Starlight: Child of the Wild West
The short story is completed, but working on it did take chunks of my week and weekend, so I’m moving slowly back into the reading game.
Right now, I’m in the mood for stories that can have plenty of tension, but will have a positive resolution. Any suggestions?
For those of you just discovering this part of my blog, the Friday Fragments lists what I’ve read over the past week. Most of the time I don’t include details of either short fiction (unless part of a book-length collection) or magazines.
The Fragments are not meant to be a recommendation list. If you’re interested in a not-at-all-inclusive recommendation list, you can look on my website under Neat Stuff.
Once again, this is not a book review column. It’s just a list with, maybe, a bit of description or a few opinions tossed in.
What are you reading?
Recently Completed:
Tempest and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce. Audiobook. As book one of what looks to be a two book series, lots of build-up for events that didn’t happen. If you’ve read Pierce’s “Immortals” cycle, you have a strong sense where this series has to end.
In Progress:
Implanted by Lauren Teffeau. ARC of a forthcoming August release.
The Sky-Liners by Louis L’amour. I’d be more annoyed at how the main female character is portrayed except that I’ve met woman who would behave just this way. Is it sexist if it’s correct?
Also:
Making my way through magazines, but more keep showing up!
Jane Lindskold: Wednesday Wanderings 
April 13, 2018 at 2:07 am |
Is it sexist if it’s correct?
In a word — no.
—
-Alan
April 13, 2018 at 7:38 am |
Or not, at least, when it’s not an operating assumption. I must admit that I had to pull this one off the shelf – after figuring out which shelf – and after the 1st 3 pages I still can’t remember the story, but if it’s what I think it is, she’s _not_ a standard Lamour female. So not one of his operating assumptions.
Come to think of it, I’d not be surprised if most of the real people Lamour used as models tended to agree with Kipling on the subject of women.
April 13, 2018 at 7:45 am |
“can have plenty of tension, but will have a positive resolution”? hmmm…
I suspect that you’ve already read all these, but if not, try Pat Wrede, Pat Hodgell and Caroline Stevermer. The first and last have even done 3 books together, which actually do manage some tension in between being absolute hoots, in the style of Georgette Heyer. Who also manages some pretty good tension, come to think of it, but you may be too familiar with those.
April 13, 2018 at 8:35 am |
You’re the second person to suggest Wrede! That must be an omen.
I’m not a big Heyer fan. Where romance is the driving force, I immediately go cold.
So, with the above in mind, any Wrede you suggest? I’ve read some of her books, just curious if they overlap with your suggestions.
April 15, 2018 at 4:41 pm
I think you’d like the Frontier Magic books. I’d certainly like to see more of them!
Some of the Lyra books, and The Seven Towers, are earlier works, and in some ways not as well written. The later Lyra books are more practiced, which always helps, although I found The Raven Ring a bit of a disappointment [don’t ask why. i’m not sure]
If you can get by without tension, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles are a hoot, btw.
April 16, 2018 at 1:51 pm
I LOVE what I’ve read of the Enchanted Forest books.
April 13, 2018 at 9:51 am |
I’m still working my way through two series.
Completed –
Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes. I’m on the wait list at the library for Immortal Reign, the last book of the series.
Empire Of Ivory and Victory Of Eagles by Naomi Novik. I’m waiting for the next books to be available at the library. I really love this Temeraire series because of the historical placement and the social issues and the dragons of course.
Currently Reading-
The Grace Of Kings by Ken Liu (I’ve already got the next book for this series😉)
It seems that instead of Westerns, the universe is guiding me to the far East for reading material. I’m enjoying it and that’s the important thing.
As far as suggestions….have you read any of Jim Butcher’s books? Dresden Files, Codex Alera and Cinder Spires, three different worlds and all good imo.
April 13, 2018 at 2:11 pm |
Jim Butcher is a fine writer, but I didn’t much cotton to Harry Dresden, this despite one of my best friends loving those books. No slam on Butcher, just didn’t do much for me.
April 13, 2018 at 2:17 pm
You might like the Codex Alera books more. Magic, Roman style military, animal partnerships…
Thank goodness we all have different tastes in books! Variety keeps life interesting.
April 14, 2018 at 7:37 am
Thanks! That does sound interesting. I appreciate the recommendation since I did like Jim Butcher’s writing, just not what I read of the Dresden.
April 15, 2018 at 4:44 pm
The only Butcher I’ve read is The Aeronaut’s Windlass – which I read precisely because it wasn’t a Dresden File. I quite enjoyed it, but still haven’t tried any Dresden, and may never do so.
April 19, 2018 at 11:31 am
Second on both the Codex Alera series and Aeronaut’s Windlass. The latter is the first book in a series with the second not out yet, so you may wish to wait on that one.
Understand about the Dresden Files. My wife loves them; I’ve read all (I think) of them, and enjoyed them quite a bit, but the world the series is in didn’t cohere for me as much as I like. Many sub-sections of them did–I’d even call them excellent–but my impression is of a mixture of different fictional universes, rather than a common universe. On the other hand, he does handle the series continuity fairly well.
April 13, 2018 at 8:17 pm |
You might try L’Amour’s “Ride the River” if you haven’t. Its Sackett hero is a heroine!
April 13, 2018 at 10:49 pm |
Plenty of tension, positive resolution? If you want a mystery/UF series with lots of books and tension but not necessarily closure, the “Rivers of London” series by Ben Aaronovitch is a good one. I’m not sure if/when he’s going to wrap it up.
I think, though, it sounds like you need mysteries, preferably cozies because they always end with the book instead of an endless series and usually end with a positive resolution of some kind.
I’m not a huge fan of mysteries but when I do read them, I prefer the cozies. Andrew Cartmel has 2 volumes out and a third on the way in his “Vinyl Detective” series. Each book is a stand-alone (so far) but they work better in order because certain characters continue across books and reading out of order removes the tension about them.
We’ve discussed the “Albert Campion” series in the past, so I’ll just mention it and move on.
In SF, it’s a classic and you’ve probably already read it, but I try not to make assumptions so I’ll mention it here: “LIttle Fuzzy” by H. Beam Piper has tension in it, but it’s also very colonialist in its outlook. John Scalzi did a remake of it a few years ago which I have not read, apparently to update it quite a bit.
I’ve only read a few so far, but I rather like the “Retrieval Artist” series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Hard SF/mystery with alien races. As I understand it, some books are stand-alone, some are part of larger arcs.
As for my own current reading, I’m almost done with the re-read of the Iron Druid series. In a few days, after a short respite, I’ll read the final book in the series. I’ll be reading something else this weekend, though, just for variety. We’ll see what calls to me from my collection.
April 16, 2018 at 10:13 am |
Yes, I’ve been meaning to recommend Jane try the Rivers of London novels. There are some accompanying graphic novels as well, with more stand-alone, quickly resolved mysteries outside of the overarching storyline.
April 16, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Thanks! Appreciate.