January *The Dragonbone Chair* Discussion Thread

[Monica]

Joseph wrote: "And much shorter than the third book in the series ..."

Ohhhh, I just looked at the page count for book 3...wow!

[Joseph]

It was one of those where they actually split the paperback in two back in the day.

[Femmy]

Shadowdenizen wrote: "I know Stone of Farewell isn't a "Book of the Month", but I'm happy to continue the re-read if people still want to read and discuss it!"

Oh let's do this! I'm in.

[A.L.]

I still can't get into this. I might come back to it another day. I need to be in the right frame of mind and I'm not.
Glad it's positive overall though.

[Shadowdenizen]

That sounds OK by me; I've got a bunch on my reading plate as is!
When you guys get your copies, I'll dive in as well.

The third book (as mentioned) makes up for the smaller 2nd volume, though. (It's one volume if you get the hardcover, but split into two for paperback.)

The HC has really nice art on wrap-around dustjacket. (Simon/MIriamele on the back, Jiriki on the front.) They used the front + back as the two covers for the PB versions.

[Matthew]

I re-read this book this month as part of the book of the month and have started on Stone of Farewell. I never actually finished To Green Angel Tower. It's really well written and great world building and character development... Tad Williams does tend to get more dark and complicated as his series progress (see City of Golden Shadow as well).

I thought the hints as to the identity of the Sword Memory were a bit obvious.

I don't know that I can call it one of my favorite fantasy novels, but it is good, very well written, engaging, and enjoyable.

[Shadowdenizen]

When reading these, I have to remind myself that this was all pre-Wheel of Time, pre-Game of Thrones, and pre Brandon Sanderson.

Which makes me think of this series even MORE highly, if that's possible!

I think the City of Golden Shadow series is quite good as well, though a bit more drawn out. (Though there are some truly memorable/shocking images from that series that have stuck with me through the years.)

[Cherie]

So nice to see people enjoying this book! I have loved it for many years and read it many times over, though am enjoying my re-read because it's been a few years since my last.

For those struggling with the pace - I put this book down MANY times before I stuck it out - and then devoured the rest.

But it remains a real favorite of mine - in my top ten stories ever I'd say. Stay with it :)

I'm definitely going to continue reading the series as well.

I have yet to be able to get into another of Mr. William's series though I've tried - ah well.

[Femmy]

Where do we discuss Stone of Farewell? Do we create a new thread?

[Jingizu]

I agree with you Cherie! It is one of my all-time favourite fantasy series and my favourite Tad Williams story. I absolutely love it and have reread it many times.

I really enjoyed Otherland, though it was too drawn out and could definitely have been shorter. Great ideas though and memorable characters.

Shadowmarch was good, but his characters weren't as developed and fleshed out for me as those in Memory, Sorrow & Thorn. It was also just slightly repetitive, as there are parallels between the two series.

Can't wait for the sequel, "The Last King of Osten Ard"!

[Cherie]

Somehow I'd missed that news but I too am looking forward to it!
Hmmm, I"m an audiobook fanatic [I spend a LOT of time in my car] and I've always wished these were available in that format - somehow I think this news makes that more of a possibility!

[Matthew]

The audiobooks for books 1 & 2 have been released for the UK on Audible.co.uk and book 3 is coming out the end of this year.

A audiotape version of all three books was released for the vision impaired in the 90s that you may be able to find somewhere.

I don't know if there are plans to release the Audiobooks for American audiences officially.

[Cherie]

Matthew wrote: "The audiobooks for books 1 & 2 have been released for the UK on Audible.co.uk and book 3 is coming out the end of this year.

A audiotape version of all three books was released for the vision impa..."
Sigh

I know -
I've tried to find the old version - can't - and so far not available on the us audible - wahhhhhhhhhh

Crossing my fingers that it will show up someday soon!

[Dan]

So I started this one up earlier this month, over a hundred pages in right now. It's moving along at a slow pace, but I am really enjoying. At least so far as the intro goes, it really gives me The Sword in the Stone feel. And reminds me a bit of Mervy Peake's Titus Groan (or at least what I remember of it). So far it's mostly located within Castle Hayholt, and has a warm homey feel to it. I like the little bits of twisted myth taken mythology and lore to fit William's Osten Ard.

[Monica]

Seems to be a common reader experience...slow to start. If I had tried reading this one without the group support, I may have given up early on. It is worth the effort to stick with it.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

I think that is my issue with this book. It doesn't help that I have been having issues reading in tge first place, but tge slow start shut me down on this one.


Thank you Monica for keeping tge conversation going.

Great insights.
: )

[Cherie]

If it's any consolation after the slow start the book takes off and the series does as well

I've just started book two - anyone else going on?

[Dan]

While it is a slow start, it's not unenjoyable. I feel like it has a warm cozy feel, like beginning The Lord of the Rings, or The Once and Future King. Think of it like a rollercoaster, the fast drops wouldn't be nearly as much fun without the slow climb and build-up. And I'm at a part where this books is gaining steam.

I'll join in on a group discussion as I make my way through the series too.

[Monica]

Cherie wrote: "I've just started book two - anyone else going on?"

I'm waiting for a library copy...should have it in a week or so. I'll join in when I get it. Shadowdenizen and Femmy mentioned continuing on with the second book as well.

[Monica]

Brenda, for those of us discussing the second book, should there be a new thread set up? (Femmy asked about this in msg 60.) We probably shouldn't confuse the monthly group read selection The Dragonbone Chair with our comments about Stone of Farewell???

[Shadowdenizen]

I'm in for Book 2 as well.

I actually liken this to the Bone comic by Jeff Smith.
Really low-key opening, and a lot of time spent creating the world and the cast of characters.

This helps later, when the villagers are being threatened, and we (the reader) then has increased empathy for them since we KNOW them.

Williams does a great job with the introduction of Simon (obviously), but also with Pyrates (view spoiler)[as an animal-lover, the Dog sequence still makes me cringe!! (hide spoiler)] and Elias (less so with Josua, IMO), and even minor characters like Inch and Rachel. (view spoiler)[Inch's progression from jealous wannabe-apprentice to semi-competent villain is particularly captivating, since it's such a minor arc in the overall story. (hide spoiler)]

[Kevin]

My problem with all his books and I have told Tad about this is that it is very slow in pacing.

[Dan]

I can see how that could get to some readers. I like a fast paced book as much as the next (actually very fond Sword & Sorcery which tends to be much faster paced than high fantasy) but I do enjoy a slow burn from time to time too.

I'm just over 200 pages in now, and I am simply savouring this book. It's a very rich style, dark and dreamy at times. Almost like enjoying a nice piece of dark chocolate.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

I'll set up Stone of Farewell, but put it into the buddy read folder.


https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Shadowdenizen]

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I'll set up Stone of Farewell, but put it into the buddy read folder.


https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

Thanks, Brenda.
I'm in for Book 2. I'll start this weekend.

[Monica]

Thanks, Brenda!

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

: )

[Krista]

Cherie wrote: "So nice to see people enjoying this book! I have loved it for many years and read it many times over, though am enjoying my re-read because it's been a few years since my last.

For those struggli..."

I can see your point now Cherie. While I liked the book from the start I was waiting for the 'grab' which makes me stay up late reading. It has almost been like inching up a rollercoaster. I'm almost half way now and it feels like the pacing is definately picking up.

[Scarletine]

I've just started on the audiobook of 'The Stone of Farewell'
I spend my days writing and just could not keep my eyes open for a long detailed fantasy novel at bed time, but i need to get to the end of this trilogy. The narrator is just fantastic, he does wonderful voices. I would highly recommend. :-)

[Monica]

Scarletine wrote: "I've just started on the audiobook of 'The Stone of Farewell' ..."

Brenda set up a discussion thread for this book (see message 75 for the link). Anyone is welcome to join in.

[Greta]

I got stuck in this one about 30%...am finding his travels so far to be very boring. I liked the story better when he was at the castle. Now I'm debating whether to push on & hope it gets better or set it aside & try again at a later point.

[Vera]

Almost finished. Thinking of how long ago this was written makes me like and appreciate it even more. I think it does hold up pretty well, though now we have so many great epic fantasy it does make this show its date. I feel it gets very predictable, but still very enjoyable to read.
I have heard that Williams is a mentor for Paolini, (view spoiler)[ and I see so much of the characterizations being similar between this and Paolini's series. The whiny MC, where everyone around him sort of drags him along and is wiser or stronger then him. Finding a sort of haven preparing for battle. (hide spoiler)]

[Dan]

Spoiler warning: There may be a few in here, I'm not sure how to use the spoiler tags.

Just over a hundred pages from the end now (should have it polished off for the beginning of next month. I have really enjoyed this story. It starts a bit slow, but in a nice warm way, but it really picks up pace as the plot unfolds. Today I nearly missed my stop on the bus as I was so engrossed in what was happening (Simon and crew with the Sithi).

Simon grows so much as a character throughout this story, from a carefree boy on his way to being a man (though he's not quite there yet, I think). I also like how the perspective throughout the book changes. Early on, as the story is simpler in the beginning, it is told mostly from Simon's point of view, later however we get different aspects and angles to the story.

The characters within are all quite well written and sympathetic. Few, other than perhaps Pryrates, and even with him I feel there is much we do not know, are strictly evil. Maybe misled, or misunderstood, but not directly evil. But of course it's hard not to love Binabik and Qantaqa specifically. Just a great character all around.

One of my favourite aspects of the book, though, is the abundance of song within. That is something that is often sorely lacking from modern fantasy, part of what I loved of Tolkien's works.

[Monica]

Great comments, Dan. Glad you enjoyed the story. So, sounds like (at some point) you'll continue on with the second book Stone of Farewell? IMO the story got even richer with the second book; but the foundation was well laid out in the first.

[Howard]

I've just joined this group (my first Goodreads group) and am really pleased that you are not only reviewing new fiction. There are some really great books from the 80s and 90s that consolidated this genre, and The Dragonbone Chair was one of them.

I first read Tad Williams' trilogy (the third in the series was in two books) in the early 1990s. From memory (which is pretty fuzzy), the second book, Stone of Farewell, was the best.

I think I'll read book again so I can give some meaningful comments.

[Monica]

Howard wrote: "I've just joined this group (my first Goodreads group) and am really pleased that you are not only reviewing new fiction. There are some really great books from the 80s and 90s that consolidated th..."

Welcome to the group, Howard. We've also got an active a buddy read of Stone of Farewell going on. You're welcome to join in the discussion. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/.... I'm about to start the third book (also in two parts). Really enjoying the story thusfar.

[Dan]

Monica: I will definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy. But not right away, I think. i have a few other works I want to read.

[Howard]

Thanks Monica, I'll have a look at that discussion thread.

[Dan]

Just finished off The Dragonbone Chair this morning.
My review for those interested:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I may end up reading the rest of the trilogy sooner than I had initially thought. The ending left me really intrigued!

[Shadowdenizen]

So happy people are reading this and continuing the series!

THough I've been a long-time fantasy fan, this is one of the handful of series that really sticks out in my mind, while many others sort of "Blend Together" in my mind.

[Tnkw01]

Oh, I really wished I would have read Dragonbone Chair when everyone else did. There was so much conversation and I'm really enjoying this book. I agree the story was slow to develop but it gets started when (view spoiler)[ Simon and Morgenes rescue Josua and Morgenes gives his life for Morgenes (hide spoiler)]. I'm only 25% through the book but I'm loving it.