AA: Thanks for introducing me to this book

[Bill]

I realize this isn't a new book, but I have to say that I'm thoroughly enjoying it. As I am new to the group and to the author, I appreciate the clarity and descriptiveness of the writing. I don't feel like I have to memorize a whole list of characters (granted, I'm only 20% into the book) and a refreshing lack of multiple plot lines. I could be alone in my opinion, but the straightforwardness of it so far reminds me of Michael Moorcock's Elric books, not in content but in delivery.

[Claire]

lucky you bill, hobb is a great author of many books I'm going back and reading them again, but i will never forget my first experience, enjoy and savour the experience.

[Bill]

I'm about 35% into the book (Fitz gets pulled away from Verity's crew by Chade) and just can't put it down. There are questions I have (relationship between Chade and Lady Thyme, the background of Lady Grace, etc) and trust that all will be answered. It is easy to read and I don't mean to knock Hobb when I say that. Easy to read in the sense of forward motion, no need to go back and re read to clarify, and characters with memorable traits. Claire, I suspect that I'm now addicted and will chase down all three trilogies that relate to this world.

[Kevin]

Bill wrote: "I'm about 35% into the book (Fitz gets pulled away from Verity's crew by Chade) and just can't put it down. There are questions I have (relationship between Chade and Lady Thyme, the background of ..."

There's actually more than the 3 trilogies. There's also another 4 books (that started out as a duology, but both books where considered to long by the publisher so they split each book in 2) that follow up on and tie together the events that transpire both at the end of the Liveship trilogy and the Tawny man trilogy. (No Fitz or Fool, though we see some characters from Liveship again.)

The first 2 of those books are really good imo. The latter 2 a bit less so, but still very much worth reading if you love Hobbs world.

[Danielle]

I'd never read Hobb before either and now I'm hooked. I do prefer my fantasy a bit more on the epic side of things (more characters! more confusion! more!) but yep, I'm finding it refreshing. The characters are interesting and flawed and I also like the forward motioness.

My only criticism, and it's one I have often... why so few female characters? Especially from a female author? I'm REALLY hoping to discover something interesting re: the Fool on this side of things when I move on to the other books.

[Kevin]

Danielle wrote: "I'd never read Hobb before either and now I'm hooked. I do prefer my fantasy a bit more on the epic side of things (more characters! more confusion! more!) but yep, I'm finding it refreshing. The c..."

The liveship trilogy has several female (main) characters. And there're lots of interesting things to discover about the Fool going forward. :)

Also, all Hobb's short stories and novellas set in this world have female main characters. I recommend The Inheritance if you're interested in those.

[Paul]

KevinB wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'm about 35% into the book (Fitz gets pulled away from Verity's crew by Chade) and just can't put it down. There are questions I have (relationship between Chade and Lady Thyme, the b..."

Hi Kevin
Although the main players in the first book are male, as the series progresses, women play a greater part and are crucial to driving the narrative.
They don't always feature in the foreground, but their roles are important.


I have just started reading the second trilogy"The Liveship Traders" and in the "Ship of Magic", the main character is female. Don't think it spoils to say that the society she comes from has become restrictive for women, who are expected to be good housekeepers and leave the trading to the men.

In the world of Buckeep the culture is one of a warrior society that has settles into farming, but women play an equal role as the guard consists of both genders.

[★ gwiz ★]

I'm finishing up with the first trilogy Farseer and have thoroughly loved reading it. I am in the process of getting the third trilogy Tawny Man. As I want to continue reading about Frtz.

I've choosed to skip the series (at this time) about the Liveships and Wild Rain. Not sure if that is a mistake or not, but really couldn't get into the summary of them. I may go back later to catch up on them.

[Rob, Roberator]

★ Gwendolyn ★ wrote: "I've choosed to skip the series (at this time) about the Liveships and Wild Rain. Not sure if that is a mistake or not, but really couldn't get into the summary of them. I may go back later to catch up on them. ."

I'm enjoying Liveship so far, and I've been told there are some spoilers for it in Tawny man, so I chose to read it first. I don't believe they are major.

Wild Rain was written later (and in fact the 4th book doesn't come out till next year), so I assume that's fine to read after. Based on the name, I presume it follows on to stories/characters established in Liveship.

[★ gwiz ★]

Rob wrote: "I'm enjoying Liveship so far, and I've been told there are some spoilers for it in Tawny man, so I chose to read it first. I don't believe they are major...."

My question then is even though it is in the same world do you feel like you're in another story and have left Fitz's story? It seems to me to be the same world but different story.

Yes, Wild Rain is the 4th in the series but I was planning of skipping it as well this time through. I guess I didn't make my point clear about that. Read series 1 & 3 and not 2 & 4.

I also want to say that I borrowed this series from the library and I have decided to get it for myself and place it on my fav's shelf cuz I will be reading it again. Would like to reread it when I'm finished with it to see where Hobb pulled the elements together throughout the whole series but I don't have the time right now.

[Rob, Roberator]

★ Gwendolyn ★ wrote: "My question then is even though it is in the same world do you feel like you're in another story and have left Fitz's story? It seems to me to be the same world but different story."

Different story in the same world. The Six Duchies are mentioned a few times in the first book, but that's about it. The general consensus is they are all Barbarians.

However there is a character who is reminding me of the fool. I've only read the first book so far, but plan to read the next two soon.

[Kevin]

Rob wrote: "Wild Rain was written later (and in fact the 4th book doesn't come out till next year), so I assume that's fine to read after. Based on the name, I presume it follows on to stories/characters established in Liveship. "

It follows mainly on the events of both the Liveship and Tawny man and involves a completely new cast of characters with some cameos from Liveship characters in the first 2 books (which is really just 1 book split due to length). In the later 2 books (again really just 1 book), a number of the more minor Liveship characters get a more prominent role.

I've already read the last book, since both Rain Wilds books 3&4 came out late 2011 in Dutch. Which is rather funny since I actually started reading fantasy books in English because I got tired of waiting for them being translated in Dutch.

[★ gwiz ★]

Rob wrote: "★ Gwendolyn ★ wrote: "My question then is even though it is in the same world do you feel like you're in another story and have left Fitz's story? It seems to me to be the same world but different ..."

Thanks :-) Will that that under consideration.

[★ gwiz ★]

KevinB wrote: "I actually started reading fantasy books in English because I got tired of waiting for them being translated in Dutch. ..."


I'm just like that except I'm doing anime in Japanese cuz of the wait to be translated into English is usually years. Sometimes it's better but not always. The side benifit is I'm learning Japanese, even if it is slow going.

[Rob, Roberator]

★ Gwendolyn ★ wrote: "Sometimes it's better but not always. "

Depending on how long you've been watching Anime, the idea of watching it in anything but Japanese was laughable. English voice acting, for anime in particular has come a long way. Thanks in large part to Cartoon NNetwork and the increase in popularity (also largely due to Cartoon Network).

When I was a kid the only Anime was stuff like Tenchi on the Sci Fi channel and it was awful.

[★ gwiz ★]

Rob wrote: "★ Gwendolyn ★ wrote: "Sometimes it's better but not always. "

Depending on how long you've been watching Anime, the idea of watching it in anything but Japanese was laughable. English voice acting..."

I get a kick when I know they didn't translate some part correctly. That's why it's better to get it in Japanese as well. You are getting the true favoring of the story.

[Rob, Roberator]

Learning Japanese has been on my list of things to do for 15 years..I have a feeling I'll never get around to know much beyond Baka..

[★ gwiz ★]

Rob wrote: "Learning Japanese has been on my list of things to do for 15 years..I have a feeling I'll never get around to know much beyond Baka.."

LOL, they do use that one a lot in anime and manga. It took me a long time to take up another language (that being high school French). You never know maybe in time you will get the time to learn it.

[Rob, Roberator]

Yeah. I'm not completely discounting it..but it's not a high enough priority to take time away from my other hobbies. Maybe I'll try Rosetta Stone one of these years and see how that works.

I took 3 years of Spanish in high school, but remember very little of it. Of course it's been nearly 15 years since I tried to speak/read it. I can remember how to say where is the beer/bathroom, and I'm Sorry. So I figure I'm set.

[★ gwiz ★]

I'm halfway through Fool's Errand and haven't felt I missed anything for not having read the Liveships series in between. I have only come across one remarked about living ships and that was just a passing thought from Fitz.

I continue with Fitz's tale uninterrupted as Hobb has spun his journeys since the end of Assassin's Quest bringing story up-to-date with his life in the Tawny Man series.

[Kevin]

★ Gwendolyn ★ wrote: "I'm halfway through Fool's Errand and haven't felt I missed anything for not having read the Liveships series in between. I have only come across one remarked about living ships and that was just a..."

It comes up more in the next two books. And you're not missing much in terms of Fitz personal story, but it's more the overarching story of the world Robin Hobb created, it offers some more context to some of the larger events and plot points of the Tawny Man trilogy.

[Paul]

Am about finished the second Liveship book (The Mad Ship) and about to head off to the library to see if they have The Ship of Destiny.

Took me a little time to adjust to the new setting which proved to be a bit of a culture shock. I still have problems dealing with the slight Gone With the Wind/Pirates of the Caribbean vibe. It doesn't quite tally in my imagination with a more Northern mythos that is my usual fare. But that is my problem I guess rather than the author's for being stuck in a way of imagining fantasy.

[Rob, Roberator]

I like the change pace personally. I'm eagerly looking forward to starting The Mad Ship after I finish Cloud Atlas

[★ gwiz ★]

Adrienne wrote: "I would say that reading the Tawny Man trilogy has now made me want to go back and read the Liveship Traders books. The first time I tried reading them, before the Tawny Man trilogy was out, I just wanted more Fitz..."

This is how I felt, I wanted to continue with the story of Fitz. With no interruptions. Once I'm done with the Tawny Man Trilogy (now reading book 2) if I think by reading the other 2 series will bring more insight into the whole world I'll then will read them.

[Danielle]

KevinB wrote: "Danielle wrote: "I'd never read Hobb before either and now I'm hooked. I do prefer my fantasy a bit more on the epic side of things (more characters! more confusion! more!) but yep, I'm finding it ..."

Thanks Kevin! I have just finished the first book of the Liveship Traders and I'm loving it. I'll also try the short stories, thanks for the suggestion.

[Paul]

Having finished The Mad Ship, I had to wait a few days for the library services to transfer The Ship of Destiny to my local.
So I decided to read Shaman's Crossing which I had also borrowed. Had seen some comments about it suggesting it was not as good as the Fitz and Trader series.
At first I had to concur. It felt slow and ponderous setting up the world and Nevare's social and familial grounding.

There is a Carlos Casteneda episode which liven things up for a moment. Then it settles back down to Nevare's education and enrolment at the academy. Though a couple of gems are dropped in to pique one's interest.

Then in the second half of the book things start moving. Hobbs does mean things to her protagonists as is her sadistic want, which is painful to read and events accelerate to a final flourish.

It was a few days before I could pick up The Ship of Destiny. In the end the first of the Solder's Son tales had got under my skin.
I think one of the things that may hinder the book apart from the pacing is that it is (unfairly) compared to Hobb's main cycle of books in the world of dragons and liveships. If you accept the book on its own terms I think it deserves a reading.
If I had the second Soldier's Son book I would have happily ploughed on and left Liveships in port for a while.

Having said that, having started The Ship of Destiny, so far, it has been excellent.

[★ gwiz ★]

I finished Farseer series then went through and finished the Tawny Man series. I didn't have any issues with not reading the Liveship Traders in between the Farseer and Tawny.

I keep wanting to reread both series again knowing the ending and seeing how well Hobb tried it all together through all the books.

I may read Liveship Traders and Wild Rains in the future but don't feel that I need to.

Very good storytelling. Although I would have like to change just a bit of Fitz's status at the end.

[Sabrina]

I'm incredibly late on this - but I was going through the list of previous sword and laser reads and picked up assassin's apprentice. I would never have picked up this book if it wasn't a book club pick - but now I am hooked on Robin Hobb's books!