While She Knits - Book Recs for MWT
Jul. 8th, 2013 10:09 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
checkers65477.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
queensthiefFirst, a reminder. Megan will be at the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore in San Diego on Saturday, July 13 and afterwards will wander down to the Starbucks next door to meet up with any available fans. Read all about it here.
And Megan needs our help! From MWT:
The people at Mysterious Galaxy have said that they will set up a table of reading recommendations for Thief fans while I am there. Can you ask Sounis what they would recommend that they think Mysterious Galaxy might have in stock? They specialize in Mystery and Fantasy and Science Fiction, so they are likely to have all the Bujold for instance, but not our favorites like Sutcliff and Aiken and probably no Diana Wynne Jones.
So, ideas? What are your favorite titles that other Gen lovers might like?
And Megan needs our help! From MWT:
The people at Mysterious Galaxy have said that they will set up a table of reading recommendations for Thief fans while I am there. Can you ask Sounis what they would recommend that they think Mysterious Galaxy might have in stock? They specialize in Mystery and Fantasy and Science Fiction, so they are likely to have all the Bujold for instance, but not our favorites like Sutcliff and Aiken and probably no Diana Wynne Jones.
So, ideas? What are your favorite titles that other Gen lovers might like?
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 02:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/9/13 04:06 am (UTC)~mwt
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 04:13 am (UTC)~mwt
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 04:45 am (UTC)There is also The Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn, which is a murder mystery in space. Trying to describe that book in any more detail leads to massive amounts of spoilers.
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 05:41 am (UTC)As far as recommendations... Bujold and Sayers have already been mentioned. Elizabeth Marie Pope is also great, with good surprises and clever characters, particularly in Sherwood Ring.
no subject
Date: 7/10/13 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/10/13 07:08 pm (UTC)I wish she had written more -- I would read it all!
~deirdrej
no subject
Date: 7/29/13 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/9/13 07:51 am (UTC)Anything by Terry Pratchett, although particularly in this case Nation which is a bit more serious in tone and has that almost historical but clearly not fantasy setting in addition as well as The Wee Free Men, for something more light-hearted.
The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson. This might be a bit of a riskier rec? The way that the story spirals out to become that interesting balance of the conflict between personal/global/emotional/political.
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer. A magical classic. Agghhh! Except it's not in stock. Well, still not taking back the rec.
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 10:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/9/13 10:34 am (UTC)Last time I was in Mysterious Galaxy, they had plenty of Patricia McKillip, whom I also love. Reading her is like an impressionist painting in prose. Also seconding
Also, if they have any Jo Walton, I'd recommend her highly. (Most of my Jo Walton was bought there, but they don't always keep older stuff in stock.) She isn't easily characterized, because she's always trying something new -- whether it's a Victorian family drama with dragons, an Arthurian saga, Alternate history, or a magical memoir. But she writes with integrity and almost never fails to move me.
For another fantastic, somewhat unreliable, thieving viewpoint character and even more convoluted politics and very interesting gods, Steven Brust's Vlad Taltos books. (Really, all of his books are great, but Vlad as a narrator is probably more appealing to fans of Gen as a narrator than Paarfi is, as the Khaavren Romances are set in the same world as the Vlad books but are basically a Dumas pastiche.)
On the Science Fiction side with great world building, politics, and really interesting, sympathetic, intelligent characters, C. J. Cherryh, particularly the Foreigner series.
And Bujold of course. :D And they would be likely to have some Diana Wynne Jones.
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 05:20 pm (UTC)Sunshine and Chalice - Robin McKinley
All three (so far) Rivers of London books - Ben Aaronovitch
Deep Secret and The Merlin Conspiracy - Diana Wynne Jones' most underrated books about Magids, but really, MWT probably has her own favorites here anyway.
Neverwhere and American Gods - Neil Gaiman, and Good Omens - Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
And just because I've loved them since infancy and even though they're considered children's books: The Dark is Rising sequence - Susan Cooper
no subject
Date: 7/10/13 06:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/10/13 06:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/9/13 09:54 pm (UTC)Or how 'bout The Claidi Journals (Tanith Lee)? Or Elizabeth Bunce's StarCrossed, Liar's Moon (more great keywords! *wink*) and her wonderful standalone retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, A Curse Dark As Gold.
Just some suggestions. Wish I could be there with you all! Have fun and report back to the folks at Sounis, ay?
no subject
Date: 7/9/13 09:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/10/13 05:25 pm (UTC)sclerotia
no subject
Date: 7/10/13 07:49 pm (UTC)There's a sequel to House of the Scorpion coming out soon, btw.
I see nobody's mentioned Elizabeth Wein. Is she too obvious? Can I mention Elizabeth Wein? Maybe the MG would have some of her Aksumite/Arthurian novels. They are absolutely fantastic! If not, would they have Code Name Verity? Also awesome, though (of course) quite grim. The companion novel, "Rose Under Fire," is even better!
I also adore Catherine Fisher! "Incarceron" and "Sapphique" are fantastic, and I love her "Oracle Trilogy." And "Corbenic!" A fantastic Arthurian retelling -- She is so beyond awesome I can't even say.....
I think somebody already mentioned Hilari Bell's "Farsala" trilogy? I am very fond of those books, too -- and I think Sounisians would like them, because they have characters who are reminiscent of those in the "Queen's Thief" books, but also very different. And the way Bell incorporates Persian mythology is awesome. Plus there is military action! Strategy! and a bit of magic. (BTW there's a neglected classic by Hilari Bell called "A Matter of Profit," which is full of delightful tricksiness. But I think that's only available as an ebook at this point.)
For slightly younger readers, since we have Susan Cooper, what about Michelle Paver or L. M. Boston? The Green Knowe books have some of the most gorgeous writing in the English language, plus they're great stories, and very atmospheric. And Michelle Paver knows her world building. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness will certainly appeal to any Sounisians who like Susan Cooper or Ursula Leguin (plus some who like Jean Craighead George). And her new series (starts with "Gods and Warriors" has a very interesting "pre-mythological" Mediterranean setting.
Oh! Speaking of L. M. Boston, maybe M.G. has Jill Paton Walsh's "Piece of Justice" in stock? A fantastic tribute to L. M. Boston by a friend -- plus a beautifully written mystery!
And I second (or 3rd, or 4th) Dorothy Sayers. Plus I'd add Josephine Tey. And what about the "Medicus" series by Ruth Downie? Vastly entertaining!
I know MWT said that the store won't have Rosemary Sutcliff. But what about Amanda McCrina's "His Own Good Sword?" Lovely writing, and fascinating characters -- I'd bet Sounisians would like it.
I saw that people were mentioning R.J. Anderson's Fairy Rebels, but I don't think anybody talked about "Ultraviolet" or "Quicksilver." Definitely SF, and quite enjoyable!
I seem to be neglecting the men -- I think some of us do like the classics, though? J.R.R. Tolkien and the other Inklings? I like Lewis's "Till We Have Faces," and Charles Williams' "War in Heaven."
And what about Jonathan Stroud? Bartimaeus rules!
~Deirdre (deirdrej)
no subject
Date: 7/11/13 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/14/13 02:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/13 07:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/29/13 11:40 pm (UTC)I hadn't heard of it, and l just looked it up, but nobody mentions L.M. Boston - is it a tribute in the sense that Paton Walsh dedicates it to her, or that she or her characters are mentioned in it?
Have you read Memory in a House, one of her autobiographies that talks about the house at Hemingford Grey that is Green Knowe in her books?
no subject
Date: 8/8/13 05:51 pm (UTC)As to your question, many people visit the Manor (which is mentioned in A Piece of Justice) specially to see L.M. Boston's quilts. The mystery focuses on quilts and quilting, and on a brilliant mathematician whose work on patterns is stolen. That mathematician is a tribute to Boston. If I'm remembering rightly (I'm sure Deirdre will correct me if I'm wrong), Diana Boston confirmed that this character was meant to be her mother-in-law. Jill Paton Walsh and L.M. Boston were friends.
Sorry it took so long to answer this! If you do read A Piece of Justice, I'd love to know what you think of it.
no subject
Date: 7/10/13 08:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/11/13 02:18 am (UTC)As far as an awesome mystery, The Last Child by John Hart is wonderful. Creepy, touching, and suspenseful. Plus, he is a North Carolina author and extremely easy on the eye.
Ooh, and it's older and also a bit hard to find, but Josephine Tey's Brat Farrar is a fantastic mystery.
no subject
Date: 7/11/13 04:46 am (UTC)Oh! Forgot to mention -- if you like Nancy Farmer's The Ear, The Eye and The Arm, you might also like Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Or maybe Akata Witch, by Nnedi Okorafor.
BTW, I agree with the rec for Maggie Stiefvater. And I also love Laini Taylor. And Isabel Hoving (Dream Merchant), Kate Thompson (New Policeman), Patrice Kindl (Goose Chase. Didn't like Keepin the Castle quite so much, though it was OK. ...) And did anybody mention Kristin Cashore?
Mike Mullin's books are not quite my cup of tea, but they are extremely well- written. I'd definitely recommend them to anybody who likes a good post-apocalyptic story.
Speaking of post-apocalyptic -- what about Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz? Fantastic book -- do other Sounisians love it, too, or am I the only one ?
Oh, there are so many good books.... and so little time...
no subject
Date: 7/11/13 01:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/11/13 06:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/17/13 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 7/13/13 03:11 am (UTC)-Rosie
no subject
Date: 7/15/13 08:06 pm (UTC)-Jhereg -Steven Brust
-Lies of Locke Lamora -Scott Lynch
-Some Bujold books, excited to read more tbh.
-perilous gard, elizabeth marie pope
-anubis gates - tim powers
-soul mirror - carol berg
-poison study - maria snyder
-codex alera - jim butcher
-cybele's secret - juliet marillier
-seraphina - rachel hartman (could have been better. i loved her uncle tho)
and, of course: some or all books by diana wynne jones, neil gaiman, terry pratchett, robin hobb, robin mckinley, sherwood smith, patricia wrede, caroline stevermer, garth nix, artemis fowl series, hornblower series, cold comfort farm, rafael sabatini, scarlet pimpernel. Some of these may have a YA bent, it's been a long time; I'm not sure if my tastes have changed since i was a kid. I've read ursula le guinn, mckillop, aiken, chronciles of prydain, and some of the others mentioned but it has been more than 10 years and i remember next to nothing - bad memory. One of the reasons i love MWT is i actually got fooled by the Thief twice. Read it quite young, forgot, picked it up some time later and still plot twist got me again >_>
Also, if you study french try the Arsene Lupin books. prototype gentleman thief.
-lulu