Here be dragons.
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Nathan is on vacation this week. Just for fun he decided to to short reviews of his three year old’s favorite books. It should have been simple and quick. But if there is one thing Nathan is good at it … Continue reading
Whew. {Pauses to catch breath} Well, that was a roller-coaster ride and no mistake. Action heaped on action, the same frenetic scene fragmented into half a dozen different points of view, a bunch of wildly original characters, all with their … Continue reading
‘You’re a mean one, Mr. (Name retracted to prevent spoilers) You really are a heel’ Ok, I am all in on this one; Three Parts Dead deserves all the praise it has been getting. Suspenseful, gritty, and working in completely … Continue reading
So here we are at the end of the trilogy. The first book, ‘The Tattered Banner’, I found a refreshing change from the typical swords-based fantasy, focused as it was around the rapier as the weapon of choice. It was … Continue reading
Each Thursday, our copy of ‘The Tough Guide to Fantasyland’ in hand, we shall tour the mystical countryside looking for adventure and fun (and tropes) from all over fantasy. Today’s topic is MINIONS MINIONS OF THE DARK LORD are all … Continue reading
There’s always a worry with an author’s follow-up to a spectacular debut. Whether you loved or hated the Broken Empire trilogy (Prince/King/Emperor of Thorns), it was hard to ignore and for a while it seemed as if the entire book … Continue reading
Just a small confession to start this off, I want everyone to know where we stand here. Joe Abercrombie is one of my top three authors, and The First Law is my favorite fantasy trilogy. Unbiased observer I am not. … Continue reading
Each Thursday, our copy of ‘The Tough Guide to Fantasyland’ in hand, we shall tour the mystical countryside looking for adventure and fun (and tropes) from all over fantasy. Today’s topic is… Mentors MENTOR. A tour official who will be … Continue reading
If I had to describe the characteristics I most look for in a book, I’d probably answer: memorable characters, an interesting setting, a plot that constantly surprises me and plenty of humour. This one ticks all the boxes. It isn’t … Continue reading
Maybe I just have a thing for elderly ladies that take charge and make everyone around them dance to their music. Maybe I am a much bigger fan of a basic space opera than I ever will be of detective … Continue reading
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Travels as much as Pratchett. But I can’t help myself, they are among my favorite creations in fantasy. Ten of the best, people who could be Dark Lords in their own right but instead were dominated into submission (not like that, out of the gutter people). The Limper, The Howler, Soulstealer; these are like the seven dwarfs if Snow White was called The Lady and took names while she kicked ass. (There is a nice little play on words there for people who have read the series, kind of proud of myself).
Steel Inquisitors – Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson – These dudes have steel spikes (or iron, or something, I don’t really remember) right through their eyes. And more all through their body. I don’t know why, but that just screams awesome minion. Their boss is literally Lord Ruler, and is so powerful that he gets them to follow him despite the stupid name. They went around tracing people using metal magic and when they caught them…made more inquisitors.
living face graft that can take over a human completely? Gets off physically on pain. Ejects black semen. Scary enough on their own, but they have enough intelligence to watch their target from afar to gain their mannerisms before taking over completely, or reshaping another to the form they wish to ape.
Abercrombie is one of my top three authors, and The First Law is my favorite fantasy trilogy. Unbiased observer I am not. But sometimes expectations can kill a book, especially when a favored author changes pace. So with high hopes, and a real fear of disappointment, I finally stopped staring at Half a King and started actually reading it.
Ruslan- The Whitefire Crossing by Courtney Schafer – Sometimes the mentor can be a real asshole. Kiran’s story in Whitefire crossing actually starts when he leaves his mentor. In a city of magical anarchy the blood mage sits on top, and Ruslan expects full obedience from his pupils.
one, but I had to pick the first mentor young Tiffany Aching had in her journey. It is she that discovers Tiffany’s talents and sets her on her way. But she has no choice but to leave for a while, leaving Tiffany to venture into The Queen’s land to save her brother by herself (well, with a little help from her friends).
Ghost of Del –Clint Eastwood by Gorrillaz- So I’mma stick around with Russ and be a MENTOR, Bust a few rhymes so motherfuckers remember, where the thought is, I brought all this, So you can survive when law is lawless
dance to their music. Maybe I am a much bigger fan of a basic space opera than I ever will be of detective noir. Maybe I just really didn’t enjoy a race through a space station of ‘vomit zombies’ that seemed to go on forever in the first book of this series.
Young Ray is on a train bound for the deep south in hopes of being adopted along with his sister. After meeting with the wealthy benefactor who so kindly let orphans ride his train Ray makes the well thought out decision to jump of the train.
Jirom – Blood and Iron by Jon Sprunk- Hey, I got one that fits every clause of the Tough Guide. Jirom was a slave (can’t remember if he ever had to row a boat) and a gladiator. He was just going to be a meek little sheep until he was sucked into the power zone of Horace, the white male expat of DESTINY, who wasn’t going to take it anymore. They become BFF’s, and Horace even forgives him for being a homosexual.
plays the role of intelligent large man like Jean. Easy underestimate, at least at first, Locke learned early on what the big man with a tempter could do physically.
Cazaril –The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold– Cazaril- Ok, Ok, I cheat. I don’t remember Cazaril being all that large. But he WAS a rower on a slave ship before the start of his story, so I had to get one galley rower on ths list. (My second option was to pick a random Far Side cartoon).
Even the often oppressed minorities fight their own little battle of conscience on this matter. Fact is most people think they are nothing more than creepy autotrons. But Dorfl may change a few minds. And in the process make all the other ‘Large Men’ look like me in comparison. Because how you going to stop a walking wall of concrete in an age with no TNT?
I can be a skeptic of young adult books at times.
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