The Death Gate Cycle Dragon Wing, Elven Star, Fire Sea, Serpent Mage, Into the Labyrinth, The Hand of Chaos, The Seventh Gate by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
It had been years since I’d read the Death Gate cycle, mostly because 7 books is a lot to read for someone who has to complete an entire series as quickly as possible.
One of the things I’d forgotten about the books, is how good the story was.
The Books of Magic John Ney Rieber
In her quest to get me to read comics, Erin gave me book 1, Bindings, for my birthday, and so, finishing the first and being me, I had to read the rest. (Yeah, I know, I’ve got a bad book addiction, but it could be worse.)
Driving music:
XTC Waxworks “Life begins at the hop”
Fixx Greatest Hits
Abba Greatest Hits
Nickel Creek
Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club
Nickel Creek This Side
Madonna The Immaculate Collection
Duran Duran Decade
New Books:
The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction 15th ed. ed Edward L. Ferman and Gordon Van Gelder
Widow’s Walk Robert B. Parker
Waifs and Strays Charles deLint
Le Morte D’Arthur Sir Thomas Malory
The Mabinogion trans Jeffery Gantz
Shinju and Bundori by Laura Joh Rowland
Myths and Legends of Japan F. Hadland Davis
I was actually quite restrained this trip, at least as far as my book buying goes. But still have some new stuff to read.
Robert B. Parker
So while home sick, I decided to read all the Robert B Parker Spenser books I could get my hands on. I think that would be all of them but two. Here are my thoughts (will probably continue to be updated):
I’m home sick; the only good thing about this is that I can lie on the sofa and read. I’ve finished all the Terry Pratchett books in the house, so for a change of pace I’ve moved on to Robert B. Parker’s Spenser mysteries. I’m already in Mortal Stakes.
What I have been reading is as follows:
Men at Arms, Soul Music, Interesting Times, Hogfather Terry Pratchett
Read More about Men at Arms, Soul Music, Interesting Times, Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
The Legend of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert
Read More about The Legend of Nightfall by Mickey Zucker Reichert
The Lions of Al-Rassan Guy Gavriel Kay
This is a very good, albeit very depressing book. Set in the same world as Sailing to Sarantium, this book describes the battles between the followers of Jad versus the Asharites.
If Sailing to Sarantium reminded me of Rome, this book reminded me of Spain. Of the Crusades. Of Christianity and Islam, with Judaism caught in between.
Witches Abroad, Mort, Wyrd Sisters, Small Gods, Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett
I’m still going through Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series. This set of books included three books about the Discworld witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick; another book about Death, and a book about the Gods of Discworld.
I think I liked Mort, where Death takes an apprentice, best of this group.
Read More about Witches Abroad, Mort, Wyrd Sisters, Small Gods, Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett
The Boy Who Drew Cats by Arthur A. Levine. Paintings by Frederic Clement
I first read this tale when I was in elementary school. It was one of the stories in my reading book (it was 4th, 5th or 6th grade, I can’t remember for certain), and for some reason, this tale stuck with me. Several years ago, Erin found me a copy of the story in a small collection of Japanese folktales, and it was just as I had remembered. (For this, I am eternally grateful to Erin.)
The Old Man Mad About Drawing by Francois Place, Translated by William Rodarmor
The story is not only delightful, the artwork is delightful, combining new artwork, with photographs with of original artists drawings.
Tojiro, a young boy who sells rice cakes on the street, meets and eventually becomes an assistant to Katsuhika Hokusai, the Old Man Mad About Drawing.
The Sarantine Mosaic: Sailing to Sarantium and Lord of Emperors Guy Gavriel Kay
I’ve had these books for several years (they were published in 1998), and hadn’t gotten around to reading them, for the very reasons I enjoy Guy Gavriel Kay’s writing so much: his books are deep, engrossing, and not something that I can just plow through in a couple of hours. These books are not light reading, but they are good reading.
“Literary preferences aren’t fucking merit badges.”
Scott Lynch commenting at Making Light
Anyone want to admit that I loaned my copy of Steve Brust’s The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars to them? We recently went through our book inventory, and it came up missing.
Did learn, however, that we own 625 fantasy books. (Michael has 112 science fiction books.) That’s after we culled books we don’t think we’ll read again.
Alright, now I’m off to go read Guy Gavriel Kay’s Sailing to Sarantium.
The Fall of the Kings Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman
This book is set in the same world as Swordspoint, about two generations later. The story begins at the University, where Basil St Cloud is a young Doctor of History at the University. It is there that he meets Theron Campion, son of the Mad Duke and heir to Tremontaine.
Actually, I’ve been reading a LOT recently.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Richard St Vier is a swordsman in a time and places where nobles hire swordsmen to fight their duels and to make points of honor. And of those swordsmen, St Vier is the best.
A Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
I really liked this book. It may have only taken me 45 minutes to read, but it was a very enjoyable 45 minutes.
I loaned the first three Lemony Snicket books to mark and Ali, who are now addicted and want to read the rest.
Read More about A Bad Beginning
Kingmaker’s Sword, The Western King, Broken Blade by Ann Marston
This series falls victim to the fantastic first book problem. The first book is very good, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The problem is that the rest of the series, while good, was not as good as the first book. It also irritated me by ending the series without actually ending the story.
Read More about the Rune Blade Trilogy
Discworld by Terry Pratchett
Pyramids, Guards! Guards!, Faust Eric, Reaper Man
I’ve been re-reading Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, mostly because they’re funny, and a quick read. I know I’m missing quite a few books, but I’m buying them when I find them.
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