A lot of my assessment of this series is going to have to wait for it to be finished. At the moment it seems to be headed in a direction that's dictatA lot of my assessment of this series is going to have to wait for it to be finished. At the moment it seems to be headed in a direction that's dictated more by the publishing market than by the story itself. By this point there are a lot of plot threads going, and some of them do advance this time around... but not many, and not by much for a book this size. The ending was particularly glaring, as a clumsy, manufactured cliffhanger.
Part of my issue is that the series leans so heavily on the visceral nastiness of the setting. I'm okay with that as long as the story being told is substantial enough to earn it. If it turns out that there's no overall point, that becomes a problem retroactively the whole way back. Nastiness plus depth makes for gritty low fantasy. Nastiness for its own sake is just pornographic.
At this point I'm just not sure which of those directions the series is headed in. I haven't given up on it yet, but it's hard for me to get too excited about the next one....more
This is a book that walks some fine lines, generally successfully. Long-running Discworld characters, especially the Night Watch cast, have enough hisThis is a book that walks some fine lines, generally successfully. Long-running Discworld characters, especially the Night Watch cast, have enough history of being awesome built up that can be a little hard for Pratchett to throw challenges at them that are going to seem all that serious. Pulling Vimes out of his usual element helps. At the same time, some of the philosophical subject matter is surprisingly dark (in a way that a couple of the recent books have had in common, and Small Gods much earlier.) It's no small matter to treat it seriously while writing a book that's enjoyable to read, and still for the most part funny....more
I wouldn't recommend it over other Zelazny, but if you're looking for more it's a good place to continue.I wouldn't recommend it over other Zelazny, but if you're looking for more it's a good place to continue....more
A good next step to recommend to someone who's just past the Harry Potter books-- it seems geared towards about the same audience as the later ones inA good next step to recommend to someone who's just past the Harry Potter books-- it seems geared towards about the same audience as the later ones in that series, though like them it reads just fine for adults as well. I'm not sure if there's a term, but the premise is reminiscent of steampunk done with chemistry instead of mechanical engineering....more
Another anthology that I have to rate by the average. The best are quite good; others are imitations of Vance that don't bring much else to the table;Another anthology that I have to rate by the average. The best are quite good; others are imitations of Vance that don't bring much else to the table; a few are much weaker.
A bit more sifting might also have been in order. It's understandable that a lot of authors might want to use the best-known Dying Earth stories as a jumping-off point, but the book suffers when too many work in too much of the same territory....more
I'm having a hard time giving this book a star rating. It's such a strange artifact of the prehistory of modern fantasy that it's hard to know what crI'm having a hard time giving this book a star rating. It's such a strange artifact of the prehistory of modern fantasy that it's hard to know what criteria to use.
I'll say this, what it does, it does to the hilt. How do you know this guy is the villain? Because he's wearing a cloak made of cobras. And this quote:
"Of all ensuing harm the cause is in thee; for I am now resolved never to put up my sword until of they bleeding head I may make a football. And now, let the earth be afraid, and Cynthia obscure her shine: no more words but mum. Thunder and blood and night must usurp our parts, to complete and make up the catastrophe of this great piece."
I guess what I'm saying is that I'm not sure it's a good book, but I did enjoy reading it....more
Man, I got sucked into another open-ended fantasy series without realizing it. I thought Oath of Fealty was a standalone when I picked it up (though iMan, I got sucked into another open-ended fantasy series without realizing it. I thought Oath of Fealty was a standalone when I picked it up (though it did get me to read the original trilogy as well.)
I'm still enjoying these, and I do think that Moon is headed somewhere with them. Fourth one is out in a couple of months, so we'll see how it goes....more
I have to admit I barely finished this one. I was engaged enough in the plot and the setting to want to know what happened, but the prose was pretty rI have to admit I barely finished this one. I was engaged enough in the plot and the setting to want to know what happened, but the prose was pretty rough. If you can tolerate the grinding exposition, it's worth it to get on to the later ones....more
Weakest in the series. Jumping back past the dramatic finish of Surrender None is an awkward start... and following a basically unlikeable protagonistWeakest in the series. Jumping back past the dramatic finish of Surrender None is an awkward start... and following a basically unlikeable protagonist is a problem throughout. Fortunately it does pick up a bit eventually, but the middle portions are still a bit of a slog....more
Fine overall, though it suffers a bit from a common prequel weakness: there are certain boxes that have to be checked when filling in a story that's aFine overall, though it suffers a bit from a common prequel weakness: there are certain boxes that have to be checked when filling in a story that's already been told in rough outline in the earlier books....more
I don't feel like I can really give a helpful review of this one. Having read Oath of Fealty first, I knew how most of the major plot points were goinI don't feel like I can really give a helpful review of this one. Having read Oath of Fealty first, I knew how most of the major plot points were going to turn out, including some that I assume would have been fairly unexpected. The tension wasn't there for me, so I can't tell whether it would have been effective or unpleasant-- either seems possible....more
There's a pretty strong "two-book trilogy" effect here-- Sheepfarmer's Daughter leaves room for sequels, but doesn't tie to this one or Oath of Gold iThere's a pretty strong "two-book trilogy" effect here-- Sheepfarmer's Daughter leaves room for sequels, but doesn't tie to this one or Oath of Gold in turn nearly as strongly as they do to one another.
Goes to some unexpected places in a discussion of heroism. Read the omnibus, or have Oath of Gold at hand before you finish....more
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