SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Do not go gentle into that good night
Rage, rage against the dying of the light!

GRRM and scifi! 12 more days!

Who's in? Let the roll call begins.

I always give GRRiM a chance, because he is a great writer and is one of the few celebritys I'd like to meet.

Yay, Don!

Ashley, are you there? Well, she probably has not come back from her holidays 😕

I AM IN!!

This has been on my 'To-Read' shelf for ages, just waiting for the right time. LET'S DO IT!

Fantastic! I am excited to read this since it has been a really long time since I read GRRM's non-ASOIAF work.

I don't know if I'll be able to get to this in time, but I haven't read anything by Martin that isn't ASOIAF, and I really want to.

I put the e-book on hold, and I'm number one on the list. I've got between 1 and 21 days before I get it, so we'll see if I'm ready to read it when it comes in.

I hope you can get this book, Bobby.

Well I just read a few pages and already sunked in. Martin does that to you.

Silvana wrote: "I hope you can get this book, Bobby.

Well I just read a few pages and already sunked in. Martin does that to you."

I still have it on hold from my city's library, but my county has a separate library system, and I was able to check out the e-book there. Timing has worked out, and I'll be able to start today. I've been reading slow lately, but we'll see if I get hooked.

I've started it, the preface is enthralling.

I'm only about 6% in, but already waiting for the horrible deaths to come. Maybe I'm scarred from ASOIAF, but I am not letting myself get attached.

(view spoiler)[I like Dirk already but I just need to read a bit more to get the full extent of the plot. All I know right now is Ruark creeps me out. (hide spoiler)]

Funny. I am not attached yet to Dirk. Maybe because he was (view spoiler)[too unrealistically hopeful about his chance with his ex and that made him vulnerable towards her colleagues and husbands etc. (hide spoiler)] But that is just my first impression. I am still at 10%.

I just realized that the novel is set in Martin's Thousand Worlds universe. His more well known stories/novels like A Song for Lya and Tuf Voyaging are also set in the same 'verse.

Does Celia Marcyan and her Shadow Chaser appear in any other GRRM books?

Yes she appeared in Bitterbloom, one of the stories in the anthology Dreamsongs vol 1. Which is a great anthology since it also has many other Martin's best scifi stories like Pear Shaped Man and Sandkings.

26%

I am bored. This is a planetary romance and while the description of dead cities were interesting the romance part was not. I could not care less about who gets Gwen at the end. Anyone feels the same?

I am humoring myself by identifying the details in this book that might become the inspiration of characters or events in ASOIAF.

- Kavalar society: Dothrakis, bloodriders, complete degradation of women/slaves, macho culture
- Jamis-Lion Taal: Jaime Lannister
- The darkness: The Long Night
- to be continued

9%

My reading is proceeding slowly, mainly because I am reading an old paperback copy and my eyes are not what they used to be (man, that makes me sound old) I wish this was on audio. (I checked Hoopla and my library, no luck)

One interesting note, my copy has a picture of three of the characters and the planet. It's pretty interesting. You can see much of the detail mentioned I the book.

27%

Martin sure has created a sprawling and varied world, each city so different. I agree w. Silvana that the whole romance plot is not so interesting, but I am hoping some good old fashioned action and adventure will stimulate the plot.

But the cities ARE fascinating.

BTW, let us PLEASE not post any SPOILERS, for those of us who may not be as far advanced in the book.

I'm going kind of slowly on this one, so I'm just at 15%. It's not the book, I just don't have a lot of reading time right now. There is a lot of world building and set up so far, so I'm hoping we get a little more action going. Martin does a great job with descriptions and personalities of characters, so it's easy to "see" the characters in my mind, which is always helpful for me.

34%

I am also a slow reader. The research into the history of the Kavalar race and why their society acts as it does is fascinating.

I had to speed up my reading since I was so bored. I found the novel to be mostly experimental. But I see Martin has grown so much as a writer since this novel's characters did not work for me unfortunately.

Silvana wrote: "Yay, Don!

Ashley, are you there? Well, she probably has not come back from her holidays 😕"

Silvana, I am so sorry!! Please forgive me. I got so behind due to vacation - I didn’t finish any of the books I wanted to finish before vacation, started two books during vacation that I’m still not very far into, and am still trying to catch up! 😭 I am so sad that I missed out on reading this with you, and although it appears some are still reading it, I’m afraid I won’t get to it soon enough. I’ve gotta cut back on committing to buddy reads until I get caught up, but I’m definitely trying to make sure I can at least start Ammonite on time (Aug 15) since I initiated that BR. I’ve also still got Into The Drowning Deep to finish, and I haven’t even started Sea of Rust, or The Bone Doll’s Twin..they’re just sitting on my nightstand waiting for me. So many books, not enough time!!!

Haha no worries, I think some are reading it. I too will be behind with my reading since I just started my holiday. Funny how holidays tend to reduce my reading time... 😆

38% in and I finally cracked the spine. looks like some action is finally going to happen with the duels. o_0

Just managed to pick this one up from the library - so won't be reading the thread til I get into it a little!

50% - The history in the prologue is amazing. Not just decades, but epochs of history skimmed over in a couple of pages. GRRM is certainly a master at world building.
Is this romance? I’m not getting that vibe. I’m getting a man desperate for what he lost, and a woman using that desperation to help get herself out of a sticky situation, but I’m not seeing romance at all.
Have just reached a place where it looks like the MC is going to have to actually show some spine. Until now, I haven’t been impressed with him.
The descriptions of the various cities, and the history/myth of the Kavalar society are so detailed. GRRM knows how to use few words to draw a picture. Eg: “the fat red sun”.
Struggling a bit to stay interested in the storyline.

Glad to know you are enjoying the book. As for the romance, maybe I am more sensitive since I tend to avoid romance in SFF.

The cities description was indeed awesome. Which one is your favorite?

48% - I agree with Bree, half way through, just when you think something interesting is going to happen, the author takes a left turn.

The city of Challenge is really well envisioned, and I am not surprised at all that (view spoiler)[ the Bretan tracked them to the city. Now maybe we can finally get some action happening. (hide spoiler)]

Silvana wrote: "Glad to know you are enjoying the book. As for the romance, maybe I am more sensitive since I tend to avoid romance in SFF.

The cities description was indeed awesome. Which one is your favorite?"

I loved Kryne Lamiya with it’s song blowing mournfully through the place day and night. And it’s (view spoiler)[ high suicide rates :-) And the talk of the mad composer living in the bowels of the city forced to play her song forever.

But I have to say my biggest laugh was the totally black flag that the Darklings provided as a bit of a ‘fuck you’ to everyone :-) (hide spoiler)]

Have finished the book now and while I nearly threw away my pen because I could never build worlds like GRRM, I realised that the story was very basic, so I held on to my pen, secure in the knowledge that even if I can’t worldbuild that good, I can still tell a rollicking story.

I actually found it a bit sad, really. (view spoiler)[ Maybe something about the folly of humans? Trying to make their mark on the universe. Knowing what they were doing was a massive waste of time and resources, yet doing it anyway as some kind of defiant gesture to the galaxies?

And how the old ways will always go out kicking and screaming, and how new societies and orders are nearly always brought about through bloodshed.

And how someone who thinks he is in love will do all sorts of stupid things in the name of love. I’m glad she stayed with Jaantony in the end.

I have to say, I never disliked Garse. I thought I was going to but I never did. He upheld the rules of his country gracefully, worked so hard to care for Jaan and even for Gwen a little bit, and redeemed himself. I would have liked to see how Jaan might have reacted if Dirk told him the truth when he shot him down. Ignominious end for probably my favorite most complex character. (hide spoiler)]

73% - So I am taking my time, I don't you I was a slow reader, The plot is starting to move along and the we are getting to the climax point. It occurred to me that the whole mess was due to the fact that Dirk picked the wrong car to hotwire.

Unfortunately I'm kind of stalling on this one. I keep reading other things and pushing this one aside. I still plan to keep going, but I haven't been reading as much anyway, so it's taking a while.

87% - Death permeates this story. Just when you think you have it figured out, GRRM throws you a curve ball.

Finally finished, Whew! One little thing kept bugging me during the hunt and finale of the book. With all the great technology they have at their disposal, one obvious thing was missing... (view spoiler)[Scanners! When they are hunting, when Dirk is flying in the car looking for Garse and Jaan, when they are hiding from the Braith in the watchtower. Are you telling me that nobody had any scanners?! (hide spoiler)] Just a small plot hole that itched at me.

Oh yeah, one more thing... I didn't even notice there was a glossary until I had reached the end of the book, so it was of no use to me during reading. Thanks for nothing GRRM!

Robert and Bree, I admire your endurance in finishing this book. I think I would need a reread someday. You guys pointed out things I never really thought.

Bree wrote: "50% - The history in the prologue is amazing. Not just decades, but epochs of history skimmed over in a couple of pages. GRRM is certainly a master at world building.

Is this romance? I’m not getting that vibe. I’m getting a man desperate for what he lost, and a woman using that desperation to help get herself out of a sticky situation, but I’m not seeing romance at all.
Have just reached a place where it looks like the MC is going to have to actually show some spine. Until now, I haven’t been impressed with him..."

I second your entire comment above.

At 25%.
Why does Gwen have to pick either or any of these yahoos to be with? Go back to Avalon on your own and enjoy being a single lady. Become an Ecology professor.

Hi Bonnie, I wish I could answer it, but it's been so long since this BR has ended and I have forgotten all the details.

I hope there is someone else who can read it together with you or remember enough details :)