Oh, I think I read one of the authors who is part of that - Matthew Hughes? I never read Jack Vance so it didn't mean much to me, but I recognize the name from some About the Authors or similar.

I needed to come in and say that The Hands of the Emperor is magnificent. Thanks again for reccing, juliana! I was reading with tears streaming down my face for the perfection of one particular scene, that hasn't happened in a while (or not for that reason, I do cry pretty easily for a lot of reasons)

I have been reading other Goddard books in the same, um, I don't think universe is quite right but it is a shared setting of sorts...for context and those are enjoyable, too. In trying to figure out the order in which to read (I started The Hands of the Emperor and got a little overwhelmed just by the sheer length of it and thought starting with something related but shorter might be a good idea so jumped to The Tower At the Edge of the World and the meandered around mostly through the Greenwing & Dart books before trying again and settling in more comfortably - I doubt all that is necessary for everyone's enjoyment but it was better for me personally (and enjoyed recognizing breadcrumbs from those other stories although now I am more worried about Basil in the Woods although maybe I don't need to be what with time moving differently in different places )) I came across a blog post, I think, that said there's to be a sequel maybe coming out next year, I'm very excited about that! I'm in the midst of The Return of Fitzroy Angursell and enjoying it more than I thought I would (I expected it to be coy about the Fitzroy Angursell thing and it is not at all, and I didn't enjoy the Ysther stories near as much so maybe had lower expectations) - I'm only most of the way through the first section but it is so good to see Kip's policies in action, particularly the difference the allotment makes to people's lives and how easy it is from someone else's perspective and wanted to come say that now rather than waiting until I finish and maybe forgetting to do so.

I'm so glad you liked them, -t! The Ysthar books are probably my least favorite, but I just went back and re-read 'Til Human Voices Wake Us, and it did improve upon the re-read. And Kip. Oh, my heart I love Kip. (In my head he looks like Temuera Morrison [link]

Kip is the best. I read a review that said something about Kip being too perfect and I was all "take that back I will fight you" in my head. Still kinda riled up about it. He is just exactly perfect enough

:: looks at pictures of Temuera Morrison::

Works for me! I only had a very vague image in my head, as is my wont, but he fits it pretty well

I actually like 'Til Human Voices Wake Us better now that I have read it and can think back on it than I did while I was reading it, if that makes sense.

The Return of Fitzroy Angursell was thoroughly satisfying while leaving promising open questions for future books, yay. But now I have to wait for another book to come out, alas.

And while I am finding myself thinking how much better off Richard Carstone would have been as a mage than as a Ward of Jarndyce, what with his facility for crafting Latin verse, I don’t feel quite up to starting Edwin Drood…I’ll need something to ease that transition

Oh, speaking of recs, I think my best shot at a prize in the library's summer reading bingo includes a science fiction book with a female protagonist. I haven't read much science fiction at all (other than Bujold), so would love a recommendation!

I love Connie Willis' Doomsday Book (Dueling pandemics! Time Travel!) But I also love William Gibson's female protagonists--Cayce Pollard in Pattern Recognition, especially. Molly Millions in Neuromancer (although she's a secondary character.)

I found a book about Kit Marlowe (A Tip for the Hangman). Queer Kit! His recruitment by Walsingham. The author admits to some shuffling of time/events and characters (she adds Kit to the Babbington Plot). BUT it wasn't enough to bother a Tudor history buff like me. Really good internal motivation for Kit. Strong recs all around. Great audiobook narrator.

Whoever recommended KJ Charles' books, thank you! I'm on the second Will Darling book and thoroughly enjoying them.

They're so good. I was lured in by the Magpie Lord series and went on to buy others. At this point, when a new K.J. Charles is announced, I pre-order ... and am delightfully surprised when it lands in my e-reader.

At this point, when a new K.J. Charles is announced, I pre-order ... and am delightfully surprised when it lands in my e-reader.

Same.

Speaking of female-led scifi, I suggested my book group read Gideon the Ninth this month, and they agreed. I'm not sure how the meme-y aspects are going to land with this particular group. Or the horror. At least the gay will go down a treat (which is one reason I've been in this book group for ~20 years). It's been fun re-reading it.

At this point, when a new K.J. Charles is announced, I pre-order ... and am delightfully surprised when it lands in my e-reader.

EVERY DAMN RELEASE. I can't recommend Wanted: A Gentleman, enough. Or the Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting. Or Unfit to Print.

I also need to thank whoever recommended "A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking". Great fun. Now I need to glom her backlist.