Current Fantasy Novel Trends

[Ökuþórr]

I guess the European bias is at least partly down to "write what you know". I've always lived in England, have never been to the tropics and dislike hot, humid climates, so the chances of me writing something set in a jungle are minimal!

I agree with you. I'm English myself and although I have many different cultures in my world, I do tend to concentrate more on what I know best. But Its nice to get away from it too.

Also dislike the heat. I was born in winter.

 

[Montero]

I've read the Aldabreshi books and liked them. Its a nice change from your European guy in the world of Northern Europe land. Fantasy on tropical islands. Hope she does more.

From memory, book 2 in the Thief's Gamble one has a biggish chunk on the Aldebreshi islands.
Effectively each book of TG - the Einarin series - is set in a different country in the northern lands. Sometimes one thread is in one country, one in another.

I do like the attention to detail she has - including the minor characters and walk-on parts - they are real people briefly caught up in the action, rather than cannon fodder.

In the Aldebreshi series I rather liked the main character's wives. (The social arrangement is that he fights and defends the family holdings and business, the wives do all the trading between holdings - and they can be very competitive to put it politely.)

 

[ragtagblues]

From memory, book 2 in the Thief's Gamble one has a biggish chunk on the Aldebreshi islands.

That would be the Swordsmen's Oath, which is by far my favorite of her books, although I am yet to read any of the one's based in Lescar.

Effectively each book of TG - the Einarin series - is set in a different country in the northern lands. Sometimes one thread is in one country, one in another.

The one thing I think she manages so well is to show the depth and cultural diversity of the land she has created without going into long winded passages that explain every nuance of society.

I do like the attention to detail she has - including the minor characters and walk-on parts - they are real people briefly caught up in the action, rather than cannon fodder.

Couldn't agree more, instantly the body slaves in the Shek domain spring to mind, they were real people who you could believe in and weren't just written in to buff out certain scenes or lands.

In the Aldebreshi series I rather liked the main character's wives. (The social arrangement is that he fights and defends the family holdings and business, the wives do all the trading between holdings - and they can be very competitive to put it politely.)

Yes a very interesting view on it I found, however I thought the characterization of Dev was spot as a total opposite to Kheda and all he had known as a warlord.

I do love her books and if I could ever step through a window into a world I had read about, hers would be very high on my list. It just seems more real . . . .

Sorry to hijack your conversation.

 

[Connavar]

I've read the Aldabreshi books and liked them. Its a nice change from your European guy in the world of Northern Europe land. Fantasy on tropical islands. Hope she does more.

obs........................

 

[Connavar]

I've read the Aldabreshi books and liked them. Its a nice change from your European guy in the world of Northern Europe land. Fantasy on tropical islands. Hope she does more.

Since i was born in a country where there is no winter but only extreme heat and months long rain season you sold me Mckenna's Aldabreshi books

Im in north European country but i look for fantasy set in other parts of the world. Its only natural you want things closer to home.

Swedish winters, eternal dark fall-winter season will never be natural enviorement for me hehe!

 

[Ökuþórr]

From memory, book 2 in the Thief's Gamble one has a biggish chunk on the Aldebreshi islands.
Effectively each book of TG - the Einarin series - is set in a different country in the northern lands. Sometimes one thread is in one country, one in another.

I do like the attention to detail she has - including the minor characters and walk-on parts - they are real people briefly caught up in the action, rather than cannon fodder.

In the Aldebreshi series I rather liked the main character's wives. (The social arrangement is that he fights and defends the family holdings and business, the wives do all the trading between holdings - and they can be very competitive to put it politely.)

It struck me as though she had spent alot time working on the Aldebreshi belief system. I personally found it quite believable.

I wouldn't mind a book that centred around the women. To me they were just as interesting as the men. There is also more to explore in the domains.

Since i was born in a country where there is no winter but only extreme heat and months long rain season you sold me Mckenna's Aldabreshi books

Im in north European country but i look for fantasy set in other parts of the world. Its only natural you want things closer to home.

Swedish winters, eternal dark fall-winter season will never be natural enviorement for me hehe!

I hope you enjoy them. All this talk giving me the urge to do a re-read.

Eternal dark sounds good to me.

 

[rune]

What is the most different kinda of fantasy read by folks recently then? Thats not vampire/werewolf romance thingy

 

[Anne Lyle]

Most different? I'd have to say A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham. Oriental (kinda Japanese) setting, very low-key magic, not much in the way of action, but wonderful nonetheless.