C. J. Cherryh's Morgaine Books

[BAYLOR]

I liked Morgaine, a lot.

 

[Bick]

I liked Morgaine, a lot.

Yes, we know you like these books Baylor, as you told us about 6 posts back. Perhaps you could you tell us what you like about them, why you didn't like the fourth book so much, and why you don't think there will ever be a fifth book? Your opinions on these questions would make for interesting discussion (and look a little less like post-count padding).

 

[BAYLOR]

Yes, we know you like these books Baylor, as you told us about 6 posts back. Perhaps you could you tell us what you like about them, why you didn't like the fourth book so much, and why you don't think there will ever be a fifth book? Your opinions on these questions would make for interesting discussion (and look a little less like post-count padding).

Morgaine dedicated herself to one task, closing off the gates to all the worlds to prevent a second gate related disaster from again devastating the cosmos. She's noble and heroic . But , her path doesn't allow her really love someone deeply, she's fond of Vanye her companion, but that's as far she's willing to go on that score. Morgaine for all of her seeming decisiveness is in fact very fallible , she makes choices that seem good but, often turn out not so good. For example, leaving the gate open long enough so that the inhabitants of doomed drowning world could survive. The survived but cause cause war and mayhem on another world that hasn't known war for thousands of years. Sometimes , she just doesn't think things through. She's flawed , believable and likable.

 

[Bick]

Thanks Baylor. Careful with spoilers though, I've not read then yet as you know. Cheers.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

So I was poking around on her blog this morning, and in one of the older postings it says she tried to talk her publisher into another Morgaine book at one point, but there was no interest at that end. At least it sounds like she had some ideas for another book, so maybe one will come along eventually since she's been releasing old work, new work (it looks like these have been short stories, though), and revamped novels through Closed Circle, and is not quite so dependent on what publishers want.

She also mentioned, in another post, that she would like to write another Fortress book, but that she has a long list of projects to get through first.

Which sounds like a vague maybe on both of them.

 

[BAYLOR]

So I was poking around on her blog this morning, and in one of the older postings it says she tried to talk her publisher into another Morgaine book at one point, but there was no interest at that end. At least it sounds like she had some ideas for another book, so maybe one will come along eventually since she's been releasing old work, new work (it looks like these have been short stories, though), and revamped novels through Closed Circle, and is not quite so dependent on what publishers want.

She also mentioned, in another post, that she would like to write another Fortress book, but that she has a long list of projects to get through first.

Which sounds like a vague maybe on both of them.

We definitely could use another Morgaine book .

 

[Jarshen]

I only discovered her through Exiles Gate, which I loved. The tight relationship between her and Vayne, the smallness of their actions, predicament and sparring created such a tension that I did not need it to be explained. An example of a story beginning?
Since, I have read her fantasy works and in the wrong order (Thank you Amazon) and have loved/not continued reading. A special writer able to make the smallest things count. X

 

[Bick]

I just read Gate of Ivrel. I enjoyed it. it's a rather slight book in a sense, as I'm more used to fantasy* books being more complex in plot and world-building. In contrast, Ivrel is quite simple, very linear, and the world is relatively unimportant (in the sense of 'world-as-character'). I find that I'm okay with those things though in this instance, and of course the sequels will doubtless add depth, complexity and colour. I'm hoping Morgaine and Vanye gain a bit more depth too. Reviews here suggest I won't be disappointed on that front. I'm starting Well of Shiuan tonight. Will keep the board posted.

* I acknowledge it's actually SF, but it has enough fantasy themes to be compared more with fantasy than SF I think.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I acknowledge it's actually SF, but it has enough fantasy themes to be compared more with fantasy than SF I think.

It's maybe Fantasy with an SF back story
The Pern books also are more like Fantasy than SF.

 

[Bick]

I finished Fires of Azeroth last week, so I've now read the original trilogy, and i can now comment on the books with a little more context. I enjoyed the book's increasingly, as the chronicle progressed. Ivrel set the scene, but was, as suggested above, rather light in some aspects. It was enjoyable, but didn't impress me hugely. Shiuan was better, as the imagery of the drowning world is very good, and this added depth. The motivations of the characters was also fleshed out, and I liked the imperfect outcome. Characters are not black and white in these books, and I liked that. What I liked a little less was the incessant drudgery and hardship in book two. I know this is a Cherryh signature, but it got a little old for me by the end of the book. The final book, Azeroth, is perhaps the best of the original trilogy. The world-building is nicely done, and I loved the harilim. That said, Cherryh's insistence on such a close PoV perspective can make it a little unclear what exactly is going on, and the 'end', ultimately, is no more an end than the conclusion to either of the other books. Now, I know Cherryh did come out with a fourth eventually, but was this supposed to stand alone at the time it was written? It doesn't, and needs more books. I think this was a misjudgement - Cherryh should have wrapped it up better I think.

 

[ledifni]

Morgaine dedicated herself to one task, closing off the gates to all the worlds to prevent a second gate related disaster from again devastating the cosmos. She's noble and heroic . But , her path doesn't allow her really love someone deeply, she's fond of Vanye her companion, but that's as far she's willing to go on that score. Morgaine for all of her seeming decisiveness is in fact very fallible , she makes choices that seem good but, often turn out not so good. For example, leaving the gate open long enough so that the inhabitants of doomed drowning world could survive. The survived but cause cause war and mayhem on another world that hasn't known war for thousands of years. Sometimes , she just doesn't think things through. She's flawed , believable and likable.

Spoiler

I don't think you recall the books very well. She didn't leave the gate open; she would have shut out the Shiua if she had gotten there in time. She makes heavy choices with terrible consequences, yes, but with her eyes wide open. She does not cause destruction out of some kind of naïvete, thinking she was helping someone but accidentally hurting them; she knows the damage she's doing and does it anyway, because that's her mission.

And last but certainly not least, she is absolutely capable of (but resistant to) loving someone deeply. She slowly but surely falls in love with Vanye throughout all the novels, starting with the very first one. Pay attention; it's the little things.

Anyway, that's good advice in general for this series. Pay attention to the details and you'll understand many things you didn't seem to notice.

 

[tinkerdan]

I just recently read these. I had the original trilogy--in one book--from SF book club for years and it sat there on a book shelf looking pretty. I really enjoyed them when I started them and found the fourth book; so I've read them all.. If there is ever another I'd love getting it.

 

[KiraAnn]

I’m glad I saw this thread. Reminds me that I need to reread the 3 or 4 Morgaine books I have.

Provided I can find them - in my attic I think!