false 4 11 8 true 5722117 read 3 true 5412204 currently-reading 0 true 5412203 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79309287 Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A Novel (Paperback) by Susanna Clarke
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]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78750645 to: The Steel Remains (A Land Fit for Heroes, #1) by Richard K. Morgan
Like other reviews declare, this book does depart dramatically from the familiar tropes of fantasy fiction. I think the Steel Remains is riding the wave of a movement in fantasy fiction that proudly asserts deviation from the stereotypes (e.g. Mieville, Gilman, and the 'New Weird' movement that shares some space with the Steampunk writers). There is also some connection here to the philosophical seriousness of Bakker's "Prince of Nothing" series, or perhaps the epic anthropological drama of Erickson's "Malazan book of the Fallen." More to the point, though, "The Steel Remains" is a skewer to the heart of fantasy as a genre. Here are some initial thoughts about this (without plot spoilers or specific details):

1) This book is basically noir fiction (which Morgan has already deftly adapted to science fiction) that is convincingly written into a fantasy setting. It unflinchingly explores the inner psychological drama of "heroes" that bear a burden of responsibility for others, trapped within the confines of a hypocritical, venal, and brutal society that they are nonetheless compelled to save.

2) There are strong indications of allegory here, with symbolic nods to the noir moment in the U.S.. The protagonists are the "greatest generation" of their world, having saved humankind from an existential threat, and then find themselves ground between the gears of a society consumed with paranoia, hierarchy, and callous disregard for what was nearly lost. Even the tropes of fantasy myth are subverted here, peeled away to reveal the discomforting and often sinister interests that uphold the powerful at the expense of the weak.

3) The gritty psychological realism actually works - though for awhile I thought it would be gimmicky. It works because the world-building and the characterization are thoroughly essential in the story: it's not noir detective work with hobbits and elves. It's also not gritty and rough for its own sake. The graphic violence and sex keep this story humming, and above just a character study of forgotten heroes and the ungrateful world they inherited. The book illustrates the intrinsic and often epic failures of human nature, using the infinitely flexible canvas of fantasy to bring the message into stark (and sometimes painful) relief.

The problem with the book: it's clearly an introduction to a bigger story. It fully develops its characters, with hints at even further departure from the norms of fantasy as the series progresses. This is a necessary, but irritating, tease form the author. The gripping cynicism and negativity can be tiresome and at times, preachy. It rides a thin line between an elegant dark noir fable and a depressing delve into meaningless depravity and violence.

It's still worth the ride. Ware to those with problems with homosexuality, extreme violence, or seeing their beloved fantasy storytelling conventions upended. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67473936 to: Eifelheim (Hardcover) by Michael Flynn
The best speculative fiction that deals with comparative epistemology that I've ever read. Ok, probably the ONLY one. Nevertheless, this book is a well-researched, fascinating, and at times heart-breaking look into the past with a Burkean "perspective by incongruity." Sometimes tedious, but never overly pedantic, this book is thought-provoking must-read about the middle ages, religion, and the contextuality of reason. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75314615 to: Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastards, #2) by Scott Lynch
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73062706 to: The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastards, #1) by Scott Lynch
This book lives up to the hype. Suffice to say, it's a kick ass heist story, set in a fantasy city based on Renaissance Venice. It's got some first novel quirks, but the rewards far outnumber the faults. If you're a fan of confidence scams and bad-assery, then this book is for you. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73062749 Saving Persuasion: A Defense of Rhetoric and Judgment (Hardcover) by Bryan Garsten
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]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73062373 to: The Last Colony (Hardcover) by John Scalzi
I admit I have a fondness for Scalzi's stripped down prose, heinlein-ian action, and zippy dialogue. I am also a regular reader of his blog (http://whatever.scalzi.com/). This is good, solid sci-fi that's more complex than it reads, and is very entertaining. It's no wonder he keeps winning fans and awards. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68945725 to: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (Paperback) by Michael Chabon
This book is an amazing piece of work; a love letter to those who love language. Intelligent, insightful, and often very funny, the character studies were never forced, but moving explorations made vivid and real by their involvement in the golden age of comic books and the epic backdrop of World War II. This book is a must read. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66148842 to: Thunderer (Hardcover) by Felix Gilman
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/66148719 Speaking into the Air: A History of the Idea of Communication (Paperback) by John Durham Peters
bookshelves: currently-reading
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