originally posted by Trys
The only thing I would suggest is, don't read the last book of the trilogy before reading the first two as it winds things up. 
originally posted by Jay_Jay
Janny, I agree about Tigana, and I'm going to hazard a guess it was the main female character that you had problems with. It was Stockholm syndrome carried to an extreme, and I just couldn't buy it. I originally had a hardcover copy of Tigana, and after reading it once or twice, I gave it away.
Started Sarah's books last night, and so far, so good, but I was so tired I conked out after reading the prologue and the first chapter.
Well, at least I'm reading again, after a very, very long drought!
Actually, it wasn't the main female character in Tigana - but the fact that a book that began with a quote from Dante's inferno failed quite to prepare me for the unrelenting nature of the story itself… should have, but I was blindsided. A tribute to Kay that I havent forgotten, though I read the tome years and years ago.
Lions is my favorite for the incredible way he pitched the two main characters and built the conflict - a masterful handling of cultural clashes and friendships that crossed over boundaries - that, too, was unrelenting, but the ending left me breathless with wonder.
Tigana, as intended, left me sorrowful and sad. I had not expected to be haunted.
originally posted by Derek Coventry
Thanks for the input on Isavalta but to stop myself peeping into Firebird's I started to re-read Snyder's New Moon. I calculate I first read it about 14 years ago and though my funny memory means I can re-read it as a fresh book I can still remember the frustration I felt when I couldn't get the third of the trilogy from any of my local shops. Well yesterday I found it on Amazon so I have plenty of reading for the moment. Mind you I'm brimming with anticipation after reading Janny's latest Status Report!
originally posted by Jane
Great books, both of them. I loved the ending for Arbonne. I love the way Kay brings some closure for Duke Bertran (trying not to be spoilerish here!). Somehow I never really came to love the characters in Tigana the way I did those in Lions and Arbonne. They were SO real that I felt a genuine sense of loss when the stories ended.
A very strange thing happened with his latest, the Last Light of the Sun. It took me forever to finish it. I will have to reread it sometime, when I've distanced myself a bit from the pain of it being my husband's last gift to me. At this point, I don't know if it was the story, or my own state of mind that prevented it from sweeping me away, and finishing it as fast as possible, as I did with previous books of his.
originally posted by winter
Funny, I thought I posted last night but I don't see the message anywhere. Hopefully it's my browser and not the brain trauma playing tricks on me!
Arbonne was my least favourite, I love Tigana but also consider Lions of Al-Rassan the best. Lions is one of those rare books that makes me cry every time I re-read it, even though I know what happens. A friend of mine told me Guy Gavriel Kay is actually a professer at one of the southern Ontario universities (can't recall which one one) and she took a course on Fantasy by him. I think that would be one course I wouldn't groan at seeing the Professer put his own books on the required reading!
Jay Jay, I know you're in Toronto since you mention Bakka, which is indeed a great bookstore. But if you're as impoverished as I am and are interested in reading Kay's Last Light of the Sun, I saw the hardcover in Chapters for $7. I'm a little bitter since bought it for five times the price when it came out, but it's a steal if you haven't gotten it yet.
Has anybody read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell? It was recommended to me but couldn't really get into it.
originally posted by Trys
quote:It's important to remember than when you pay full price for a book the author is making money. If you buy remainders, it's likely the author will see nothing. I understand the circumstances of tight money but when possible try to support your favorite authors, especially if you want them to keep writing.I'm a little bitter since bought it for five times the price when it came out, but it's a steal if you haven't gotten it yet.
Trys
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Worse, remainders and used book sales do NOT count toward an author's "numbers" or sales figures…even a used book gotten thru Amazon…a sorrowful shortfall, that plays against a career…no offense to those who deal that way under the straps of financial constraint - just a hard fact of life, little known.
alot more than price tag matters, in this game of publications reaching a reader.
originally posted by Jane
Winter, I got Last Light of the Sun shortly after it came out in hardcover. Indigo was selling it at a 30% discount, as part of a special promotion of Canadian authors, but I would have bought it discount or no discount! And then, Roger insisted on paying for it, as my 'birthday present'!
originally posted by Derek Coventry
For years in the UK many bookshops have been limited in the variety of authors offered.In 1974 I bought Aker's "Transit to Scorpio" an Orbit book published by Futura and I was able to buy the next three of the series but then no more were apparently published here. Then about ten years later I came across a couple of Daw's books which were 7 & 9 of the series. But it was not until this century that I was able to complete the set. (All 37!)
Still I'm having no trouble with Janny's books, though I'm buying them in Hardback because I don't want to wait for the paperback version.
Yesterday and today has brought me Patricia McKillip's trilogy.
originally posted by winter
Those discount books don't count towards sales numbers? And you don't see any money? Geez, I work in the music industry and thought things would work the same in book publishing as well.
Used book sales or those clearance book stores I understand as not counting towards sales numbers or getting money back to the writer, but sale items at major retailers? I guess in all arts industries the artist always seems to get the short end of the stick.
Out of curiosity, does the popularity of a book in public library systems count at all? Not as sales obviously, but as an indicator of the size of an author's fanbase (aka potential future sales)?
originally posted by Cheryl Detmer
I used to try new authors through used books but if I found one I really loved, I would buy the book in good condition and then buy more new regular priced books from that author. Used books are a good way to discover new authors and get more books for less but I got tired of dealing with used bookstores. Some books were in such bad condition, I couldn't stand to buy one that way anymore. I saw my last spilt coffee on a book. lol I do love to buy the hardbacks for authors I love like Janny when they first arrive on the shelves best, or the paperbacks in the regular bookstores. I get too anxious to read a book like one from Janny and when it first comes out, I have to buy it. Can't wait for the paperback. I'm just terrible that way. It's another year to wait for it and I just can't wait. me bad. grin
originally posted by Jane
Winter, discounted books like the one I bought DO count towards the author's sales. It's only books that have been 'remaindered' or sold as used books that don't. The remaindered books will have a slash of black marker put across the pages at the bottom of the spine and this 'damage' supposedly justifies selling them off for a couple of bucks. I imagine it also affects their resale value as used books once the book is out of print.
I don't understand why publishers can't sell them for the same price WITHOUT the remainder mark, and still allow them to count towards sales. For instance, I got a copy of Pratchett's "Wee Free Men" in hardcover for $5.00. It probably went so cheap because it's been issued in paperback already, and the publisher wants to get rid of its hardcover stock. A remaindered hardcover would sell for about that here in Canada, but this book was NOT remaindered, just sold at a discount. So, why can't all publishers do it that way, and give the poor author a break??
The purpose of the "remainder mark" is to prevent booksellers from sending the hardbound title back to the publisher as a return, and collecting the cash refund.
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originally posted by winter
Ah, okay. Then the $8 Last Light of the Sun at Chapters are not a remainders since I don't recall seeing any marks. It's good to know that most of my book purchases weren't entirely evil. Sounds like the book and music industries are pretty similar. Any CD you find with the barcode obscured (crossed with marker, hole punched, etc) or with an indent burned into the spine is a promo and the artist never sees a cent from it.
originally posted by Derek Coventry
I will be taking more care with my purchases in future to ensure the originators get their dues. I already do this with groceries etc. and will now do so with books.
Cheryl made me think of my youngest daughter (another bookworm) as she will take time in a bookstore to obtain the most pristine copy they have and then reads it by opening it as little as possible to avoid stressing the spine or marking any page. I daren't touch her books!
originally posted by Trys
Derek,
I was like that a number of years back… but it became increasingly difficult to find a copy of a book that hadn't had a little tear in bottom of the dust cover or the spine dented in a tad. The quality of the people handling the books had deterioted seriously.
Trys
originally posted by Bruce
Just finished Anne Bishop's Sebastian which was excellent, I'm looking forward to the next volume of this duology next year. The local bookstore just called to tell me that Crystal Dragon & Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller are in, so one of those two are next.
Bruce
originally posted by Sandtiger
Ah yes, I still need to get Crystal Dragon. It's at Bakka, but other things pre-empted it. Like, er, overspending on books at Ad Astra. One of which was Anne's (Who was at the Con, and she really is this lovely person, and when she told me Sebastian wasn't, er - as - er, dark as her other books (which I couldn't read) I went out and got it.)
Speaking of books though, someone I know - Marie Brennan just had her first book published by Warner - It's called Doppleganger. I just picked up a copy for myself. She's the first person who I can say, "I knew here when!" ::laugh::
Sandtiger
originally posted by Jane
We've already said that…with a certain Sandtiger!
I was up early on Saturday at Ad Astra, and Julie invited me to join her for brekky. Anne was one of the other people at our table. I agree, she really is very nice. But, aren't ALL authors??