Kevin's Watch

I tend to take a fully-inclusive position when it comes to genres. So yes, it counts.

We - Yevgeny Zemyatin.

Most of the way through Helliconia Winter. Must say that despite missing "Summer", I had a better experience with "Spring" this time round.

--A

I was really curious about this final volume of The Soldier Son trilogy. With both Shaman's Crossing and Forest Mage garnering so many mixed reviews, I was eager to see how Hobb would bring this series to a close with Renegade's Magic.

Renegade's Magic is easily the best and most enjoyable volume of The Soldier Son trilogy. One of the main reasons why is that, unlike its two predecessors, this book doesn't suffer from a sluggish pace. The narrative flows extremely well, providing a fluid rhythm throughout the novel.

As always, the characterizations are superior. The deeply involved humanity behind it all, Hobb's hallmark, is imbued throughout Renegade's Magic. Three-dimensional characters populate this book, and they all remain true to themselves. This aspect of her characterization is probably what I love the most about Robin Hobb. Her cast always include men and women who feel like "real" people with genuine personalities, good or bad or in between.

Hobb ties up a lot of loose ends from both Shaman's Crossing and Forest Mage, with almost everything coming full circle. In a way, this just might be Hobb's most self-contained series. Many things make more sense now, giving me a new appreciation for the first two volumes.

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

"Flinx's Folly" by Alan Dean Foster

first read

bloodguard bob wrote:first read

(You know, there's a group read coming for that very soon. It'd be cool if we had virg-- I mean, first-time readers ... participating.)

Currently Reading The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay.

About a fifth of the way through; and I'm lovin' every word.

I read the first book in his Fianovar Tappestry...I didn't really like it..very Arthurian (in fact, I beleive that Arthur actually shows up in the Third book)--but this one is like nothing I've ever read.

It's loosly based on the Ancient Anglo-Saxons, Celts and Vikings; but with an origional story; and Kay's unique writting style.

After I'm done, I may even try the next two Fianovar books.

Wayfriend wrote:

bloodguard bob wrote:first read

(You know, there's a group read coming for that very soon. It'd be cool if we had virg-- I mean, first-time readers ... participating.)

when and where?

Check the Ancilliary Documentation Forum.

Moderated by our own LuciMay.

(I just reread The Killing Stroke last night...now I'm bookless...)

--A

Just finished David Bilsborough's The Wanderer's Tale. . .

Two thumbs WAY down for this book, unfortunately.

An odd blend of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Sword of Shannara, and various Forgotten Realms books from the late 80s, Bilsborough's The Wanderer's Tale is YA through and through. Pitched to the Paolini crowd, I sincerely believe that this debut has the potential to be a bestseller. But pitched to well-read fans and aficionados of the genre, this book falls short on basically every level.

To say that this novel is overwritten would be the understatement of the year. Cutting 25% to 30% of it would get rid of a good chunk of the bloated prose and speed up the pace which leaves a lot to be desired. There seems to be at least one adverb per sentence -- I kid you not!

Overwritten, overlong, overhyped. . .

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Just finished Weis and Hickman's upcoming Dragons of the Highlord Skies.

As was the case with the War of Souls trilogy, The Lost Chronicles fail to recapture the magic of the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends. Even though it's a delight to get reacquainted with the Companions, at times it feels as though Weis and Hickman are simply going through the motions. Insofar as I can tell, it doesn't feel as if their hearts are into this project. . .

Let's not forget that Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance novels have been translated into twenty languages and have sold more than twenty million copies worldwide. And yet, much like fellow bestselling authors Raymond E. Feist, David Eddings and Terry Brooks, their latest works are clearly uninspired compared to their past collaborations. Dragons of the Highlord Skies lacks the depth and the originality that allowed them to capture the hearts and imagination of a whole generation of fantasy readers.

I would compare this new Dragonlance trilogy with the Star Wars prequels. Although they'll find a way to satisfy most of the fans on one level or another just for the chance to revisit the War of the Lance, these novels are not of the same quality as the ones that came before.

Check out the blog for the full review. . .

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Thanks. I'll read them just for the setting, but if they're reminiscent of Feist's later work, I'll know not to set my standards too high.

I'm just nipping through prostho plus by Piers Anthony...short of books so just picking at my shelves, nothing really catching my fancy.

--A

Just got this in the mail today! I'm so stoked. Once the final Harry Potter book is done I am devoting myself to this series. I know, HP, I am such a loser but I lurve it. Duchess of Dork lives ON!

I finally brought my self to read Twilit and its as bad as you think it is its ..........................................................CRAP

Finished The Diamond Warriors-great ending to very good series. Kane rocks!!! Now back to the last third of The Demolished Man by Bester. (after that I'll be jonesing Fatal Revenant big time! )

Robin Hobb - Renegade's Magic.

I've started reading Malory's Morte D'Arthur. It can be a little odd, at times; the way it's written is very much 'he did this, and then he did that, and...'. And there was one chapter that was almost farcical, because for two pages it went on: "And then ______ saw that ______ was afoot, and so he rode to ________ and smote him down from his horse, and took the horse to ________. And then _______ saw that ________ was afoot..." Seriously: over and over again, for two pages. Every knight in the battle must have been unhorsed and then rescued in this way, and some more than once.

Firtz Lieber's Swords of Lankhmar.

--A