Ahira's Hangar

Re-reading The Tales of Alvin Maker. Don't know why, they were just lying around the house and I picked them up.

I like 'em too. Only ever read the first 3 though...have never seen the rest here.

--A

Since his Mistborn trilogy is now completed, I thought I would give newbie fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson a try, especially since he seems like a genuinely nice guy in his blog. So I am in the midst of reading Mistborn: the Final Empire. It took me about three or so chapters to really start to get into the story, but I am really enjoying it now.

It is set on a world that is...a mess. Volcanic ash falls all of the time, requiring endless labor by brutalized slaves to clear enough ground to grow sickly crops for food. The nights are dominated by frightening mists. The world is ruled with an iron fist by an immortal emperor.

The magic system, where the mages can get power by swallowing and burning various metals, is quite unique.

The story is centering around a rebellion against the empire.

Mistborn: The Final Empire was very good. I intend on having my sons read it as soon as I get done with the trilogy, because I think they would really like it. As soon as I get a chance, I will get started on the second book, Mistborn: The Well of Ascencion.

Rereading the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice.

--A

I have made it to the third and final Mistborn book by Brandon Sanderson - The Hero of Ages. I am really really enjoying this trilogy.

Onto the 3rd Vampire book, Queen of the Damned. Had to skip the first 70-odd pages of book two again...too annoying.

--A

I remember loving the first book of that series, then getting annoyed as soon as Lestat became a huge rock star, whichever book that was in.

Reading Thunderer by Felix Gilman. The first chapter did not do much for me, as it was really weird. And then in the next chapter, when the author begins to tell the backstory of one of the main characters, and how his early life was spent in a great musical conservatory, learning music in service to a god who has a wondrous VOICE, I was hooked by the beauty.

Finished Fellowship of the Ring earlier. Now my admiration for the movie has increased. I now truly appreciate how well Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens adapted the book for the screen.

Taking a day's break before starting The Two Towers.

Yeah, I was actually glad they left out Tom Bombadril...Always skip his chapters when I read the book.

--A

I've been thinking of rereading those soon. It has been too many years, and I have been seeing my sons rereading them lately, which has gotten my appetite for Tolkien going.

Hope I didn't give the impression that I didn't like Fellowship, because I did end up enjoying it very much, after a slow start. I liked the Tom Bombadil chapters, too, though I can understand why Peter Jackson chose not to include Bombadil in the movie. Bombadil's scenes are a fascinating detour, but not essential to the story, or at least not to the story Jackson wanted to tell.