Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Sat Jun 26, 2004 9:26 pm**

Riddle-Master: The Complete Trilogy
by Patricia A. McKillip

What are your thoughts on this series and/or the author, good, bad, crap, Steven Erikson has his little thumbs up label on the book, but I don't know, I picked it up cuz it was in the bargain section all three in one anthology for $10, so I figured at that price it doesnt matter if it sucks. But still would like to hear your thoughts if you've read it. Cheers.

Posted: **Sun Jun 27, 2004 6:48 pm**

I loved the Riddlemaster trilogy. It is a very interesting story, keeps you guessing and trying to figure out just what is going on throughout all 3 books. I loved it even more the second time I read it.

Go for it, and enjoy.

Posted: **Mon Jun 28, 2004 3:57 pm**

I'm a huge Patricia McKillip fan, and the Riddle-Master is an excellent place to start. (My av comes from the pb of Heir of Sea and Fire.) She's a terrific high fantasist. The only books of hers I've had trouble penetrating are The Sorceress and the Cygnet and The Cygnet and the Firebird; I've read them, but I finished them feeling like my understanding only skittered across the surface.

SRD is a big fan as well--I think I read somewhere that his fave of hers is The Book of Atrix Wolfe.

In other words, Go for it!

Posted: **Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:18 pm**

Really good. Lots of mystery, lots of magic, nothing 'usual'. You will cry.

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 12:16 am**

I first read the Riddlemaster trilogy back in the early 80s.

I've re-read it probably twenty times since then, and every time I find something I hadn't found before, something that makes the work more and more enjoyable, deeper and more rooted, vaster and more wonderful.

It is, I think, one of the greatest works of fantasy ever written -- moving, mysterious, powerful, deep beyond knowledge, and altogether glorious.

Read it. Then re-read it. And then do it again.

I can't recommend these books highly enough.

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 12:35 am**

Morgon and Raederle rule! One of the greatest fantasy couples of all time! Myste, for one, has a great Raederle avatar!

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 1:46 pm**

Cheers, danlo, thanks!

It was actually McKillip who got me started on Donaldson--he was in a dedication in one of her books, or maybe he blurbed one or something, and I decided, well, if he likes her, I might like him....The friend of my friend is my friend, etc.

So read it already, Fiz!

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:00 pm**

Sounds interesting. I just looked on Amazon and found the trilogy in one volume for £7.19 new (about $11). I might have to get it

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:22 pm**

Yeah, its on the shelf but I'm in two books already so I'll get to it eventually. I'm reading The Gunslinger, & Deadhouse Gates so it'll be done. Cheers.

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:30 pm**

I bought all three at the local used bookstore for a resounding dollar 25!

Posted: **Fri Jul 02, 2004 5:13 pm**

I've had to buy second and third copies of my 3-book set because I keep reading them to pieces. And I like the individual books because they're easier to carry around than an omnibus.

I want to go to danlo's local bookshop. $1.25?!?!? Holy cow!

Posted: **Mon Jul 05, 2004 3:06 pm**

I have read the three books myself and I must say that although they were very good they did not stick in my memory like they seem to have done for some of those posting here.

However I recently read "The Forgotten Beasts of Eld", and got a very favorable impression of McKillip's other work so I have now ordered the book of Atrix Wolfe from Amazon.uk.

Posted: **Mon Oct 04, 2004 6:32 am**

tonyz wrote:I've re-read it probably twenty times since then, and every time I find something I hadn't found before, something that makes the work more and more enjoyable, deeper and more rooted, vaster and more wonderful.

I just re-read The Riddlemaster, and I have to say, I feel that way about it too. I understand and love it more and more with each re-read. Really a wonderful, moving story.

Posted: **Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:23 pm**

I actually just picked up the book club omnibus edition of the trilogy, just for kicks (& because it was super-cheap [$3] on ebay). They named it "Riddle of Stars" and its cover is only slightly better than the jacket on the original pb of Riddle-Master--you know, the one where Morgon looks like He-Man? Well, on Riddle of Stars, he looks about 12 years old. I like McKillip's new covers much better--Kinuko Kraft is wonderful!

Posted: **Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:18 am**

My copy has this cover.

Posted: **Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:25 am**

from what i can say now (and that is not very substantial since i have not yet finished), it is a fantastic work with a really unique way of telling things. the atmosphere is so compelety unconvential and enigmatic. i think it is also a great plus to transcribe magic from the usual meaning to a different level (riddles and music, wow.). do you know the cover of the fantasy masterworks edition? i think that one is a great description of the whole atmosphere. hum, i have the books for one and a half years or so, and still haven´t finished (had to restart also because i was completely confused), which is really strange now that i think of it... have to post more later, now that i got meself spurred to read them

.

cheers,
srsb

Posted: **Mon Nov 29, 2004 12:57 pm**

It arrived in the post a couple days ago - will read soon!

Posted: **Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:15 pm**

I think you will enjoy them, Murrin! McKillip is a very gifted writer.

Posted: **Sat Dec 18, 2004 10:35 am**

Ordered it today from my favourite local book shoppe!

Posted: **Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:47 pm**

I hope that you will enjoy it.