Recently in Reading Category

I found this pretty good summary of what makes one of my favourite writers, Lois McMaster Bujold, tick.  I’ve written a review here of A Shard of Honor, but nothing like the breadth Elizabeth (the piece was apparently posted by Jane, but it was actually written by Elizabeth. No, I have no idea who they both are) covers in her post.

There are a couple of points where I’d differ from her, most obviously on the level of humour.  Elizabeth thinks there’s Some humour, whereas I think there’s Shitload-laugh-out-loud moments, especially for the Miles series.  Her humour is thoughtful and witty, not slapstick, and I like that.

Anyway, good coverage of her backlist, and a worth a look see.

Yes, I'm at loss for words as well.

For some strange inexplicable reason, my wandering mind has compelled me to write about my irrational fondness for mages, or more commonly, wizards. I know, I know. It's past my bedtime, I've just consumed a satisfying number of pages from two of current reads, John Scalzi's Old Man's War, and Michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and I'm delirious.

By mages I mean magic-using characters in fantasy literature. Yes, along the lines of Gandalf. I like paintings or drawings or works of art I can admire, and I like mages. So it stands to reason that I'm particularly fond of paintings of mages.

However, I want to be clear: I don't love just any kind of mages. In fact, I despise the stereotypical portrayal of mages as propagated by the countless illegitimate spawns of LOTR - pointy hats, long white beard, wizened old man, cloaks with bell sleeves and a long walking staff that also happens to be a mass weapon of destruction. All the Gandalfs and Dumbledores and Raistlins (the ones I see on the Dungeon & Dragons novel covers) are all so.... tired.

My ideal mage was influenced by Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea - young, confident, arrogant, no need to go out of his way to grow a beard longer than is fashionably acceptable.

In recent memory, Karen Miller's Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology has combined two of my favourite things on its covers: watercolour paintings and mages. It was the first time I remembered buying a book on a whim due solely because I love the covers.

These puny thumbnail images do not do the artist any justice. It's not mind-blowingly beautiful, but it's not shabby either. My favourite mage cover art so far. I've finished the books earlier this year, and have been meaning to write a mini-review. It's either I've gone completely screwy, or became a hopeless fantasy curmudgeon, or I've really honed my expectations: the books were not that great.

I've give another example of cover art of a mage, but one that didn't turn me on:

This is from Gail Martin's The Summoner, and the art is suitably dark, but the colour's skewed, the fellow is split in half, and he's decked out in patterned cowls and cape! I mean come on! Break out of the wizard mold, sure, but don't overdo it with these Louis Vuitton designer outfits.

Just so you know, I don't normally critique the fashion sense of imaginary characters. I'm not, you know, weird.

This just blew my mind - what if Charles Schulz had long unkempt hair, thick beard and thought of writing an anti-hero comic book? Behold!

Please check out the creator of this piece of brilliance here.

Unfortunately, no. Not yet, by any means. But the audiobook is certainly headed that way, I'm happy to report. In this article from the New York Times, audiobook publishers are ditching piracy protection measures, known to you and me as one of the most notorious and feared 3-letter acronyms in the whole of cyberspace: DRM. Which stands for Digital Rights Management, of course.

Apparently they found that DRM doesn't really work in curbing piracy. I could have told them that.

As I've mentioned before, DRM does not solve the problem it has set out to achieve, which is to control rampant piracy. Instead of creating a better, more-foolproof DRM, maybe it needs to be solved in a different manner - with a different mindset. Einstein said (I believe) that problems cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that created them. It has been proven many times over that DRM free works distributed on the internet actually helps sales, rather than hinder them, and it's especially true for new emerging talents or works.

There still needs to be a way for artists and authors to make a living in the Internet age, and have their works protected. It is becoming increasing clear is isn't going to be DRM.

My friends in the various book forums I frequent already know this, but I thought of sharing this for those who may need some inspiration on what to read for their next fantasy or science fiction fix.

Behold! The Internet Top 100 SF/Fantasy List, as voted by the general public! That link is a Google cache link, as the original doesn't seem to work anymore. You can also explore an extended list, and the landing page as it appeared here.

Well.

It has not been updated since 2003 (2002 if you look at the extended list), and the ‘general public’ is about a few thousand users with internet access back in the day, and who bothered to take the time to type out their nominations on email, and send it out. So no, it’s not what you’d call a very broad sampling.

Still, I’m immensely indebted to this ancient list primarily because it introduced Guy Gavriel Kay, George RR Martin and Lois McMaster Bujold to me, and they since became some of my most favoured writers. Beyond that, as it also introduced singular works that I’ve not heard of at that time, such as Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester, and A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter Miller Jr (two of the best scifi books I have ever read).

When I first read it, Malaysia did not stock many of the books, what with the general supply coming from big bookstore chains that tend stick only the safe and proven sellers. Things gradually changed with the appearance of used books sales at first, with a selection of books that cannot be found in any of the normal bookstores. Fast forward to today, and you’d have trouble stemming the tide of titles flooding the market. Good thing, to a point, as now it becomes very important to separate the wheat from the chaff. But I digress.

Now there are those who detest popular lists, saying that it isn’t a balanced view of what’s really good out there. It’s easy to see their point of view when you see Most Popular Titles lists dominated by the ‘it’ author of the day (read: Dan Brown). I’m not suggesting that Dan Brown is crap, but merely saying that sometimes it obscures other interesting (some say more deserving) works.

I agree with that sentiment to a point. It all depends on what you want to get out of these lists. The way I see is there are always two ways to look at them:

1. I want to know what is the best or the most popular out there.


2. I want to know what others are reading.

They are two similar but incredibly distinct statements, with a very important difference.

The first statement suggests that people read these lists as a barometer of what’s the best or most popular at that time. I want to know what is the best or the most popular out there. It’s a snapshot. Some of these lists simply pronounce the best of all time, and if you’re not reading any in these lists, then you’re simply not reading the best.

Therein lies the rub. There are literally millions of works out there, each enjoyed by a wide cross section of the reading public. There are no lists in this world that can cover something so subjective as reading tastes in any definite way. So invariably any list will have their detractors.

• “What kinds of a list is this, to have Philip K Dick sitting down at No 31? He’s a master!”


• “Any list that has JK Rowling up in the Top Ten of anything cannot be taken seriously. What a joke!”


• [Bad_Russion_Accent] “Bah! It’s stoopid. Sergei Lukyanenko eez the bezz now!” [/ Bad_Russion_Accent]

(Trust me, I’ve heard all kinds. Except the last one.)

The fact is a lot of people seem to liken these lists to something carved in stone. Some people seem convinced these lists have the power to influence others on what they should read, and seeing that no list is perfect, it perpetuates poor pieces of work unfairly. And there are two reactions to this sentiment:

1. Those who take pride that the books they read do not appear on such lists.


2. Those who look down on others who read authors who appear on these lists. These authors are ‘commercial’ in nature, or appealing only to the lowest common denominator. Thus their work is shallow, and the books are fit only to be used as doorstops or dead weights.

Both these reactions can be true, if somewhat of a generalization. But definitely not always.

When you see votes tipping the scales in thousands supporting all seven Harry Potter books, and a few hundred going for Lord of the Rings or Stars My Destination or Foundation or whatever, does that mean than the 7 of the absolute bestest books in the world are the Harry Potters? Really? I mean, even if you’re an extremely rabid a fan (and over 12 years old), surely you’d pause before trumpeting that claim in parties?

At the same time, are Harry Potter books to be derided because they appear on these lists? What, now commercial success means the book must be bad?

Therefore, as with any kind of generalization, there are always exceptions.

Personally, though, I always look at these lists with the second statement in mind. I want to know what others are reading. I know what I love, and I love what I know. But I’m curious – what else is out there? Surely there are works that can potentially excite me, prod me, enlighten me, entertain me? So I devour lists to look for something I might enjoy – to see what others enjoy.

You may find that it’s a treasure chest of inspiration, like I did with the Internet Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantast List.

p.s. For the record, I enjoyed the hell out of Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code (geddit? ‘Hell out of’ Angels and Demons?) [hysterical laughter]

A spate of free ebooks being offered around the internet recently. Strange. Something I should know about?

Anyway, this time it's Tor's turn, and you'll be getting Sanderson and Scalzi in the first couple of weeks. Sanderson, as you may recall, was recently announced to complete the final Wheel of Time book, Memory of Light, after Jordan's untimely passing. Tor is offering his sophomore effort, called Mistborn. If you've not sampled his work and curious about how he'd do with MOL, well, isn't this just want you'd want to land on your lap?

Go and signup at http://www.tor.com/.

I think it’s a privilege to be able to revisit a piece of work a second time and have the opportunity to not only enjoy the work again, but to see it and appreciate it in a totally new way. Time grows ever more precious the older we get, and especially when we balance work with our personal responsibilities. So when I get sucked in a book I had already read, I know for a fact it won’t be a damned waste of my time.

On my second rereading of this book, I can reaffirm that Lois McMaster Bujold is a true master of the craft, and Shards of Honor is a shining testament to her humanity and skill. She weaves a brilliant story with effective characterization, thoughtful pacing, intelligent dialogue, intelligent plot, well, intelligent everything.

Okay, some backstory. I finished this book 3 years ago, while I was seconded in Geneva for work. I accidentally started reading it when I got back to my hotel room after dinner the first night. 2 frantic reading days later (after work hours, of course), I came up from one of the most enjoyable reads in recent memory.

It’s hard to explain how I feel about this book to people who don’t normally read science fiction. Oh, I didn’t mention it? Shards of Honor is science fiction. But it’s not all hyperdrives and parsecs, and lightsabers and intergalactic alien war, with plotlines thick and dripping with genre stereotypes.

Shards of Honor tells the story of Cordelia Naismith, a researcher from Beta Colony (which is analogous to a far future Earth) who got mixed up with a complex plot to dispose of a prominent military commander from Barrayar, Captain Aral Vorkosigan in a routine mission. Caught up with the events, Cordelia embarks on an adventure that turns out to not only affect them both personally, but uncover a conspiracy so fiendish and meticulously planned that fates of both their worlds hang in the balance. It’s a love story, but laced with plenty of political intrigue, and a good spread of adventure and action.

See how difficult it is to explain - already the premise sounds very stereotypical of scifi. It’s not helped by my stereotypical summary. The difference is in reading it. If you’re looking for the sort of Star Wars/Star Trek like feel of space opera, look elsewhere. This is intelligent stuff. This is popcorn-like addictive, yet not popcorn-like in substance. You have to pay attention.

Bujold masterfully melds intergalactic politics, with cleverly laid out characters each with their own motives, and spins them together in a stupendous plot. It helps her to have two driven, flawed but ultimately very interesting leads.

A major theme in this book is an exploration of moral and honourable (or lack thereof) actions the various characters have to take in the face of the realities of war. Are responsibilities merely an excuse, or a burden? Is it acceptable to sacrifice lives for the greater good? What sort of circumstances must arise to justify such an action, and at what cost? Cordelia explores her own motivation, and sees the reasons from the host of people she encounters in her adventures.

And the epilogue to Shards of Honor has to be one of the best epilogues I have ever read, period. Go and read the book to get to the epilogue, and tell me it isn’t one of the most amazing moments in reading you have ever experienced.

Shards of Honor is one half of 2 books, the other being Barrayar (both books are being sold in a single volume now called Cordelia's Honor), and marks the beginning of Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga (oh, and Barrayar won the Nebula and Hugo, and I can tell you that it thoroughly deserved the accolades). These two books are the only ones centered around Cordelia Naismith; the subsequent novels focuses on Cordelia’s and Aral Vorkosigan’s immensely interesting son, Miles Vorkosigan. The Miles Vorkosigan series of books are no less intriguing than the Cordelia books, with a notch or two up in the adventure quotient, and seeing that Miles is not your average son with a normal childhood (I won’t spoil it for you), the Miles stories are high with witticism and humour.

Bujold had written the books in such a manner where it isn’t really necessary to read them in order, but as with anything that has a chronology, it helps if you do. I personally started on Bujold with a Miles Vorkosigan book entitled The Vor Game. Cheesy title, but an awesome reading experience.

So if you’ve not had the pleasure of reading Bujold yet, even if you aren’t a science fiction reader, consider this a hearty recommendation.

Don't know about you, but I think this is huge news. The largest online bookseller (actually, it's the largest online retailer, not just books, but hey, bear with me) acquires the largest audiobooks provider. This is interesting because it's another step Amazon is taking towards digital media, and this in light of their recent foray into the ebooks realm with their Kindle.

Amazon is now poised to offer the largest collection of books, be it the dead tree version, or the digital version, and now, the spoken word version. The Kindle now has the potential to become very interesting indeed, with the possibility of now delivering audiobooks off the net, and playing it directly. Well, apparently it doesn't yet offer direct audiobooks download via their Whispernet (requiring users to download it to a PC first, then transfer it to the Kindle) but you can bet your bottom dollar that's gonna happen sooner or later. Imagine it - you want a book or even an audiobook? Whip out your Kindle, search the Amazon catalogue, download it immediately and voila! (Near-)Instant gratification.

This is exciting as hell, because this is the future. My ideal digital reading scenario is not here yet, but this is a step in the right direction.

There's only one thing I'm worried about, which is the potential for blocking the sale of audiobooks to countries outside of the US, like what they are currently doing for their Kindle ebooks. This would be a step backwards, because I have purchased books from Audible before without issues.

Having said that, Audible do have audiobooks with explicit restrictions barring them from being sold to customers from certain countries. The Audible helpdesk once explained to me that this is due to publisher rights, and some publishers have legal restrictions from selling their books outside their jurisdiction, and passes along this restriction to Audible.

Well, as long as not *all* books are restricted, as they are with ebooks...

So. Let's see what Amazon does with this. I'm curious and in for the ride.

I guess I can understand the sentiment. Readers of sci-fi almost always have homework while reading - trying to mirror the themes, environments, issues and plotlines to whatever is happening (or has happened) in the Real World. Sci-fi typically doesn't stand alone, it has its roots in our world, and consciousness. Readers therefore enjoy a great deal more if they are able to recognize what it is about an SF novel that mirrors our world, and ultimately what message it may have.

So reading contemporary fiction removes that layer of abstraction for us. And Clive Thompson's point in his article Why Sci-Fi Is the Last Bastion of Philosophical Writing simply states that contemporary fiction has run out of 'juice' for interesting fruits for thought.

But is it really? Is scifi really the 'last bastion', and not merely a common journalistic inclination towards hyperbole?

My thoughts: not by a long shot. Surely ideas are not exclusive to scifi? Scifi takes a philosophical question down one path, while contemporary fiction takes it down another. If you want to show the consequences of global conflict, for example, does a scifi book painting a post-apocalyptic future have more impact than an account of a little girl scrambling for cover in the middle of a shell attack in Lebanon? Take the gender equality for another instance, which is more 'philosophical': a scifi book about a utopian society or a story about the insidious machinations of opponents of women's suffrage?

Just because scifi extrapolates doesn't mean has a stranglehold on philosophy.

The article is still an interesting read. One thing irks me, though. The writer included Susanna Clarke as a 'genre-bending' author. If you've not read Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, go do it, enjoy it, and come back and tell me what's so genre-bending about it. Because it's pretty straightforward to me what it was.

Eos, the HarperCollins's imprint for scifi and fantasy is celebrating it's 10th anniversary, and is giving away a free ebook every 2 months for the rest of 2008. It's first offering is Hobb's Shaman's Crossing, which is available for Mobi, Acrobot and Microsoft Reader formats.

This is very similar to a Microsoft Reader initiative many years ago, where they offered two free ebooks of excellent variety every week for a period of time. That time it was to jumpstart the ebook market. This time, Eos is simply content to share the joy.

Not too impressed with Hobb's Assassin Trilogy, despite George RR Martin's glowing endorsements, but hey, Shaman's Crossing is free, so why not? Who knows, I may like this new trilogy, and buy the rest of the books.

Of late one thing that crosses my mind whenever I scan the papers for movie screenings - plenty of them are book adaptations. Sure, this isn't a new phenomenon, but you have to be amazed at the rate beloved books are being translated to the screen lately.

I Am Legend. Atonement. Beowulf. No Country for Old Men. Stardust. The Golden Compass. PS I Love You. Bourne Ultimatum. Love in the Time of Cholera. The Jane Austen Book Club.

Can't remember the last time such a rash of book adaptations arriving so close to each other.

I love it when books I have an interest in gets Hollywood's attention. I like the feeling of finding out how others have imagined the same scenes and characters that I have envisioned in my head. I like to be enraptured all over again by the story, to nitpick, to admire, to have the opportunity to experience a great story again in a different form.

I remember my first novel-brought-to-life movie, The Firm, based off of John Grisham's novel of the same name. It probably wasn't the first one, really, but that's as far as my memory takes me. I remember distinctly being disappointed with the movie, as the film took the edge off the ending, and made it reconciliatory. It stank like a skunk in the living room.
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I also remember being quite thrilled at the announcement that The Lord of The Rings was being moved to the big screen, the disappointment when I learnt Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett was cast, the anticipation, and the relief of being proven wrong with the cast, and the satisfied purr at the end result.

So yeah. I love to read the books before going to see the film. That's why the recent rush has been a great motivator for me to go back and pick up the books before I go and see them.

Here are some of the more interesting ones for me.
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I've always been a Neil Gaiman fan, and I have long thought that his works were overdue for the silver screen translation. Stardust boasts an A-list cast, and promises a wonderful story. I've the book sitting on my shelf for years now, so this is as good a time as any to pick it up - and it's a short book too. I loved American Gods, and I think when that gets translated I'll be excited as a bookworm in the Library of Congress.
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Another fantasy book adaptation, and franchise to boot, The Golden Compass looks all dressed up for success. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has been acclaimed for years, but I've still not gotten around to them. Looking forward to reading the first book (I recently completed purchasing the trilogy), and having Nicole Kidman playing the part in my head.
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Ah, a Cormac McCarthy no less. No Country for Old Men has been getting very good reviews from book pals, and I was surprised to learn that it was made into a movie. Of all the movies listed here, I think I'm most curious about this one. My copy of No Country has been sitting on my shelf for close to a year already, so this is as good a time as any to dip in.
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I actually shopped for a copy of Beowulf when I found out it was made into a movie (rather belatedly, I must add, and in the most unusual manner - I saw it in a computer game ad). I remember previously that the prose was too tough to get into, but then found an edition that was more my level (not the book I linked to). A whale of a story - monster terrorizes village, guy whacks monster, monster's mother gets with the guy (insert loud exclamation here)... it's a mess! But apparently it's fodder enough to get Angelina Jolie. I wasn't sure I could stand watching Jolie pout in an action flick, so I'm doubly unsure if I had to watch a CGI Jolie pout.
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This book just happens to be one of my favourite horror stories of all time, and the only one that I've read was able to set my pulse rate slightly higher than I'm normally accustomed to while sitting in a comfortable chair reading. I was overjoyed to hear it was being made into a movie. But my triumphant fist pumping stopped in midair when I next found out that it was helmed by none other than Will Smith! Imagine going to your favourite sushi restaurant and finding out they have substituted the unagi with fish fillets. Sorry, I like Will enough, but I Am Legend is too much of a legend for this chap to handle..

But perhaps I'm wrong, you say! Perhaps my intuition is as crappy as watching Barney rolling around in mud, and perhaps Smith would be as great as Elijah Woods was in LOTR despite my reservations!

Nah.

Another big name translation. Big name for those who follow the literature scene, that is. Atonement is purportedly one of McEwan's best books. I don't have Atonement, unfortunately, but I have Saturday. I've read neither, and I suppose I will buy and read it first before watching it.
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Cecelia Ahern is an impressive young woman. Most would not be able to nurture a successful writing career behind the shadow of towering parent, especially if the parent in question is the Prime Minister of a nation. But she did, and managed in many respects to become more famous than her father (because you wouldn't be able to name the Irish Taoiseach if I asked you, but you'd fall over yourself telling me the name of the author for PS I Love You). Now I didn't read this book, but my wife did, and if I remember correctly she liked it.
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So there, my list. It's not exhaustive, I know. But already it has motivated me to pick myself up and read. And that's good.

I had planned to write a dazzling defense of ebooks for years now, but had never had the chance to really sit down to get it done (I know exactly how long I've been meaning to do it because I keep track of almost everything in my organizer).

I'll get to it, as I've picked up the writing again recently, what with the recent surge of interest in debating about ebooks with the release of Amazon's Kindle. I'll post my thoughts on ebooks readers later, but a quick sideswipe is I think the Sony Reader looks much better than the Kindle, although feature-wise it does lose out to Amazon's device. I'll get to them later.

But most of all, I'm just wondering why ebook readers are not really sold here. Ever since the Rocket e-Book Reader was announced oh-so-long ago, I've been pining for one, but being in an out-of-the-way country does hinder shipping and handling. I want to see it in a store. I want to hold it, be impressed, be blown out of the water, be simply mesmerized by the physical presence. I can order it online, but then there's this agonizing wait, and the hope that the shipping doesn't shatter the precious cargo. Then of course there's the issue of being able to buy ebooks for these devices from outside of the States. I've not hopped over to Amazon yet, but like iTunes Store, the Sony eBook Store doesn't cater to us over here.

This is like opening a can of worms, I had intended only to write a little, but here I am being compelled to ensure there's no confusion on the technologies.

I must clarify that for these dedicated ebook readers, the users are typically forced to go to the respective vendor's ebook stores to purchase their ebooks, which is in a proprietary format that will only play on that particular device (i.e. Kindle only reads ebooks purchased from Amazon's ebook store, Sony's only from their store, and they are *not* interchangeable). For generic ebook reader software, however, such as those which can be installed on devices such as PDAs (for example Microsoft Reader, Palm Reader or Acrobat Reader), then the ebooks may be purchased from any vendor that peddles in these respective formats. This is precisely the reason that if you purchase a Sony Reader here, you'll have problems getting ebooks because the Sony eBook Store, which is your sole avenue for ebook purchasing, doesn't sell to those outside of the States.

As it stands right now, I'm pretty satisfied with my current ebook reader, my Dopod 838Pro aka HTC TyTN. It's small, and I carry dozens of books with me as long as I have my mobile. It's not ideal, but it'll do for now.

I'll be back with the whole ebook mess.

Verily, thou suggestest the improbable! Austen, author of immaculately proper prose, indulging in something as trivial as games? Surely thou art pulling mine freaking legs?

But hangest thou on one minute - what are gamebooks?

Well now, that takes me waaay back.

According to gamebooks.org, a gamebook is defined as "as any book in which the reader participates in the story by making choices which affect the course of the narrative." As you read, you are offered a choice of actions that the central character of the story can take. The different actions unfold in different ways, typically either towards better or worse situations for the character.

During my primary school days, I was fascinated with gamebooks. I have gamebooks that allowed the readers to engage in combat with monsters, complete with hit points and inventory that the reader has to keep track of, even gamebooks that allowed two players to play against each other! I still have all of my gamebooks (naturally!), and they bring a flood of nostalgia now that I think about them. Highly literate novels they are not, immensely fun they definitely were.

So anyway, back to my point. Emma Campbell Webster has whipped up something truly interesting.

The book is called Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure, and it promises the reader a romp through Austen's famous novels. The blurb for the book is:

Name: Elizabeth Bennet.

Mission: To marry both prudently and for love.

How? It's entirely up to the reader.

The journey begins in Pride and Prejudice but quickly takes off on a whimsical Austen adventure of the reader's own creation. A series of choices leads the reader into the plots and romances of Austen's other works. Choosing to walk home from Netherfield Hall means falling into Sense and Sensibility and the infatuating spell of Mr. Willoughby. Accepting an invitation to Bath leads to Northanger Abbey and the beguiling Henry Tilney. And just where will Emma's Mr. Knightley fit in to the quest for a worthy husband? It's all up to the reader.

A labyrinth of love and lies, scandals and scoundrels, misfortunes and marriages, Lost in Austen will delight and challenge any Austen lover.

Now I found this book by chance, and of all the amalgamations I could have thought of, never had I imagined Austen as fodder for gamebooks. After all, gamebooks based off of famous authors' works have been done before. Some are obvious choices. Sherlock Holmes, for example, was turned into gamebooks, and it was an interesting effort too (I have one of them). But Austen? Way out of the park.

I'm not sure exactly which audience Webster is shooting for. Gamebooks have long been out of vogue, and although there are some still being sold in the bookshops, I hardly think they are flying off the shelves. But even if they were, the target audience for gamebooks have always been the young readers and gamers/role-players (the Sherlock Holmes one was aimed at young readers - it was not incredibly challenging prose-wise). They would be bored to tears helping a chick they can't visualize do, of all things, get married. Yeah. Wonderful.

So no. Probably aiming for Austen fans. But you'd have to wonder if the regular Austenite would actually entertain the idea of 'playing'. Some in the reviews have said that certain passages in the book are so highly reminiscent of the originals that fans may feel that they are re-reading the novels again.

Anyway I think it's a great try, and a fresh idea. I think this book would be a lovely addition to Austen fans anyway. Who know, maybe Austen fans will like it, and like it so much that they start to campaign for Choose Your Own Adventures for Kafka, Nabokov, Doestoevsky (now that would be interesting).

ps. Yes, I know Austen doesn't talk like that.

This snippet from George RR Martin about The Road encapsulates in its essence what I think is so wrong about how some people feel about genre fiction in general:

I think I speak for virtually all fantasy and science-fiction writers that it's a constant annoyance for anyone who works in these fields, that whenever a great piece of work is produced, you get reviewers saying, ''Oh, this isn't science fiction, it's too good.'' Most recently, that's happened with Cormac McCarthy and The Road. Which is definitely a science-fiction book, and yet it's winning all these prizes and people are saying, ''No, no, it's science fiction.'' Well, it's literature and it's science fiction. It's a breath mint and a candy mint!

There are those who think I'm being defensive simply because I love genre fiction. I would think that would be too shallow a way to look at it. I'm about experiencing anything and everything you love in reading. To anyone who would come to me for advice, I would never ever say don't try something just because it happens to be categorized in a certain way. Encouraging the sentiment that a particular genre is somehow 'beneath' an arbitrary literary bar frankly reflects poorly on the proponent.

Everybody is partial to their genres when reading (and make no mistake, award-winning novels are a genre by itself). So when someone crosses the genre gaps, that's great. So I'm just amazed at people who'd tell others, "Oh no, that's not science fiction. That's bloody McCarthy, so it can't be considered science fiction because it's so well written!" Oh please.

I've read as much as (if not more) contemporary fiction and prize winning fiction than the next person, and here's what I've learnt:
The one and only thing that separates the wheat from the chaff in literature is the author, regardless of the subject matter.

Go on. Come and tell me I'm wrong.

I've just been tagged (if you could call being a few days late 'just'), and I'm as excited as a bunny in a carrot farm. Dear pal Ell has sent me a comment that I only got to while I was housekeeping my spam comments (all good comments get slushed up in the spam queue, while the bad ones keep showing up in my normal queue here in rambleville).

Not too late! It is a book meme tag, and here were my instructions:

1. Grab the nearest book.


2. Open the book to page 123.


3. Find the fourth sentence.


4. Post the next three sentences along with these instructions.


5. Don’t search around and look for the “coolest” book you can find. Do what’s actually next to you.


6. State the book title and author

So, here it is:

In many areas only weak values are available and you have to work with these. It is no use hoping for strong values or even sound values if these are hard to come by. A weak value on its own is weak.

The book is Edward de Bono's The Six Value Medals. It's on the bed here right next to me.

Not having read the book yet (my wife was reading it and left it here), reading those 3 sentences really doesn't make any sense.

I'm fascinated with the work that de Bono has done with what I call meta-thinking - his thinking about thinking. He pretty much made thinking into as close a science as you can get, with tools such as Lateral Thinking and the 6 Thinking Hats (the training which I went to for the 6 Thinking Hats was pretty damn cool, and is extremely useful for categorically organizing your thinking).

Lateral Thinking is a method that is used to stimulate the brain to be creative consistently. Think about that for a minute - consistently generating creative ideas!

The Value Medals I know nothing about, but given the usefulness of 6 Thinking Hats and Lateral Thinking, learning up the Medals shouldn't be any less interesting.

I'll probably write something about thinking tools someday.

Ell, thanks for the tag! :D