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From: Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: Re: Highlights and Lowlights - August 2024
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 2024 17:25:13 -0400
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On 9/5/24 10:35 PM, Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:
> In article <vbanc2$hre$1@dont-email.me>,
> Tony Nance  <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Highlights and Lowlights - August 2024
>>
>> Books are rated using a very primitive rating system:
>> “+” are good, and more “+” are better
>> “-”  are not good, and more “-”  are worse
>>
>> I’m happy to answer questions about anything here.
>>
>> Highlights - The Sagara and the Andrews. I think these folks simply
>> write stuff that I like.
>>
>> Lowlights - Kinship with the Stars - Poul Anderson (collection)
>>
>> Here’s a quick summary of what’s more in-depth below:
>> ( ++ ) The Man in the Maze - Silverberg
>> ( ++ - - ) Kinship with the Stars - Anderson (collection)
>> ( +++ ) Sweep of the Blade - Andrews [Innkeeper Chronicles #4]
>> ( ++ 1/2 ) Majestrum - Hughes [Henghis Hapthorn]
>> ( ++ 1/2 - ) Winter’s Gifts - Aaronovitch [Rivers of London novella]
>> ( +++ ) Cast in Oblivion - Sagara [Elantra #14]
>> ( ++ 1/2 ) A Fire in the Sun - Effinger [Marid Audran #2]
>>
>>
>> Now Reading:
>> Long work - The Stainless Steel Rat - Harrison
>> Collection - The Best Time Travel Stories Of All Time ed. by Malzberg
>>
>> ===========================================
>> August 2024
>>
>>
>> ( +++ ) Sweep of the Blade - Andrews [Innkeeper Chronicles #4]
>> Fun! This one is 100% focused on Dina’s sister Maud and her daughter
>> Helen, and it takes place on vampire Arland’s home world. I was a little
>> bummed to have no Dina, no Inns, and no Earth, but this is a very
>> enjoyable entry in the series. Arland has proposed marriage to Maud, and
>> she has deferred, pending a visit to his home world. Maud has to
>> (re-)navigate vampire politics and aggression while making sure she &
>> Helen stay safe. Arland’s family is very unhappy with Maud’s deferral
>> and they test the heck out of her, in ways only these vampires can. In
>> parallel, Maud uncovers a serious threat to Arland’s entire home world,
>> and things race ahead from there.
>>
> 
> This is the only one of yours I've read, and it is actually my favorite
> Innkeeper book.  I wouldn't mind another one, tying Maud's story in with
> Diana's, perhaps in finally finding their parents.  I guess Andrews will
> be going in another direction for a while though (and good on them for
> landing that deal!)

Yeah, this one was indeed very enjoyable - my being bummed was just the 
initial realization, and I got over it very quickly.

And yes, very happy for them - I think I've enjoyed everything I've read 
of theirs.


>> ( ++ 1/2 ) Majestrum - Hughes [Henghis Hapthorn]
>> Henghis Hapthorn is Old Earth’s foremost “discriminator” (i.e.
>> investigator), using a sharp intellect, astute powers of observation,
>> and the best technology of the age to aid his case-solving. When the
>> harrowing (but otherwise successful) outcome of a previous case
>> transforms his almost-AI aide into a living creature, and also
>> transforms his intuitional self into a separate being inside his head,
>> Henghis realizes that the rational universe is giving way to an emerging
>> magical one - where his intuitional alter-ego will shine, but where he,
>> the rational one, will fall into the background. The two cases he finds
>> himself on (one from the Archon himself) are part and parcel of this
>> universe transition, and Henghis gets pulled into it quite deeply.
>> Hughes’ writing in the Archonate universe reminds me greatly of Vance’s
>> Gaean Reach. Very enjoyable.
> 
> Interesting that you should say that, because your description brought to
> mind Vance's short "The Men Return".
> 
>> ( +++ ) Cast in Oblivion - Sagara [Elantra #14]
>> Very good, as is typical in this series. Some very important things get
>> resolved, but which also open doors to some very interesting new issues.
>> The first half is taken up with The Consort coming to dinner at Kaylin’s
>> home, and the second half is taken up with the results of the many
>> conversations and plans that happen during that evening.
>>
> 
> I need to get back to this series.  I really enjoyed the ones I read,
> but somehow I associated it with my emergency Nook purchase and never
> got back to it when I got a Kindle back.

I obviously enjoy this series. One very interesting aspect -- just by 
way of observation -- is that although this is entry #14, I believe less 
than two years have passed in-universe since the start of #1 - maybe 
even just one.

Tony