Reading Shadowmarch now. Made the mistake of reading the prologue on the same day I finished Runes (which meant I'd read more than 15 chapters of Donaldson that day), so it came across as being a little clumsily written, but I'm beginning to settle into Williams' style now.
A small opinion on Runes: Very good book, Donaldson is certainly a better writer now than he was when he wrote the other Chrons books, but I miss the internal anguish of the characters which was present throughout the Second Chrons and most of the First. This book is well-written, but doesn't seem so deeply into the psyches of the characters as the earlier books were. The planning that went into this story is simply amazing, however - to think he worked a lot of this stuff out way back when he started the Second Chrons, and seeing how totally everything in the Second was relevant to the Last (in fact, it's like the Second were written simply so that the Last could be possible), astounds me.
Oh, and btw, I am choosing not to go into deep analysis and discussion of Runes plot, though I will discuss the writing (and the occasional minor story point). I'm gonna keep my experience of the Last chrons seperate from that of others, to allow myself to more fully appreciate this complex and astounding story.
Once more: Donaldson really was right to wait so long before working on the Last Chrons. I no longer believe any writer can come near his talent.
What fantasy/science fiction book are you reading RIGHT NOW?
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I'm Murrin
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Nuklear Age, by Brian Clevinger.
Ok, that was a lie, I'm not reading it right now, I just finished it. It's a comedy along the lines of the Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy, except with superheroes. I found it amusing and surprisingly well written, particularly near the end, which has writing that blows away many serious books I've read. I recommend it for anyone with any interest in superhero-related anything.
Ok, that was a lie, I'm not reading it right now, I just finished it. It's a comedy along the lines of the Hitchhiker's Guide trilogy, except with superheroes. I found it amusing and surprisingly well written, particularly near the end, which has writing that blows away many serious books I've read. I recommend it for anyone with any interest in superhero-related anything.
Anyone perfect must be lying, anything easy has its cost, anyone plain can be lovely, anyone loved can be lost.
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The Leper Fairy
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lhaughlhann
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[Syl]
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Pronounced "Paula Nick." Diary is weird. Not my favorite of his, but still good.
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
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Finished Shadowmarch today - very good, liked the ending (even though it isn't exactly original - the book comes across to me as very much the traditional epic fantasy). Need something new to read - but then again I keep forgetting about Bakker, maybe it's about time I tried The Warrior-Prophet.
Edit - Looks like the dates for Warrior-Prophet were pushed back to next year (I had thought it already out), so I'm out of things to read. I've heard good things about Patricia McKillip - worth a read?
Edit - Looks like the dates for Warrior-Prophet were pushed back to next year (I had thought it already out), so I'm out of things to read. I've heard good things about Patricia McKillip - worth a read?
Last edited by I'm Murrin on Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
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The Leper Fairy
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[Syl]
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No prob. I was pronouncing it Puh-la-knee-uck until I read him explaining it himself at The Cult
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
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duchess of malfi
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Oh, yes -- her books are definately worth a read -- and most of them are stand alones!Murrin wrote:Finished Shadowmarch today - very good, liked the ending (even though it isn't exactly original - the book comes across to me as very much the traditional epic fantasy). Need something new to read - but then again I keep forgetting about Bakker, maybe it's about time I tried The Warrior-Prophet.
Edit - Looks like the dates for Warrior-Prophet were pushed back to next year (I had thought it already out), so I'm out of things to read. I've heard good things about Patricia McKillip - worth a read?
You might want to try one of her more recent books In the Forests of Serre -- I thought that one was particularly good. 
If I remember correctly, Syl also read that one and enjoyed it. 
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Reave the Just
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Reave the Just
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Grr - can someone please explain to me why so many people have already read The Warrior-Prophet, and yet Amazon insists the publishing date is early next year?
I had been led to believe it was released in America in June and would be out in the UK in October, but I can't get it for some reason - and it's apparently even better than The Darkness That Comes Before!
I had been led to believe it was released in America in June and would be out in the UK in October, but I can't get it for some reason - and it's apparently even better than The Darkness That Comes Before!
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Dragonlily
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I do, too, love the Battle Room. I started to do the same thing as you did, go right on to ENDER'S SHADOW, but I slept before starting, and that slowed the momentum enough that I was able to remember duty. Rereading ENDER'S SHADOW will be just as good if it waits a while.
"The universe is made of stories, not atoms." -- Roger Penrose
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taraswizard
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