Ray
Kevin Crossley-Holland writes. No really writes. I'm not a one for whether something is “literature” or not. For me does it “read” do I enjoy it, perhaps it fires or engages something in me, imagination, intellect, heart or soul and I find a place for it in my memory and enters a special category. I have yet to read something of his that hasn't hammered on the door to my memory palace.
His prose he gears for the form of his stories. Here telling tales from antiquity, British folk tales, in origin which would have been oral and handed down in oral forms, he tries to invoke the spirit of that oral telling. Does it work. Depends on the ear of the reader and a reverence for the attempt. Like the writings of Alan Garner one “takes” to them or not I suspect.
“One story has haunted me all my life: that of the two green children discovered at Woolpit in Suffolk at the end of the 12th century. I've revisited it several times and, in the version published by OUP, told the story from the viewpoint of the green girl. The way in which one retells a tale is of course crucial, and I have subsequently retold several tales as monologues. These are gathered in Outsiders (Orion), and in this book ‘Sea Tongue' is a kind of sound-story, a fractured narrative spoken by all the different elements in the tale.”
These tales have the theme of the Outsider and are taken I think from an earlier collection of his simply entitled British Folktales.
with the many excellent illustrations reminded me of many books I read in my younger days [Pyle et al]. Clearly written as homage to Fafhed and Mouser the style makes a nice contrast to the rest of the Throne storylines. Dunk is a nice simple hero who is full of good intentions, dragging himself up from Flea Bottom by his bootstraps. Simple goals drive him, win at tournaments, improving his gear and earning a reputation so the even a hedge knight might serve a great lord. Simple, naive, with just enough skills to get by, but little experience. His one advantage is his size. Egg, a 10-year-old lad is his foil, his Mouser, his Sancho and also his luck. Would be nice to get more insight into the inner thoughts and character of Egg with him having more of a central role in their adventures. The intrigue and politics of the 7 Kingdoms are still here just not as darkly drawn. That to my mind is refreshing as the Throne novels can be bleak and depressing. I gave up to be truthful sitting back and watching the TV. However, this reading has drawn me back in. Warning! The reader needs to enjoy or be prepared to wade through the medieval system of jousts, heraldry, and chivalry. In this sense, its definitely a boys book one for the “trainspotters”, painting a vivid and I think well-researched background.
Found this Crown Jewel a bit late, no idea why. Absolutely loved it. Loved the writing which simply seemed to flow, sometimes faster sometimes slower. When fast sometimes I wanted to slow down to absorb the surroundings but then also I wanted the page turned... what's going to happen?
When writing in the now, around the Inn, Rothfuss aggravated my desire to know what was happening in the past, but then how had the past got our hero to the Inn and what was really going on. The counterpoint of the two times periods was a brilliant engine that drove the story always leaving me hungry for more. Dam such a brilliantly frustrating book.! A few books in any readers reading history will have this level of impact particularly as they grow older with the feeling “enjoyed that but read it before”. “Name” was for me was a blast of fresh cold bracing wind. Going to re-read along with the sequel and do a longer more considered review which it justly deserves on my major review journal https://smallestroomreviews.wordpress.com/
enjoyed in fits and starts. As a “hard” SF very satisfying. Ideas concepts portrayed well. But at cost to story pace. Felt like the characterisations and the history of what happened to the key ones was also
an engineered story in order to produce the “Seven Eves” of the title. Great idea, but felt contrived, heavy hand of God [the author] and hardly invisible. Last part of the story line felt rushed to me. Perhaps deserved a book of its own covering the same timeline . Overall though an enjoyable read.
https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/46-locus-award
“Popular Award voted on by readers of the leading sf news magazine (or Newszine) Locus and presented annually since 1971. Each year's Locus awards normally honour work first published in the previous year. Thanks to their exceptionally wide reader base, these sf awards have come to share the stature of the Hugos (which reflect the preferences of fans and professionals who attend the annual Worldcon) and the Nebulas (which reflect the professional judgment but also sometimes the internal politics of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America). Where the Hugo and Locus awards differ, it is often thought that the Locus assessment is the more accurate reflection of general reading tastes. The Locus Award is not only good for vanity and sales: it has taken a very attractive form in perspex and metal.”
Here the editors provide their choice of Locus readers' choice for “best of” for 33 years between 1971 and 2003. Possibly the major years when I read mountains of SF and Fantasy, and certainly geek enough to read Locus regularly. I didn't read “The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction” where many of these stories first appeared. So whilst I read them first here their authors are well known to me, any one is well worth the cost of admission. Short Story, novella, novelette; slight balance in favour of the short story for obvious reasons, 18 in total out of 92. Plenty of room for a volume 2.
I wouldn't have opened with Gene Wolfe, excellent writer that he is, he can be more of an acquired taste, and this piece I found difficult. But can't complain when it's then straight into Le Guin, Ellison, Varley and then Martin. For a survey of the era and its writers, this is a worthwhile anthology particularly if the reader didn't live through it.
Enjoyed it so much may put an in-depth review on my review blog.
Enjoyed the read. I would expect no less from a writer of Asimov's caliber. I know it would have rocked my socks off had I read it 25 years ago. His analysis of what we faced then was accurate. His extrapolations into the future credible. If his voice had been listened to back in the 1980's we would probably be in a better condition than we are. He couldn't be expected to have foreseen the detail but he nailed most of the driving forces that have cumulated in the ecological crisis we face. It's value now is in the clear exposition he had advancing an understanding of science and its vital importance to the rest of us. As a collection of essays, nothing could be in depth but I would still happily give this to someone with little knowledge of science despite it being “technically” out of date. They would get a good grounding and I think and enthusiasm to follow up for themselves.
Only 3 stars because he's not my favourite science writer in terms of his prose. At times repetitive and leaves a feeling that he's rambling a bit. Much better to listen to him talk. Still the ideas herein well worth thinking about. A lot happened in last 20 years some of which he forecast. Must read more recent of his work on the same subject areas.
Robinson set out for this to be a contemporary novel written as if it was science fiction. Reading it some 15 years after its publication perhaps dilutes its science fiction attributes. Whilst not yet as catastrophic as in the novel, severe climate events are at the forefront of our experience almost on a daily basis. I found it interesting that, whilst the conflict is global and the threat is of global extinction or at least civilization collapse; that the foreground story of the protagonists is best described as domestic and could by some readers be described as mundane. The protagonists if we can call them that are like us, running daily lives, but they differ in that they are also aware of pending ecological disaster, conscious of the role science can or should play in driving change.
Robinson as in all his novels explores the meaning or importance of science and here extends that into contemporary politics. The little outtakes on hominid evolutionary psychology suggest why we are stuck with behaviors that contribute to the pending catastrophe. He depicts quite accurately our current and recent history of denial or at best the attitude of not disrupting too much the status quo whilst making some ponderous progress.
It became obvious to me as I read that this novel was setting up the characters, the environment [Washington as physical city and political capital], science as the redemptive hope [metaphor of Buddhism as science], as the plot marches on to greater ecological disaster.
So if you are looking for a high action in your face doom-laden SF adventure this and I suspect its two sequels won't satisfy. That though for me was somewhat the point. We don't approach global warming and the rest of the damage we are doing to our ecology as if we are on a cliff edge.
It's a slow read, a slow fuse if you like. Are Charlie and Anna to saccharin? Perhaps but why not I'm told some relationships are like that and that made me smile at times. Frank has his demons, his early mid-life crisis which I suspect will feature more in subsequent novels. Are the Buddhists just a colourful sidetrack and some aspect that Robinson has a fondness for. [See previous works]. I think not but will read on to see.
So, in short, I want to know more. Robinson re-worked this series, updating and shortening it into one novel Green Earth. This is where I will pick up my reading.
Butchers steampunk world lifts off
Second in his new series, this is a rollicking fast paced adventure novel which I enjoyed in my younger years but has I think gone out of vogue except perhaps for what is described as “young adult”.He deserves to be more widely read than he already is simply for the fun of a good yarn well told.
If like me you are addicted to books about “How it all began”, Chickens and Eggs, and whether Albumen, Yolks, and Eggshells were all preconditions, and if so, where did they come from. Then, I guarantee this will not disappoint and will in fact intrigue you. It's big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to this book. [See what I did there?] Or to put it another way it's turtles all the way down with each one examined till..... spoilers he never mentions the butler!
Many will hate it from very early on. Wheres, he going with this will be the cry. A marathon back to the starting line. It's the journey not necessarily the destination. I for one enjoyed it.
This is a review of this particular edition of Beowulf. A luscious edition which I was attracted to by its copious illustrations and its illustrious translator, that magnificent Scop or skald and bard, Seamus Heaney. An Anglo-Saxon epic [therefore English], significant as one of the earliest surviving written examples of an oral, performance tradition, in northern Europe. It's natural to think of and compare it with the Illiad, the Odyssey, the Aneid, all of which we are familiar with in t West. The Warrior and his culture are the focus. There is almost nothing female or feminine in its pages. The warrior code exemplified by the hero or the Lord of his people; occasionally contrasted by the actions of a warrior or king of a different clan, is of prime importance. This isn't always easy to interpret as it seems “righteousness” is in the eye of the victor. There are tales within the main tale of retribution for earlier killings/deaths. Marriages intended to bring previous waring clans together but where blood feuds could still be inflamed causing more death. Weir guild could be the means of dispensing justice in such situations which all would hold binding if accepted.
Beowulf is never physically described other than his strength, but his ethical or moral behavior congruent with how a King or leader should perform is referenced time and again. Like the Trojan War speculation is made as to the story's relation to history and its place in history. Fifth or Sixth Century CE seems favored and pre-Christian. In its written form, whilst its pagan roots, are visible Beowulf credits his success to God's will, and no power forged “giants” works for him. Whilst reading I could not help but regret the probable loss of the poem's pagan elements which make the other Nordic sagas so alive with the fantastic.
I have no idea whether Seamus Heaney's translation is good or nay. I plan to read J.R.R. Tolkien's translation but I couldn't cope with reading that straight away. Notwithstanding his “other” literary work of genius, Tolkien was an esteemed Oxford professor of Middle English, and it's reasonable to assume his translation of and essays on Beowulf would be authoritative.
Heaney though is one of “my” poets. His prose aided my reading of what I think would have been a difficult reading indeed possibly otherwise a task. That this edition was illustrated with artifacts of the age; countryside that may have some visual similarity to places in the story on each adjacent page to the text, entranced me as a lover of all things archeological and ancient. I could stare at the Sutton Hoo treasure and in particular the helmet for hours on end.
Sadly Beowulf is a set text in the academic world and that probably dulls its merit as a work worth reading for enjoyment. I think Seamus Heany's translation and particularly this illustrated edition will over time go a long way to correcting that
Deserved winner of 1982 Hugo award. Finished re-reading again after 40 years. Enough time to have forgotten details of the plot and enabled me to re-read afresh. Acclaimed example of Military SF, but don't go looking for space battles. Cherryh does what she does best world-building, characterization, and politics. Don't look for muscle-bound heroes with halos either. There are “sides” with men and women on whatever “side” attempting to survive or do best for themselves in circumstances they have inherited or are compelled to follow in a time of war. Everyone does what is expected of them as in fact living in space means living in a hostile environment of a space station or the crew of a merchant or warship. Early on we are told of a station destroyed and refugees crowded into a warship and deposited liked or not at another station ill-prepared for a frighted crazed refugee population whose first response is to panic, form a mob, and lash out. Throughout the novel, these refugees are a constant threat to Pell station used and manipulated. Given the murder and mayhem, they cause it is hard to retain the sympathy they deserve. All in all, I found it hard to shout for one side or another. My greatest attachment being to the Ghandi like aliens, the hisa. Will the hisa survive mankind's propensity to solve problems with violence? Cherryh also has a deserved rep for her aliens. Haven't read the rest of this series; the Alliance-Union Universe, but I think I will have to.
I found the TV series entertaining and assumed I would enjoy the book. Sadly disappointed. In fact, I only read the first part up to Q's leaving the school. Basically, I got bored. The characters felt one-dimensional or their only features were psychological or social hangups. I normally enjoy books with magic and some form of explanation or consistent system of magic. Sanderson is an example of a writer who creates a world and magic as an integral part of it. Grossman just keeps writing about magic, layers, and layers of it. I just got bogged down in it. Waded through its syrupy form till I realized it had no real nutritional value. No art; no craft, just the loneliness of the long-distance runner paying in blood, sweat and tears, with little joy. Magic for masochists. Couldn't shake the feeling that all the characters if not for their magic were nihilists. In fact, Alice says to Q he's the only one who does believe in magic. Maybe that's the underlying theme and is something that is a factor in the TV series but I couldn't stomach it on the written page. I lost any empathy with the book characters; got bored and stopped early. Whereas I'm looking forward to watching the final TV season.
Added this for fun. Told by Michael Morpurgo. Illustrated by Michael Foreman. Both are simply stellar yes supernova brilliant when it comes to their work for children. Morpurgo, not being a scholar of old English quotes his sources as Heaney, Crossley-Holland, and my first reading at about age 9 by Rosemary Sutcliff. He can't go wrong with these three. I was a late teenager when I discovered Foreman and have loved his distinctive style ever since.
If you can find it, this would make a great present for any boy who thinks he likes a bit of gore and blood both in text and illustration. Not that any girl “shouldn't” like it just that it's short on any romance but it does have a heroic combatant saving the world from monsters.
Overall greatly enjoyed. Have watched the TV documentaries [ series : A History of Ancient Britain; A History of Celtic Britain; Sacred Wonders of Britain; The Celts [Blood, Iron and Sacrifice with Alice Roberts]. This book is 2012, which is contemporaneous with the first two series or thereabouts; but also forms the content for the others. So I had an idea of what I was in for before I turned a page. This didn't spoil the read for me, rather it allowed me to visualize thus enhancing the text. For example the fascinating Dover Boat sequence or the handling of the “Red Lady” of Paviland. As a young lad with a fascination for ancient history, I dragged my parents on our camping holidays around some of the sites Oliver gives an account for so that was an added dimension for me. How much of the history of the Great Orme, for example, that has been revealed in the 50 years since I last visited was awe-inspiring. I suspect that some of his daydreaming, “philosophizing” time-traveling jaunts may annoy some readers as it may work better to the camera than it does on the written page but it doesn't seriously distract and personalizes the history. Sometimes I did get dizzy from skipping from site to site as he built up the detail and by the last chapter “Romans” I had more detail than I could retain. It would have been nice to see a timeline or two as I did occasionally get lost.
Going to watch the videos again [plus a newer one on the Orkneys] just to see if I get any further enhancement having now read the book.
Enjoyed the read. Wide-ranging subject matter. His reminiscences of his first immersion into the world of books resonated with mine of about a decade earlier. That brought out smiles, pleasant memories and a reconnection to the child I once was who really did picnic with Ratty and Mole and was in total awe of Badger. Then the discovery of SF same authors. I still have every [or almost every] Moorcock novel in a box somewhere and then there was the comics! So for me worth the read for the trip down memory lane and my absolute first romance with reading. The meetings with writers or his thoughts on them were interesting. His music and mine don't cross over as basically I'm a child of the '60s, which a later generation [punk ?] considered stodgy and increasingly a “sell out”. May have been true but revolutions don't need to trash all of the past in pushing towards the future.
Interested in Neil Gaiman [and there are lots about him to be interested in] then a worthy read. But “View” comprises essays, vignettes written by Neil in his journalist persona or the transcripts of his public talks or introductions to other authors works. As such, they can only be pithy but interesting observations of his world, his art and the art he admires. Anyone who has not followed him listening for Wolves in Walls, crossing The Wall in search of a Star, stepping through Door's Doors, slipping into Dream following the Endless, investigating the lives in a Graveyard, or documenting the work of a Fixer employed by a God, may be disappointed. As he suggests stop reading go read the stuff above and come back to this. Then perhaps go read the wonderful Art of Neil Gaiman by Hailey Campbell.
Hooked on this entire series which has to be, given its number, breadth and quality of writing a milestone achievement in SF publishing. Ordered as a Xmas present to myself but it arrived early and i could not resist. This is another quieter “episode” in the central characters lives focussing on Bren and Cajerei almost exclusively and therefore some may find it less engaging.
However, Cherryh has maintained this series by doing this before, essentially setting the scene for what is to come. She has an anthropologists eye for this universe she has created and the series is all the better for the detail; geographical, cultural and psychological, she weaves about her characters and her two alien species. There are so many characters I want to know more about. Benichi and Jago have Shakespearian spear carrier roles in this one and I missed them. There must be immense stresses and strains going on in the space station, but Cherryh often uses very short time frames for her plots. Detailed as it is, it only covers a handful of days and is set only another handful of days from the end of the last novel. So I am hooked I want to know more. There is often a lot of detail about food and dining and the role food plays in Atevaei life. Cherryh serves up the story a course at a time. This book is I think the beginning of a new banquet and I have just finished the appetiser
Started this with some enthusiasm which sadly wained. Subject area exciting and should have me entranced. Perhaps I'm being very unkind, in that it felt to me like an enlarged Wikipedia article, a collection of fact after fact with humor to leaven the fact... that it was boring. The humor felt forced something inserted to an editorial plan rather than flowing from and with the text. But I did learn so it served a purpose. It was a helicopter view so that's the level I learned at, a sense of landscape with little detail as if each technology was represented by one or two “selfies”. This is probably fine if you know little about the directions of modern science but if you read a science magazine like New Scientist now and then and particularly its excellent collections series, or listen to the many podcasts available, there really is little here for you
In his introduction, Neil Gaiman acknowledges the roots of his fascination with Norse Myth, namely Marvel's Thor. [book: Myths of the Norsemen: Retold from the Old Norse Poems and Tales 3126160] Roger Lancelyn Green's tellings for children and Kevin Crossley-Hollands more “adult/academic” prose. I acknowledge all three myself but hours spent in the school library reading and re-reading Green was what captured me. Later Lee and Kirby gave flesh to my imagination but it was Holland that gave me the depth these tales have and deserve to be displayed to the reader. Norse Mythology Neil Gaiman's retelling of the acts and lives of the Northern Gods: is it any good?Short answer yes. He writes in a style that is short pithy somewhat close I suspect to how he would pen a graphic novel. A style suited to myth and faerie. Leaves a feeling that he truly has a love for the content and the characters whose story he tells. I can't find my copy of Green but I remember it as illustrated woodcuts or pen/ink black white drawings but it's almost 50 years! Gaiman needed illustrations. [Infact I'd like to see this as a series of Graphic Novels].I think its a great 21st Century introduction to the nine realms and as such is at least as good as Green, which without re-reading, I hesitate to de-throne. But I suspect Gaiman has the edge.Crossley-Holland is an exquisite writer. Search out his British Folk Tales; there is a similarity of styles and excellence shared by both he and Gaiman. His, The Norse Myths and Axe Age, Wolf Age are my favourites, but were I a child again or just wanted a good read in which I was to paddle then Gaiman is where I'd start. Having done so, I think you will want to dive headlong into the waves and Crossley-Holland beckons. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3129514-norse-myths
