Ahira's Hangar

Remember that we have discussion on that book here, too, guys.

Right now I am still reading historical fiction (I really have a taste for historical fiction right now), but have dug out my two Steven Erikson novellas (I do not have the third) for my next chunk of a Malazan reread. I actually think some of the man's best writing is contained in his novellas - the shorter format requires him stick to a much tighter plot.

Just finishing off my reread of Gemmel's excellent Troy trilogy with the last book, Fall of Kings. Really good reading. If anybody wants perhaps the best retelling of the Illiad, keep an eye out for these.

--A

You read them? I really love how the kings names and titles are often reversed... Odysseus King, instead of King Odysseus.

I assume it's because they introduce themselves as (for example) "Odysseus King of Ithaka" so it gets shortened to just name and title. And whenever they talk of Atreus and Agamemnon, and how his name will be remembered for thousands upon thousands of years, I always think of Dune and the Atreides.

I also loved his interpretation of how the Trojan Horse got them into Troy. That makes a lot more sense to me than the classical interpretation.

And of course, at the end, when Odysseus is talking about going home to his wife, and that it'll be a quick voyage...we know that it's gonna take him ten years, (The Odyssey). (And the origins of the stories from The Odyssey as well...Circe for example. )

*sigh* A great loss to the world of fantasy.

--A

I am reading China Meiville's YA novel, Un Lun Dun. So far I am enjoying it.

I had hoped that what comes off as pretentious weirdness for the sake of weirdness in his books intended for adults, might some off as whimsical and charming in a book for younger people. So far that is the case.

I have tried to read his Perdido Street Station a couple of times, and keep throwing it across the room when I get to the scene of the human male screwing a giant bug. Yes, I know that the giant bug is sentient, so she is a consenting and willing sex partner.

But nonethless she is a ginormous bug.

And he is having sex with her.

And it gives me the heebie jeebies.

But no strange sex with strange beings in this one, and I am enjoying it thus far.

Yeah, I hated the bug-sex, too. It didn't keep me from reading the book, but I had trouble respecting Isaac for doing a giant ant, and it grossed me out. And it was just such a waste. The Scar has normal sex scenes; I don't recall them being graphic or anything, but they were much more pleasant to read. I thought it was a better book, too. Still, I'm not sure I can read much more Mieville. Those Bas-Lag books are just too grungy and disgusting. He's one helluva good writer, but reading about characters wallowing through sewers and having sex with 3-headed donkeys gets to you after a while.

Graphic sex in and of itself does not usually bother me. But that guy having sex with the giant bug made me feel sick.

I finished up Un Lun Dun and I did really enjoy it. I will gladly read any other YA books Meiville writes, but am really leery over adult books, given the bug sex thing.

Currently reading The Fetch by Laura Whitcomb.

Calder is a Fetch - a servant of the afterlife. When people face death, a Fetch comes and waits for their decision to live or die. If they want to die, the Fetch takes them through the door to the afterlife, where they pass through various stages until they go on to Heaven.

Well, this particular Fetch falls for a mortal woman and gets caught up in the events of the Russian Revolution.

I really liked the premise of the book, and thought that the Russian Revolution would be a pretty cool and unusual setting for a fantasy novel.

But it has turned out to be yet another conspiracy story about Crown Prince Alexi and Grand Duchess Anastasia somehow surviving the mass assassination of the Russian Royals.

**sigh**

That is so old and lame, and archaeological evidence has proven that the two youngest royals died right along with the rest of their family, but were buried separately nearby.

So while the story had a cool premise, and some initial promise, I am sadly disappointed with it.

Just got done reading When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs. I like her urban fantasy Mercy Thompson series (what she is best known for) so I have been delving into her back catalog of more traditional fantasy. Those traditional fantasy books of hers that I have read (this book, and previously her Raven duology) are pretty good. She has a gift such as that of Patricia McKillip or Robin McKinley to have a well developed and interesting world that she (they) can establish in just one or two short books, in contrast to some of the mega-series out there right now (I'm thinking Wheel of Time with its huge novels and page count). She has well developed characters and strong plots, too.

In this book there is a potential romance (we see it in the opening stages only, with only an occasional kiss exchanged) that somehow manages to be hotter and deeper in feelings than most authors' full fledged sexual/emotional relationships in their books.

Nice contrast to the bug sex I was talking about a few posts ago.

I love his books. These last may have been his most complex, but he's excellent at Heroic Fiction. And You probably could do worse than read his very first book first. Legend.

But it really doesn't matter...Troy will be just as good. (Hell...if not better...he certainly matured as a writer in the intervening 20 odd years.)

--A

Oh...I'm reading a Raymond E Feist book I've never read before. The King's Buccaneer. Typical Feist, so I enjoy it.

--A

I've never read any Feist. Guess I'll read Rift War one of these days. There are just so many books after that series, that it's a bit intimidating.

The Rift War trilogy and the Empire trilogy (with Janny Wurts) are the best. If you read no others, read those. (The Empire one is probably better, but you need to have read the Rift War one to get the most out of it. At least Magician. )

(Oh, I'm reading some more Gemmel...Swords of Night and Day.

--A