Re: A Storm of Swords

When I picked a throughly read copy of A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin at the library, the book’s binding was coming apart. There’s a reason why this is also known as A Storm of Words. Despite the warning signs of bloat, I had a terrific time reading this book.

Re: A Clash of Kings

After finishing Game of Thrones, I had no trouble at all getting into A Clash of Kings, by George R. R. Martin. But I could only read for short stretches, as mostly lots of bad things happen, horrible, gruesome, fascinating bad things.

Re: Game of Thrones

Winter is coming. Don’t let that mild spell fool you. Or the glacial pace of winter’s arrival. It’s coming to get you. Eventually. I think that’s the message of George R. R. Martin‘s Song of Ice and Fire series. And yes, the books have been around for a while, and yes, a lot of people […]

Re: The Limits of Enchantment

It’s time to admit that there are several books I like that I’m not going to be able to do justice to, and waiting to post about them won’t make it any better. For example, The Limits of Enchantment, by Graham Joyce is exactly the sort of book that I never would have bothered with […]

More Pratchett, some witches

I actually read Equal Rites far more recently than I first read the next two “witch books” by Terry Pratchett, so all I knew was that I liked them. Even on rereading Wyrd Sisters and Witches Abroad, the moment I put them down I can’t remember one bit of the story, or which book or […]

Re: Equal Rites

After all the grousing I’ve done about how much I dislike Terry Pratchett‘s wizard’s, I’m overdue for talking about how I like his witches, starting with Equal Rites. For one thing, it has a wonderful opening line. This is a story about magic and where it goes and perhaps more importantly where it comes from […]

Re: I’ll Give You My Word

In “I’ll Give You My Word,” by Diana Wynne Jones, Jethro’s little brother has a habit of looking angelic and egg-shaped while he spouts wonderful nonsense. “Ponderous plenipotential cardomum,” he would say. “In sacks.” And after a bit, “Sentenious purple coriander.” “Does that come in sacks too?” Jethro asked him. “No,” Jeremy said. “In suitcases.”

Re: Immortal Snake

I’m a sucker for stories based on myths and folktales, and even if I don’t know the original, I love that sense of ancient days, with kings and gods and priests, and impossible situations evaded with cunning. “Immortal Snake,” by Rachel Pollack, is mythic from beginning to end. Long ago, in a time beyond memory, […]

Re: Fear of Rain

While listening to a reading of “Fear of Rain,” by Robert T. Jeschoneck, I was immediately drawn in by Aphrodite, a girl raised by Mr. Flood to drown Johnstown yet again. I liked that crazy old coot, Mr. Flood. The story is told with wonderful description, vivid magic, and a building tension. And it was […]

Re: Bears

“Bears” by Leah Bobet opens with one of those sweeping statements that just beg to be justified: Ninety-eight percent of all fictional deaths are directly attributable to being eaten by bears. Bullshit, you say? What about those shooting and stabbings and drownings and beatings and death by Doomed Gay Manlove? Well, it’s not my problem […]