Recent Readings (and other literary talk)

[Necron 99]

Thanks for all of the info, I'll look for some of specific books or series that you've mentioned. I'm going to assume not, but by any chance did you keep a copy of your thesis and have Moorcock sign it? That would be epic.

Took another pause in listening to my LotR audio book in favor of starting something new. I decided to start listening to Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International. A couple chapters in and I'm really enjoying it.

Five days after Owen Zastava Pitt pushed his insufferable boss out of a fourteenth story window, he woke up in the hospital with a scarred face, an unbelievable memory, and a job offer.

It turns out that monsters are real. All the things from myth, legend, and B-movies are out there, waiting in the shadows. Officially secret, some of them are evil, and some are just hungry. On the other side are the people who kill monsters for a living. Monster Hunter International is the premier eradication company in the business. And now Owen is their newest recruit.

It’s actually a pretty sweet gig, except for one little problem. An ancient entity known as the Cursed One has returned to settle a centuries old vendetta. Should the Cursed One succeed, it means the end of the world, and MHI is the only thing standing in his way. With the clock ticking towards Armageddon, Owen finds himself trapped between legions of undead minions, belligerent federal agents, a cryptic ghost who has taken up residence inside his head, and the cursed family of the woman he loves.

Business is good . . .

And, after finishing Darkwalker on Moonshae on my Kobo, I started another fantasy series, Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams, with the first book, The Dragonbone Chair. Really enjoying this book too, interesting characters and story.

A war fueled by the powers of dark sorcery is about to engulf the peaceful land of Osten Ard—for Prester John, the High King, lies dying. And with his death, the Storm King, the undead ruler of the elf-like Sithi, seizes the chance to regain his lost realm through a pact with the newly ascended king. Knowing the consequences of this bargain, the king’s younger brother joins with a small, scattered group of scholars, the League of the Scroll, to confront the true danger threatening Osten Ard.

Simon, a kitchen boy from the royal castle unknowingly apprenticed to a member of this League, will be sent on a quest that offers the only hope of salvation, a deadly riddle concerning long-lost swords of power. Compelled by fate and perilous magics, he must leave the only home he’s ever known and face enemies more terrifying than Osten Ard has ever seen, even as the land itself begins to die.

[grodog]

Thanks for all of the info, I'll look for some of specific books or series that you've mentioned. I'm going to assume not, but by any chance did you keep a copy of your thesis and have Moorcock sign it? That would be epic.

LOL, I have not. I haven’t reread it since high school or perhaps college, in part because I assume it’s relatively trite and full of drivel

Allan.

[Necron 99]

I'm still continuing to listen and read both of the books I mentioned above. I have to say though, I Monster Hunter International, as quickly moved into my top 5 books of all time. I sorta knew what to expect for the overall plot of the book, folks hunting down monsters, probably stopping some big bad from ending the world, etc. but had no idea just how fun the book was going to be. Parts that made me laugh out loud, parts that made may say, "oh shi...", a plethora of different critters ranging from fantasy to horror. Mystery and underlying subplots. I've been listening to it on audio book during walks, it's narrated by Oliver Wyman, a voice actor known for voicing several characters from animated shows and has narrated a multitude of books. I think listening to the book lends itself to a lot of my enjoyment. Reading it would have been good, but the character voices really bring the book to life. I also love certain parts where characters make in-story references to both Tolkien and Lovecraft. Just really great all around.

I think the biggest complaint I've read about the book, is the amount of gun-porn within the pages. The author has an extensive knowledge of weaponry, especially firearms and it shows. It only occasionally crops up and while listening, it's easy enough to let it just glide by. I could see how reading it would be something of a slog or snooze for anyone that isn't as up on guns and such. Still, I didn't find it jarring or annoying, some aspects of the weapons made for good details during fight scenes.

As for The Dragonbone Chair, it too, has been a good read as well. I'm about halfway through the book, reading on lunch breaks and some free time. It has a different take on some of the fantasy tropes found in most other books or series. The overall mystery and plot are somewhat of a slow burn, it's just now starting to pick up the pace and shed light on what is really going on.

[Necron 99]

Finished up the audio book for MHI, it was a really fun book. I'm looking forward to listening to the next one somewhere down the line. I will take a break though, for whatever reason, trying to binge anything burns me out, I prefer to break up anything in series, books, movies, tv, etc.

Still reading through The Dragonbone Chair, about 75% done with it. Still a good fantasy read in my opinion, curious to see how the latter part of the story plays out and how it leads into the next book. Not sure if I'll jump into something else or if I'll pick back up with book two.

[Ancalagon]

No surprise for me but I've been on a Richard the Lionheart (aka Coeur de Lion) kick lately.
I hit two audio books (#s 4 and 5) by Sharon Kay Penman in her Plantagenets series 2023 and very much enjoyed them.

#4 is Lionheart
A.D. 1189. After the death of his father, Henry II, and the early demise of two of his brothers, Richard is crowned King of England and immediately sets off for the Holy Land. This is the Third Crusade, marked by internecine warfare among the Christians and extraordinary campaigns against the Saracens. Richard’s surviving brother, the younger John, is left behind—and conspires with the French king to steal his brother’s throne. Only their mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, now freed from decades of captivity, remains to protect Richard’s interests and secure his destiny.

In this engrossing saga, Sharon Kay Penman delivers a novel of passion, intrigue, battle, and deceit. Lionheart is a sweeping tale of a heroic figure—feared by his enemies and beloved by those he commanded—who became a legend in his own lifetime.

#5 is A King's Ransom
November 1192. After his bloody crusade in the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Richard and his crew are overcome by a sudden storm, its fierce winds propelling the ship onto the Sicilian shore. But this misfortune is just the beginning. Forced to make a dangerous choice, Richard finds himself in enemy territory, where he is captured—in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders—and handed over to the Holy Roman Emperor. Imprisoned in the notorious fortress at Trifels, from which few ever leave alive, Richard, for the first time in his life, experiences pure, visceral fear—while his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, moves heaven and earth to secure his release. Amid betrayals, intrigues, infidelities, wars, and illness, Richard’s courage and intelligence will become legend.

I'm in the middle of another Lionheart book by Ben Kane.
1179. Henry II is King of England, Wales, Ireland, Normandy, Brittany and Aquitaine. The House of Plantagenet reigns supreme.

But there is unrest in Henry's house. Not for the first time, his family talks of rebellion.

Ferdia - an Irish nobleman taken captive during the conquest of his homeland - saves the life of Richard, the king's son. In reward for his bravery, he is made squire to Richard, who is already a renowned warrior.

Crossing the English Channel, the two are plunged into a campaign to crush rebels in Aquitaine. The bloody battles and gruelling sieges which followed would earn Richard the legendary name of Lionheart.

But Richard's older brother, Henry, is infuriated by his sibling's newfound fame. Soon it becomes clear that the biggest threat to Richard's life may not be rebel or French armies, but his own family...

This one is a bit different as it is set well before Richard assumes the throne and is told from the perspective of one Richard's followers, quite similar to how Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles trilogy was written. And let me just put this put here: I highly recommend Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles for a new take on the King Arthur story that is grounded in a more realistic feeling setting!

As for what book will come after Kane's Lionheart, I can't say. I've been pondering some HP Lovecraft and revisiting Dumas' Three Musketeers since I've not read that since '95. Time will tell...

[Necron 99]

Well, to date, I'm still reading through The Dragonbone Chair, I should have been done with it by now, but I took a break from reading it to read through other RPG related material.

On the audio book front, though, I've zipped through the first four books of the Monster Hunter International series and quite enjoyed them, the first and third being my favorites so far. I started the fifth book but an hour or so in I realized I've become a bit burned out on the series now, so I've dropped that one for now and started a new audio book series.

When I was a kid I read a book from our local library called, The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper. At the time, I didn't realize it was a series and I don't really recall much about the book except for a few foggy details. Anyhow, a few years back, I saw the full collection of the series at the book store and picked it up with the intention of eventually reading the whole thing. So far I'd not gotten around to them, but wanting something different from my previous audio book series, I've started listening to the first book, Over Sea, Under Stone. The series is set in locations around the UK and with the narrator having an accent for such a region, it reminds me of listening to The Lord of the Rings.

On holiday in Cornwall, the three children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that--the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their lives in peril.

The entire series is comprised of five books:

• Over Sea, Under Stone
• The Dark Is Rising
• Greenwitch
• The Grey King
• Silver on the Tree

[grodog]

I’ve been reading Aliette de Bodard’s Xuya Universe books of late, as I’ve been on a SF binge: https://www.aliettedebodard.com/bibliog ... e-of-xuya/

So far I’ve been reading the novellas, which are quick fun reads filled with all sorts of interesting far-future cultural artifacts. Good stuff!

Allan.

[Ancalagon]

Just finished Agincourt, a standalone novel by Bernard Cornwell. I heartily recommend it, especially if you've interest in historical fiction blended with fact. Agincourt is the 8th novel by Bernard Cornwell I've read and/or listened to on audio. Mr. Cornwell is a great storyteller!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3276012-agincourt

[grodog]

Thanks for all of the info, I'll look for some of specific books or series that you've mentioned. I'm going to assume not, but by any chance did you keep a copy of your thesis and have Moorcock sign it? That would be epic.

LOL, I have not. I haven’t reread it since high school or perhaps college, in part because I assume it’s relatively trite and full of drivel

Well, while rummaging around in my Moorcock fandom files, for better or worse I found my printed thesis folder

Allan.

[Necron 99]

I finally finished up Stone of Farewell, I enjoyed the second book just as much and more than the first. The first is a slow burn, building up and setting the stage, the second book builds on top of the first, adds more actions, more interesting scenes, and some new characters. I'll start the third book, To Green Angel Tower soon, I'm looking forward to seeing how the trilogy ends and the final outcome of the characters.

It's been a long time since I've read another fantasy series that held my interest.