Book 6 of 50: Jhereg, Steven Brust
I picked up Brust because Limyaael mentions him all the time in her writing rants. I also picked up her other favorite authors, George R R Martin and Guy Gavriel Kay, which I have enjoyed, but they haven't exactly thrilled me. Brust is a different story.
Jhereg is a very fun read... and really... that's all there really is to say about it, review-wise. It's a good time. Starts out a bit slow (and a bit cheesy with the humor), but it delivers for sure.
What I really liked about it is a little more personal, and that's the realization that this is the kind of fantasy I want to write -- fantasy for the sake of it that's just fun and good, with memorable characters. I don't want to write Lord of the Rings or Earthsea or even a Fionavar Tapestry, with archaic style and mythology deeply rooted in the real world. I just want to make a world and invite people in, and that's what Brust does here. For me, the realization that this type of thing exists and that it's okay to not have every little thing based on a specific mythos or every story reflect huge changes in the entire world or battles of good versus evil is so LIBERATING and it really makes me want to get working. That kind of motivation is in rare stock these days.
So, thanks, Brust, you rock.
Jhereg is a very fun read... and really... that's all there really is to say about it, review-wise. It's a good time. Starts out a bit slow (and a bit cheesy with the humor), but it delivers for sure.
What I really liked about it is a little more personal, and that's the realization that this is the kind of fantasy I want to write -- fantasy for the sake of it that's just fun and good, with memorable characters. I don't want to write Lord of the Rings or Earthsea or even a Fionavar Tapestry, with archaic style and mythology deeply rooted in the real world. I just want to make a world and invite people in, and that's what Brust does here. For me, the realization that this type of thing exists and that it's okay to not have every little thing based on a specific mythos or every story reflect huge changes in the entire world or battles of good versus evil is so LIBERATING and it really makes me want to get working. That kind of motivation is in rare stock these days.
So, thanks, Brust, you rock.