Archive for December, 2011

A Clash of Kings: George R. R. Martin

Dec 08, 2011

Follow-ups novels to successful first ones are tricky beasts. Having set the bar and thus expectations high with Game of Thrones, it was always going to be difficult for George R. R. Martin to satisfy hungry and demanding readers who fell in love with the intricate world and in-depth characters of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. The good news is that Martin does not disappoint, nor does he compromise his standards. On the contrary, he not only meets but exceeds anticipation as he dives once more into the world and wars of the Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons and Targaryans (however it’s spelled – sorry), the Night Watch, the Wildings and the Others.

Commencing where the action finished in Game of Thrones, the reader is once more swept along in the battle for supremacy between warring sers, lords and their various factions. Only, where there was once a single king under which to rally men, lands and armies, there are now four at large in the Kingdom – a Kingdom divided, afraid and, as war creeps into every corner and power is continually contested, fraught with danger and the plagues of broad-scale conflict: famine, disease and petty crime – particularly in the city where death and destruction come from within as much as from attacking enemies.

Martin uses the same shifting points of view to tell this tale as he did in the first book and we jump from Bran, to Catelyn, Theon, Tyrion, Danys and some other characters as well, allowing us greater insights into their motivation and personal weaknesses and strengths. So fine is the writing and so skilled is Martin that while it’s sometimes a wrench to leave a character, you soon segue into a different mindset with ease and plunge into his or her story feeling bereft when you are momentarily pulled away again. Sometimes the action from one chapter to the next is parallel, other times, it occurs in a different zone and time, but not once do you lose the pace or sense of urgency that haunts these pages and keeps you reading.

Martin’s world is a dark, corrupt one where spirituality and secular power both collude and collide and where no-one is safe – not a warrior knight, a beautiful queen, an innocent peasant, a loyal maester or even a child. He exposes war and the struggle for hegemony for what it is: ugly and damaging for everyone – the lower classes particularly, who suffer the whims, machinations and anger of their overlords, though the mighty are not spared hardship or heartache either.

Unrelenting and fabulous, I highly recommend this second book and, having already jumped straight into the third, I know the standards are just as high and the narrative equally compelling.

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Game of Thrones: George R.R.Martin

Dec 08, 2011

I read this book many years ago, not long after it first came out and remembered being awed by its scope and the dramatic and realistic flair of the writing. Of course, the passage of time can sometimes alter the way you feel about things – especially genre books. Usually, because you’ve read so many more in-between and educated yourself about the style and tropes that are used, expectations are raised. When I heard there was a TV series based on Martin’s books, I was a bit dubious and, I confess, watched it rather reluctantly at first – but not for long. The series, by HBO, was visually stunning and superbly acted. It’s fabulous to see fantasy being taken seriously for a change on the small screen (I know there are examples that do – but most are film. Few TV shows do honour to fantasy except in a kitsch fashion – I am thinking of Hercules and Xena here and excluding the fantastic True Blood which deserves it’s own paean).  On the contrary, this series persuaded me to reread the book – partly to test its appeal again, but also to see how closely the show stayed to Martin’s original vision. Well, in terms of the book and its initial appeal, none has been lost. Once again, I was drawn into Martin’s fantastically realised world with its liege lords, Banner men, dire wolves and the central families: the Starks, the Lannisters, the Taegaryans (however you spell it – sorry!) and the jostle for power that’s described as the Game of Thrones.

When I first read the book, I found the concept and place that remained with me was The Wall and the black-garbed men, the NightWatch, who swear an oath to protect the realm from the Others – the creatures who roam north of the great dividing barrier. Yet again, I was struck by the imaginative scope of such a place and those who dwell within its icy, remote grip and the culture they’ve created. Likewise, the horse lords, the Kalesi, and his bride, the disinherited Danys, were wonderfully drawn. But so are the castles of Winterfell, Kings Landing and the politics and inter-relationships that govern the realm comprised of seven very different kingdoms. Of course, Tyrion, another Lannister, would have to be one of the most memorable characters created: wise, witty, world-weary – he’s someone you initially loathe and champion – the latter becoming the default reaction.

This is such a powerful story that is full of machinations, twists, turns and bloodshed but always underpinned by human relations. As such, it really is a stand out addition to the historical fantasy genre. The TV series is also marvellous and stays true to Martin’s vision, so much so, swathes of dialogue (and his dialogue is rich, offensive, real and engaging) appears in the show.

A terrific book that initiates a wonderful saga. Unashamedly love it and the show – in fact, the theme song is now my ring tone.

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The Drop: Michael Connelly

Dec 04, 2011

I have to admit, when I first picked up this book and read a few pages, I wondered what the hell Connelly was doing: breaking the cardinal rule of creative writing, he commenced this 16th Harry Bosch book by telling, not showing. The opening narrative, while utterly readable and interesting, was also didactic: pure and simple. For a few pages, he painstakingly explicated the background to the cold case or unsolved operations unit of which Bosch is a part. I was surprised and wondering where on earth Connelly was taking his readers….then, Harry Bosch, a mere 32 months from retirement appears and all is right (or not) in planet Los Angeles. The opening pages and their tone suddenly made sense and I settled into the narrative like a pair of comfy shoes – as cosy as a pair of sneakers with razor blades embedded in the sole would be, that is, for if there is one thing a Bosch book guarantees, it will keep you on your toes. The Drop is no exception.

This latest adventure in Harry’s life plays on the title very well. The D.R.O.P refers to the extended work time given to cops whose experience and skills mean they are too good to retire and they are granted extra time- up to five years – may the force be with you and all that. Harry is part of the cold case unit and is on this, to employ a cliché, borrowed time. He also draws an unsolved case from twenty years earlier where a drop of blood, or smear on a victim’s neck, threatens to overturn DNA evidence. Simultaneously, he’s ordered, through the ‘high jingo’ or powers that be, to take a suspected suicide: a well-known council man and former cop’s (and enemy of Bosch and the entire force) son. Did he jump from the seventh floor of the building or was he dropped?

Moving between the two cases, Bosch’s home life with his now fifteen-year-old daughter and the vagaries and questionable loyalties of old and current partners, the story unfolds. It is mesmerizing and unputdownable. Like a fine wine, Bosch just gets better and better. You slip easily (or not – those razor blades glint: reminders of ever-present danger, and catch at times and make you draw in your breath and your heart pound) into his life and mind, enjoying the familiar, aching when he does, vicariously experiencing his reticence, doubt and fearlessness. Intelligent and ethical, Bosch is also a man seized by self-doubt – as a cop, father, lover, and man and this makes him vulnerable and oh so worth getting to know. And, as these two cases draw Bosch and his partner Chu further into their depths and twists, Bosch’s reputation and career are once again on the line.

Loved this latest addition that though I tried to sip and savour it, found myself downing in two reading-session gulps. Cannot wait for the next instalment.

 

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Angel Arias: Marianne de Pierres

Dec 03, 2011

This is a more comprehensive version of the review I wrote in Goodreads.

The sequel to Burn Bright, Angel Arias, firmly cements Marianne de Pierres reputation as one of the finest writers of young adult speculative fiction. Continuing where Naif’s adventures ended in the last novel – with her escape from Ixion, Angel Arias is a fast-paced thriller that poses a burning question: what is the relationship between Ixion (the Ripers) and Grave (the Elders)? It’s now up to Naif and her friends to find the answer.

But leaving Ixion has not been easy for Naïf. Not only has she left behind her friend, Suki and her brother, but the Riper, Lenoir, as well. Their blood bond makes the distance between them more than a physical wrench and means that Naif is still connected to the haunting demesne of Ixion and its travails, which makes focussing on her current situation harder than usual. Knowing Ixion is on the cusp of rebellion and that the answer to all the puzzles surrounding the Night Creatures, Ripers, and the disenchanted young refugees who flock to Ixion, lie in her home of Grave, Naïf is unable to remain in limbo on Raskalia’s island sanctuary – especially not when the young people the pirate saved from certain death turn on their saviour and those they believe are plotting against them. And so the scene is set for a breath-taking adventure that sees Naïf putting her life on the line to learn the terrible secret that links Grave and Ixion, her past and her present, her friends and her foe. Finding allies where she least expects it and betrayal where there should be loyalty, Naïf has her courage and wits tested to the limit. But when she learns the truth about the Ripers and the Elders and begins to comprehend the sacrifices that are being made in the name of politics and social experiments, she’s forced to make a terrible and deadly decision.

Breath-taking, with wonderfully drawn scenes and dialogue, Angel Arias is a terrific sequel examining faith, friendship, exploitation and the abuse of hegemony in subtle and thought-provoking ways. Through the character of Naïf, we come to see that this complex world, with its strange creatures, juxtaposition of hedonism and control and dour and passionate humans, is not black and white, but an intricate mix where rights and responsibilities are both personal and highly political: the choice, regardless of age or race, is yours. This tale leaves you wanting more. Bring on the third book! Stat!

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