Jakub's comments
(member since Jan 03, 2008)
Jakub's comments from the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group.
(showing 1-20 of 25)
If "Five-Twelfths of Heaven" is out of question because of being SF, then perhaps The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs. It doesn't have formal system of magic per se, but it has different forms of magic: bloodmages, magic gifts and green magic.
I'll second The Barbed Coil by J.V. Jones.I propose Five-Twelfths of Heaven by Melissa Scott, first part of "The Roads of Heaven" trilogy, which is SF (space-opera) with alchemistic magic (and alchemistic faster-than-light travel). Interesting system, and interesting read.
Well, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is IMHO a very good book, it is certainly from villain point of view (one of devils)... but I wouldn't consider it fantasy, unfortunately.
I wonder if Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny would qualify? It's not exactly villain, but it is not exactly hero...
Brooke wrote: "Jakub wrote: P.S. How many nominations do we need? Is there a limit? Should there be?"
Right now, 9 have been both nominated and seconded. Should I let this run through my original cutoff date, ..."
I think some reasonable upper limit would be good idea, otherwise votes will be spread thin. Something like 15 or 20 books... limit we probably wouldn't need with the requirement of seconded nomination, and limit to one ack per member.
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher, first book in high fantasy series Codex Alera, from 2004.P.S. How many nominations do we need? Is there a limit? Should there be?
I'm sorry, I didn't noticed it was already nominated
A bit late for nominations, but I'd like to mention (perhaps for sci-fantasy bookshelf) The Forlorn by David Freer (which I have found at Baen Free Library), which begins as a fantasy, and then this magic turns out to be science, and it turns more into SF. I think this might be good book for Sci-Fantasy.
I second (or third ;-)) A Princess of Mars, a tale with planets, aliens and advanced alien technology... but also with barbarians and savages. And the structure of fantasy. Most certainly Sci-Fantasy, in my opinion at least.It has additional advantage that it is available for free from Project Gutenberg. Besides it is classic; slightly dusty but classic.
I'm not sure how A Thousand Words for Stranger is a Sci-Fantasy. From the point of view of universe it is SF (space opera to be more exact). There are psychic powers, but it is not magic, and I think it follow rules of science rather than rules of magic. Is it enough to be considered Sci-Fantasy?But it is a very good book otherwise, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Jakub wrote: If we are talking about different king of Sci-Fantasy books, there is 'The Reads of Heaven' series by Melissa Scott, starting with "Five-Twelfths of Heaven", where space ships are powered and are travelling between stars using alchemy. Very good book, by the way.It is a pity that Inne pieśni by Jacek Dukaj were not translated into English; they are also blend of science-fiction and fantasy, with a bit of alternate history mixed in (see Inne pieśni (Other Songs) article on Wikipedia).
Vorkosigan series (starting with Shards of Honour, but the medieval planet appear only in second book in series, Barrayar) are most certainly to be categorized in "space opera" genre, I think. There is not much 'fantasy' there... So I'd say no to Vorkosigan series being Sci-Fantasy.If we are talking about different king of Sci-Fantasy books, there is 'The Reads of Heaven' series by Melissa Scott, starting with Five-Twelfths of Heaven, where space ships are powered and are travelling between stars using alchemy. Very good book, by the way.
There are also books which use Clarke's Third Law: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.", for example in "The Four Lords of the Diamond" series by Jack L. Chalker starting with Lilith A Snake in the Grass, and similarly in "Coldfire" trilogy by Friedman. C.S. starting with Black Sun Rising, there are nanoorganism present on alien planet that reast to people's thoughts, allowing for 'acts of magic'.
I second Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, but I am also not sure if it is in required genre. It reads like high fantasy, and it is quite similar to post-apocalyptic themes...If Split Infinity is to be considered as candidate, then perhaps also Doc Sidhe by Aaron Allston as well (which book, if I remember correctly, can be found in Baen Free Library). Buth have magic world and technological world existing in separate but connected dimensions...
Yet another good example of sci-fantasy is The Cyborg and the Sorcerers from "War Surplus" cycle by Lawrence Watt-Evans, where technological being lands on the magical planer.
Magic in the far future space opera world certainly can be considered Sci-Fantasy? Then * The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz (Hub Novel #1)
* The Wizard of Karres by Mercedes Lackey, and Eric Flint and Dave Freer (Hub Novel #2)
Both have the advantage that it can be found in electronical form on Baen CD (if I remember correctly Baen CD 13), and can be found legal on-line.
First, about format: why not make use of 'add book/author' and use Goodreads formatting to make title of book (and perhaps also author) into hyperlink to Goodreads description of the book? This way just like I did below...Second, what does it mean "Historically inspired fantasy"? Does it mean book with plot inspired by historical events or character inspired by historical figure (like in "The General" series by S.M. Stirling, starting with The Forge, Raj Whitehall is inspired a bit on Belisarius; but those series are more of military scnece-fiction than fantasy)? Do the Alternate History books like His Majesty's Dragon or An Oblique Approach count?
I know I have put recommendations already, but I'd like to point out bit untypical space opera by Simon R. Green: the Deathstalker (first of the series).
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