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What I'm Reading
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May. 3rd, 2008 @ 11:38 am
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I checked out some books that have hit at least one Best of the Year lists. Overall, I'm amazed, as ever, how different people's perceptions are. Feel free to argue with me; I'd really like to hear other opinions.
Thirteen, by Richard Morgan. Man, can he write. I just love a book with the kind of finesse Morgan brings to the page. However this plot seemed to fall apart in the middle. The story switches gears and the things you thought you cared about become irrelevant or torn away. That was disappointing, but his writing remained strong.
Shelter by Susan Palwick. A future where consciousness can be downloaded. A thoughtful, indirect book--normally qualities I like, but this one moved so slowly that I found my interest waning.
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. Delightful, easy read with a fascinating glimpse of a 1930s circus. This shows the power of a rich and unusual setting. I also loved how she handled the scenes with the retired circus guy in the rest home. What an excellent book.
Ilario by Mary Gentle. The story of a hermaphrodite I think I'll look for other work by Gentle. But the plot of this one just didn''t grab me after the middle of the book when I kept putting it aside. After some fascinating events in the first half, the remainder of the book coasts, it seems, in readiness to deliver some resolutions in Book Two.
Catching up on older books that I hadn't got around to reading yet:
A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George. Immensely entertaining and smart writing. Most of the fun is in the relationships of the Scotland Yard folks, never mind the murder.
The Maker of Universes, Book One in the World of Tiers by Philip Jose Farmer. Um. I know it's a classic, but this one is so dated. I had to read it, because aspects of my new series are being compared to World of Tiers. I now understand how hard it is to do something unique, since it appears that I unwittingly stole quite a few ideas from World of Tiers, without ever having read a word of it!
Aegypt by John Crowley. Largely impenetrable. Some amazing writing, though. I have to say that I didn't enjoy it much, because I was constantly annoyed about being lost.
And in the books-by-friends category:
Airs and Graces by Toby Bishop. I really liked the first book in this fantasy series about the Academy of the Air, teaching young women to master the winged horses of Oc. But I loved the second book. Toby Bishop, of course, is Louise Marley, and her fine wordsmithing is a voice I think I could pick out of a crowd. Highly recommended.
Kay's Website
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U Bookstore Thoughts
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Apr. 16th, 2008 @ 01:07 pm
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I got over to the big city last week. Yup, a bookstore signing in Seattle. When you've been on the rural side of the mountains and drive into Seattle, it is strange how, um, big the place looks. All that concrete, oh my. But it also has a marvelous cadre of sf/f writers and readers, one of the main reasons I go back.
Duane Wilkins hosted Louise Marley (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) lmarley ), Alma Alexander, and myself at the University Book Store, and we read from our new books, ate Louise's brownies, and signed a bunch of books. The place was filled, so we were happy, and I'm pretty sure Duane was happy. Got to keep Duane happy. What would the Seattle SF scene be without him? He must never leave the U. Book Store. I hope they're paying him heaps of money; but, if not, remember to make him brownies when you have a signing.
Last Seattle comment: Needed a new pair of shoes. Went to a big Nordstrom's. There were, like, a million kinds of shoes: strappy, clunky, leather, rope, suede, sequined, flat, heeled, pointy, and trimmed in alligator. It was very cool, and also a bit horrifying. Similar to the bizarre hyper menus for ordering espresso. Is there no end to the parade of merchandise and the assault on the mind (not to mention pocket book) of all that Stuff?
But you should see my EXcellent heels trimmed in faux lizard!
Kay's Website
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OmegaCon '08
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Mar. 17th, 2008 @ 04:57 pm
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Just got back from OmegaCon in Birmingham, AL. A bunch of attendees told me they were thrilled to have a con of this size in their backyard. The con staff went out of their way to help authors when things went awry, as was maybe inevitable for the first try. So again, thanks to all the volunteers for hard work.
This and that: Books-A-Million brought, um, a million or so books into the dealers room. I hung out with Louise's old band (see below--man can that lady sing) and met David Drake, David Webber, Steven Brust--all fun. Mike Resnick collected on the backrub I owed him. Also saw my editor--Pyr's Lou Anders--in his home stomping grounds. A good time. He was very fun on a panel on horror stories from the publishing world.
Note: It is almost impossible to get to and from Birmingham from where I live. It took well over 12 hours to get from the con to Seattle, and then I still had a snowy mountain pass to go over. Home now, cat on lap while blogging. All is well.
Launched A World Too Near at OmegaCon.
Louise Marley performing with Earthwood.
Mike Resnick at the Pyr dinner.
Kay's Website
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