Book Blogger Appreciation Week 2010
Sunday, June 20th, 2010In honor of book blogger appreciation week 2010, I’m submitting some of the best reviews from Fantasy Book News. Below is a sampling.
Posts Tagged ‘Peter S. Beagle’
Fantasy Blogosphere: March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 28th, 2010If you’re looking for a few good book reviews, you’ve come to the right place this week. I’d really like to check out Shadowrise and The Stormcaller when I find some time to fit them into my reading schedule. Also this week, a pair of interviews: video of Raymond E. Feist commenting on his 30 book series, his methods of character development, and how he feels fans have received his work over the years, as well as a transcript of an interview with the great Peter S. Beagle. We continue to follow the development of the Firefly comic series (solely because Patton Oswalt is hilarious), and we cap the week with news about Frank Frazetta and the family feud that has been surrounding his work for years.
- Review: Shadowrise by Tad Williams @ Speculative Book Review
- Review: Reaper’s Gale by Steven Erikson @ Val’s Random Comments
- Review: Shadow’s Edge by Brent Weeks @ Only the Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- Review: The Great Bazaar and Other Stories by Peter V. Brett @ Blood of the Muse
- Review: The Stormcaller by Tom Lloyd @ A Fantasy Reader
- Review: Swords of the Six by Scott Appleton @ Fantasy Book Critic
- Review: The Dresden Files series @ Suite 101
- Interview: Raymond E. Feist @ Grasping for the Wind
- Interview: Peter S. Beagle @ Port Iris
- Covers: Chronicles of the Dread Empire by Glen Cook @ Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
- Comics: Patton Oswalt on Firefly @ Entertainment Weekly
- Art: Frank Frazetta’s Son is ‘an Alien’ @ CBR
Fantasy Blogosphere: January 10, 2010
Sunday, January 10th, 2010I don’t think we’ve ever had a more eclectic brew on the Fantasy Blogosphere. We start this week off with a pair of reviews at Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist and Grasping for the Wind, and balance those out nicely with three interviews, including the second we’ve spotlighted in the “Patrick Rothfuss interviews other fantasy authors” series. He’s following up his interview with Joe Abercrombie with a conversation with Brent Weeks. We touch on a new novella by Steven Erikson, give Brandon Sanderson the nod for his work on The Gathering Storm, and round out the week with a lesson on writing from George R.R. Martin, and the icing on the cake: a cage match between Steven Erikson and R. Scott Bakker. Mmm, Tasty.
- Review: Horus Rising by Dan Abnett @ Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
- Review: Shadow Prowler by Alexy Pehov @ Grasping for the Wind
- Interview: Patrick Rothfuss interviews Brent Weeks @ Patrick Rothfuss’ site
- Interview: Guy Gavriel Kay @ Book Banter
- Interview: Peter S. Beagle @ Alethea Kontis
- News: Steven Erikson novella Crack’d Pot Trail @ Fantasy Book Review
- News: Brandon Sanderson’s work on The Gathering Storm not too shabby @ The Gateway
- Education: Learn to Write Good by George R.R. Martin @ GRRM’s blog
- Cage Match: Steven Erikson vs R. Scott Bakker @ The League of Ordinary Gentlemen
Top 10 Fantasy Books of 2009
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Okay, so I want to make sure we’re clear before diving in: this is not a list of the best fantasy books released in 2009, but rather the top books read and reviewed here at Fantasy Book News in 2009. That said, there are some newer books, and some classics, but overall this is an elite list of fantasy novels that any avid reader should check out. And away we go.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
While this series is going on fifteen years, I gave a re-read to the first novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series in 2009, in audio book format. The book still has the same enchanting effect as the first time I read it, and is still the standard to which I compare most other fantasy books, and absolutely any epic fantasy books. Check out the full review of A Game of Thrones.
Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
The second book in Lynch’s seven book Gentlemen Bastards series delivered what many creative people struggle to accomplish time and time again: give the audience a better experience than the original. Red Seas Under Red Skies upped the stakes from The Lies of Locke Lamora, and hit ended up hitting a grand slam. Read the full review of Red Seas Under Red Skies.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This whopping freshman fantasy novel by Rothfuss completely transports you to another world, which is one of the goals that every fantasy novel aspires to. Believe me, I read most of it while lounging poolside in Araxa, Brazil, and I can’t tell you how many times I forgot my beautiful surroundings for the world that Rothfuss creates. Check out the full review of The Name of the Wind.
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
The quintessential fairy tale, The Last Unicorn is simply a beautiful story. Get lost in a world of fantasy and magic, complimented with a fantastically original plot and a genuine sense of humor. Read the full review of The Last Unicorn.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Mistborn is an absolutely beautiful novel. Its got everything that a fantasy reader looks for: insanely original devices, characters you can identify with, tons of action, and wholesome undercurrents. We have a full review of Mistborn over here.
The Lies of Locke Lamora
Not falling to far behind the second novel in this series is The Lies of Locke Lamora. Lynch’s city of Camorr is a truly devilish one, and creates the perfect backdrop for the thieving ways of his characters to thrive. Redefining exactly what is knows as ‘action fantasy’, Lynch’s debut is definitely not one to be missed. Check out our full review of The Lies of Locke Lamora.
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Another truly original idea is explored with fantastic characterization. Plus, who doesn’t like a novel with pirates? Check out our full review of Ship of Magic.
Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
The oldest book on our list is certainly not any less of a quality read. Kushner’s ability with conversation is unmatched. If you’re up for a fast paced sword dueling adventure, this one is for you. Read our full review of Swordspoint.
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The final two books on our top 10 list for 2009 belong to the urban fantasy genre. Neverwhere is perhaps the benchmark for all current urban fantasy, and is a classic fantasy read. Sort of a modern take on Alice in Wonderland. Check out our full review of Neverwhere.
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Arguably the reigning urban fantasy king, Storm Front is the first in Jim Butcher’s uber-popular Dresden Files series. Storm Front is an extremely fast-paced hilarious take on the genre. Read our full review of Storm Front.
Review: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Monday, August 10th, 2009Book review of Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn
In my last review of Ship of Magic, I mentioned how I was going to take a departure from the more grown-up world of fantasy for a quick stop on the young adult shelf. The Last Unicorn, while a shorter novel, is not what I could classify as a light read. This is a fairy tale, but a satire about fairy tales, with strong undercurrents of truth strewn throughout. I had considered picking it up in the past, but was discouraged by the fact that there was a unicorn on the cover. Never, and I mean never, judge a book by its cover. It make take some a while to become comfortable with what others may judge of reading such a novel. All I have to say to that is, get over it. This book is fantastic, beautiful, magical, and hilarious. If you’re not into that type of stuff, then I’d recommend you go elsewhere. If you’re into completely absorbing fantasy, and are in for a change of pace from the hulking epic fantasies that are commonplace these days, then I invite you to read The Last Unicorn.
Being a fairy tale, the novel takes place in a few fantastic settings. The landscape can seem to stretch and contract as Beagle moves from one scene to the next, but it is the locations and characters that truly anchor this novel to reality, which is a tough thing to do when you have a cat that can blink into existence out of a fold in the air. In this sense, the novel shows some similarity with Alice in Wonderland. The irony comes in when the characters themselves acknowledge that they are in a fairy tale, speaking of what heroes and magicians are or should be, and how happy endings should actually end. All of this is accomplished masterfully, with real meaning hiding just under the surface. I can perhaps best illustrate with example:
“Robin Hood is a myth,” Captain Cully said nervously, “a classic example of the heroic folk figures synthesized out of need. John Henry is another. Men have to have heroes, and so a legend grows around a grain of truth, like a pearl. Not that it isn’t a remarkable trick, of course.”
Captain Cully, leader of the band of merry men that is undoubtedly a parody of Robin Hood and his merry men, speaking plainly of the mythology of Robin Hood, but delivered with a clear insight into the fact that we as a society like to have people to look up to and uphold as idols. Brilliant! The Last Unicorn is full of wonderful moments like this.
The characters in this novel are classic. From Prince Lir, a character based on Irish mythology, to Schmendrick, a bumbling magician who always seems to have the words to his spells on the tip of his tongue, these characters feel right. They all have their place in the novel, and while not overly developed, they all serve their own purpose perfectly.
Peter S. Beagle uses so many classic examples of fairy tale plots, I don’t believe it possible to detail them all here. What is worth mentioning, is how they are spun uniquely into a new yarn, woven with precision and intent, with the final product bearing signs of originality you wouldn’t have previously believed possible.
The pace is quick. The chapters are light, and I would definitely recommend this book for a younger audience, although it is just as enjoyable at an adult reading level, even refreshing in a sense.
The Last Unicorn is, in a word, delightful. If you have yet to read this classic fantasy fairy tale, I would highly recommend you give it a shot. You may be in for a few surprises.
You can purchase The Last Unicorn
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