tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post3682309261557291188..comments2023-10-25T04:17:22.699-04:00Comments on Fantasy Cafe: Coming SoonKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-59397215896638630152009-09-08T20:09:46.699-04:002009-09-08T20:09:46.699-04:00Anastasia - Ok, I'm convinced - definitely get...Anastasia - Ok, I'm convinced - definitely getting <i>Alanya to Alanya</i> when I place this order! I was leaning toward that one anyway since you've mentioned it a couple of times but that sounds perfect for the mood I've been in lately (thoughtful with some interesting ideas and some great characters/relationships). <br /><br />I've been watching the price of the hardcover version of <i>Night's Master</i> gradually drop. If it drops a little more, I'll probably get it in hardcover. It sounds like my type of fantasy book.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-31632975872296369672009-09-08T12:20:45.370-04:002009-09-08T12:20:45.370-04:00Black Ships is on sale right now, $5.13 at Amazon....<i>Black Ships</i> is on sale right now, $5.13 at Amazon. I have this book as well. Although I haven't read it yet, it gather a lot of really glowing reviews.<br /><br />If it's a choice between buying 1 hardcover or 2 paperback, then I'd probably go for 2 paperbacks. Unless you're might see yourself buying the hardcover later anyway if you like the book, in addition to the softcover.<br /><br />I've read <i>Generation Loss</i>, <i>Slow River</i>, and the first of the Tiger-Del novels, and <br /><i>Alanya to Alanya</i> is in a different category altogether. It's intelligent, articulate, engaging, fast-paced (maybe not in terms of plot, but those sentences move quickly and a lot of intense, important things happen), very political in a personal way, disturbing, and brilliant. I was very intimidated by this series before I started them (I don't know if I've seen Samuel R. Delany blurb books before), but the writing is so crisp, I was immediately absorbed in it; it wasn't at all difficult to follow.<br /><br />The setting is near-future Earth, very similar to our world, with the same social distinctions, only made more stark and institutionalized. There's the Executive class: the ones who go to top schools and become managers and executives, a sliver of Professionals (engineers, teachers), and the service techs (average people). It's very very similar to the way our world works now, and all the more frightening for that. <br /><br />Then aliens appear, and decide that they want to change Earth's social order for the better. Improve opportunities for people. A delegation is to be sent to the ship, vested with the power to make decisions for Earth's governments, but composed only of women. <br /><br />The story follows Kay Zeldin, a university professor (Professional) and a former spy for the Executive branch, who's picked to join the delegation - to spy and subvert it to the government's goals. <br /><br />To me, however, this series was about personal relationships - really disturbing and memorable ones. These are not warm and fuzzy books, but some of the best I've ever read.Anastasianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-22752710595497888272009-09-05T19:06:38.557-04:002009-09-05T19:06:38.557-04:00Anastasia - Great, let me know what you think of t...Anastasia - Great, let me know what you think of the hardcover version! I think I'd like to get it, but I'm also a little hesitant to spend half of my gift card on just one book, especially one I haven't read. If all the covers are that gorgeous, a matching hardcover set would be lovely, though.<br /><br />I was thinking about getting that one and then I'm trying to narrow this list down to the approximate cost of what's left over:<br /><br /><i>Alanya to Alanya</i> by L. Timmel Duchamp<br /><i>Generation Loss</i> by Elizabeth Hand<br /><i>Slow River</i> by Nicola Griffith<br /><i>The Magicians and Mrs. Quent</i> by Galen Beckett<br /><i>Black Ships</i> by Jo Graham<br /><i>The Novels of Tiger and Del, Volume I</i> by Jennifer RobersonKristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-1711881105452899162009-09-05T16:46:08.512-04:002009-09-05T16:46:08.512-04:00I should get it in a few days, so I'll let you...I should get it in a few days, so I'll let you know. It is part of a series though, so it might be nice to have a matching hardcover set.<br /><br />My trouble with hardcovers is that I get too protective of them. So sometimes, if I really like a book, I"ll also buy a paperback version to read, and keep the hc on the shelf. (For the Melusine books, I have 2 sets.)Anastasianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-85233486141463914282009-09-04T19:07:07.464-04:002009-09-04T19:07:07.464-04:00Anastasia - I saw the paperback was a lot cheaper ...Anastasia - I saw the paperback was a lot cheaper later. Now the question is - is it worth the hardcover price? It's very pretty which makes me think it might not be a bad one to get in hardcover - at least if it's as good as I've heard.<br /><br />I was trying to figure out what to get with it and it would be hard to just pick a couple to go with the hardcover, though.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-83756146334125796292009-09-03T22:51:54.627-04:002009-09-03T22:51:54.627-04:00The paperback is only $13!The paperback is only $13!Anastasianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-75974096698573359442009-09-03T19:37:53.726-04:002009-09-03T19:37:53.726-04:00Anastasia - No, Alpha isn't the one I'd re...Anastasia - No, <i>Alpha</i> isn't the one I'd read for a space opera fix. That would be either <i>Ascendant Sun</i> or <i>Schism</i>. I'm just curious about <i>Alpha</i> (and I think you're right about it being a sequel to <i>Sunrise Alley</i> although I've heard it also works fine as a stand alone novel).<br /><br />Wow, <i>Night's Master</i> does have an absolutely gorgeous cover. It sounds wonderful, too. On to the wish list it goes (it is expensive though). I've wanted to read that one for a while, although I'm a little more hesitant to since I have a couple of her books I haven't read and wasn't as impressed with <i>The Silver Metal Lover</i> as I had hoped to be. The Flat Earth series is supposed to be one of her stronger works, though.<br /><br />Orannia - Everyone seems to be curious about <i>Havemercy</i> so there's a pretty good possibility that one will be my next read. I really want to read <i>The Magicians and Mrs. Quent</i> too. I still have an Amazon gift card from a while back (not quite sure how I've managed to go this long without spending it - that never happens) and was considering saving it for that. Now I'm very intrigued by the first Flat Earth book, too, though. Decisions, decisions...Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-67131118300821625722009-09-03T16:40:21.444-04:002009-09-03T16:40:21.444-04:00Just read the back cover summary for HaveMercy (an...Just read the back cover summary for HaveMercy (and checked my library catalogue - my library has it) and I'm definitely intrigued.<br /><br />Am not sure where I will fit it in but...maybe if I read very hard this month and reduce my TBR list I can fit it in <i>and</i> purchase The Magicians and Mrs Quent (which I've been wanting to read ever since The Book Smugglers reviewed it :)oranniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14007355589161084262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-55491736671103303662009-09-03T16:28:51.505-04:002009-09-03T16:28:51.505-04:00Ohhhh, I'm intrigued about HaveMercy, so if yo...Ohhhh, I'm intrigued about HaveMercy, so if you do read it at some stage I look forward to hearing what you think ;)<br /><br />I have have Kristen Cashmore's first book - Graceling - waiting for me at the library...oranniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14007355589161084262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-27022916603775348802009-09-03T10:48:58.190-04:002009-09-03T10:48:58.190-04:00I have great news! Please spread the word. The lon...I have great news! Please spread the word. The long-awaited new edition of the first in Tanith Lee's acclaimed Flat Earth series, <i>Night's Master</i> is now available in a gorgeous hardcover and tradeback paperback. Image on the cover done by Lee's partner, John Kaiine.<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN=160762043X<br /><br />Amazon search won't pull up the book for some reason, so use the link.<br /><br />(This publisher's books are <i>very</i> pretty. And hardcovers are called "trade hardcovers," slightly smaller in size.)Anastasianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-75069498532413337902009-09-03T10:34:08.375-04:002009-09-03T10:34:08.375-04:00Alpha isn't space opera though. It's near-...<i>Alpha</i> isn't space opera though. It's near-future scifi thriller. I have it, although not read it yet. I read all the others of Asaro's scifi (Phoenix Code, Veiled Web, Sunrise Alley - I believe Alpha is a sequel to Sunrise Alley, although that one didn't call for a sequel), and I prefer the Skolian books.Anastasianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-330850767357578482009-09-02T20:22:34.548-04:002009-09-02T20:22:34.548-04:00Donna - This month sounds like a pretty good readi...Donna - This month sounds like a pretty good reading month to me as well. It is so hard to just pick one book from the stack, though! I haven't read much space opera lately so I was leaning toward reading something by Catherine Asaro, but I'm so curious about <i>Havemercy</i> and <i>My Soul to Keep</i>. Plus <i>Doubleblind</i> will give me a bit of a space opera fix anyway...<br /><br />Maybe I'll just read the first couple of pages of some of those and see which one grabs me first.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-47390251049664756502009-09-02T07:55:41.547-04:002009-09-02T07:55:41.547-04:00You have a good month of reads coming up, I'm ...You have a good month of reads coming up, I'm interested in all of them. Good luck on picking a next read, I hate when I get stuck wondering what to read next.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03061871980467053554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-25986365198368917372009-09-01T18:37:54.765-04:002009-09-01T18:37:54.765-04:00Harry - It is hard to pick which books to read, es...Harry - It is hard to pick which books to read, especially when you never know how much time you'll end up having. Unless I'm on vacation from work, 4 or 5 books seems to be my limit so I just try to aim for 5. A lot of the books I picked for this month are short, too.<br /><br />Anastasia - I have heard very good things about <i>Havemercy</i>. It's been compared to Monette's series a few times, which made it a must read for me. Since I love that series, that makes me want to read it really soon - but at the same time, I'm afraid it won't live up to the expectations I have now and I'll end up disappointed.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01700004253248186101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-88386334493085847442009-09-01T17:19:44.496-04:002009-09-01T17:19:44.496-04:00Havemercy has been on my Wishlist for a few months...<i>Havemercy</i> has been on my Wishlist for a few months. I'm most curious about that.Anastasianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5146259764837045872.post-9152108950300244522009-09-01T03:49:17.072-04:002009-09-01T03:49:17.072-04:00Sounds like an interesting program. For I piled my...Sounds like an interesting program. For I piled myself with choices, but I am not sure what will stick and what I will accomplish in September, cause I am taking off a week from reading in order to read and critique a beta version of a novel for a friend. However I do have several shorties that can easily be managed.Harry Markovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140305922494369576noreply@blogger.com