James Barclay

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

I've finished reading Michael Moorcock's 'The Jade Man's Eyes', at only seventy four pages long it didn't exactly take long! What looks like a quick and easy 'Sword and Sorcery' tale turns out to be a lot more with an exploration of Elric's complex nature and events that are pivotal to the whole sequence. Definitely one for any Elric fans who haven't already read it in 'The Sailor on the Seas of Fate', my full review is over Here.
I've still got 'Implied Spaces' on the go which should be enough to keep me going through the weekend...
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Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Alia · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 246

I'm reading Dukaj's "Lod" now and I'm thoroughly enchanted. I'm so far on page 250, which would be the end of many novels, but this one is a solid, over 1000 pages long hardcover. And I love it - although it's not an easy read. Written in 19th century style, 19th century ortography and grammar, with a lot of Russian borrowings, it mixes real and fictitious characters (Nikola Tesla plays an important role) and puts the reader in the middle of a world that is very similar to our 1924, but also very different. Anyway, I can't wait to read it to the end.

The only problem is - you'll probably never read it. Of all Dukaj's works, this one is probably impossible to translate.
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Selik · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 1524 Location: South Shields

I've lost my ability to read anything. Shocked

Need a new Barclay book to snap me out of it. Wink

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"I sit on my arse, not my head." - Baron Gresse.

Max Power · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 467 Location: United Kingdom

Why wait for a new one? I'm re-reading Demonstorm at the moment and it's all getting a little tense!!!
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If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

Will James be giving us an advance look? Very Happy

I've just finished reading Walter Jon Williams' 'Implied Spaces'; a space opera/hard(ish) sci-fi tale of pocket universes, AIs, pod people and zombies! I don't get hard sci-fi stuff at all but 'Implied Spaces' wasn't too hard to follow at all, plenty of entertaining stuff to get into and the intrigue was particularly... er... intriguing...
'Implied Spaces' is a short read though (261 pages) and at times it felt like too much was being crammed into too small a space, there were bits that I definitely thought could do with some expansion. My full review is over Here.
This week is a week for reading fairly short books so I've got Robert Buettner's 'Orphanage' and John Scalzi's 'Old Man's War' on the go.
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Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

TheJovialGnome · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 295 Location: Boston

I've just finished Myrenn's Gift by Fiona McIntosh which Lizzy very kindly loaned me eons ago! Laughing

I enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed any book for a long time and would heartily recommend to anyone who enjoys a clever little tale! Looking forward to reading the next one in the series and Lizzy, I'll let you have it back at FantasyCon if our paths don't cross before then! Laughing

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"Constant Vigilance!"

Selik · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 1524 Location: South Shields

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

I've finished Robert Buettner's 'Orphanage', a book that bears more than a passing similarity to the move 'Starship Troopers'... a little too much, for me, in fact.
The book did redeem itself though with some memorable characters, bleak backgrounds and an entertaining style. I'll stick around for the next book at least. My full review is over Here.
I'm now well into John Scalzi's 'Old Man's War' which is a far superior read...
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Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

Just finished reading John Scalzi's 'Old Man's War', not a perfect read by any means but is one of those books where I was left wondering why I didn't pick it up sooner.
I got the feeling that life was perhaps a little too easy for our hero, John Perry, but the story itself more than made up for this with sympathetic characters, space battles and vicious alien races to spare. I can't wait to get into the rest of the series! My review is over Here.
I'm taking a break from sci-fi, for a bit, and am now reading 'Iron Kissed' by Patricia Briggs.
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Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Deornoth · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 446

I've just finished reading Patricia Briggs' 'Iron Kissed', third in the 'Mercedes Thompson' series. It follows the same lines as the previous two books but avoids becoming repetitive by ramping up the action and the urgency. It's an entertaining read and I'm hoping there will be more to come. My full review is over Here.
I've never read anything by Steven Brust so I thought I'd give his new book, 'Jhegalla', a go next...
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Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

Futre4 · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject:

Apocalypse watch by robert ludlum
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Parmenion · Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Posts: 584

Attila the judgement: william napier

Selik · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 1524 Location: South Shields

Heart of the Mirage- Glenda Larke

First of all 10/10 for her getting me back into reading. A further 10/10 for it also being a first person book with a female lead character!

Normally I'm not so sure on first person. It depends on whose written it. When it comes to female lead characters I avoid them at all costs because 9 times out of 10 they're irritating cretins who are completely unrealistic.
Clearly Ligea Gayed is the 1 out of 10 characters who isn't like that.

Woohoo for Glenda Larke!!
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"I sit on my arse, not my head." - Baron Gresse.