July's Jaw-dropping, occasionally Jargonistic and often Jubilant Stories

[Grunkins]

I finished Stephen R Donaldson's fourth book of his Gap Cycle, Chaos and Order last night. This series is fantastic. It's amazing how the series goes from being a small character study filled with nothing but brutal misery, to a large, sprawling, full-blown space epic. The larger story is great, but it's still the characters who move the books along. Chaos and Order is more of the same in that regard. Somehow I find myself rooting for every POV character in the book (there are quite a few), despite the fact that a few pages or a few books earlier they were committing unspeakable acts of violence and flat out torture on another character. Every character in this series has a will of their own, and they act off the best information they have at the moment (much of it is wrong). There is a tremendous amount of action and counter-action, as everyone is interpreting the information they possess in their own way and according to their own wills. There is a lot of inadvertent foiling going on, as well as brilliant maneuvering. I can only imagine it was a joy and a nightmare to write. Excellent book, excellent series. I am tempted to jump right in and start the last book, but then it would be over, and I'm not ready for that yet.

 

[GOLLUM]

Interesting reveiw Grunkins. It sounds a little like his approach when writing the Thomas Covenant series where he starts off with a very conflicted angst-ridden individual who is then transported to a whole new world with an array of characters, places and their histories..albeit Covenant's angst never really goes away as it forms a signifcant part of the underlying story.

I have all of Donaldson's work except for the GAP Series as it wasn't somethnig that I was sure would appeal to me. Following your reveiw I may need to rethink this strategy...

This also reminds me that the final Thomas Covenant book The Last Dark is due fior release later this year....can't wait to see how it all ends.

 

[Fried Egg]

I would also urge you to try the GAP series, I thought it was very good.

 

[ratsy]

I know my brother has read the GAP series a few times and loves it...his favorite. I have never made the plunge into it yet but hope to one day.

 

[antiloquax]

Took a little holiday from Helliconia Summer to re-read Daniel Quinn's Ishmael. I like this telepathic gorilla ecological novel of ideas very much. I may read the sequel The Story of B soon.

 

[Grunkins]

Interesting reveiw Grunkins. It sounds a little like his approach when writing the Thomas Covenant series where he starts off with a very conflicted angst-ridden individual who is then transported to a whole new world with an array of characters, places and their histories..albeit Covenant's angst never really goes away as it forms a signifcant part of the underlying story.

I have all of Donaldson's work except for the GAP Series as it wasn't somethnig that I was sure would appeal to me. Following your reveiw I may need to rethink this strategy...

This also reminds me that the final Thomas Covenant book The Last Dark is due fior release later this year....can't wait to see how it all ends.

I haven't read any of the Thomas Covenant books yet, and am really looking forward to them. More than a few people have said they are even better than the Gap books. I have the first trilogy ready to go in my TBR stacks, just waiting for me to finish up a few of the series I am currently reading.

Speaking of which I've started the 9th book of Malazan Book of the Fallen, Dust of Dreams. So the end is in sight with that great series, and after the 5th Gap book I should be ready for Thomas Covenant and Robin Hobbs' Tawny Man trilogy. Can't wait.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I've started Mr. Pye by Mervyn Peake.

 

[j d worthington]

I've started Mr. Pye by Mervyn Peake.

I would be very interested in your thoughts on this one. I've not read it myself, but have long been curious about it....

 

[GOLLUM]

I would be very interested in your thoughts on this one. I've not read it myself, but have long been curious about it....

Ditto...

I've got a copy of both the original novel Mr Pye and the 1957 BBC play adapted from the novel. Neither read to date...

 

[GOLLUM]

I haven't read any of the Thomas Covenant books yet, and am really looking forward to them. More than a few people have said they are even better than the Gap books. I have the first trilogy ready to go in my TBR stacks, just waiting for me to finish up a few of the series I am currently reading.

Speaking of which I've started the 9th book of Malazan Book of the Fallen, Dust of Dreams. So the end is in sight with that great series, and after the 5th Gap book I should be ready for Thomas Covenant and Robin Hobbs' Tawny Man trilogy. Can't wait.

You're getting rather spoiled there...

Good timing with the Covenant series. These started back in the late 1970s and having followed them since the mid 1980s I'm looking forward to the finale.

Malazan is my favourite EPIC series of all time and Robin Hobb I also like, albeit I've not progressed beyond the Soldier Son trilogy...too many other things to read. I wasn't as big a fan of the Liveship trilogy, Tawny Man is quite good. The original Farseer is still my favourite Hobb trilogy and something I could see being regarded as a classic of the Genre in 50 years (if not already) from now.

To fans of The Gap: The Gap series certainly sounds interesting. I may need to include it in my Christmas wish list.

 

[HareBrain]

I have at last finished John Cowper Powys's A Glastonbury Romance. I've never read anyone else like Powys and don't expect to ever do so. I'm certainly glad I read this book -- it was only occasionally gripping, but was rarely less than interesting and I often found it fascinating, mostly because of the scope of the author's perceptions, interests and ideas, and ways of seeing things. It's 1100 pages of often dense prose, however, and what plot there is often meanders, so although I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a unique reading experience, it might not suit many people.

 

[The Judge]

I've done a bit of reading the last few weeks:

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré -- an excellent book which is more than simply a spy and semi-detective novel with believable characters and pitch-perfect dialogue

Consider the Fork by Bee Wilson -- a non-fiction book on the history of invention in the kitchen -- a bit disappointing, as rather too much concentration on the later inventions, and far too chatty.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger -- a bit over-written and over-wrought for my taste with a negligible plot.

The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan -- the first of The Wheel of Time sequence -- too long, too going-nowhere, and inadequate characterisation for me.

My Friend Mr Campion and Other Stories, and Mr Campion and Others -- short stories by Margery Allingham. Light and fun.

A Dark Anatomy by Robin Blake -- a clever murder mystery set in 1740s Preston.

Heartstone by CJ Sansom -- another mystery, would-be detective novel, this one set in Tudor England -- fun but far too long and self-indulgent.

And I've finally got to the end of Magician by Raymond Fiest, only 2 months after I started it... Definitely not one for me -- slow, padded, awful characterisation, unbelievably poor dialogue and prose, and only one realistic and interesting woman, who gets only a handful of lines.

 

[antiloquax]

Finished Helliconia Summer today. I am going to read Lest Darkness Fall by L. Sprague de Camp before I read the final volume of Aldiss' masterpiece!

Regarding Donaldson. I am a fan of the Covenant books, but I have never read the Gap series. I very much enjoyed the two-volumes of the "Mordant's Need" series (A Man Rides Through and The Mirror of her Dreams).

 

[Bugg]

Heartstone by CJ Sansom -- another mystery, would-be detective novel, this one set in Tudor England -- fun but far too long and self-indulgent.

Yeah, I feel he lost his way a little with that one. Far too many contrivances in the plot to keep Shardlake in particular places for particular historical events.

I finished The Thousand Names by Django Wexler. Didn't like it very much: flat, bland characters, flat, bland action sequences, and a far too predictable plot for my liking.

Now reading Conn Iggulden's Emperor: The Gates of Rome, which is a fun, easy-to-read adventure. His writing style reminds me of David Gemmell for some reason, but nowhere near as good.

I've also been working my way through Robert E. Howard's Conan stories, and thoroughly enjoying them. So far I've read: The Phoenix on the Sword, The Frost Giant's Daughter, The God in the Bowl, The Tower of the Elephant, The Scarlet Citadel, and Queen of the Black Coast

 

[GOLLUM]

I have at last finished John Cowper Powys's A Glastonbury Romance. I've never read anyone else like Powys and don't expect to ever do so. I'm certainly glad I read this book -- it was only occasionally gripping, but was rarely less than interesting and I often found it fascinating, mostly because of the scope of the author's perceptions, interests and ideas, and ways of seeing things. It's 1100 pages of often dense prose, however, and what plot there is often meanders, so although I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a unique reading experience, it might not suit many people.

Cool. As per our previous discussion on Powys I have Wolf Solent and was thinking of getting either Poirus or Glastonbury Romance. I seem to recall you may have read all 3? Which is your favourite if you had to pick one?

Looking at his Bio on wiki he seems to have been quite prolific! given he wrote poetry, novels, essays, pieces on Philosophy, biographies, short stories and a heap of letter writing to boot.

An amazing individual by all accounts.

 

[HareBrain]

I have Wolf Solent and was thinking of getting either Poirus or Glastonbury Romance. I seem to recall you may have read all 3? Which is your favourite if you had to pick one?

I haven't tackled Porius yet, and will probably leave that a few months. Of the other two, I'm not sure which was my favourite, but on balance, I would recommend starting with Wolf Solent.

You can tell from his writing how much of a character he must have been. I can see the Welsh in him, which, given that he's writing about oh-so-English Hardy country, makes an interesting combination.

Be sure to report back if you do read one of them!

 

[GOLLUM]

I haven't tackled Porius yet, and will probably leave that a few months. Of the other two, I'm not sure which was my favourite, but on balance, I would recommend starting with Wolf Solent.

You can tell from his writing how much of a character he must have been. I can see the Welsh in him, which, given that he's writing about oh-so-English Hardy country, makes an interesting combination.

Be sure to report back if you do read one of them!

Don't worry I will. I have Wolf Solent so that is the one I will want to read and review first.

He would have made an amazing Dinner guest not to mention traveling companion I bet...

 

[The Judge]

Heartstone by CJ Sansom -- another mystery, would-be detective novel, this one set in Tudor England -- fun but far too long and self-indulgent.

Yeah, I feel he lost his way a little with that one. Far too many contrivances in the plot to keep Shardlake in particular places for particular historical events.

By coincidence, I went to see the new Mary Rose museum last month** so as soon as the year and Portsmouth was mentioned I knew what was going to happen -- and his tendency to shoehorn all his research into his books meant it was like another tour around the museum.


** To anyone who lives remotely near, or who can justify a weekend away/longer holiday -- particularly with children -- I'd thoroughly recommend it. Very informative. (On the other hand you could read Heartstone and get most of it there. )

 

[Lord Soth]

Finished Song for Arbonne by GGK, not one of my favourite works from him unfortunately, looking forward to River of Stars which is currently en route to my doorstep!

In the meantime I have gone for my usual literary palate cleanser and have picked up some sci-fi, namely Abaddon's Gate by James S. Corey. I read the previous two of this trilogy some time ago, and whilst not ground breaking I thought they were pretty solid.

 

[ratsy]

Generally uninspired by Peter V Bretts Daylight War and I am only 100 pages in. The characters just have a trashy feel to them and can they just stop saying "Ent" as in "Ent my problem anymore"!!! I really liked this series but hadn't read the last one since 2 years ago...either the writing has changed or I have. I will try to push through because I do know that I was really looking forward to it...maybe once we move to a better characters plot line.