Books, books, books

[rivkat]

Yeah, not as enticing as "Girls, girls, girls" -- or really, given my assumed audience, "boys, boys, boys." But I have many more books than boys (and I'm not sharing him). Fantasy and science fiction.

Comments

[amandajane5]

Oh I was so pleased to see this. I'm an avid fan of what is variously termed "children's literature" "fantasy" and "science fiction" - Diana Wynne, Orson Scott and Robin are three of my favorites

[rivkat]

I think Diana Wynne Jones got seriously screwed by Fate in that JK Rowling is rich and famous and can't write up to the level of Jones' grocery list -- but perhaps I am extreme. I love her Chrestomanci stories, and I'm perfectly happy to have books focus on different characters over time. I need to pick up a copy of "Dogsbody," a creepy childhood favorite of mine. I haven't made a systematic attempt to work through her books, though I probably will over time. Have you read The Rescue of Ranor, by Wilanne Schneider Belden? If you like Jones' pragmatic magic, you might also enjoy that book

[meret]

Thanks for the reviews!

[ter369]

The anthologies each sounds fascinating. With my current writing schedule, about the only length of time I can put my imagination elsewhere is for a short story or comics length. Thanks for the recommends!

.....but here again I was frustrated by the explanation that "magic" brought everyone together and made necessary events happen

But there wouldn't be a plot if the magic weren't there, she commented sarcastically. Which is different than world rules (as you point out about author's vampire settings. I lose interest in big fat fantasy novels driven by predestination and prophecies when that's the main plot kicker, as opposed to personalities, greed, misguided altruistic intentions, or choice.

Like Kushiel's Dart. Just another, It's Not Her Fault She's Having Lots O' Sex book.

Maybe it's that I don't like predestination and want my characters to exhibit free will, as contradictory as that is for fictional constructs.One problem is that agents and editors routinely tell writers, "Something must be at stake", and authors rely

[firesprite1105]

I second the rec for "Stories of Your Life And Others." Normally, I can't stand sci-fi, perhaps because I've tried to read just a few too many pulp novels that rely on just a few too many cliches. But Ted Chiang made my brain happy. My favorite story was "Liking What You See," although that may have had to do with me being such a committed narcissist. ;)

[jeviltwin]

Sunshine

I thought I was going to get hung up on the initial Buffy-esque vibe of the story, but then a.) I realized my working knowledge of Buffyverse (and for that matter, Stoker, Rice and Hamilton) is really limited at best, and b.) McKinley did what I hoped she would, which was tell the tale her way. Or, Rae told the tale and it and she were IMO very compelling. But I agree that the book has a first-in-a-series feel. I saw McKinley speak a few weeks back, and she seemed to hope that the book would do well so that a series would be possible -- this was somewhat perpendicular to her usual You Must Tell the Story As It Comes to You mantra, but whatever; she seemed to have had a good time with the Sunshine universe, and I do hope she returns to it.

Am I hopelessly jaded for thinking that the sex scenes were only explicit in comparison to McKinley's own body of work? *g*

[rivkat]

Am I hopelessly jaded for thinking that the sex scenes were only explicit in comparison to McKinley's own body of work?

Yeah, I know I'm more explicit on a regular basis; I didn't mean it as a criticism -- it's just that authors like McKinley now apparently feel free (or perhaps even compelled) to make explicit what would once have been veiled over. And, to answer your question more directly, direct references to the feeling of an erection in & on one's body -- using the word "erection" or similar -- count as explicit, full stop, in my book.