Here are the books I read in March:

1. GUN SELLER by Hugh Laurie (339 p.) Kind of a cross between PG Wodehouse and James Bond is one of the blurbs inside the cover of this book, and it’s not that far off. Written by Hugh Laurie, who not only does a wonderful Dr. House but is also my ideal Bertie Wooster wrote this somewhat funny, if really violent story. Knowing the actor, I can clearly hear his “voice” throughout, and it’s very readable and pretty enjoyable, even if not my usual kind of book.

2. SPLIT INFINITY by Piers Anthony (259 p.) This is a blast from my past, pulled out from the back of my library. I read this in high school. It’s a sci-fi/fantasy cross which takes place on a planet named Proton, which is very sci-fi indeed, but which has an alternate realm called Phaze which couldn’t be more “fantasy”–unicorns, demons, magic, the works. Meeting them both is Stile, a master gamesman from the primary entertainment in Proton who suddenly gains a robot determined to protect him from some, unknown threat . . . which is when he discovers the Curtain that divides the two realms and . . .

3. BLUE ADEPT by Piers Anthony (255 p.) Now that Stile has gained a certain amount of security between the two worlds, he’s determined to find out who’s trying to kill him . . . could it be another magic-worker from Phaze?

4. JUXTAPOSITION by Piers Anthony (276 p.) The finale of the original “Adept” trilogy, where pretty much everything comes to a head. I don’t want to say too much on the off-chance anyone wants to read these, because pretty much any description at all is going to give away major plot points from the earlier books. Overall, this trillogy is enjoyable enough, so long as you take a huge helping of credulity first. Far too many coincidences. Like, for example, the Oracle in Phaze will answer one question per person in their lifetime, and so often, the plot has “so-and-so went to the Oracle and it said….” when, really, would that character really have wasted their one and only question to find out why there’s an earthquake, or whatever? And, the reality of the “Game” requires a pretty much impossible range of skills and expertise–and just about every new situation Stile finds himself in comes with a “Luckily, thanks to his training for the Game, Stile already knew  . . .” fill in the blank. Swordplay, chess, playing instruments, acting, dancing, you name it, he has the skills to handle it. But, that aside, and allowing for some pretty bizarre societal norms (like, all serfs on Proton are naked, period), it’s a decent enough read . . . Yes, I know I sound critical, and it’s true, I liked these a lot more when I was 16, but still. The author–never one to forego a chance to make more money on bleeding a series dry (Xanth, anyone?)–added an additional four books to the series, which are pretty much awful . . . these, at least, are fresh and creative.

5. SAFE-KEEPER’S SECRET by Sharon Shinn (222 p.) Book one of this trilogy, written more for young-adults (but who cares?) . . . one night, a rider arrives at the door of a Safe-Keeper–a person who absolutely must keep a secret–with a baby . . . who grows up with her own daughter, born that night….

6. TRUTH-TELLER’S TALE by Sharon Shinn (276 p.) Second book in this trilogy, telling the story of two “mirror” twins–exactly alike, but mirror images of each other–one of whom is a Safe-Keeper and the other a Truth-Teller (who, if it’s not obvious, can only ever speak the truth).

7. DREAM-MAKER’S MAGIC by Sharon Shinn (221 p.) Third of the trilogy, centering on the one and only person in this imaginary kingdom who can make dreams come true, no matter how unlikely. This trio of stories is geared more toward younger readers, but since it’s Sharon Shinn, one of my absolute favorites, I’m happy to read it any way. I kind of hate the artwork on the covers, and the second is my favorite of the three, but they’re perfectly nice books, and the author tells a good story.

8. ART OF SHETLAND LACE by Sarah Don (117 p.) Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A classic that’s newly reprinted by Lacis.

9. HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON by Naomi Novik (357 p.) Obviously an alternate world–ours, caught up in the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s, but one where we have dragons, and use them in battle. As I understand it, this book/series is also being made into a movie by Peter Jackson, of LOTR fame . . . you know, in case you didn’t know, or hadn’t heard of the books and wanted to get them read before the films come out.

10. WIZARD’S SHADOW by Susan Dexter (277 p.) Sadly out of print, this is a lovely little fantasy book by a author I’ve really loved since high school. Crocken is a peddlar who makes a deal with a disembodied shadow and finds himself in the middle of quite a political intrigue in a country he’d never heard of. Good writing, entertaining story. I really wish she’d write again…..

11. SPINDLE’S END by Robin McKinley (422 p.) A retelling of Sleeping Beauty by one of the masters of reinterpreting fairy tales. Unique, beautifully written. And, well, there’s at least a little spinning….

12. LACE STYLE by Pam Allen & Ann Budd (155 p.) Lace patterns–some better, some worse. There are a few patterns in here that I think are fabulous, but some that that are just “eh.” That’s the way it is, right?

13. PERFECT RED by Amy Butler Greenfield (261 p.) Great, interesting history book on the color red–why it’s been so beloved throughout the centuries, and how it became such a huge trade commodity when the Conquistadors discovered Cochineal in the New World. Entertaining and just fascinating–even without being a dyer myself, I loved this book. And since I have so many friends who dye their own yarn, I liked it even more.

14. DRAGONFLIGHT by Anne McCaffrey (188 p.) The book that started it all for the Pern dragonrider books for which she’s famous. The writing is “young” in this book, since it was her very first novel (to my knowledge)–it doesn’t really compare with the quality of later books, but the story is still a good one, and really, it’s vital for knowing what’s going on in the rest of the series. The premise? Lessa becomes the rider to Ramoth, queen dragon of the only remaining weyr on Pern . . . but the dangerous Thread is coming, and they need help . . .

15. DRAGONQUEST by Anne McCaffrey (250 p.) Now that there are plenty of dragons, Lessa and Flar, Benden Weyrleaders, are determined to eliminate the danger of Thread . . .

16. WHITE DRAGON by Anne McCaffrey (296 p.) This one focuses on Jaxom, young Lord Holder, and rider of the white sport dragon, Ruth. It’s always been one of my favorites, possibly because I was so close to Jaxom’s age when I first read the book, or just because the discovery of Landing was just so amazingly cool….

17. RENEGADES OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (354 p.) Not really one of my favorites, but it does move the story along . . . much of the first half is an overlap to stories we already know from earlier books, but the ending, with the discovery of AIVAS? So, so cool. And the cliff-hanger ending just about killed me the first time I read it….

18. ALL THE WEYRS OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (404 p.) One of my other favorites–basically the entire planet band together to re-learn long-forgotten skills in order to, once and for all, stop Thread from falling on Pern.

19. DOLPHINS OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (340 p.) More of a young-adult book, this Pern book talks about the dolphins. They came with the original settlers some 2500 years ago, but people had forgotten that they were intelligent . . . until now.

20. SKIES OF PERN by Anne McCaffrey (447 p.) Probably the last of the “current” timeline of Pern books–Thirty years into the current Pass, and with F’lessan, F’lar and Lessa’s son, the main character–along with a good idea of what the Dragonriders will be doing once they no longer have to fight Thread when this pass is over… The last few “Pern” books have been written or co-written with McCaffrey’s son Todd, and I don’t think they’re nearly as good, but since that’s the case, and she is getting up there in age . . . my guess is this the end of the story. A real pity, that . . . I’d so like to know what happens next!

21. GRAND SOPHY by Georgette Heyer (404 p.) A Regency romance, really, by the woman who made them classic. Sophy’s father asks his sister’s family to watch after his 20-year old daughter while he travels to Brazil . . . They agree, but have no idea what they’re in for. Sophy is like a sophisticated Pippi Longstocking with decent manners–dragging the stuffy family members into situations they’re not quite prepared to deal with, but with the best possible motivations. Enjoyable.

22. THRONE OF JADE by Naomi Novik (394 p.) Book two of the Temeraire series (see #9 above). The dragon Temeraire and his captain Laurence are on their way to China. to gain permission from the Emperor for the two of them to stay together, despite Chinese custom to the contrary….

23. BLACK POWDER WAR by Naomi Novik (365 p.) Now on the way back from China, Laurence and Temeraire get side-tracked by an urgent mission to Turkey, followed by an engagement with Napoleon’s army, on its way to Russia…. All in all, an enjoyable enough series of books. I didn’t adore them (her dragons just don’t compare to Anne McCaffrey’s), but I also fully expect to read them again, even if they’re filled more with battle sequences than the relationship between the dragons and their captains. (And we’ll bypass my frustration that Laurence spent months travelling to China without bothering to even try to learn a word of the language.) Perfectly good books–and the first of the series has been nominated for a Hugo award, did you know?

24. CASTS OFF by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (218 p.) The Harlot’s fourth book, written as a travel guide to the Land of Knitting. Highly entertaining. I liked this one better than the last one (more entertainment, less how-to), and appreciated the attempt to explain Knitting as a journey . . . one which knitters and non-knitters (aka Muggles) can appreciate. Highly recommended.

• Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading • Permalink:Reading List from March //