I started and finished A Sense of Direction in one evening; I couldn't really stop thinking about it, so I couldn't put it down. I found it...
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With a society-building talent that merges Ursula K Leguin with Tolkien, and a healthy dose of action and philosophy, this could have been my favorite series ever. (Actually, that sentence is not as much of a book review cliche as it sounds. Leguin's sharp anthropological eye and Tolkein's heroic nobility are both purer, in their way, than Kirstein's blend; so my praise is not too overwrought.)
But Kirstein's downfall is her attraction to clever mysteries. She was one of the first in the "fantasy- that's- really- science- fiction" subgenre, so you can't blame her for the obviousness of the related mysteries, and honestly, though the reader catches on far before the characters, it's still enjoyable to watch the process. But you can fault the fact that with each new book of the series, she opens another (almost too) astonishing and clever subplot, without really resolving the previous ones. Combine that with her one- book- every- million- years pace, and one begins to wonder if she will ever finish.
Still, if you can live with that, this is an absolutely rewarding read. Her ability to infuse the most fast-paced action scenes with layers of meaning - for instance, a swordfight where the very cut-and-parry is actually a scientific test of identity and betrayal - is something that will stay with you.
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The Steerswoman's Road by Rosemary Kirstein
Jameson, October 9, 2009
With a society-building talent that merges Ursula K Leguin with Tolkien, and a healthy dose of action and philosophy, this could have been my favorite series ever. (Actually, that sentence is not as much of a book review cliche as it sounds. Leguin's sharp anthropological eye and Tolkein's heroic nobility are both purer, in their way, than Kirstein's blend; so my praise is not too overwrought.)But Kirstein's downfall is her attraction to clever mysteries. She was one of the first in the "fantasy- that's- really- science- fiction" subgenre, so you can't blame her for the obviousness of the related mysteries, and honestly, though the reader catches on far before the characters, it's still enjoyable to watch the process. But you can fault the fact that with each new book of the series, she opens another (almost too) astonishing and clever subplot, without really resolving the previous ones. Combine that with her one- book- every- million- years pace, and one begins to wonder if she will ever finish.
Still, if you can live with that, this is an absolutely rewarding read. Her ability to infuse the most fast-paced action scenes with layers of meaning - for instance, a swordfight where the very cut-and-parry is actually a scientific test of identity and betrayal - is something that will stay with you.
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)