From the Bookshelf of The Sword and Laser…

The Curse of Chalion (World of the Five Gods, #1)

Lois McMaster Bujold

Start date: August 1, 2013

Finish date: August 31, 2013

Discussion: 2013 Reads

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2013 Reads

ANHoD: Looking to buy Within the Sanctuary of Wings in Paperback
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What Members Thought

Jul 28, 2013 Tom Merritt rated it it was amazing

What a delightful world. The work that went into researching medieval Spain sows, as does theincrediblemimagination that went into turning the story into its own consistent telling rather than just a metaphor. Now layer on top of that a deep theological debate nested in an other-worldly system where the debate is not between monotheistic beliefs and their prophets, but polytheistic beliefs and the acceptance or rejection of a lucifer-like god as a force for good or ill. Top it all off with stron ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Mar 26, 2014 Nat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: digital-owned

Amazing dialog and interesting philosophy on the existence of heaven. Plus a nice fantasy tale.

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2013 Jlawrence rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sword-and-laser, favorites

Completely atypical protagonist for a fantasy novel (a dilapidated aging soldier whose brains are much more useful to him than his sword) carries this precisely-written, well-paced story of courtly intrigue, theological conundrums and brilliant turns. The way it treated its thorny theme (view spoiler) through its strongly-developed characters made me simultaneously feel *and* think -- likely more so than any other fanta ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2013 Brittany rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Fantasy rarely talks about religion. At least, it doesn't talk about religion as something serious, something real, and something not actively malevolent.

Religions in fantasy novels tend to be caricatures, something either completely or something that is more like magic: A set of rules, spells, and taboos.

Very rarely does a fantasy novel make anyone think deep thoughts about faith and religion.

This isn't The Sparrow by any means. It's a very well-written adventure novel with fantastical eleme ...more

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Aug 18, 2013 taeli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook, re-reads

re-read in audio 8/15/13
reread 4/24/15

This is a book I happily reread every couple years. I love Caz and the worldbuilding and each time I read it, I intend to read up on the history it was loosely based on but forget because I get lost in the story.

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