Desdichado
Hero
That's the question, right there. I picked up Paths of the Dead at the library, which is part one of the Viscount of something or another, but is that somewhere I should really start?
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Where to start with Steven Brust
- Thread starter Desdichado
- Start date
talinthas
First Post
thats way far ahead of where you should start. You need to go back and pick up Jhereg, or the trade compilation _The Book of Jhereg_. its a multi part series (the books are relatively shorter, though), with lots of humor and great witty writing. If you want to read the viscount of adrilankha book that you have there, grab _The Phoenix Guards_, _Five Hundred Years After_, and then Paths.
He's a really good writer, and the world he's created in these books has a lot of cool flavor.
He's a really good writer, and the world he's created in these books has a lot of cool flavor.
Welverin
First Post
Probably not, it is the first book of its series, but it may not be the place to start.
The Book of Jhereg (a collection of the first three Vlad Taltos novels) or The Phoenix Guards are likely the better starting points. Barsoomcore will be able to give you a more definitive answer.
The Book of Jhereg (a collection of the first three Vlad Taltos novels) or The Phoenix Guards are likely the better starting points. Barsoomcore will be able to give you a more definitive answer.
Pielorinho
Iron Fist of Pelor
I've just started reading these books; so far I've read The Phoenix Guards and the first three books in publication order (Jhereg and two others).
Most people seem to recommend reading them in order of publication date, but I'm going to buck the trend a little: if I'd started with Jhereg, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading any of the others. I mean, it's not a bad novel, but nothing in it particularly grabbed me: it read like most other run-of-the-mill fantasies, as far as I was concerned. The Phoenix Guards, on the other hand, is written in a playfully florid prose that I really enjoyed.
If you read them in publication order, you're going to be starting with the clumsier, early-novelist works. I'd recommend starting with something from a later time period, when Brust has found his footing as a writer.
This will mean that a lot of the world of The Phoenix Guards won't make much sense, but if you just go with the flow, it's not too bad.
Daniel
Most people seem to recommend reading them in order of publication date, but I'm going to buck the trend a little: if I'd started with Jhereg, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading any of the others. I mean, it's not a bad novel, but nothing in it particularly grabbed me: it read like most other run-of-the-mill fantasies, as far as I was concerned. The Phoenix Guards, on the other hand, is written in a playfully florid prose that I really enjoyed.
If you read them in publication order, you're going to be starting with the clumsier, early-novelist works. I'd recommend starting with something from a later time period, when Brust has found his footing as a writer.
This will mean that a lot of the world of The Phoenix Guards won't make much sense, but if you just go with the flow, it's not too bad.
Daniel
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
You should DEFINITELY read the books in order of publication. It's not the end of the world if you don't, but there are here and there some REAL shockers than won't have the same impact if you haven't come through the series in the same way.
Orca particularly blew me away in that regard. One of the few times I've ever SPOKEN to a book.
"You're kidding me!?" Out loud. On the bus.
In order the books are
All your questions about things Dragaeran are answered at www.cracksandshards.com
Orca particularly blew me away in that regard. One of the few times I've ever SPOKEN to a book.
"You're kidding me!?" Out loud. On the bus.
In order the books are
- Jhereg
[*]Yendi
[*]Brokedown Palace
[*]Teckla
[*]Taltos
[*]Phoenix
[*]The Phoenix Guards
[*]Athyra
[*]Five Hundred Years After
[*]Orca
[*]Dragon
[*]Issola - The Viscount of Adrilankha: The Paths of the Dead, The Lord of Castle Black, and Sethra Lavode
All your questions about things Dragaeran are answered at www.cracksandshards.com
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barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
Pielorinho's right in that the later books are substantially more sophisticated, but Jhereg has always impressed me as a tight, well-constructed caper tale that just happens to take place in a world of magic and swordplay. I think you'll like it, JD.
No fat on it anywhere. A definite feature of Vlad's storytelling style -- never use two words when none will do. Quite the opposite of Paarfi.
No fat on it anywhere. A definite feature of Vlad's storytelling style -- never use two words when none will do. Quite the opposite of Paarfi.
Pielorinho
Iron Fist of Pelor
Interesting, barsoomcore. I was trying to see if I've spoiled the surprise in Orca by seeing if it comes before or after Phoenix Guards.
Unfortunately, your list of publication order isn't very helpful in that regard
.
Jhereg isn't a bad book, don't get me wrong; it just wasn't nearly so much to my liking. I know that other people are going to hate The Phoenix Guards for the same reason that I loved it, though; it's a very different style.
Daniel
Unfortunately, your list of publication order isn't very helpful in that regard
.Jhereg isn't a bad book, don't get me wrong; it just wasn't nearly so much to my liking. I know that other people are going to hate The Phoenix Guards for the same reason that I loved it, though; it's a very different style.
Daniel
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
Whoops! Fixed now. Hee.
Most important is to read the Vlad books that come before Orca BEFORE reading Orca. Read the first two Paarfi books, too.
He's pretty clever, and I'm not sure if he spoils the surprise in later books or not, but it's more a caution that if you haven't read the preceding books, the shocker in Orca doesn't carry quite the same impact.
There's lots of surprises throughout all the books. I mean, one of the biggest revelations comes in Jhereg, in the heart-to-heart between Aliera and Vlad. WTF?
And I bow to no one in my admiration for Paarfi's story-telling ability. I just wish it didn't take him 170 years to write each one.
Most important is to read the Vlad books that come before Orca BEFORE reading Orca. Read the first two Paarfi books, too.
He's pretty clever, and I'm not sure if he spoils the surprise in later books or not, but it's more a caution that if you haven't read the preceding books, the shocker in Orca doesn't carry quite the same impact.
There's lots of surprises throughout all the books. I mean, one of the biggest revelations comes in Jhereg, in the heart-to-heart between Aliera and Vlad. WTF?
And I bow to no one in my admiration for Paarfi's story-telling ability. I just wish it didn't take him 170 years to write each one.
Sir Whiskers
First Post
One quick caveat: I really like Brust's books, but he wrote Teckla when he was going through some depressing personal problems. This book is easily the hardest to get through. If you bog down there, just skim it and move on. IMO, it was a single aberration in an otherwise excellent series.
barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
See, Teckla is the book that really hooked me on Brust and made him stand out from the other fantasy writers. It's the moment where Vlad turns from "Standard Fantasy Hero" to "Real Honest-To-Siskel Person". Where Brust goes from creating pretty keen fantasy stories to writing literature that carries some real weight.
Well, that and The Sun, The Moon and the Stars. And Brokedown Palace. All of which were written around the same time. For my money, Taltos is the least successful book. It comes the closest to being dull, and you really have to pay attention to get the details of what's going on. Fortunately, it has Vlad meeting Morrolan for the first time. And insulting Sethra Lavode.
Hee.
Well, that and The Sun, The Moon and the Stars. And Brokedown Palace. All of which were written around the same time. For my money, Taltos is the least successful book. It comes the closest to being dull, and you really have to pay attention to get the details of what's going on. Fortunately, it has Vlad meeting Morrolan for the first time. And insulting Sethra Lavode.
Hee.
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