Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 12:21 am**

Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe. This will be my third time.

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 2:38 am**

I love that book! (Are u on Syl's board: The Matachin Tower, yet?) I've been looking for Claw of the Conciliator everywhere and can't find it--E-bay here I come!

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 4:30 am**

I have special edition books - Shadow and Claw are printed together, as are Sword and Citadel. There's also the same format (two books together) in the Fantasy Masterworks series. If you are having trouble finding Claw, I may be able to help you, Danlo.
I will sign on to the forum, soon. Is that the same one you and Duchess moderate, too?

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:05 am**

Well, that's a tricky question, actually, I run the Hangar and duchy moderates there (Simmons) but we both moderate on the Matachin Tower (Syl's Gene Wolfe board) go to Links here at Watch 2 get to it!

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 5:11 am**

Many thanks, Danlo.

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 1:15 pm**

Does anyone recommend reading Ian Irvine?
I'm trying to decide what I'll read after I finish all the Tad Williams stuff, and I saw some Irvine books in the shop - are they any good?

Posted: **Sat Jan 03, 2004 3:46 pm**

oops--

your post wouldn't page over--so I had to post 2 see it--never heard of him--are you limited to Fantasy? If so Steven Erickson might be worth pursueing...haven't read-but have heard great things...

Posted: **Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:04 pm**

Roland of Gilead wrote:I read the first three Deryni novels way back in the mid-seventies. Pre-Covenant, but not pre-Tolkien. I liked them, but wasn't blown away. Perhaps I should give Kurtz another look.

Roland, you must be mistaken. The first book is copyrighted 1984, which makes it post-1st Chronicles. BTW, the book is a difficult read, as you're introduced to a lot of plots and characters all in the first ten pages. I'm at page 40, and I think I'm gonna styart over again.....a Deryni Topic list that did those awesome chapter reviews would really help!

Posted: **Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:20 pm**

Dan, that can't be right. I distinctly recall reading that trilogy in 1976. And I think they had been on the market a couple of years before that. Maybe 1984 is a typo, and it should be 1974. I read Lord Foul's Bane in 1978.

Anyone other long-time Kurtz fans out there, who can chime in on this one?

Posted: **Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:58 pm**

Dan, I think u're wrong...

Chronicles of The Deryni
1 Deryni Rising (1970)
2 Deryni Checkmate (1972)
3 High Deryni (1973)

Posted: **Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:02 pm**

Oh. I have Bishop's Heir, which I was led to believe was the first book. I will stop reading this right now and go get the first trilogy, which will undoubtably help my comprehension.

Posted: **Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:07 pm**

Well, ok dAN.....I'll give you your options and let you make the call....

Kurtz herself recommends reading the books in the order they were published in.......or you can read them chronologically (like I did)
Thing is, The first trilogy, published in the early '70's as Danlo provided occurs approximately 200 years after the second trilogy The Chronicals of Saint Camber......in Chronological order it goes like this:

The Chronicals of Saint Camber 903-917 AD
*Camber of Culdi
*Saint Camber
*Camber the Heretic

The Heirs of Saint Camber 918-928 AD
*The Harrowing of Gwynedd
*King Javan's Year
*The Bastard Prince

*In the King's Service ?1105 AD?
(first in the Childe Morgan trilogy)

The Chronicals of The Deryni 1120-1121 AD
*Deryni Rising
*Deryni Checkmate
*High Deryni

The Histories of King Kelson 1123-1125 AD
*The Bishop's Heir
*The King's Justice
*The Quest for Saint Camber

*King Kelson's Bride 1128 AD
(first, I think, in a new triology)

There are also :
*Deryni Archives - Very good short stories set across the time spectrum -1986
*Deryni Magic - A grimoire....don't remember reading this one -1991
*Codex Derynianus - Sort of an Encyclopedia -1998
*Deryni Tales - A collection of Kurtz approved fanfic, with one story by Kurtz.....some are ok, but fanfic.....blech.... -2002

Now the publishing order goes like this....

The Chronicals of the Deryni -1970-1973
The Chronicals of Saint Camber -1976-1981
The Histories of King Kelson -1984-1986
The Heirs of Saint Camber -1989-1994

*King Kelson's Bride -2000
*In the King's Service - 2003

So....Chronologically is what I'd recommend (partly because the Camber books are my favorite, and I guarantee they'll hook you for the rest

) but Kurtz herself disagrees with me.....up to you Kemosabe....

So, is that enough information?

Posted: **Mon Jan 05, 2004 8:08 pm**

btw - Your av is the greatest!!

Posted: **Tue Jan 06, 2004 5:14 pm**

Thanks. Too bad my new one devoured it.

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2004 11:20 am**

I'm reading the Nightland by William Hope Hodgson.

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2004 9:09 pm**

It's a great book--an old book but a great book--hope u have Volume II...(we've discussed it in some detail @ Hangar in the Horror forum I believe)

Posted: **Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:17 pm**

Distraction by Robert Sterling.

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2004 7:49 pm**

I finally picked up Dragonflight. I don't know how I've avoided Pern this long.

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2004 8:58 pm**

I hope Dragonflight is better than McCaffrey's Pern story in Legends II. Man, that story was so lame it would be a disgrace for a high school composition class.

If McCaffrey ever had it, folks, she's done lost it now.

Posted: **Fri Jan 09, 2004 11:27 pm**

danlo wrote:It's a great book--an old book but a great book--hope u have Volume II...(we've discussed it in some detail @ Hangar in the Horror forum I believe)

I never knew there was a second volume.

Kevin's Watch

What fantasy/science fiction book are you reading RIGHT NOW?