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24 October 2005

The Mageworlds stories, written by Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald. They have everything I just love--distinctive character, complex characters, action, crackling tension relieved by glorious spurts of humor, enough horror to up the stakes, balanced by moments of sheer wonder. Layers of meaning, and that sense not just of ‘you’re wrong’ when a prediction doesn’t pan out but the floor dropping away, as if you’ve gone from the medieval chambers at Cluny and found yourself in the amazingly alien Roman catacombs beneath, and yes, the hints were there of the catacombs’ existence all along, but you missed ‘em. Characters change. The cultures develop, the villains are not who you think.

Three of them go together: The Price of the Stars, Starpilots’ Grave, By Honor Betray’d. The first does stand alone--it’s probably the most easily cinematic, and would in fact adapt instantly into a killer action movie, as Beka Rosselin-Metadi dons the dangerous disguise of Tarnekep Portree (a young Mandeynan dandy with a taste for violence and low company) to solve the mystery of her famous mother’s murder. Her father can’t solve it--he’s too well-known--but he promises his ship to her if she finds out, and she leaves the bad guys of three worlds in shambles in the process. The second and third books concern the war with the Mages that is threatening all through this book--when the Mages cross the Gap between Worlds the distinction between bad guys and good guys blurs. So does time. Even honor seems to be at stake, for what is that, exactly?

A character thread is set up that seems resolved, but isn’t by the end of that third book. It is introduced in The Gathering Flame. which takes place the generation before the trilogy, and sets everything up. It is resolved in The Long Hunt which I think is one of the overlooked treasures of the past ten years, as three of the next generation after the trilogy make their version of the Long Hunt--coming of age journey. There are several threads tightly woven together; this is an amazingly complex book for just 282 pages, and though it does resolve, it leaves me yearning for more. Anyone who loves comedy of manners as well as space opera would deeply appreciate Khesat--the sinister duel of flutes between deadly enemies, without a word spoken. The social symbolism, the pervasive belief that art is important--even when you’re in the middle of a death-chase by bad guys. Anyone who likes Bujold’s Civil Campaign ought to have this one on their shelves. Especially if you like dueling grannies who run a tea-shop...but can whip out a blaster faster than hired muscle when needed.

The next two books, The Stars Asunder and A Working of Stars takes you back into the history before the Mageworlds stories, explaining events only hinted at. I do think it’s best to read these last, actually, though they are technically prequels, because certain terms, characters, worlds resonate when mentioned that otherwise would be just names and things.

I can’t talk about specific characters without revealing spoilers because there are so many surprises, including just how untrustworthy is the flow of time. But I just can’t recommend these books highly enough. Back my shabby copies go to the shelves, and I look forward to my next adventure with them.

22 October 2005

Three delightful historical YA discoveries, all by L. A. Meyer: Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy; Under the Jolly Roger: Being an Account of the Further Nautical Adventures of Jacky Faber --Curse of the Blue Tattoo : Being an Account of the Misadvetures of Jacky Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady

If you've ever wanted girl adventure stories, Jacky is your girl. What's more, Meyer manages to handle the tired old saw of girl dressed as boy and make it believable, describing her adventures with clarity, vividness, humor, and sympathy. Even the subjects one would consider somewhat dicey are well-handled, probably because Jacky's voice is so very assured, we always believe in her, don't see the author wincing or smirking or pushing the puppets about. Jacky is born to a nice family but they die and she sees them taken away by a corpse-seller, whereupon she joins an orphan gang under Blackfriars Bridge. When things get worse, she disguises herself as a boy, noticing how much freedom they have. She manages to get hired onto a ship because she can read, though once there, she has plenty of problems to solve. But she's on her way to adventure--sometimes finding it almost too much to bear.

By the second book, her masquerade discovered, she is put into a school to become a fine lady. Famous names in Boston history abound, all breathed delightfully to life. If I were teaching eighth grade US history instead of fifth, these books, certainly the second, would be required reading. I do think some issues might be a bit more than most fifth graders could handle, but eighth and up these would be a great way to bring history to life. In the third book, Jackie takes off on a whaler, ends up on a king's ship again--but under dreary circumstances. Jackie is up to the challenge, though she has ambivalent feelings about her own instinct for dashing right into trouble. For a brief, glorious time she's a privateer captain. The third book is long, but oh, not long enough--I would willingly have kept reading and reading, and I cannot wait for the fourth, which is slated for next summer, alas! Wonderful characters, splendid voice, galloping pacing, all kinds of questions raised, but for the most part Meyer stays true to the period paradigm. Jackie is far from perfect, never preachy, but honestly faces her mistakes--and her faults. Watch for some very sly nods to literature! I recommend these highly to anyone who loves rollicking sea adventure stories.

1 October 2005

How did I get so behind? Because I'm so behind I can't remember how I got there! Back to work, which means my reading time shrinks down into tiny fragments of stolen moments. I went on a Dorothy Sayers binge, working through the Lord Peter books, which I always enjoy. L. A. Meyer's Curse of the Blue Tatoo which is apparently the second Jacky Faber book. These are YA historical adventures written in first person by Jacky, who apparently began her adventures dressing as a boy and signing on with the Royal Navy in order to fight Napoleon. I must get that book. The voice is just wonderful--written in present tense, with colorful language, humor. I want to get all these books.

John Davis Post Captain--probably the first Royal Navy novel pubished, in 1803. It's hard to believe that this rollicking, structurally clumsy, very 18th Century-in-feel novel was published at the same time as Jane Austen's brilliance was just emerging. Fun, but you do need to know a lot of ship jargon (which is mostly put to use making sexual innuendo).

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