Pullman has done it again--writing a beautifully-realized and appealing story set in Lyra's universe. This tale is from a young Lee Scoresby's point oPullman has done it again--writing a beautifully-realized and appealing story set in Lyra's universe. This tale is from a young Lee Scoresby's point of view. Small-town tensions, barroom brawls, and women who aren't quite what they seem at first all have their place, as do the armored bears. In fact, this includes the story of how Lee and Iorek first met--in a scene appropriate to their unique personalities....more
Lois is doing it again! A beautifully realized fantasy world realistic in its horrors and beauties; well-rounded characters that surprise you; an intrLois is doing it again! A beautifully realized fantasy world realistic in its horrors and beauties; well-rounded characters that surprise you; an intriguing plot; and a romantic newly-married couple having typical difficulties amidst their extraordinary lives. This volume moves slower and is less compelling than the previous two but is still an absorbing read....more
A wonderful array of original stories, often taking a remarkably radical new take on fantasy standards such as werewolves and the Cinderella fairy talA wonderful array of original stories, often taking a remarkably radical new take on fantasy standards such as werewolves and the Cinderella fairy tale. Deeply human stories, often with humor though usually of a dark sort. If you enjoy intense dark fantasy, suspense and horror with detailed characters, this is for you!
I met Susan Palwick at a science-fiction club meeting just as her first book was coming out and sat next to her afterward at the diner, talking about her involvement with starting a graduate-students' union at Yale (where she was a master's candidate in English at the time) and about life in general. I liked her instinctively and while I never read the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed her The Necessary Beggar--amazingly original and rich science fiction--and the few short stories I've read by her. This anthology shows she hasn't lost her touch.
Side note: the preface, which is by SF author Paul di Filippo, has an awesome phrase: "unless and until some uper-techonogical 'Rapture of the Nerds' rewrites the fatal certainties of the entirety of human existence..." (I'm waiting for that Rapture!)...more
This one's as good as His Majesty's Dragon. The Chinese government has discovered that Temeraire was rerouted from France to England (as we learned inThis one's as good as His Majesty's Dragon. The Chinese government has discovered that Temeraire was rerouted from France to England (as we learned in the first book) and have come to rescue their Celestial Dragon from the fate of being owned by a mere naval captain and not the Emperor Napoleon. And there lies the first conflict of the story! Interactions between the English and Chinese are strained, and interactions between the Chinese and Temeraire are...interesting. More intrigue, more sea travel, more excellent narratives of radically different cultures meeting to result in chaos and "learning experiences" of varied sorts, and fortunately a lot more of Temeraire and his intelligent and forthright opinions!...more
In this story, set in early 1800s Europe, dragons have been raised and trained for around the world for cenA "dragon fantasy" with a bit of a twist...
In this story, set in early 1800s Europe, dragons have been raised and trained for around the world for centuries, mostly as part of a sort of air corps. The tale (this is the first in a multibook series, not surprisingly) centers around Laurence, a naval officer who unexpectedly finds himself part of the dragon corps and "his" dragon, Temeraire.
The two develop a close relationship, which for me is one of the best parts of the story. I'm not so interested in the battles but in the personalities of the dragons and humans....more
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