December's Delights in Reading

[Kettricken]

As an easy in-between read I've read 'Bitten' by Kelley Armstrong. It was a bit formulaic, but entertaining if you don't expect too much of it. It seems all those paranormal romances start to look a bit too similar...

I'm also still reading 'Gardens of the Moon', which still has its confusing moments, but I'm enjoying it a lot. I really like Kruppe and his gang!

 

[Quokka]

The Mote in God's Eye - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, there's a good story here except that the human characters all seem like they'd be more at home on an old english sailingship.

 

[Taltos]

Just finishing Butchers Academ's Fury - this book starts of even more cliched than the first book in these series. Still Butcher manages to draw me in and I was thinking about ordering the rest three books in these series - just to discover that the fifth book isn't available in paperback It'll just have to wait.

 

[Soulstar]

The Foundation and Empire by IA, working my way through the entire series this month.

 

[Siberian]

Just finishing Butchers Academ's Fury - this book starts of even more cliched than the first book in these series. Still Butcher manages to draw me in and I was thinking about ordering the rest three books in these series - just to discover that the fifth book isn't available in paperback It'll just have to wait.

Yeah, Academ's Fury reminded me somewhat of Harry Potter (and other magical school book although I loved the history examination, it was very tongue-in-cheek).

I read all five books and Cursor's Fury was the one that made me a fan of the series. Tavi finally comes into his own and I enjoyed the Roman military feel of that book).

Also, although the main story about an simple orphaned farm boy has been a cliche since I think Arthurian legends Butcher still manages to make it feel fresh and original in other ways. For starters, everyone has magical powers except the central character - where else in epic fantasy have you seen something like this? Also, the setting is more Roman than medieval and the magical system is not very cliched either (no powerful artefacts, thank the gods).

I guess the jury is still out until the final book but so far I've enjoyed it immensely. It may not be the deepest or most original fantasy out there, but it was fun and entertaining without becoming fluffy and I'm glad Butcher is not obsessed with writing a mammoth multivolume fantasy series and going to stop at book six.

 

[Taltos]

Yeah, Academ's Fury reminded me somewhat of Harry Potter (and other magical school book although I loved the history examination, it was very tongue-in-cheek).

Don't know - I've read only the first Potter book - and that to prove somebody that it's a bunch of cliches in new binding Well the person wasn't very happy, when I pointed out from where most of the stuff was taken. And what seemed so cliche at the start of Academ's was not the school setup, but the bullying of the richer and stronger students - but that was just the start of the book.

Also, although the main story about an simple orphaned farm boy has been a cliche since I think Arthurian legends Butcher still manages to make it feel fresh and original in other ways. For starters, everyone has magical powers except the central character - where else in epic fantasy have you seen something like this?

A boy without parents, who is different from other boys in his neighborhood - where have we read something like that It doesn't matter what is the difference, it still seemed "oh boy, here we go again..." start - nothing of this is really original, but Butcher manages to create good characters and a lot of excitement - so the lack of originality doesn't matter, these are still very good books. I'm not saying that it's all unoriginal - but with high-fantasy, you have to realize that the same subjects have been used by other authors.

Butcher is not obsessed with writing a mammoth multivolume fantasy series and going to stop at book six.

Hmmm, and I read from somewhere that the fifth book should be the last - oh well, I can manage to wait another year - still they should release the paperback at the same time as the hardcover - it's frustrating having to wait a year for that release.

 

[Nikitta]

I've been home with a cold, so I'm already done reading Before They are Hanged. It was really good and had quite a few things in it that I really enjoyed.

Switching directly from Lynch to Abercrombie gave me a few confusing moments of mixing up the worlds as I read, but eventually I got it sorted out

Now it's on to Last Argument of the Kings.

 

[Siberian]

Don't know - I've read only the first Potter book - and that to prove somebody that it's a bunch of cliches in new binding Well the person wasn't very happy, when I pointed out from where most of the stuff was taken. And what seemed so cliche at the start of Academ's was not the school setup, but the bullying of the richer and stronger students - but that was just the start of the book.

Bullying is quite typical for school environments. It's something that we all can relate to and gives us another cause to root for Tavi and his friends. I'd be more surpized if everyone was nice and polite to each other.

A boy without parents, who is different from other boys in his neighborhood - where have we read something like that

Yes, but did you read another books where this difference puts him at a disadvantage?

It doesn't matter what is the difference, it still seemed "oh boy, here we go again..." start - nothing of this is really original, but Butcher manages to create good characters and a lot of excitement - so the lack of originality doesn't matter, these are still very good books. I'm not saying that it's all unoriginal - but with high-fantasy, you have to realize that the same subjects have been used by other authors.

Considering that fantasy draws heavily from mythology and religion nothing is very original in the fantasy genre, especially when it comes to the basic plots. The difference is in details. Yes, we've all read a story about a seemingly ordinary youth rising to power - in fact, it's one of the most popular stories in mythology and fiction - the question is, is the boy's journey different enough to make it more fresh and less predictable? I think in this case the answer is 'yes'.

Hmmm, and I read from somewhere that the fifth book should be the last - oh well, I can manage to wait another year - still they should release the paperback at the same time as the hardcover - it's frustrating having to wait a year for that release.

Well, he still writes faster than Martin

 

[annis]

Originally posted by Connavar
I have started reading Snake Agent by Liz Williams.

I love Liz Williams- she has such an original style, and all her stories are quite different but equally compelling . I'd probaly call her style sci/fantasy.

I've just finished Poul Anderson's "Rogue Sword", a rare straight historical fiction novel from him, about the latter stages of the Christian Byzantine Empire.
I've posted a review at the Historical Novels Info website if anyone wants to know more about it
HistoricalNovels.info/Rogue-Sword.html

 

[BookStop]

I just finished The Tale of Edgar Sawtelle. It's an Oprah bookclub book, and for the most part her picks are outstanding. Although the book was a little dry in the middle and I found myself reading really fast, probably skimming more than I should've, it was very good and I'd recommend it to almost anyone, especially if you like dogs.

 

[Lord Soth]

On the last book of Gemmell's Troy series, Fall of Kings - its been a while since I read any of his so its a great reminder to re-read the ones I have stored away!

 

[HoopyFrood]

Edward II -- Christopher Marlowe

 

[Connavar]

I love Liz Williams- she has such an original style, and all her stories are quite different but equally compelling . I'd probaly call her style sci/fantasy.

I've just finished Poul Anderson's "Rogue Sword", a rare straight historical fiction novel from him, about the latter stages of the Christian Byzantine Empire.
I've posted a review at the Historical Novels Info website if anyone wants to know more about it
HistoricalNovels.info/Rogue-Sword.html

I like the original take Snake Agent series/world is. I mean a future sci/fantasy/Mystery set in Singapore Three how often do you read something like that is actually good not some roll playing game . Funny is that the cover looks my books rpgs with vamps,werewolfs....

I like the characters too doesnt matter if they are demons or Chen. Its well balanced in that its no "lets fight the horrible evil Hell is " Thats original to me too in this kind of book. At first i thought her writing style was too soft and not so vivid for a story like it. But when it got going it got tougher,darker i enjoyed it to the max.

 

[j d worthington]

Edward II -- Christopher Marlowe

Now, that's a nasty little piece of work, that is....

Still (largely) having to stick with shorter works at present, but that means I'm making considerable progress through Smith's verse (which is quite an experience, believe me... I've read a good dose before, but nothing like this, and it's as heady as reading Blake for a prolonged period!)... but I am managing to do a (somewhat sporadic) rereading of Merritt's The Moon Pool along the way....

 

[D_Davis]

Finished A Wizard of Earthsea.

Great book. Loved every page of it.

I rarely read books in a series back-to-back, and to continue this trend I am not turning to the second Eathsea book, but am instead turning to David 'First Blood and Rambo' Morrell's The Totem. Often mentioned on 'best of horror lists,' I am looking forward to checking this out.

 

[murphy]

Now reading John Levitt's New Tricks, the second book in the series about

Mason used to work as an enforcer, ensuring that magic practitioners walked the straight and narrow. But he gave all that up for a quiet life scraping out a living playing his guitar, keeping a low profile with Louie, his magical...well, let's call him a dog. Luckily, Louie has a sixth sense for danger, and Mason knows exactly how dead he'd be without him.

(from the blurb on the back of the book)

The story takes place in modern-day San Francisco, and while it didn't grab me the way the Dresden files did, it is very readable.

 

[sffhound]

Have just finished book one of "The deeds of Paksenarrion" and have begun reading book two.

I really dig these books, mostly because the main character is a BELIEVABLE warrior woman. On the plus side it's nice to see homosexuality inserted as something that's not really a big deal. The main characters asexuality is also refreshing (though a little frustrating for a romantic like me)

 

[AE35Unit]

Well having scraped thru Attanasio's overly prosaic Solis I think I'm gonna give Jack Vance's City of the Chasch a go. I have the first three books in the series-it was only later that I discovered its a tetralogy! Thats 5 books I believe.

 

[J-Sun]

I think tetralogy would equal a quartet - a quintet is a pentalogy, I guess. I just picked up all five books but you'll probably beat me to it, as I'm in the middle of a largish anthology and have others to get to between then. Still, I hope we enjoy them.

 

[Rothgar]

Just started working on Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.