The book Den

Once upon a time, all she ever wanted was to be pretty...

The fairy Lucinda has once again given a dreadful gift. This time it's a mysterious magical mirror. The gift is disastorous when it falls into the hands of Aza, who never looks in a mirror if she can help it. In the Kingdom of Ayortha, Aza is most defintely not the fairest of them all. Many spurn her. Many scoff at her. She keeps out of sight. 
But in the land of singers, Aza has her own gift, one she's come by without fairy intervention: a voice that captivates all who hear it. In Ontio Castle, merry Prince Ijori is drawn to it, and Queen Ivi wants too use it to her own ends. Queen Ivi would do anything to remain the fairest in the land. 

From a new tale of the author of Gail Levine...this one will surely be the fairest among all.

Title: Uncharted Territory
Author: Connie Willis
Publisher: Bantam Books (1994)
Genre: science fiction, western
Warnings: Discussion of courtship rituals.

Finriddy and Carson are surveyors on the planet Boohte, where they spend most of their time battling restrictive government ordinances, uncooperative pack animals, amateur "loaners", and their local guide Bult, who spends more time coming up with reasons to fine them than actually guiding them anywhere. But every now and then something happens to make all the hassle worthwhile.

This is a fun little (148 pages) look at a future where some things still need to be done on foot, the government is just as idiotic as always, and love hasn't gotten any less complicated. But the romance--and I only use that term because there isn't a better one available--is about as practical, understated, and unsappy as you can get, and it's as much about falling in love with a planet as with another person.

Title: The Arrival
Author: Shaun Tan
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (2006)
Genre: Fantasy, graphic novel

This is the story of an immigrant trying to figure out the ways of his new home--his new home which is full of flying boats and paper birds and strange animals that like to sleep in pots.

I wish I could write a more eloquent summary and recommendation than this, but really all I can say is that this is one of the most beautiful, charming, heart-wrenching books I've read in a long time. If you come across it, pick it up. You won't want to put it down.

Well, I guess I'll post since no one else has done so for awhile. 

The new ERAGON book is finally coming out this year! I just went to the site, and Yes! The third book is soon to arrive. Check it out at the website! There plenty else to look at there too.

There's also a fair amount  of other talk of new books...Tamara Pierce, which I just checked out but have yet to read her new book, Terrier. It looks good, but don't judge a book by it's cover. (Cheesy saying, I know.) There's also new books from Terry Brooks, and Anne McCaffrey. Lots of things to choose from!

In any case, I'm sure that everyone is either busy, or even better, off in their own little world's reading some new book that they picked up (or an old one that's been forgotten, misplaced, etc.); and they are happily engaged in their own realities.

I wish everyone the best of happiness, and reading.
 

Title: Twilight

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Summary: 
Bella Swan goes to Forks to visit her father, whom she hasn't seen for years. There, she runs into danger, adventure, and mystery.

Warnings: Some violence, and mild swearing.

The first day of highschool, she sets eyes on a boy named Edward Cullen, and from then on she can't stop thinking about him. Why he doesn't want to sit next to her in class, and why he is so despreate to get away from her. 

But then, later the two fall for each other...neither one can survive with the other, and the mystery is beginning to be solved. Bella was sure of three things...

1. Edward was a vampire.

2. She loved him more than anything else in the world.

3. There was a part of him-and she wasn't sure how deeply that part went, that thirsted for her blood. 

Title: Briar's Book
Series: Circle of Magic, #4
Author: Tamora Pierce
Format: Audiobook
Warnings: violence, death


Briar's Book is my favorite out of the series. Briar, a street rat, has a magical green thumb (figuratively). This is his coming of age story and about family and about survival.

A magic-based plague has struck the city and everyone rushes against time find the source of the disease as well as develop a cure. Time is ticking away and each hour brings more loss. Briar finds his place as he helps the team trying to develop the cure. But, he's already lost a friend; what will he do when his own teacher falls ill?

The novel is exciting to read but with a full-cast dramatization, it's a stunning 'read'.

Title: The Naming (First book to the Pellinor Series)
Author: Alison Croggon

Summary: This book is about a young slave girl named Maerad, who is thought to be a witch of sorts. As she is sent to milk cows one day, she spots a stranger standing beside the barn. She is rescued from being a slave, and she now travels to a city to become a bard. As the journey deepens, and struggle after struggle erupts, she discovers that all things change in life, and that there is always a destiny calling to you...and there is a destiny about her, that even she is not so certain of.
Enter the world of the bards, and good magic fighting against evil, and discover some truly orignal writing with Alison Croggon, in the First Book of Pellinor.

 

Title: Mind Snare
Author: Gayle Greeno
Publisher: DAW Books
Genre: Sci-fi
Warnings: Violence, mentions of child molestation

An assassination attempt forces a young man to go to great extremes to save his famous actress mother, as well as discover the reason behind the attempt. This is a dark, but wonderfully intriguing story that's both exciting and heart-wrenching. There's so much to this story that's fascinating - the two worlds: earth and the satellite cities that orbit it; a troupe of actors who reside in the satellite city, going back to the ways of using young boys to play women in order to prevent them from being drafted; a dangerous and fanatical religious group, and especially the method the boy uses to save his mother. It's not often that I'm able to get through a sci-fi book as many I've tried to read always end up long-winded and complicated. But I couldn't put this one down.

Title: Dune
Author: Frank Herbert
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group, 1965
Genre: Science Fiction
I didn't find any of it explicit. There is violence and implied sex.

Okay, I know I am late on the bandwagon but just to say this book is sci fi is like saying the Pope is just a priest. I loved this book. After seeing the dreadful movie and the OK mini-series and then reading the first page on Amazon...I finally got around to reading this book. It was the first page on Amazon that sold me by the way.

If you don't know the story: It is about young Paul Atreides and the House of Atreides and their life on the planet Dune (Arrakis) of which they have just moved to. And how Paul is intricately involved in the religion, life and prophecies of these people. There is intrigue, corruption, betrayal, great bad guys, valiant good guys and just a whole world to explore. The language is beautiful and Herbert tells a wonderful and rich story. If you haven't read it...do it now! It is a classic!

Title: Finn Family Moomintroll
Author (and illustrator): Tove Jansson
Publisher: Ernest Benn Ltd.
Genre: Children's fantasy

This is a story about at hat. A very mysterious, magical hat. And it is a story about the King's Ruby, the most beautiful jewel anywhere. But mostly it is a story about Moomintroll and his friends and relations, and all the adventures they have because of the hat.

Tove Jansson's writing is clear and simple, her characters quirky and delightful, and her drawings full of whimsy and good humor. I wish I'd known about her sooner.

Concerns over the publication of my book and discussions that followed got me thinking: When looking for a book to read, do you choose stricitly by author or give something a chance if the synopsis sounds good (or if someone recommended it)?

I came to realize that, though I have my favorite authors, I never really base my decision on buying a book souly on author alone. There have been books written by my favorite authors that I have either passed up because the synopsis didn't catch my interest, or I only read the book half-way through because it wasn't holding my interest. At the same time, there are authors who I'm not a big fan of that have done books I enjoy.

An example of the latter is Ann McCafferty. I'm not a big fan of her Pern books but I love her Acorna series. Clive Barker does mostly horror of the Stephen King variety but I love his Abarat series, which his purely young adult fantasy. Of the former, I love Ursula K. LeGuinn, but there was a book of hers that wasn't what I thought it was going to be. It was a good story, very interesting, but one I had a hard time getting through as I wasn't sure as to where it was going (the synopsis had been rather misleading, making you think it was an adventure story when it was more an angst tale).

For this same reason I find it rather unfair to judge a book by author alone - unless that author has disappointed more than once, or their writing style never got better, of course. Most authors are very varietized. Barbara Hambly, another favorite of mine, does fantasy as well as historical mysteries.

On the other hand, there's safety in sticking with particular authors, and some authors that leave you kind of iffy about reading other books by them.

J.R.R Tolkein doesn't stop at the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. After reading LOTR I set out searching for other works of his.
The Smith of Wooton Major - a wonderful fairy-tale, beautifully written. It's the story of a Smith given a gift as a child that allows him to see many great wonders.

Farmer Giles of Ham - Hilarious. A dragon is terrorizing the kingdom, so a farmer and his cowardly talking dog confront him.

Roverrandom - Based on a story Tolkein told his sons about the magical adventures of a little dog who messed with the wrong wizard. If you have young kids I recommend this story for them, because, well, what child doesn't get enthralled by stories about cute little dogs? If you don't have kids, I still recommend this story.

All three are suitable for all ages.
No warnings.

Title: The Tough Guide to Fantasyland
Author: Dianna Wynne Jones
Publisher: Firebird (2006)
Genre: Travel
Warnings: Must be read with a sense of humor.

As the subtitle says, this is the essential guide to fantasy travel. It contains entries on everything from ADEPTS to ZOMBIES, both fantastical (MUTANT NASTIES) and mundane (HEATSTROKE). And if you've read even a couple of Tolkien knock-offs, you'll be appreciative of its accuracy.

There are many reasons why I love this book - not the least being that it points out all the logical fallacies and cliches usually found in high fantasy novels - but mostly because it has entries such as this: FRUIT is probably a luxury item. It is seldom served at INNS and usually makes its appearance only at feasts in the courts of KINGS. See also SCURVY.

A must have for anyone who intends to write fantasy, or who is simply fond of the genre and doesn't mind laughing at its foibles.

Title: Bride of the Rat God
Author: Barbara Hambly
Publisher: Del Rey (1994)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Warnings: generally non-graphic suspense and horror elements, including violent off-camera deaths

The cheesy cover (an deliberate homage to old B-horror movie posters) almost kept me from trying this book, and in fact I only gave it a chance because I'd liked some of her other books, but I really loved it. I loved the characters and the tense, moody, fast-paced plot, but most of all I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Hollywood in the 1920s. I've never really been engaged by the whole Hollywood mystique, but 1920s Hollywood -- only a couple of decades removed from being a little farming town on the frontier -- fascinated me utterly; Hambly draws a vivid word-picture of a fairy-tale town caught up in its own fantasies. Also, while I can't say too much about them without giving away a plot twist, this book has the absolute best fu-dogs ever.

Title: Lords and Ladies (a novel of Discworld)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Harper Torch
Genre: Fantasy
Warnings: After-effects of violence, Nanny Ogg's singing

You've probably heard of A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which the fairies sort out everyone's love-life, turn some guy into a donkey, and are generally very cool. They're the good guys, right? They're pretty, sing songs, hang out in forests, and are fond of humans - right?

Wrong.

At least in this version of the story. In Discworld, fairies - or elves - are only fond of humans in the same way cats are fond of mice. At some point in the past, the witches of Lancre forced the elves out of Discworld, and put up a fence (of sorts) to keep them out. But every fence has a hole, if you know where to look, and in this case it happens to be the king's marriage - on midsummer's day. It's up to the country's witches to make sure the elves don't manage to crash the party.

What I love about this book is how the characters drive the plot, which is true of just about all of Pratchett's works. All the characters make mistakes and later fix those same mistakes because of who they are, with no apparent contrivance for the sake of plot. Pratchett is brilliant at writing very rounded, very individual characters, and at simply letting them bounce off each other - often in rather amusing ways. But at the same time he touches on deep subjects, such as the choices we make over the course of our lives, and living with the consequences of those choices. Of the need to see the world as it is, and not as we think (or wish) it should be.

Things have been a bit quiet in the Book Den, so I thought I'd break the monotony by posting the Den's first discussion topic.

What kind of reader are you? Extremely picky, mildly picky, or open minded? What I mean by this is do you have certain criteria a book must meet if you are to read it? Are there certain genres you won't touch with a ten-foot pole or really don't care what you read so long as you can read? Do you favor heros more, or heroines? If the action isn't fast paced will you slog through or set the book aside? And so on.

It doesn't have to be limited to the above mentioned, those were just examples.

Title: The Dark Lord of Derkholm, The Year of the Griffin (sequel)
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Genre: Fantasy, young adult
Warnings: None

Dark Lord of Derkholm - An alternate world of sword and sorcerery turned into a tourist attraction, a man who would rather spend his time doing magical experiments is forced to play this years dark lord for the tours. He enlist his famly's help - a family consisting of a son who he won't allow to be a wizard, a musically talanted daughter, a sorceress wife, and several griffins. A totally hilarious romp as the family works together to try and make their father the best dark lord the tours have ever seen, but seem only capable of mucking things up (which is exactly what everyone wants, unbeknownst to the poor family.)

Year of the Griffin - Sequel to the Dark Lord of Derkholm. The youngest griffin attends an under-funded and under-staffed school of wizardy. Little did she know she would have to contend with asassins, pirates, naughty rodents, wild griffins, friends in need, and a whole host of other problems.

Title: Bellwether
Author: Connie Willis
Publisher: Bantam Books
Genre: Science Fiction
Warnings: None

Sandra Foster studies fads - in particular, the bobbed-hair fad of the roaring twenties. Bennett O'Reilly studies chaos theory - or he would, if he could get the funding. They meet because of a misdelivered package, fight crime middle management together, and try to wrangle sheep. Or something like that.

Technically, this book is science fiction, but it's actually fiction about science (as in research labs), not your standard fare involving spaceships or future civilizations. That does not make it any less entertaining. There's lots of skewering of current society's foibles, a bit of Browning (the poet, that is), and the rather scary interdepartmental communications liaison Flip.

This is a fun look at the fictionalized world of scientific research and the scramble for funding and grants, and the narrator is someone I want to sit down and have lunch with. And like all of Connie Willis' works, it's extremely intelligent. I don't think I've read anything quite like it.

Title: Kingdoms of Light
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Publisher: Warner Books
Genre: Fantasy
Warnings: Some nudity, violence

Three cats, a dog, bird, and snake are turned human to venture into a prismatic world in order to save their own from a horde of sadistic goblins. I could not put this book down. It was both exciting, hilarious, and with great characters who totally reflect the animals they used to be. Each world the characters enter is defined by a certain color of the rainbow - a kingdom of red, of blue, of yellow, etc and each more unique and unpredictable as the last.  And I really can't say enough how funny this book is. A very clever story.

Title: The Adept series
(The Adept, The Lodge of the Lynx, The Templar Treasure, Dagger Magic).
Author: Katherine Kurtz, Deborah Turner Harris
Publisher: Ace (1990s)
Genre: Fantasy
Warnings: violence, occult, supernatural

I guess you might say I have a fascination with magic and mysteries...

In The Adept, the authors have created a world where there are those who fight the powers of Darkness. The series focus on Sir Adam Sinclair as "he leads his loyal Huntsmen against supernatural evil in all its myriad forms" and [is] "at war with the dark and unholy Powers that menace our world." Sinclair is a reknown psychiatrist; through his clients or his police consulting work, he finds himself embroiled in supernatural mysteries.

There is quite an amount of historical research built into the series' world-building but the readers are guided into it through the eyes of Sinclair's young protege Peregrine Lovat. Peregrine learns about the mystical world around him, from Druidic magic to Templar history to reincarnation to second sight. As Sinclair and his experienced team fights against the Darkness, Peregrine struggles to learn and utilize his special talents to aid his mentor.