io9’s version of March Madness begins today with ‘Epic Fantasy v. Space Opera‘ so vote now so Gandalf won’t have to smack down Vader. It won’t be pretty.
Of course, we’re holding the Mouse in reserve in case of foul play.
Tag: epic fantasy
“The Unrecognized Trajectory of Slow Burn Success” by Janny Wurts — A Dribble of Ink
Browsing an unknown book on the internet requires the foresight that it is there! More, public opinion shoves the book’s data right into your face: ratings, reviews, numbers – crowd opinion leads the barrage.
— Janny Wurts, “The Unrecognized Trajectory of Slow Burn Success”
via A Dribble of Ink blog
I loved learning something new about how Tolkien was ‘discovered.’ It’s always great to read anything written by Janny.
Answering the Question: What’s Wrong with Epic Fantasy?
That is tricky question to answer, because the very nature of the work is what makes epic fantasy…well, epic. Maybe there really isn’t anything broken or wrong with epic fantasy as a subgenre, maybe the thing that gets broken, or perhaps a better word might be “tired,” of epic fantasy is the reader.
— Teresa Frohock, author of Miserere: an Autumn Tale
One of many ‘epic’ answers to the question ‘What’s Wrong with Epic Fantasy?’ found at the recent MIND MELD: What’s “Wrong” with Epic Fantasy? – SF Signal post.
Dresden Codak creator illustrates each chapter of The Silmarillion
http://io9.com/dresden-codak-creator-illustrates-each-chapter-of-the-s-1496454183
Interesting although not my preferred medium for mythic or epic art.
Posted from WordPress for Android via my Samsung smartphone. Please excuse any misspellings. Ciao, Jon
Tolkien’s 122nd Birthday
J.R.R. Tolkien would have been 122 today.
His writings enriched and continue to enrich my life (see my Best Reads of 2013 wherein The Silmarillion received a rare five star rating from me).
While I haven’t re-read The Hobbit for the umpteenth time, I did venture out last week to see The Desolation of Smaug at my local favorite movie theatre (I gave that movie 3.5 stars via Flixster, and don’t think it’s as well done as the first one, An Unexpected Journey).
If you haven’t read any of Tolkien’s writings, I highly recommend all of them. I rarely re-read books, but I will always return, again and again, to the master of epic fantasy storytelling.
Some previous posts I’ve shared at this blog that reference Tolkien’s legacy:
Picturing The Hobbit | Tor.com
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/12/picturing-the-hobbit#more
Fantastic (pun intended) artwork celebrating Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
Posted from WordPress for Android via my Samsung smartphone. Please excuse any misspellings. Ciao, Jon
Audiobook Review: The Knife of Dreams by Jordan (3 Stars)
The Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan
Read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer
Listended/Read in February 2013
Loial and Mat tied the knot (but not with each other). Perrin and Faile end their two book separation. Nine months can’t come soon enough for Elayne (or me). Egwene and Eliada under the same roof but not speaking to each other. Nynaeve returned Lan to Malkier along the Borderland Scenic Byway. Someone please give Rand a hand!
Continue reading “Audiobook Review: The Knife of Dreams by Jordan (3 Stars)”
Audiobook Review: Crossroads of Twilight by Jordan (3 Stars)
The Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan
Read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer
Read in January 2013
I listened to the audiobook edition. Apparently unabridged doesn’t include the Glossary. It’s a good thing I own the hardcover for reference and for the maps.
Crossroads of Twilight is one of my least favorite books of the Wheel of Time series because of the turgid plot. The train wreck that started ten books ago finally comes to a crashing halt, right before it teeters and ultimately falls off the cliff for the long slow-motion plummet to the end, four books later.
Using male and female readers helped especially with the switching viewpoints.
Continue reading “Audiobook Review: Crossroads of Twilight by Jordan (3 Stars)”
Book Review: Well of Ascension by Sanderson (4 Stars)
Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
Read in October 2008
I read Well of Ascension immediately on the heels of Mistborn The Final Empire, which was a relief and a race. I wanted to finish the second book since the third book was “in the mail” to me, signed by the author.
While not as riveting as the first book of the series, I enjoyed the continued struggles of Vin and Elend, as they pick up the pieces after shattering the Lord Ruler’s Empire. Most of the characters from the first book are present, except for Kelsier, of course, who sacrificed himself at the end of the first book to become a martyr and start a religion which would give hope to the skaa.
Vin barely sleeps as she guards Elend from assassination attempts. Elend has his hands full crafting a democratic government and a siege by two hostile armies. Sazed returns to his calling and strives to teach the skaa relevant religions but soon stumbles upon the returning horrors of the Mists. Vin, Elend, Sazed and others finally find the Well of Ascension, but with no time to spare, have they done the right thing?
Since this is the second book of the series, it carries on the story, but must leave us with something to hope for in the final installment. A very enjoyable work and I highly recommend it to all lovers of fantasy.
Book Review: Hero of Ages by Sanderson (4 Stars)
Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
Read in November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Strangely, this third and final book of the Mistborn trilogy was more depressing and tragic to me than the middle one, The Well of Ascension. It was also disturbing on a theological front for me.
It’s been a year since Elend and Vin were married and they are still struggling to hold their new empire together. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that nothing they are doing will stop the inevitable – the world is dying, ending, destroying itself. Sazed has lost all faith. Where he used to preach and believe in all religions, he has spent the year studying and dismissing all the religions in his research as false.
Meanwhile, even in the face of Sazed’s crisis of faith, we actually meet and get confirmation of two deities locked in a futile struggle. They are Ruin and Preservation. I long suspected, even back in the first book, that the voices in people’s heads where not internal memories or insanity, but an external force pressuring them emotionally and psychologically into actions that met it’s ends.
The one pleasant surprise was learning the true origins of the kandra.
It was a compelling story and I read it almost non-stop for three days. I was very saddened by the fates of the main characters – nearly all of whom don’t make it to the end credits. Even though we lose so many, there is hope and a resurrection of sorts in the end.
Back to my theological concerns – I could see increasing influence of Mormonism throughout this book. It’s subtle, but the Mormon worldview fits.
In the end, Sazed was raised to godhood, but limited in his knowledge and by the laws of the universe. Even with his metalminds, he was not omniscient.
He was always one of my favorite characters and Feurchemy was the essence of Balance so he was the perfect mediator for the elemental forces of Ruin and Preservation.
Since there are still two Alomantic metals undiscovered and Spook has been left in charge with the blessing of Sazed, I imagine we will have more opportunities to visit the newly rejuvenated world of the Mistborn.