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I am going through one of those storms of life in which several things are hitting at once (I am myself fine but entirely overwhelmed), and I am sure I had something profound or entertaining to say but I completely forgot what it was.
Instead, two brief book reviews and some Deep Genre links.
I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of Juliet McKenna's upcoming Irons in the Fire, being published by Solaris Books in March 2009. Apropos of the discussion of politics in fantasy, this is a very political book and it is manifestly and explicitly not about a fetishization of feudalism or a sneaking admiration for aristocracy and monarchs. Quite the opposite. If you've been waiting for that fantasy novel about people rising up against an oppressive aristocratic system, this is your book.
Two things I particularly loved: she is such a careful writer, for one, that it's not just a pleasure to read (although it is) but as reader I feel so well taken care of as I'm reading--that is, I can just relax and let go into the story. For two, her world-building is very very impressive only she never hammers it in. She's like Katharine Kerr in that a sense of depth and reality permeates the narrative.
I also read Karen Miller's Empress, first of the Godspeaker Trilogy. This is an intense novel, most striking for featuring a heroine who is not nice, or easy, or pleasant. I didn't like her (although I felt some sympathy for her situation), but I had to see what she would do next. Also, I was really impressed by Miller's use of tight third point of view. How to say this? She didn't just use tight third pov (in which the thoughts and observations in any given scene are in third person but only from the limited point of view of a single character) in that everything people think, see, experience, emote, and notice is entirely within pov. Even the actual rhythm, word choice, and style she has written the story in, is in pov. I haven't read book two yet, but a quick glance at the opening page reveals a different writing style. This is how tight third is supposed to be done.
I'm currently reading Sherwood Smith's fabulous King's Shield in preparation for . . . no, I shan't taunt you with the fact that I have a very good chance of seeing a advance copy of the fourth and final book. I'm much too kind to do that.
Meanwhile, over at Deep Genre we're talking politics in fantasy, with three posts up so far:
An Introductory post on politics, fantasy, class, and SFF by moi.
On Fantasies and Kings by Lois Tilton.
Caliban and His Mirror: A Guest Post by James Enge
Instead, two brief book reviews and some Deep Genre links.
I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of Juliet McKenna's upcoming Irons in the Fire, being published by Solaris Books in March 2009. Apropos of the discussion of politics in fantasy, this is a very political book and it is manifestly and explicitly not about a fetishization of feudalism or a sneaking admiration for aristocracy and monarchs. Quite the opposite. If you've been waiting for that fantasy novel about people rising up against an oppressive aristocratic system, this is your book.
Two things I particularly loved: she is such a careful writer, for one, that it's not just a pleasure to read (although it is) but as reader I feel so well taken care of as I'm reading--that is, I can just relax and let go into the story. For two, her world-building is very very impressive only she never hammers it in. She's like Katharine Kerr in that a sense of depth and reality permeates the narrative.
I also read Karen Miller's Empress, first of the Godspeaker Trilogy. This is an intense novel, most striking for featuring a heroine who is not nice, or easy, or pleasant. I didn't like her (although I felt some sympathy for her situation), but I had to see what she would do next. Also, I was really impressed by Miller's use of tight third point of view. How to say this? She didn't just use tight third pov (in which the thoughts and observations in any given scene are in third person but only from the limited point of view of a single character) in that everything people think, see, experience, emote, and notice is entirely within pov. Even the actual rhythm, word choice, and style she has written the story in, is in pov. I haven't read book two yet, but a quick glance at the opening page reveals a different writing style. This is how tight third is supposed to be done.
I'm currently reading Sherwood Smith's fabulous King's Shield in preparation for . . . no, I shan't taunt you with the fact that I have a very good chance of seeing a advance copy of the fourth and final book. I'm much too kind to do that.
Meanwhile, over at Deep Genre we're talking politics in fantasy, with three posts up so far:
An Introductory post on politics, fantasy, class, and SFF by moi.
On Fantasies and Kings by Lois Tilton.
Caliban and His Mirror: A Guest Post by James Enge
