Legends : Discworld, Pern, Song of Ice and Fire, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, Wheel

by Robert Silverberg | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
ISBN: 0006483941 Global Overview for this book
Registered by gwilk of Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on 5/7/2006
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by gwilk from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Sunday, May 7, 2006
I stumbled across one of those lucky garage sales where the vendors apparently have some similar taste to you. I like Terry Pratchett and Anne Mccaffrey so that made this book a must have. There are five stories in the book.

The Sea and Little Fishes, Terry Pratchett (Discworld). I found this to be in his amusing style. Something didn't quite click for me in the conclusion, though.

Runner of Pern, Anne McCaffrey (Pern). Introduces another whole subculture that I do not remember being introduced in any previous books - that of runners, messengers whose place seems somewhat precarious in a world where dragons give instant communication (for the privledged). The runners also seem to rely on genetically engineered moss for their tracks which seems vaguely implausible. But cool characters that you can quickly empathise with, typical of McCaffrey's works.

The Hedge Knight, George R R Martin (A Song of Fire and Ice). Quite evocative piece. Saying it had gritty realism might be going too far but I certainly loved the feel of the world it created and it brought to mind Timeline by Michael Chrichton. Wonderfully involving climatic battle scene with what seems to me as cinematic story telling with close-ups and slow-motion. Maybe thats another way of saying the author has strong visual style.

The Burning Man, Tad Williams (Memory, Sorrow and Thorn). If I had pick the weak story of the collection this would be it. Not that it wasn't involving story telling and generally good I got annoyed at the religion in the story. Seemed to me to be too close to Christianity and why can't the author create a new religion rather than stealing mine? Since religon is a fairly central theme of the story that makes this annoyance too important to overlook.

"Our religon teaches us that God appeared in this world, wearing the form of Usires Aedon, performing many miracles, singing up cures for the sick and lame, until at last the Imperiator Crexis caused him to be hung from the Execution Tree... The Promise of Aedon the Ransomer is that all who live with be gathered up- that there will be no death."

Sounds a lot like Jesus the Redeemer to me. Apart from the singing.

New Spring, Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time). Cool world with a powerful story packed into not so many pages. Certainly makes me think it would be worth while tracking down the rest of the saga.

Journal Entry 2 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Saturday, July 29, 2006
Received from qwilk tonight. Thanks for the book, and for a fun evening (I think you may have even converted MrPloppy to the joys of board games!)

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Journal Entry 3 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Friday, September 22, 2006
I *had* read this before - or at least, I'd read the Terry Pratchett and Anne McCaffrey stories (which were both predictably good), but never bothered to read any further.

This time I kept reading, and discovered a mixed bag. The George R R Martin story I really enjoyed, and I think I'll have to check out the Song of Fire and Ice series now. Tad Williams's contribution was boring, and, as gwilk says above, incredibly lacking in imagination (and not just the strangely familiar religion - could he not think up more original names for the months than "Feyever", "Marris", "Avrel" and "Maia"?). Robert Jordan's story didn't capture my attention at first, but became more interesting as it went on. Another series it might be worth investigating further one day.

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Journal Entry 4 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Friday, September 22, 2006
Taken to today's meetup, and last seen with a kitten's nose firmly ensconsed in the Anne McCaffrey story.

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Journal Entry 5 by futurecat from Christchurch, Canterbury New Zealand on Monday, February 12, 2007
Somehow this book ended up back in my possession.

Given to Alithia at tonight's meetup.

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