10 favorite novels, sort of
Yes, there was a meme running around of the opening lines of your ten favorite books. Well. Actually this is more like opening lines of favorite novel of the moment (or first to hand that I love) by eleven of my favorite authors. (Two of them collaborated on one book, making it particularly useful for these purposes.) Yes, I hated pruning it down to ten, but....
So. First the books, authors and first lines, then comments.
Memory, Lois McMaster Bujold - Miles returned to consciousness with his eyes still closed.
(Source of possibly my favorite quote from all her fiction, which is saying quite a lot: "The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.")
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull - By day, the Nicollet Mall winds through Minneapolis like a paved canal.
(Read it. Just read it. Then hope you can find the other books she's written.)
The Door Into Shadow, Diane Duane - When she was studying in the Silent Precincts, the Rodmistresses had warned her: If you're going to look for meaning in a dream, first make sure it's your own.
(Source of the most chilling threat and blessing I've seen, and one of the most accurate. "The Goddess's courtesy is a terrible thing. To the mortal asker She will give what is asked for, without stinting, without fail. Nor will She stop giving until the gift's recipient, like the gift, becomes perfect. Let the asker beware...")
The Diamond Throne, David Eddings - It was raining.
(Yes, that's from the first chapter, not the first prologue. I loved this series. Sir Sparhawk. That damn war horse of his. Kalten, who loves skulking and can forge any handwriting if you watch his spelling while he does. Sir Bevier and his iron grip on his faith.... the list just goes on. Great trilogy, including this book, The Ruby Knight, and The Sapphire Crown.)
Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - It was a nice day.
(It's Gaiman. It's Pratchett. It has Crowley, 'An Angel who did not so much Fall as Saunter Vaguely Downwards'. Go thou, read and giggle. And worry.)
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein - I see in Lunaya Pravda that Luna City Council has passed on first reading a bill to examine, license, inspect - and tax - public food vendors operating inside municipal pressure.
(Erm. Heinlein. Revolutions. Manny. Prof de la Paz. Michael/Michelle. Just... superb.)
Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly - It was not that there were no warnings.
(I know, I know. 'Of all of Hambly's books, you picked *what*?' I picked the one I read and reread. It's almost enough to make me like Pekes, and I'm a devoted cat person. Superb look at 1920s Hollywood, too. Enjoy!)
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart - I shall clasp my hands together and bow to the corners of the world.
(Ah, Master Li, and Number Ten Ox -- I live in hope that Barry Hughart will write a fourth book. Meantime, I have the Foglio illustrated omnibus of the first three, so I reread and am happy.)
Folly, Laurie King - The gray-haired woman stood with her boots planted on the rocky promontory and watched what was left of her family pull away.
(I have reread this possibly ten times now. It's only been out two years. I don't know what kind of novel or genre to suggest it might fit in, other than superb.)
Gaudy Night, Dorothy Sayers - Harriet Vane sat at her writing-table and stared out into Mecklenburg Square.
(A murder mystery, I suppose, or perhaps the aftermath of a suicide, and at the same time a very interesting view on the differing roles, and views, of women in England between the two World Wars. None of which tells you what the book is about. I clearly recommend it highly, but don't have a clue how to summarize it.)
There are other authors I read and love -- Ellen Kushner, Kay Hooper, Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Alexandre Dumas, pere, Stephen Brust, Roger Zelazny, Jane Lindskold -- but these were the ten I picked. Hope I didn't bore people to death.
PS -- for the curious? Five of those I own in hardback or tradeback; five in paperback. There's something oddly amusing in that....
So. First the books, authors and first lines, then comments.
Memory, Lois McMaster Bujold - Miles returned to consciousness with his eyes still closed.
(Source of possibly my favorite quote from all her fiction, which is saying quite a lot: "The one thing you can't trade for your heart's desire is your heart.")
War for the Oaks, Emma Bull - By day, the Nicollet Mall winds through Minneapolis like a paved canal.
(Read it. Just read it. Then hope you can find the other books she's written.)
The Door Into Shadow, Diane Duane - When she was studying in the Silent Precincts, the Rodmistresses had warned her: If you're going to look for meaning in a dream, first make sure it's your own.
(Source of the most chilling threat and blessing I've seen, and one of the most accurate. "The Goddess's courtesy is a terrible thing. To the mortal asker She will give what is asked for, without stinting, without fail. Nor will She stop giving until the gift's recipient, like the gift, becomes perfect. Let the asker beware...")
The Diamond Throne, David Eddings - It was raining.
(Yes, that's from the first chapter, not the first prologue. I loved this series. Sir Sparhawk. That damn war horse of his. Kalten, who loves skulking and can forge any handwriting if you watch his spelling while he does. Sir Bevier and his iron grip on his faith.... the list just goes on. Great trilogy, including this book, The Ruby Knight, and The Sapphire Crown.)
Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - It was a nice day.
(It's Gaiman. It's Pratchett. It has Crowley, 'An Angel who did not so much Fall as Saunter Vaguely Downwards'. Go thou, read and giggle. And worry.)
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein - I see in Lunaya Pravda that Luna City Council has passed on first reading a bill to examine, license, inspect - and tax - public food vendors operating inside municipal pressure.
(Erm. Heinlein. Revolutions. Manny. Prof de la Paz. Michael/Michelle. Just... superb.)
Bride of the Rat God, Barbara Hambly - It was not that there were no warnings.
(I know, I know. 'Of all of Hambly's books, you picked *what*?' I picked the one I read and reread. It's almost enough to make me like Pekes, and I'm a devoted cat person. Superb look at 1920s Hollywood, too. Enjoy!)
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart - I shall clasp my hands together and bow to the corners of the world.
(Ah, Master Li, and Number Ten Ox -- I live in hope that Barry Hughart will write a fourth book. Meantime, I have the Foglio illustrated omnibus of the first three, so I reread and am happy.)
Folly, Laurie King - The gray-haired woman stood with her boots planted on the rocky promontory and watched what was left of her family pull away.
(I have reread this possibly ten times now. It's only been out two years. I don't know what kind of novel or genre to suggest it might fit in, other than superb.)
Gaudy Night, Dorothy Sayers - Harriet Vane sat at her writing-table and stared out into Mecklenburg Square.
(A murder mystery, I suppose, or perhaps the aftermath of a suicide, and at the same time a very interesting view on the differing roles, and views, of women in England between the two World Wars. None of which tells you what the book is about. I clearly recommend it highly, but don't have a clue how to summarize it.)
There are other authors I read and love -- Ellen Kushner, Kay Hooper, Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Alexandre Dumas, pere, Stephen Brust, Roger Zelazny, Jane Lindskold -- but these were the ten I picked. Hope I didn't bore people to death.
PS -- for the curious? Five of those I own in hardback or tradeback; five in paperback. There's something oddly amusing in that....