ghosts of fiction past
I'm almost finished with The Shining Court. I have no idea how long ago I read this book, but the experience of rereading is a strange blend of remembering some things, and having completely forgotten others to the point that it's like reading a new book. For example I remembered Jewel and Diora and Teresa and Valedan and Isladar and Kallandras, but I had completely forgotten Avandar and Kiriel and Angel and many others.
The first three books of House War take place years before the Sun Sword series, but were written recently. What's puzzling me is that there seem to be some inconsistencies. Perhaps the author forgot some things in the years between, or decided to change character histories a bit. Perhaps I have a faulty memory of books I read three weeks ago. Maybe there is a story reason: Jewel's den came together when she was between 10-16 or so, and in Sun Sword she's in her early 30s. Over time, memories have a way of arranging themselves into their own stories, so maybe she's remembering things in a certain way because so much time has passed. (I'm going with that.)
But I've also been looking over the names of authors I've read, and even if I barely remember any story, I have impressions. I remember being both fascinated and disquieted by Catherynne M. Valente's Palimpsest and The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden. I remember never finishing R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing because I didn't care about or connect with anyone. I remember loving Lois McMaster Bujold's Paladin of Souls, even though nearly everything about the story is gone from memory.
These impressions are personal things, obviously disconnected from things like plot that I could actually talk about. There are authors considered masters of prose and storytelling that I can't stand because that place (the world or the character's head) is not a place I want to go. But these impressions mean something. They give me a sense of direction in a sea of endless fantasy novels. They give me somewhere to begin.
So now I have a list of books to look into after I get through the current stack. Some of these authors, like N. K. Jemisin, weren't even published when I used to read a lot. With others, like Kate Elliot, I know I've finished a whole series so I feel like maybe I can try another of her books. Some series were interrupted. I read several of Jane Lindskold's Firekeeper books, but I can't remember where I was, and now there are new ones.
Anyway, none of this will happen until I finish the other three Sun Sword books, then Skirmish and Battle, and then a short story collection I have. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for one author.
The first three books of House War take place years before the Sun Sword series, but were written recently. What's puzzling me is that there seem to be some inconsistencies. Perhaps the author forgot some things in the years between, or decided to change character histories a bit. Perhaps I have a faulty memory of books I read three weeks ago. Maybe there is a story reason: Jewel's den came together when she was between 10-16 or so, and in Sun Sword she's in her early 30s. Over time, memories have a way of arranging themselves into their own stories, so maybe she's remembering things in a certain way because so much time has passed. (I'm going with that.)
But I've also been looking over the names of authors I've read, and even if I barely remember any story, I have impressions. I remember being both fascinated and disquieted by Catherynne M. Valente's Palimpsest and The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden. I remember never finishing R. Scott Bakker's Prince of Nothing because I didn't care about or connect with anyone. I remember loving Lois McMaster Bujold's Paladin of Souls, even though nearly everything about the story is gone from memory.
These impressions are personal things, obviously disconnected from things like plot that I could actually talk about. There are authors considered masters of prose and storytelling that I can't stand because that place (the world or the character's head) is not a place I want to go. But these impressions mean something. They give me a sense of direction in a sea of endless fantasy novels. They give me somewhere to begin.
So now I have a list of books to look into after I get through the current stack. Some of these authors, like N. K. Jemisin, weren't even published when I used to read a lot. With others, like Kate Elliot, I know I've finished a whole series so I feel like maybe I can try another of her books. Some series were interrupted. I read several of Jane Lindskold's Firekeeper books, but I can't remember where I was, and now there are new ones.
Anyway, none of this will happen until I finish the other three Sun Sword books, then Skirmish and Battle, and then a short story collection I have. Sometimes I'm just in the mood for one author.