Reading: Backlists and YA
One of the things that makes me realize I’m living in the future is the joy of having a dozen or so novels in my pocket at all times. It was surprisingly easy to learn to read on my phone; for convenience it’s become my primary reading device.
My recent reading has been divided. About half the time, I’m either re-reading or filling in backlist titles; authors whose books I read and lost or never caught on the first time around. Barbara Hambly’s backlist is now pretty well available on Kindle and I’m rationing myself. I’ve also picked up Martha Well’s City of Bones, which I never read in paperback. Well’s strength (in this reader’s opinion) is writing highly relatable characters inside wildly imaginative alien worlds. I think her Ile-Rien series is next for me. (Late edit, just started The Wizard Hunters and am enjoying it.)
The other half of my reading time is being spent on YA fantasy, particularly the subgenre I think of as the “fantasy of manners” - though some of my reading really doesn’t fit that description. I’ve been trying to figure out why these books have caught my reading interest, and here are my somewhat jumbled thoughts. First, they’re highly character-centric stories. This isn’t good or bad, just a preference of mine. Second, these books feature characters that are limited both in actual power and socially. I do go through phases where Honor Harrington type characters are appealing, but sometimes it’s nice to read about someone who isn’t superman. In some ways this is the opposite of what draws me to epic fantasy - epics pit characters against events that will move their worlds; these stories tend to pit characters against personal challenges that are overcome in personal ways.
The reading list for me in this (stretched) genre:
Sorcery and Cecelia, of course, plus sequels. Highly worthwhile.
Emilie and the Hollow World, another Martha Wells. A little outside of genre and to me reads slightly younger; it Joan Aiken went for a romp in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ playground something like this might be the result. Highly recommended for younger readers or those with any interest in YA.
Kat, Incorrigible Stephanie Burgis. Picked this up after reading an essay by the author online. Reads somewhat younger than any of the others; more like Tamora Pierce than Wrede or Wells. Not as engaging for me but recommended for younger readers; even with the younger writing style the main character was interesting.
A Matter of Magic, Patricia Wrede. YA, but engaging for adults. This is a book I reread when I want a lighthearted character romp; highly recommended for readers at about the same level as Sorcery and Cecelia.
Also, just outside this genre, Impulse by Stephen Gould. The third novel in his primary Jumper universe, which I would think of as T rated YA fiction. A highly worthy successor to an excellent book and while nominally YA I would quite recommend the series to any reader. The spine story is Jumper, Reflex, and Impulse. Jumper, Griffin’s Story is backstory set in the universe of the movie, which is somewhat different. I find Gould’s treatment of the movie as AU laudable, and I enjoyed that story too - just be aware that it’s a different world from the main series.
My recent reading has been divided. About half the time, I’m either re-reading or filling in backlist titles; authors whose books I read and lost or never caught on the first time around. Barbara Hambly’s backlist is now pretty well available on Kindle and I’m rationing myself. I’ve also picked up Martha Well’s City of Bones, which I never read in paperback. Well’s strength (in this reader’s opinion) is writing highly relatable characters inside wildly imaginative alien worlds. I think her Ile-Rien series is next for me. (Late edit, just started The Wizard Hunters and am enjoying it.)
The other half of my reading time is being spent on YA fantasy, particularly the subgenre I think of as the “fantasy of manners” - though some of my reading really doesn’t fit that description. I’ve been trying to figure out why these books have caught my reading interest, and here are my somewhat jumbled thoughts. First, they’re highly character-centric stories. This isn’t good or bad, just a preference of mine. Second, these books feature characters that are limited both in actual power and socially. I do go through phases where Honor Harrington type characters are appealing, but sometimes it’s nice to read about someone who isn’t superman. In some ways this is the opposite of what draws me to epic fantasy - epics pit characters against events that will move their worlds; these stories tend to pit characters against personal challenges that are overcome in personal ways.
The reading list for me in this (stretched) genre:
Sorcery and Cecelia, of course, plus sequels. Highly worthwhile.
Emilie and the Hollow World, another Martha Wells. A little outside of genre and to me reads slightly younger; it Joan Aiken went for a romp in Edgar Rice Burroughs’ playground something like this might be the result. Highly recommended for younger readers or those with any interest in YA.
Kat, Incorrigible Stephanie Burgis. Picked this up after reading an essay by the author online. Reads somewhat younger than any of the others; more like Tamora Pierce than Wrede or Wells. Not as engaging for me but recommended for younger readers; even with the younger writing style the main character was interesting.
A Matter of Magic, Patricia Wrede. YA, but engaging for adults. This is a book I reread when I want a lighthearted character romp; highly recommended for readers at about the same level as Sorcery and Cecelia.
Also, just outside this genre, Impulse by Stephen Gould. The third novel in his primary Jumper universe, which I would think of as T rated YA fiction. A highly worthy successor to an excellent book and while nominally YA I would quite recommend the series to any reader. The spine story is Jumper, Reflex, and Impulse. Jumper, Griffin’s Story is backstory set in the universe of the movie, which is somewhat different. I find Gould’s treatment of the movie as AU laudable, and I enjoyed that story too - just be aware that it’s a different world from the main series.