fantasy – Page 20 – Into the West

Book Review: Grand Conspiracy by Janny Wurts

Grand Conspiracy by Janny Wurts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Each novel peels back layer upon layer, revealing more of the motivations between several key players and philosophies, making it nigh impossible to summarize any plot points, including the myriad conspiracies plaguing Paravia, without spoiling what was, what is and what is yet to come. The last three chapters’ pace proved unrelenting, even unto the final triplet.

I’ll be picking up the next novel (Peril’s Gate) within the week to continue this outstanding series.

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Book Review: Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay (5 stars)

Under Heaven
by Guy Gavriel Kay

5 out of 5 stars

Read in December 2010

Shen Tai mourns his father for over two years by burying the bones of the dead in a vast battlefield on the western edge of the Kitan empire. A backbreaking labor of grace daily and the company of the restless shades of soldiers nightly. He gains the respect of friend and foe and the attention of women in high places with influence, intrigue and power. The unfathomable gift of two hundred and fifty horses from a rival empire courtesy of a Kitan princes sent as tribute sets Shen’s life adrift on the high tide of potentially lethal imperial politics. He receives unlooked for and unlikely assistance from several women as he travels from the far western reaches to the very center of the Kitan empire in Xinan: a well trained assassin, Wei Song, sent by a former courtesan of the northwestern district previously known as Spring Rain and a former dancer now the favored courtesan of the emperor himself.

Even though we only ever see one of the famous Sardian horses for much of the novel, Shen repeatedly attempts to exchange them for knowledge of his sister and her rescue from the Bogu barbarians of the north, since his own older brother, now adviser to the prime minister, allowed her to be elevated to an imperial princes and sent as a tribute bride to the Bogu leader. But not even the most powerful players on this corrupted game board can assist Shen with his quest.

Kay delivers sweeping epic vistas of the open grass steppe and the heart-stopping gut-wrenching frenzy of court intrigue and rebellion. No other prose flows so seamlessly as Kays, completely engulfing me in the world he unfolds before me.

My only quibble with this novel, and which almost made me drop my rather to four or four and a half stars, was with the ending. Shifting to third person and a more remote historical sagacious point of view distanced me from the characters just as the story culminated and resolved. I still enjoyed the novel immensely, though, and highly recommend it.

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Join the Fantasy Book Club Series group on GoodReads and help us select our next fantasy series to read as a group. Follow this link to the nominations discussion thread.

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My ‘Best of 2010’ Meme for Beyond Reality

First thing I’ll have to do is look up what ‘meme’ means because I’m drawing a complete blank on that.

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Welcome to the Beyond Reality SF&F discussion group on GoodReads. In Beyond Reality, each of our me…

Books we’re currently reading

Grand Conspiracy
by Janny Wurts
Start date: December 2, 2010

Under Heaven
by Guy Gavriel Kay
Start date: December 1, 2010

The Mote in God’s Eye
by Larry Niven
Start date: December 1, 2010

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Our illustrious leader, Stefan, posted this thread and these questions for us to ponder and pontificate upon. My answers and musings can be found below (and I’ll be reviewing my stats and reviews on GoodReads to bolster my memory).

What was the best fantasy book you read in 2010?

Only five of my reviews this year earned a five star rating, two of which were science fiction novels. Of the three remaining fantasy novels, one was a re-read, which I won’t count towards this year’s ‘best of’ list. The final two are difficult to choose between so I will call it a tie between Warhost of Vastmark by Janny Wurts and Breath and Bone by Carol Berg.

What was the best science fiction book you read in 2010?

Hands down, Connie Willis’ All Clear swept me away. I strongly suggest that you read Blackout first and follow it immediately with the second half/second novel All Clear

Best any-other-genre-that’s-not-SF-or-fantasy book?

I only read a handful of non-fantasy or non-SF novels this year (typical for me, I’m happily stuck in my rut). I had no five star reads in this category, but a couple did stand out: The Art of Racing in the Rain and The Murder of Roger Akroyd.

Best new book (meaning, actually published in 2010)?

Again, this will have to go to the dynamic duo Blackout and All Clear by Connie Willis

Best debut novel?

Did not read any debut novels this year.

Best short story collection or anthology?

The Masters of Fantasy collection proved to contain the best overall collection of short stories from my favorite genre and several of my favorite authors.

Best short story?

“Sundering Star” by Janny Wurts from the Under Cover of Darkness anthology.

What was your favorite Beyond Reality “Book of the Month” in 2010?

I suspect it will be the one I’m currently reading . . . Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

Who’s the best author you discovered this year?

Robin McKinley and her young adult fantasy award winning novel The Hero and the Crown.

Best SF&F-related website or blog?

I don’t follow any of them ‘religiously’ but I get bombarded with a multitude of tweets from myriad sources. The one I frequent the most is John Scalzi’s Whatever blog.

Best SF&F movie?

I’m even harsher rating movies than I am with books. I gave no five star ratings this year. Three movies made it to my four star rating (barely) and they include Avatar, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part I.) and How to Train Your Dragon.

TV show?

Stargate Universe, but not because I really like it, more because there’s little else to watch when it comes to science fiction television. Yes, I watch Doctor Who, Eureka, Warehouse 13, etc., but they are frivolous and entertaining … popcorn for my mind.

Book Review: Towers of Midnight

Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The tangled knot of plot threads weave a tapestry of convergence. The Last Hunt begins, prelude to the Last Battle.

Of the main characters, Perrin’s growth and acceptance sealed him as the rising, shining star among the brilliant cluster of Two Rivers misfits out to save or damn the world. Mat’s character surprised me most this novel. Normally, I skim through chapters devoted to Mat’s point of view. Not so this time around. I wonder if I’m seeing Brandon’s influence on Mat or if Jordan’s plan included more maturity for Matriam at this point in the epic. The Aes Sedai (Nynaeve, Egwene, Cadsuane and even Elaida, briefly) had their moments, but the support staff (i.e. Warders) shined. Lan, Gawyn, Galad (by osmosis mostly as Gawyn’s step brother), Brigitte – all received long overdue attention. I wanted more from Aviendha’s thread. Rand and Min sporadically pounced in and out of various hot spots, spectacularly so in Maradon.

With the end so close, I fear I’ll break with the strain of waiting another year (or more) for the epic conclusion to a saga I started over two decades ago.

It’s darkest before the dawn … or the end of all things. Tarmon Gai’don breaks.

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Join our online discussion at the GoodReads Fantasy Book club where Brandon Sanderson will be answering questions about The Towers of Midnight and his own new epic fantasy series The Stormlight Archives novel The Way of Kings.

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The Way of Kings

by Brandon Sanderson

Start date: November 1, 2010

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Movie Review: Part I – Potter & the Deathly Hallows

I’m at a distinct disadvantage, compared to my daughter, never having read any of the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling. I once attempted to listen to the first book as an audio book. While entertaining, it still didn’t appeal because I am not the intended audience. Perhaps forty years ago I would have liked it, but not at this stage in my life.

Before venturing to the theatre, and parting with the outrageous price of a ticket these days, I read reviews by well known film critics. Since I also subscribe to Netflix, I use this method as an aid to deciding whether to wait for the DVD release or not. Yesterday’s USA Today review by Claudia Puig proved very informative and helpful. And, after watching the film yesterday evening, I agree with her assessment.

Terry mentioned afterward he missed the action. I had forgotten to warn him this was a darker more intense movie than the previous Potter releases.

I liked the film for providing powerful character growth among the three principal protagonists: Harry, Hermione and Ron. Hermione’s courage and sacrifice threaded through the film, revealing her poignant grief and resilience. Ron surprised me the most with a turn from adolescent flippancy to steadfast fierce young man. Harry tries, but fails to astound me. Although, I glimpse the end and see the telegraphed but twisted triumph foreshadowed in the tale of the Three Brothers and the Deathly Hallows and hope he can avoid miring himself in martyrdom.

I give the movie four stars out of five. It feels like the middle dark misfit installment of a trilogy, leaving you feeling dread that darkness has the upperhand, but, wait, it is always darkest before the dawn.

Book Review: The Magic of Recluce

The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent world building and superb magic system with an annoyingly dense but affable young adult protagonist on a quest. Lerris is ‘the chosen one’ but for all the wrong reasons or completely mysterious hidden reasons until he’s painted himself into a corner with his fumbling choices. Lerris isn’t burdened with a prophecy, but he resists the status quo of Recluce. Lerris is just your typical young adult with attention deficit disorder (i.e., he’s bored and finds everything boring), but Recluce doesn’t prescribe Ritalin. Somewhat like extreme Amish, Recluce peacefully forces their misfits to either exile permanently or go on dangergeld (similar to rumspringa but with a quest attached), during which they must decide if they can return to Recluce and succumb to its creed and worldview (seeking perfection in Order). This novel follows Lerris on his journey as a dangergelder until he understands all that Recluce embodies and effects, and reaches his decision.

If you are looking for a story with character growth, Lerris’ journey as an exile from Recluce will fit that bill. If you are looking for a new fantasy world with a detailed history, divergent societies, a logical robust magic system, with a different spin on the age-old struggle between angels and demons, good and evil, black and white, order and chaos, then you’ve come to the right story and series.

Modesitt’s Recluce series reminds me of Asimov’s robot stories. He sets up a scenario with some basic, seemingly simple rules (for example, Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics and Modesitt’s Order/Chaos balance system as glimpsed through snippets of The Basis of Order) and proceeds to challenge those rules with his world and its characters. While each novel adds a piece of the broader puzzle, for the most part, like this first one, the books stand alone quite well.

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November is L.E. Modesitt, Jr. month at the GoodReads SciFi and Fantasy Book Club. The author will be joining in the discussions of both books later this month.

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PLEASE NOTE:…

Books we’re currently reading

Haze

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Start date: November 1, 2010

The Magic of Recluce

by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Start date: November 1, 2010

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Book Review: The Hero and the Crown

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aerin may be the king’s daughter, but you wouldn’t know it from the looks, the stares, the snickers, the pranks, or the court gossip. Her father loved and married Aerin’s mother after his first wife died childless. But being from the North, of unknown heritage and lineage, suspicions of witchcraft at worst and being a commoner at best, followed Aerin like a fog of misery. Her royal Gift failed to manifest as she entered and traversed adolescence, which further fueled the rumors of her inadequate or inappropriate breeding. Aerin wrestled with the trappings of her princess-hood, losing the battle with gentility and sought solace in the royal library and her father’s retired lame warhorse, Talat. Nothing say quest and adventure like a dissatisfied frustrated teenage princess and a well-trained loyal equine collaborator. For starters, and against all odds and her father’s wildest nightmares, Aerin and Talat master the art of dragon slaying.

Aerin proved to be an inspiring character, one I could have warmed up to and appreciated in my own adolescence. But Talat stole the show for me. More than once, his actions and courage brought tears to my eyes.

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Book Review: The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Average Rating Across All Stories: 3.5 stars

The two best stories are “The Phoenix on the Sword” and “The Queen of the Black Coast”; otherwise, the first half of this anthology holds the best of the bunch, gradually dwindling down to my least favorite two stories: “The Vale of Lost Women” and “Rogues in the House.” The final story almost redeemed the second half, but didn’t quite pack the punch necessary to overcome the duds immediately prior to it.

The anthology includes referential material (over 100 pages worth in the back and a 25 page introduction), including original drafts by Howard, unpublished drafts, and Hyborian Age information, maps, and chronologies.

I enjoy reading Howard’s fast paced fiction, especially to spice up my lunch hour during the work week. I highly recommend this collection to all fans of the original one-of-a-kind blue-eyed-blazing barbarian from Cimmeria.

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Book Review: The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beagle continually surprised me with his unique prose. Descriptions and metaphors in odd juxtapositions that at first make no sense but then you blink and they make complete sense. His dialogue often rang with rhythm and rhyme, nudging me to re-read a snippet just to hear it roll off my tongue.

A quest adventure fairy tale fantasy flipped topsy-turvy. Instead of a child pulled unwillingly along by prophecy, an undying unicorn discovers she is the last of her kind and leaves to learn their fate. Rather than an all powerful wise wizard, she encounters a second-hand failed apprentice masquerading as a carnival magician. Witches, curses, obsessed kings, indifferent prince turned hero, complacent subjects, elemental forces, mystifying happenstance magic confuse and confound her until she nearly loses herself.

A timeless tale of love, beauty, regret and hope.

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