Comments on: Imaginary Alternative Big Reads

By: Arthur D. Hlavaty

Arthur D. Hlavaty — Sun, 30 Nov 2003 16:26:13 +0000

Too new for the Fantasy of Manners list is Tooth and Claw, by Jo Walton. It’s a Trollope novel in which all the characters are dragons.

By: novalis

novalis — Sat, 29 Nov 2003 06:02:56 +0000

What about simply reading actual fantasy of manners? See a provisional list at: http://www.livejournal.com/users/kate_nepveu/17600.html (I think I found that link via comments on Making Light) I have read the first two Brust novels mentioned (and just picked up the third today), and loved them—they were witty, charming, and elegant. (I’ve not read any of Brust’s other works, and I hear they’re not the same at all). Also from that list, I read Swordpoint. It was quite good, although Alec annoyed me (perhaps because he reminded me too much of my own dark side). I’ve heard from two people (one of whose opinion I actually trust on literary matters) that the sequel isn’t nearly as good because it doesn’t contain Richard and Alec, so I’ve chosen to skip it.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 28 Nov 2003 19:08:15 +0000

So I guess I should mention the Terminator meets Jane Austen story that was concocted on a newsgroup: http://tinyurl.com/wwvl

By: jholbo

jholbo — Thu, 27 Nov 2003 11:49:50 +0000

That is just very damn funny.

By: Jeffrey Kramer

Jeffrey Kramer — Thu, 27 Nov 2003 11:26:43 +0000

‘And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Gandalf, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but depend upon it I will carry my point.’ In this manner Saruman talked on till they were at the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, he added, ‘I take no leave of you, Wizard. I send no compliments to your Hobbit friends. You deserve no such attention. The Dark Lord and I are most seriously displeased.’

By: Dell Adams

Dell Adams — Thu, 27 Nov 2003 10:33:58 +0000

Kieran: Great minds think alike.

By: John Kozak

John Kozak — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 23:20:41 +0000

I’ve found myself doing film versions of this game recently. E.g.: Matrix/Beckett: Ms. Moss’s sprinting style bears a close resemblance to Jacques Moran’s account of his own in “Molloy”, and obviously the gnomic rituals and gnostic postures are air-kissing cousins. X-Men/Greenaway: saw bits of X-Men 2 this afternoon. Isn’t “Charles Xavier kills all the non-mutants” a perfect prequel to “The Falls”?

By: Ophelia Benson

Ophelia Benson — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 22:07:58 +0000

Hmm…interesting thought. Now, if Wuthering Heights were at the top and Tolkien at 2, the combination could be relatively easy. But Austen and Tolkien…oil and water. Of course that will make it all the more fun to write. And I say that as one who had Wuthering Heights and an Austen in her top three, and can’t bear Tolkien. So you see.