I just finished listening to "The Ancient" by RA Salvatore on CD. Its ten CDs.
Disclaimer: The below is merely my opinion. I read the book and know nothing about the author.
Categories: Fantasy, Magic
It has: Magical religions in conflict, A long quest traveling across dangerous lands, A young husband in search of himself, A hero that outfights anyone but has a grave weakness, good vs. evil, true love, castles, forests, kings and queens, dwarves, trolls, giants and barbarians.
What did I like: The story was told from multiple vantage points that came together for the finale. Some of the characters drew interest and concern. The reader does great accents for all the different races and countries.
What didn't I like: Most of the characters were one-dimensional. Brandon was too good, too talented and too perfect. It seemed to move slowly at times. The detailed descriptions of how the fighters moved were way too long.
Rating: 3 of 5, I enjoyed it.
Personal notes: It had the feel of a book that is part of a series and I haven't read any of the rest of the series. It kept me wanting the next part of the story but it wasn't addictive.
26 January 2010
Top 10 to Read
I'm starting by listing the best fiction I can think of. I don't usually read books more than once. But if I do, its because I really like it. So, based on reading the book more than once and in no particular order here is the list:
* Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - John LeCarre - Also include 'Smiley's People' and the other books about George Smiley in this item.
* The (various) Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Stephen R. Donaldson - And throw in anything by this same author. (But be warned that "The Gap Series" is very, very different. But good.)
* Morgaine Series - CJ Cherryh - Gate_of_Ivrel, Well of Shiuan, Fires of Azeroth
* Cyteen - CJ Cherryh - I originally read this when it was published as three paperbacks named "Cyteen: The Betrayal", "Cyteen: The Rebirth", "Cyteen: The Vindication" but all newer editions have just one book called "Cyteen"
* Foundation Trilogy - Arthur Asimov - This means the first three of this series: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, The Second Foundation. The newer books continuing the series are good too.
* Mysteries - Tony Hillerman - Pretty much any of the Jim Chee or Joe Leaphorn mysteries. You can find a list here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hillerman
* Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card - The other Ender books are good too, especially "Ender's Shadow" but I haven't feld the pull to read them again.
* The Coldfire Trilogy - CS Freidman - Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls, Crown of Shadows
* Darkover Series - Marion Zimmer Bradley - There is a list here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Zimmer_Bradley
* Aubrey Knight Series - Steven Barnes - Street Lethal, Gorgon Child, Firedance
* Dune - Frank Herbert - The original six: Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heritics of Dune, Children of Dune--these are the really good ones. If you can only read one, read "Dune".
* The Snow Queen Cycle - Joan Vinge - The Snow Queen, World's End, The Winter Queen, Tangled Up in Blue
* Legion of Space - Jack Williamson - Simple but fun.
* Shannara - Terry Brooks - The best ones are the first three: The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, The Wishsong of Shannara. The Heritage series has four more books and they are good too. I haven't read the others in the series twice but enjoyed them the first time.
* Silistra Series - Janet Morris - Four books: High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind From the Abyss, The Carnelian Throne.
* Taormin Series, Network-Consortium - Cheryl J Franklin - Which is pretty much all she has written.
* Hobbit, Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien - not much to add here
Ok ... there are seventeen items in the list. And I've got to admit that most of them comprise more than one book. I never much thought about how much I like there to be more than one book with a continuing story or continuing characters. You learn something every day.
You probably noticed the preponderance of Science Fiction and Fantasy here. I think that is because it hasn't been too many years since I branched out into other areas of fiction. Since I seem to wait a long time before re-reading a book, there hasn't been enough time elapsed.
* Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - John LeCarre - Also include 'Smiley's People' and the other books about George Smiley in this item.
* The (various) Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Stephen R. Donaldson - And throw in anything by this same author. (But be warned that "The Gap Series" is very, very different. But good.)
* Morgaine Series - CJ Cherryh - Gate_of_Ivrel, Well of Shiuan, Fires of Azeroth
* Cyteen - CJ Cherryh - I originally read this when it was published as three paperbacks named "Cyteen: The Betrayal", "Cyteen: The Rebirth", "Cyteen: The Vindication" but all newer editions have just one book called "Cyteen"
* Foundation Trilogy - Arthur Asimov - This means the first three of this series: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, The Second Foundation. The newer books continuing the series are good too.
* Mysteries - Tony Hillerman - Pretty much any of the Jim Chee or Joe Leaphorn mysteries. You can find a list here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Hillerman
* Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card - The other Ender books are good too, especially "Ender's Shadow" but I haven't feld the pull to read them again.
* The Coldfire Trilogy - CS Freidman - Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls, Crown of Shadows
* Darkover Series - Marion Zimmer Bradley - There is a list here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Zimmer_Bradley
* Aubrey Knight Series - Steven Barnes - Street Lethal, Gorgon Child, Firedance
* Dune - Frank Herbert - The original six: Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heritics of Dune, Children of Dune--these are the really good ones. If you can only read one, read "Dune".
* The Snow Queen Cycle - Joan Vinge - The Snow Queen, World's End, The Winter Queen, Tangled Up in Blue
* Legion of Space - Jack Williamson - Simple but fun.
* Shannara - Terry Brooks - The best ones are the first three: The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, The Wishsong of Shannara. The Heritage series has four more books and they are good too. I haven't read the others in the series twice but enjoyed them the first time.
* Silistra Series - Janet Morris - Four books: High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind From the Abyss, The Carnelian Throne.
* Taormin Series, Network-Consortium - Cheryl J Franklin - Which is pretty much all she has written.
* Hobbit, Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien - not much to add here
Ok ... there are seventeen items in the list. And I've got to admit that most of them comprise more than one book. I never much thought about how much I like there to be more than one book with a continuing story or continuing characters. You learn something every day.
You probably noticed the preponderance of Science Fiction and Fantasy here. I think that is because it hasn't been too many years since I branched out into other areas of fiction. Since I seem to wait a long time before re-reading a book, there hasn't been enough time elapsed.
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