Into the Fire (1998) Dennis McKiernan
Book Two of the Hel’s Crucible Duology
The conlusion to the story started in Into the Forge, Phais, Loric, Tipperton, and Beau leave Mineholt North to continue Tip’s quest to take the coin to Agron. War continues to rage as Gryphon seeks to dominate Mithgar and its inhabitants.
Into the Forge (1996) Dennis McKiernan
The first book in the Hel’s Crucible duology. Tipperton is awakened by sounds of battle outside his door, and thus is drawn into what is to become one of Mithgar’s great battles of good versus evil, as Gryphon seeks to dominate not just Neddra, but Mithgar and all its people.
The Fencing Master (1988) Arturo Perez-Reverte
Translated by Margaret Jull Costa (1998)
I initially didn’t realize that this books were originally in Spanish, and was a little unsure when I realized they were translated, but then decided that it shouldn’t make a difference, and so happily read the book.
The Fencing Master is set in 1868 in Madrid, Spain. Don Jamie Astarloa is a fencing master, one of the last. Revolvers have taken the place of foils in dueling, and so fencing has changed from a gentleman’s skill, to something more akin to a sport, a way for gentleman to exercise.
Burn Marks (1990) Sara Paretsky
V.I.’s aunt Elena shows up on her doorstop at 3 in the morning after escaping the fire that burned down the hotel where she was living. As an alcoholic deadbeat aunt is not the idea roomate, V.I. gives her 24 hours to find a new place and get out, but of course that isn’t the end of the story, and V.I. ends up investigating the arson.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2005) J.K. Rowling
Finished.
And grr…
I liked the book up through the last couple chapters. Then it went exactly where I thought it was going to go. And I’m not happy about it.
Also, this had all the feel of a second book in a trilogy–minor points are resolved, but for the most part everything is left hanging, waiting for the final book.
I hate that.
Everything else I have to say is going to contain spoilers, so don’t read on if you haven’t already read the book and don’t want to know important plot points.
Read More about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Blood Shot (1988) Sara Paretsky
V.I. Warshawski reluctantly heads back to the old neighborhood–her childhood next door neighbor wants her help in solving the mystery of her past. V.I.’s mother had befriended the single mother next door, and made V.I. take care of Caroline, the little girl. Now, as her mother lies dying, Caroline begs V.I. to look into the past.
Killing Orders (1985) Sara Paretsky
In Killing Orders V.I.’s bitter and unpleasant aunt asks her to look into a matter for her–securities have been forged at the church where Aunt Rosa works, and as everyone who had access to the safe is under suspicion, she is on leave from her job at the church. Worried, and wanting to clear her name so she can return to work, she bullies V.I. into looking into the case for her. But things aren’t nearly as simple as they seem, and soon one of V.I.’s friends is dead, attempts are made on V.I.’s life, and another friend is hospitalized, all for asking questions about securities fraud.
I’m starting to remember what frustrated me so much about these books.
Indemnity Only (1982) and Deadlock (1984) Sara Paretsky
I used to own the V.I. Warshawski series, but in a fit of pique–and shelf space squeeze–I sold them all. I recently decided that I wanted to give them another chance, which means that I needed to reread them, which means I had to find all the books again. Luckily, I’ve found most of them used.
The Dust Jacket
3200 Linwood Ave
Bright atmosphere, with books on every surface, boxes of books were covered with sheets and cloths to create displays for book. The building was obviously originally a home that had doors removed and every room filled with bookshelves and books. However, stock was hardback books, collectible books, expensive books. Not for me.
Duttenhofer’s Books
214 W McMillan
Front of the store was hardback books and old books, but in the back were lots of science fiction/fantasy and mystery paperbacks. Found a number of mysteries I was looking for, didn’t find too many fantsy books I wanted/needed. However, the building was in not the nicest neighborhood, and whole place smelled strongly of cat pee, while the staff was either mute or afraid to talk to strangers. The cat was very friendly though.
Half Price Books
8118 Montgomery Rd
Tons of books, all categories. Place was well lit, clean, and neat, more like a traditional bookstore. Huge paperback science fiction/fantasy section and lots of mystery paperbacks. Books were well-organized and alphabetized, and anthologies were placed together at the end of a section, which I found very helpful. Found lots of books I wanted and was looking for, as well as plenty of books I wasn’t looking for.
As for new book stores, we visited Joseph-Beth, which was, as always nice, but didn’t see much that I haven’t found at home. Strangely, they have divided up their mystery section into different types of mysteries, like “cosy mysteries” so I had to search a bit before I could find some of the authors I was looking for. I picked up a new mystery, and a fantasy anthology. Unfortunately the fantasy anthology looks to be not at all what I want.
We briefly perused a Barnes & Noble, but their stock seemed to be the same as the new Morgantown store, so nothing was purchased.
As usual we’ve managed to spend more on books than anything else, so all is right with the world.
The Dragonstone (1996) Dennis McKiernan
This is a good book, but not my favorite Mithgar books. Unlike other books set in Mithgar, there almost no characters from other books. Aravan is mentioned in passing, the great dragons make an appearance, and Vanidar accompanies Arin for awhile, but mostly the characters in this book appear only in these books. Which makes this an ideal Mithgar book with which to start into the series.
Voyage of the Fox Rider (1993) Dennis McKiernan
Dennis McKiernan is another author I appreciate for his ability to write duologies and single book fantasies. Of course as the Mithgar books all have the same setting, and contain recurring characters, I suppose that gives him the luxury of being able to continue in a known world, yet I do not believe that you need to have read any other books to appreciate this book. For the most part (excluding the very last Mithgar book) I believe that you can enter the story at any point and be comfortable.
Which is, I think, a fantastic skill, and one that I wish more fantasy authors had.
Small Vices (1997) Robert B. Parker
Okay, so I didn’t totally resist, but I’ve limited myself to just Small Vices, which is one of my favorite Spenser books. Small Vices was my introduction to Spenser.
It is also the reason I have some small affection for Burt Reynolds.
Illusion (1992) Paula Volsky
Illusion is a good book, however I can’t say I really like it.
The characters are good–very good. Despite starting out as a rich snob, I quite liked Eliste. Her snobbery was quite obviously a product of her upbringing, and beneath it she showed herself to be a decent human being. The same can also be said for her grandmother, and several other characters.
I was surprised by the Bookslut interview with Lois McMaster Bujold:
For quite a few years now I’ve been trying to figure out why speculative fiction still is one of the industry’s most gendered genres. Romance may still take the number one spot, in terms of which sex is most likely to be seen buying and writing the books, but spec fiction runs a close second. While it may be a stereotype, it still contains a nugget of truth: males tend to be overrepresented when it comes to science fiction and fantasy.
I readily admit that I don’t read Science Fiction–it’s just not my thing. But I read a lot of Fantasy, and I’ve never had a hard time finding good fantasy written by women.
I mean, scrolling through the past six months of posts in my book blog I find plenty of women:
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Charlaine Harris
Ellen Kushner
Jennifer Roberson
Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Pat O’Shea
Jo Walton
Robin Hobb
Lynn Abbey
Diana L. Paxson
And those are just from the books I’ve written since the beginning of the year. Looking through my list of Fantasy authors there are even more women. I fact, I sometimes wonder if women are over-represented on my bookshelves. (Not that it bothers me, but it might be unfair to Michael.)
Now I would not necessarily be surprised to find women underrepresented in Science Fiction, after all women have been traditionally underrepresented in the hard sciences. But I can think of two authors off the top of my head: Marion Zimmer Bradley and C.J. Cherryh.
And as more women study and are involved in the sciences, I would bet that the number of women writing science fiction would also increase.
Next time I go to the book store, I’ll take a harder look at the shelves, to check out the imbalance for myself.
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