Book reviews
Sep. 29th, 2007 09:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bagheera_sanI finished two good books today.
First was Vol. 1 of Darwyn Cooke's "DC: New Frontier" series. It was, in three words, well spent money. (Or should that be two words with a hyphen?) I confess I don't buy very many comics, since I only have the choice been ridiculously overpriced German translations (and I hate reading German translations anyways) and expensive shipping, and what few English books the local bookstores sell. Gladly, "New Frontier" was one of them. It reminded me a lot of "Watchmen", which may seem odd, since the tone is so very different, but the theme isn't. Both deal with second generation heroes in an alternate reality that asks "What if superheroes were real?" I hope, for the sake of comics, that "New Frontier" is will be as influential. My favourite characters so far are J'onn (yeah, huge surprise *g*) and Wonder Woman.
The second thing I read was Naomi Novik's "His Majesty's Dragon" (and I have book 2-4 already lying around just waiting to be read.) Like all of her writing it's absolutely great. I know, I'm probably the last person in fandom to read it. And it's a shame, too, since I consider her without question the most entertaining fic writer ever.
I like the Aubrey-Maturin books and the movie "Master & Commander", but I've never had any interest whatsoever in dragon fantasy. In fact, I haven't really read much fantasy at all beyond HP, LOTR and some children's literature. I think most of what I know about fantasy comes from playing D&D and similar games. I have no idea what dragons are like in other fiction, but one thing is perfectly clear: they are awesome in the Temeraire books.
I guess at first sight dragons are a lot like Lassie, or Flipper, or Pokemon (actually, and I'm going to embarass myself by knowing this, they're more like Digimon. Since, you know, you can have only one and they can talk. *hides*) I avidly read horse-novels as a kid (you know, novels about horses and riding, mostly written for girls) so it shouldn't be surprising I like the idea.
But actually, at the end of the first book, I'm starting to suspect that, whatever the case with European dragons is, the Chinese ones keep humans as their pets and not the other way round. I'd swear that dragons are ruling China and tried to sack Europe as well by sending Napoleon his dragon. We'll see.
Laurence is a fabulous main character. (He's basically a younger Jack Aubrey, isn't he?) Again, I'm not an expert in fantasy, but what I've read of the genre suggests that he is a very refreshingly old-fashioned hero. He's your typical reluctant hero at the start, but he takes on his "quest" not because of fate or coincedence or recklessness or whatever, but out of duty. He indulges in moderate amounts of angst, but mostly he's extremely considerable and thoughtful of others. He has a temper, but only when he's justified. He also seems somewhat older than your typical fantasy hero. He isn't an orphan, or a nobody, or a runaway princess: he has a life, a career, straightforward plans and firm convictions. Basically, he's admirable for his discipline and character, not for any "special" skills or extreme amounts of courage and good luck.
My favourite characters besides Laurence and Temeraire are Jane and Emily Roland. I love what Novik did with women in the Corps, I love that it's not all: we're girls! We're special! Look at how fierce and emancipated and badass we are! (Well, it is a bit, but it's charmingly so.) The funniest scenes in the entire book are Laurence and Temeraire talking about whores and Laurence thinking that Jane is basically asking him "Want to have sex now?" and he's completely terrified. Oh, wait, and when he realizes that Temeraire's tendrils are an erogenous zone. Yeah, my sense of humour is kinda adolescent. So what!
The book made me cry, too, at Levitas' death. His whole story was heartbreaking. The relationship between dragon and captain is fascinating, but at times also pretty scary: the dragon is husband/wife, best friend and child all rolled up in one, and if they were human, we'd probably consider it a bit unhealthy. (I want an AU where Napoleon raises Temeraire. A dark one.) The moment the book clicked for me, emotionally, was the first time Laurence realizes that Temeraire is practically starving for his affection and approval, still on the Reliant.
Because that dragon is a big damn woobie.
And now I'm off to read "Throne of Jade". I want a dragon icon!
First was Vol. 1 of Darwyn Cooke's "DC: New Frontier" series. It was, in three words, well spent money. (Or should that be two words with a hyphen?) I confess I don't buy very many comics, since I only have the choice been ridiculously overpriced German translations (and I hate reading German translations anyways) and expensive shipping, and what few English books the local bookstores sell. Gladly, "New Frontier" was one of them. It reminded me a lot of "Watchmen", which may seem odd, since the tone is so very different, but the theme isn't. Both deal with second generation heroes in an alternate reality that asks "What if superheroes were real?" I hope, for the sake of comics, that "New Frontier" is will be as influential. My favourite characters so far are J'onn (yeah, huge surprise *g*) and Wonder Woman.
The second thing I read was Naomi Novik's "His Majesty's Dragon" (and I have book 2-4 already lying around just waiting to be read.) Like all of her writing it's absolutely great. I know, I'm probably the last person in fandom to read it. And it's a shame, too, since I consider her without question the most entertaining fic writer ever.
I like the Aubrey-Maturin books and the movie "Master & Commander", but I've never had any interest whatsoever in dragon fantasy. In fact, I haven't really read much fantasy at all beyond HP, LOTR and some children's literature. I think most of what I know about fantasy comes from playing D&D and similar games. I have no idea what dragons are like in other fiction, but one thing is perfectly clear: they are awesome in the Temeraire books.
I guess at first sight dragons are a lot like Lassie, or Flipper, or Pokemon (actually, and I'm going to embarass myself by knowing this, they're more like Digimon. Since, you know, you can have only one and they can talk. *hides*) I avidly read horse-novels as a kid (you know, novels about horses and riding, mostly written for girls) so it shouldn't be surprising I like the idea.
But actually, at the end of the first book, I'm starting to suspect that, whatever the case with European dragons is, the Chinese ones keep humans as their pets and not the other way round. I'd swear that dragons are ruling China and tried to sack Europe as well by sending Napoleon his dragon. We'll see.
Laurence is a fabulous main character. (He's basically a younger Jack Aubrey, isn't he?) Again, I'm not an expert in fantasy, but what I've read of the genre suggests that he is a very refreshingly old-fashioned hero. He's your typical reluctant hero at the start, but he takes on his "quest" not because of fate or coincedence or recklessness or whatever, but out of duty. He indulges in moderate amounts of angst, but mostly he's extremely considerable and thoughtful of others. He has a temper, but only when he's justified. He also seems somewhat older than your typical fantasy hero. He isn't an orphan, or a nobody, or a runaway princess: he has a life, a career, straightforward plans and firm convictions. Basically, he's admirable for his discipline and character, not for any "special" skills or extreme amounts of courage and good luck.
My favourite characters besides Laurence and Temeraire are Jane and Emily Roland. I love what Novik did with women in the Corps, I love that it's not all: we're girls! We're special! Look at how fierce and emancipated and badass we are! (Well, it is a bit, but it's charmingly so.) The funniest scenes in the entire book are Laurence and Temeraire talking about whores and Laurence thinking that Jane is basically asking him "Want to have sex now?" and he's completely terrified. Oh, wait, and when he realizes that Temeraire's tendrils are an erogenous zone. Yeah, my sense of humour is kinda adolescent. So what!
The book made me cry, too, at Levitas' death. His whole story was heartbreaking. The relationship between dragon and captain is fascinating, but at times also pretty scary: the dragon is husband/wife, best friend and child all rolled up in one, and if they were human, we'd probably consider it a bit unhealthy. (I want an AU where Napoleon raises Temeraire. A dark one.) The moment the book clicked for me, emotionally, was the first time Laurence realizes that Temeraire is practically starving for his affection and approval, still on the Reliant.
Because that dragon is a big damn woobie.
And now I'm off to read "Throne of Jade". I want a dragon icon!
