So behind...

[icepixie]

Whoa. I have apparently been completely out of touch with the publishing industry. LMB released the sequel to The Curse of Chalion in September, and I just found out about it a week ago. (Of course, I wouldn't have been able to read it until I got home and could get it from the library, 'cause I don't buy hardbacks unless I absolutely have to read the book RIGHT NOW, but still. And yes, I did request it last week. ;))

Since the last time I noticed, Katharine Kerr has released not one, but two more books in her Deverry series. And apparently instead of ending with Book 12 (the newest), she's going on to book 14. Egads. Someone's starting to head off into Robert Jordan territory here. (For those who haven't read these books, they're sort of like Middle Earth with girls and lots of politics. And dragons. And much, much more magic. And flashbacks. And reincarnation, which means she can kill off main characters with impunity 'cause the current storyline becomes one of the past storylines she flashes back to. Okay, it's only like LOTR in that there's a whole bunch of characters, a seriously intricate world, a kind of language element, elves, and suitably dwarf and orc-like characters, IIRC. No equivalent to hobbits, though, I don't think.)

Um, yeah. Enough of my babble. Enough to say that I need to hie myself to a bookstore.

Comments

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I've read some of the Deverry books, but I tend to get confused between her and Katherine Kurtz. Now Katherine Kerr is the one that wrote the books about Prince someone or other, who has something or other blood in his lineage, and that allows him to perform magic? Am I right? Or is that Katherine Kurtz. See my problem? It's also that she took forever to come out with the next book, so I got bored waiting.

And speaking of going off into Robert Jordan territory, I gave up that series books ago as it was 800 pages of what you could take 100 to write, have you read anything by George R. R. Martin? He was originally writing a trilogy, but he's just released the fourth book. Suffice to say that if you like complicated plots, intricate worlds, and both male and female characters, they're definitely worth checking out. The first book is A Game of Thrones, the second is A Clash of Kings, the third is A Storm of Swords, and the book soon to be released is A Feast for Crows. I've only read the first two, but am definitely interested in the third. They're also good long books, reminiscent of LOTR in that respect as well!

[icepixie]

I tried to read something by Katherine Kurtz once...I don't remember what it was called, but I know both of their series have been compared to each other. And yeah, Katharine Kerr takes forever to put out new books, it seems...although it's really something like every two years, I think. Still kind of long. But of course, the books are long...

I've never read any Robert Jordan. I took one look at the Wheel of Time series several years ago and decided that I didn't have nearly the attention span enough to read the, especially at age twelve or whenever it was I first saw them. That was around the time I started reading Kerr's stuff, too, I think.

I've heard really good things about George R. R. Martin. Really good things. From several people. I just haven't gotten around to checking him out. Maybe I'll save that for spring break--I think I have half the books in the library out at the moment. ;)

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I took one look at the Wheel of Time series several years ago and decided that I didn't have nearly the attention span enough to read the, especially at age twelve or whenever it was I first saw them.

Age 12? Oh that's right, you're practically an infant! Does that mean you missed out on the Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings? Or did you manage to get them from the library once you were older? They were coming out while I was at Uni, so that would have made you . . . *does mental count* . . . about 5 or 6. Eeek!

George Martin is definitely worth checking out during Spring Break. And if you haven't read them, also look at Magician by Raymond E. Fiest - once again came out when you were in single digits. The books that he wrote with Janny Wurts were also really good.

[icepixie]

Age 12? Oh that's right, you're practically an infant!

*snicker*

Does that mean you missed out on the Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings? Or did you manage to get them from the library once you were older?

Was that something about someone named Kell, or Kells, or something? I vaguely remember starting and never finishing one of those.

They were coming out while I was at Uni, so that would have made you . . . *does mental count* . . . about 5 or 6. Eeek!

Hmmm...I think I was a firm fan of Berenstein Bears at that point, quickly followed by Babysitters' Club. ;) (Along with a whooole lotta British children's literature, so I constantly spell some words--not all, just a few--as the rest of the English-speaking world does.)

George Martin is definitely worth checking out during Spring Break. And if you haven't read them, also look at Magician by Raymond E. Fiest - once again came out when you were in single digits. The books that he wrote with Janny Wurts were also really good.

*writes down*

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

Along with a whooole lotta British children's literature

I probably read a good part of that too - mostly by Enid Blyton. The Magic Faraway Tree stories, then Famous Five - I was never really into Secret Seven. I never read any of the similar American stuff like The Hardy Boys.

*writes down*

At one point Magician by Raymone E Feist was considered one of the epic fantasy novels. Certainly it, along with Silverthorn and A Prince of the Blood, are an epic trilogy. While he has written other books, none of them quite are up to the level of those three.

[icepixie]

I probably read a good part of that too - mostly by Enid Blyton. The Magic Faraway Tree stories, then Famous Five - I was never really into Secret Seven.

I don't even remember what all I read...Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and the Sword in the Stone definitely made appearances (yeah, I actually read the books, as opposed to just settling for the movies ;)), as did Julie Andrews' two or three books. I know there were more, though.

I never read any of the similar American stuff like The Hardy Boys.

Oh, I loved Nancy Drew. Not the modernized ones, but the old ones from 1950 or whenever they were. Not so much Hardy Boys, although I remember reading the ones where they teamed up with Nancy. I always shipped for the older Hardy boy and ND. ;) I went through all the Boxcar Children books, too, and then made my way over to Agatha Christie when I was nine or ten. I think I'm gonna end up as Miss Marple.

At one point Magician by Raymone E Feist was considered one of the epic fantasy novels. Certainly it, along with Silverthorn and A Prince of the Blood, are an epic trilogy. While he has written other books, none of them quite are up to the level of those three.

Ooooh. Actually, I think my mom has Magician. Must read when I finish these library books...

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

When you were reading Nancy Drew, I guess I was reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes. Loved those books, and got 13 episodes of the Granada Television series from the early 80s on DVD for Christmas. They're the ones were Jeremy Brett plays Sherlock Holmes. That man was a genius in the role, and nobody else could ever compare to his characterisation.

I have read a lot of Agatha Christie, mostly Poroit and Miss Marple stuff, although a few others. I think my father has a lot of her books somewhere or other. I always liked Joan Hicks portrayal of Miss Marple. She was in a totally different ballpark to those horrendous ones with Angela Lansbury. While she may have been good in Murder She Wrote, I didn't watch it, she was horrifying as Miss Marple. IMNSHO anyway. ;)

And yes, you definitely must read Magician. It's a bit slow to get moving, but is definitely worth every page.

[icepixie]

I read The Hound of the Baskervilles for English in 9th grade. It was great.

I always loved Miss Marple, although Poirot was pretty good, too. All I remember of them anymore is that arsenic and cyanide were generally main factors in the mystery. I don't remember seeing any of the Miss Marple TV things, but I liked the ones they made of the Poirot mysteries (don't remember who played him).

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I think the actor most famous for playing Poirot is David Suchet, who seems to be in the current ones that air on PBS and elsewhere. Other people have played the role, including Peter Ustinov who was in Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express. I think David Suchet does a better job though.

If you ever do get the chance to see Joan Hickson in the role of Miss Marple, you will understand why she epitomises it. You can see a picture of her here (http://www.celebrity8x10s.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=SCP&Category_Code=hickson).

[icepixie]

David Suchet sounds familiar. I think he's the actor I remember. And I think the few Miss Marple ones I saw had Joan Hickson--she also looks familiar. Of course, most of these I saw when I was 7-10 and would watch whatever my dad was watching at night, so I have very vague memories of them all. ;)