Books 2011: in a galaxy far, far away
Aug. 5th, 2011 08:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hawkwing_lbBooks 2011: 112-113
112. David Drake, Out of the Waters.
Drake's latest fantasy is the sequel to last year's Legions of Fire. In this volume, the protagonists must face another sorcerous threat to the city of Carce, their lives, and their world. The danger this time is the monster Typhon and inhabitants of a skew-dimensional Atlantis, and both set up and payoff is entertaining.
Drake's new Elements of Fire series bears passing resemblence to his previous Lord of the Isles series in both metaphysics and tone. I enjoyed the Isles books (up until the concluding pages), but the similarities are striking. Party separation, dimension-crossing monsters, wizards from the edge of the world - and the recurring prominence of the jungle/bizarre forest as a place to travel through while pursuing or fleeing magical threats.
His Carce - Rome in all but name, down to visiting Greek philosophers from Alexandria - is solid and appealingly Roman-like. His characters, too, despite the similarities I keep noticing to characters in the Isles series, are well-constructed people.
All in all, an enjoyable read, if not a stand-out one.
113. Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Choices of One.
Despite my dislike of the direction the Star Wars Expanded Universe has taken in recent years, Timothy Zahn still writes most excellent space adventure, in Lucas's playground or out of it.
Choices of One takes place between Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. It involves treacherous governors, snarky Han Solo, and young!Admiral Thrawn. It made me happy.
112. David Drake, Out of the Waters.
Drake's latest fantasy is the sequel to last year's Legions of Fire. In this volume, the protagonists must face another sorcerous threat to the city of Carce, their lives, and their world. The danger this time is the monster Typhon and inhabitants of a skew-dimensional Atlantis, and both set up and payoff is entertaining.
Drake's new Elements of Fire series bears passing resemblence to his previous Lord of the Isles series in both metaphysics and tone. I enjoyed the Isles books (up until the concluding pages), but the similarities are striking. Party separation, dimension-crossing monsters, wizards from the edge of the world - and the recurring prominence of the jungle/bizarre forest as a place to travel through while pursuing or fleeing magical threats.
His Carce - Rome in all but name, down to visiting Greek philosophers from Alexandria - is solid and appealingly Roman-like. His characters, too, despite the similarities I keep noticing to characters in the Isles series, are well-constructed people.
All in all, an enjoyable read, if not a stand-out one.
113. Timothy Zahn, Star Wars: Choices of One.
Despite my dislike of the direction the Star Wars Expanded Universe has taken in recent years, Timothy Zahn still writes most excellent space adventure, in Lucas's playground or out of it.
Choices of One takes place between Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. It involves treacherous governors, snarky Han Solo, and young!Admiral Thrawn. It made me happy.
