[September] What Are You Reading?

[ergeheilalt]

This month I am reading the new Shannara book: High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus; Sir Apropos of Nothing and the Woad to Wuin.

Ergeheilalt

 

[NiTessine]

I recently completed Koushun Takami's Battle Royale, for a school presentation.

Just started on Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors. I also have to read Machiavelli's The Prince soon, also for school. After that, the next one on the list is the complete Amber series.

 

[WayneLigon]

I finished J. V. Jones' A Cavern of Black Ice, one of the best fantasies I've read in quite some time. It's a huge, thick, exhausting book thought, so I making time before picking up the second in the series. Definately a major improvement over The Baker's Boy trilogy which, while good, was not on par with this most recent work.

I picked up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and almost considered calling in sick to work so I could finish it. Very engrossing.

I picked up all six of the Harry Dresden books at DragonCon and got them signed by the author. Now, I'm about half way through Storm Front, the first book. I read it before, liked it, now I'm going to re-acquaint myself with it before I go on

 

[Michael Tree]

I'm currently reading The Lord of Castle Black by Steven Brust, as well as an ungodly number of law school books and articles.

Next up... who knows. If I finish my current readings soon, I'll read Dragondoom. Otherwise, probably The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

I finished J. V. Jones' A Cavern of Black Ice, one of the best fantasies I've read in quite some time. It's a huge, thick, exhausting book thought, so I making time before picking up the second in the series.

Hi Wayne, I've been thinking of picking this up. Can you let me know some more info? Maybe on your personal tastes as well...

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

I just finished reading Perdido Street Station by China Mieville (can't decide if I like it), Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore (loved it), and quickly read The Field Guide-The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1 by Black and DiTerlizzi (fun book - it was my son's).

Currently, I am in the middle of another Christoper Moore book, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and am enjoying it. I just went to the bookstore and picked up The Prince of Shadow by Curt Benjamin and The Initiate Brother by Sean Russel after reading the "Any one know of some fantasy/fiction set in an orient setting?" thread. They both sounded interesting-

 

[Holy Bovine]

I've started to read an introduction to philosophy text book. It's a collection of important philosophical works through out history. Not exactly light reading but it is interesting.

I am also starting a book called Circumnavigators. History book about those who have sailed around the world but didn't really get the recognition of Magellean, Cooke etc.

Would also love to find a good book about pirates (preferably a fictionalized story - I read Under the Black Flag, which is excellent, but if anyone has a suggestion for a salty old sea dog of a tale...)

 

[WayneLigon]

Hi Wayne, I've been thinking of picking this up. Can you let me know some more info? Maybe on your personal tastes as well...

It's an epic fantasy, that's for sure, with an ensemble cast. Threads of their stories weave in and out, usually changing per chapter but sometimes not.

The setting is the extreme northlands of a continent. Trust me, by the time the book is over, you'll know more than you wanted to about frostbite and it's effects on human flesh. There are the clanholds (basically hunter/gatherers with some herding and farming thrown in). There are cities carved out of the wilderness. There are the Sull, a private people who live in the rich coastal regions and let no-one near their land.

Magic is known, but not well. The clans forbid it, the cities don't like it, and it seems the Sull care less.

It's a story about ambition, mostly, and what people will do to acheive that. It's a story about survival, as well. And to what lengths a person will go to fullfil his oaths.

Characters.

Raif Sevrance: Raven Born, Oathbreaker, Warrior of Clan Blackhail and Watcher of the Dead.
Ash March: Foundling, left outside of Vaingate to die. A terrible destiny awaits her in a dead and voided land.
Vaylo Bludd: The Dog Lord, chief of Clan Bludd. Vaylo is the greatest chief in the Clanholds, terrible to behold, fierce beyond knowing, yet he loves two things above all others: his dogs and his grandchildren.
Effie Sevrance:Wearer of the Stone Lore, able to see the future in small glimpses; a maiden of Clan Blackhail.
Penthero Iss: Surlord of Spire Vanis, sorcerer and keeper of a terrible, dread secret.
Angus Lok: Ranger, member of the mysterious "Phage" of which little is known, and uncle to Raif Sevrance.
Sarga Veys: The Phage's greatest find in over a decade. A powerful sorcerer and a man who nurses his slights.
Marafice Eye: The Knife. Protector General of the Rive Watch and Penthero Iss' right hand.
Mace Blackhail: The Hail Wolf.
Cluff Drybannock: A Trenchborn bastard, part-Sull.
Raina Blackhail: Wife of the Blackhail chief.
Drey Sevrance: Brother to Raif, warrior of Clan Blackhail and wearer of the Bear Lore.
Heritas Cant: Sorcerer, broken on the wheel.

Raif and Drey survive a raid on their clansmen, who are out hunting for the winter stock-up. Mace also survives and brings back the other warriors of Clan Blackhail but his story doesn't match the two boys'. Raif is suspicious that Mace had something to do with things, but cannot prove anything. Mace is a master at honeyed words and politics, and soon maneuvers himself into the cheiftainship of the clan. Clan is pitted against clan, and full-scale war erupts. Mace maneuvers the warriors of Blackhail into a dishonorable fight, which Raif refuses to take part in; thus shamed, he leaves the clan with his uncle Angus and journeys south. Poor Effie sees some of the terrible things Mace does, but who beleives a mere child?

Ash March was a foundling, found in the snow outside Spire Vanis by Iss. He raises her as his daughter, but as she grows older, she finds that he has interests in her that have sinister purposes, and plans that include locking her away forever. So she flees, and is found by Raif and his Uncle Angus. They get caught up in her story, and take her to Heritas, who pronounces that she must go to the Cavern of Black Ice to unshoulder the sorcerous burden she bears before it either kills her or plunges the world into oblivion.

That's about as quick a synopsis I can make, without undue spoilage. There is a LOT more that happens, but trying to write a summary would be several thousand words long

The Author's Web Site has some excepts.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I finished J. V. Jones' A Cavern of Black Ice, one of the best fantasies I've read in quite some time. It's a huge, thick, exhausting book thought, so I making time before picking up the second in the series. Definately a major improvement over The Baker's Boy trilogy which, while good, was not on par with this most recent work.

I have enjoyed her books and felt she has become a better storyteller in this series, you know Fortress (the next book) is out in hardback.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Would also love to find a good book about pirates (preferably a fictionalized story - I read Under the Black Flag, which is excellent, but if anyone has a suggestion for a salty old sea dog of a tale...)

Best pirate novel I've ever read is On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. If you can find it (it is sadly out of print), by all means PICK IT UP!
It shows up occasionally in used book shops, but if you look for it online, it's usually pretty expensive. Try your library as well.