Kevin's Watch

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.

The Mirror of Her Dreams

Decided to re-read Mordants Need.

Always good.

--A

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.

I'm reading Diary by Chuck Pahla...Palah... er... by the guy that wrote Fight Club. It's really really weird.

Chuck Palahniuk

Pronounced "Paula Nick." Diary is weird. Not my favorite of his, but still good.

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?

...

Caer Sylvanus wrote:Pronounced "Paula Nick." Diary is weird. Not my favorite of his, but still good.

Ahhh, thanks Syl! I've been pronoucing it "Pah-lah-hu-nu-ik" because I was too lazy to look carefully enough to figure it out and just added letters wherever.

No prob. I was pronouncing it Puh-la-knee-uck until I read him explaining it himself at The Cult

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?

Oh, yes -- her books are definately worth a read -- and most of them are stand alones! 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.

Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan.

Very good, but i'm more a Space Opera fan than "cyberpunk".

still, enjoying it.

finished Altered Carbon. Very good, but I'm more a Space Op rather than "cyberpunk" type of guy. Still, I'd recommend it.

Now reading the Eternal Champion by Michael Moorcock. Dated but a darn good yarn!!

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!

Dropped Mordants Need for a while, due to lack of motivation.

Now rereading Enders Game By Orson Scott Card

--Avatar

I reread ENDER'S GAME a week or 2 ago, Avatar. A true classic. Now I'm reading Sherri Tepper's GRASS, which is shiveringly awesome. Suspense as strong as an undertow, and what the h&*% are these beasts doing???

The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt

To keep the story line "intact", I've gone directly from Ender's Game to Ender's Shadow, the "parallel" viewpoint of Bean, written nearly 15 years later.

They are great, and I do love that Battle Room.

--Avatar

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 Sparrow. Author Mary Doria Russell.