The Sword and Laser discussion

This is one of those books I find hard to qualify, let alone analyse. To me, it was like reading a Children book, written for adults, by Monty Python.

Bridge of Birds was unlike anything I've read before, in such a way I'm even having trouble figuring out if I enjoyed it. It was a fascinating read, that much I can say.

If nothing else, it was unique experience.

Crazy stuff...

it feels so fresh to me. Mind you i'm only just about to begin chapter 4. Like you, i'm not sure what to make of it only that I've temporarily abandoned my other books in order to concentrate on this one. It is becoming an obsession.

to discover it was written in 1984 and until now had totally bypassed my radar is astounding.

To me, it was like reading a Children book, written for adults.


I have been trying to figure out what it is I like so much about the book and I think this totally sums it up. It totally satisfied my inner little girl (who has been rather neglected in the books I read these days), while keeping the big girl engaged and entertained. I loved at the end seeing all the characters happy and reunited with loved ones from their different stories. It made me think of when Atreyu and Artax were re-united at the end of Neverending story, which my 9 year old self was (is) convinced was the happiest moment in a movie ever.

Alex wrote: "Have you ever read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?"

Yeah. I can understand you relating those two. I mean, Douglas Adams... Monty Python... British "bookish" humor. A "comedy of absurds", you could say. Heck, we even get a bit of that from Shakespeare.

However, I still think it is closer to what you get from classic Monty Python, specially the TV series.

Kristina wrote: "It made me think of when Atreyu and Artax were re-united at the end of Neverending story, which my 9 year old self was (is) convinced was the happiest moment in a movie ever."

It was one, no questions, but I'm more of a romantic. So I would say the happiest moment in a movie ever is the last scene on Nothing Hill, in the park bench, with her pregnant.

It's not engaging me like Old Man's War did. I'm having trouble making myself read it.

Will wrote: "It's not engaging me like Old Man's War did. I'm having trouble making myself read it."

Same here, I'm really not enjoying it all that much. Which is disappointing because I was really looking forward to it.

The book changes quite drastically after part two. You get the feeling quite some time passed between the writing of parts 1 and 2, and part 3.

Might be worth the wait. But, as I said, I'm not even sure if I enjoyed the book or not. It is weird.

Definitely, the fairy tale vibe (which it specifically calls itself out on) furthers the children's-book vibe, and there's a certain sense of culture shock that added the bizarreness, I found.

The book felt like a dream to me. A partially remembered dream full of fantastic elements and characters.

I really cannot articulate this fully, my views on this book are much more rooted in feeling than thought.

That is a good way to describe it, Andy.

It reminded me most of The Princess Bride. That same sense of a subtly wry take on a traditional fairy tale.

Paul wrote: "It reminded me most of The Princess Bride. That same sense of a subtly wry take on a traditional fairy tale."

Ohh yea, that's a good comparison.

Ok, but ... "subtly"?

Well it starts subtle and builds.

Paul wrote: "Well it starts subtle and builds."

Yeah. The front cover is subtle :)

Well obvious YMMV but when I started reading it it felt like straight fairy-tale/fantasy. So the fact that there's talk of ghosts and magic and gods and so on is not subtle. But when I first became aware that there was some Princess-Bride style subverting of the genre going on, I wasn't sure at first whether that was intended or whether I was reading that into it. So that - the gently poking fun at the genre - was subtle. But the story itself - like a lot of fairy-tale style fantasy - was way over the top.

:)

Paul wrote: "Well obvious YMMV but when I started reading it it felt like straight fairy-tale/fantasy. So the fact that there's talk of ghosts and magic and gods and so on is not subtle. But when I first became..."

I don't know. I had a Monty Python kind of feeling since the beginning. I never got the feeling of a straight fairy-tale.

But who knows, maybe I just watched them too much and it damaged my brain (which would be understandable ehehe).

Andy wrote: "The book felt like a dream to me. A partially remembered dream full of fantastic elements and characters.

I really cannot articulate this fully, my views on this book are much more rooted in feel..."

Great description, though I'm not entirely sure of my feelings either.

Greg wrote: "Andy wrote: "The book felt like a dream to me. A partially remembered dream full of fantastic elements and characters.

I really cannot articulate this fully, my views on this book are much more r..."

When I let go and floated with the book I had the most fun. The majority of the book is light hearted; the good good guys win, the bad guys lose, and a great mystery is uncovered.

I still think of Bridge of Birds as a dream, something to think about but not fully grasp.

Will wrote: "It's not engaging me like Old Man's War did. I'm having trouble making myself read it."

This is exactly how I felt.

Hmm, some of the discussion threads seem to more like discussion "heated arguments" on this one, which must mean it's a good one! I loved it, and I do see what others have said about it being fairy tale-ish. Overall it is a delightful fantasy quest that has humor, horrors, delights, and a pretty great ending. I'm sold! I'll give it a bit of time before I look into book 2, but I would love to revisit Master Li and Number Ten Ox.