Wednesday, 2 March 2022 08:10 pm
Triple Book Review
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deckardcanineSince I was packing light, my dad lent me his Kindle, loaded with three library books of my choice. Collectively, they turned out to be exactly the right length for my trip. I wanted to mix them up with mysteries, but I didn't get recommendations from the mystery fans in my family in good time. So despite being wary of more fantasies after last time, I picked three fairly promising ones, two of which have minor mystery elements.
The Last Dragonslayer
It was time I gave the reputedly quirky Jasper Fforde a shot. This is not part of the Thursday Next series but a young adult novel, so it didn't take me long to finish.
In a parallel world where magic has always existed but has grown weak over the centuries, 15-year-old nonmagical orphan Jennifer Strange lives in an apartment building for active and retired wizards in the Ununited Kingdoms. On paper, she's just an indentured intern, but after a magical mishap prevents her boss from being there, she basically runs the place -- and believe me, wizards are scatterbrained enough to need a nanny of sorts. Sudden surges in magical prowess coupled with agreeing prophecies strongly suggest that the last dragon on Earth is about to die. When Jennifer meets the official Dragonslayer for answers, he surprises her by appointing her his successor. Although generations of Dragonslayers never had to live up to the title, everyone expects her to do so, much as she hates the prospect.
When I say "expects," I mean not just "anticipates" but "hopes for." It's not that they're afraid of the dragon, who keeps to his own territory behind a force field and shows no sign of treaty violation. They just want to claim the land and treasures as soon as they can. As if the unrighteous avarice of individuals weren't enough, Jennifer's king is fully intent on crossing the land to invade a nearby kingdom without apparent justification. (Sounds familiar.) What's more curious is that the talking dragon himself doesn't act averse to the idea of getting slain.
I'm not keen on stories where someone learns they're fated to perform an act they really don't want. In this case, the focus is so heavy that it threatens to swallow up the rest of the story. And even putting prophecy aside, there are definite curtailments of free will, which limits the value of the perceived injunction against human greed. At least it seems less misanthropic once you understand that the author is not saying that people are normally that bad.
Action? Not as much as the title implies. Most of the heat at the climax is care of the king, not the dragon. Jennifer doesn't fight in the conventional sense, and neither do her companions.
Regardless, there is fun to be had. The satirical look at more or less modern wizards is amusing, especially in what passes for their everyday lives. It's fairly thoughtful with regard to legal implications and whatnot. If you're looking for an innovative premise, perhaps your best bet is the Quarkbeast, Jennifer's rare de facto pet, which looks far more dangerous than it is.
I'm also rather fond of Jennifer herself. Dealt a pretty bad hand in life, she proves awfully capable and responsible for her age. She makes a good friend to her young new apprentice at the complex, and even the most disagreeable tenant will do her a favor under the right circumstances. She's exceptionally resistant to offers of wealth, barring an urgent need. And she never quite gives up on the human race.
I don't know that I'll read the sequel. I'd give higher priority to The Eyre Affair. But the important thing is that I now know I enjoy Fforde.
Exile's Honor
It had been a while since I last tried Mercedes Lackey. This is set in the same universe as Owlflight and Oathbreakers, so we get the same style of animal telepathy. But that and the general high fantasy premises are about where the similarity ends.
Alberich is a military captain loyal to his homeland of Karse, but when he acts on a premonition, however accidentally and beneficially, he gets sentenced to death by fire for sorcery. Emissaries help him escape to the enemy nation of Valdemar, which proves nothing like the propaganda warned. They welcome him in large part because of his innate magic, dubbing him a Herald and letting him bond with Kantor, a Companion (read: sapient horse). There he finds a new life as a combat trainer and later a bodyguard for the princess, which really tests his skills once Karse hires the worst mercenaries for a war against Valdemar.
The trickiest part is not in overcoming his own prejudices against Valdemarans or some of theirs against him (it helps that he never fought Valdemaran forces) but in reconciling his conflicting senses of honor. Alberich wants to help Valdemar as best he can, but he'd hate to raise his sword against former comrades. Nor would they expect that of him. Heck, who welcomes a turncoat, who might just as easily turn back? At no point does Alberich falter in his religion, which is associated far more with Karse than with Valdemar, but he has less and less faith in its priesthood.
There is a fair bit of culture clash beyond the different stances on magic. Even after years in Valdemar, Alberich hasn't mastered the syntax, usually sounding like a slightly stranger Yoda in translation, which sometimes delays comprehension. Valdemar is more egalitarian, and its army is a lot less evocative of Sith values.
Nevertheless, Alberich has little trouble proving his worth. Not long after finally coming out of the burn ward, he's a total beast in fights, cutting student egos down to size. Later, he spends his nights as a vigilante, going to seedy dives to hang troublemakers out to dry. The latter meets less approval, but it still probably helps overall.
This book doesn't have nearly the same pacing issues as the other Lackey works I've read. Well, it doesn't necessarily progress faster, but I didn't get bored. Its scope is major as well as personal, with enough of a fresh focus that I hardly noticed the scarcity of fantastic elements beyond advanced communication (which tends to take the form of Kantor snarking).
Now I feel like I should add another Valdemar entry to my wish list, maybe from another subseries. Or I could check out another Lackey franchise altogether. Anything to reflect my appreciation of this latest read.
Witches Abroad
This was the first Discworld sequel to feature the key magical trio after Wyrd Sisters. A brief description made it sound less macabre than that one. I don't plan to read the entire series, but I'd settle for a harmless entry.
Newer witch Magrat unexpectedly inherits a wand, with the message that she is now fairy godmother to a girl in the distant land of Genua. Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg think there must be some mistake, but Magrat exercises more assertiveness than usual in holding onto it, despite knowing only how to turn things into pumpkins with it. She still accepts their company in traveling to Genua, as well as their guidance with regard to the kinds of stories that keep playing out in their world. Granny grows increasingly concerned about who must be shaping these stories....
Yes, there is a running theme of fairy tales, tho not as many as you might think. They're all super-famous ones in the English-speaking world. And thanks to the trio, whether on purpose or by accident, none of them goes the usual way. If there's a lesson to be taught, it's that happy endings can't be forced.
The other main source of humor is in Granny and Nanny (who still get mixed up in narration sometimes) being unwelcome tourists. Granny has a low regard for anything unfamiliar, and her attitude makes her a nightmare to service industries. Nanny fancies herself well-educated but botches her French all the time; she's more worldly in the sense of drinking and lewdness. And she just had to bring her aggressively perverse cat. Next to them, Magrat is golden.
At the same time, I've come to recognize a little nuance to the characters. For all her unfriendliness, cynicism, and near-villainy, Granny makes a point to bless every home she visits. Magrat wavers in innocence. Nanny sometimes serves as a liaison between the others and sometimes is much closer to Granny. I see this as progress in fleshing them out.
When you're not reading all of Discworld in order of publication, it's hard to guess which of your past reads will enrich your later ones. Obviously, WS prepared me some for WA, but I also benefited from having read Thief of Time and The Fifth Elephant.
I was right to think WA would be one of the more readable entries. It's also the most female-centric, not just with the trio but with secondary characters overall. Looking back, it's funny how the one book I'm reviewing tonight with a male lead is the only one with a female author.
I plan to let Night Watch be my next Discworld read. It was going to be next before, but I don't mind this slight deviation.
Now I'm finally reading a non-fantasy again: This Is How You Make a Movie by Tim Grierson. It was published just last year, so it's very up-to-date, unlike some nonfiction I've reviewed.
The Last Dragonslayer
It was time I gave the reputedly quirky Jasper Fforde a shot. This is not part of the Thursday Next series but a young adult novel, so it didn't take me long to finish.
In a parallel world where magic has always existed but has grown weak over the centuries, 15-year-old nonmagical orphan Jennifer Strange lives in an apartment building for active and retired wizards in the Ununited Kingdoms. On paper, she's just an indentured intern, but after a magical mishap prevents her boss from being there, she basically runs the place -- and believe me, wizards are scatterbrained enough to need a nanny of sorts. Sudden surges in magical prowess coupled with agreeing prophecies strongly suggest that the last dragon on Earth is about to die. When Jennifer meets the official Dragonslayer for answers, he surprises her by appointing her his successor. Although generations of Dragonslayers never had to live up to the title, everyone expects her to do so, much as she hates the prospect.
When I say "expects," I mean not just "anticipates" but "hopes for." It's not that they're afraid of the dragon, who keeps to his own territory behind a force field and shows no sign of treaty violation. They just want to claim the land and treasures as soon as they can. As if the unrighteous avarice of individuals weren't enough, Jennifer's king is fully intent on crossing the land to invade a nearby kingdom without apparent justification. (Sounds familiar.) What's more curious is that the talking dragon himself doesn't act averse to the idea of getting slain.
I'm not keen on stories where someone learns they're fated to perform an act they really don't want. In this case, the focus is so heavy that it threatens to swallow up the rest of the story. And even putting prophecy aside, there are definite curtailments of free will, which limits the value of the perceived injunction against human greed. At least it seems less misanthropic once you understand that the author is not saying that people are normally that bad.
Action? Not as much as the title implies. Most of the heat at the climax is care of the king, not the dragon. Jennifer doesn't fight in the conventional sense, and neither do her companions.
Regardless, there is fun to be had. The satirical look at more or less modern wizards is amusing, especially in what passes for their everyday lives. It's fairly thoughtful with regard to legal implications and whatnot. If you're looking for an innovative premise, perhaps your best bet is the Quarkbeast, Jennifer's rare de facto pet, which looks far more dangerous than it is.
I'm also rather fond of Jennifer herself. Dealt a pretty bad hand in life, she proves awfully capable and responsible for her age. She makes a good friend to her young new apprentice at the complex, and even the most disagreeable tenant will do her a favor under the right circumstances. She's exceptionally resistant to offers of wealth, barring an urgent need. And she never quite gives up on the human race.
I don't know that I'll read the sequel. I'd give higher priority to The Eyre Affair. But the important thing is that I now know I enjoy Fforde.
Exile's Honor
It had been a while since I last tried Mercedes Lackey. This is set in the same universe as Owlflight and Oathbreakers, so we get the same style of animal telepathy. But that and the general high fantasy premises are about where the similarity ends.
Alberich is a military captain loyal to his homeland of Karse, but when he acts on a premonition, however accidentally and beneficially, he gets sentenced to death by fire for sorcery. Emissaries help him escape to the enemy nation of Valdemar, which proves nothing like the propaganda warned. They welcome him in large part because of his innate magic, dubbing him a Herald and letting him bond with Kantor, a Companion (read: sapient horse). There he finds a new life as a combat trainer and later a bodyguard for the princess, which really tests his skills once Karse hires the worst mercenaries for a war against Valdemar.
The trickiest part is not in overcoming his own prejudices against Valdemarans or some of theirs against him (it helps that he never fought Valdemaran forces) but in reconciling his conflicting senses of honor. Alberich wants to help Valdemar as best he can, but he'd hate to raise his sword against former comrades. Nor would they expect that of him. Heck, who welcomes a turncoat, who might just as easily turn back? At no point does Alberich falter in his religion, which is associated far more with Karse than with Valdemar, but he has less and less faith in its priesthood.
There is a fair bit of culture clash beyond the different stances on magic. Even after years in Valdemar, Alberich hasn't mastered the syntax, usually sounding like a slightly stranger Yoda in translation, which sometimes delays comprehension. Valdemar is more egalitarian, and its army is a lot less evocative of Sith values.
Nevertheless, Alberich has little trouble proving his worth. Not long after finally coming out of the burn ward, he's a total beast in fights, cutting student egos down to size. Later, he spends his nights as a vigilante, going to seedy dives to hang troublemakers out to dry. The latter meets less approval, but it still probably helps overall.
This book doesn't have nearly the same pacing issues as the other Lackey works I've read. Well, it doesn't necessarily progress faster, but I didn't get bored. Its scope is major as well as personal, with enough of a fresh focus that I hardly noticed the scarcity of fantastic elements beyond advanced communication (which tends to take the form of Kantor snarking).
Now I feel like I should add another Valdemar entry to my wish list, maybe from another subseries. Or I could check out another Lackey franchise altogether. Anything to reflect my appreciation of this latest read.
Witches Abroad
This was the first Discworld sequel to feature the key magical trio after Wyrd Sisters. A brief description made it sound less macabre than that one. I don't plan to read the entire series, but I'd settle for a harmless entry.
Newer witch Magrat unexpectedly inherits a wand, with the message that she is now fairy godmother to a girl in the distant land of Genua. Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg think there must be some mistake, but Magrat exercises more assertiveness than usual in holding onto it, despite knowing only how to turn things into pumpkins with it. She still accepts their company in traveling to Genua, as well as their guidance with regard to the kinds of stories that keep playing out in their world. Granny grows increasingly concerned about who must be shaping these stories....
Yes, there is a running theme of fairy tales, tho not as many as you might think. They're all super-famous ones in the English-speaking world. And thanks to the trio, whether on purpose or by accident, none of them goes the usual way. If there's a lesson to be taught, it's that happy endings can't be forced.
The other main source of humor is in Granny and Nanny (who still get mixed up in narration sometimes) being unwelcome tourists. Granny has a low regard for anything unfamiliar, and her attitude makes her a nightmare to service industries. Nanny fancies herself well-educated but botches her French all the time; she's more worldly in the sense of drinking and lewdness. And she just had to bring her aggressively perverse cat. Next to them, Magrat is golden.
At the same time, I've come to recognize a little nuance to the characters. For all her unfriendliness, cynicism, and near-villainy, Granny makes a point to bless every home she visits. Magrat wavers in innocence. Nanny sometimes serves as a liaison between the others and sometimes is much closer to Granny. I see this as progress in fleshing them out.
When you're not reading all of Discworld in order of publication, it's hard to guess which of your past reads will enrich your later ones. Obviously, WS prepared me some for WA, but I also benefited from having read Thief of Time and The Fifth Elephant.
I was right to think WA would be one of the more readable entries. It's also the most female-centric, not just with the trio but with secondary characters overall. Looking back, it's funny how the one book I'm reviewing tonight with a male lead is the only one with a female author.
I plan to let Night Watch be my next Discworld read. It was going to be next before, but I don't mind this slight deviation.
Now I'm finally reading a non-fantasy again: This Is How You Make a Movie by Tim Grierson. It was published just last year, so it's very up-to-date, unlike some nonfiction I've reviewed.