Pearl Harbor's 70th Anniversary

Let us take a moment to thank our day-to-day heroes of the past and present. Pearl Harbor (a day that will live in infamy) had it's 70th Anniversary. I know this because I'm a history nerd. Anyway, the men and women who lost their lives on that day and on this very day deserve some respect, and they certainly need our prayers.

Natural Ordermage #1 by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

I'm about halfway through this book, so i'll give the current situation.

In essence, the main character, Rahl, was a apprenticed scrivener to his father. A scrivener is essentially a scribe, spending hours upon end copying books for people. He was trained by his father to use a truncheon. Eventually, a Magister gets hi in trouble for inappropriate use of Order. He gets shipped off to Nylan where his order abilities are to be fine tuned. The problem is he just doesn't understand how to do some of the most rudimentary skills of order while others of the most powerful he does unknowingly. He is, as they say, a natural ordermage. Later in his stay at Nylan, he uses order inappropriately with no intent to do so, but nonetheless they exile him to Hamor until he can control his power. That's where I left off.

I've read Modesitt's wok before and the number one thing I will note about his work is consistency. It is incredible, because unlike so many fantasy series you say, the laws of his universe stay unchanging throughout not only each series, but in every book he writes. Every book ties together somehow, as if every work is a piece of the puzzle. It makes for a very interesting situation if you read several of his separate series. Feel free to jump around in the series I'm reading, The Saga of Recluce, you can read virtually any book in any order you so desire. There are occasional mini-series with the same characters, but so far they never extend more than two books. In a nutshell, he makes for a unique reading experience. So I recommend this to anyone with a interest in fantasy that is more realistic in the proportions of his characters. He doesn't overestimate them, using both their strengths and weaknesses to define them and mold them to greatness, a virtue of literature sometimes lost in an author's desire to make his (or her) character impregnable.

The Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson

The Way of Kings was excellently tied together and left the reader starving for more. Each character complimented the next, and the complexity of his world astounds. He speaks of issues in the real world and offers wisdom not often found in fiction, or in any corner of our world.

Due to this, this novel will be the first in my Hall of Fame, and I suspect the next book in the series shall also be present.

I recommend this book to anyone who has the patience to read. Period. It is the Ender's Game of our time, Orson Scott Card himself said it was rare for an author to have such an understanding of how leadership works... paraphrasing.

Stone of Tears

-The Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind, book two of the Stone of Tears series, was definitly worth the time it took to read. Richard and Kahlan were of course seperated again and he had to find a way to save her and the world, much as the last book, yet, at the same time he managed to make the same story worth reading. Regardless, there are many things you learn about, such as the New and Old World, which simply wern't disclosed in the last novel. Richard also has one other secret that he must master within himself. The intrigue within the book and the treachery is what makes it worthwhile in truth. As such, I reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction and has read the Wizard's First Rule.

Test of the Twins

This- the final chapter in Caramon and Raistlin's tale- left no disappointment except that now it's all over. Raistlin is gone and Caramon is no longer bound to him in the unhealthy half-a-person way he was. But that doesn't make sense unless you read the entire series so going on with it would be pointless. I highly recommend this to fantasy-lovers and Dragonlance-lovers especially as long as you read the Dragonlance Chronicles and the rest of the Twins series. It is not a waste of your time.

Playing Catch-up

Time of the Twins
This is a follow up book to the Dragonlance Chronicles (see prev. posts). Raistlin and Caramon are reappearing with much better writing techniques and more depth. They also introduce Crystiana, a 'true' cleric of Paladine (god of good). To make things brief, Raistlin is a totally evil wizard with aspirations of becoming a god, Caramon is a fat drunk who gets thrown out by his wike (Tika), and Crystiania is a doubtful cleric whose faith is seriously tested as she follows Raistlin (who she incidentally loves). It's a very good book, but absolutely do not read it if you didn't read the chronicles. As always, Raislin connects with everybody because everybody can relate with him, Caramon becomes a relatable human rather than basically a bodyguard. Prety good book all in all. I would reccomend it only to people who have read the chroniciles that I posted about last year.

War of the Twins
This is the second book in the series and unlike so many other trilogies, this one isn't a letdown in comparison to the first in the series. You learn a lot about Raistlin and Fistdantilus (most powerful mage in history excepting Raist). Raistlin is trapped in time in a way that is a little intresting after all, and Caramon finally realizes what his brother really is. It really sucks you into that world like a good novel should. Once again, I reccomend this book to only those who have read the chronicles and the Time of the Twins.

I am currently reading the Test of the Twins and will try to post on it if I can. May be busy until the end of the school year, but expect my blogging to pick up during the summer.

Myth Adventures

---Myth adventures is a book written in 1978 by Robert Lynn Asprin. It is about a apprentice magician Skeeve. Skeeve was a thief and intended to use magik for thievery. Of course, he hadn't hoped on his master summoning a demon and then being killed by an imp assassin while simutaniously killing the imp with fire magik. So now Skeeve views a horrible, green, scaly humaniod figure who...smiles at him and shakes his hand. The demon, which is actually just a nickname for a dimension traveler is named Aahz. He is from the dimension Perv, and frequently called a Pervert, while in actuallity he is a Pervect. So they go on a comical adventure trying to get Aahz's powers back while he teaches Skeeve magik. I reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and comedy.