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[Mouse]

The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny

Over the time I’ve been at IW, whenever a thread is started along the lines of “recommend something for me to read”, Zelazny’s Amber seems to get a mention or two. Once again, as luck would have it, on my last trip to the library, there was a copy just waiting for my perusal

It’s probably easier if I do a quick pros and cons type review on this one.

Pros

The concept is superb. I won’t spoil it for those who have still to read Amber, but it’s a Big Idea, and it’s carried off with panache.

The main character, Lord Corwin is refreshingly amoral. There is very little of the faffing about that most fantasy characters go in for. Corwin wants power and he’s not going to let anyone else stand in his way. As far as he’s concerned, fights are there to be won and to hell with fair play or chivalry. This is a refreshing change from most of the pallid self-doubting “hero” archetypes that seem to populate fantasy writing.

Some of the writing at times seems almost Chandleresque. I could imagine Corwin as a world-weary, hard-bitten Sam Spade type character.

Cons

As far as I’m concerned, the supporting characters were seriously underwritten. Without giving the plot away, a large part of the book is concerned with Corwin’s struggles with his siblings as he seeks to establish his authority. I really could not engage with these important character’s personalities or motivations, so a large part of the impact of the book was lost to me.

And following on from the above, far too much of the book was taken up with Corwin puzzling over and trying to work out who was allied with who and just exactly which plots and alliances were being hatched by his brothers and sisters. At times I felt I was reading about a particularly tedious and convoluted game of Cluedo. I really felt the balance between exposition and action was lacking.

Finally, the whole ending / revelation part in the Courts of Chaos was confusing, muddled and just (imho) badly handled. For a climactic scene, it fell flat for me.

So, overall, I would say that this much anticipated book was a disappointment. Maybe I had been expecting too much after seeing so many recommendations, but there was nothing in The Chronicles of Amber that inspired me to seek out more of the series and read further.

[Bristowe]

Ah, about time someone started a thread like this...yay! hahaha

Does anyone here read terry pratchett's discworld series?, just wondering because i havn't really noticed his name being mentioned much at all on this board, and he's probably one of the best writers i have ever read. Publishes a book pretty much every year and EACH AND EVERY ONE is a pretty awesome read, with an absolute gem about every third book. I reckon anyway. [img]smile.gif[/img]
So...anyone care to agree?

He's just too good! you'll embaress yourself by suddenly bursting into giggles on the train when reading! Perfect satire! IF you've never read a Terry P. book before, go now, right now to your local library and borrow some of his books (the light Fantastic & the colour of magic are good starting books, reaper man and soul music are also great 1st reads.)

Go and read dammit! I'm sitting here smiling just THINKING about his books!

[GokuZool]

The Discworld series is great! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Mouse]

The Dragon Charmer by Jan Siegel

I’ll keep this one short. This follows on from her earlier novel “Prospero’s Children” and once again involves the story of Fernanda as she tries to come to terms with her Atlantean heritage as one of the “Gifted”. Once again it follows her struggles to make sense of her powers and the conflict with those who would exploit her and do her harm.

What I like about Jan Siegel’s style is that she successfully manages to maintain a balance between characterisation and action. I also enjoy her prose style and the way that she weaves various mythologies into a coherent pattern. She is also capable of sustaining interest by introducing vivid imagery where necessary. In this novel, the tree upon which the heads of dead sinners grow as a sort of hideous fruit is particularly striking.

A word of warning though. To get the most out of this book, I would advise having read Prospero’s Children first. A lot of the detail and nuances of will be lost without knowledge of what occurred in the first book.

[antryg]

NIGHT WATCH by Terry Pratchett
Night Watch is the latest Discworld book out. For fans of the series this is a book that you will want to read. If Sam Vines is one of your favorite characters, as he is mine, then this book is a special treat.

Once again Sam is having a grand adventure, this "time" into the past. This is one of the better books in the series. The humour is great. The ongoing jokes are there as well. Many of your favorite minor characters are there as well. The Sweeper, Lu-Tze, and the Monks of History are here. Qu, the James Bond "Q", gives new meaning to the idea of a timebomb. Learn how "Cut-me-own-throat Dibbler" got his name. Fred and Nobby are here. You'll also get a look at Lord Ventinari as a youth.

Whether you are a long-time Discworld fan or just looking to read some humourous fantasy, then this is a book to read.

[Bristowe]

Yes...Night Watch is one of the best Pratchett books out to date

[Ar-Cunin]

Originally posted by antryg: NIGHT WATCH by Terry Pratchett Night Watch is the latest Discworld book out. For fans of the series this is a book that you will want to read. If Sam Vines is one of your favorite characters, as he is mine, then this book is a special treat.

And you get to meet:

Sir Samuel [VIMES] - Commander of the City Watch
Lance-constable Sam Vimes
Sergeant-at-Arms Sam Vimes (sort of )

[antryg]

A review
Dune The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
This is a book that I had really looked forward to reading. The other collaborations between Herbert and Anderson in this series were all well written stories with great characters. This book was the one which would answer many questions. It was the time period which defined the whole society in the "Dune Universe".

With that said I can't fully explain the extent of my disappointment in this book. My overall impression as each plot twist came to life was "You have got to be kidding!". The story was unbelievable and I found that I really didn't care about the characters. We find out the start of the Harkonnen and Atreides feud which did have a surprise twist that was good. Unfortunately that twist was the only thing that I liked in the book.

It wasn't Samuel Delaney Dhalgren bad but it was a disappointment. If you want to read it then wait till you can get it for no more than half price.

[Djinn Raffo]

antryG that was exactly the review i needed to read.. ok i havent read any of those DUNE books by someone other than Frank.. but i have been almost going to read one of them for the past four books but chose something else each time.. hmm i loved Dune and don't know if my imagination could take it.. hmm..

Well right now im reading the autobiographie of the Dalai Lama.. it's been pretty interesting so far.. im more into the fact that it's a biography than interested in the life of the Dalai Lama to be honest.. ..though he he does make some clever and inspiring observations.. particulary, for me, on motivation.

[antryg]

A double review

THE SILENT TOWER & THE SILICON MAGE by Barbara Hambly

In the last month or so several people have asked me whether antryg was really my name. Antryg Windrose is actually the name of one of the protagonists in these excellent books by Ms. Hambly. While explaining this to those inquiring minds I also had recommended the books. Since I was recommending the books, I thought it best to explain why I was doing so,

The story revolves around the good guys (Joanna, Caris, Antryg) in their fight against the Dark Mage in his plot to drain the life (literally) out of 2 worlds. Joanna, a computer systems designer, from our world of science teams up with Antryg and Caris in their world of magic. This story seamlessly moves back and forth between these two worlds with action which is fast paced and full of plot twists. Character development is excellent. You can see parts of yourself in the characters which are totally believable. As the story progresses you will find yourself caring for them. The humor is very good and just adds to the character development. One aspect of the book which does need to be noted is that women characters, major and minor, are portrayed on an equal footing with the male characters. It may seem a minor point to some but in the world of fantasy, too often the main female character is the only one who is a "complete" person. Here minor female characters are mages, guards, warriors, priests, etc. In other words, female characters are people. (Please take note Ed Greenwood)