So I finished that Tom Simon novel, The Ends of Earth and Sky (I think?). And I don't think I'll be reading the rest. The writing's not bad, and the voice is fairly clear, but the POV character seems to have no emotional responses to anything. Even when he chooses to do something very dangerous, there's no evident emotional content or inner conflict: he just does it.

It's also really rather derivative. The hero has a wizardly mentor, who leads him up a forbidden mountain and across precipices, fleeing shadowy demonic figures. There's a brilliant macguffin that the hero picks up without knowing what it is. There are orcs and elves and lost gods. Oh, and the hero has Unexpected Talents, lacking only the discipline to put them to use.

Eh. I think I shall go read some Nnedi Okorafor or N. K. Jemisin instead.

Is the new Gail Carriger only available in hardcover right now?

I have no idea, but I just got it from the library yesterday. It's charming.

Oh, I forgot that was coming out!

Looks like my library has ordered it but doesn't have a copy yet ... and now it's on hold for me when it comes in.

Eh. I think I shall go read some Nnedi Okorafor or N. K. Jemisin instead.

Yes! Have you read the Dreamblood books yet? So good! I'm over halfway through The Shadowed Sun, and I think it might be even better than The Killing Moon, although it's more rape-y. I'm more into the characters in this one.

I have The Killing Moon, haven't read it yet.

Dana might appreciate this: one of the Tor bloggers is doing a periodic review of old Paramount Star Trek: TOS tie-in novels.

[link]

I am entertained.

Amy,

I will leave megan's response as my own. I don't think you are prepared for the WTF.

I am reading an essay in a monograph about Colombian artist Omar Rayo and the essayist brought up The Silmarillion.

I don't think I've ever had a Tolkien book brought up in an art history essay.

(Essay is slow going - for me because it is in Spanish and my Spanish is pretty darn rusty.)

The Long Earth strikes me as a great worldbuilding platform. Something it would be fun to write fic for.

Right? Practically designed for it.

Dana might appreciate this: one of the Tor bloggers is doing a periodic review of old Paramount Star Trek: TOS tie-in novels.

Interesting. Although I mostly completely disagree with her. She likes "Enterprise: The First Adventure" more than "Final Frontier"?