The Diamond Throne / David Eddings

The Diamond Throne

(Elenium 1 of 3)

by David Eddings

fantasy

copyright 1989

read in June 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

There on the cover it states, clearly, "book one". Yes, this is the first book of a trilogy. Excellent: an honest publisher !

Better yet -- the book can be read by itself. Okay, there is a lot of unfinished business. Yet the end is reasonable... Definitely "to be continued" but not a ridiculous cliff-hanger.

Part of the satisfaction is due to the style of the book, a weakness, in fact. The book is a rollicking adventure, a series of action scenes related by a quest. Action, humour, sword & sorcery -- good development of the plot but not too much suspense. The question is not, Will they succeed? rather, How will they succeed.

I reach the end of this book -- a brand-new plot development is revealed -- I am perfectly happy with what has happened so far. I am not desperate to read book two... but I definitely want to read book two.

The plot itself is well developed but simple. Full of lucky coincidences and simple, strong-arm solutions. Nothing wrong with that :-)

At the beginning, though, I am confused. The hero is returning home, after ten years in exile. Is there an earlier book? One which describes the reason for the exile? There is so much reference to backstory that it is hard for me to believe that this is really "book one". But... as far as I can tell... it is.

There is a lot of backstory, a lot of world -- characters, geography, politics, history -- that seems to be assumed. After a while, this is not a problem. Much of the backstory is gradually revealed. And the story is good fun -- regardless of knowing "what came before".

This is a wham-bam adventure, with pleasant characters acting humorously and heroically. The plot is like a Russian doll, with depths revealed within complex depths. I'm sure that most of the problems will be resolved by use of a sword and a strong right arm :-)

A very enjoyable book, lots of fun, I look forward to reading books two and three.

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19mar23: Read it again...

It's a lot of fun. Some cunning plans. Lots of solving problems by violence or by lucky coincidence. Likeable characters (as characters... perhaps less pleasant if you really meet them).

Not many characters that gain my sympathy. The hero, and most major characters, are so tough and self-assured that you know that they will look after themselves... or be happy to give their lives in a good cause.

It is a small number of minor support characters that I care about: Nice people, not so tough, they could easily be accidental damage. But the book is not about characters... it is entertaining, solid action, sword and sorcery. And a lot of fun.

Oh... though the descriptions of the desert prophetsare perhaps less-than-acceptable in these enlightened times.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"What a trial it is to submit to the whim of fools." … Captain Trumane, The Waking Fire

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

The Deed of Paksenarrion / Elizabeth Moon

The Deed of Paksenarrion

by Elizabeth Moon

fantasy

books 2 & 3:

(2) Divided Allegiance

copyright 1988, read in May 2018

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

(3) Oath of Gold

copyright 1989, read in June 2018

rated 5/10: readable but only if there's nothing else

... and entirely dependent on the first two books

These two books follow on from Sheepfarmer's Daughter. Daughter can be read by itself. Allegiance can also be read alone, though the ending would be a cliffhanger. Satisfactory but a cliffhanger. Oath makes very little sense by itself, it develops and wraps up the plot of the trilogy. It does, however, leave plenty of room for more books starring "Paks".

Daughter is distinctly a "military" fantasy, the story of soldiers obeying orders. In order to stand out -- to show her initiative -- Paks must be separated from officers.

Allegiance has a few big fights -- but is not "military". The fights are skirmishes rather than battles. Yes, the goodies use formation fighting -- sometimes -- but the enemy are a rabble. Then there is a lot of one-on-one fighting. Plus more involvement of magic.

This second book has a lot more magic. Most of it is fighting magic, mage versus sword-fighter, or healing magic. The heroine begins to call on her patron saint -- and to be answered.

The third book, Oath of Gold, describes the way in which the heroine learns to follow her patron saint, more and more closely. She loses a lot of her ability to think independently; she becomes a sword in the hand of the gods. Yes, it's a logical progression for the trilogy. I prefer characters with an independent will.

The three "Paks" books are enjoyable but progressively less so. The heroine begins as a fighter with some "lucky" breaks. She ends as a weapon being controlled by the gods.

The initial military fantasy, describing humans at war, progressively expands to involve dwarves and elves. And gods-driven heroines.

The real cause of the gradual loss of enjoyment is the increasing level of description of the world. Every road, every house, every tree, all seem to be described. Every fighter, every lord and lady, all are named and related to everyone else. I soon gave up trying to track characters.

I have the feeling that Moon tried to create a world as real as Tolkein's Middle Earth. It is certainly complete, I find it less interesting. And more intrusive.

Finally -- particularly in the third book -- the characters spend more time talking than doing. They can't just pull out the magic sword and say, okay, this person will be king. Noooo... they must first discuss all possibilities, plan a magic-sword-pulling ceremony, name every important person who must be invited to the ceremony... It goes on and on!

All of the points discussed may be important. Certainly, pulling the sword does not end the problems. I just wonder if it could be done with... less words.

I enjoyed the series. The books simply lose some of their excitement as the action is down-played and the mysticism gains prominence. Too little human effort, too much deus ex machina. And the final torture scene could -- in my opinion -- have been less explicit and still as effective.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"That which does not kill us does not kill us." … attributed to Conan the Barbarian

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

The Malice / Peter Newman

The Malice

("Malice" #2)

by Peter Newman

fantasy

copyright 2016

read in May 2018

rated 8/10: really quite good

It's an old cliche: young innocent finds magic sword, takes sword to defeat major evil, uses sword to become super-warrior. The sword, of course has a name. In this case, it is suitably menacing: "The Malice". All so tried and true.

So why does our sweet and innocent heroine take a young goat on her adventures?!

This book is no cliche sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Coming of age... learning about the reality of the world... avoiding the cliche of becoming what she is not. This is a delightful -- yet unavoidably violent -- adventure with a heroine who remains as sweet as the girl next door.

The world itself is near enough to unique. A science fiction world being slowly destroyed by a fantasy evil. Being slowly rebuilt by the possibilities of fantasy. Fascinating :-)

This is a follow-on book; I have not read the first (The Vagrant). I have the suspicion that Vagrant was more cliched, with the hero using the sword to become a monster-killing warrior... or perhaps not. There are certainly revelations that -- I believe -- shed new light on events from book one. Perhaps (to extend my guessing), to show that battle and death is not as simple as portrayed in book one.

So Malice is book two -- with clear leads into book three -- yet it is easy to read alone. Perhaps some characters would be familiar from Vagrant? It doesn't matter. This world is just asking for more adventures; yet this adventure has absolute closure.

Oh, and the goat plays an essential role. Throughout the book.

This is a really good book -- a continuation which is well able to be read as a standalone novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Malice.

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20 Jan 20: I've just reread The Malice... and enjoyed it again. Just as much. Possibly more.

First I read Malice, book two. Then I read Vagrant, did not recognise it as book one to Malice but did recognise similarities. Plagiarism? I thought... silly me!

Now -- with a clearer mind -- I think that Malice is a better book than Vagrant. I have no plan to confirm that by rereading Vagrant... though... Vagrant may be better -- or clearer -- after Malice... interesting thought. I shall try to resist :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"I know so little that it astonishes me how many people know even less." … per Ginger Meggs

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

Blood in the Ashes / Chris Morphew

Blood in the Ashes

(Phoenix Files #2)

by Chris Morphew

subadult, science fiction

copyright 2015

read in May 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

This book is aimed at high school students who are willing to accept death and violence. Not that it's over the top. Just that it happens. Perhaps it's like a story set in WW2 Europe: the violence happens, it is what happens.

What happens is ... adventure. Non-stop, some sudden shifts, a plot which develops. With likeable characters and some you would want to like, but can't. And the standard range of characters who must be trusted though with reluctance.

I missed the first book but it only took a while to work out what was happening; that's good. It would be harder to read only the third book, the cast has expanded in this volume.

I was confused by this being "volume 2", with online reference to *six* books in the series. Not to worry, the books have been published (this edition) as two "books" per volume. So the series should finish in volume three.

The science is -- as far as I can tell -- based largely on some as-yet unexplained natural phenomenon, which edges the book into fantasy... Volume three may explain more.

The big brother sees all, controls all -- yet the heroes can work around it. It can be unbelievable but not enough to spoil the fun.

I dislike the cliffhanger ending, even without it I would want to read more. Nevertheless, an enjoyable book. Well worth reading, for young (not too young) and old.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"I know so little that it astonishes me how many people know even less." … per Ginger Meggs

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

The Island will Sink / Briohny Doyle

The Island will Sink

by Briohny Doyle

fantasy, dystopia

copyright 2016

started reading May 2018

rated 5/10: readable but only if there's nothing else

A future where all our ecological fears are reality. Where big brother enforces environmental protection and children dob in their parents. Dystopia.

I've met the main character. And his children, and a friend. Disliked them all, though that may be the fault of their society. The small amount of brain held by the main character has been severely and regularly washed.

I have the feeling that the author's intent is to show how badly we -- now -- treat the environment. A message which could be sampled and enjoyed in small amounts, like truffles. Instead, it has been slathered on like marmalade.

The stronger message is, how badly we could treat ourselves, if justified by a need to save the environment. Or if justified by the excuse, because we can.

I've not read very much of this book. I recognise that yes, this is a dystopia. I see no sign (so far) that anyone is pushing for improvement. What else is there to enjoy in this book? Nothing, as far as I can tell.

I'm perhaps 50 pages into the pretentious "establishing shot". I stop reading.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"I know so little that it astonishes me how many people know even less." … per Ginger Meggs

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

Shadow of Victory / David Weber

Shadow of Victory 

(Honorverse #15)

(or possibly Honor Harrington et al #26)

by David Weber

military science fiction, fansonly

copyright 2016

read (partly) in May 2017

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

"Honorverse", I thought. I enjoyed Honor Harrington books, this should be okay. Until I realise, this may be the universe of HH -- but she has been killed, a year before the setting for this book. Oh.

It's still an interesting universe. Complex, well developed, good characters. Unfortunately I have no idea who these characters are. Nor where -- on which planet -- they are operating. Worse yet, I have no idea if any of them are "goodies".

There are certainly baddies. At least two planets with potential rebellions against evil rulers. There are some people on a spaceship who seem to be goodies -- but I can't be sure. These possible goodies have, by page 143, had short shrift in terms of dedicated words... That is, many chapters developing rebels and baddies, just one (or two?) for the goodies. And, since I am not really sure that they *are* goodies -- I find it very difficult to support them.

Worse yet, each faction has a dozen or more supporters. Sometimes in a large staff meeting, sometimes in several clandestine meetings. All very confusing. Especially since I have met none of them before.

This is a book for the fans. If you have been following the story-so-far, this is probably a fascinating and exciting development. Fascinating, exciting and complex, in a very complex universe.

I prefer my books to stand alone. Even as part of a series, some authors manage to write books which do not require all earlier books to have been read. Not that this "just a chapter in the saga" approach is bad! But it makes it very difficult to read just this book.

I've enjoyed what I have read (about 12% of the book) but I am still, totally, uninvolved.

If you are a series fan, read and enjoy. If you are not up-to-date with earlier books in this series -- go back and start reading somewhere earlier in the series. Bearing in mind that there appears to be fourteen earlier books in this particular series. And another eleven books which develop these same universe.

Hard to read, still interesting, not be be read without serious pre-reading.

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28feb20: I pick up this book, start reading... and quickly realise that yes, I have read it before. It's confusing, so I go back to this review to see what I thought on the first reading. See if it's worth re-reading... all 1,000-plus pages of it.

Oh, on the first attempt I reached only page 143, not a good sign. Still, I enjoy the wow-so-macho first chapter so... I restart my reading at page 143. And give up again.

I recognise these characters from my first reading, I think that they are goodies. They even mention the Mr Macho from the start of the book -- I've been wondering what happened to him. Then they continue ship repairs that are required after -- I guess -- action in the previous book.

A ship's captain goes off to meet... someone. I suspect that I could get to like the captain and crew of this ship. I suspect they are the goodies. I also suspect that they are part of a major military organisation which is less good.

That's a theme that I've found before, in the little that I've read of this book: good people working for corrupt organisations. It's a good theme. Yet it makes it very hard -- without having read earlier books -- to have any idea of what's really happening.

This is probably an enjoyable book -- if you enjoy military science fiction -- and if you have read all previous books in the series. Still too confusing to read by itself. I stop reading.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Christianity did a lot for love by making it a sin." ... Anatole France

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

Ascendance / John Birmingham

Ascendance

(Dave Hooper vs The Monsters #3)

by John Birmingham

fantasy, humour

copyright 2015

read in May 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

I start reading this book and think, Where is all the mindless violence? And why are we getting so many chapters from the "Monster" perspective? The Monster chapters, in fact, seem to be a bit less than exciting.

Then the book starts to pull itself together.

There is violence, just not so mindless... Well, for a chapter or two. By the end of the book the dead bodies -- and parts, and blood and squishy bits -- are piled so high that movement becomes difficult. All part of the fun of this series! As long as you see it as cartoonish violence: stomach churning but generally accepted as being socially acceptable.

After two previous books which focus on "The Dave", the Monster chapters seem out of place. Then they fall into place. They are also a large source of the humour of this book. Some of the human action is also funny, in a satirical way, but my liking for The Dave blunts the edge of some of the human humour.

Overall, this book is more than a continuation. It expands and builds on the war against the Monsters. It also shifts the style of conflict -- in a logical way -- so that the story is developing, rather than simply continuing.

The whole thing is nonsensical, violent fantasy. Underpinned by my liking of and sympathy and support for the main character. With a plot which grows.

This is escapist fantasy, with violence and humour. Yet it is much more than *mindless* escapist fantasy. If you want not-so-simple escapism, this book is well worth reading.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Christianity did a lot for love by making it a sin." ... Anatole France

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/