Jim Butcher, the author of the Harry Dresden urban fantasies, has created an astonishing new series with wonderful characters. I generally don't like medieval fantasies, but I couldn't put this one down. On Alera people can harness the elemental powers of air, wind, earth, fire, metal and water, in forces called furies. Almost everyone controls at least one fury. Tavi, an apprentice shepherd, is a freak--he has no furies at all. It's especially galling since the harsh life in the mountainside valley of Calderon depends on furycrafting. Tavi and his uncle Bernard, the Steadholter of Bernardholt, are searching for lost sheep when they are attacked by the Calerdon's hereditary enemy, the barbarian Marat. The gravely wounded Bernard is carried back to his Steadholt by his fury. Tavi's aunt Isana, a powerful watercrafter, heals Bernard, but nearly dies herself.
Tavi has to rely on wits and strength to help his Steadholt fight the Marat, who grossly outnumber them. With his courage he gains aid from Doroga, a breakaway Marat tribal leader, and by the end of the book he and Doroga's daughter Kitai are unwilling allies. In an awards ceremony Tavi, his uncle, his aunt Isana, and Doroga are highly honored by the First Lord Gauis Sextus. (But everything Gauis does has political overtones...)
I've finished the second book so far, and can't wait to get the third.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
SUMMER LIGHTNING, by P.G.WODEHOUSE
In yet another break I am re-reading this P. G. Wodehouse classic. In the opening paragraphs Blanding Castle's stuffy butler Beach is reading a Society article in the summer sunshine. (England is almost always sunny in Wodehouse.) He's startled from his reverie by someone whispering, "Psst" from the laurel bush. I know I've read this novel several times before, but I've again succumbed to the comic Blandings world.
NEVER TRUST A LADY by SUZANNE ROBINSON
I must at times take a break from heavy SFF with its wars and W-V conflicts. I recently found this light Civil War romance which chronicles the intrigues of English Lady Eva Sparrow and Texan Ryder Drake. They must foil an assassination plot which would drive Britain into coming into the war on the side of the South. Drake thinks Lady Eva is too frivolous for spying. Lady Eva thinks Drake is a brute who doesn't acknowledge her intelligence. He has to allow her to introduce him into British Society.
Their affair is hysterically PG rated. He accidentally has to hold her and is embarrassed by his physical reactions. She finds herself swooning over his kisses. He brushes his lips over her ears. "Someone has neglected your education, my little peony." Then she has to put him in his place for underestimating her fortitude, again. Together they defeat the villains, and in a final spat he says "Eva, I have no right to ask you to remain here when there's a good chance I'll be killed in this war." She bats him with her fan and replies, "How dare you misunderstand my character after all these months, Mr, Drake? I can face danger as well as you can." Then he asks her to marry him. Delicious froth.
Their affair is hysterically PG rated. He accidentally has to hold her and is embarrassed by his physical reactions. She finds herself swooning over his kisses. He brushes his lips over her ears. "Someone has neglected your education, my little peony." Then she has to put him in his place for underestimating her fortitude, again. Together they defeat the villains, and in a final spat he says "Eva, I have no right to ask you to remain here when there's a good chance I'll be killed in this war." She bats him with her fan and replies, "How dare you misunderstand my character after all these months, Mr, Drake? I can face danger as well as you can." Then he asks her to marry him. Delicious froth.
EARTH MADE OF GLASS, by JOHN BARNES
In the 24th century man has created over a thousand new cultures in space, most of them artificial, idealized recreations of extinct Earth ones. Almost all the good real estate is gone, and new cultures battle for marginally habitable worlds. One of these is Briand, with heavy gravity, extreme heat, and a poisonous atmosphere. The only land masses available are Greenland sized islands which rise up into breathable air.
But the real hellishness of Briand is not its climate, it's the ethnic violence of its two cultures, the resurrected pseudo “Maya” and the poet culture of the Tamil.Although the two cultures are viciously opposed, they have each created beautiful cities. It's as though Bosnians built the Sun Palace, and the Serbs the Taj Mahal. A volcanic explosion has destroyed most of the Maya space and they are wedged into part of the largest Tamil city; acts of violence are more common here than in any other inhabited world
Into this volatile situation come Giraut and Margaret Leones, career diplomats who struggle to keep the planet from wrenching apart into outright war. They soak up each culture and entreat each side to seek peace. Margaret and Giraut's marriage is similarly being wrenched apart and neither can communicate with each other. As the Science Fiction Chronicle wrote, “the ending is both surprising and unsurprising, and to understand that paradox you'll have to read this exciting novel for yourself.” The novel is achingly beautiful and one which will remain with me for a long time.
But the real hellishness of Briand is not its climate, it's the ethnic violence of its two cultures, the resurrected pseudo “Maya” and the poet culture of the Tamil.Although the two cultures are viciously opposed, they have each created beautiful cities. It's as though Bosnians built the Sun Palace, and the Serbs the Taj Mahal. A volcanic explosion has destroyed most of the Maya space and they are wedged into part of the largest Tamil city; acts of violence are more common here than in any other inhabited world
Into this volatile situation come Giraut and Margaret Leones, career diplomats who struggle to keep the planet from wrenching apart into outright war. They soak up each culture and entreat each side to seek peace. Margaret and Giraut's marriage is similarly being wrenched apart and neither can communicate with each other. As the Science Fiction Chronicle wrote, “the ending is both surprising and unsurprising, and to understand that paradox you'll have to read this exciting novel for yourself.” The novel is achingly beautiful and one which will remain with me for a long time.
Friday, December 10, 2010
DEATHSTALKER, SIMON GREEN
Yet a third series from Simon Green is this fun space opera. One minute aristocrat Owen Deathstalker of Virimonde is reclining on his silk sheets, and the next he's running for his life, outlawed by Empress Lionstone. His estates and wealth vanish and people he's known for years are trying to kill him. For the first time he calls up his family's internal “boost” powers whose synthetic adrenalin hormones allow him to fight superhumanly for a short while. He's rescued by an outlaw spaceship pirate, Hazel, who escorts him to the icy planet Mistworld, hellhole and rebel planet. This mild historian reluctantly emerges as the warrior his father always wanted. He assembles a rag-taggle crew who will help him face the Empire.
Back on Virimonde the wealthy court Families indulge in intrigues, dynastic marriages, and literal backstabbing. There are Masked Gladiators with secret Family ties, debauched fops, and plotters of murderous vendettas. I especially love Valentine Wolfe, a drug-addled dandy who, faced with a forced marriage, calmly asks his father if he can wear white. With a veil.
This book closely follows the pattern of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey outline. Owen's ORDINARY WORLD is Virimonde, and he's CALLED TO ADVENTURE when he is outlawed. He REFUSES THE CALL when, bewildered, he runs for his life. Hazel is his MENTOR and he CROSSES THE THRESHOLD with her when they blast off the planet. He acquires ALLIES and ENEMIES and faces TESTS, growing in strength. I must find every one of this delicious series.
Back on Virimonde the wealthy court Families indulge in intrigues, dynastic marriages, and literal backstabbing. There are Masked Gladiators with secret Family ties, debauched fops, and plotters of murderous vendettas. I especially love Valentine Wolfe, a drug-addled dandy who, faced with a forced marriage, calmly asks his father if he can wear white. With a veil.
This book closely follows the pattern of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey outline. Owen's ORDINARY WORLD is Virimonde, and he's CALLED TO ADVENTURE when he is outlawed. He REFUSES THE CALL when, bewildered, he runs for his life. Hazel is his MENTOR and he CROSSES THE THRESHOLD with her when they blast off the planet. He acquires ALLIES and ENEMIES and faces TESTS, growing in strength. I must find every one of this delicious series.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
TRAILER FOR VAMPIRES SUCK
I just saw the hilarious trailer for this parody of the TWILIGHT series--who cares how good the movie really is? Bella is riding the roads of Washington, musing "I feel so safe with you," when she nearly runs over Edward Cullen and crashes her motorcycle. In the second scene she confronts the Jacob Black look-alike. "Why did you just take your shirt off?" "It's in my contract--I have to do it every ten minutes of screen time." Lastly, she hovers over Edward Cullen, breathing "Let's go all the way." Cullen hastily points out, "Purity Ring," as he avoids her.
I had neglected the TWILIGHT series due to its teen orientation, but I'm glad I read it now. It's always good to be aware of the pop-cultural zeitgeist, and know whether you're Team Edward or Team Jacob.
I had neglected the TWILIGHT series due to its teen orientation, but I'm glad I read it now. It's always good to be aware of the pop-cultural zeitgeist, and know whether you're Team Edward or Team Jacob.
TV SERIES, THE BIG BANG THEORY
When I first heard the premise of BIG BANG, four geeks with a normal girl next door, I didn't want to watch it. I'm fairly geeky myself, and didn't want to see science put down. But after my first viewing, I've become a great fan.
Set in Pasadena, California, the show is centered around five characters: two roommate Caltech geniuses, Leonard, who works with lasers and Sheldon, a theoretical physicist. Their neighbor across the hall is Penny, an attractive blonde, and their equally nerdy and socially awkward Caltech friends are Howard and Rajesh. Unlike NUM3ERS crime-solving Charlie Eppes, the four friend's science careers are inconsequential backgrounds for the storyline. It's more important to know that Leonard and Penny used to hookup, but she rejected him when he told her he loved her.
The dweebiness of the four guys is contrasted for comic effect with Penny's social skills and common sense. The show's real star is Sheldon, an Asperger poster child, who's played by the stork-like Jim Parsons. In one scene Penny makes a snide remark, and Sheldon says, "I THINK I am hearing sarcasm from Penny." When confirmed, he says, "Aha! I'm 8 for 26 this month!"
In another priceless scene Penny drives Sheldon and Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's female counterpart, to their first date, and vainly tries to get them talking. Every topic falls flat until the pair begin to calculate the number of Penny's sexual partners from the frequency of her dates and “loud noises and references to a Deity.” “Oh God,” she moans, and the pair continue. They are now talking happily while cluelessly mortifying Penny. This is a real jewel of a show. Watch it.
Leonard--Johnny Galecki Sheldon; Jim Parsons. Penny-Kaley Cuoco; Rajesh--Kunal Nayyar. Howard--Simon Helberg; Amy Farrah Fowler--Mayim Bialik.
Set in Pasadena, California, the show is centered around five characters: two roommate Caltech geniuses, Leonard, who works with lasers and Sheldon, a theoretical physicist. Their neighbor across the hall is Penny, an attractive blonde, and their equally nerdy and socially awkward Caltech friends are Howard and Rajesh. Unlike NUM3ERS crime-solving Charlie Eppes, the four friend's science careers are inconsequential backgrounds for the storyline. It's more important to know that Leonard and Penny used to hookup, but she rejected him when he told her he loved her.
The dweebiness of the four guys is contrasted for comic effect with Penny's social skills and common sense. The show's real star is Sheldon, an Asperger poster child, who's played by the stork-like Jim Parsons. In one scene Penny makes a snide remark, and Sheldon says, "I THINK I am hearing sarcasm from Penny." When confirmed, he says, "Aha! I'm 8 for 26 this month!"
In another priceless scene Penny drives Sheldon and Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's female counterpart, to their first date, and vainly tries to get them talking. Every topic falls flat until the pair begin to calculate the number of Penny's sexual partners from the frequency of her dates and “loud noises and references to a Deity.” “Oh God,” she moans, and the pair continue. They are now talking happily while cluelessly mortifying Penny. This is a real jewel of a show. Watch it.
Leonard--Johnny Galecki Sheldon; Jim Parsons. Penny-Kaley Cuoco; Rajesh--Kunal Nayyar. Howard--Simon Helberg; Amy Farrah Fowler--Mayim Bialik.
THE SPY WHO HAUNTED ME, BY SIMON R. GREEN
This second series from Simon Green takes its snarky titles from James Bond movies. Besides SPY, there are also DAEMONS ARE FOREVER and FROM HELL WITH LOVE. Green's hero, Edwin Drood, aka Shaman Bond, takes his name, but nothing else, from Charles Dickens' unfinished novel.
Edwin's secretive family, who used to be the Druids, has spent centuries defending humanity. Their power comes from the golden torcs they wear. When activated, the torcs can shield them from magic, call up a Sight, and beat the crap out of murderous aliens, among other powers. Edwin has distanced himself from his family's manipulations, but he's recalled to retrieve a dying superagent's secrets.
Nearly invincible, when he has to travel to the Nightside, the nightmarish heart of London, he's unsettled, off-balance. He hates the Nightside's miasma of “loud, sleazy, bright color ...like standing on a city street in hell.” “Anything is permitted, everything is for sale,...and no one will stop you or call you to account. Or rescue you when things go bad.” He aches to call up his armor and bring justice and retribution. Of course, that's why Droods are never allowed into the Nightside.
It's that same amoral sleaziness which attracts John Taylor. “Bright neon gleamed everywhere, sharp and gaudy...an endless come-on to suckers and victims and lonely souls. Sex licked its lips and cocked a hip. It was all dangerous as hell and twice as much fun. Damn, it was good to be back.”
Drood is ultimately less interesting than Taylor not just from his tendency to self-righteousness, but because he has fewer tricks and skills. The repetitiveness of “I called up my golden armor” finally lead me to imagine Drood as the Oscar Statuette. I enjoyed Edwin Drood, but I love John Taylor. He is one of the good guys who WILL rescue you from the Nightside.
Edwin's secretive family, who used to be the Druids, has spent centuries defending humanity. Their power comes from the golden torcs they wear. When activated, the torcs can shield them from magic, call up a Sight, and beat the crap out of murderous aliens, among other powers. Edwin has distanced himself from his family's manipulations, but he's recalled to retrieve a dying superagent's secrets.
Nearly invincible, when he has to travel to the Nightside, the nightmarish heart of London, he's unsettled, off-balance. He hates the Nightside's miasma of “loud, sleazy, bright color ...like standing on a city street in hell.” “Anything is permitted, everything is for sale,...and no one will stop you or call you to account. Or rescue you when things go bad.” He aches to call up his armor and bring justice and retribution. Of course, that's why Droods are never allowed into the Nightside.
It's that same amoral sleaziness which attracts John Taylor. “Bright neon gleamed everywhere, sharp and gaudy...an endless come-on to suckers and victims and lonely souls. Sex licked its lips and cocked a hip. It was all dangerous as hell and twice as much fun. Damn, it was good to be back.”
Drood is ultimately less interesting than Taylor not just from his tendency to self-righteousness, but because he has fewer tricks and skills. The repetitiveness of “I called up my golden armor” finally lead me to imagine Drood as the Oscar Statuette. I enjoyed Edwin Drood, but I love John Taylor. He is one of the good guys who WILL rescue you from the Nightside.
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