false 13624 40 <div>This is the book that shaped the landscape of contemporary science fiction. J. R. R. Tolkien acclaimed its author as "the greatest and most convincing writer of 'invented worlds' that I have read." Written in the best traditions of Homeric epics, Norse sagas, and Arthurian myths, it recounts compelling tales of warriors and witches.<br></div> 955522 book 1922 The Worm Ouroboros total:249|5:77|4:74|3:66|2:23|1:9| 249 934 545 51 5 3 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1987 Fri Jan 04 00:34:09 -0800 2008 Fri Jan 04 16:19:04 -0800 2008 6
The beauty of Eddison's Jacobean prose would be enough to make this a must-read. So would the epic sweep of his narrative. Together, they give him a platform for exploring characters who are both larg...more...]]> 2 4 false false Thu Aug 28 07:21:13 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 10 11:01:24 -0700 2009 more...]]> 2 3 false false Tue Aug 05 12:31:23 -0700 2008 Tue Aug 05 12:48:41 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1983 Wed Jun 04 17:37:45 -0700 2008 Mon Feb 23 10:24:09 -0800 2009 2 The Worm Ouroboros?

Two reasons, chiefly. The first is that it’s fun; the second is that it’s a pleasure to read something whose author is so obviously in love with the English language, reveling in its intricacies.

To the first reason, if you’re looking for stro...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Feb 11 05:26:56 -0800 2008 Mon Feb 11 05:39:19 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Fri Oct 05 06:46:27 -0700 2007 Thu Mar 27 06:09:08 -0700 2008 The Lord of the Rings as far as classic fantasy goes.

I'm inclined to agree.

It's slow going because of the book's old-timey idiom, but the language is very enjoyable so I don't mind a bit of digestion time.

Wi...more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Sep 06 07:25:20 -0700 2007 Sun Jan 27 11:47:02 -0800 2008 ...more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 23 11:52:19 -0700 2007 Thu Aug 23 11:58:09 -0700 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Jun 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 17 22:04:51 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 17 22:05:44 -0700 2009
Eddison's heroes are not very clearly dra...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 15 07:37:49 -0700 2009 Sun Nov 01 11:34:15 -0800 2009
Here we have one of the first examples of what would now fall under the flimsy, awful grouping of “epic fantasy”, which for me ends with the superb Gene Wolfe, and these days is full of worst examples of lazy, sub-Tolkien crap. Intrigued by the histo...more...]]> 1 1 false false Mon Jun 25 07:36:26 -0700 2007 Mon Jun 25 07:37:43 -0700 2007 4 0 false false Fri Jul 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 23:51:47 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 23:57:12 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sat Aug 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 04 09:48:29 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 30 15:26:03 -0700 2009
It would also help fo...more...]]> 2 1 false false Tue Mar 18 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 18 06:03:09 -0700 2008 Tue Mar 18 06:04:06 -0700 2008 5 1 true false Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 1966 Tue Nov 25 12:51:29 -0800 2008 Tue Nov 25 12:54:50 -0800 2008 15-40 first encountered at age 13 along with Tolkein, devoured albeit meticulously and still gorged upon some 40 years later]]> 2 0 false false Mon Jun 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 01 13:59:09 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 11 17:23:21 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1987 Mon Dec 22 21:38:37 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 22 22:18:38 -0800 2008 the edition I wrote something about; so far I've managed to give the book fifteen stars.

This Wildside hardback has nothing in its favor other than being a sturdy copy. The dust jacket is hideous. The Henderson illustrations are not present, not even the little puffing...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Oct 17 17:05:01 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 17 17:00:28 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 17 17:04:47 -0700 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Dec 17 22:26:47 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 17 22:30:36 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false true Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 30 12:56:08 -0800 2008 Tue Mar 11 14:28:52 -0700 2008
I suppose three elements characterize The Worm Ouroboros for me from the long, long slog I made through it:

1.) The language. Getting into Worm Ouroboros required the kind of lingual adjustment I have to make f...more...]]>