originally posted by Cheryl
Sandtiger I remember you saying you loved the Marion Zimmer Bradley and Deborah Ross book. Just wanted to tell you and others here the second one's out Zandru's Forge it's really good and paperback. I was surprised I thought it would be a hardback like the first one. I was looking in the wrong spot for a few times before I realized it was paperback size haha grin I think Janny would love this series too.
originally posted by Sandtiger
Cheryl,
It came out in Hardcover last year ~ so you must have missed it, or perhaps your local store didn't get copies. Although, I must admit, I waited for the paperback version.
I liked it - more than the first even.
Right now, I have a dozen books in my to be read pile - but the one I am reading now is "Trial of Fire" the last book of a 5 book series by British author Kate Jacoby. I quite like them, and I've been waiting forever for this book to come out in Canada.
I also have The Weavers of Saramyr by Chris Wooding to read - though I haven't started it yet, so can't say whether I'll like it.
Sandtiger
originally posted by Cheryl
I wonder what happened to me when the hardback came out. Wow that went by me. Maybe it came out in Europe and not here in hardback I don't know. I had a lot going on last year so maybe that distracted me anyway got it now and I do enjoy it more then the first one like you said. By the way I got Janny's recommendation on Techniques of a Selling Writer and it's great. It's so helpful and not to where I can't understand what they are saying. It is a must for anyone that attempts to write.
originally posted by Artemis
Don't be put off, Max, TP's books really are great (in my opinion). I think I have read almost all of them and have enjoyed every one.
Artie.
originally posted by Artemis
On another author, am just re-reading Dorothy Dunnett's 'Lymond Chronicles'. Not fantasy, I realise, but excellent none the less (should that have been alloneword?)
Artie.(again)
originally posted by Cheryl
Someone suggested I get a box of bookplates for the con in Oct. I just wondered how would you go about getting some like for Janny's books. Between Melanie Rawns books and Janny's I'm loaded down. I decided to just bring my very favorite by both authors. Of course Janny's would be Curse of the Mistwraith but I might try to carry more. Just wondered how to get a hold of some bookplates by authors like Janny. My husband swears he isn't helping me carry them either. grin Thanks
originally posted by starstorm
Artemis, I agree! I'm just reading the Lymond Chronicles for the first time (nearly finished with book 2), and they really are excellent.
It struck me in the first book that Lymond and Arithon share quite a few of the same characteristics and talents, and they're both considered evil incarnate by certain people initially 
~Anna
originally posted by Cheryl
I don't think we get Lymond here in the states not sure though I'll look into it. If he's like Arithon then I'm so there. LOL
originally posted by George
Is it my imagination, or does Ursula LeGuin's "Earthsea Trilogy" actually stand as a metaphor for something else. There are alot of gems in those novels and some how i just don't think that it is only about fantasy…
any ideas?
originally posted by max
Hi George! I will try to answer your question as I have been reading alot of her books lately. The earthsea planet just has archipelago nations I don't think there are any great land masses. Alot of the earthsea mages have the 'finding' ability and are able to sense minerals and such below the surface with their bare feet. So they are employed by rulers to find gems and such for wealth but some younger weaker mages are used by the stronger ones to locate gems and minerals for them to use to magnify or increase their power. In the 'Tales of Earthsea', one such young man was taken and enslaved and cruelly used for such with a dog collar and leash on his neck. Also Ursula LeGuinn wrote most of her stories in the 60's and 70's and she is very ecology minded. Many of her stories main characters have nothing to do with rulers or kings or those in power. Main characters come from the 'peasant' class, farmers and craftsman, sailors and worker bee types. Her descriptions of their agricultural and seagoing simple lifestyles are very appealing to me since I identify with those folks best. [My ancestors, Ya know? LOL] This all is of course my take on this, so if anyone out there knows more, feel free to jump in.
originally posted by Kitsune
Well, though Janny is at the top of my "Must-Read" List, there are a few others up there, too.
For the "classics" of the genre, I recommed (amongst others):
–the "Fafhrd and Gray Mouser" series by Fritz Leiber
–the "Elric" series by Michael Moorcock
–the "Amber" series by
–the "Conan" series by Robert E. Howard (some of the other Conan authoers are passable, but REH is the real deal!)
–"Three Hearts and Three Lions"
For more contemporary stuff (lots of others, but start with these!!):
–"Song of Fire and Ice" by George RR Martin
–"Memory, Sorrow and Throrn" trilogy by Tad WIlliams.
–"Otherland" quartet by Tad Williams
–"Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
–the "Rhapsody" series by Elizabeth Haydon
–the "Runelords" series by David Farland
–"Eragon" by Chris Paoli
–"In Legend Born" and "In Fire Forged" (authors name escapes me right now.) 
originally posted by Trys
Cheryl,
Just to let you know, the third Clingfire Trilogy is due out in early August.
Trys
originally posted by Cheryl
Thanks Trys I probably would have missed it. I still can't figure out how I missed the second one in hardback. I'm usually on top of that stuff. At least I have it now it's really good. Deborah Ross is a good writer I'm glad she's writing these books for Marian Zimber Bradley.
originally posted by Artemis
Cheryl - the Lymond Chronicles consist of 6 books, each of which can be read without having read the others.
They are - The Game of Kings
Queens' Play
The Disorderly Knights
Pawn in Frankincense
The Ringed Castle
Checkmate
all beautifully written in exquisite detail about the l6th Century, by Dorothy Dunnett.
Artie.
originally posted by Selene
Kitsune-
"In Legend Born" is by Laura Resnick. I didn't read the second one yet, but I thought the first one was very nice
Really, you liked Conan? I have the fantasy masterworks edition, but I never managed to finish it. I thought it was so
superficial…
Moorcock is supposed to be good, but there's something with his books and me that just doesn't agree. I tried "Gloriana" (the unedited version) and "The prince in the scarlet robe", but neither really sparked my interest.
I like Martin and Williams too, though I haven't read the otherland series yet. I'm really longing for "A feast for crows", but Martin seems to be having some problems, though I am happy he's anxious to keep up the high quality, of course. I read his book "The fevre dream" while waiting though, and I thought it was really great.
I like Elizabeth Haydon's series very much too, there are some very memorable character's there (Achmed's my favourite! ). I couldn't really stand Rhapsody herself though…
Recently, I finally found the out of print book "The Anubis Gates" by Tim Powers, which is still a favourite of mine
Selene
originally posted by Cheryl
I hear that a lot about Haydon's series they like the other characters but not Rhapsody so much. Sounds like a good series I've been thinking about it.
originally posted by Kitsune
"In Legend Born" is by Laura Resnick. I didn't read the second one yet, but I thought the first one was very nice.
Thanks for that, Selene!
You have a treat in store: there's lots of cool ideas and sequences in the next two books.
Really, you liked Conan? I have the fantasy masterworks edition, but I never managed to finish it. I thought it was so
superficial…
Granted not all the REH "Conan" stories are equal. Some are acknowledged classics, while others… Well, they're less so. But take them all with a grain of salt, and remember when they were written and the impact they've had on fantasy for the last half-century plus.
Moorcock is supposed to be good, but there's something with his books and me that just doesn't agree. I tried "Gloriana" (the unedited version) and "The prince in the scarlet robe", but neither really sparked my interest.
I can see that: the "Enternal Champion" stuff is what you should start with. Try the "Elric" series: I'd be curious what you think, and they're realtively quick reads (though they're deeper than they initally appear.)
I like Martin and Williams too, though I haven't read the otherland series yet. I'm really longing for "A feast for crows", but Martin seems to be having some problems, though I am happy he's anxious to keep up the high quality, of course.
LMK what you think if you do read "Otherland." As to GRRM, well, I think he's beginning to suffer (just a tad) from Robery Jordan sydrome.
As a bit of an aside, that's why I love "Wars of Light and Shadow" so much. Not only does Janny's comittment to the quality of the series shine through, but I cna pick up each book as it comes out and remember -details- from each of the previous books, rather than just the -gist- of the previous books. And as I re-read each of the previous books, I pick up -new- nuances that I haven't noticed before.}
I like Elizabeth Haydon's series very much too, there are some very memorable character's there (Achmed's my favourite! ). I couldn't really stand Rhapsody herself though…
Interesting. Well I like Achmed (who doesn't?) I thought Rhapsody herself was a fascinating character. I also like the idea of basing a series around music.
Recently, I finally found the out of print book "The Anubis Gates" by Tim Powers, which is still a favourite of mine.
Oooh! Where? And how much? My copy is read ragged and due for a replacement!!
originally posted by Selene
"Granted not all the REH "Conan" stories are equal. Some are acknowledged classics, while others… Well, they're less so. But take them all with a grain of salt, and remember when they were written and the impact they've had on fantasy for the last half-century plus."
Yes well, I have recently become quite an impatient reader. Some months ago I had this idea that I should try and read some of the famous, best-selling authors out there. (I picked up conan during this little drive.)
Let me just summarize by saying that all in all, it hasn't been a great success.
"Try the "Elric" series: I'd be curious what you think, and they're realtively quick reads (though they're deeper than they initally appear.)"
Well, I suppose I can give Moorcock one last chance… 
"As to GRRM, well, I think he's beginning to suffer (just a tad) from Robery Jordan sydrome."
Only if by that you mean that he's taking a long time to produce new books The quality of Jordan's books has really dropped, IMO, on the contrary to Martin. One thing I like about Martin is his tendency to introduce new character viewpoints with each book. What you knew of Jamie, e.g., got turned on its head once you got to see things from his PV in the latest installment.
"Well I like Achmed (who doesn't?) I thought Rhapsody herself was a fascinating character."
IMHO, Rhapsody suffers from the "too-perfect-character"-syndrome. Not only is she good at everything, and has all the right qualities, she also doesn't realize it.
About the Anubis Gates, I picked it up second hand from Amazon.co.uk Marketplace. (Amazon UK claim they have it available with a shipping of 3-5 weeks, but after waiting forever they informed me they were unable to acquire the title.) With the shipping to Sweden, it wasn't much more than the price of a new book. If you live in the US, I doubt it would be very convenient though
Selene
originally posted by nate
hey artemis,
i've been reading the lymond books for the last couple of months… just finished the third, now looking for the fourth, and i agree with… um… whoever it was that said there are a lot of similarities between lymond and arithon - the same thought struck me (independantly) and i was chuffed to have it confirmed by someone else.
(i just started writing war and peace on their similarities, but then realised that perhaps it was a discussion for a different place - i wonder where?)
anyway, it's a series which after many disappointments, has been able to command my attention… another series which absorbed me was the aubrey/maturin books, by patrick o'brian (i don't know whether thay've already been discussed)… i read these long before the movie "far side of the world" came out, and would have to repeat the old catch-phrase, "i enjoyed the book more." (hehehe)
btw artemis, have you read the nicholo (is that right?) books by dorothy dunnet?
cheers,
nate.
originally posted by Artemis
Hi Nate,
Yes, I've read four/five of them. I think there are seven. Not sure I like Niccolo (or nicholo)- I've been spoiled by Francis I think, but the detail and atmosphere are good.
Artie.