Kevin's Watch

Taking a rest from having read TIW with unusual concentration, and seeing as I just re-completed my RiftWar collection, I'm starting off with Magician again.

--A

Just started re-reading one of my favorite books: Tigana, by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Finished McKillip's Riddlemaster Trilogy yesterday. Great stuff.

And not exactly F/SF, but I finished Penny Dreadful by William Christopher Baer (lot of free time on duty days). Not bad. If you like Palahniuk, it's worth a read.

Loremaster wrote:

CovenantJr wrote:Finally finished the first Hyperion book and I can't face attempting the second yet, so I've moved on to the Gormenghast trilogy.

How come?

Encryptic wrote:Can't say I blame him. I read Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion but they're not my cup of tea. Hyperion was reasonably interesting early on with the main characters telling their stories one by one (in particular the priest's story) but I couldn't really find it that compelling later on. Admittedly, I'm not much for sci-fi so that probably didn't help.

Roland of Gilead wrote:I felt Hyperion was a masterpiece in its own right. If you can read The Scholar's Tale and not be moved to tears, you ain't human.

Hyperion is imaginative and interesting...but it just didn't compel me to keep reading. I found it enjoyable, but nothing remarkable. I suppose my Hyperion experience is similar to my LOTR experience - good ideas, good story, but told in a way that I can only push myself to read in short bursts. And I found it very irritating the way

Spoiler

Simmons cut the plot off just as it seemed about to get interesting. All that build up about the Shrike and everyone's connections to it, and then...nothing. The book was all anticipation with no pay-off. It might have worked better as a simple collection of short stories around a theme.

Hoyt's story was the best, IMO, followed by

Spoiler

the Consul's, simply because it was unexpected

but the others were a bit hit and miss. And I wasn't moved to tears by the Scholar's Tale; in all honesty, I was barely moved at all.

Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable overall and I'm glad I read it - and I will read Fall of Hyperion sooner or later - but it was by no means among the best books I've read, nowhere near.

Warmark wrote:

Murrin wrote:Starting Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell today.

im almost done...

Just picked this up from the library today, based on all the buzz on KW about it. Sounds pretty good at first glance....

It is very good although im finding it hard to get through, <shrug>

One of the books I considered today before settling on the three I bought was an omnibus edition of Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion. Even with all the discussion here I still haven't really gotten any indication whether I would like it or not.

I also saw a copy of No Present Like Time in Borders - I hadn't realised it was already out. I haven't read The Year of Our War yet, but will after Strange & Norrell.
Mention of Bakker above reminds me that I've completely forgotten about Warrior-Prophet, and will need to get that also.

(Little curiosity: Does anyone know what number 2 in the Fantasy Masterworks series is, or where I can see a full list of the books?)

Little curiosity: Does anyone know what number 2 in the Fantasy Masterworks series is, or where I can see a full list of the books?)

Even though I have the first prints for many of the books under Fantasy Masterworks, I still collect these both trh Fanatsy and Sci-fi Masterworks and tehy can be found HERE(note there are multiple pages).

One can truly admit to being well read in both genres just by those novels IMHO, well at least a good general understanding.

Regarding the Hyperion cantos. Hyperion is one of the books/series that I have never had anyone come back to me and say they were disappointed with after recomending.

At the moment, I'm reading R. Scott Bakker's THE DARKNESS THAT COMES BEFORE.

I really think thats one of the elite epic series out right now, Bakker is defintely top notch IMHO.

The Great Hunt! Yay the Wheel of Time!

Juggling a multi-read right now. Including Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, The Crimson Sword by Eldon Thompson and The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach.

Ainulindale wrote:

Little curiosity: Does anyone know what number 2 in the Fantasy Masterworks series is, or where I can see a full list of the books?)

Even thoguh I have the first printn for many of the books under Fantasy Masterworks, I still collect these both trh Fanatsy and Sci-fi Masterworks and tehy can be found HERE(note there are multiple pages).

One can truly admit to being well read in both genres just by those novels IMHO, well at least a good general understanding.

Thanks. I became interested when I realised that as well as 1, 12, and 13 sitting together on my shelf, I'd ordered number 3. I notice now that I've got 19 (not that edition) and 29, and am currently awaiting 4 and 7, heh.

Ainulindale wrote:[Hyperion is one of the books/series that I have never had anyone come back to me and say they were disappointed with after recomending.

Now you have, or would if it had been you who recommended it

Well, I love the Hyperion books myself, but everyone has different tastes -- part of what makes the world such an interesting place.

I have been slowly working my way throught Jaqueline Caray's Kushiel trilogy. I have finished the first book, Kushiel's Dart, and am perhaps a third of the way through the second, Kushiel's Chosen. It is set in an alternative France known as Terre d'Ange. A beautiful and intelligent young girl, Phedre, is trained to be a concubine/spy. She has the mark of an angel named Kushiel, which means that she is a masochist. The sex scenes of Phedre and her patrons are not for the faint hearted. The plots are filled with rather complex political machinations, as Phedre is set loose on the upper class of France. She also travels to other countries of Europe, such as Alba (Britain), Skaldia (Germany), and in the second book to that world's version of Venice...

I have also been reading the latest Alvin Maker book by Orson Scott Card, Crystal City. I was worried about reading it, as it has been years since I read the earlier books in that series, and while I know I have them someplace in the house, I could only find a couple of them. I was worried that nothing would make sense without a reread of the earlier books. But enough has been coming back to me as I have been reading it, that it makes sense.

Warmark wrote:It is very good although im finding it hard to get through, <shrug>

I'm going to read it after I work my way through the rest of the stuff I picked up.

Right now, I just started reading "The Death of The Necromancer" by Martha Wells. It's pretty interesting so far. The fact that Sean Russell and Robin Hobb are quoted as praising it on the back cover is a big plus too....

duchess of malfi wrote:I have been slowly working my way throught Jaqueline Caray's Kushiel trilogy. I have finished the first book, Kushiel's Dart, and am perhaps a third of the way through the second, Kushiel's Chosen. It is set in an alternative France known as Terre d'Ange. A beautiful and intelligent young girl, Phedre, is trained to be a concubine/spy. She has the mark of an angel named Kushiel, which means that she is a masochist. The sex scenes of Phedre and her patrons are not for the faint hearted. The plots are filled with rather complex political machinations, as Phedre is set loose on the upper class of France. She also travels to other countries of Europe, such as Alba (Britain), Skaldia (Germany), and in the second book to that world's version of Venice...

I'm glad to hear you're sticking with it, duchess--you're right, the sex isn't for the weak-kneed, but the story is really compelling, and IMO Carey seamlessly weaves the sex into the story. You can't have Phèdre, who's one of the most interesting characters I've read, without the sex--but though the sex is extreme, IMO it always escapes the gratuitous. Unless you really see what pain is like for Phèdre, her actions--and her power--don't make much sense. This is actually one of my favorite series of the last 10 years or so, though I do admit it's probably not for everyone.

I've literally just started Alphabet of Thorn by Patricia McKillip--about 2.5 chapters so far. It shows a lot of promise.

I really enjoyed Alphabet of Thorn. I hope that you will enjoy it.

I finished up Crystal City, and I'm glad that one of my sisters-in-law is a Mormon, and has taken me to some places important in Mormon history, like Nauvoo and Carthage in Illinois. Helped me envision some of the places and geography (and personalities) of the book.

I also finished the Kushiel trilogy by Carey. The S&M stuff is very disturbing, but no, I did not find it gratuitous. Since Phedre is a spy as well as a courtesan, she finds things out as a part of her assignations. She also makes alliances through her assignations. And the pain is an integral part of the story, as she was marked by the gods to feel both endless pain and endless compassion. And both the pain and the compassion change the course of nations in her world...

Reading H.G. Well's A Modern Utopia.

CovenantJr wrote:

Loremaster wrote:

CovenantJr wrote:Finally finished the first Hyperion book and I can't face attempting the second yet, so I've moved on to the Gormenghast trilogy.

How come?

Encryptic wrote:Can't say I blame him. I read Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion but they're not my cup of tea. Hyperion was reasonably interesting early on with the main characters telling their stories one by one (in particular the priest's story) but I couldn't really find it that compelling later on. Admittedly, I'm not much for sci-fi so that probably didn't help.

Roland of Gilead wrote:I felt Hyperion was a masterpiece in its own right. If you can read The Scholar's Tale and not be moved to tears, you ain't human.

Hyperion is imaginative and interesting...but it just didn't compel me to keep reading. I found it enjoyable, but nothing remarkable. I suppose my Hyperion experience is similar to my LOTR experience - good ideas, good story, but told in a way that I can only push myself to read in short bursts. And I found it very irritating the way

Spoiler

Simmons cut the plot off just as it seemed about to get interesting. All that build up about the Shrike and everyone's connections to it, and then...nothing. The book was all anticipation with no pay-off. It might have worked better as a simple collection of short stories around a theme.

Hoyt's story was the best, IMO, followed by

Spoiler

the Consul's, simply because it was unexpected

but the others were a bit hit and miss. And I wasn't moved to tears by the Scholar's Tale; in all honesty, I was barely moved at all.

Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable overall and I'm glad I read it - and I will read Fall of Hyperion sooner or later - but it was by no means among the best books I've read, nowhere near.

You know that I respect your opinion. I can understand your criticisms. I love it, but that's me. I agree with the criticism of the Scholar's Tale.

As for what you say, believe me it's a problem in the Endymion series; he simply does not explain anything. At the end of Rise of Endymion I felt empty. Raul and the Second Messiah were boring characters, the messiah was way too preachy, the only good character was Father Captain De Soya, and if it wasn't for the Catholic Church Cruciform concept I'd have given up.

Just got done with Tamar Yellin's Genizah at the House of Shepher, just incredible, I'm going to write a review on it. I have read yellin's shorts and they are among the best IMHO, however this debut full length novel is incredible.

Still rereading Michael Moorcock's classic and influential Cornelius Quartet, one of the ebst works I have ever read includes:

The Final Program
A Cure for Cancer
The English Assassin
The Condition of Muzak

also finished the Kushiel trilogy by Carey. The S&M stuff is very disturbing, but no, I did not find it gratuitous. Since Phedre is a spy as well as a courtesan, she finds things out as a part of her assignations. She also makes alliances through her assignations. And the pain is an integral part of the story, as she was marked by the gods to feel both endless pain and endless compassion. And both the pain and the compassion change the course of nations in her world...

Regarding the author of the Kushiel series, Jacqueline Carey, she has agreed to grant my site an interview that will correlate with her forthcoming book release.

Right now, I just started reading "The Death of The Necromancer" by Martha Wells.

Be sure to tellu s about that when your done please. I have heard good things!

The Crimson Sword by Eldon Thompson

A new author, who was kind enough to send mea review copy, I'm looking forward to reading this, and as with Carey a future interview has been agreed to.

I also saw a copy of No Present Like Time in Borders - I hadn't realised it was already out. I haven't read The Year of Our War yet, but will after Strange & Norrell

I have heard some people have had difficulty finding a copy of No Present Like Time, good to know it's you saw it out there. I just interviewed Steph and it can be seen HERE

Loremaster wrote:

CovenantJr wrote:

Loremaster wrote: How come?

Encryptic wrote:Can't say I blame him. I read Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion but they're not my cup of tea. Hyperion was reasonably interesting early on with the main characters telling their stories one by one (in particular the priest's story) but I couldn't really find it that compelling later on. Admittedly, I'm not much for sci-fi so that probably didn't help.

Roland of Gilead wrote:I felt Hyperion was a masterpiece in its own right. If you can read The Scholar's Tale and not be moved to tears, you ain't human.

Hyperion is imaginative and interesting...but it just didn't compel me to keep reading. I found it enjoyable, but nothing remarkable. I suppose my Hyperion experience is similar to my LOTR experience - good ideas, good story, but told in a way that I can only push myself to read in short bursts. And I found it very irritating the way

Spoiler

Simmons cut the plot off just as it seemed about to get interesting. All that build up about the Shrike and everyone's connections to it, and then...nothing. The book was all anticipation with no pay-off. It might have worked better as a simple collection of short stories around a theme.

Hoyt's story was the best, IMO, followed by

Spoiler

the Consul's, simply because it was unexpected

but the others were a bit hit and miss. And I wasn't moved to tears by the Scholar's Tale; in all honesty, I was barely moved at all.

Don't get me wrong, it was enjoyable overall and I'm glad I read it - and I will read Fall of Hyperion sooner or later - but it was by no means among the best books I've read, nowhere near.

You know that I respect your opinion. I can understand your criticisms. I love it, but that's me. I agree with the criticism of the Scholar's Tale.

As for what you say, believe me it's a problem in the Endymion series; he simply does not explain anything. At the end of Rise of Endymion I felt empty. Raul and the Second Messiah were boring characters, the messiah was way too preachy, the only good character was Father Captain De Soya, and if it wasn't for the Catholic Church Cruciform concept I'd have given up.

The thing about books is they must have some kind of emotional effect on me to be among my favourites; whether it's wonder, horror, frustration, curiosity... Covenant runs the whole gamut, Day of the Jackal leaves me in awe, Interview with the Vampire alternates wonder and horror, Father Hoyt's tale disturbed me - but most of Hyperion, while intellectually interesting, was emotionally flat for me. There was, however, just about enough emotional impact in one or two of the individual stories if

Spoiler

that impact hadn't been betrayed by the total lack of resolution. I understand there are three more books, but surely each volume needs its own ending of sorts? The whole book strove to build anticipation of finally "meeting" the Shrike, but rather than answers (even just a few) we ended up with a load of questions. I started the book knowing nothing of Simmons' world/galaxy, and by the end I had found out just enough about it to feel I knew less than when I started.