SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Dragon Pearl
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Series: Thousand Worlds by Yoon Ha Lee ("Dragon Pearl")
I listened to the audio in bits & pieces as I found time a couple of months ago. It was well-done imo, but I forget the ending (!) and, since I'm not used to audio, I want to reread it in text, as I think I liked the book.... I'll see if I can find it on Libby or OpenLibrary, but I'll def. join the conversation anyway.
Cheryl wrote: "I listened to the audio in bits & pieces as I found time a couple of months ago. It was well-done imo, but I forget the ending (!) and, since I'm not used to audio, I want to reread it in text, as ..."Good to hear that, Cheryl. :)
I hope you could find a copy. Some of my BRs have to be cancelled since people are losing their access to books or simply don't have time.
I got lucky right away; I put it on hold at my local Libby!
Cheryl wrote: "I got lucky right away; I put it on hold at my local Libby!"Cool! Will you be able to start tomorrow? I can wait if you want
Actually I've already started, and dnf'd. I mean, I could skim for discussion if we want to talk about the problems that I had with it but I think I'd rather not.
I listened to this a few months back. I gave it 4/5 stars and thought it was similar to Skyward by Sanderson. In fact, I would suggest this book if you liked Skyward.
@Cheryl: yikes, I probably should lower my expectation. His last novel, Phoenix Extravagant, was kinda disappointing too.@Philip: Oh no! I did not enjoy Skyward :(
Hmm let me think about this one.
It's not bad. I did listen to the entire audio. I just really wanted it to be better, & worth re-reading in print, and I think it could have been. Sorry to be so vague but of course I don't want to say anything the least little bit spoilery. I do recommend you try it. I think if you get about 15% or so in you'll have a good idea of whether you want to continue.
I read it a year ago so I don't remember much, but I know I said that I wished it'd been an adult book, then it would've been better (more Ninefoxy). If you go into it not expecting Ninefox but a MG space fantasy, it'll be fun. My expectations were Ninefox level and I was slightly disappointed.
Alright, thanks Cheryl and Anna. Since it is Yoon Ha Lee after all, I'll give this one a shot albeit with much lowered expectation. Will start maybe tomorrow, so if anyone still wants to join I'll be here (yoohoo Stephanie where are you?) ;p
Argh! I thought I was starting this ebook, but instead I was reading a 3page intro/blurb with too many spoilers! How annoying!Okay, NOW I'm starting the book (chapter 1!), though knowing more than I prefer....
I'm here, Silvana! Will post an update later today :) Ah Joelle that's the worst!! :( Hope you can still enjoy the book in spite of that.
Yay! I am starting this too.
Starting this this morning.
The intro was really annoying, I read two paragraphs before realizing it is what Joelle referred to earlier. Anyway, I finished the first two chapters. So, space fantasy. (view spoiler)
Stephanie wrote: "...Ah Joelle that's the worst!! :( Hope you can still enjoy the book in spite of that."Thanks for the sympathies! :-)
I'm happy to report that I was able to dive straight into the story and quite enjoyed this book!
Joelle wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "...Ah Joelle that's the worst!! :( Hope you can still enjoy the book in spite of that."Thanks for the sympathies! :-)
I'm happy to report that I was able to dive straight into ..."
*gasp* you finished already? 4 stars? that's encouraging.
I also started reading the intro and got several paragraphs in before I realized, and was able to skip the rest. Hopefully I didn't pick up too many spoilers. (Also, not sure why the intro was written like it was for 5 year olds... )
Well, it is a book for children.
Glad you liked it, Joelle! And I'm glad you mentioned that about the intro, because I ALSO started reading it and stopped before I got too far into it.
Agreed, it was annoying.
I'm still in the very beginning, but enjoying the tone and scene-setting so far.
Finished. As a MG book, I give it four stars, since it hits all the right notes. (view spoiler)
I am also glad reading more Korean culture.....I think the Japanese also has its own fox lore.
What you say about Min in the spoiler is what bothered me the most. The world building was def. cool. I'm so glad that you weren't disappointed.
I asked Lee whether he had plans to write more books or stories in this universe. His answer was 'distinct possibility.' That's good, right?
BTW, If you could be one of the supernaturals here, which one would it be? I used to want the dragon powers, but now I want the fox one.
Fox magic certainly seems helpful!But being able to make food would be cool... though of course it uses energy to do so and food is the source of energy so I dunno how it could work even given magic....
I think I'll read this first thing in February, because I feel like it'll be a great book to read on Lunar New Year! I hope I'll remember enough about it a couple of days later :DI hadn't read the blurb before today, but now that I did, after rereading Dragon Pearl, I'm more enthusiastic to get into Tiger Honor! And the title makes sense!
I need to add green onions to my grocery order, so that I can make green onion pancakes while listening to this, and have a mini Spring Festival ^_^
I've a novel to finish first so will jump to this right after. Green onion pancake is a savory dish, right?
Yes! Also called scallion pancakes. I rarely make the real thing, I’ve sort of started making a kind of green onion naan instead 😄 I plan to make the real thing today or tomorrow, but I’m pretty sure I’ll end up making the quicker/easier thing.
I did so much meal prep today that I finished one audiobook and am almost finished with this one, too :D I'm going to go to bed to finish it, but I don't think the last hour of the book will change my impression too much.I like this more than Dragon Pearl! ^_^ The first few sentences of chapter one already had me smiling (grandmothers rule!) and I really liked the small glimpse into the tiger society. It also feels less childish than Dragon Pearl, still middle grade, but without some of the problems I had with DP. And I really like Sebin as a character, it helps that the narrator reads them in a normal voice, not like Min's squeaky little girl voice (which probably adds to why DP feel childish at times.) Or maybe the tiger spirits are granting me a great honor because I'm listening to this at such an auspicious time, and that's why I like it ^_^
I didn't make green onion pancakes today, but I have everything prepped so I can make them tomorrow. I also prepped a lot of cabbage and have tangerines, so all three will be even more firmly YHL foods now :)
waaa....I just started! remind me, have we met the MC yet in DP?
No, new character! :)
Anna wrote: "No, new character! :)"Thanks!
I'm just at 1/4 of the book, I so far enjoyed the story - what a relief from some of heavy-ish SF I've been reading these last few weeks. A good middle grade book definitely has its charms.
(view spoiler)
Anna wrote: "Hmm, could be? Or [spoilers removed]"Makes sense.
I want to see that human/tiger form combat! The last time I read about human in animal form doing combat was Animorphs, maybe.
There's a whole world of (urban) shifter fantasy out there :P
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Yay!BTW I'm thinking maybe possibly we could maybe possibly have a goblin book in the future maybe? Possibly? For that goblin loving kid? :)
edit: Hmm, by that time the goblin loving kid will be much older and will probably have forgotten all about goblins :(
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off topic: Doesn't T. Kingfisher have a book featuring goblins?
Yes, Nine Goblins.No knowledge, but there are goblins in the Thousand Worlds, and as side characters in these books, so maybe in the future there will be a goblin main character? I'm just wondering :) I'm pretty sure I've seen YHL say there are more books coming in this series?
Finished.I enjoyed Dragon Pearl more actually.
(view spoiler)
However, man, I really like this world. I find most of the characters are likable especially Sebin who I found to be very competent - even the merc kid, so I'll definitely wait for other books in the series.
I agree about the climax, but since it's a MG book, maybe (view spoiler)And yes, I'll keep reading books/shorts in this world! I do still think YHL should focus on writing adult stories, he's better at it, but I understand that it makes more sense for him to write a MG book that pays ten or more times that of a Hexarchate book :(
Hexarchate....yeah I find it really hard to move on from that series. I might need to do a reread of the whole thing this year if I have time.Do you know why MG book pays better?
I don't know if MG in particular pays better, but Riordan on the cover is probably the magic word?
He's talked about it often, but here's an interview that spells it out: https://thefantasyinn.com/2020/10/13/...Travis: I believe you said that you might be shifting your focus more towards that middle grade route in the future. Is that the case?
Yoon Ha Lee: Probably.
Travis: Do you mind talking about why that is?
Yoon Ha Lee: It’s pretty simple. It’s money. So, middle grade generally pays better than science fiction and fantasy. Science fiction and fantasy is a little bit niche, and I’m currently with, my Machineries books were published through a smaller publisher in the UK, Solaris, which is under Rebellion, whereas Disney Hyperion is, what can we say, the mouse has deep pockets and it’s willing to pay people. If it were a matter of just writing what I love, I would love to write more adult science fiction and fantasy, but I have a daughter who is in high school, and she is going to have to go to college, and the bills have to get paid.
edit:
There is a Hexarchate novella coming sometime in the future tho! From December 2021 YHL status report:
"IN DEVELOPMENT
- hexarchate novella (sequel to "Glass Cannon" featuring Cheris + Jedao and as many hijinks as I can throw into a blender - chapter outline complete)"
oh gosh more Cheris and Jedao my fave duo! thanks Anna for the article, sad that even after all this time writing SFF is not sufficient to support most authors.
Yeah it sucks, but at least we get something new from YHL! And Thousand Worlds book 3 is what he is working on now, so it should be out within two-ish years?
Anna wrote: "Yeah it sucks, but at least we get something new from YHL! And Thousand Worlds book 3 is what he is working on now, so it should be out within two-ish years?"Hmm why didn't I get notif from this thread even though I clicked the stuff you're supposed to click?
Anyway, yes I guess we could expect something in 2024.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Nine Goblins (other topics)Tiger Honor (other topics)
Who'll join Stephanie and I for this BR?
PSA: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT read the intro part at the beginning of the book, it's spoilery.