Chris A. Jackson's Blog, page 9
September 17, 2012
Paizo’s first Pathfinder Tale is a Winner!
Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Okay, if you love twisty, turny plots in your fantasy, Winter Witch is a must read. Elaine Cunningham and Dave Gross have really pitched together to create something new for me; a novel in which I could not say, for certain, whom the primary protagonist is. To that, I say… Bravo!
Without spoilers, I have to say that the characters and plot in this novel carry something that is more than the story. The unbelievable fallibility of unco...
August 27, 2012
Dragon*Con Panels
For those of you who can make it to Dragon*Con, I hope to see you!
Chris
Dragon*Con Panel Discussion Schedule
Here is my current schedule of panel discussions with the SFF Lit Track for Dragon*Con. Not too busy, which is good, and some good ones. I may be on some Writers Track panels as well, bu that has not been settled yet.
Title: Sex and Romance in SF
Time: Fri 10:00 pm Location: Greenbriar – Hyatt (Length: 1)
Description: The existence of sex/romance in sf in an overt fashion is relatively new. If there’s too much is it still sf? Too little? Discuss.
Title: Definitions
Time: Sat 05:30 pm Location:...
June 25, 2012
Scimitar's Heir Takes the Gold!
To my knowledge, this has never been done, so we are very excited. Having three in a row lined up on my author table at conventions this year will look so fine!
Thanks everyone for your support!
Chris
January 18, 2012
Naamah's Curse: Highest Recommendation!
Naamah's Curse by Jacqueline Carey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There are authors you read, and authors you experience. Jacqueline Carey is one of the latter. As a writer, I more often than not can only read in small doses. This isn't due to time constraints, but rather due to my own internal editor coming out. I very rarely will find a book (or author) that breaks this habit. When I read Carey, I am immersed. This has not been the case with all of her books, but it has been with all of the K...
January 16, 2012
Elminster Must Die, but it's hardly the end!
Elminster Must Die by Ed Greenwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ed Greenwood is a master storyteller, creator of one of the most detailed and entertaining worlds (the Forgotten Realms), shared among many authors. His characters are funny and engaging, his plots are complex and interesting and the setting… well the setting has produced more novels than any single setting that I am aware of in the history of Fantasy or SF. For a listing of just novels and anthologies (not gaming supplements) check ...
December 11, 2011
Well of Ascension, good, but not very uplifting.
The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this second in the Mistborn series, but had some difficulty with a few issues. The characters are so repeatedly and predictably thwarted at every turn throughout the book that it starts to become commonplace. No plan works, no idea helps, and in the end… well, minor spoiler here… that theme continues. The theme of the book comes off as so negative, such a downer at times, that I felt like "What's going to...
December 4, 2011
Great Review for Scimtiar's Heir
Well, we got a great review by Seven Seas Cruising Association Bulletin editor Barb Thiesen for Scimitar Moon. She and the SSCA have been great supporters of the Scimitar Seas novels, but, since the bulletin is a "Members Access Only" page, I'll post the entire thing here for you.
Caution! Spoilers!!!
At last, the next book in the Scimitar Seas series has been released! For those of you anxious to continue the high seas adventure tale of the seamage Cynthia Flaxal, you'll be happy to know t...
November 16, 2011
Stardust, not as good as it could have been.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Don't get me wrong, Neil Gaiman is a wonderful writer, and I love his style, but I got the feeling that he got halfway through this manuscript and said, "Oops, I'm late for the deadline," and finished it by saying "and they had a bunch of adventures and lived happily ever after."
Frankly, this is perhaps the only book I have ever read where I liked the move adaptation better than the book. I may be jaded, because I saw the movie first, but there ...
Prince of Wolves is a howling good time!
Prince of Wolves by Dave Gross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very well written piece with an interesting POV perspective; first person from two different protagonists. This is especially entertaining here, in a very "Holmes Watson" way, as one of the characters is a rather haughty, womanizing, wine-loving "ambassador" and member of the Pathfinders, a group of knowledge seeking adventurers in the Paizo gaming world of Golarion. Please don't let the fact that this is a game oriented novel...
