Lockdown Distractions
Still Completely Sane
This coming week's diversions are:
Something Old
Something New
Should be fun!
Monday, February 15, 2021
Saturday, February 13, 2021
Where No Man
(Including Simon and Garfunkel)
Has Gone Before
Empire of
Silence
This is the first book I’ve
read by Christopher Ruocchio. And if the Empire
of Silence is anything to go by, it certainly won’t be the last. Take a
peek at the introduction to this story:
*******
It was not his war.
The galaxy remembers him as a hero: the man who
burned every last alien Cielcin from the sky. They remember him as a monster:
the devil who destroyed a sun, casually annihilating four billion human
lives—even the Emperor himself—against Imperial orders.
But Hadrian was not a hero. He was not a
monster. He was not even a soldier.
On the wrong planet, at the right time, for the
best reasons, Hadrian Marlowe starts down a path that can only end in fire. He
flees his father and a future as a torturer only to be left stranded on a
strange, backwater world.
Forced to fight as a gladiator and navigate the
intrigues of a foreign planetary court, Hadrian must fight a war he did not
start, for an Empire he does not love, against an enemy he will never
understand.
*******
Yes, Hadrian Marlowe is a man
born to power and privilege. Yet, he sees such things as a living hell, and
yearns to break free of the shackles chaining him to an unbalanced institution
that panders to a privileged elite, while fighting a 300 year old war against
the Cielcin. The society he was born into is rigidly indoctrinated by the elitism
imposed by the Chantry, and enforced by the Emperor and his legions. Such
elitism does nothing but to rob everyday citizens of their humanity and simple
decency.
Hadrian realizes this, for he
possesses something rarely seen in this far-future empire. A conscience. He
knows things need to change and longs to travel the vast expanse of the stars
in order to seek answers to questions that should have been asked long, long
ago.
So he decides to do something
about it . . . or at least, he tries to.
As a result, he is rendered
excomminicado, his inheritance as first in line to his family’s wealth and
power simply wiped away; he’s sent into exile; sold into slavery; ends up
begging on the streets of an impoverished backwater planet; fighting as
gladiator fodder in the colosso.
And just when he’s on the
verge of throwing in the towel, discovers something that truly captures his
heart and soul: clues as to the origins of life in the universe. And far from
the rhetoric spouted by the Chantry, it isn’t anything to do with humanity. Oh
no. Something more ancient and vaster than mankind can possibly imagine once
used the cosmos as its playing ground. And humans?
Well, that remains to be
seen.
Be warned. Empire of Silence is a lengthy tome. But
it’s well worth the commitment it takes to read it. Ruocchio is an accomplished
world builder, and weaves a rich tapestry of far-future, galaxy spanning
expansion that maintains a brisk yet steady pace throughout, without losing the
personal touch.
The main characters are
detailed and credible. You can relate to – or hate – them in equal measure,
while the supporting cast, though many and varied, add attention to detail that
adds credibility to the star system spanning arena in which the story is set.
While reading, I was distinctly
reminded of the scope of Frank Herbert’s, Dune;
The scale of Arthur C. Clarkes, 2001: A
Space Odyssey; and the poignant message conveyed in Barry B. Longyear’s, Enemy Mine.
It’s great, epically
proportioned stuff, and will keep you turning the pages in your haste to find
out what happens next. (And in all honesty, it’s a great way to while away the
never-ending lockdown hours)
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Saturday, February 6, 2021
Lockdown Distractions
(My Sanity Teeters on the Edge of an Abyss)
To help focus my fragile mind, I'll be mixing it up with - to myself, at any rate - favorites slanted on the "something old and something new" idiom.
This weeks diversions are brought to you, courtesy of. . .
Something Old
Something New
See you on the other side :)
Saturday, January 30, 2021
See How I Contended With The. . .
The Queen of
Storms
I’ve been looking forward to
volume two of the Firemane Saga, and have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.
*******
Hatushaly and his young wife Hava
have arrived in the prosperous trading town of Beran’s Hill to restore and
reopen the fire-damaged Inn of the Three Stars. They are also preparing for the
popular midsummer festival, where their friends Declan and Gwen will be wed.
But Hatu and Hava are not the
ordinary loving couple they appear to be. They are assassins from the
mysterious island of Coaltachin, home to the powerful and lethal Nocusara, the
fearsome “Hidden Warriors.” Posing as innkeepers, they are awaiting
instructions from their masters in the Kingdom of Night.
Hatu conceals an even more
dangerous secret. He is the last remaining member of the legendary Firemanes,
the ruling family of Ithrace. Known as the Kingdom of Flames, Ithrace was one
of the five greatest realms of Tembria, ruled by Hatu’s father, Stervern
Langene, until he and his people were betrayed. His heir, Hatu—then a baby—was
hidden among the Nocusara, who raised him to become a deadly spy.
Hatu works hard to hide his true
identity from all who would seek to use or to destroy him, as fate has other
plans for the noble warrior. Unexpected calamity forces him to make choices he
could not have dreamed awaited him.
A series of horrific events shatters the peace of Beran’s
Hill, bringing death and devastation and unleashing monstrous forces. Once
more, the Greater Realms of Tembria are threatened—and nothing will ever be the
same again.
*******
The story itself adopts a
clever balance. It reveals more about Hatu, Hava and Declan; their evolving
personalities; their relationship with each other and those around them; the
true motivating factors in their lives – which seem to be changing the longer
time goes on. And it also expands on the hints we received in the first book of
a much larger picture: Was Lodavico acting out of pure narcissism when he
betrayed the Firemane’s and tried to end their line, or were other players involved?
Who is the real driving force behind the Church of the One? Exactly where do
the foreign invaders come from and what is their actual agenda?
And how on earth are the
ancient guardians of the Firemane’s, the Flame Guard, going to counter this
growing threat. I mean . . . can they?
Yes, there’s a lot going on
in the world of Garn – and beyond – it seems. But once again, Raymond E. Feist
demonstrates why he’s an international bestseller of epic fantasy. The Queen of Storms is a masterclass in
taking your time to fully introduce your characters, and how to gradually
introduce the threads that will bind your story arc together in a way that
keeps everything tight. The pace is steady throughout; our protagonists and
antagonists as complex and engaging as ever; and the attention to detail is
superb.
And the tease?
That’s as subtle as always.
Feist creates an atmosphere of intrigue and growing tension that builds and
builds . . . and keeps building, so that you’re always eager to keep the pages
turning. I want more!
A most excellent sequel and a
taste of even better things to come.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Hot off the Press
My First Review of 2021
The Burning God
As I come to the end of this
ambitious trilogy, I think it only fitting to share a little reminder of what
has gone before. Here’s the blurb from the inside cover:
*******
After saving her nation of Nikan
from foreign invaders and battling the evil Empress Su Daji in a brutal civil
war, Fang Runin was betrayed by allies and left for dead.
Despite her losses, Rin hasn’t
given up on those for whom she has sacrificed so much – the people of the
southern provinces and especially Tikany, the village that is her home.
Returning to her roots, Rin meets difficult challenges – and unexpected
opportunities. While her new allies in the Southern Coalition leadership are
sly and untrustworthy, Rin quickly realizes that the real power in Nikan lies
with the millions of common people who thirst for vengeance and revere her as a
goddess of salvation.
Backed by the masses and her
Southern Army, Rin will use every weapon to defeat the Dragon Republic, the
colonizing Hesperians, and all who threaten the shamanic arts and their
practitioners.
As her power and influence grows, will she be strong
enough to resist the Phoenix’s voice, urging her to burn the world and
everything in it?
*******
That sets the scene nicely
for the review, as I’m determined NOT to slip up with any spoilers.
Rin’s journey has been long
and arduous. She started out as a despised orphan; became one of Sinegard’s
military elite; was bowled over by the discovery of her shamanic gifts;
horrified by the desolation she could unleash; devastated by her descent into
opium addiction; cast out as outlaw and renegade . . . until the tide appeared
to turn and she was lured into the service of a powerful warlord who uses her
talents to his own advantage, only to throw her to the wolves as an expendable
tool that has no place in the world he envisioned.
Yes, Rin’s life has been a
headlong plunge down the rapides, where every rise and fall, every submerged
rock and hidden whirlpool, every twist and turn has molded her into the person
she is now: a woman capable of rising in power and influence, but one who
fights a constant battle to retain her humanity. She’s experienced the power of
the Phoenix, and it is an addiction far deeper, far more insidious than
anything a poppy can produce. A stark and ever-present problem, seeing as how
she is so driven by vengeance. Thankfully, that yearning to burn everything
under creation is tempered by a small group of friends.
But for how long?
Kuang deftly incorporates
this dilemma into the very real pace of a countrywide war, fought over
difficult terrain. (And in this, she deserves a lot of credit).
War isn’t all blood n’ guts
and nonstop action and glory. It’s often long, boringly irritating and arduous.
Kuang deftly weaves this strange ebb and flow into the story arc to present us
with an incredibly accurate depiction of Rin’s war of attrition. There’s the
slow build up during long, grueling marches. A gathering of momentum. Repeated
anticlimaxes. Short, sharp bursts of activity when an actual battle erupts. The
adrenaline dump of the aftermath. The gradual realization of how little victory
can accomplish, especially when you’re trying to juggle an ever-expanding web
of logistical nightmares with the needs of a displaced or conquered community.
Yes, these riptides and countercurrents
are superbly portrayed, as Kuang manages to weave them into actual ancient
Chinese history, ethics, war strategy and politics. The end result being a
superbly challenging story that brings a truly operatic production to its
finale.
As ever, Kuang’s characters
are wholly believable and as tragically flawed as the folks you meet in real
life. Their strengths and weaknesses are utilized, to deliver a dark,
imaginative and brutally uncompromising story of what can happen to the best of
us when you try to fight a war on two fronts. (NO SPOILERS).
That’s why the ending is
inevitable. THAT’S why the ending is perfect.
Don’t miss The Burning God. It’s symphonic fantasy
at its best!
Saturday, January 2, 2021
See why I Was Happy To Take Shelter Among The Pages Of. . .
The Season of
Storms
The Season of Storms is the 8th
overall adventure in the Witcher series and – to keep things in context – is
set between the events of the first book, The Last Wish, and the one I reviewed
last week, The Lady of the Lake. (So, this is before he meets Ciri)
The best way to think of it
is as an interquel, because it helps
us flesh out the substance of the lands through which Geralt travels, as well
as giving us a greater insight as to how – and why – his mind works the way it
does. Very clever. Because although our favorite witcher is an out and out
killer, something of a dark knight resides within him. He has standards. A
personal code of ethics to which he restricts his activities while performing
the tasks he is hired for.
And this, despite the fact
that most people despise him; that the guild of sorcerers look on him as a
joke; and brigands constantly want to test themselves against him.
The poor guy never seems to
get a break. As is exemplified by his visit to the city of Kerack. He is
wrongly arrested; his swords are stolen; he is mysteriously exonerated and sent
on a mission to assist the sorcerers at Rissberg; he is double/triple and
goodness-knows what else crossed. Only to find its all been a ruse to force his
assistance in deeper/greater matters.
(What they are, you’ll
discover for yourself as this wickedly deceitful tale unravels).
Personally, I thought it was
a breath of fresh air. Few authors take the time to help you really get to know
their main characters and their history, but Sapkowski does just that in a
basic straightforward way that helps you relate to Geralt’s plight on a
personal level. And of course, it does so on a stage of high fantasy, political
intrigue, revenge, and good old-fashioned set-tos that are immensely satisfying
. . . especially with the Easter Egg you get right at the end. See if you can
spot what it means J
Another gem to store away in
your collection.
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