originally posted by Laneth Sffarlenn
I would like to recommend a book to my fellows here, if I may.
I recently met and have become good friends with a local Aussie fantasy author by the name of Caiseal M’r. Some may know him for his best selling books "The Wellspring Trilogy" and his first trilogy "The Wanderers"
Anyway, he is releasing a new book after a four year break in publishing, and (having read a pre-release copy) I can say that it is a marvellous read and looks to be another excellent trilogy from him.
The book is entitled "Lady of the Lamp", and can be obtained through Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Lamp-Caiseal-Mor/dp/0980398312
I'd be really interested to hear what others have to say, and would love to have the opportunity to pass along any comments to Caiseal. If I don't respond here to any comments within a few days, please email me at (email removed) because I don't get to come here as often as I'd like.
I do hope that my little plug of Caiseal's book is ok - this one is published by a small publishing house and word-of-mouth will be the key selling-point for this new book. I hope to aid in its distribution and to help out a friend 
Thanks everyone
originally posted by Laurence J Johnson
Greetings everyone, I have recently finished reading Raymond E Feist's WRATH OF A MAD GOD.
I enjoyed it!
He or his publisher, need to employ a more efficient proof-reader though.
His new book is due to be released in March 2009, check out the link below for more information.
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/raymond-e-feist/rides-dread-legion.htm
I've taken a bit of "feet up" relaxation time to read, over this Holiday period - and three books, just finished, were outstanding:
The Tenth Gift, by Jane Johnson, a historical with a parallel modern day story, about a woman abducted (with most of her village) from a church in Cornwall, by Barbary Pirates, in the 1720s - unusual in that both stories were binding, and embroidery as a theme tied both of them together. Quite well researched, very interesting read.
The Queen's Command, by R. M. Meluch, fourth in her Myriad series of space military advanture - just plain rollicking fun with a superb cast of characters and a lot of laughs. This series has some really wild underpinnings, and she seems to be tying them together in most innovative ways.
Riders of the Storm, second in Julie E. Czerneda's newest SF trilogy, which continues her story, brings along her characters, and deepens her world-building for her Trade Pact universe. I really enjoyed the story angle - this is not about loner misfits, but about a group of individuals evolving their society, against the grain, and against all comers. The heroine does not strike off on her own, solitary, but strives to hold the line for all in her group of exiles.
I have in the line up, waiting in the TBR stack: Caine Black Knife by Stover, and also the new Pat McKillip and several others, by David Gemmel, and, recalling a past rec by someone here, that I should re-try this author, I have gotten Eliot's Spirit Gate - time!!! There will be a hold, while I write.
originally posted by Trys
Janny, did you mean Strength and Honor as the fourth Meluch book? Book 3 was Sagittarius Command and an older book by her was The Queen's Command.
Strength and Honor, yes, where was my brain??? I'd written down The Queen's Command, and War Birds, as two of her earlier titles I don't have yet, and it must have stuck.
Author airhead moment.
originally posted by Konran
Janny, I have to thank you for your recommendation of Julie Czerneda. I'm partway into "A Thousand Words for Stranger" and loving it already.
originally posted by Trys
Yay!! Another Julie Czerneda fan! Konran, you have many good reads ahead of you.
originally posted by Konran
If they're all as good as this one is turning out to be, I look forward to them
originally posted by max
Has anyone read Sarah Monette's series of Melusine? They are amazing!!! Some explicit sex but the story is fantastic. Books titles are 'Melusine', 'The Virtu', and 'The Mirador'. I really recommend them. Characters are complex and the story is very original. Happy day you all.
originally posted by starstorm
Max, I also love that series! I can't wait for the final volume (Corambis) that's due out in a couple of weeks. If you didn't know, there are MP3 files on Sarah's website of her reading the first two chapters.
~Anna
originally posted by Konran
If anyone is following C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series, there's a new one out! It's called Conspirator. They want almost $30 for the hardback though so I had to mope my way to the library website and join a hold line 17 people long =(
Konran - that was my book purchase for our Saturday date visit to B&N.
I'll do the library on Regenesis.
I haven't tried Sarah Monette - it's one I've considered, though. The books I've bought lately that were highly or enthusiastically recommended that I did not warm to - were just dark, cynical, and had a take that leaned toward the futile…might check into those MP3's.
I'd ask Starstorm and Max - do these books have heart, as well as the dire stuff? I prefer a balance in the range of emotions…don't spoil, but why did this author stand out for you? How'd the books make you feel? Did the story GO somewhere?
originally posted by starstorm
Janny, the MP3s are the first two chapters of the fourth (final) book in her series, so those might not be the best place to start
I think they do have heart, though they are fairly dark, in setting as well as the story. The world has a sort of gothic or dark Victorian feel to it, but I found it a really interesting place, especially so in the last volume where the characters travel to a province with a bit of a steampunk feel, a mixture of science and magic.
The main characters are also two half brothers–Felix, a mage, and Mildmay, with no magic–but that's where the similarity to two other half brothers ends Their conflict is of a much different sort. They were raised apart, and are pretty much thrown together by circumstance, discover their relationship… and then have to try to figure out how to trust one other, when neither of them have ever really trusted anyone before. And at the same time, they each slowly realize that maybe they aren't the terrible person they each think they are. I enjoyed seeing them finally figure out that they didn't have to be defined by their past.
Some other things to note that sometimes bother readers: The language is pretty graphic. Mildmay narrates quite a bit, and he drops f-bombs left and right. There's also some sexual violence, but it's not gratuitous. And there are terms she uses for the passage of time that drove me half-batty at first, though once I figured it out I was fine with it. But it probably took me at least 20 pages to get over being annoyed with it and Mildmay's narrative before I got caught up in the story.
I hope that helps!
~Anna
originally posted by max
I have a real draw to books where the main characters are siblings, so when the back reads brothers or sisters or both I usually pick up the book and get cranky later when it turns out not good. And we won't even get started on if one of the siblings die!!! It's probably because I have so many sibs myself that I am pulled towards these stories. Janny I would say I really don't think you would be disappointed in these books. Sarah Monette is a skillful writer at building her world and making you see it also. The humor in the stories is dry but it also has moments like a ghost story that raises goose bumps. The Melusine books are told in two distinct voices as each of the brothers were raised in like atmospheres but end results make them two different humans. But the sibling bond is there!! I hope you get the time to read them and I would love to hear if you liked them. I really enjoy the fact, Anna, that even tho the language annoyed you the story still held your attention. I actually had to read them a couple of times before the details that flesh out a story became apparent to me. You know when you are excited to find out what happens next, so you fly along in your reading and miss really fun stuff. [Yes, I eat my dessert first] smilin' at ya!!
Hi Max - the burning question would be, then, would you class the ghostly goosebumps as Horror?
I dream way too rather vividly, and avoid horrific books, in general.
originally posted by Konran
There is one fairly horrific scene toward the beginning, involving Felix – the rest, if I remember correctly, might be a little unsettling to some but nothing that I would classify as outright horror. Maybe on the level of a tame Stephen King, if that. The scary isn't really the focus. However! I read thr most horrifying horror novels with impunity and I can watch blood and guts while eating, so you may want to take my opinion with a grain of salt.
originally posted by starstorm
Konran's got it right… some disturbing scenes, and a good deal of the supernatural (ghosts, mostly), so a bit creepy in places but nothing I'd call horrific or nightmare-inducing. Like you, Janny, I steer clear of horror stories and movies in general, especially those that are nothing more than pointless gore-fests.
~Anna
originally posted by max
Janny, not horror but goosebumps from the atrocities that humans are capable of to each other. [I really didn't think anything was as horrible as the battle at "Tal Quorin"] But I have a terrible burning curiosity what it takes for one human to hurt another.
Finished Conspirator by CJ Cherryh - always awed.
originally posted by Konran
Still waiting on that one from the library 
Hopefully by the end of the month…