Wednesday Reading

[florianschild]

What I've Finished Reading

Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale
I actually finished this about two weeks ago, but since I never mentioned I was reading it I'll still include it here. Wicked Gentlemen is a short two-novella book set in a steampunk-y, Victorian-y pesudo-London. I enjoyed the concept, and I really liked the characters. The plot was thin in both stories, but I'm not really a fan of the detective noir genre, which is what I would call this. But, of course, I loved Bellamai, the POV narrator from the first novella. His tragic backstory woobie-ness is right up my alley.

What I'm Currently Reading

The Rifter by Ginn Hale
Still on my reread, and if you're interested in this series I've got a (spoiler-filled) post about it here. I'll be posting about my reread over here, but I'm also blogging about it (with pictures!) on tumblr at notesfromnayeshi.tumblr.com

The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett
I have only just started this, but so far I like it. Have you ever read a book just because you saw some cool fanart of it? Whatever, no shame!

What Is Up Next...

The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly
I was at the used bookstore yesterday and found a copy for $2, so I've bumped this up on the docket. How could I resist with a description like this (from Goodreads):
In her latest novel, The Silent Tower, Barbara Hambly has written a complex tale of dark magic, mystery and deadly danger involving a woman computer programmer who struggles to help a condemned wizard save--or perhaps destroy?--two worlds... "Woman computer programmer"... um, I guess that needs to be distinguished from a "man computer programmer"? *snort*

Comments

[rachelmanija]

I like The Silent Tower a lot. It's actually one book split in two. The second is The Silicon Mage. The "woman computer programmer" is an artifact of the 80s, when it was published (and a lot of other stuff is also very 80s) but it has really great characters and cool concepts.

I like noir so I really enjoyed that aspect of Wicked Gentlemen, but I also dug the woobieness of Bellamai. I'm a huge sucker for cop/criminal and upright member of corrupt society/outlaw pairings. And the worldbuilding was really fascinating. I suppose a lot of that was in how little was told, making it intriguing, but I was dying for more. You may already know this, but Hale has some bonus short stories on her website.

[florianschild]

I'm excited the start The Silent Tower. I was drawn to the description, but I did find that phrasing kind of funny. Isn't it strange how women were the first computer programmers, but then the field came to be dominated by men? I suspect video game marketing to boys in the 80s and 90s might have had a lot to do with that.

I liked the feel of Hale's world very much, and I think you've got it spot on with why it compelled me as well: the best worldbuilding gives the impression that there is a vast history and culture propping up the details that the reader is given, but it doesn't tell you too much. Which is, of course, great for fic writers. :)

I knew about those bonus stories, but I haven't read them yet! Thanks for reminding me!