May's (Mostly) Marvelous Literary Musings

Status
Not open for further replies.
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Im enjoying it because its beautiful written and the world is more original than most fantasy i have read in long time. He does good things to with his dark fairy tale world, the slavic mythology is interesting too. Although its not easy if you dont know what some of the monsters are.

If there is someone that are good with that mythology or knows a good site who have info on Rusalka and all the other beings,creatures it would help.

I recommend it to anyone who enjoy different kind of epic fantasy. Im glad i randomly tried this book and author. I love the short story format too that are connected. It reminds me somehow about Vance's Dying Earth. The quality writing, the world being almost like another world. Which is good, im alittle sick most fantasy of that kind copiying badly medevil europe almost always....
 
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Im enjoying it because its beautiful written and the world is more original than most fantasy i have read in long time. He does good things to with his dark fairy tale world, the slavic mythology is interesting too. Although its not easy if you dont know what some of the monsters are.

If there is someone that are good with that mythology or knows a good site who have info on Rusalka and all the other beings,creatures it would help.


Hmmm... can't remember any unknown monsters when I read it - OK, it was in Russian etc. different translation issues - but IIRC he was using mainly western Europe fairy-tales as base

Rusalka is actually Russian word for mermaid, interesting that this hasn't been translated. If you have any other problems let me know I'll try to find some answers.

I decided to go with Elizabeth Moon Trading in Danger - so far interesting and a bit similar to Bujold Miles saga beginning
 
Last edited:
Hmmm... can't remember any unknown monsters when I read it - OK, it was in Russian etc. different translation issues - but IIRC he was using mainly western Europe fairy-tales as base

Rusalka is actually Russian word for mermaid, interesting that this hasn't been translated. If you have any other problems let me know I'll try to find some answers.

I decided to go with Elizabeth Moon Trading in Danger - so far interesting and a bit similar to Bujold Miles saga beginning

How would i know Rusalka ? The Rusalka in the story was more of a female land monster. I had to check out wiki what rusalka was. But how fun is it to use wiki in the middle of reading session.

There were many other creatures names mentioned that wasnt translated and would be perfectly understandable for eastern people like polish,russians etc Some was explained like different kinds of vamps had different names. But most its assumed you know.

Can i write them out and pm them to you and see if you understand ? They are so foreign to me that i cant even spell them from memory.


Vamps,dwarves,gnomes are easy to know what they are, no need to mention them since they are so given.

By the way what do you think of The Last Wish and this author ?

His translator i can say is much better than Night Watch series one. Not once did i feel like reading a bad translation. It was smooth like you were reading the original langauge which is the best praise a translation can get.
 
Last edited:
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Im enjoying it because its beautiful written and the world is more original than most fantasy i have read in long time. He does good things to with his dark fairy tale world, the slavic mythology is interesting too. Although its not easy if you dont know what some of the monsters are.

If there is someone that are good with that mythology or knows a good site who have info on Rusalka and all the other beings,creatures it would help.

I recommend it to anyone who enjoy different kind of epic fantasy. Im glad i randomly tried this book and author. I love the short story format too that are connected. It reminds me somehow about Vance's Dying Earth. The quality writing, the world being almost like another world. Which is good, im alittle sick most fantasy of that kind copiying badly medevil europe almost always....

FYI, C. J. Cherry wrote a trilogy that deals with Rusalka. In fact, the first book is called Rusalka. She does explain what they are and tells an interesting story.
 
FYI, C. J. Cherry wrote a trilogy that deals with Rusalka. In fact, the first book is called Rusalka. She does explain what they are and tells an interesting story.


Cherrry ? You mean Cherryh i think ;)


I havent read that book of hers. My point wasnt no one in the west hasnt used mythology from eastern europe but that im sure no one in this type of fantasy has a book of creatures with their real names not translated. Rusalka was just an example. The easiest one to remember ;)

There were many more creatures that was so eastern european named, went in and out of my mind.

Its refereshing but annoying cause many of the names i cant even find a translation for, not even in wiki.

For example Moola is a type of vampire in the book but i doubt its money who's moola's meaning in english . Arpol is another easy example cause The Witcher ask the vamp if she is an Arpol type.
 
You didn't start with the series with Redemption Ark, did you? In any case, yes, 9/10 easily. Reynolds is one of my all-time favorites. He brought me back to SF, and his Revelation Space novels are far and away his best work, imo. I'm normally turned off by long (i.e., more than a trilogy) sereis, but I'm glad he's continuing with this one.

No, I started with Chasm City, then Revelation Space before Redemption Ark. I’m enjoying this series a lot and will probably continue with Absolution Gap later the month. Do you know if Reynolds plans any more after The Prefect?


Stick with it, Razorback...Diplomatic Immunity redresses the balance quite a bit...


Thanks Pyan. I just started and it looks better already.
 
Finally given in to the blandishments, and due to the number of times it's been recommended here, and in spite of the fact it's written in the first person, have started Assassin's Apprentice, by Robin Hobb...

I read this book also due in part to all the recommendations here. I really enjoyed the trilogy, but she tends to have passages that drag at times. Just my opinion of course. :) Still a good read though.
 
Cherrry ? You mean Cherryh i think ;)


I havent read that book of hers. My point wasnt no one in the west hasnt used mythology from eastern europe but that im sure no one in this type of fantasy has a book of creatures with their real names not translated. Rusalka was just an example. The easiest one to remember ;)

There were many more creatures that was so eastern european named, went in and out of my mind.

Its refereshing but annoying cause many of the names i cant even find a translation for, not even in wiki.

For example Moola is a type of vampire in the book but i doubt its money who's moola's meaning in english . Arpol is another easy example cause The Witcher ask the vamp if she is an Arpol type.


Ooopsy.:eek: You're right, it is Cherryh. She does use a lot of eastern European mythology and explains what they are, but it's been a long time since I read them.
 
Ooopsy.:eek: You're right, it is Cherryh. She does use a lot of eastern European mythology and explains what they are, but it's been a long time since I read them.

Im not surprised, the reason she has become my favorit female SF author is that she is very good using myth,history to create interesting people in her stories.

I wonder which fantasy work you are talking about. Have to look it up if its a series of hers or a solo book.

Eastern myth sounds interesting in her hands :)
 
Im not surprised, the reason she has become my favorit female SF author is that she is very good using myth,history to create interesting people in her stories.

I wonder which fantasy work you are talking about. Have to look it up if its a series of hers or a solo book.

Eastern myth sounds interesting in her hands :)

It's a trilogy.

Rusalka
Chernevog
Yvgenie
 
I am currently reading the first book of the First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, The Blade Itself. Am at the end so should be starting Before They Are Hanged very soon.
 
Having finished James Herbert's The Survivor(an excellent ghost story that!) I fancy some classic SF now. I have quite a few on my shelf now but what to read? Slan or Way Station,novel or collection. Decisions decisions...Oh does someone particular start the new monthly threads or can anyone do it?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads


Back
Top