Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light
Am posting this because I thought one person would be interested in reading what I have to say about the book...
Lord of Light was an excellent read. I finished the book in approximately 24 hours minus the time I used to sleep, eat, etc, etc. The characters were well-thought of, I can sympathise with the characters and care about what would actually happen to them. Sam was admirable, and Yama was, simply speaking, cool (and ignorant me actually tried to draw Yama, to no avail).
The most appealing aspect from the book was the concept; I've never thought that sci-fi and mythology can blend that well. I also, now, feel the need to read about Bharatayudha. I bought the book, say, one year ago, but was yet to find any impulse to read it. It sits on my desk, wrapped still in plastic, unopened.
Sadly, that's possibly all I can say about it. Possibly because of difference of taste...? The concept was ingenious, the characters wonderful and the setting amazing. But to me, it lacked a certain twistedness... then again, a friend had accused me of possessing a desire for sublime beauty... It's hard to explain... like, I read the book and like it and decided to keep it. But it's unlikely to be a book I'd pick up to re-read in the near future.
FYI, I've just accidentally re-read Cordelia's Honor last night. I intended to merely read a snippet, but in the end I couldn't put the book down. I dunno... like, I like Lois McMaster Bujold's ingeniousity, her writing style and her characters; that was what hooked me to the Vorkosigan Saga (I still wish she'd write a separate book solely about Cordelia...). Bujold's book is a book I'd pick up to re-read, because I can relish myself in her sense of humour. And I can never forget that scene.... "Where have you been, woman?!" "Shopping."
Speaking of sense of humour, of course Terry Pratchett topped everyone. But his Discworld books, apart from the Cookbook, is hardly a book I'd pick up to re-read. I can't explain why. Oh, and Good Omen. I'd likely re-read that book again and again.
Which brings me to Neil Gaiman. People who know me enough to hear me wail about Neil Gaiman will understand... (I wailed about the limited edition of American Gods...). His books are exactly the books I'd describe as 'perfect' to my taste. The surreal feel, the twistedness of concept... but I haven't actually read his books... apart from Coraline and Endless Nights. I always save the best for last. I am yet to decide whether his books are something I'd re-read often. I had been sure that it would, but then I bought Mr.Punch, which disturbed me so much that I need to re-think about it again. But it was an aesthetic kind of disturbance, I may add.
And Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint. That one is a book I'd re-read often, because I love its characters to pieces and adore its Renaissance-like world, with nobles scheming politics and swordsmen who live by the code of the sword, willing pawn bought by gold... and the problem arose when a pawn moved on its own... I'd pretty much like to go to sleep hugging that book. The twistedness of its characters' mind made me hold my breath... Alec and St. Vier are two characters I'd never forget, on par with Cordelia Vorkosigan.
Anne Bishop. I bought her Black Jewel Trilogy, oh, 2 years ago... but am yet to read it... as well as Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart and Cecilia Dart-Thornton's The Bitterbynde Trilogy. I do hope I've spelled them all correctly.... and Tolkien's Lord of The Ring. I pretty much need to doubt if I'm ever going to read that one... yes, it's almost a compulsory read, but I'm not sure I'd live through the poetry....
Speaking of keeping books, I've been weeding out books that I feel/think are not worthy enough to be in my possession. Not that I meant offense to the author or people who like their works, it's just that my room (in Jakarta) is getting filled up with books, and I gotta start being more selective about what I buy. And I have to make room for books I still intend to buy, like, say, Illuminatus Trilogy and Hitchiker's Guide to Galaxy. Which reminds me... I have Schrodinger's Cat, and am torn as to whether to keep it, because I still hope that when I've read Illuminatus Trilogy it will throw light on Schrodinger's Cat.....
And above all, I miss the times when I can go online for hours and chat without being disturbed (by disconnection every 2-3 minute). And I miss mIRC. *waves at Zerex*
Lord of Light was an excellent read. I finished the book in approximately 24 hours minus the time I used to sleep, eat, etc, etc. The characters were well-thought of, I can sympathise with the characters and care about what would actually happen to them. Sam was admirable, and Yama was, simply speaking, cool (and ignorant me actually tried to draw Yama, to no avail).
The most appealing aspect from the book was the concept; I've never thought that sci-fi and mythology can blend that well. I also, now, feel the need to read about Bharatayudha. I bought the book, say, one year ago, but was yet to find any impulse to read it. It sits on my desk, wrapped still in plastic, unopened.
Sadly, that's possibly all I can say about it. Possibly because of difference of taste...? The concept was ingenious, the characters wonderful and the setting amazing. But to me, it lacked a certain twistedness... then again, a friend had accused me of possessing a desire for sublime beauty... It's hard to explain... like, I read the book and like it and decided to keep it. But it's unlikely to be a book I'd pick up to re-read in the near future.
FYI, I've just accidentally re-read Cordelia's Honor last night. I intended to merely read a snippet, but in the end I couldn't put the book down. I dunno... like, I like Lois McMaster Bujold's ingeniousity, her writing style and her characters; that was what hooked me to the Vorkosigan Saga (I still wish she'd write a separate book solely about Cordelia...). Bujold's book is a book I'd pick up to re-read, because I can relish myself in her sense of humour. And I can never forget that scene.... "Where have you been, woman?!" "Shopping."
Speaking of sense of humour, of course Terry Pratchett topped everyone. But his Discworld books, apart from the Cookbook, is hardly a book I'd pick up to re-read. I can't explain why. Oh, and Good Omen. I'd likely re-read that book again and again.
Which brings me to Neil Gaiman. People who know me enough to hear me wail about Neil Gaiman will understand... (I wailed about the limited edition of American Gods...). His books are exactly the books I'd describe as 'perfect' to my taste. The surreal feel, the twistedness of concept... but I haven't actually read his books... apart from Coraline and Endless Nights. I always save the best for last. I am yet to decide whether his books are something I'd re-read often. I had been sure that it would, but then I bought Mr.Punch, which disturbed me so much that I need to re-think about it again. But it was an aesthetic kind of disturbance, I may add.
And Ellen Kushner's Swordspoint. That one is a book I'd re-read often, because I love its characters to pieces and adore its Renaissance-like world, with nobles scheming politics and swordsmen who live by the code of the sword, willing pawn bought by gold... and the problem arose when a pawn moved on its own... I'd pretty much like to go to sleep hugging that book. The twistedness of its characters' mind made me hold my breath... Alec and St. Vier are two characters I'd never forget, on par with Cordelia Vorkosigan.
Anne Bishop. I bought her Black Jewel Trilogy, oh, 2 years ago... but am yet to read it... as well as Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart and Cecilia Dart-Thornton's The Bitterbynde Trilogy. I do hope I've spelled them all correctly.... and Tolkien's Lord of The Ring. I pretty much need to doubt if I'm ever going to read that one... yes, it's almost a compulsory read, but I'm not sure I'd live through the poetry....
Speaking of keeping books, I've been weeding out books that I feel/think are not worthy enough to be in my possession. Not that I meant offense to the author or people who like their works, it's just that my room (in Jakarta) is getting filled up with books, and I gotta start being more selective about what I buy. And I have to make room for books I still intend to buy, like, say, Illuminatus Trilogy and Hitchiker's Guide to Galaxy. Which reminds me... I have Schrodinger's Cat, and am torn as to whether to keep it, because I still hope that when I've read Illuminatus Trilogy it will throw light on Schrodinger's Cat.....
And above all, I miss the times when I can go online for hours and chat without being disturbed (by disconnection every 2-3 minute). And I miss mIRC. *waves at Zerex*