The Random (Book) Update

I’ve been reading some interesting things lately (check the 2009 Reading List page at the top). Among them is Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law trilogy starting with The Blade Itself. Abercrombie is drawing the inevitable comparison with Martin (what good fantasy writer doesn’t in these days of waiting for A Dance with Dragons), but his writing is less lyrical and more…gritty. His characterizations have a ring of truth in them that is lacking in the vast majority of fantasy. Abercrombie isn’t afraid of screwing with the reader, either, and I have to admit that the climax of the trilogy induced a whole panoply of emotions. I highly recommend the series.

Another standout is Jack Whyte’s The Skystone, which is a historical novel set in 370ish A.D. The narrative follows a former centurion turned-blacksmith in the wake of a contracting Roman Empire. His knowledge, as well as his connection to a wealthy Roman patriarch, provides the seeds for Arthur’s Camelot. It’s an interesting take on the story that succeeds better than anyone (including Lawhead) at providing some historicity to the legend.

I’ve also gone back and picked up the Council Wars series by John Ringo. His world-building is superb, and even though the underpinnings of the world are straight science-fiction, the plot is pure fantasy. Not since Heinlein’s Glory Road have I seen the two so seamlessly blended. Ringo also resists the temptations for the two hundred page battle scenes of his Legend of the Aldenata series, so the actions moves switfly. Ringo struggles with some of the same issues in this series that he does in Ghost (although not to the same degree), so if you are offended by Ghost, there are portions here that you should probably avoid. Barring that, these are great airport/travel novels.

Are there are David Drake fans out there? I was addicted to his work at an age that would probably scare most of those familiar with his work, but I came across my autographed copy of Northworld the other day, and couldn’t help but pick it for my “before  bed” read. David Drake is one of the best writers I know to communicate action and emotion in as few words as possible. Northworld is one of my favorite all-time books, and should serve as an example to writers everywhere on how to write a complete, multi-threaded story in 80,000 words or less. I owe some of my own subconscious idiosyncracies of style to David Drake. Here’s to Colonel Alois Hammer (the title character of Hammer’s Slammers)! *raises glass*

Thanks to Kate, I’ve been listening to Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (Hugo nominated this year). The story is wonderful, and Neil Gaiman is an absolutely incredible reader. It’s in the same vein as a Tim Burton film, and it is written for young adults, but don’t let either of those things stop you from reading. He weaves such a spell with words that I’m half convinced that he’s a sorcerer himself.

C. C. Finlay’s The Patriot Witch show a great deal of promise. It’s a novel set in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. Finlay posits that the great battles of the early war were aided on both sides by witchcraft. He tells the bulk of the novel from the perspective of Proctor Brown, a young Massachusetts minuteman who has inherited “power” from his mother. In a twist on the “boy leaves home to find his power” story, Proctor follows a group of God-fearing witches into an adventure that culiminates at Bunker Hill. It’s compelling, accessible, and entertaining. This is another one that I highly recommend.

I have Brandon Sanderson’s new novel Warbreaker in my hot little hands. It’ll be next on the list. I have high hopes for this one in the wake of the Mistborn trilogy.