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Brian Rogers ([personal profile] subplotkudzu) wrote2010-02-21 07:46 pm
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Books 16-19

16) Unseen Academicals: The latest Diskworld novel, this was good but not the best Sir Terry has ever done. It occurred to me  that the novel Terry has to write is the one where Veternari grooms his replacement - he is too smart and man and too savvy at business to not understanjd the basic need for succession planning. That would, I think, make an excellent end to the series. 

17) All the Windwracked Stars: my first foray into Elizabeth Bear's novels, I had to start with this one because the protagonist is her character from my 90's Amber campaign. I found it slow going at first as she had to indulge in more Tell than Show for my taste to explain the world - the last human city 2000 years after Ragnarock and a few generations after the collapse of the post ragnarock civilization - and I wasn't too keen on some of the Vampire imagery that felt like it was cluttering up the book, but I am happy to admit that she pulled into together nicely and the last 100 pages were engrossing. 

18) Dracula: I needed to reread Bram Stoker's classic as prep for this month's Castle Falkenstein game, and as always came away pleasantly scared. One observation this time - Von Helsing's son is dead and his wife is insane, so what the hell was his last campaign like? inquiring minds want to know. 

19) The Asimov Mysteries: a collection of Issac's SF Mystery stories, these ranged from fair to excellent, with a few that surprised me iwth being outside of Asimov's usual emotional curve. Well worth reading, and I rather like Wendell Urth as a SF Nero Wolfe style housebound detective. 

[identity profile] whswhs.livejournal.com 2010-02-22 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
I think we have seen Vetinari grooming his successor: Moist von Lipwig.

(Anonymous) 2010-02-22 12:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Glad to see I'm not the only one who has come to that conclusion.

Rebecca

[identity profile] brianrogers.livejournal.com 2010-02-23 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
I can see it, but I'm not sure Moist would make a great leader - he's the go to firefighter.

(Anonymous) 2010-02-23 12:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Remember the bit in Klatch where Vetinari juggles? I think running A-M would provide the necessary level of day to day excitement. As long as Adora doesn't leave town.

Rebecca

[identity profile] drcpunk.livejournal.com 2010-02-23 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
Son? I remember Von Helsing's wife being insane, yes, and almost typoed that as "inane". Have you read Saberhagen's The Dracula Tapes?

[identity profile] brianrogers.livejournal.com 2010-02-23 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
Yup - he mentions this because Arthur Holmwood (Lord Goldaming) reminds him of his dead son.

And no, I haven't read the Dracula Tapes. Are they worth it?

[identity profile] drcpunk.livejournal.com 2010-02-23 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
The Dracula Tapes is totally worth it. The rest I'm not sure about.