Books - The All New Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion Thread

~*Johanna*~ · 03-23-2004, 11:30 AM

Robin McKinley is one of my all-time favorite authors. Her book, The Blue Sword is probably my favorite book ever. Whoever has not read any of her books should, they are truly amazing.

Robin McKinnley Website

[ 03-23-2004: Message edited ~*Johanna*~ ]

Soz · 03-23-2004, 07:12 PM

Robin McKinley is one of my favorite authors as well. My favorite books by her are Beauty, The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown, and Deerskin. I like the rest of her books too, except her most recent one, Sunshine, which felt was half finished.

Here's a link to her official site: http://www.robinmckinley.com/ I think I've read everything on there at least three times. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I especially love reading what she has to say about Deerskin and the backlash she received about it.

~*Johanna*~ · 03-24-2004, 10:45 PM

Yes, Deerskin was indeed very contriversial. I thought it was brilliant, personally. The molesting scene was very strong, but I thought it was well done. I think this book is very good.

Rachel · 03-24-2004, 11:15 PM

I love Robin McKinley. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] The only book of hers I haven't liked was "Sunshine" -- oh and I guess I'm not too fond of her short story collections. But I loved all of the others. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] My personal favorite is "The Hero and the Crown" though most people seem to prefer "The Blue Sword".

I love her spin on traditional fairy tales and legends. This summer when I have more time I'm going to re-read her books that I own -- which I guess is all of them except Sunshine, Blue Sword, and the short stories.
--Rachel

~*Johanna*~ · 03-27-2004, 11:40 AM

I haven't read Sunshine yet... though i've heard mixed reviews.

The Blue Sword is my favorite book of all time, I recently found out. I love the characters and the interaction between the people and the horses. Oh yeah, and I love Narkon, the cat. She's great! [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

silver_lined_cloud · 03-28-2004, 01:15 AM

I [img]smilies/love.gif[/img] Robin McKinley. I think I've read all or close to all of her books/works when I went through a slight obsession phase sometime a few years ago [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

madmarie · 03-29-2004, 08:33 AM

to include the Livehsip Traders, The Assassin Trilogy and the Golden Fool. I LOVED these books. She has an amazing gift of words, I think. I like the way her books all interconnect and The Liveship trilogy could easily be the best trilogy I have ever read. Definitely the best fantasy writer Ive come across. has anyone else read these magical books? has anyone read them and hated them?

~*Johanna*~ · 03-31-2004, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by silver_lined_cloud:
I [img]smilies/love.gif[/img] Robin McKinley. I think I've read all or close to all of her books/works when I went through a slight obsession phase sometime a few years ago [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

obsessions with books...sound familiar. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img] I get hooked on certain series or novels and in between finding new books I read them. It's funny, my parents look at me and say, "You're reading THAT one again?" And I answer: "Well, just my favorite parts, until I find a new book." [img]smilies/lol.gif[/img]

[ 03-31-2004: Message edited ~*Johanna*~ ]

SydneySummers · 04-07-2004, 12:56 AM

~*I read Beauty and loved it. That is the only book I have read though.

jjt · 04-25-2004, 04:30 PM

Brand new thread to fill up with Sci-fi and Fantasy goodness!

Crossbow · 04-27-2004, 11:17 AM

[img]smilies/wave.gif[/img]

Nothing really to say. I'm reading a "Star Wars" book, but it's the same one I've been reading since the last thread was a baby, and it's not what you'd call classic literature.

evaki · 04-27-2004, 05:02 PM

I finished and loved Asaro's Primary Inversion. I'm waiting for the bookstore to get in Radiant Seas for me. I'm definitely a cross genre person, I like my Scifi/fantasy with strong helping of romance. So the romance could have been more prominent, for me. More akin to Shinn's stories. I have Angel Seeker but haven't started it yet. I borrowed Wicked from a friend and figure I should read it first, just so I'm not a bad borrower. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Soz · 04-27-2004, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by evaki:
I finished and loved Asaro's Primary Inversion. I'm waiting for the bookstore to get in Radiant Seas for me. I'm definitely a cross genre person, I like my Scifi/fantasy with strong helping of romance. So the romance could have been more prominent, for me. More akin to Shinn's stories. I have Angel Seeker but haven't started it yet. I borrowed Wicked from a friend and figure I should read it first, just so I'm not a bad borrower. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Catherine Asaro said that some people complained that there wasn't enough romance in the book or that the characters were separated for too long. I didn't really notice since I came into the book with a science fiction background, but I would think that people who are used to romance would feel that Primary Inversion was a bit too light in the romance department. I really liked the separation between the heroine and the hero because it added tension and suspense for me (although I could have done without Soz's other relationships). I remember when I first read the excerpts on Asaro's site and I was thinking: "I have to read this book!"

I still have most of the Samaria series to read yet. I've only read Archangel so far and I have to say the romance in that one didn't appeal to me very much- mostly because I didn't really like Rachel and wished Gabriel had gotten someone more worthy of him. I liked the one forbidden romance in the book between the two angels though and wanted to know more about them. I'll probably read Jovah's Angel soon.

As for what I'm reading, I can't put Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix down. It goes to show it wasn't the book that was the problem last year, it was just that I wasn't in the mood to read it at the time. Now I'm Harry Potter mad again though. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I'm hoping to finish the book by Friday- which will give me enough time to finish the other two library books I want to return by May 4.

evaki · 04-28-2004, 11:19 AM

I would agree that Archangel (and even the other Samaria novel, which are better than Archangel) don't have the world most inspiring romances. But I like the fundamental mix where they both figure prominently. Radiant Seas came in today. I've already picked it up but won't get to read it until later. BTW Soz do you think their is a larger romance angle in the other Skolian books?

Soz · 04-28-2004, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by evaki:
I would agree that Archangel (and even the other Samaria novel, which are better than Archangel) don't have the world most inspiring romances. But I like the fundamental mix where they both figure prominently. Radiant Seas came in today. I've already picked it up but won't get to read it until later. BTW Soz do you think their is a larger romance angle in the other Skolian books?

I also like books that mix the romance and SF almost equally. My favorite of Shinn's books that I've read is Summers at Castle Auburn and part of the reason I love it so much is the romantic aspect.

[img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] I hope you enjoy it. After Primary Inversion, it's my favorite Skolian book. It really depends on the book. All of them have some romance in them. The least romantic, IMO, is Spherical Harmonic. I think the ones with the most romance are The Quantum Rose, The Moon's Shadow, and Catch the Lightning.