Kevin's Watch

Hi all. I've been a fan of SRD for a long, long time. I love most Sci-Fi & Fantasy, but, along with Tolkein, SRD's books are the ones I return to most often. I love the depth and richness of the narrative in all his books, but my favourites are The Gap series.

Be Welcome to the Watch, bruce.
Be Well Come and True.

Fellow Scots are always welcome!
(even though I'm only a quarter Scot)

Welcome to the Watch Bruce.

Don't miss out on the Gap forum. A few of us think they're the best books he's written.

Go, look, join in.

--A

A Gap fan - woo hoo! Welcome bruce!

Hello Bruce. Not a Gap fan myself, never read them and don't like Science Fiction at all, but a big Chronicles and Mordant's Need fan.

Watch out for spiders.

Never hurts to welcome the same person several times)

So, welcome to the Watch, bruce3371

If the depth and richness are the things you particularly value, you may appreciate the in-depth dissections in the corresponding forums.

Thanks for the welcome

Menolly wrote:Be Welcome to the Watch, bruce.
Be Well Come and True.

Fellow Scots are always welcome!
(even though I'm only a quarter Scot)

I'm only half Scottish myself. But I think of myself as a Scot, living with the curse of being born in England!!

Iolanthe wrote:Hello Bruce. Not a Gap fan myself, never read them and don't like Science Fiction at all, but a big Chronicles and Mordant's Need fan.

Tangent #1 - you have to remember that this is SRD and he writes human stories. So yeah, it's Science Fiction, but it's all about the characters and their development. And it's one of his most intense and exciting stories. I can't recommend the Gap highly enough.

G'day, Bruce! Welcome to the philosophy faculty.

StevieG wrote:

Iolanthe wrote:Hello Bruce. Not a Gap fan myself, never read them and don't like Science Fiction at all, but a big Chronicles and Mordant's Need fan.

Tangent #1 - you have to remember that this is SRD and he writes human stories. So yeah, it's Science Fiction, but it's all about the characters and their development. And it's one of his most intense and exciting stories. I can't recommend the Gap highly enough.

OK, I'll get the first one and try it. No-one shall say I didn't make the attempt

bruce3371 wrote:I'm only half Scottish myself. But I think of myself as a Scot, living with the curse of being born in England!!

'tis more than I can claim, being US-born and having never even visited any of the British Isles, much less Scottland.

Clan Sinclair, here.

Iolanthe wrote:

StevieG wrote:

Iolanthe wrote:Hello Bruce. Not a Gap fan myself, never read them and don't like Science Fiction at all, but a big Chronicles and Mordant's Need fan.

Tangent #1 - you have to remember that this is SRD and he writes human stories. So yeah, it's Science Fiction, but it's all about the characters and their development. And it's one of his most intense and exciting stories. I can't recommend the Gap highly enough.

OK, I'll get the first one and try it. No-one shall say I didn't make the attempt

I have not read The Gap either, Iolanthe. However, my understanding is the first one is similar to the first in the Malazan series: if you can manage to wade your way through the first one, the series supposedly really takes off after that. So, although I have not read it, I'll put forth the advice to not judge The Gap on The Real Story alone...

My teacher in the 1st year of Secondary School was a Mrs Sinclair (Scottish). She taught us Scottish Dancing. Also, my last teacher at infants was Mrs Hughes (apparently I called her Mrs Shoes ). She was also Scottish. The downside was that my parents knew both Mrs S and Mr & Mrs H (her husband's name was Cynlas pron. Cunlas and he had a fine tenor voice - in same amateur operatic soc as my parents). I could never get away with anything at school

hi bruce3371

Back to tangent #1...

Some would describe The Real Story as "brutal". I personally was hooked from the first chapter, but some couldn't get through the first book. The first TC book wasn't exactly a walk in the park either. I say trust SRD, he rewards persistence. But of course, if it's not your thing, don't waste your valuable time wading through something that you don't like - choose another story.

Well, The Real Story is short enough that you don't lose much. Personally, like you, I never had a problem with it. (Or the first TC book for that matter.) I was hooked from the go. Just the style of the writing.

Try get the edition with the long afterword by SRD where he explains quite a bit about the beginning of the Gap and even about TC IIRC.

--A

Hiya, Bruce!

Avatar wrote:Well, The Real Story is short enough that you don't lose much. Personally, like you, I never had a problem with it. (Or the first TC book for that matter.) I was hooked from the go. Just the style of the writing.

Try get the edition with the long afterword by SRD where he explains quite a bit about the beginning of the Gap and even about TC IIRC.

--A

I felt The Real Story was a really good introduction to the series, but it almost stands on its own as a story in its own right.

And yes, the edition with the afterword goes a long way to explaining SRD's creative process, and why the characters behave the way they do. It especially helps the reader understand the changing roles of the characters, the way they switch from victimiser to victim, from victim to saviour and from saviour to victimiser...

I have no idea which edition I've ordered, but it's on its way now. We shall see......

If it's not in yours, maybe we can find it online.

--A

The book arrived today but I can't start reading it yet - haven't finished the Saxon Chronicles yet and I'm getting to the action now - Edward still king, Earl Godwin just died, Billy the Bastard soon to take ship to England - must finish it before I start the Gap.

With apologies to Bruce for stealing his thread. Should get onto the Gap section. Will do when I've read it.