Review: "Kar Kalim" by Deborah Christian

It seems that to write fantasy now, you have to write a 12-book saga, or at the very least a trilogy. So, it's refreshing every now and then to find a self-contained one volume tale. Especially one as well-written as this one.

What originally drew me to this book was the fact that I wouldn't have to wait a year to find out what happened next. What kept me reading it was Christian's style and flair for both character and detail.

Inya is a proud sorceress, secure in her superiority over an ambitious young man who comes seeking her training. The would-be apprentice leaves Inya's tower through a dimensional gate, and he returns a changed man, with an army at his back. He strips once-proud Inya of her powers and imprisons her as he plots to take over the world she has protected for years.

The thing I liked about this story is the change that takes place in the main character. At the beginning she's proud and aloof, but when Kar Kalim returns, suddenly she's helpless and scared. Though she clings to as much of her pride as possible, she comes out of the ordeal a changed woman.

It's a well-told, action-packed story, with a very real moral at the heart.

Review: "King's Dragon" by Kate Elliott

This is an intriguing start to a new series.

I bought this book on the recommendation of another writer, Holly Lisle. It proved to be a good recommendation, and a good purchase.

Elliot introduces us to two strong central characters. Alain is a bastard, promised to the church, but given a vision by the Lady of Battles. He's unsure of his heritage and finds that he may be the son of a count or the son of an elven lord and a whore. Liath has spent her whole life running from an unknown enemy, until her father dies and she is sold into slavery to cover his debts. Bought by Hugh, a clergyman who wants her secrets of magic, she is eventually freed to become one of the King's Eagles, elite messengers. Still she spends the entire novel looking over her shoulder, expecting Hugh to appear around every corner, as does the reader.

Her secondary characters are not cardboard cut-outs either. Although we don't get to know them as well as Liath and Alain, King Henry, the bastard prince Sanglant, Liath's friend Hanna, Rosvita and Frater Agius are all well-developed characters the reader can sympathize with. Also, good attention is given to the layout of society and the magical systems of Elliot's world.

This is the first book I've read by Kate Elliot, and overall I was very impressed. I can't wait to read more.

Review: "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Ray Bradbury

Another trip down memory lane. A while back, I revisited "Farenheit 451" and "The October Country," now I stop at the carnival.

The carnival rolls into a small Illinois town in the dead of night, carrying a dark secret. Two boys, Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade, set out to discover all the secrets of the Cooger and Dark Pandemonium Show and get more than they bargained for. Now they have to dodge Mr. Dark, while trying to save the town from the temptations of the carnival.

Regardless of what Bradbury writes, he does it well. I still say his best works comes when he walks on the dark side, though. A sense of foreboding, a feeling of evil permeates the story. Bradbury is a master at it.

Not only that, but his characterization is top-notch as usual. Everyone knows, or perhaps was, a kid like Will or Jim. As far as the nasty characters go, Bradbury is able to make them dark and fascinating, yet still very believable.

Bottom line: This is one of those books that I think should be required reading for everyone. Bradbury is a master storyteller and this is one of his best.

Review: "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

This book boasts that it's "The Fantasy Novel of the Year" in bright red letters on the cover, and the tale, for once, lives up to that boast. Martin delivers a gripping story of power plays, court intrigue and treachery.

This complex tale weaves elements of fantasy, mystery and suspense into a novel that will keep you reading well into the night.

The world of Martin's novel is intriguing in itself. It's a place where summer can last for decades, and winter lasts longer. As the novel opens winter is coming, and with it darkness. But at this point, that's the least the characters have to worry about. Plots to murder and take over the throne of the seven kingdoms abound, taking up most of the characters' thoughts in this first book.

Martin switches back and forth between several key characters, often leaving the characters in a precarious situation for several chapters before returning to them. Normally, a writer who used that technique to build suspense would annoy me, but for some reason, it works for Martin. Probably because there simply is so much going on. This novel is 800 pages long without a dull moment - that's difficult to do.

Another thing I like about this book is the gray area. Everyone on the "good" side is not likeable, and everyone on the "bad" side is not despicable. For example, I absolutely loathed Sansa Stark, who is obviously on the "good" side. I called her the "prissy bitch" for most of the book, and wished her sister Arya would give her a sound thrashing. On the other hand, I found I often liked Tyrion Lannister, obviously one of the "bad" guys.

The only real complaint I have with this book is that not all of the story lines were wrapped up well. Some of the stories lacked closure. I realize Martin is planning a several book series here, but still there should be a little closure. For example, one character is left dangling with a knife at her throat. That's OK for a couple of chapters, but for a year or more until the next volume it's a bit annoying.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. I don't know if I'm ready to call it the "Fantasy Novel of the Year", but I'll definitely say that, in my opinion, it's one of the top two or three.

Review: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

This is the first installment of the little nostalgia trip I've been on lately.

It's been a long time since I first picked this book up in junior high for a book report, but the years have not changed the impact it has on me.

If anything, this book had a more profound effect on me this time around, because I'm older and can see deeper into it. It's almost chilling when you look around at the world we live in now and compare it to the world of this book. The low price we put on human life and the gradual disappearance of some personal rights play right into the plot of this book, and I know that when I turn on the television, a lot of the programs I see remind me an awful lot of the "family".

Another thing that really brought the similarities home was a discussion I had online with someone about the book while I was re-reading it. The person told me he felt the book was boring and not worth the paper it was printed on. When I asked the person to elaborate, I was told that it needed more action. What this person described as how the book should have been presented was basically like a television show. At first I was amused that the person had completely missed the point, then after some thought it kind of scared me.

Some of the things in this book just sent a chill down my spine that wasn't there the first time around. That's not to say I think we are, or will ever be, in a society like the one Bradbury envisions, but still it's definitely something worth thinking about.

This book should be required reading for everyone.

Review: "Daughter of the Blood" by Anne Bishop

What would it take to turn Hell upside down? How about a young girl who is much more than she seems.

Jaenelle is Witch, a being destined to be more powerful than the High Lord of Hell himself. If, of course, she lives long enough to fulfill her potential.

She is only seven when she's discovered to have the powers of Witch, and her childish antics keep Saetan, the High Lord, and her earthly protector and would be consort, Daemon Sadi, scrambling to keep her safe.

If she were to fall under the control of the wrong people, it would be disastrous. The wrong hands are the vengeful, self-appointed High Priestess of Hell, Hekatah, and her mortal puppet, Dorothea SaDiablo. Both who long to get their hands on the girl, never fully realizing what she is.

Review: "Stalking Darkness" by Lynn Flewelling

There's nothing like discovering a good series when a couple of the books are already out. The day I finished "Luck in the Shadows," I went right out in search of "Stalking Darkness," and I was able to dive right back into the story.

And it was definitely worth jumping right back into. Alec and Seregil hardly get a rest when their first adventure is over before another crisis threatens the world. As war brews, an evil artifact is stolen from the Oreska House. In the midst of this Alec is learning the truth of his heritage.

While good old-fashioned swashbuckling and strong imagery powered the first installment of this series, "Stalking Darkness" focuses more on character. Flewelling builds on the relationships between Alec, Seregil, Nysander and Micum and Beka Cavish. When this story ends, no character is left unchanged. She even makes the despicable Thero seem almost sympathetic.

Another thing I like about this book is Flewelling's willingness to take chances. One in particular will likely make more than a few readers uncomfortable, and from some of the comments I've read, it may even turn some people off the series completely. That's a real shame. Other readers have taken it in stride though, and some even find it refreshing. All I know is that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to dig into "Traitor's Moon."

This series is shaping up as one that's worth checking out.

Review: "Glenraven" by Holly Lisle and Marion Zimmer Bradley

When two women looking for a change in life plan a trip to a small mountain resort in Italy, they get much more than they bargained for.

JayJay Bennington picks up a travel guide to a small principality named Glenraven in her local bookstore. After reading about the charms of the country, and learning that it's only open to tourists for a limited time, she decides on a trip. Her friend Sophie goes along, and together they are pulled into a world very unlike the sleepy North Carolina town they hail from.

The pair learn that the book was a magical artifact sent to their world to bring back heroes, but Sophie and JayJay are far from what they expect.

The most striking thing about this novel is the vividness of the world it's set in. The magical kingdom of Glenraven is brought to life by Bradley and Lisle, a memorable land inhabited by memorable people.

Glenraven is a good read, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Review: "Luck in the Shadows" by Lynn Flewelling

Most readers and writers now are looking for fantasy with something a little different -- fantasy that avoids quite a few of the things that the foundation of the genre is built on.

That's all well and good, but every now and then you just need one of those books with a dashing, roguish hero helping a mysterious magician defeat an absolute evil. That's exactly what Lynn Flewelling delivers in "Luck in the Shadows".

Alec of Kerry is wrongly imprisoned along with our dashing rogue, Seregil, who frees him and begins a grand adventure. Alec, a farmboy, is thrown into worlds he never new existed when he becomes Seregil's partner in crime and society and a Watcher for the wizard Nysander. When Seregil pockets an evil artifact, he enmeshes the pair, along with Nysander and Micum Cavish in someone's sinister plot to awaken an ancient evil. It's up to Nysander and his Watchers to stop that from happening.

I know. Sounds like a pretty basic fantasy plotline, and it is, but it's pulled off masterfully with wonderful language and striking descriptions. Flewelling's eye for detail puts you in the room as Nysander struggles to lift a curse and puts you alongside Alec on his first excursion as a thief.

This book is one that's hard to put down, especially if you're a fan of traditional fantasy.

But it's not only for those who like the more standard approach, either. Just because the novel doesn't "break the mold," doesn't mean there aren't some interesting twists. There are plenty -- but I'm not going to give them away here. You'll just have to read the book.

Review: "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" by Diana Wynne Jones

(Editor's note: This review was written for a previous version of the site back in the late 1990s that featured a writer's page which no longer exists, though perhaps it should.)

I thought for a while about where to put this. I almost think it should go on my writer's page, because fantasy writers could definitely use the information contained in this book. Finally, though I decided to put it on the regular page, because you don't have to be a writer to enjoy this one.

Jones takes a hilarious jaunt through the typical "fantasyland." This tour hits all the major cliches, some I had never even noticed before she pointed them out. After reading her take on them, though, I thought "oh, yeah. That does pop up a lot."

The "tour guide" is arranged alphabetically, in a dictionary fashion, and she hits every cliche from "Adept" (One who has taken what amounts to the Postgraduate Course in Magic) to "Zombies" (...just the undead, except nastier, more pitiable and generally easier to kill.) And there are no shortage of stops in between. Watch out for the official management terms as well. You've seen them before whether you realize it or not. ("reek of wrongness").

This is an entertaining book for fantasy fans who have read one too many cliche, and it borders on being an indispensable reference for writers to avoid those pitfalls. Mainly, though, it's just funny. Check it out.

Review: "Assassin's Quest" by Robin Hobb

This is a series that I hated to see end. It's been a while since a set of books captured my imagination like these three did.

This is the final installment of the story of Fitzchivalry the assassin and company, and it's also the best book in the series. Hobb creates characters that come to life on the page - characters that you know and care about.

I'm a sucker for a good wolf story anyway, but one of my favorite parts of this series is the bond between Nighteyes and Fitzchivalry. It brings needed drama and humor to the series. Hobb also takes an interesting view of dragons - another topic I'm a sucker for. Anytime an author can approach dragons from an angle I haven't seen before, as Hobb does here, I'm interested.

One word of warning to those of you who want an ending where everyone lives happily ever after. You might not want to get too involved in this one. While the ending is not exactly tragic, it's not the typical happy ending - another thing I like about it.

An excellent series. I'm looking forward to reading her new books.

Review: "Royal Assassin" by Robin Hobb

When I picked up Robin Hobb's first book, Assassin's Apprentice, on a suggestion, I was impressed. When I read this one I was astounded.

After foiling Prince Regal's plot to claim the throne, Fitz returns to Buckkeep, where he has to face his enemy on a daily basis. While he fights his own battles, the six duchies are still threatened by raiders, leaving Verity defending the kingdom, King Shrewd ill, and Regal free to plot.

Fitz meets Regal's treachery at every turn, but his ultimate treachery could be the downfall of the six duchies.

Royal Assassin does exactly what the second book of a series should, but unfortunately a lot don't. It builds on the story and the tension, making the reader want more.

The real strength of Hobb's writing is her characters, and she is in fine form in this segment of the trilogy. All of her characters are well-rounded and three-dimensional, and they pull you deeper into the story. They make you feel like you know and care about them.

This book has vaulted the third book in the trilogy, Assassin's Quest, to the top of my reading list.

Review: "Assassin's Apprentice" by Robin Hobb

Lately, I've been trying to collect a list of new authors that I might like to read. Based on other writers I enjoy, one name that kept popping up was Robin Hobb. Deciding to give her a chance, I picked up Hobb's first novel, Assassin's Apprentice. I wasn't disappointed.

Fitz, the bastard son of a prince, is given into the care of the royal house by his grandfather, which sets into a motion a chain of events that makes for a good read. Prince Chivalry relinquishes his claim to the throne in disgrace, and is later assassinated by the ambitious Prince Regal, who, although third in line for the throne, plots to take it for himself. Meanwhile, the kingdom faces a threat from outside its borders as well, as raiders attack relentlessly.

Fitz, meanwhile is given odd jobs around the palace, and is generally reviled by those in the palace. But King Shrewd sees a good use for him, as the king's assassin. His first mission is to elminate the feeble brother of the heir's bride-to-be. But when Fitz arrives, he finds the brother anything, but feeble, and uncovers a plot to overthrow the crown.

This is a promising first book with good characterization and a lot of action. The naming system, whereby royalty is named for a quality they will hopefully have, can get a little tiresome, but that's my only complaint. Overall a very good book. The second book in the series, Royal Assassin, is high in my to-be-read stack.

Review: "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson

This is a true classic of dark fantasy/horror.

Robert Neville is the last man on earth. He finds himself surrounded and accosted by vampires created by a highly contagious bacteria. By day, he hunts and kills the monsters. By night, he boards himself into his house to wait for the rising sun.

Although his existence is frustrating, he survives quite well until a group of "still-living" vampires finds a way to halt the bacteria, and form a new society.

Although this book loses some of its original power, being set in the "distant future" of 1976, it's still a very moving and haunting book. It's dark and gritty, but at the same time, there's a wry humor about the whole situation.

While vampire novels have become a dime a dozen lately, I can't think of very many that compare with this one. It's one that has stood the test of time, and will continue to do so.

Review: "The Immortals" by Tracy Hickman

I've been reading Tracy Hickman's work for a long time now, and this is quite possibly the best thing he's ever written.

In the near future, a cure is found for AIDS, but the cure causes a worse and more lethal disease known as V-CIDS. By 2010 the United States has fallen under martial law, and the disease has run rampant. The government has taken the drastic steps of herding those infected into prison camps to die.

When millionaire Michael Barris sneaks into one of the camps to find his infected son, he finds a much darker side to the camps that he helped create.

This is likely Hickman's best writing and his most meaningful work. It's a very dark novel, and it's even a little scary to think about. Even if you've never liked anything he's done before, you might want to give this one a read.

Review: "The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe

Many consider this work one of the classic science fiction tales, but I have mixed feelings about it.

In a far-flung, post-apocalyptic future, a world that blends elements of our world and ancient worlds exists. Severian was given over to the Order of the Seekers for Truth and Penitence - the torturers - as a young child. After he's captivated by a prisoner and shows mercy, he's exiled from the Order. Armed with the sword Terminus Est, he's sent to an outer region of the kingdom to practice his art. But on the way he gets pulled into adventure.

After hearing several stories about how good it was, and finding the subject matter intriguing I bought the two-volume, four-book set. Overall, I was unimpressed. While the story is quite good, it get's bogged down in a slow writing style. Often the author goes off on these philosophical asides that take the reader completely out of the story. So far, I've only read the first two books, "The Shadow of the Torturer" and "The Claw of the Conciliator", but I put the other two on the backburner.

It's an interesting idea, and an interesting story if you can wade through it. It's not for me, but others may like it.

Review: "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman

This book falls somewhere in between the old Beauty and the Beast television show, and Alice in Wonderland.

Richard Mayhew is an average guy with an average job and a nagging, but beautiful fiancee until he stops to help a girl he finds injured on the street. After that he gradually fades from our world and is forced to try to find his way through London Below to try to get his life back.

Though I felt it started a little slow, by the end of this book I felt that I had been on a wonderful journey. In addition to creating a world full of wonders in London Below - a place for those who have "slipped through the cracks" of London Above, Gaiman also introduces a cast of dynamic and interesting characters that all bring to mind the Lewis Carroll classic. From the flamboyant Marquis de Carabas, to the innocent Door to the insane assassins Croup and Vandemar, every character is just a little too eccentric and overdone, but rather than killing the novel, it actually makes it that much better.

I'm a fan of Gaiman's Sandman comic, and I also enjoyed his collaboration with Terry Pratchett, "Good Omens". This book shows a promising start to a career as a novelist for Gaiman as well. I'll be looking for his next one.