Whew I am back from vacation guys!
I'll be honest...I've been struggling through Vance--Dying Earth. There is some cool imagery, but I had to put it down...(for a few months). Anyone read Scott Lynch--The Lies of Locke Lamora? After the first 100 pages or so, I really started to enjoy it, second book wasn't bad...third book I didn't finish cause it got sorta boring..
Darn it. Did you go for the first dying earth novel or the later Cugel stories? I think the original can be a bit slow at times but the second and third book had me sniggernig throughout. I liked Lies of Locke Lamora as a sort of fantasy reinassance Ocean's 11 but after I had finished the first book I found I was uninterested in what happened next to the characters.
Reads and findings:
Mistborn (Brandon Sanderson) - Surprisingly decent first entry of Sanderson's doorstopper Lotr clone, though the end result ends up feeling more like a Shonen Anime then anything Tolkien ever produced. The protagonists are a plucky band of metal-wizards seeking to free a post-apocalyptic world from the tyranny of the nefarious Lord Ruler. Sanderson's mormon background is telling and lends the work an almost childlike naivete that clashes somewhat with the depictions of graphic violence. Other weakpoints include 21st century american slang in a fantasy novel, a plethora of board meetings to run an underground rebellion that slow down the story and several groan-worthy zingers. Strong points include some heart (hope and trust versus cynicism is a central theme driving the story), a beautifully intricate magic system worthy of its own rpg (already there), jaw-dropping action scenes and good use of unexpected plot twists to heighten the tension. Its a little watered down but its not cynical, thank God. I will be reading the next one. Recommended if you have a long breath (fucking 600+ pages?).
Ensign Flandry (Poul Anderson) - Poul Anderson is one of those authors that I like almost everything I read from but that I tend to forget, with the exception of the Broken Sword, which is a terrific Viking-themed fantasy saga (I think it might be the only one?). Cold War Politics in Space! The decadent terran Empire battles the upstart crocodile samurai alien empire in a war by proxy on some forlorn border world. Fish men against cat boobs. Into this mix is thrust Dominic Flandry, dashing space ensign. The flatness of Flandry aside, Ensign Flandry is a rewarding space romp that reminds one that at one time 224 pages was enough to put down an entire universe full of possibilities, espionage, intrigue, space combat (I think we might be witnessing the inspiration for the Spike Drive in SWN), blaster fights and interventionist policies. Anderson tends to make both his heroes and villains have an understandable (if not always reasonable) point of view. Its nice to see a passivist villain for once, showcasing that in some cases, naive idealism can be just as deadly as warmongering xenophobia.
John Dies at the End (David Wong) - Thoroughly joyless experience that I was forced to give up before finishing the first chapter for fear of swearing off reading altogether. Picture an endless carousel of family guy stewey jokes, read by the character Phoebe from Friends. Wong informs us that if it had not been for this book deal, he would still be an alcoholic, but reading his anti-comedy kind of makes you wish he'd stuck with drinking. Returned it to the thrift shop, where it will hopefully serve to provide warmth or nourishment to one of Toronto's many homeless persons.
All You Need is Kill (Hiroshi Sakurazaka) - Light Novel that inspired one of my favourite movies of all time, Edge of Tomorrow. If you are a fan of the movie it might be worth your time, but the description Light Novel is apt, there is just not that much here. The novel is plagued by various anime-isms, autism and impenetrable exposition but delivers a healthy shot of adrenaline nevertheless, and the extra background behind the alien Mimics is welcome. The ending is surprisingly brutal, but then again, this is Japan. Entertaining but ultimately unimpactful.
Agricola/Germania [Penguin classics edition] (Tacitus) - Easily my favorite read of the holidays. The famous roman historian describes the life and career of his father-in-law, the governor of Britannia and the customs and beliefs of the German Tribes. Short, packed full of historical detail, bizarre customs and written in clear, concise, masculine prose and wry wit. Great, riveting stuff.
An Evil Guest (Gene Wolfe) - Gene Wolfe doing his best Neil Gaiman impression? I don't even know where to start with this one. A novel nominally set in the future but written in the style of a 50s pulp novel about a broadway starlet falling in love with a wealthy but sinister man with lovecraftian/fantasy elements slowly being introduced about halfway through? As always with Wolfe, there are multiple layers hinted at throughout the story that I frankly couldn't tease out in my first readthrough. The cheesy dialog and frequent plot twists kept me interested enough and I finished the novel pretty quickly, but in the end I can't help but wonder what it all meant. If you are a fan of Gene Wolfe, probably worth it, if not, best skip this one and try something normal first. Rereading will probably be mandatory for even partial comprehension.
Beowulf (Michael Alexander) - Classic poem about Beowulf, Warrior of the Geats and his destruction of the creature Grendel and his Mother at the behest of Hrothgar of the Scyldings only to fall to a mighty dragon fifty years later. Slower then the Epic of Gilgamesh, there is still some undoubtedly stirring imagery, dash-daring heroism and the backdrop of blood-feuding clans, gold-covered halls, mead and mention of ante-deluvian giants is neat. The confrontation with Grendel's mother is the highlight. The wound Wyglaf deals to the Dragon so his fire does not consume Beowulf makes me wonder whether the hit point based breath weapon damage for dragons originated here. Surely not?
The Screwtape letters (C.S. Lewis) - My first foray into Christian Theology, based on a recommendation, C.S. Lewis of Narnia fame warns of the designs of devils and how virtue can be turned to sin, using as a medium the exchange of letters between the Devil Wormwood and his uncle Screwtape. Witty, intelligent and emminently sensible, the moral pitfalls are mostly recognizable even if the reader is unlikely to subscribe to a belief in spirits. You probably have a pretty good idea whether or not this book is for you.
Time to fucking sleep. Good to be back guys.