Dune - Frank Herbert

RATING: FOUR STARS

Dune. Here's a book that needs no introduction, and I'm sure that many of you have heard of it to some degree (even if it is just been in passing until now). It is Frank Herbert's timeless science fiction classic about Arrakis - a desert planet with so little water on its surface that is it almost uninhabitable for human life; a desert planet that is inhabited only because of the unique melange spice mined there because of the vitality it brings to human health.

It is a planet where only the strong have been able to survive, and only then by adapting to conserve each and every drop of the living-giving water that is worth far more than gold. The Fremen they are called, tribal warriors that have managed to endure and eke out a living where few other could; who have been down-trodden and suppressed by the long and cruel regime of House Harkonnen. The rule of the Harkonnen's ends, however, when House Atreides is gifted with Arrakis and its melange-mining rights by the great Padishah Emperor himself.

Duke Leto Atreides is reluctant to accept the gift, especially because it involves leaving his water-rich home world behind, but knows that he has very little choice - he can feel the jaws of a Harkonnen trap closing tight and begins to realise that Arrakis provides an answer to the danger, despite also being the cause. This answer is the Fremen, the warrior people who have hatred for Duke Vladimir Harkonnen in their very blood. It is the Fremen that he must win if he is to save his son, Paul, and beloved consort, Jessica.

The Good
I have to say that I was very impressed with Dune and think that Herbert has done a superb job with this book. He has managed to develop an impressive ensemble of characters that I really warmed to; has put a lot of thought into the workings of Arrakis and how humans could survive in such an arid environment; and has developed a believable future society for us (once we have finally ventured into the stars).

I admit that some of the stuff Herbert has imagined has to be taken with a pinch of salt (such as his whole concept of the Bene Gesserit), but, over all, he has developed a believable level of technology that isn't too far fetched like many science fiction authors do. This technology is interesting to read about as Herbert really shows how it fits into society and adds to the story as much of it is necessary for survival on Arrakis.

The story itself is also excellent and exciting, although it is predominantly political intrigue so I can't give much away about the plot without ruining it. Rest assured though, that Dune is a real page-turner that is full and twists and action!

The Bad
I think that one of the biggest problems Dune has is its complexity. It's not the story itself that's complex, but simply the sheer scope of the world that Herbert has created. He literally throws the reader straight into the deep end of his universe and begins talking about all these fictional objects of technology, religious rites and social connotations that he has made up with very little explanation of what they are (almost as if he just expects the reader to know). Admittedly, this is a brave method of writing and clearly shows Herbert's confidence as a writer, but it did make following the book a little difficult at times. Herbert has included a glossary at the back of the book to help us out, but I've ever really been a fan of authors doing this and found the continuing necessity to keep flicking back to it a bit irritating really.

In addition to this, Dune also has a weird chronology and is actually split into three novellas that are set years apart from each other. Although each story follows the same overall story arc, it does mean that there are huge 'gaps' in the characters' lives that would have been enjoyable to read about. Really, I got the feeling that Dune is actually two normal length novels that Herbert has tried to condense into one (in three parts).

My Thoughts
The problems I had with Dune did little to mar my enjoyment of it, however, and I still think that the book is brilliant. It is imaginative, exciting and Herbert has really delved into the science that surviving on such a hostile planet as Arrakis would require. Dune is definitely a book that all science fiction fans should invest in and has set the scene for the rest of the Dune Chronicles to be an interesting read.

Dune.

Brayan's Gold - Peter V. Brett

RATING: FOUR STARS

In Brayan’s Gold, Peter V. Brett gives us yet another slice of Arlen’s unwritten story as he tells of a daring messaging run he makes while he is still a young guild apprentice. Being deep into the mountains, the run can only be described as arduous at best and wouldn't normally have been given to an untested messenger at all. That is, of course, if the usual messenger hadn't broken his leg. With no-one else to turn to, the messenger’s guild must give the mission to Arlen and the wizened messenger who is asked to take him beyond the safety of the city’s walls.

As always, Arlen is desperate to test himself against the savage Corelings that stalk the wilds and is only too eager to take on the mission – being determined to deliver a cache of thundersticks to the count of Lord Brayan’s coveted gold mine. However, he quickly finds that the run isn't as easy as he first anticipated and finds that not only is the delivery of his wares jeopardised, but his life nearly comes to a violent and untimely end.

My Thoughts

Just like The Great Bazaar, Brayan’s Gold is a short novella that fills the gap between two of the Demon Cycle’s main instalments. The novella is set between The Painted Man and The Desert Spear, and provides a captivating escape into the ruins of Brett’s desolate world. Aside from being well written and imaginative, Brayan’s Gold is fast paced right from the first page and was extremely difficult for me to put down. It really shows the true grit of Arlen’s character, revealing once again the lengths he will go to in order to survive the Corelings and resist bowing down to them out of fear. In fact, I will say that Brayan’s Gold is a gripping read that will leave you more than ready for the third novel in the series, The Daylight War.

J. K. Rowling has written a secret crime novel!

After her phenomenal success with the cult Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling has hinted several times that she would like to publish any new books she writes under a pseudonym. Rowling had not previously confirmed if she had done this yet, but it has recently come to light that she has written a crime novel under the name of 'Robert Galbraith'.

The novel, which is called The Cuckoo's Calling, is about a war veteran who becomes a private investigator after retiring from armed service. The book has sold around 1, 500 copies* since it was released in April and Rowling has said that "it has been wonderful to publish without hype or expectation". She is slightly disappointed that the secret has emerged so soon, but writers in the Sunday Times became skeptical that a debut writer could produce such "accomplished work". They consequently investigated the matter and were surprised to find that Galbraith and Rowling not only had the same agent and editor as each other, but were both publishing with Sphere, which is part of the Little, Brown Book Group that published The Casual Vacancy late last year.

Rowling has said that "being Robert Galbraith has been such a liberating experience" and clearly plans to continue writing under the pseudonym as there is already a sequel in the pipeline, which is due to be published sometime next year.


* at the time this post was published

The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss

RATING: FIVE STARS

I must confess that this review has been behind the scenes as a half-finished draft for a while now. But, after recently watching an interview with Patrick Rothfuss, I've finally been motivated to sit down and finish it! In fact, I'm finding it slightly odd that I haven't already posted the review as I write this - The Wise Man's Fear has, after all, become one of my favorite books!

Anyway, enough of the stuff you don't really care about and let's begin. After the spectacular grandeur of The Name of the Wind, I picked up The Wise Man's Fear with a mixture of anxious excitement and trepidation. As much as I was looking forward to reading it, I was thinking that it couldn't possibly fill the shoes of its predecessor. How could Patrick Rothfuss possibly have it in him to write another book to that standard?

Luckily, I was wrong. He could and he did. The Wise Man's Fear is every bit as gripping and beautifully written as its younger brother - continuing the story of Kvothe the Arcane in an installment that is all but impossible to put down!

The Wise Man's Fear is very similar to The Name of the Wind and is predominantly told in the first person as Kvothe narrates more of his life story to the renown scribe, Chronicler. This main 'flashback' story is again broken up with intermissions set in the current time, which are just as interesting as they are in the first novel. I think that they are more important in this book though and really begin to set the scene for the third and final installment, painting a picture of a world in dire straights (hinting somehow that it's all Kvothe's fault) and showing how Kvothe has become a broken shell of a man. This contrasts sharply with his character in his early life, adding a bleak sense of tragedy over Kvothe's autobiography as we now that (by the end of the coming book), it doesn't end well.

In fact, the young Kvothe is very happy as he continues telling his tale, resuming with his time at the University. Here, Kvothe describes hows his powers grew to frightening degrees even as he struggled to escape his poverty and his vendetta with Ambrose intensified. As his autobiography progresses, Kvothe decides (rather reluctantly) to take a hiatus from his studies and more of his legend unfolds as he travels the world. Ranging from how he was taught to love by Felurian herself to the time he spent living with the legendary Adem warriors, Kvothe's story is nothing short of epic and, by the end, will leave you desperate for more.

I have to say that The Wise Man's Fear is one of the best novel's I've ever read. It's a must read for any fan of the fantasy genre and, with both of the books released so far being beautifully written and heartfelt, The Kingkiller Chronicle is a one of those rare series that few (if any) people won't enjoy. It is a series that has made it to my 'Shelf of Fame' and, for your own fantasy education, is one that you should invest in - I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan

RATING: FIVE STARS

Honestly, I've never really been bothered about reading The Wheel of Time. It’s a fantasy classic, yes, which I think you have admit regardless of whether or not you’re a fan the series, but it was just too long for me. I mean fourteen books? Was there really any need?

I didn't think so (and still don’t, in fact), but one of my friends has read The Eye of the World recently and really enjoyed it (click here for his review). Naturally, this meant that I decided to give it a go and I’m glad I did. I found The Eye of the World to be a real page-turner and struggled to put it down right from the prologue. It’s imaginative, full of twists and turns and Robert Jordan has a very vivid way of writing that made it possible for me to really visualise the scenes he was narrating throughout the book. 

I will admit that the story is a little cliché though and begins with yet another farm boy who escapes a common life of grafting over crops and sheep because he is the ‘chosen one'. Naturally, his life is turned upside down when his farm is attacked and he finds himself fleeing for his life with an unlikely band of companions.

I think that the story is well written as a whole though and its quality makes up for any of the similarities it has with other fantasy books. I also think that the story has an air of The Lord of Rings about it, which really added to my enjoyment of it. In fact, I think Jordan has done some things even better than Tolkien. A major example of this is in the fact that Moiraine, a magically powerful Aes Sedai, actually uses her powers to fight with and aid the party on a regular basis! I always think this is where LotR falls a little flat, to be honest, because despite all of his powers, Gandalf barely uses magic in the entire trilogy (with his epic fight with the balrog being a notable exception).

This isn't to say The Eye of the World is perfect, however, and I thought that Jordan has an irritating tendency of repeating what’s going a lot in his prose. He also seems to be a little obsessed with mist and I think he goes too far in describing the recurrent nightmares that plague three of his main characters. 

Overall though, The Eye of World is a fantastic read and is a superb example of pure, escapist fantasy at its best. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes epic fantasy and think that you shouldn't let the sheer size of The Wheel of Time daunt you. I’m expecting to be proved right in later books where the series begins to drag a bit, but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it! For now, I’m a huge fan of the book and am looking forward to delving into The Great Hunt.

Chronological reading list for A Feast for Crows & A Dance with Dragons

WARNING - CONTAINS SPOILERS. THIS POST SHOULD ONLY BE READ BY THOSE WHO ARE UP TO DATE WITH A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE

Just to be absolutely clear, I'm going to warn you all again - this post contains spoilers for ASoIaF so only read it if you're up to date with the series and have read A Dance with Dragons.

Okay, so that's my disclaimers over and done with now and I can get on with the rest of this post! I hope I don't to sound too angry in them, by the way, but I know how annoyed I'd have been if someone foretold ASoIaF for me and I don't want to see anybody leaving comments beneath this post moaning that I've given stuff away! So I'm going to assume that everyone reading to this point has now read A Dance with Dragons...

As you have, will have undoubtedly noticed that its chronology is weird and actually overlaps with A Feast for Crows. As I understand it, this is largely due to problems that George R. R. Martin had while he was writing the series. Following A Storm of Swords, Martin had originally wanted the series to jump ahead by a few years and had actually started writing Feast as if it had. He had only gotten a short way into the book, however, before he realised that this idea wasn't going to work and had to start again (which was a factor in the length of time it took to complete the novel). So Martin re-planned his concept for Feast,  but found that while the time jump didn't work for some characters, it did for others. Furthermore, he found that he had too many characters to write about simultaneously and, hey-presto, we've ended up with two chronologically overlapping books.

Obviously this has led to certain PoV characters being completely absent in one of the two books, which some fans think has 'staled' their storylines somewhat. Many have also suggested that this takes some of the power away from certain revelations because the initial shock has worn off and we've had time to become accustomed to the plot twist. A good example of this is Tyrion Lannister's descent into alcoholism after he murders his father and flees Westeros. By the time we get to read of his fate, we're all long accustomed to his exile!

In response to this, many fans of the series have begun to develop ways of reading Feast and Dance together as one book - we do, afterall, have both of them available now. There have been many problems with this though, which is largely due to the complexity of the story - let's face it, aside from Martin himself, I think we all struggle to comprehend everything that's going on to some degree!

Sean T Collins, however, is one such fan and seems to have had some success with this idea - managing to restructure both of the books into one so that the entire story flows chronologically (at least roughly). And while I'm not really a fan of this idea and will always reread the books exactly as Martin wrote them, I think that the idea sounds fun and has merit. So, if you are interested in this and would like to reread the series in a custom, chronological order, please see below for the chapter list (as it appears on Sean's website). Enjoy!

1. Prologue (Varamyr): ADWD 1
2. Prologue (Pate): AFFC 1
3. The Prophet (Aeron I): AFFC 2
4. The Captain of Guards (Areo I): AFFC 3
5. Cersei I: AFFC 4
6. Tyrion I: ADWD 2
7. Daenerys I: ADWD 3
8. Brienne I: AFFC 5
9. Jon I: ADWD 4
10. Bran I: ADWD 5
11. Tyrion II: ADWD 6
12. The Merchant’s Man (Quentyn I): ADWD 7 ^
13. Samwell I: AFFC 6
14. Jon II: ADWD 8
15. Arya I: AFFC 7
16. Cersei II: AFFC 8
17. Jaime I: AFFC 9
18. Brienne II: AFFC 10
19. Sansa I: AFFC 11
20. The Kraken’s Daughter (Asha I): AFFC 12
21. Tyrion III: ADWD 9
22. Davos I: ADWD 10
23. Jon III: ADWD 11
24. Daenerys II: ADWD 12
25. Reek I (Theon I): ADWD 13
26. Cersei III: AFFC 13
27. The Soiled Knight (Arys): AFFC 14
28. Bran II: ADWD 14
29. Tyrion IV: ADWD 15
30. Davos II: ADWD 16
31. Brienne III: AFFC 15
32. Samwell II: AFFC 16
33. Daenerys III: ADWD 17
34. Jon IV: ADWD 18
35. Jaime II: AFFC 17
36. Tyrion V: ADWD 19
37. Cersei IV: AFFC 18
38. Davos III: ADWD 20
39. The Iron Captain (Victarion I): AFFC 19
40. The Drowned Man (Aeron II): AFFC 20
41. Brienne IV: AFFC 21
42. The Queenmaker (Arianne I): AFFC 22
43. Arya II: AFFC 23
44. Alayne I (Sansa II): AFFC 24
45. Cersei V: AFFC 25
46. Reek II (Theon II): ADWD 21
47. Jon V: ADWD 22
48. Tyrion VI: ADWD 23
49. Daenerys IV: ADWD 24
50. The Lost Lord (Jon Connington I): ADWD 25
51. The Windblown (Quentyn II): ADWD 26
52. The Wayward Bride (Asha II): ADWD 27
53. Brienne V: AFFC 26
54. Samwell III: AFFC 27
55. Jaime III: AFFC 28
56. Tyrion VII: ADWD 28
57. Jon VI: ADWD 29
58. Davos IV: ADWD 30
59. Cersei VI: AFFC 29
60. The Reaver (Victarion II): AFFC 30
61. Daenerys V: ADWD 31
62. Melisandre I: ADWD 32
63. Jaime IV: AFFC 31
64. Brienne VI: AFFC 32
65. Reek III (Theon III): ADWD 33
66. Tyrion VIII: ADWD 34
67. Cersei VII: AFFC 33
68. Jaime V: AFFC 34
69. Cat of the Canals (Arya III): AFFC 35
70. Samwell IV: AFFC 36
71. Cersei VIII: AFFC 37
72. Brienne VII: AFFC 38
73. Jaime VI: AFFC 39
74. Cersei IX: AFFC 40
75. The Princess in the Tower (Arianne II): AFFC 41 ^
76. Bran III: ADWD 35
77. Jon VII: ADWD 36
78. Daenerys VI: ADWD 37
79. The Prince of Winterfell (Theon IV): ADWD 38
80. The Watcher (Areo II): ADWD 39
81. Jon VIII: ADWD 40
82. Tyrion IX: ADWD 41
83. The Turncloak (Theon V): ADWD 42
84. The King’s Prize (Asha III): ADWD 43
85. Daenerys VII: ADWD 44
86. Alayne II (Sansa III): AFFC 42
87. Jon IX: ADWD 45
88. Brienne VIII: AFFC 43
89. Cersei X: AFFC 44
90. Jaime VII: AFFC 45
91. Samwell V: AFFC 46
92. The Blind Girl (Arya IV): ADWD 46
93. A Ghost in Winterfell (Theon VI): ADWD 47
94. Tyrion X: ADWD 48
95. Jaime VIII: ADWD 49
96. Jon X: ADWD 50
97. Daenerys VIII: ADWD 51
98. Theon VII: ADWD 52
99. Daenerys IX: ADWD 53
100. Jon XI: ADWD 54
101. Cersei XI: ADWD 55
102. The Queensguard (Barristan I): ADWD 56
103. The Iron Suitor (Victarion III): ADWD 57
104. Tyrion XI: ADWD 58
105. Jon XII: ADWD 59
106. The Discarded Knight (Barristan II): ADWD 60
107. The Spurned Suitor (Quentyn III): ADWD 61
108. The Griffin Reborn (Jon Connington II): ADWD 62
109. The Sacrifice (Asha IV): ADWD 63
110. Victarion IV: ADWD 64
111. The Ugly Little Girl (Arya V): ADWD 65
112. Cersei XII: ADWD 66
113. Tyrion XII: ADWD 67
114. The Kingbreaker (Barristan III): ADWD 68
115. The Dragontamer (Quentyn IV): ADWD 69
116. Jon XIII: ADWD 70
117. The Queen’s Hand (Barristan IV): ADWD 71
118. Daenerys X: ADWD 72
119. Epilogue (Kevan): ADWD 73

Triton - Randolph Lalonde

RATING: TWO STARS

I must say that I was slightly disappointed with Triton and think that the book has fallen short of the quality of its predecessors. Sadly, I found the dialogue weak, the action bland and there was no real plot to the book. It had purpose, yes, and is unarguably important to the series, but it's far from a page-turner and became quite boring in parts.

As with the rest of Spinward Fringe, Triton begins right where the last book left off and picks up with Jake Valent and his crew as they begin adjusting to their newly secured prize - a hugely powerful warship from the Sol System called the Triton. It quickly becomes evident that the Triton is beyond them, however, in both in technology and size, and Lalonde focuses the story on how his characters come to terms with and adapt to this. 

In all fairness many of Lalonde’s ideas regarding this matter are good, although many were a little to ‘convenient’ for my taste. I could easily have let this go though, if the rest of the book had been up to scratch. His unusually poor characterisation, however, along with a significant lack of excitement, made this very difficult for me to do. In fact, I frequently found that Lalonde didn't develop his ideas as fully as he could have and think that he has sold Triton short of its potential.

This isn't to say that Triton didn't have its merits though, and there were parts that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Aside from the obvious attractions of space battles and lower-key scuffles, Lalonde has finally begun to bring many strings from the previous books together, which should prove interesting developments for the later books.

So all in all then, Triton was a bit a let-down. I feel that it failed to live up to its potential and should have been much more enjoyable to read than it was. Despite this, I'm still a huge fan of the series and will definitely be reading the next installment - I just hope it’s a bit more of a page-turner! Please, Lalonde! Please!