusion on the side.

 

[DurzoBlint]

Right now, I would like to read his other book, Strange Places, which is about his life with Schizophrenia, but it seems to only be available from Australia.

Looks like Book Depository has the book, but is currently out of stock.

 

[Julian]

I just finished Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold, a gem I can't believe I missed until now. I knew Bujold by reputation for her SciFi work but hand no idea she had written such wonderful novels in the fantasy realm. I'd especially recommend Curse of Chalion to Robin Hobb fans or to those looking for a quick read that isn't part of a large series. There is a sequel, Paladin of Souls, but only one AND it won a Hugo. Not too shabby.

I believe there are three books, so far:

1. The Curse of Chalion
2. Paladin of Souls
3. The Hallowed Hunt

The Hallowed Hunt is quite different from the earlier two books, whilst (to my mind) Paladin of Souls is a little too reminiscent of The Curse of Chalion.

All in all, I'd say Curse is the best of the bushel.

Besides the Chalion series, Bujold has recently written the Sharing Knife series. Again, fantasy:

1. Beguilement
2. Legacy
3. Passage
4. Horizon

I haven't yet read that one, though.

 

[Winter]

That's code for "we'll not have it anytime soon." It was out of stock a few months ago, too. The book has only been published in Australia and the book depository is based in the UK (though it has finally branched out to the US), so I really wouldn't expect them to have it (checked anyway though, and Ebay, Abe Books, and Alibris, though it has one copy in the US that is $28, plus the cost of shipping, which... yeah, no, not for a book that I am uncertain of). I've though about emailing the author and asking if there was any news on it being published in the UK or US, but then I remembered that he is Australian and they get pretty much get shafted when it comes to books and it just doesn't feel right. And really, I could order it from Australia if I were willing to pay that much for a book.