September Summary
9-3-05
Garth Nix, Across the Wall
Eos (2005) ISBN: 0-06-074713-7
Collection of unrelated short stories.
"Nicholas Sayre and the Creature in the Case" Score: 2
This novella is the reason I picked up this volume. Nick was a main charater in Lirael and Abhorsen and this won't make much sense if you haven't read those.
"Under the Lake" Score: 0.5
The Lady of the Lake reflects on her life while Merlin bargains with her.
"Charlie Rabbit" Score: -1
A modern non-SF story about kids in a city that's being bombed.
"From the Lighthouse" Score: 0.5
Science fiction story about a millionaire who buys an island with the intent of being its ruler.
"The Hill" Score: -1
A story about selling land in Australia. I'd much rather read the author's original version (he removed the fantasy elements after some Aboriginal people complained that he was stealing their myths).
"Lightning Bringer" Score: -1
A story about a guy who can harness lightning and use it to control people's minds.
"Down to the Scum Quarter" Score: 2
A parody Choose Your Own Adventure story (actually it parodies stuff like Crossroads that mix in RPG elements; and at least Nix admits everyone cheats at those) with a Three Musketeers type plot.
"Heart's Desire" Score: 0.5
Another Arthurian story, this one explains why Merlin let himself be entrapped by Nimue (Viviane).
"Hansel's Eyes" Score: 0.5
Modern retelling of "Hansel and Gretel".
"Hope Chest" Score: -1
Contrived alt-hist pseudo-western fantasy.
"My New Really Epic Fantasy Series" Score: 2
A parody prologue for a never ending fantasy novel.
"Three Roses" Score: 0.5
A short short about a gardener who grows remarkable roses out of his love for his dead wife.
"Endings" Score: -1
Another short short about a vampire tired of his existence.
9-5-05
Lawrence Watt-Evans, The Spell of the Black Dagger
Del Rey (1993) ISBN: 0345377125
Score: 3
Another Ethshar novel, about two young women (Lady Sarai, daughter of the Minister of Justice of Ethshar of the Sands and Tabaea, a not very successful thief) and how they react to suddenly gaining powers of various types. Includes good examples of theurgy and sorcery, as well as the worst of wizardry (and wizards). Also includes Tobas and other characters from With a Single Spell, so that should be read first.
9-11-05
Jim Butcher, Academ's Fury
Ace (2005) ISBN: 0-441-01283-3
Score: -2
Second book of the Codex Alera, Butcher's epic high fantasy series. It has several good points: a complete plot arc (though you shouldn't read it before Furies of Calderon), a really neat magic system, an attempt to portray politics in shades of grey, the adults are finally starting to act their age, no prophesies of any kind, and the author didn't do some things I was afraid of (though he might in future books). On the down side: the series is clearly aimed at an unsophisticated audience, it's a fantasy world that was somehow colonized by the Roman Empire, and I don't much care for hereditary magic, or stupid political scheming, or characters speaking (or thinking) at length about duty vs love vs necessity.
Two years have passed since the previous book, Tavi is discovering the joys of boarding school, the High Lords are still scheming for the crown, and the First Lord is getting weaker due to single-handedly (and secretly) protecting the realm from invasions and hurricanes. But the real threat (that only the illiterate nomads know about) are the evil telepathic bloodsucking shapeshifting poisonous slaver-wasp thingies. The book gives some nice hints of what really happened 20 years ago, but doesn't really say anything new about the magic system, which was the main reason I was reading it. I'm not sure if I'll read the next book.
9-17-05
Jacqueline Carey, Godslayer
Tor (2005) ISBN: 0-765-31239-5
Score: -2
Second half of The Sundering, Carey's retelling of The Lord of the Rings from the POV the slandered dark side. Interesting concept, but lousy execution. Normally I don't notice prose, but this was clumsy enough that I did (not counting the unnecessary and repetitive descriptions). The plot was unpredictable due to being very, very contrived (especially the Bearer's plot thread). There was an interesting story buried in there, but not interesting enough to make the digging worthwhile. Hopefully her next book book will return to the quality of her earlier ones.
9-18-05
Lawrence Watt-Evans, The Blood of a Dragon
Del Rey (1991) ISBN: 0-345-36410-4
Score: 2
Another Ethshar novel, this time about 12 year old Dumery's attempts to get an apprenticeship. His first choice was wizard, but it turns out he has absolutely no ability to perform magic of any kind (making him rare, possibly unique). Somewhat unhappy with magicians in general and wizards in particular, he decides to make his fortune selling dragon's blood for insane prices, and then things get complicated. This book has only a few minor connections to the others: Valder has a cameo to say a few words about spriggans, the Empire of Vond is mentioned, and Teneria (who will play a minor role later in The Spell of the Black Dagger) is a minor POV character, giving us our first inside look at witchcraft. We also learn a lot about dragons and get close to the Warlock Stone in Aldagmor.
9-22-05
Charles Stross, The Hidden Family
Tor (2005) ISBN: 0-765-31347-2
Score: 2
Second book of the Merchant Princes (intended to be the second half of the first novel). I can't really say anything about the plot without spoilering the first book. Some of the things in the first book that worried me had better explanations than I expected, but new worrisome things were added (like Karl Marx and the truth about the heroine's mother). And I wish the author had given us at least a full chapter (rather than a 4 page epilogue) after the climax to show more of the immediate consequences. But still a good book overall.
9-25-05
Lawrence Watt-Evans, Night of Madness
Tor (2000) ISBN: 0-312-87368-9
Score: 2.5
Another Ethshar book, this is mainly a prequel, taking place before all the others except Misenchanted Sword (and possibly Taking Flight; I'm reading that next). If you've read the books set later, you already know that the title refers to the night warlockry was introduced to the World. Needless to say, we learn a lot about warlockry in this book. We also see how the Wizards' Guild works, and get to see its Inner Circle. This isn't a bad place to start; in fact, the other books reveal certain aspects of warlockry that are learned the hard way in this book.
9-27-05
Terry Pratchett, Thud!
Harper Collins (2005) ISBN-10: 0-06-081522-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-81522-6 (I guess they're running low on numbers...)
Score: 5
Another Discworld novel (#30 maybe?) in the City Watch sub-series, so it'd be good to read Guards! Guards!, Men at Arms, and Fifth Elephant first to introduce significant watchmen and dwarf politics. Because it's that time of year again, time to remember the Battle of Koom Valley. A good, solid Discworld book full of murder, politics, racism, naked women, etc. Also features a picture book Where's My Cow? (to be published separately), and eventually reveals the truth about the original Battle of Koom Valley. I liked it a little less than Going Postal and a little better than Night Watch, and I would have liked it better without the supernatural villain (since there were sufficient mundane ones (I had the same complaint about Amazing Maurice)); but I don't regret pre-ordering it in hardcover.