Fantasy Archives - Page 18 of 20

Vellum – Hal Duncan

Published on March 23, 2008

Cover of Vellum

Vellum
Hal Duncan
501 pages
published in 2005

It’s rare that you get to read a book about which you can genuinely say that you’ll either love it or hate it. Usually this phrase is just hype, an attempt to make a book seem more controversial than it really is. Most books just bimble along without evoking either great hatred or great love in their readers. Vellum however is not such a book. It is genuinely a book you’ll love or loathe becauses, depending on your feelings, it’s either an incredibly stylish tour de force remaking of the fantasy novel, or self indulgent bloated nonsense, with glitzy prose masking a story devoid of any meaning. Myself, I can find some sympathy for both readings.

Hal Duncan is a new author; Vellum his first published novel. He seems to fit in loosely with that generation of fantasy writers that includes China Miéville, Justina Robson, Jeff VanderMeer and Susanna Clarke. I must admit he only appeared on my radar last year, when his
name cropped up on various science fiction blogs, which is why when I saw this book in the library I took a gamble on it. A gamble that paid off, fortunately. Vellum is an ambitious book, both in the story it tells as in how it tells it, that almost manages to fulfill its ambitions.

The Prize in the Game – Jo Walton

Published on March 19, 2008

Cover of The Prize in the Game

The Prize in the Game
Jo Walton
341 pages
published in 2002

I’ve known Jo Walton a long time, from before she became a succesful novelist, when she was “just” one of the most interesting posters in various Usenet groups like rec.arts.sf.written and Rec.arts.sf.fandom. You could therefore say I wanted this novel to be good. Fortunately, having read one of her earlier novels, The King’s Peace, I knew it was very likely going to be. And I was right.

Which reminds me that The Prize in the Game is actually set in the same world as The King’s Peace and functions as a sort of prequel to it, showing the background story of some of the secondary characters. You don’t need to have read it to enjoy The Prize in the Game however; it completely stands on its own. The quickest way to describe The Prize in the Game is as a coming of age novel set in a fantasy version of Celtic Ireland, in which some of the viewpoint characters may not actually come of age. Be careful though to assume too much from this; the island of Tir Isarnagiri differs from the real or even mythological Ireland in important ways. No leprechauns here.

The Fires of Heaven – Robert Jordan

Published on February 1, 2008

Cover of The Fires of Heaven

The Fires of Heaven
Robert Jordan
989 pages
published in 1993

The Fires of Heaven is the fifth book in the Wheel of Time series, following on directly from The Shadow Rising. It’s the first book of the series not to star all three of the main protagonists, with the Perrin storyline in the Two Rivers left until the next book in the series. As such it’s another indication of how out of control the series has grown by this point, with only three out of the four (!) storylines from The Shadow Rising continued here, none of which come to a real conclusion here either.

However, this is still one of my favourite volumes in the series, as it shows Rand and Mat kicking some serious ass and while plotlines don’t conclude here, they do seem to progress, something missing in the next few volumes. Reading this only took me two days or so, which is testament to the way Jordan was able to keep your attention if you’re willing to be drawn in.

Gardens of the Moon — Steven Erikson

Published on November 24, 2007Leave a comment

Cover of Gardens of the Moon

Gardens of the Moon
Steven Erikson
703 pages
published in 1999

This may very well be the ultimate epic fantasy series. Ten books are projected, of which seven so far have been published –this being the first one– and as far as I know each sequel is bigger then the previous book. Size of course isn’t everything and there have been enough other fantasy brick series
published, so what makes this one so special?

It has everything.

A horrendously complicated system of magic, the Undead (they’re good guys, sort of) dragons, a multitude of lesser and greater gods, epic battles, a plot that makes the Wheel of Time look simple, a grittiness that matches anything Glen Cook wrote about in the Black Company series, great and powerful heroes and villains (but who is who depends on your point of view), several innocents caught up in it all, worldweary and cynical soldiers still trying to do what’s right, wizards and demons by the ton, even honest to god ninjas. Gardens of the Moon is the first book of a new fantasy series, but it feels as if you’re dropped in the middle of a long running one. There’s no slow start, no gradual acclimatising; what little clues are given to the greater story you have to find for yourself. Little is explained, there are no handy infodumps and if you’re not familiar with epic fantasy in general, do not even start this.

Making Money – Terry Pratchett

Published on November 13, 2007

Cover of Making Money

Making Money
Terry Pratchett
349 pages
published in 2007

Making Money is the latest in the Discworld series, a direct sequel to Going Postal, which I’ve read but not yet reviewed I see and again starring Moist von Lipwig, quite literally born again crook turned postmaster. This time however it’s not the post office Moist has to deal with getting back into shape, but something far more scary: the banks. But when the Patrician asks you to do a little job for him it’s usually impolite to refuse and besides, the old job’s getting boring anyway and his girlfriend, somewhat misnamed Adora Belle Sweetheart has run off to rescue some more golems.

So Moist goes along with the Patrician’s suggest to take a tour of the Mint and meet the current chairperson, Topsy Lavish, of the very rich and not very nice Lavish family, though she herself has only married into the family and does not enjoy the full Lavish family support. Only the fact that she has fifty percent of the bank’s shares, with her dog Mr Fusspot owning another one percent, kept her as chair so far. Topsy likes Moist and vice versa, as he could always get on well with her kind of old lady even though she knew immediately he’s some kind of grifter, a bit flash. Perhaps that’s why when she dies the day after Moist’s visit she leaves her dog to him, and her shares to the dog. And just after Moist had decided not to take the Patrician’s generous offer of becoming master of the mint too…