So I finished Corambis last night (or rather, in the wee hours of the morning since it was technically sometime after 4 AM) and finally headed over to check out the Q&A Sarah Monette has running on her blog. I'd been waiting to finish the book first in case there were spoilers, but it seems I did not need to worry since she hid any question containing anything that could be considered a spoiler, even if it was a minor event or something that happened on page 2. Of course, it's more fun to be able to read all the questions and answers without fear of spoiling the story, but if you're curious about it don't avoid it entirely for fear of spoilers. (Questions pertaining to The Mirador are also hidden unless you decide to click the link and read it.)
Not all the questions pertain to The Doctrine of Labyrinth series although the vast majority of them do. I found it very interesting and am amazed by the amount of thought and detail Monette put into this series. It's very unfortunate that her writing contract was not picked up again since she is a very talented author.
Question for anyone familiar with the Cat series by Joan Vinge: Does each book in the series work as a stand alone? Quite a while ago, John picked up Dreamfall at a bargain book sale but that is the only one we have and happens to be the last book in the trilogy. After learning that the main character from that series was part of the inspiration for Mildmay, I really want to read it, though.
Another question (for anyone who has read The Bone Key): How is it? This is now the only book I have not read by Monette, including A Companion to Wolves which she cowrote with Elizabeth Bear, and I'm a little hesitant to pick it up since I'm not a huge fan of short stories. But it's by Sarah Monette and it does sound rather intriguing so I'm torn but leaning toward "It's by Sarah Monette, just read it already!"
Sometime over the next week or so, I'll be working on a review of Corambis. For now, I still need to think about it some more because, honestly, I didn't LOVE it the same way I did the first three books and I can't figure out why. It was still good; I just didn't have the same emotional connection with it as I did the other books in the series. The quality of writing and characterization is still very high so I'm not completely sure why other than that it must be an issue with my personal taste. Maybe it's just because it wasn't as dark (which isn't to say it was not at all dark but it didn't seem as dark as the other books in the series). I'll have to think about that one a little more...
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8 comments:
I really enjoyed THE BONE KEY, myself. If you like classic ghost stories, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I loved CORAMBIS, but I found that the setting tripped me up a little. I had so much invested in dark, labyrinthine Melusine and its environs that Corambis, with its railways and regimented magic, threw me off. I did like it, but it kind of paled in comparison to the setting in the first three books. I wasn't entirely comfortable with the shift.
And I think you're right; this book wasn't nearly as dark as the others.
Memory - Thanks for the info on The Bone Key. I think I will have to try it at some point, even if short story collections aren't normally my thing.
That's true, the setting may have been part of why I didn't like Corambis as much as the rest of the series. Being less dark was probably the major factor, though. I'll have to think on that one some more.
Re Joan Vinge's Cat series - think you should try and get the earlier books before reading Dreamfall. You probably could read it on its own - but I think its a lot more poignant after reading the earlier ones.
Ann
Read and loved the first two books in the Labyrinth series. Do you know there's another short story in the antho 'Queen of Winter'? It's on be TBR.
Ann - Thanks for your thoughts on Joan Vinge's Cat series. I figured that was the case, but I was hoping maybe the last one could easily read as a stand alone. Onto the wishlist goes the first book then! Maybe I'll get that and Swordspoint together and read both the novels that inspired the two main characters in the series.
M. - No, I did not know Sarah Monette had a short story in the Queen of Winter anthology. Thanks for the info!
Thank you for the heads up on the Q&A Kristen! I still can't believe Sarah Monette doesn't have a writing contract. She's brilliant!
Orannia - I know, how can she NOT have a writing contract? It baffles me.
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