Comments on: Twisty, Book Killer http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:19:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Karen http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-115507 Karen Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:43:29 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-115507 I'm in the middle of the Temeraire series, by Naomi Novik. It's great! Good story, not bad writing, non un-feminist alternate history. The first is called _His Majesty's Dragon_. I'd love to say more, but don't want to spoil. I’m in the middle of the Temeraire series, by Naomi Novik. It’s great! Good story, not bad writing, non un-feminist alternate history. The first is called _His Majesty’s Dragon_. I’d love to say more, but don’t want to spoil.

]]> By: Dammit, J… R. R. Tolkien « Tlönista http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-29475 Dammit, J… R. R. Tolkien « Tlönista Thu, 30 Nov 2006 06:24:06 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-29475 [...] So far, I hate to say, I’m vastly unimpressed. I’m bored to death of the standard medieval European Fantasyland and the tired tropes that go with it (better bashed elsewhere), and no, not even a respectable lack of magic is enough to redeem Westeros. And while I appreciate the kind of dark, morally ambiguous characters that populate the novel, scheming nobles aren’t really my thing. I found myself rolling my eyes and sighing whenever an Arya chapter came up (a standard-issue feisty tomboy who’d rather swordfight than learn to be a lady! Isn’t that subversive!) and flipping tiredly through the chapters waiting for the next trashy sex scene. [...] [...] So far, I hate to say, I’m vastly unimpressed. I’m bored to death of the standard medieval European Fantasyland and the tired tropes that go with it (better bashed elsewhere), and no, not even a respectable lack of magic is enough to redeem Westeros. And while I appreciate the kind of dark, morally ambiguous characters that populate the novel, scheming nobles aren’t really my thing. I found myself rolling my eyes and sighing whenever an Arya chapter came up (a standard-issue feisty tomboy who’d rather swordfight than learn to be a lady! Isn’t that subversive!) and flipping tiredly through the chapters waiting for the next trashy sex scene. [...]

]]> By: Andygrrl http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-523 Andygrrl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-523 This reads like a literary version of "The Cell Block Tango": "If you'd been there, if you'd seen it, I betcha you would have done the same!" Personally, I avoid any book that's marketed as being "Harry Potter for adults". As if adults don't enjoy Harry Potter or something. Check out Robin McKinley for some good feministy fantasy; her book "The Hero and the Crown" is kick ass and focuses on a dragon-slaying princess. Ellen Kushner, Tanith Lee, and Karen Joy Fowler also have some good stuff that won't incur your wrath. :-) This reads like a literary version of “The Cell Block Tango”: “If you’d been there, if you’d seen it, I betcha you would have done the same!”

Personally, I avoid any book that’s marketed as being “Harry Potter for adults”. As if adults don’t enjoy Harry Potter or something. Check out Robin McKinley for some good feministy fantasy; her book “The Hero and the Crown” is kick ass and focuses on a dragon-slaying princess. Ellen Kushner, Tanith Lee, and Karen Joy Fowler also have some good stuff that won’t incur your wrath. :-)

]]> By: AndiF http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-524 AndiF Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-524 Here's some more suggestions. Holly Black, Tithe Candas Jane Dorsey Black Wine, Paradigm of Earth (more speculative fiction than fantasy) Nancy Collins' Sonja Blue books Doris Egan's Complete Ivory (three books in one volume, all with wonderful snark) Rosemary Kirstein's Steerwsoman series (actually science fiction that appears at first to be fantasy) And I second the Robin McKinley. Other books of hers: Deerskin, Sunshine Here’s some more suggestions.

Holly Black, Tithe
Candas Jane Dorsey Black Wine, Paradigm of Earth (more speculative fiction than fantasy)
Nancy Collins’ Sonja Blue books
Doris Egan’s Complete Ivory (three books in one volume, all with wonderful snark)
Rosemary Kirstein’s Steerwsoman series (actually science fiction that appears at first to be fantasy)

And I second the Robin McKinley. Other books of hers: Deerskin, Sunshine

]]> By: Ron Sullivan http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-525 Ron Sullivan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-525 C. J. Cherryh. If you want a twist (and of course you do) on the faux-olde language, <i>The Dreaming Tree</i>, or at least its first half, <i>The Dreamstone</i>. The anthology <i>Sunfall</i> sounds pretty too. The Chanur and Morgaine series are just good fun. (Chanur's sci-fi; Morgaine's fantasy, except where it isn't.) C. J. Cherryh. If you want a twist (and of course you do) on the faux-olde language, The Dreaming Tree, or at least its first half, The Dreamstone. The anthology Sunfall sounds pretty too. The Chanur and Morgaine series are just good fun. (Chanur’s sci-fi; Morgaine’s fantasy, except where it isn’t.)

]]> By: Chris Porter http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-526 Chris Porter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-526 Fantasy and Feminism? Read Suzette Hayden Elgin's Ozark Fantasy Trilogy. Very smart, very sly, very Ozarky. Fantasy and Feminism? Read Suzette Hayden Elgin’s Ozark Fantasy Trilogy. Very smart, very sly, very Ozarky.

]]> By: Wordlackey http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-527 Wordlackey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-527 Alas, I wish I had followed your fine example when I first started the crapulous Storm Front. I, unfortunately, finished it. My housemate, She-who-I-call-Fierce-Celt, had less tolerance and perhaps got as far as you did before abandoning it in disgust. I think she would have performed bibliocide as well but the book was nominally mine so she forbore doing so. Your example is before me: I see a way to save the world from this book. Book burning is anathema to me yet I admit there are some books which the world would be better for their destruction. Actually, I'll probably just tear it apart and recycle it rather than burn it. Thanks for the encouragement. Alas, I wish I had followed your fine example when I first started the crapulous Storm Front. I, unfortunately, finished it. My housemate, She-who-I-call-Fierce-Celt, had less tolerance and perhaps got as far as you did before abandoning it in disgust. I think she would have performed bibliocide as well but the book was nominally mine so she forbore doing so.

Your example is before me: I see a way to save the world from this book. Book burning is anathema to me yet I admit there are some books which the world would be better for their destruction. Actually, I’ll probably just tear it apart and recycle it rather than burn it. Thanks for the encouragement.

]]> By: antelope http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-528 antelope Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-528 Pretty much any sci-fi or fantasy by Ursula LeGuin is going to deal w/ gender roles in an interesting way - some of her women may be kept down in one way or another, but they know it & they're not happy about it. The Left Hand of Darkness came out a long time ago, but if you haven't read it yet, I really, really recommend it. Pretty much any sci-fi or fantasy by Ursula LeGuin is going to deal w/ gender roles in an interesting way – some of her women may be kept down in one way or another, but they know it & they’re not happy about it. The Left Hand of Darkness came out a long time ago, but if you haven’t read it yet, I really, really recommend it.

]]> By: TimT http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-529 TimT Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-529 Ursula le Guin, yes; and maybe Joanna Russ, who writes consciously feminist sci-fi. Despite the name, I'd also recommmend Michael Moorcock. He's written very critically of backward-looking fantasy writers like Tolkien and Lewis, and explores gender roles a lot in his books. Maybe <i>The Final Programme</i>. Ursula le Guin, yes; and maybe Joanna Russ, who writes consciously feminist sci-fi.

Despite the name, I’d also recommmend Michael Moorcock. He’s written very critically of backward-looking fantasy writers like Tolkien and Lewis, and explores gender roles a lot in his books. Maybe The Final Programme.

]]> By: Naomi http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2005/07/09/twisty-book-killer/#comment-530 Naomi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/?p=159#comment-530 "libricide". I rarely find a new word I love. Your blog is fabulouso. My view of Americans is forever slightly altered. Ta! “libricide”. I rarely find a new word I love. Your blog is fabulouso. My view of Americans is forever slightly altered. Ta!

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