Review: "On Writing" by Stephen King

What aspiring writer could resist a book on the craft from one of the most successful authors in the world?

In Stephen King's "On Writing," (Scribner) readers may get something slightly different from what they bargained for. Instead of offering yet another instructional book on the craft, King has instead chosen to show how his life experiences have shaped his fiction.

The first half of the book is more of a memoir than a how-to-write book. In this, the most intriguing part of the book, we follow King from his childhood in a dysfunctional family, through school and his first novels, to his battle with drugs and alcohol in the early to mid-1980s. With scenes that are sometimes humorous, sometimes touching and often graphic, we get a feel for the person behind the most successful horror novels in the world.

While his story is probably not that different from many other people, if you are familiar with his work, you'll see the traces of it in his early life. When he replays some of the scenes of his childhood or young adulthood, you can see elements from a number of the stories he's written.

One of the most insightful of these stories is about the novel "Misery." Written at the height of his dependence on drugs and alcohol, it turns out the novel is a statement about his condition at the time. Annie Wilkes represents the drugs and alcohol which tortured and imprisoned King, just as Annie did the fictional writer Paul Sheldon in the novel.

Eventually, with the intervention of his wife Tabitha, King would get his act cleaned up - which brings him to the intended purpose of "On Writing."

The middle section of the book is where King gets down to the nitty gritty of the craft. He offers ideas on inspiration, work ethic and a few on editing and grammar. This section, while informative and helpful in a lot of ways, is also the dullest part of the book. With the exception of a few jabs at some of his contemporaries and the occasional humorous anecdote, it's a pretty standard how-to-write manual.

The final section of the book discusses the 1999 accident that almost killed him, his struggle with recovery and the problems he encountered when he first began to write again.

This section provides one of the most poignant moments in the book. King is laying broken at the side of the road. "My lap appears to be sideways, as if my whole lower body has been wrenched to the right," he writes.

Bryan Smith, the man that ran over King, comes down into the ditch and sits cheerily on a stump.

"Please tell me it's just dislocated," King says.

"Nah," Smith replies, still cheery. "It's broken in five, I'd say maybe six places."

"Some weeks later, it occurs to me that I have nearly been killed by a character right out of one of my own novels. It's almost funny," King writes.

Indeed Smith, or at least King's description of him, does resemble some of the characters the author writes about - as do so many other things King reveals in this book.

While "On Writing" is not likely to become a textbook for college creative writing courses, it does provide an entertaining glimpse into King's life and the things that shaped his writing. Which is, I think, what most of his fans will want out of it anyway.

Review: "Faith of the Fallen" by Terry Goodkind

In the world of fantasy fiction, the never-ending "saga" has almost become the norm. If a writer's first book does well, it seems the series will continue until the end of time.

In most cases, these turn into downward-spiraling, longwinded and boring repeats of the same story. Or worse, disjointed collections of scenes that stretch back to the last books and ahead to future books, with no self-contained story in each volume.

I thought Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series was headed down the first route after reading the last outing, "Soul of the Fire" - a good, but far from exceptional novel. To an extent, the sixth book in the series, "Faith of the Fallen" (Tor) follows that trend, but it still manages to entertain.

The book opens with the New World still under threat from the Imperial Order, a seemingly unstoppable force that considers itself to be "bringing light" to the world. The leaders of the New World resistance, Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell and Richard Rahl - the Seeker of Truth and the first war wizard to be born in generations - have gone into seclusion. Richard has taken his wife to his boyhood home in the Westlands, so she can recover from injuries received in an attack at the end of "Soul of the Fire."

They are happy there, but as usual that happiness is short-lived. Kahlan and Richard are soon split again when the Sister of the Dark Nicci binds Kahlan to her and promises Richard that his wife will die if he doesn't join her on a journey to the Old World.

While Richard is held captive by Nicci, Kahlan is again forced to betray Richard for what she considers the greater good. Meanwhile, Richard again is able to win over people that should be his enemies.

In all honesty, Goodkind doesn't cover much new ground with this book. He returns to familiar story lines from "Wizard's First Rule" and "Temple of the Winds," but he does it so incredibly well that the reader doesn't mind. Despite the very similar plot, I kept turning the pages as Goodkind exquisitely tortured his characters, making me believe that this time there was no way Richard and Kahlan would win.

Goodkind offers hints of hope throughout the book, only to snatch them away.

A great victory for Kahlan over the Imperial Order turns into a defeat when scouts spot another quarter of a million reinforcements joining the invading army. A look in Nicci's eyes says that perhaps she's finally getting what Richard's been trying to explain, but in the next passage that excitement is quelled when you realize she has missed the point again.

Nicci herself is an interesting character. Despite the fact that she's seemingly despicable and devoted to evil, the reader actually wants to like her. I hated her for most of the book; but at the same time, I wanted her to finally see the truth and join the "right" side.

Goodkind does tread some new ground in the theme of the book. Whether intentional or not, there are some strong statements about freedom and the value of hard work that offer a satisfying framework for a good story.

The book ends with the threat of the Imperial Order still hanging over the Midlands, and its current position on the best seller list assures we'll see a seventh book in the series.

In a genre that's dominated by writers who tend to stretch stories to much greater lengths than they need or deserve to be, I think Goodkind delivers one of the best punches. Even so, there's a limit to how much longer he can keep this story alive.

Like all such "sagas," Goodkind's series is approaching the point where everyone but the hardcore fans loses interest. Perhaps it's time to wrap up this story and move on to something else.

Realistically, that probably won't happen as long as he's hitting the best seller list with every volume - so I just hope he can infuse a few more books with the magic that kept me turning pages in this one.

Review: "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

To use the vernacular, at the start of the second book in Martin's Song of Ice and Fire Series, all hell is breaking loose. Four different men have proclaimed themselves the rightful king, and everyone is at war with everyone else. To add to the mayhem, the long winter is near and a new threat is forming in the wilds on the other side of the wall.

I seem to be developing a pattern. I dive into the first book of a series and love it, then when the second book gets here, I can't muster as much enthusiasm. I think it likely has to do with the fear of another out-of-control Robert Jordan-style neverending saga. Whatever the reason, this book didn't keep me turning the pages like the first did, but it didn't lose me either.

It's really been too long since I read this to give an in-depth review, so instead I'll just offer a few general thoughts. There's still plenty of action, intrigue and betrayal, and it's a worthy successor to the first novel. I was a little disappointed at the end of "A Game of Thrones" when a lot of things were left hanging. This book was the same, resolving a few things, but leaving much more open for the next volume.

All in all, this was an enjoyable book. The jury's still out on the series as a whole, though. It can go very well or very badly from this point. I'm just hoping there's an end in sight.

Hollywood rarely does justice to favorite stories

There are some movies that just shouldn't be made.


Everyone has that special thing they want to keep just the way it is. For me, it's usually a book. But I suppose it could also be a television show from the past or a classic movie - anything you have special memories of. Whatever the case, Hollywood's vision never seems to equal your personal vision.

Hollywood seems to be picking on my memories lately. Most notably, filming has begun on the first installment of my all-time favorite, J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." I've watched the developments on the Internet with mingled interest and reluctance. So far, it looks promising. Director Peter Jackson has sworn to stick close to the original, but already he's deviated from it in a couple of ways. Such is the way in Hollywood.

The job of producers and directors is to put people in theater seats. In the process, they generally weaken good stories with cheap sensationalism. For some perfect examples, let's take a look at some of the movies derived - and I use the term very loosely - from the works of my other favorite author, Edgar Allan Poe.

I don't recall ever seeing a film based on Poe's work that stuck closely to the original. As much as I like Vincent Price, his Poe films are the key offenders.

Poe's tale of a prisoner of the Inquisition wasn't good enough for a screenplay of "The Pit and the Pendulum." Instead, Hollywood had to turn it into the story of a jealous husband seeking revenge on his adulterous wife and her lover. Where did that come from? And how about "The Masque of the Red Death?" It's an already eerie tale that could have been transformed into a wonderful film. Instead, some genius decided it would be that much better if he injected some satanism into it. Huh?

But the Price films aren't the only ones to butcher Poe. I won't even get started on the Hollywood version of "Morella," which bordered on pornography. I honestly can't remember any sex scenes in the Poe story.

Recently there have been remakes of Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" and Washington Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" that had very little to do with the originals. I enjoyed "Sleepy Hollow," but I've read Irving's story at least a half-dozen times and don't remember most of the things that happened in the movie.

At least in those films you can see a resemblance to the original. Sometimes really strange things happen in Hollywood. A few years ago, there was a movie called "The Lawnmower Man," which bore absolutely no resemblance to the Stephen King tale of the same name. That didn't stop them from plastering his name all over it - at least until he sued them.

All that being said, I took a stroll down memory lane on the silver screen over the weekend that surprised me a little.

Up until a few years ago, I was an avid comic collector. While my collection is not nearly as impressive as some others I've seen, it's certainly not one to snort at, either. If you delve into the boxes, I'd guess that 65-70 percent of those comics are "X-Men" or "X-Men"-related titles.

Given my past experience with Hollywood, it's understandable that I was a little apprehensive when I settled into the seat to see my favorite comic brought to life.

I'd heard very good reviews of the film from other comics fans, but my expectations were colored by memories of past comic flops. Too often movie versions of comics appeal only to readers of comics. Or if they try to broaden their audience, they end up ruining things for the comic fans and appealing to neither audience.

"X-Men" managed to strike a balance that few other comic movies have attained. While there were plenty of in-jokes and allusions for the comic fans, a viewer doesn't need prior knowledge of the comic to enjoy the movie.

As far as Hollywood's vision of my favorite band of crime fighters goes, I was pleasantly surprised. I knew Patrick Stewart would make a fantastic Professor X. There was really no one else for the role. And I was fairly certain that Sir Ian McKellan would be great as the X-Men's archrival Magneto. But the real surprise of the movie for me was a newcomer in the role of my favorite quick-healing, razor-clawed, bad attitude Canuck.

When unknown Hugh Jackman was announced as Wolverine, my initial reaction was "who?" Much to my surprise, Jackman was really able to capture the essence of the character that I've come to know so well over the years. I was impressed.

Likewise, wrestler-turned-actor Tyler Mane was perfect as his old nemesis Sabretooth. In fact, most of the characters were cast well.

The script itself was written to resemble a comic book plot. First the characters are introduced, followed by a lot of action. At the end, most things are resolved, but there's still plenty of fuel for the next issue, or in this case, the sequel.

The effects also gave the movie the feel of the comic. One particular scene sticks out in my mind. Near the end, Storm rises from an elevator shaft, lifted by the winds, with lightning burning in her eyes and gathering around her. In that moment, I wasn't in the theater anymore. I was inside the comic, and Halle Berry had become Storm.

Of course, there were the typical disappointments that go along with movie versions, but they were relatively minor. One was the decision to meld the characters of Rogue and Jubilee into the Rogue of the movie. I missed the fiery-haired, fiery-tempered Southern belle of the comic. I also missed her banter with another of my favorite characters, the Cajun X-Man Gambit.

On the other hand, I can likely look forward to seeing Gambit, Psylocke, Beast, Nightcrawler and other favorites in the sequels. If they are as well-made as this one, I hope the franchise lasts quite a while.

For now, "X-Men" gives me some hope for the upcoming "Lord of the Rings" movies. It proved to me that Hollywood can occasionally get it right. Well, almost.

Review: "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K. Rowling

After an eventful trip to the Quidditch World Cup, Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts for their fourth year. When they arrive they're disappointed to hear that the schools annual Quidditch tournament won't be held this year -- until they find out there's something more exciting on the way. For the first time in over a century, the two other magic schools will come to Hogwarts for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. But when Harry's name somehow comes out of the Goblet of Fire as a fourth champion, things take an interesting turn.

Never in my life have I pre-ordered a book -- until this one. Having read the first three in a frenzy, I eagerly anticipated this fourth book. While I wasn't disappointed, this is certainly not the best of the four either.

At 734 pages, this is a hefty book -- especially when you consider its intended audience. And it had all the earmarks of a rushed production schedule. It was riddled with minor errors that should have been caught. Most people can overlook those, but they just take me out of it. The book could have also used some tighter editing.

The biggest disappointment for me, though, was the death of a key character (I won't spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it.) For a writer who has excelled at getting me emotionally involved in the previous three books, she didn't put much impact into the death of this character. It was more like "oh, he died, let's move along."

Don't get the wrong idea, though. While I do have some nitpicks with this book, I still enjoyed it. Even though I'm a journalist myself, I thought the corrupt journalist Rita Skeeter was a nice touch, and it makes a point that we of that profession should keep in mind. Rowling broadened the scope of her world by introducing a pair of rival wizarding schools that bring a great number of possibilities to future books. She also left a little tension at the end. With Voldemort back in the world, Harry is still dangling in the line of danger.

Don't let the fact that this one is not quite as good as the first three steer you away from it. This volume moves at a more leisurely pace, but if you liked the first three, you'll probably enjoy it. Let's just hope Rowling and her publishers take a little more time with the fifth volume.

Review: "Dragons of a Fallen Sun" by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The Chaos war has been over for 40 years. The gods have abandoned Krynn. The old magic left with the gods, the new magic is fading. Great dragons hold most of Ansalon in their tyrannical grip. This is the state of Krynn when the kender Tasslehoff Burfoot, thought killed in the Chaos War, reappears using a time travel device that he was given by Fizban.

But something else has also arrived in the world of Krynn. A young healer named Mina, who quickly wins an army and leads it to battle in the name of the one God.

After a five-year absence, the originators of the Dragonlance series return to the world of Krynn. Can they breathe life into the shell of what's left of Dragonlance? That remains to be seen, but this book is a good start. My eye hadn't wandered toward the Dragonlance rack in years when "Dragons of Summer Flame" hit the shelves in 1995. That drew me back, but the fascination was short-lived. Then, in 1998, Margaret Weis' "The Soulforge," the first book of a new Raistlin trilogy, pulled me back in. This book manages to keep me interested enough to be looking forward to the next installment.

We lose another old friend in this book, but we gain some new ones. Despite the slightly contrived appearance of Tasslehoff, the rest of the book is intriguing. Mina and her mysterious God get my curiosity up, and Palin's fall from grace is also quite interesting. At times, he reminds me very much of his uncle.

The only problem I see with this book is the same thing that bugs me about Weis' Raistlin trilogy -- it could have used some tighter editing. We're assaulted by pages of backstory that isn't really necessary to enjoy the novel. Those who have read the previous novels already know this, and those that haven't don't really need it. More annoying than that are times like the one when we first arrive in Sanction. Weis and Hickman provide a detailed history of what has happened there in recent years. The facts the reader needed to know could have been given quicker and kept the story moving forward.

Despite these few bogs along the way, the book was more satisfying than I expected it to be. Who knows? Perhaps the return of Weis and Hickman is just what the Dragonlance world needs. I know I'll be watching with interest.

Review: "The Fifth Elephant" by Terry Pratchett

The dwarves are about to choose a new Low King, and Lord Vetinari needs to send a diplomatic envoy for this very delicate occasion. Who does he choose? Sam Vimes, of course. Likely the most undiplomatic member of the city watch (with the exception of Detritus, of course.)

So with his lady wife, a monstrous troll (Detritus), an assassin with the mannerisms of Billy Bob Thornton's character from "Slingblade" and a dwarf who wants to show her feminine side in tow, Vimes dons a pair of ruby red dress tights and crosses the countryside. Of course, where Vimes goes, crime is usually close behind.

Just when I was beginning to doubt that Pratchett would ever make me roll with laughter again, he unleashes "The Fifth Elephant." After a number of mediocre works, it's nice to have a truly funny book from Pratchett again.

After the disappointment of "Jingo," the last city watch novel, Pratchett returns to Vimes and Co. with a vengeance. Behind the primary plotline of Vimes' diplomatic mission is another with Carrot and Gaspode the talking dog chasing the werewolf Angua on Vimes' heels. Not to mention the havoc that Fred Colon, having been left in charge of the watch in Vimes' absence, is wreaking in Ankh-Morpork. It all comes together into one of the best books Pratchett has given us in years.

Still even as good as this book is, it doesn't match up with his early Discworld novels. I have to wonder if maybe it's not time to find some other characters to focus on. I've noticed that when Pratchett picks a character, whether it be Rincewind, Death, the witches or the city watch, the first few books he does about them are fantastic, then they begin to taper off. I think the introduction of some new elements into "The Fifth Elephant" is really what brought the spark back.

That thought aside, there's not much negative I can say about this book. The only thing I didn't like about it was the horrid hot pink and turquoise cover that American publisher HarperPrism put on it. Why they have to change the covers from the UK version I don't know. But if they absolutely have to, why hot pink and turquoise? Yick.

If you're new to the Discworld, I still recommend you check out the earlier novels first. But, if you're like me and have had a waning interest in Pratchett's novels, give this one a shot. You won't be disappointed.

Review: "Sailing to Sarantium" by Guy Gavriel Kay

People had long recommended that I check out Guy Gavriel Kay by the time I got around to picking up "Tigana." I was sorry I'd waited so long. That's why I snapped up "Sailing to Sarantium" as soon as I saw it on the shelf. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for Kay has now waned.

When the mosaicist Martinian gets an imperial summons to Sarantium, the most magnificent city in the world, he asks his assistant Crispin to go in his place. The reluctant traveler will face a number of perils, including a god, on the road. But that's nothing compared to the things he faces when he reaches the city.

I almost put this book aside after I was 50 pages into it and hadn't even reached the first chapter. You heard me correctly - 50 pages of prologue. Of course the essential information could have been condensed into less than 10. Kay follows that with a lengthy introduction of a courier, who then disappears from the story. True, he returns to play a role at the end, but he certainly doesn't deserve the intro he gets.

By about page 150, I was thoroughly disgusted. Then, Kay finally starts the story. Trim the first third of the book to a couple of chapters, and you've got a decent novel. In it's current form, though, the whole book seems like a setup for something. The problem is that Kay never gives the reader the payoff.

There is some remarkable imagery in the novel, and again, I find his historical approach fascinating. But those things weren't enough to salvage a story that never really got going.

For me, this book was terribly disappointing. I've heard some hardcore Kay fans say they like it, but I just didn't get it.

Review: "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

The town of Wall stands at the edge of Faerie, and no one ventures past the wall of the city, except during a festival that happens only occasionally. Tristran Thorn is different, though. He's in love with a village girl named Victoria Forester. One night they see a falling star and he vows to bring it to her. Tristran steps through the gap in the wall and into an adventure complete with ghosts, unicorns, witches and, oh yes, a fallen star.

I read this immediately after Orson Scott Card's "Enchantment," so I got my dose of fairy tale fare. Luckily I enjoyed both of them greatly.

Gaiman's "Stardust" is a rousing tale of adventure that takes everything I liked about his first solo novel, "Neverwhere," and improves on it.

This story features likeable characters and an interesting enough story, but what really makes it special is the way it captures the fairy tale atmosphere. The characters and settings are exaggerated and over-the-top just like the classic fairy tales, but at the same time Gaiman manages to avoid being cliched and silly.

After reading "Neverwhere," I was convinced Gaiman was going to do big things in the fantasy genre. "Stardust" only reinforces that belief. Whether you're a fan of Gaiman's comic work, or whether you've never heard his name, this is a book you shouldn't miss.

Review: "Hogfather" by Terry Pratchett

It's too bad that I couldn't get this review up before Christmas, or Hogswatch to Discworld fans. It's the kind of book that can help put you in a lighter mood during the holiday season, but I think you can enjoy it just as much after the holidays are over.

Everyone who's familiar with the Discworld is familiar with its anthropomorphic personifications, particularly its most (or least) popular one - Death. In this novel, the Hogfather has gone missing, and if Death doesn't fill in, delivering gifts to children all over the world, "the sun will not rise".

Throw in Death's granddaughter, Susan, the Oh God of Hangovers, the Cheerful Fairy, and an assassin named Mr. Teatime (that's Teah-tim-eh), who has been hired by a group known as the Auditors to kill the Hogfather, and you have a wickedly funny tale as only Pratchett can tell it.

I have to say that I've been a little disappointed with some of Pratchett's more recent efforts, compared with his early works, but this book had me in tears I laughed so hard. It's not his best, but it's definitely a worthy addition to the Discworld collection.

It's truly a shame that us fans in the US have to wait so long for Pratchett's books. This volume has been out in Europe for quite some time. Fortunately, though, he continues to make them worth the wait.

Review: "Heir to the Shadows" by Anne Bishop

I read the first book in this series, "Daughter of the Blood," back in 1998, and it was one of my favorite books of that year. This book continues the story well and is an enjoyable read, but in my opinion it just doesn't stack up with the first one.

The problems with this book are not overwhelming. The main thing is that Bishop seems to have tried to cover too much ground too quickly. Despite its 482 pages, it seemed to me that I sprinted through the entire book, never taking any time to admire the story.

There were several moments in the book that I felt could have made for some fantastic drama. If I had to put my finger on one thing this book was short on, it was tension. Bishop seems to be tightly focused on the plot to the detriment of other areas of the story. Whenever a scene came along that could have been tense and edgy, she seemed to glaze over it to get to the next step in the plot.

Review: "Tigana" by Guy Gavriel Kay

"One man sees a riselka,
his life forks there.
Two men see a riselka,
one of them shall die.
Three men see a riselka,
one is blessed, one forks, one shall die."

I found the most striking thing about this book to be, not the richly textured setting, or the intricate plotting, or the superb writing, but instead the simple ending that seemed to open up a whole new vista to be explored.

Guy Gavriel Kay, and this book in particular, have been highly recommended to me by many people for quite some time now. After reading Tigana, I wish I had listened to those people sooner.

This is a remarkable epic of a people whose name has been stripped from them. A conquering sorcerer stripped the name from the land after his son was killed in the province, and now only natives of the province and wizards can hear the name - Tigana. But a group of the people, led by the rightful prince of Tigana, is about to set in motion a chain of events that could bring the name back to the world - or doom it to be lost forever. In the process, they have to throw off the yoke of another conquering sorcerer to free the land.

This book reminded me greatly of Tolkien's sense of epic adventure. Not to say it was a knock-off of Tolkien, quite the contrary. It simply reminded me of his work through the richness of the world and the cultures that Kay presents - the grandeur, if you will. His world, as well as his story, is brilliantly imagined and flawlessly carried out.

This is not a book to be entered into lightly, though, if you don't have a lot of time to read. The chapters are very long, and its hard to find a good place to put it down. It will keep you up past your bedtime for a couple of nights.

Kay is a writer that I'm going to have to spend more time with in the future.

Review: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling

It's the third year at Hogwarts, but before school starts a prisoner named Sirius Black breaks out of Azkaban prison. Black was convicted of killing 13 people and linked to Voldemort. Now, he's after Harry.

A series of books has rarely captured my attention like this one has. After originally putting Harry Potter down as a passing fad, I'm now an addict.

Once again, Rowling has given us a delightful story with all the twists and turns of the first two. Snape and the Malfoys are particularly malicious in this volume and the new defense against the dark arts teacher, Professor Lupin, is quite a likeable sort for a change. Then there are the Dementors, foul things whose kiss means death.

I continue to be impressed with the way Rowling makes me root for Harry and his friends to win out. She also has a way of making you suspect everyone of being a "bad guy" in disguise. It makes for a wonderful read.

Another winner for Rowling.

Review: "Dawnflight" by Kim Headlee

I’ve always been a fan of the Arthurian legends, and I thought I’d seen them approached in just about every possible way -- That is, until I read Kim Headlee’s "Dawnflight - The Legend of Guinevere."

Headlee takes the legendary characters Arthur, Guinevere, and Merlin, among others, and transforms them into believable historic figures. This book tells the story as it actually could have happened -- not behind the shining, pristine walls of mythical Camelot, but in our own world.

At its heart, "Dawnflight" is a love story, but don’t let that scare you away. This is no sappy, sentimental romance -- quite the opposite. It is actually a gritty tale of war and conquest, and not all of it is between nations.

Gyanhumara is a Pictish cheiftaness who is bound by a treaty to marry a Brytoni lord and ally her conquered tribe to the Roman Empire. She chooses Urien map Dumarec, one of her people’s worst enemies, in hopes of bringing peace. She soon regrets her choice. Some of her misgivings are due to Urien’s nature, but most are because she loves another man. She loves a man she once thought she hated above all others -- the conqueror of her people -- Arthur the Pendragon. That love could mean a civil war between Arthur and his arch-rival, yet unsteady ally, Urien.

Headlee says in the notes following the book that she feels Guinevere has gotten a "bad rap" in other tellings of the tale. Headlee intended to represent Guinevere a woman of "true power," and she has indeed succeeded. Chieftaness Gyanhumara is not a simpering lady of the court, nor a traitorous schemer as Guinevere has been portrayed in other versions. Instead she is a warrior-queen, as strong in will as in body.

She refuses to be subjugated by Urien, who obviously feels that no woman is even close to the equal of a man. Despite her revulsion, though, she still fully intends to honor her agreement to marry him. Her sense of duty to her people won’t allow her to do otherwise.

The events that follow -- as Arthur and Gyanhumara attempt to come together, despite seemingly the whole world being against them -- puts a whole new face on the classic tale of betrayal that leads ultimately to Arthur’s downfall in other adaptations. Definitely food for thought for any fan of the Arthurian legends. This isn’t just another re-telling of those same stories. "Dawnflight" will make you re-think all the tales of Guinevere and Arthur you’ve ever read.

As for the writing itself -- it is superb. Headlee makes you care about her characters, and forget the countless other stories you’ve read about the same characters. She also has a knack for keeping the reader up past bedtime. The first night, I was able to put the book down, but once the action really started, it became tougher. Headlee has a talent for ending every chapter on a note that makes you say "just one more chapter before bed." Then, before you know it, it’s 4 a.m. and you’re beginning the final chapter.

On a personal note, this book came along at just the right time for me. When I started it, I was at a point where I didn’t think fantasy could excite me anymore. Then, I picked it up. It has been quite a while since I devoured a novel the way I went through this one, and even now, I’m planning on giving it a second reading very soon.

In these days when every fantasy has to be at least a trilogy or more likely a watered-down drawn out saga, it’s rare that I look forward to another series of books. In this case, I think “Dawnflight” is just the tip of Excalibur, and there’s a lot more to the tale. I look forward to hearing it, and I hope Kim Headlee will stay with them until they’re done.

Review: "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling

Harry and his friends are back at Hogwarts for their second year. Mysterious voices begin talking to Harry and accidents start befalling some of the students at the school. Harry and his friends turn their eyes on the usual suspects -- Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape. Most of the school on the other hand, suspects Harry -- especially when they learn he can speak Parseltongue, the language of serpents.

After being pleasantly surprised by the first book in this series, I dove right into this volume. Again, I wasn't disappointed. I went cover-to-cover in one sitting and was glad I already had the third book in the series when I finished.

The strength of this book is basically the same as the first -- it's just a great story. It's easy to like Harry and his friends and hope everything turns out all right for them.

Rowling does a great job of putting Harry in exceptionally difficult situations and then brings him out in a fantastic, yet believable way.

Again, though, check your adulthood at the door. If you sit down to these books with the outlook of an adult, you won't enjoy them as much as if you can tap into that kid that's deep down in you.

These are outstanding books. I highly recommend them.

Review: "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

I was a little reluctant to pick this book up at first. It was a "children's" book that was wildly popular, and I was having visions of Pokemon, Power Rangers and countless other "wildly popular" children's fads.

Then came a new wrinkle. People began to protest the content of the book, and that convinced me to buy this book just to see what the big deal was. I would like to offer those who protested the books a sincere thanks from the bottom of my heart. Without them, I probably never would have discovered the world of a student wizard named Harry Potter.

It's been a very long time since I've been as excited about a series of books as I am about these "children's" books. I know a lot of naysayers will scoff, just like I did at first, but these are quite simply wonderful books. Rowling is able to do something with these books that far too many "adult" writers can't do. She was able to keep me on the edge of my seat and keep me turning page after page. She builds sympathy and a reader connection with Harry Potter in the first chapter and it only gets deeper through the book and the next two that follow.

You will, however, need one thing to enjoy these books - a childlike sense of wonder. I've always prided myself on being able to tap into that, but if you're stern and serious, you likely won't enjoy this series. Hence, we have people protesting it instead of being happy that their children are reading.

About the protests, all I can say is it's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I didn't find a great deal of violence, and the violence that did occur was mostly "off-screen." As far as the "serious tone of disrespect" goes, the only disrespect I saw was the Dursley's disrespect of Harry. I have a theory about these protesters - I think they saw a little too much of themselves in the Dursleys, and they didn't like what they saw.

Review: "Millennium Rising" by Jane Jensen

With the Millennium upon us, everyone seems ready to cash in on the uncertainty looming ahead. Books and movies have already started hitting the market, and I’m sure there will be a deluge of apocalyptic material in the coming months.

Looking around the world, some people are storing food and water and preparing for nothing short of Armageddon. Others think there will be only a few minor problems with computer systems that are a little behind the times, and life won’t change that much. I tend to fall in the second category, so I’ve avoided most of the hype.

That being the case, there was just something about the description of Jane Jensen’s "Millennium Rising" on the Del Rey Web site that made me send off that e-mail to be a reader-reviewer. One powerful paragraph: "Sacred texts around the world warn of the terrifying signs and wonders that will foretell the end of the world. For thousands of years, the prophets have always proved false. Until now..."

Jensen handles the subject of Armageddon well, tying the Book of Revelation and the prophecies of Nostradamus and a handful of other prophets, all into a neat and tidy conspiracy worthy of the greatest paranoid in the world.

The book begins with a Catholic priest, Father Michele Deauchez, and a reporter for the New York Times, Simon Hill, witnessing what appear to be miracles in the small village of Santa Pelagia, Mexico. Shortly after the event, those that were there begin to step forward and proclaim themselves prophets of God. They begin to prophesy Armageddon, and when their prophecies begin to come true, followers flock to them. Deauchez has other ideas about the "miracles," though, and pretty soon, so does Hill as they set out to find the truth.

I have to say I was a little disappointed when I figured out what was going on early in the book. I was afraid that letting the reader in on the truth so early would take a little of the drama and suspense out of the later parts of the novel. Happily, I was mistaken as the latter half of the book pulled me into the story.

Initially, I had a little trouble swallowing this massive conspiracy theory, but by the end it was seeming more and more plausible.

In fact, the only problem I really had with the book was that it seemed to end too soon with too many unanswered questions. Deauchez, Hill and the prophets Lamba Rinpoche and Will Cougar are left in a very precarious position, and the world is still in chaos. I think the aftermath of the events in this book is a story worth telling as well. Perhaps we’ll see another volume in the future.

As for this book, the reader may have to put aside a few misgivings and accept a few things that are hard to swallow in the early-going, but that patience will be rewarded in the latter half of the book. It’s a good read, especially if you have an interest in prophecy, the coming millennium or conspiracy theories.

Review: "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson

Ahh, now here's a horror classic.

It's been years since I first read this book, but I was inspired to pick it up again after seeing the recent Hollywood butchery of it.

Unlike Hollywood's version which relied on a huge special effects budget and a storyline that at times had nothing to do with the actual book, the terror in "The Haunting of Hill House," doesn't really come from the ghosts of the house. Instead, Jackson does a great job of building a sense of foreboding through the first half of the book, then she jumps into the tortured mind of Eleanor for the grand finale.

Jackson does a much better job than Hollywood of creating a sense of unease. But what else is new? We all know there's no such thing as a movie adaptation that's faithful to the novel, and most of us have come to expect movies of our favorite books to be bad.

I think another imporant thing to mention is the house itself. Jackson's Hill House is not the lavish, gorgeous mansion of the movie. Instead, it's a more fitting place for the story -- an ugly place with wrong angles and austere furnishings.

If you've never read "The Haunting of Hill House," you need to. I'd have to say that it's one of the defining novels of early horror. If you're expecting a print version of the movie, you'll be sadly disappointed. But, by the same token, if you were disappointed with the film, don't let that turn you off of the book. It's worth the read.

Review: "Elminster in Myth Drannor" by Ed Greenwood

Occasionally, a character or writer I particularly liked during my "shared world" days will draw me back into those books. Such is the case with this one.

This is the second book in what appears to be a series by Ed Greenwood on the life of the mage Elminster. I enjoyed the first book "Elminster: The Making of a Mage", several years ago when it first came out, but this one didn't live up to that promise.

In this book Elminster journeys to the land of the elves, where, being human, he runs into the expected problems as he learns their ways and their magic. The book is entertaining enough, but a bit mediocre. It's not particularly good and not particularly bad, just kind of hanging in limbo.

One of the reasons is that, instead of simply telling the story, Greenwood tries to make the story fit with the rules of AD&D. That just doesn't work. Several times during the story, there were terms and references to the game that seemed out of place, and they took me out of the story itself. I find Elminster a fascinating character, as well as some of the elves he encounters. I think this could have been a much richer book if he had thrown the AD&D manual out the window.

This is good for a quick read when you don't really have time to concentrate on a book, and I'm sure fans of Elminster and Greenwood will love it as well. As I said before, it wasn't that bad, it just wasn't that good either.

Review: "Prince of Dogs" by Kate Elliott

The first book of this series, "King's Dragon", was one of the best books I read last year. It was a wonderful start to a promising series.

Prince of Dogs continues that series and does it well, though perhaps not as well as the first book. This book follows Liath, Alain, Sanglant, Fifth Son and all of the characters you came to care about in the first novel as the war with the Eika and the strife within King Henry's own realm continue.

While the backdrops are interesting, they're relatively minor compared to the strife in the lives of each of the characters. Elliot is a master at torturing her characters, which is something I really admire in an author. A writer that can wrench my gut, as Elliot did by throwing Liath back into the clutches of Hugh, is a writer that can keep me reading.

It's not all great, though. At times this book could have benefitted from some editing. This doorstop probably could have been trimmed down to 400-500 pages just by removing padding. At several points during the book, long passages from histories are read, long tales are told by bards, and long philosophical discussions are held. These show the work Elliot has done in crafting her world, which is great, but none of these have any real bearing on the story. Instead, they bogged it down. I have to admit to skimming over most of them after a while and getting on to the story again.

Despite that, this book is still an excellent read. I'm looking forward to the next volume from Elliot.

Review: "Jingo" by Terry Pratchett

On my list of favorite authors Terry Pratchett ranks high. In fact, I'd say he's not far behind Poe and Tolkien.

That said, I've been a little disappointed in his last two offerings, Maskerade, and now Jingo. While both were very good books, neither has really lived up to my expectations from Pratchett.

In Jingo, a new island rises out of the sea, and both Ankh-Morpork and Al-Khali claim it. War threatens and chaos erupts from all sides. A good story, but I think perhaps the story gets lost occasionally in a more slapstick type of comedy than Pratchett's older work.

That's not to say it wasn't funny. There were moments that had me rolling on the floor. But it's just missing something that his earlier books had.

But, at the end of the day Pterry is still, in my opinion, the funniest writer in the business. I just wish it didn't take so long for us to get his books here in the states.

Review: "Path of Daggers" by Robert Jordan

While I absolutely loved the first few books in this series, it's getting a little tiresome for me. This is a great book, and I do like Jordan's writing style, but the length of the series is beginning to drag it down.

For one thing, I read the first book of The Wheel of Time seven or eight years ago, and it's been over two years since I read the last book. Not to mention that they seem to be getting farther and farther apart. There's just so much that I've forgotten from the earlier books, and with Jordan's work, you tend to miss a lot of things if you don't remember the details. There are a lot of people and events in this book that I know I'm supposed to be familiar with, but I just can't seem to place. While I'm sure some people have time to read all of them again every time a new addition comes out, I don't.

The second thing, is that I think the last few books have been stretched a little thin as he tries to pad it to an apparent 12 or 13 book saga. I just feel there's a lot of unnecessary scenes, with very little bearing on the story as a whole.

Finally, with all the sub-plots knotted in this tale, Jordan can only spend scant time on each one in each book. The quick treatment of each sub-plot makes this book seem disjointed, and it left me feeling just a little cheated.

I was glad to see Perrin Aybara return in this book, however. He has been one of my favorite characters from the beginning, and he was all but ignored in the last book. Of course, in this book, Matrim Cauthon is largely ignored - another problem with the convoluted knots Jordan has tied.

I know that after reading this review, a lot of people will think I'm bashing Jordan, and a lot of people will think I don't like his work. That's simply not true. I highly recommend this series, but I don't recommend that you begin it until he finally finishes it. I think it's something you can only appreciate when read all at once, not at yearly (or longer) intervals.

Review: "Diplomacy of Wolves" by Holly Lisle

It's been a while since I checked in with Holly Lisle, but she seems to be doing well. She's got a new world, a new publisher, a new series and even a slightly new approach.

The world is Matrin, and it has been ravaged by sorcery. Magic is now punishable by a gruesome death, but it still thrives in secret. In the depths of their massive keeps, royal families keep bands of Wolves -- magic-users constantly working to improve their house's power and standing.

Kait Galweigh is a diplomat who uncovers a plot against her house, but is unable to stop it. Now, she's on the run and hiding a secret. She possesses a power that means her death if it's discovered, and the time is coming when she must use that power.

I must say, this is probably Lisle's best book to date. It begins as a story of court intrigue and transforms into high adventure. More importantly, it's fun all the way through.

The world of Matrin is well-developed and a little different from the typical fantasy world, featuring some advances not seen in the typical medieval setting. The magic itself is also quite fascinating. The practitioners of the art endure horrific transformations in exchange for the power they wield.

Anyone who is a fan of Lisle's previous works, can certainly see the transformation in her writing. "Diplomacy of Wolves" is more tightly plotted and well-planned than any of her previous works. It's fast-paced, but with a bit of substance as well.

The downside? She falls into one of the biggest traps of fantasy. Lisle interests the reader in the characters and gets him engrossed in the story, then resolves absolutely nothing in the end. The reader is left hanging, and for me, that ruined an otherwise pleasurable read. I maintain that, even in a series, every book should have a conclusion that at least partially satisfies the reader. Had she done that, this would have been an outstanding offering.

It's still a good read and a very solid opening to the series. I highly recommend it -- but I wouldn't start reading it until the others are out.

Review: "Pandora" by Anne Rice

Let me start by saying I love Anne Rice. I was a fan of the witch books, several of her stand-alone novels, and I've greatly enjoyed all the vampire books - until this one.

This book begins with 35 pages of Rice showing us what flowery, beautiful prose she can write. Quite frankly, I don't care. When I read I want a good story. To me, that's the bottom line. But in this book Rice makes the reader wade through 35 pages of purple (or at the very least deep violet) prose that has no real bearing whatsoever on the story. By the time I trudged through this, I was so completely bored with the book, that I'm not sure I can give the rest of it a fair review.

Then when you get to the story itself, it's full of exposition, and written more like a personal note than like a story. It's distracting and aggravating to try to read. This personal memoir style has worked for her on several occasions in the past, but in this one it falls flat.

Perhaps it's time to try a new direction. Only hardcore Anne Rice fans need to bother with this one.

I've been a fan of Rice's for a while now, and I was really looking forward to her newest effort "The Vampire Armand". After reading Pandora, though, I think I'll wait for it in paperback.

Review: "The Last Continent" by Terry Pratchett

I'm not sure if perhaps I'm getting a little bored with Pratchett, or if it was the malaise I was in when I was trying to read this book, but whatever the reason, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I usually enjoy Pratchett.

I'd been anticipating the return of Rincewind, one of my favorites, for a long time, and maybe I was expecting a little too much.

In this volume, Rincewind finds himself stranded on a continent much like our own Australia (Despite Pratchett's protests to the contrary, it is based on the land down under). It's pretty much a standard "goofy character dealing with strange people and customs" story after that.

Sure, I had a chuckle here and there, but for the most part, the humor in this book seemed a little silly. I know, I know, Terry Pratchett has always been a little silly, but in a good way. This book is silly in a Jerry Lewis kind of way, and that's not so good.

I'm ready for Pratchett to write something that makes me laugh like "Guards, Guards" or "Reaper Man" or "Sourcery" or countless others, but with the exception of the holiday novel "Hogfather," which I loved, his recent efforts have been pretty disappointing. Overall, I think this is probably the weakest volume of the Discworld series so far. Hardcore fans will love it, but those with only a passing interest in Pratchett should probably pick up one of his older books instead.

Review: "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King

I have a love/hate relationship with Stephen King. Either I really like his work, or I really hate it. While I count books like It, The Stand and the Dark Tower series among some of my favorites, others like Cujo and Christine hold no interest at all for me.

Bag of Bones thankfully falls into the former category. It's a bit of a new direction for King. While it's a dark piece with plenty of ghosts, the supernatural element really doesn't take center stage until the very end of the book. Until that point it's basically the story of a writer trying to find himself after his wife's death, and his attempt to help a young girl and her child.

Instead of harrassing his characters with the supernatural around every corner, King shows us that the ghosts are not always the real monsters.

I would have to rate this book among King's most well-written, and it has renewed my interest in him after a few groaners like Gerald's Game.

Even if you've been turned off of King in recent years, I think this one might be worth checking out.

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.