chuqui@nsc.UUCP (02/07/84)
A couple of quick reviews of things that have made it through my inbox:
Dragons of Light, anthology edited by Orson Scott Card (Ace 2.95)
Rating: 3.5 on a scale of 5 (more if you like dragons)
This is an anthology of stories which have the dragon as the continuing
theme. Like most anthologies, it is uneven, some of the stories are quite
good (my favorite was Ice Dragon by G.R.R.Martin, followed closely by 'The
George Business' by Zelazny and 'A Drama of Dragons' by Craig Shaw
Gardner). There are a number of lesser stories as well, and some that look
like the dragon was an afterthought for the sale (this was especially
apparent in 'One Winter in Eden' by Michael Bishop). If you like stories
about dragons, this book is definitely for you (I also believe there is at
least one companion volume). If you don't, then this is a real average
anthology and you might or might not like it.
The Many-Colored Land by Julian May (DelRey, $2.95)
Rating: 1 on the scale of 5
I've had the pleasure of talking with Julian May at a number of conventions
now, and I don't believe I've talked to a more charming SF author
(actually, person in general) in a long time. It was with great
expectations that I finally got through my in-pile to the Julian May book.
*sigh* *alack* *alas* I never finished it. To tell you the truth, I don't
know that I ever started it. The first 120 pages are poorly put together
(and entirely too volumous) introductory material, setting up the history
and people for the story to come. By the time I hit page 150, she had
started the story, but I had simply lost interest in things. She is still a
charming woman, but some editor should have mentioned that those 120 pages
of introductory material could have fit very nicely into about 20 pages.
Maybe in a month or so I'll start from page 121 (where the book should have
started) and see if it gets any better.
chuq
--
From the house at Pooh Corner: Chuq 'Nuke Wobegon' Von Rospach
{fortune,menlo70}!nsc!chuqui Have you hugged your Pooh today?
Go, Lemmings, Go!
<I'll give up my quote of the week when YOU give up those pretty pictures!>
Everyone wants to make love to their mother, Harold. What I can't understand
is why you want to make love to your grandmother!
- Harold and Maude
Camelot! Camelot! Camelot!
It's only a model...
Shhh!dave@infopro.UUCP (David Fiedler) (02/17/84)
The titles DO mean plenty. "Dragons of Darkness", the followup volume to
"Dragons of Light", was chiefly populated by evil dragons (of the Western
variety) and other stories of a "dark" nature. The editor, realizing how
depressing these stories are, alternated them with more cheerful ones to
prevent suicides/unhappiness. This is my interpretation, but read
odd-numbered stories ONLY and you may find yourself staring out the
windows for hours or getting out the old razor blade. The first book,
aside from being more uplifting, had generally better stories and is
highly recommended.
Another good book for dragons and their fans is "Tea with the
Black Dragon" by R.A. MacAvoy which also has a nonstupid contemporary
computer software subplot.
Dave Fiedler
{harpo,astrovax,philabs}!infopro!dave