I've been very curious about the Inda books, because I've heard good things about them. Your description does make it sound a lot like a fantasy Vorkosigan Saga, which is only a plus to me, heh :)
Been meaning to read Rivers of London, too, so glad to have your enjoyment of it as an extra data point in its favour.
would love to hear your feelings on the Inda books!
yeah, they are very different in mood than the Miles books, but there's some hilarious parallels in the situation overall (and from times to times, some similar themes & motifs). It'd be fun to draw more parallels between the characters from both series with someone! XD
I liked the Inda books a lot :) I should read them again, because I had to wait for the later ones to come out and I'm sure I forgot details over time.
I've been hearing a bit about those Sherwood Smith books lately and they sound interesting! I might try them someday, but right now I have far too many books I already own but haven't read. :P
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There's all sorts of skeevy things in the Le Carré books, aren't there? I mean, it doesn't feel like they're meant to be promoted though, usually. Although I don't see the female characters being any more treacherous than the male on average based upon the sample I've read.
It's the first Tim Powers book I've actually gone and bought even though I've heard loads of good things about him, so I hope so too. :)
Yeah, le Carré's gender issues feel more to me like personal hang-ups that happen to map onto some sexist patterns than overwhelming unfocused sexism, if that makes any sense. I was always more curious than outright condemning of them. It's been long enough that I don't have much distinct memory of individual novels, alas, but I've read all three of the Karla trilogy, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, A Pefect Spy, and The Tailor of Panama. The last stood out to me as rather different from the others in that it had more humor, although there was still a lot of depressing stuff. There was also a character who was transparently a vicious parody of James Bond, whereas before le Carré had been content to exercise his dislike by merely creating spy characters who were nothing like Bond. In a casting choice that could not have been coincidence, the character in question was played by Pierce Brosnan in
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The Constant Gardener doesn't have a female protagonist, but does have a very strong and admirable female main character. I read Little Drummer Girl long ago and remember not enjoying it much because of the problem you mention.
I really very much liked the Inda series, but agree about the no-romance feeling. That's fine for me, but suspect it's one reason why the books aren't as well known as I wish they were. I very much liked the different slants on politics--reminded me a little of Ursula LeGuin, in that.
Can't wait to read Moon Over Soho--really liked Rivers, despite its dumb American title.
I'm the opposite on Rowland--I always hate them when I start and then like them in the middle. She is kind of stilted and distant, for sure.
I thought the different slants on politics lacked a little bit of subtlety sometimes, but there were a lot of interesting things at times!!
With Rowland, i dunno, i just got too annoyed by the protagonist, he's such a boring, bland character; and the didactism of the writing, and the homophobic subtext.
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Been meaning to read Rivers of London, too, so glad to have your enjoyment of it as an extra data point in its favour.
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yeah, they are very different in mood than the Miles books, but there's some hilarious parallels in the situation overall (and from times to times, some similar themes & motifs). It'd be fun to draw more parallels between the characters from both series with someone! XD
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There's all sorts of skeevy things in the Le Carré books, aren't there? I mean, it doesn't feel like they're meant to be promoted though, usually. Although I don't see the female characters being any more treacherous than the male on average based upon the sample I've read.
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Yeah, le Carré's gender issues feel more to me like personal hang-ups that happen to map onto some sexist patterns than overwhelming unfocused sexism, if that makes any sense. I was always more curious than outright condemning of them. It's been long enough that I don't have much distinct memory of individual novels, alas, but I've read all three of the Karla trilogy, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, A Pefect Spy, and The Tailor of Panama. The last stood out to me as rather different from the others in that it had more humor, although there was still a lot of depressing stuff. There was also a character who was transparently a vicious parody of James Bond, whereas before le Carré had been content to exercise his dislike by merely creating spy characters who were nothing like Bond. In a casting choice that could not have been coincidence, the character in question was played by Pierce Brosnan in ( ... )
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Can't wait to read Moon Over Soho--really liked Rivers, despite its dumb American title.
I'm the opposite on Rowland--I always hate them when I start and then like them in the middle. She is kind of stilted and distant, for sure.
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I thought the different slants on politics lacked a little bit of subtlety sometimes, but there were a lot of interesting things at times!!
With Rowland, i dunno, i just got too annoyed by the protagonist, he's such a boring, bland character; and the didactism of the writing, and the homophobic subtext.
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