Welcome to bookchat where you can talk about anything...books, plays, essays, and books on tape. You don’t have to be reading a book to come in, sit down, and chat with us.
My readers are varied in what they enjoy for books so I try to have a theme about all kinds of books so no one feels left out. The theme and the poll are only to get discussion going and mostly everyone just talks about what they are reading right now. Even if you are not reading a book at the moment, you are welcome to chat about favorite stories.
Those who know me well, know that I read a lot of scifi/fantasy and mysteries so those are the books I often mention. But gripping adventures are often found in non-fiction books as well as fiction. They are true adventures with real people as heroes.
I don’t always need adventure or excitement to enjoy a book, but tonight I would like to mention some series stories set in fantasy worlds that were especially gripping.
When I was a child I was familiar with the world of Oz and when I was a young married woman, I was familiar with Tolkien’s world, Middle-earth, and when I was old, I was introduced to Dorothy Dunnett's worlds with Lymond and Nicholas. All of these worlds have adventures that are gripping.
Over the years it has been my pleasure to participate in many wonderful worlds by reading series that have gone on and on such as Cherryh’s Foreigner universe. I just finished reading Tracker. This is number 16 in the series. For the past 21 years I have been drawn into the land of Bren Cameron, the Atevi world. It is a beautiful place where intrigue and danger are always present and the adventures are exciting.
Tracker is more subtle than the other books and it is imperative that the whole series be read in order. The back story is carefully explained, but without the other books much of the story would be meaningless. This is hard when there are so many books to take on if a reader is interested in the series.
The more effortless the story seems to be, the more skill I see behind it. There is a lot of talking and thinking between bouts of action, but that appeals to me. I am welcomed inside the minds of Bren and Cajeiri and see what they are thinking. I am able to apprehend the danger of what could happen as well as what is currently happening. There are plots within plots within plots like nesting dolls. The books shine with intelligence. How do “people” who are so different from each other as the humans, atevi, and kyo learn to deal with each other?
How do conservative atevi and progressive atevi come to compromises that will be of benefit to the continent? All these ideas have bearing for us in our own world. Bren Cameron has earned the respect he is shown because of his interest in making things work and for his ability to be open to change. He gets put into dangerous situations and he has to do what he does best…talk and listen and think. It is not as exiting as shooting with guns, but it is gripping in its own way.
Bren is in the crosshairs of many different groups and under a great deal of stress. It is gripping to see how he will get through the difficulties. Everyone he works with is stubborn and has his own agenda, often murderous. He has to prove himself over and over again. One misstep can ruin all he has worked for and yet stumbling blocks are thrown in his way over and over. Like the hydra, the problems multiply. Yes, this story is gripping!
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
As with many of C. J. Cherryh's novels, this series could be best described as anthropological science fiction, focusing on the interface between our human customs and understandings and that of an alien race whose motivations, thoughts and even feelings are diametrically opposed to our own. Broadly speaking, the series could also be described as Space Opera, especially the second and third story arcs. It also contains elements of political thriller, with the complex racial and cultural interplay between humans and atevi, and between ship crew and colonist...
The atevi have no feeling immediately equivalent to love, but rather man'chi—a loyalty-web to one's leader, one's leader's leader, and so on outward until the Aiji of Shejidan, leader of the aishidi'tat or union of all atevi. Political boundaries are not based on territory, but on association—where their man'chi lies.
Inherent to the mental structure of an atevi is arithmetical ability we would consider intuitive and a world viewed in arithmetical terms. The main atevi language Ragi is a continual mathematic construct. Properly forming statements requires effort similar to a mathematician keeping equations balanced...
Another aspect of atevi culture that is critical to the stories, particularly the political thriller aspect, is that assassination is a legal and accepted means of settling disputes, provided proper protocol is followed. One files a document of Intent which liberates the target to file one back. The Assassin's Guild has the right, often exercised when Intent is filed for foolish reasons, to reject a particular filing. For this reason, the assassins' guild (commonly referred to as simply "the guild") has considerable power, despite being supposedly neutral. Assassins are also employed as bodyguards, and often need to defend against attacks by others of their own guild.
Other fictional universes that I have enjoyed (and a list of more):
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Foundation universe by Isaac Asimov
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Future history of humanity's colonization of the galaxy, spanning nearly 25,000 years, created through the gradual fusion of the Robot, Foundation and Empire series'.
Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Many of Zelazny's works explore variations upon the idea that if there exists an infinite number of worlds, then every world that can be imagined must exist, somewhere. Powerful beings in many of his stories have the ability to travel to worlds that possess precisely the characteristics which that being wishes to experience.
(Zelazny characters with this ability include Thoth in Creatures of Light and Darkness, who teleports to these worlds; those with the royal blood of either Amber or Chaos in The Chronicles of Amber, who "move through shadows" to reach these worlds; the guardian families of A Dark Traveling, who move between realities using high-tech devices; and Red Dorakeen in Roadmarks, who reaches these worlds by driving along a magical highway.)
Many of these same characters wonder whether they are creating these special places anew, or are merely finding places which already exist (very much like "the problem of universals" in classical metaphysics). Usually each character who ponders this ultimately decides that the question is purely academic and therefore unanswerable.
Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
The fictional universe of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of fantasy novels comprises two separate and distinct societies: a Muggle world (our own world) and a "wizarding world" (various magically hidden places throughout the world).
I would have loved to go to Hogwarts…minus the evil and more for the fun of it all. Rowling had so many wonderful ideas that made the world special.
I think where I live is very like Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Fictional Minnesota town characterized as the town where "all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average."
He has a wonderful story about the Prom Queen riding in the parade on a tank and my daughter who was the prom queen of her school had her picture taken out in front of a tank because the prom was held in the American Legion Post.
And the answer to what Lutherans would think were better presents for the baby Jesus…casseroles.
The Liaden universe by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller has a huge tree.
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Trees
The race formally known as Ssuss Dryads. An unusual character is Jelaza Kazone (a term that has been translated as "Jela's Promise," "Jela's Contract," or "Jela's Dream," among other variants) and the seedlings thereof (of which only two have thus far appeared in narrative). This very large tree lives in the grounds of Clan Korval's primary residence (also called Jelaza Kazone) and is in the habit of communicating its likes and dislikes to senior members of that clan; it has particularly been noted to have an interest in the likely parents of future children of the Clan.
As a young soldier, Jela found the tree on a desert planet on which his ship had crashed. Though barely a stunted seedling and the last member of a dying race, the tree was by itself able to repel invasion of the planet by the enemy Sheriekas. As an act of trust, the tree gave its only seed pod to feed the starving Jela. When Jela's rescue came, he refused to leave the tree behind.
The tree proved to be intelligent, and able to communicate via mental images. It also had the ability to manipulate the chemistry of its seed pods to create useful pharmaceutical compounds. Both these powers proved useful as Jela and Cantra searched for information necessary for mankind to escape its collapsing universe.
The name Jelaza Kazone refers to the promise Cantra yos'Phelium made to Jela, who knew he was destined to die before the migration could be complete, to see the tree through to safety on the new human homeworld. Clan Korval holds itself the guardian of this promise in perpetuity, and every trading vessel of Korval carries a seed of the tree somewhere on board, to ensure the survival of its race.
Pern by Anne (and Todd) McCaffrey
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Note: Dragonflight made McCaffrey the first woman to win a Hugo or Nebula Award.
My favorite part of the world:
Harper Hall trilogy
These stories take place immediately prior to and concurrently with those depicted in Dragonquest and The White Dragon.
Dragonsong (1976), by Anne McCaffrey
Dragonsinger (1977), by Anne McCaffrey
Dragondrums (1979), by Anne McCaffrey
The Masterharper of Pern, by Anne McCaffrey
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Uplift Universe by David Brin
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
In the Uplift universe an intergalactic civilization called the Five Galaxies, comprising a multitude of sentient races, has existed for billions of years. This civilization is perpetuated by the act of Uplift, in which a "patron" species genetically modifies a Pre-sapient "client" species until it is sapient. The client species is typically indentured to its patron species for 100,000 years. A patron species gains considerable status, and patrons and clients often unite into powerful clans. Patron status can be lost due to extermination, or gross crimes against the galactic civilization.
It is generally accepted in this universe that the process of Uplift was initiated at least one billion years ago by a species known only as the Progenitors. Humanity is therefore an anomaly – a species with no apparent patron race. Whether humanity truly evolved independently, or whether it was criminally abandoned by an unknown patron early in its uplift, is a topic of fierce debate. Most of humanity believes itself to be a wolfling species that emerged into sapiency solely through natural evolution, without genetic manipulation of a patron species.
This belief is considered heresy and ridiculous by most of the galactic civilization and has made most of the galactic powers enemies of EarthClan. The fact that Humanity had already uplifted two species (chimpanzees and bottlenose dolphins) when it encountered the galactic civilization gave Humanity patron status, which is one of the few lucky turns it has had in its difficult position as pariah in the galactic civilization. This saved humanity from the likely fate of becoming client to another race through forced adoption or being exterminated for the environmental damage done to the Earth and its native species.
Humanity and its clients are collectively known as EarthClan. Humanity in the Uplift universe is not a dominant nor a technologically advanced species – it is centuries, even millennia, behind the great galactic powers and has several enemies capable of exterminating mankind.
Tales of Sector General series by James White
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Sector General is a series of twelve science fiction novels and various short stories by the Northern Irish author James White. The series derives its name from the setting of the majority of the books, the Sector 12 General Hospital, a huge hospital space station located in deep space, designed to treat a wide variety of life forms with a wide range of ailments and life-support requirements, and to house an equally diverse staff. The Hospital was founded to promote peace after humanity's first interstellar war, and in the fourth book the authorities conclude that its emergency services are the most effective way to make peaceful contact with new species.
In order to treat patients of other species, doctors must download into their brains "Educator tapes" containing the necessary medical knowledge, and these tapes also transmit the personalities of their donors. As a result doctors have to struggle with the tastes imported from their donors, ranging from a dislike of their own species' normal food to sexual attraction for members of the donor's species. Other running gags include the acerbic tongue of the Chief Psychologist and one very senior non-human doctor's love of gossip, especially about the sexual behavior of other species.
The Sword series by Fred Saberhagen
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Complete Book of Swords has
First, Second, Third Books
Lost Swords: First Triad
Woundhealer’s Story
Sightblinder’s
Stonecutter’s
Lost Swords: Second Triad
Farslayer’s
Coinspinner’s
Mindsword’s
Lost Swords: End Game
Wayfinder’s
Shieldbreaker’s
The Swords of Power are created by the god Vulcan. Each has its own unique magical ability, and they are powerful enough to affect the mythological gods that exist within the series. The plot of the entire series revolves around the finding, acquiring, stealing, using, and eventual destroying of the Swords for purposes good or evil.
The Discworld by Terry Pratchette
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The Discworld is the fictional setting for all of Terry Pratchett's Discworld fantasy novels. It consists of a large disc (complete with edge-of-the-world drop-off and consequent waterfall) resting on the backs of four huge elephants which are in turn standing on the back of an enormous turtle, named Great A'Tuin (similar to Chukwa or Akupara from Hindu mythology) as it slowly swims through space. The Disc has been shown to be heavily influenced by magic and, while Pratchett has given it certain similarities to planet Earth, he has also created his own system of physics for it.
Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
Magic is a central part of life in most of Earthsea, with the exception of the Kargish lands, where it is banned. There are weather workers on ships, fixers who repair boats and buildings, entertainers, and court sorcerers. Magic is an inborn talent which can be developed with training. The most gifted are sent to the school on Roke, where, if their skill and their discipline prove sufficient, they can become staff-carrying wizards.
A strong theme of the stories is the connection between power and responsibility. There is often a Taoist message: "good" wizardry tries to be in harmony with the universe, while "bad" wizardry, such as necromancy, can lead to an upsetting of the "balance" and threaten catastrophe. While the dragons are more powerful, they act instinctively to preserve the balance. Only humans pose a threat to it. In The Farthest Shore, Cob seeks immortality regardless of the consequences and opens a breach between life and death, which endangers the living.
Magic on Earthsea is primarily verbal. Everything has a true name in the Old Speech, the language of the dragons. One who knows the true name of an object has power over it. Each person also has a true name and which is revealed only to those who are trusted implicitly. A "use-name", which has no magical property, suffices for everyday purposes. For example, the wizard whose true name is Ged is known by the use-name Sparrowhawk.
One vital aspect of magic is that it is impossible for humans to lie in the old language, so that magic works by forcing the universe to conform to the words spoken by the magician. For example, to say "I am an eagle" in the old language means that the speaker becomes an eagle, so that the statement is no longer false. Only the powerful are able to say such lines in the Old Speech and force these transformations.
The Riddle-Master of Hed by Patricia McKillip
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The Riddle-Master of the title is Morgon, the Prince of Hed, a small, simple island populated by farmers and swineherds. He has three stars on his forehead, which no one has been able to explain. As the book opens, his sister, Tristan, discovers that he is keeping a crown hidden under his bed, and he must explain that he won it in a riddle-game with a ghost, the cursed king Peven of Aum.
When Deth, the High One's harpist, finds out, he explains that another king, Mathom of An, has pledged to marry his daughter Raederle to the man who wins that crown from the ghost.
Morgon sets forth to claim his bride accompanied by Deth, but while at sea, his ship is sunk by mysterious shapechangers. Shipwrecked, Morgon loses his memory and the power of speech. When Deth finally finds him again, and he recovers his memory and speaking ability, he resolves to travel to ask the High One about the shapechangers. The High One's home, located in the far north on Erlenstar Mountain, is seldom visited. As Morgon and Deth travel the length of the realm, they are repeatedly attacked by the shapechangers, and Morgon learns more and more dangerous knowledge about his three stars and the great powers that come with them.
He also comes to know personally the land rulers of Ymris, Herun, Osterland, and Isig.
The book ends as a cliffhanger, with Morgon discovering who is posing as the High One.
All three books were collected into the volume Riddle-Master: The Complete Trilogy in 1999.
My favorite story of her many wonderful stories is
The Cygnet and the Firebird.
The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The Fionavar Tapestry is a trilogy of fantasy novels by Guy Gavriel Kay, set partly in our own contemporary world, but mostly in the fictional world of Fionavar. It is the story of five University of Toronto senior law and medical students, who are drawn into the 'first world of the Tapestry' by the mage Loren Silvercloak. Once there, each discovers his or her own role and destiny in the framework of an epic conflict.
Tigana by Kay is another of my favorites.
Robin Hobb's world:
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
The Farseer Trilogy
Assassin's Apprentice (1995)
Royal Assassin (1996)
Assassin's Quest (1997)
Liveship Traders Trilogy
Ship of Magic (1998)
The Mad Ship (1999)
Ship of Destiny (2000)
The Tawny Man Trilogy
Fool's Errand (2001)
The Golden Fool (2002)
Fool's Fate (2003)
The Rain Wild Chronicles
Dragon Keeper (2009)
Dragon Haven (2010)
City of Dragons (2011)
Blood of Dragons (2013)
The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
Fool's Assassin (2014)
Fool's Quest (coming August 11, 2015)
Others:
Keltia - Patricia Kennealy-Morrison - The Keltiad novels
Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson
Chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara
Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander
Sun Sword series by Michelle West
Doomsday, Blackout, All Clear, To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
Wars of Light and Shadow series by Janny Wurts
Great North Road by Peter Hamilton
Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro
The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey (the pen name used by collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck)
Leviathan Wakes
Caliban’s War
Abaddon’s Gate
Cibola Burn
Temeraire series by Naomi Novik
The Dagger and the Coin series by Daniel Abraham
Tales of the Otori by Lian Hearn
Jinx series by Sage Blackwood
Fallen Blade series by Kelly McCullough
List of Fantasy Worlds
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
I could not list all my favorites and there are many more worlds in scifi, fantasy, mystery, non-fiction, historical fiction and romance that can be mentioned tonight.
Diaries of the Week:
Write On! Idea(s).
by SensibleShoes
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Monday Murder Mystery: When women decide that enough is enough
by Susan Grigsby
http://www.dailykos.com/...