Highlights and Lowlights - July 2024

Highlights and Lowlights - July 2024
Books are rated using a very primitive rating system:
“+” are good, and more “+” are better
“-“ are not good, and more “-“ are worse
I’m happy to answer questions about anything on the list.
Highlights - The Pratchett and Andrews were particularly good.
Lowlights - Nothing “lowlight worthy”, though there was exactly one story in the Father Brown collection that was truly objectionable.
Here’s a quick summary of what’s more in-depth below:
( ++ 1/2 ) The Grief of Stones - Addison [The Cemeteries of Amalo #2; same universe as The Goblin Emperor]
( +++ - ) Night Lamp - Vance
( ++ 1/2 ) Witch King - Wells
( ++ - ) The Wisdom of Father Brown - Chesterton
( +++ ) One Fell Sweep - Andrews [Innkeeper Chronicles #3]
( +++ - ) Cast in Deception - Sagara [Elantra #13]
( +++ ) Guards! Guards! - Pratchett [Discworld #8]
Now Reading:
Long work - A Fire in the Sun - Effinger [Marid Audran #2]
Collection - Kinship with the Stars - Poul Anderson
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July 2024
( ++ 1/2 ) The Grief of Stones - Addison [The Cemeteries of Amalo #2; same universe as The Goblin Emperor]
This is another highly enjoyable story by Addison focusing on decent people (esp protagonist Thara) trying to do decent things in the midst of crime, deceit, and tragedy. Thara is a Witness for the Dead, meaning he has been “blessed” by a god with the ability to see a corpse’s last moments and even dig into their memories (this is more effective the more recent their demise). In this volume, a murder investigation leads Thara to a school for foundling (abandoned) girls, where he receives an anonymous note asking for his help. The two plotlines progress in parallel, and eventually converge.
( +++ - ) Night Lamp - Vance
Good, solid, typical, enjoyable Vance. Jaro Fath is an orphan with trauma-induced amnesia surrounding his mother’s death and his own severe beating shortly thereafter. His adoptive parents love him and plan for him to become an academic, but Jaro is driven to learn his true origins and recapture his memories. This one is long for a Vance novel, partly due to Maihac’s way-too-long tale explaining his reappearance (hence the minus). There are also a great many wry and/or humorous exchanges.
( ++ 1/2 ) Witch King - Wells
I enjoyed this, and though I think it functions well as a standalone, it does indeed set up well for a sequel. Some time in the last month or so(?), Scott Dorsey described this book very well, and I am quoting (i.e. blatantly stealing) this part of his description:
“This is an epic fantasy with two different story lines at different times with the same lead character, a demon prince whose family had an agreement with the Saredi civilization to host them, except that years ago the Saredi were wiped out by invaders called the Heiararchs and since then nothing has been the same.  This is a solid and well-written fantasy story of new societies, old societies, betrayal and unlikely allies. … “
( ++ - ) The Wisdom of Father Brown - Chesterton [12 Father Brown Stories, this is the second half of the volume “Father Brown Crime Stories”, where the first 12 stories are “The Innocence of Father Brown”]
Having read the first 12 stories already, I was in a better-prepared mindset to read these, and they were mostly pretty good, well written, and occasionally clever. Father Brown is a very observant and clever fellow, which helps him solve the many mysteries that seem to find him. One story (“The God of the Gongs”) was exceedingly dated in horribly racist and offensive ways, and I did not finish it.
( +++ ) One Fell Sweep - Andrews [Innkeeper Chronicles #3]
Fun! These are like my favorite candies or desserts - there’s probably not much of substance or value to them, but they sure are good. The Inns on Earth are neutral/protected way stations for galactic travelers. Two parts of the Inn Code are that nobody on Earth can know about the Inns, and that Inns are required to be safe for their guests. Dina is an Innkeeper, which imbues her with strong powers, mostly/especially when on the grounds of her Inn. This story largely focuses on a race seeking sanctuary after being hunted to near-extinction, and the efforts of the hunters to finish the job.
( +++ - ) Cast in Deception - Sagara [Elantra #13]
Young Barrani are behaving hastily/stupidly, and we see Kaylin and Bellusdeo accompanying them on their ill-considered journey in an effort to minimize peril for all involved (including the city of Elantra). Lots and lots and lots of talk about politics in this one, mostly condescending to Kaylin while they’re at it. We learn that it is possible that some of the Barrani High Court may be in league with — or at least helping — Shadow/Ravellon. Also, Kaylin may have gotten herself on the wrong side of the Consort in an even worse way than the first time. (This is the Consort’s fault, but she’s unlikely to see it that way, much less admit it.)
( +++ ) Guards! Guards! - Pratchett [Discworld #8]
Consistent high quality, very funny in parts. A few bumbling magic users bite off way more than they can chew when summoning a dragon. After the dragon becomes king of Ankh-Morpork(!), Vimes, Carrot and the other guards — with the help of the Librarian (ook!) and Lady Ramkin — try to stop the dragon. Good stuff.
Now Reading:
Long work - A Fire in the Sun - Effinger [Marid Audran #2]
Collection - Kinship with the Stars - Poul Anderson
Tony