Kevin's Watch

Yeah, I asked 20 minutes after your projected start time.

*counts*

It seems to be 29 minutes after my start time.

Hi guys!

I have just finished reading Brandon Sanderson's ELANTRIS, and I can tell you that it is indeed a good book.

This novel had been staring at me every time I entered a bookstore. I would pick it up, read the blurb, and think that it sounded pretty interesting. I posted about it on numerous message boards. Like me, most people had seen Elantris but had not bought it. After a while, readers' reviews began to surface and the consensus was definitely good.

Sanderson reminds me a lot of David Eddings and J. V. Jones, at least in terms of style and for the dialogues. Steering clear from the now popular "darker" fantasy tales which are rapidly becoming the norm in today's market, Elantris is a relatively "light" fantasy.

I have to admit that the ending packs a powerful punch, bringing this book to a very satisfying end. It was nice to see the different storylines converge to a climax like this. It proves that Brandon Sanderson not only knows how to spin a good yarn, but how to end it with an exclamation point.

In the end, what makes Elantris so special is the fact that it's so accessible. This is a book that basically anyone who likes a good fantasy epic can enjoy. And the fact that it is a stand-alone novel makes it even more appealing. This book was more popular than expected in hardcover. And I'm persuaded that it will be a huge success when it is released in paperback.

Keep an eye on Brandon Sanderson, for he just might be one of the bright new voices in the fantasy genre. And if it's not too late, you can also add Elantris on your Christmas present list!

By the way, there is a copy of Pratchett's THUD! up for grabs on the blog!

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

pat5150 wrote:Hi guys!

I have just finished reading Brandon Sanderson's ELANTRIS, and I can tell you that it is indeed a good book.

This novel had been staring at me every time I entered a bookstore. I would pick it up, read the blurb, and think that it sounded pretty interesting. I posted about it on numerous message boards. Like me, most people had seen Elantris but had not bought it. After a while, readers' reviews began to surface and the consensus was definitely good.

Sanderson reminds me a lot of David Eddings and J. V. Jones, at least in terms of style and for the dialogues. Steering clear from the now popular "darker" fantasy tales which are rapidly becoming the norm in today's market, Elantris is a relatively "light" fantasy.

I have to admit that the ending packs a powerful punch, bringing this book to a very satisfying end. It was nice to see the different storylines converge to a climax like this. It proves that Brandon Sanderson not only knows how to spin a good yarn, but how to end it with an exclamation point.

In the end, what makes Elantris so special is the fact that it's so accessible. This is a book that basically anyone who likes a good fantasy epic can enjoy. And the fact that it is a stand-alone novel makes it even more appealing. This book was more popular than expected in hardcover. And I'm persuaded that it will be a huge success when it is released in paperback.

Keep an eye on Brandon Sanderson, for he just might be one of the bright new voices in the fantasy genre. And if it's not too late, you can also add Elantris on your Christmas present list!

By the way, there is a copy of Pratchett's THUD! up for grabs on the blog!

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Just read it recently myself. I thought it was pretty good, especially for a debut novel. Like you, I also thought it was nice to read a stand-alone fantasy for a change.

Admittedly, I can't say it was the most amazing book I ever read, but I had to give it credit for doing something relatively original.

recently moved on to A Feast For Crows. I'm slowly catching up with the rest of you. I'll try A Robert Jordan next.

Citadel of the Autarch.

Still working my way through MS&T by Williams.

Finished Stone of Farewell, have just started To Green Angel Tower Part 1.

On the Beach - another assigned book, but still good.

Loremaster wrote:Citadel of the Autarch.

*Jealous* The only book of that series that I'm still missing.

Just finished another old, short anthology with stoires by Clifford D Simak and the like, all written in the early 50's, before space travel. Was excellent actually.

--A

Finished Gaiman's American Gods last night. Next up: Veniss Underground.

Finished Gaiman's American Gods last night. Next up: Veniss Underground.

'Veniss Underground' is @#%! awesome.

I'm still reading (due to a recent injurr slowing me down) reading 'Crystal Rain' by Tobias Buckell.

About to start a complete re-read of the Dark Tower cycle, including all ancilliary books in the appropriate order...my holiday read.

--A

Finished Eco's "The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana" the other day. Great book and I'm glad I stumbled on it at the library and decided to give it a shot.

With that out of the way, I finally started reading Wolfe's "Book of the Long Sun". About a third of the way through the first book, "Nightside The Long Sun". Can't say it's nearly as impressive as "Shadow of the Torturer" was when I first read it, but it's interesting so far.

Argh....the server took a dump on me and I accidentally double posted.

Finished Veniss Underground. Hallucinatory. Liked the interesting use of PoV. Not sure what's next - left most of my books in York, so my next read depends what I get for christmas. At the minute, odds are on it being Land of Laughs by Jonathan Carroll.

Just finished "The Man in the High Castle," by Philip K. Dick. Beautiful piece of alternate history! Loved it. Tomorrow I will begin on Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land."

Immediately after I finished "The Man in the High Castle," I picked up Daughter of Regals. I had only read the titular story back in February; time and other factors had held back further exploration of the book. Anyway--I read the Conqueror Worm about 20 minutes ago. Hilarious stuff! SRD cracked me up! All hail the centipede.

Reading Daniel Abrahams A Shadow in Summer:

Finished "Nightside the Long Sun" and started "Lake of the Long Sun".

Started The Land of Laughs. Finished Part One - so far, so good.