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Mandrake #77530 23/01/04 10:16 AM
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Just when you thought this thread was dead..........

High Wizardry by Diane Duane

Several months have passed since the events told in Deep Wizardry (See above) and Nita has been busy getting on with her life.

Her sister Dairine discovered her sister was a wizard in the last book and is now consumed by jealousy. While her sister isnt looking she takes the wizards oath without really meaning it and sets of into the galaxy with a computerised copy of the wizards manual.

Nita and Kit, fearing for Dairines life, set off in pursuit of her. But they are one step behind, the evil Lone Power is already on Dairines tail, and it wants blood.

This book is well written, as are all the books in this series. Diane Duane really has a way with words and her characters are very likeable. The book is full of bizzare aliens, odd planets and way out wizardry. Once again morality makes a solid underline for the story and Dairine has to learn what being a wizard truly means and understand and mean the oath she took.

Diane scores again. 8 out of 10.







Excert:

They ambled down the hall a little way, to the Ahnighito meteorite on its low pedistal - thrity four rons of nickel-iron slag, pitted with great holes like an irregularly melted lump of Swiss cheese. Nita laid her hands and cheek against it; on a hot day in New York, this was the best thing in the city to touch, for its pleasant coolness never altered, no matter how long you were in contact with it. Kit reached out and touched it too.
"This has come a long way" he said.
"The asteroid belf" Nita said "Two hundred and fifty million miles or so..."
"No" Kit said "Father than that." His voice was quiet, and Nita realised that Kit was deep in the kind of wizardly 'understanding' with the meteorite that she had with trees and animals and other things that lived. "Long, long dark times" Kit said "nothing but space and the cold. And then slowly, the light growing . Faster abd faster - diving in towards the light, till it burns, and the gas and water and metal boil off one after another. And before everything is gone, out into the dark again, for a long, long time..."
"It was part of a comet" Nita said.
"Until the comet's orbit decayed. It came in too close to the sun on one pass, and shattered, and came down-" Kit took his hand away abrubtly "It doesnt care for that memory" he said.
"And now here it is..."
"Tamed" Kit said "Resting. But it remembers when it was wild, and roamed in the dark, and the sun was its only tether..."
Nita was still for a few seconds. That sense of earth being a small 'safe' house with a huge back garden, through which powers both benign and terrible moved, was what had made her first fall in love with astronomy. To have someone share the feeling with her so completly was amazing. She met Kit's eyes and couldnt think of a single thing to say; just nodded.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />

Last edited by Mandrake; 23/01/04 10:21 AM.

I will call you "Squishy", and you will be my squishy! OW! BAD SQUISHY! - Dory, Finding Nemo
Mandrake #77531 25/01/04 11:23 AM
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Mmm. Book reviews...

I've created a LJ community devoted to reviewing a variety of products, here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/bash_em/ If you're interested, you could always join.

Winterfox #77532 26/01/04 12:02 AM
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Ohh, I like the idea <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/badsmile2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />. I'll add it to my favorites and will join when I'll have some more time.

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A while back in this thread, Mandrake posted: They actually made a TV series of Neverwhere that was pretty good. I never did see it all though.

You might be interested to know that the 6-part BBC series is now available on DVD, complete with audio commentary by Gaiman himself, and a "vintage" interview.

Rincewind #77534 28/03/04 10:03 AM
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Cool! Thanks Rincewind. I will have to look that up for sure <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ill post some more reviews here when I can get off my lazy butt and write them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />


I will call you "Squishy", and you will be my squishy! OW! BAD SQUISHY! - Dory, Finding Nemo
Mandrake #77535 29/06/04 11:22 PM
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Yes yes, I know I kind of let this thread die, but despite the sheer volume of material i've read, nothing has inspired me to a review. Until now.

Blitzcat by Robert Westall

The unfortunatly named Lord Gort is tired. Since the second world war began her life has been nothing but misery. Far to the east she can sense her person. Though a cat knows little about Hitler or Dunkirk, she knows her human is far away and in danger. So one day she sets off to find him. The story is told from the point of view of Gort, what makes it so enjoyable is she is never humanised by the author, she is always what she is, a cat. Its the way people react to her that makes the book one of the most human stories I have ever read. Its basically a series of small snapshots linked together by Lord Gorts quest to find her person. The characters she meets are very well realised and the book paints a picture of the effect of world war 2 on the average person that is vivid and affecting, without being overly sentimental. Its nice to see the way people who are broken and without hope can renew it with something as simple as a cat, and Lord Gort always arrives on the scene when they need her most. The variety of characters she encounters is good, from small children to soldiers, to berieved widows. In each case they are left better for it without her ever being more than what she is.

This is a poignant book right until the end, some of the images it paints will stay with me for a long time. Its not all happy but its certainly food for thought. Give your cat a big hug afterwards and be thankful.

A flawless novel. 10 out of 10

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/kitty.gif" alt="" />


I will call you "Squishy", and you will be my squishy! OW! BAD SQUISHY! - Dory, Finding Nemo
Mandrake #77536 29/06/04 11:36 PM
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hmm at the moment I am totally lost in Sara Douglass's Starman series, and as she is an Australian writer I can only say ...way to go Sara <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />
[Linked Image] [Linked Image] [Linked Image] [Linked Image]



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MeaCulpa #77537 29/06/04 11:48 PM
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I havent read the Starman series but I read the one after that (I didnt know at the time it was a follow up) and you are right. She rocks. Very very imaginative. Ive also read another series by an Australian author called Fiona McIntosh. Its called Trinity and the first book is called Betrayal. Try it out once youve finished with the Starman trilogy. Im sure you will love it.

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I will call you "Squishy", and you will be my squishy! OW! BAD SQUISHY! - Dory, Finding Nemo
Mandrake #77538 29/06/04 11:52 PM
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hmm looks like an excellent story , will have to plan for that as I still have about 7 of Sara's books to finish <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />


Mea Culpa's Demesne Note; artwork for Avatar courtesy of NWN and CEP Old Elven Saying: "Never say Never if you're gonna live forever!!!" "I didn't do it, it wasn't my fault"
MeaCulpa #77539 30/06/04 12:51 AM
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Hasnt she just done a new series too? I have meant to go back and read the first three books in the Starman series. I read the one that starts with Heretic.

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I will call you "Squishy", and you will be my squishy! OW! BAD SQUISHY! - Dory, Finding Nemo
Mandrake #77540 30/06/04 01:14 AM
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yup click on the link in my original post <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Mea Culpa's Demesne Note; artwork for Avatar courtesy of NWN and CEP Old Elven Saying: "Never say Never if you're gonna live forever!!!" "I didn't do it, it wasn't my fault"
MeaCulpa #77541 17/07/04 10:17 AM
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Mr. Pratchett's "The Wee Free Men" - great book ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" />

It's also a book - both funny and serious at the same time (as I'm used o it) - that I would immediately give to my dauughter if I had one - because it's a book about self-confidence ... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />


On the sad side I was reading the book and many times asking my self : "Will I ever bee a good writer ? Will I ever be able to develop such complicated plots ? How can I ever be good in writing if I even manage to write good stories as I've experienced through the critics in the Adorant threade ?"

That was the point when I almost lost hope.


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Isn't The Wee Free Men aimed at an audience of 9-12? I'm not saying that a children's book can't have a complicated plot, but...

Winterfox #77543 17/07/04 06:16 PM
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Well, complicated in the sense that there are a *lot* of dream sequences - with different results.


When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
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"Interplay.some zombiefied unlife thing going on there" - skavenhorde at RPGWatch
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Hmm. I don't know; I've read many of Terry Pratchett's novels, but I have never thought that complexity of plot is the forte of his Discworld novels. It's more the complexity of some characters and the seamless, witty humor. I've always found his plots, well, linear. But as I said, I haven't read The Wee Free Men yet.

Winterfox #77545 18/07/04 05:48 AM
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I saw it at the library today and held it in my hands. I thought it was for kids, so I didn't pick it up. I regret that now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" />



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I guess it's also a matter of taste. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Yes, indeed I think it's rather the Dream sequences that made this impression to me. It has a *lot* to do with dreams.


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I thought it was for kids, so I didn't pick it up.


I've read plenty of Pratchetts (go figure! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" /> ), and believe me, his "kids" books are just titles that kids are also likely to enjoy. He doesn't write down; the depths are still there for anyone wishing to take the plunge; the humour is just as delightful.

Just finished reading The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, which is described as "the first for young readers set in the Discworld universe" Almost right. It's for all readers. Just like the rest of his stuff.

Rincewind #77548 18/07/04 06:31 PM
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I was disappointed yesterday as I found out that I cannot get the follow-up ("A hat full of sky" at my local book-shop ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif" alt="" />

Must try elsewhere ...


When you find a big kettle of crazy, it's best not to stir it.
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The curious incident of the dohg in the night-time. By Mark Haddon.

This was a great book. Its about an autistic boy, Christopher, who's neighbor's dog is killed. Its a very sad book, as nobody realizes it, and think's he's strange.

He has many different things he won't do, and he hates the color's yellow and brown. He hates strangers and if his food touches he won't eat it.

He goes off detectoring to find who killed the dog, and he lives with his Dad ever since his Mom died from a heart attack.

Great ending, with many suprises, I really recommened this book.

Oh, its very mature. Very.
But its great, can't post the ending, too many suprises.



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