originally posted by Susan C
I always have the most difficult time finding anything that interests me after finishing one of Janny's books. She is such a great author. I saw The Golden Compass with my daughter, but had never read the books. I bought the Dark Materials trilogy and have just finished reading The Golden Compass. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the other two books. So if anyone needs a good read-I recommend Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy.
originally posted by pat selbie
I enjoyed His Dark Materials too, though perhaps not as much as I expected to.
I have been really getting into what I call twisted history books lately, fantasy about what might have been - there are some brilliant authors about, particularly Mary Gentle ("Ash" and "Ilario" are stand-alone epics), Sara Douglas (all of hers), Sophia MacDougall (Romanitas, waiting for the last book in the trilogy) and David Wingrove's Chung Kuo series.
I could go on about favourite historical, sci-fi and fantasy authors (guess the fantasy ones are pretty much well known around here!) but I'm supposed to be booking our family holiday, so I won't!
originally posted by starstorm
I can't comment on Patrick O'Brian since I haven't had a chance to check him out yet (although this isn't the only place where I've seen enthusiastic recommendations!), but the best historical fiction I've read so far is Dorothy Dunnett's two series. What Jules said about O'Brian is exactly what I'd say about Dunnett:
quote:I've never read historical fiction with such a capacity to bring a bygone age, and bygone people, to life.
She also allows for much character-building misery (borrowing a friend's favorite saying, sort of
), so I think they would appeal to people who like Janny's work. Start off with The Game of Kings. ~Anna
originally posted by Greebo
I'm going to try His Dark Materials - I've got a nice cheap set on order. I'd seen it around for yonks but never took the plunge with it - but after seeing the movie I was inspired to check it out - and I'm not alone in that I bet. 
Speaking of "twisted history" I just finished rereading a lovely book by Vonda McIntyre, called The Moon and the Sun - set in the court of King Louis XIV, taking as its departure point the intriguing idea that at least some of the fantastical sea creatures documented during that time may have existed and may have possessed intelligence - and what happens when the two worlds collide, so to speak. I highly recommend it.
Anna - I hope Dunnett's books don't allow for too much character-building misery - are they depressing??
Cheers all
Jules
originally posted by Trys
pat,
You might try Katherine Kurtz's Two Crowns for America which is alternate reality history of the American Revolution that includes working magic. You might also try her Llamas Night about the role the various witch's covens in England played in the Battle of Britain.
Trys
originally posted by starstorm
Jules, I wouldn't say that Dunnett's series are depressing in the same way I wouldn't say that WoLaS is depressing. Her characters endure trials of varying degrees that I think define them to a greater extent than their triumphs.
I had The Game of Kings for nearly a year before it got to the top of my TBR pile, and I could have kicked myself for waiting so long to read it!
Just as a side note, if you like Guy Gavriel Kay's writing style you'll most likely also like Dunnett; he has said that she was a particular favorite of his, and her stylistic influence in his writing is pretty clear.
~Anna
originally posted by Artemis
Here's my two penn'orth, since someone mentioned Dorothy Dunnett's 'Lymond Chronicles'. Since reading and re-reading these books, I have yet to meet a more charismatic character than Francis Lymond, or get a better sense of 'being there'. Crumbs, I hope that makes sense. Time for a nice cup of tea, I think.
Artie
originally posted by Sarah Jump
Hi all
Someone awhile earlier mentioned Carol Berg, I just bought "Flesh and Spirit" because I liked the cover (BTW buying according to the cover art is how I met Janny )
anyway those of you who know her books can you tell me if this is a beginning, middle, or end of a series or stand alone, or what? I can't seem to find anything about her or her books on the internet.
thanks for any help
Sarah
originally posted by Theresa
Flesh and Spirit is the first book of a pair. The second is Breath and Bone, which came out in January.
And you can find Carol at www.carolberg.com.
originally posted by Sarah
Awesome thank you!!
originally posted by Julie
Trys: Orson Scott Card wrote a series about an alternative early American history- with magic etc. The first book is Seventh Son. The series on the whole was pretty well written. I will have to check out Katherine Kurtz's book- didn't she write the Deryni series?
originally posted by Trys
Julie,
She is the author of the Deryni books, yes.
Trys
originally posted by BillBob
And what's really wild, at least from my perspective, is that she now lives just 5 miles up the road from me, in the next town here in VA.
originally posted by Julie
I remember really enjoying the Deryni books although it has been over (gasp) 25 years!
originally posted by Hunter
I am currently reading the unauthorized biography of Tom Cruise - our library in Australia got it before free speech was banned.
It is a fascinating read.
originally posted by Greebo
Hunter - you'll have to tell us how it ends.
Progress report on His Dark Materials, I am almost finished the second book and enjoying it very much. Better and more complex than I was expecting.
Gels, thanks for the tip, will look out for the Lymond Chronicles, I'm sure I will love it.
Cheeers all
Jules
originally posted by Winter
Has anybody read The Alton Gift? It's the latest posthumous book from Marion Zimmer Bradley. It's suppose to be a continuation of the story in Traitor's Sun (funny I keep wanting to write "Knot" instead of "Sun"). I'm a little hesitant, partly because I never expected there to be anymore cannon Darkover books following the Clingfire trilogy. Also partly because I thought Traitor's Sun had some good closure but a sense of life continuing on. I'm curious though so I'd like to hear if anybody has read it.
originally posted by Diann Coonfield
Winter,
I enjoyed reading The Alton's Gift. I even bought a second copy after I left mine at my son's on a visit. It continues the story of the people in Traitor's Sun in a believable and intersting way.
originally posted by Clansman
I just started The Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson. I have been slow to get into his stuff. I read his first in the Malazan Book of the Fallen, Gardens of the Moon, about 18 months ago, and was somewhat impressed. Impressed enough to buy Deadhouse Gates right after I finished, which then sat on my shelf for the next year and a half.
I'll let you know how it goes.
originally posted by Trys
Clansman,
I just recently finished Gardens of the Moon. It was my second attempt to read the book. The first time I found it unremittingly bleak and when he killed of my favorite character I quit. This time it was not quite so bleak but then perhaps I was more prepared for it and I discovered that death is not always the end of a character in this world. I'm about 100 pages into The Deadhouse Gates.
Trys