Re: Highlights and Lowlights - August 2024

On 9/5/24 10:35 PM, Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:

In article <vbanc2$hre$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance  <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

>
Highlights and Lowlights - August 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 here.
>
Highlights - The Sagara and the Andrews. I think these folks simply
write stuff that I like.
>
Lowlights - Kinship with the Stars - Poul Anderson (collection)
>
Here’s a quick summary of what’s more in-depth below:
( ++ ) The Man in the Maze - Silverberg
( ++ - - ) Kinship with the Stars - Anderson (collection)
( +++ ) Sweep of the Blade - Andrews [Innkeeper Chronicles #4]
( ++ 1/2 ) Majestrum - Hughes [Henghis Hapthorn]
( ++ 1/2 - ) Winter’s Gifts - Aaronovitch [Rivers of London novella]
( +++ ) Cast in Oblivion - Sagara [Elantra #14]
( ++ 1/2 ) A Fire in the Sun - Effinger [Marid Audran #2]
>
>
Now Reading:
Long work - The Stainless Steel Rat - Harrison
Collection - The Best Time Travel Stories Of All Time ed. by Malzberg
>
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August 2024
>
>
( +++ ) Sweep of the Blade - Andrews [Innkeeper Chronicles #4]
Fun! This one is 100% focused on Dina’s sister Maud and her daughter
Helen, and it takes place on vampire Arland’s home world. I was a little
bummed to have no Dina, no Inns, and no Earth, but this is a very
enjoyable entry in the series. Arland has proposed marriage to Maud, and
she has deferred, pending a visit to his home world. Maud has to
(re-)navigate vampire politics and aggression while making sure she &
Helen stay safe. Arland’s family is very unhappy with Maud’s deferral
and they test the heck out of her, in ways only these vampires can. In
parallel, Maud uncovers a serious threat to Arland’s entire home world,
and things race ahead from there.
>

 This is the only one of yours I've read, and it is actually my favorite
Innkeeper book.  I wouldn't mind another one, tying Maud's story in with
Diana's, perhaps in finally finding their parents.  I guess Andrews will
be going in another direction for a while though (and good on them for
landing that deal!)

Yeah, this one was indeed very enjoyable - my being bummed was just the initial realization, and I got over it very quickly.
And yes, very happy for them - I think I've enjoyed everything I've read of theirs.

( ++ 1/2 ) Majestrum - Hughes [Henghis Hapthorn]
Henghis Hapthorn is Old Earth’s foremost “discriminator” (i.e.
investigator), using a sharp intellect, astute powers of observation,
and the best technology of the age to aid his case-solving. When the
harrowing (but otherwise successful) outcome of a previous case
transforms his almost-AI aide into a living creature, and also
transforms his intuitional self into a separate being inside his head,
Henghis realizes that the rational universe is giving way to an emerging
magical one - where his intuitional alter-ego will shine, but where he,
the rational one, will fall into the background. The two cases he finds
himself on (one from the Archon himself) are part and parcel of this
universe transition, and Henghis gets pulled into it quite deeply.
Hughes’ writing in the Archonate universe reminds me greatly of Vance’s
Gaean Reach. Very enjoyable.

 Interesting that you should say that, because your description brought to
mind Vance's short "The Men Return".
 

( +++ ) Cast in Oblivion - Sagara [Elantra #14]
Very good, as is typical in this series. Some very important things get
resolved, but which also open doors to some very interesting new issues.
The first half is taken up with The Consort coming to dinner at Kaylin’s
home, and the second half is taken up with the results of the many
conversations and plans that happen during that evening.
>

 I need to get back to this series.  I really enjoyed the ones I read,
but somehow I associated it with my emergency Nook purchase and never
got back to it when I got a Kindle back.

I obviously enjoy this series. One very interesting aspect -- just by way of observation -- is that although this is entry #14, I believe less than two years have passed in-universe since the start of #1 - maybe even just one.
Tony