John Norman

Going by his books, John Norman is a mysogynist of the first water. That said, the first Gor (counter earth) books are well written and highly original in concept and development. The characters are vivid and believable, even likeable and the stories are of the best kind of high adventure - for the first 6 (Tarnsman of Gor, Outlaw of Gor, Priest-Kings of Gor, Nomads of Gor and Assassin of Gor). Tarl Cabot and, a bit into "Tarnsman", Elizabeth (Vella) Cardwell begin as abductees from earth brought to Gor, each for a specific purpose. They learn about their new world, adapt to it, and over time form an effective partnership/relationship as they begin to unravel the real secrets of Gor and the alien races that "supervise" it. There is a good deal of sex (at times fairly explicit) and discussion of sex, male/female roles, etc. - which probably won't bother the guys at all; I found that the storytelling was engaging enough that I could gloss over the general putting-down of women, and Vella is a strong enough character that she evemtially makes it work for her rather than against her - but the plot keeps on rolling despite that. After "Assassin" the series loses much of what made it so interesting. The strength of the story - and the appeal of the characters - fades considerably. The settings of each book are obviously cribbed from historical cultures with very little originality, the anti-female bias descends into something very close to contempt and the emphasis on the sexual more`s of each "culture" threatens to take over entirely. In short, they read like soft-core porn potboilers - and from the number that ended up being written (one a year, until I gave up on even noticing them somewhere around number 9) I would guess that, that is what they in fact were by then.

Thieve's World

A marvelous first short story introduces us to Enas Yorl, a mighty magician with a terrible curse. Is he good? or evil? or neither...?  interestingly enough, he is depicted as both sensual, and downright disgusting...if that can make any sense without giving the story away. Anyhow, he is an extremely interesting character who will make many more appearances as you read on. You will also meet Illyra and Dubro, who are vital occupants of Sanctuary. Again, you get different versions of them from different authors, but they are basically harmless, but still rather important. This is also the first introduction to the charachter of Molin Torchholder. You will love to hate him, even though he is a supposed man of the cloth. One of the most important, if not the most important, character of this series is introduced in the fourth story, Shadowspawn, or Hanse the thief. A brilliant example of why females love bad boys. Then, of course, their is the mage, Lythande, who holds a heavy secret in order to be a part of the Blue Star.

The common theme of this second volume in the series is the Rankan god Vashanka and his exploits within the realm of Sanctuary. As you read the seven stories that are part of this collection, you realize that most all of them revolve around Vashanka and his semi-human emissary. Since each of the stories is written by a different author, it is fascinating to see how the same characters appear and act in the various stories. All the stories are dark and grim and are definitely a departure from Asprin's normal fare. As an anthology it clearly works and by having so many famous contributors, the anthology is successful and will probably encompass many more volumes. Should you read it is the question? I found the stories repelling yet compelling at the same time. Clearly these were written by masters in the world of fiction and are therefore hard to put down. The premise and the execution are dark and depressing. So, if you can handle the bleakness, you will enjoy the work

Most fantasy literature is pure escapism -- light, easy, black and white. Thieves' World instead features surprisingly complex characters (for a fantasy tale) with uncertain motivations. It's low, gritty, and not concerned with the matters of elves and men. As a mosaic novel (or linear anthology, or what-have-you), a TW book is a grab-bag of authors and stories.

In this, the third volume of the 12-book series, there's a novella-length opener that seems to subvert the low-fantasy setting by introducing non-humans and intelligent monsters. It felt out of place -- even in a fantasy world where, yes, there are sorcerers who cast spells, an erudite troll's sudden appearance can, ahem, break the spell. Worse, the climax of that story (a large carnival that's destroyed and in which men are killed) is never mentioned again by anyone in the rest of the book.

Beyond this blemish, the rest of the volume is made up of stories by what looks like the core group of authors responsible for the rest of the run of the series; some new characters pop up and some old ones continue their arcs. One other complaint is Janet Morris's pet character, Tempus, a man who evidently doesn't belong in this world and desperately wants out (I think -- he is referred to as both having come through a dimensional gate and as having been born in the TW world). She overwrites everything, too. I suspect neither of them are going anywhere, though.

Another nugget worth mentioning. In the first book of the series, Joe Haldeman had a story which featured his bartender character One-Thumb, and killed him off. This was evidently outside the spirit of cooperation among the TW writers, as editor Bob Asprin noted in the postscript of that book that it was a bit of a shock. Through the second book, many characters wondered about One-Thumb and where he might be; one shapeshifter character actually appeared as One-Thumb for some reason. Now, at the outset of the third book, One-Thumb is back (but Joe Haldeman is not), and Hakiem The Storyteller, who will buy a tale so as to spin it for profit later, calls One-Thumb's story stupid. That struck me as editorial voice, both bitchy and a little funny.

The fourth Thieves' World volume seems to have a surer editorial hand. Albeit that the stories could not be placed in perfect chronological order, this time around there’s an overarching theme to the book: the imminent invasion of Sanctuary by sea and the how the townsfolk prepare. The stories are a good lot overall.

Asprin’s “Exercise In Pain” brings Jubal back from being crippled at the hands of Tempus, but with a price; Lalo, the painter who can see souls, returns to fight for his life in Paxson’s “A Fugitive Art;” Offut’s “Godson” transforms his Shadowspawn from swaggering street rat to confident warrior and confidant of the gods, and makes it work. I didn’t like Cherryh’s too opaque “Downwind,” a confused take of Jubal's remnants feuding with Stepsons and spying on one another; and Janet Morris’ “Wizard Weather” is, as usual for her, a bit much (lord of dreams, some avatar in beautiful woman form, that Cime character... zzz). Still, I think the series is finally starting, after three books of scene-setting, to take off.

Book 5 of the twelve orignal TW anthology novels starts a plot arc with "mysterious invaders" that show up, look like fish, and don't do much else. TW isn't a series with a big-picture focus, though, so the presence of these invaders is more or less artfully *shown* through the new gritty experiences of the now-familiar cast, though some favorites are missing from this volume.

C.J. Cherryh's "Necromant" is the turd of the bunch, sprawling and hard to focus on. Janet Morris, of whom I am seldom a fan, turns in a palatable entry this time with "High Moon," which dangles a promise that Tempus and her other horrible characters are gone. I'm sure they'll be back though.

The other stories are good little adventures, though as a whole don't give much shape to a story arc; the invading Beysib play roles of varying importance throughout, but of them we're shown no conflict, action, or resolution.

In this strange and provocative sixth volume, the Wizardwall War brings undreamed-of horrors as the invaders invoke their powers to raise the very dead...The Beysib invasion that was almost a non-event in the previous volume is finally generating the expected results. The Ranke empire has sent its third commando unit to Sanctuary to help take it back from the Beysib. The third commando is commanded by Kama who we find out is Tempus's daughter. Oh goody, goody! finally some sense.

Wait, what are Ischade and Roxanne doing battling each other and over what? Why does Ischade need unqualified stepsons to help her out? What's with this Zip character who in some stories is a disillusioned, callow, youth and in others is such a great leader of a revolutionary army that all the other factions in Sanctuary bow to him?

As usual with Thieves' World books, the format of the book is both its strength and its weakness. Strength in that the stories are imaginative and its very interesting to see different takes on the various denizens. Weak because we get no consistent treatment of characters. Some do not show up at all; others get short shrift; and some play major roles all of a sudden.

In this volume we also learn a bit more about the Beysib. Now, it is no longer enough to denigrate them as "fish-eyes" we actually read a story about the developing relationship between a male and female Beysib. Unfortunately, Hanse Shadowspawn appears and appears to go crazy! Oh well, there is more to come, obviously.

In this awesome seventh volume, a fearful cold grips Sanctuary, and the risen dead begin to outnumber the living, a new alliance that may save the war-torn Borderlands is born...  In this book, Sanctuary is deteriorating even more (if you can believe that!) into a vicious cycle of war and darkness as winter lays its deadly grip on the world.

All of the stories share the same location - the city of Sanctuary - and many of the main characters, time and even events. However, the fun of the books is in how each author twists his or her interpretation of what is taking place into the viewpoint of their protagonist. No different is this book. The various factions are either making alliances or fighting against each other and the battle lines are literally drawn in colored lines in the streets of the city. However, the alliances are constantly shifting and it is never really clear what they are fighting for and with or against whom.

A big portion of the book is dedicated to the magical fights that pit Roxanne, Ischade, and the other gods or wizards against each other while using the HellHounds, Stepsons, Beysibs, and other groups. We are getting more and more the sense that the battles in Sanctuary are a reflection of the greater events that are unfolding as a result of the breaking up of the Rankan Empire. The individual stories take a look at individual events and tell the stories of individuals at times, but also look at the great scope of events. So, Kadakithis is still enthralled with his Beysib conqueror queen who he adores, but she is put to shame when it comes out that his wife, the Princess Daphne is still in town. There are also stories of hell, perdition, and the life of zombies and other nameless critters.

As is usual in these volumes, the stories are very dark and even deranged as Sanctuary is a very bad place. If you can put up with the darkness, gore, bloodthirstiness, and general evil of the place, you can enjoy the collaboration, the points of view, and the general fun of the idea embodied in these books.

As an idea for a series of anthologies, Thieves' world was a unique concept. By this point it has reached the 8th book and it is suffering a bit. I guess maybe that is why Abbey and Asprin (the editors) decided to play a bit with the format. In previous editions, there were many short stories around a common theme. Every author, however, had the right to look at slightly different events, or even picture the same events from a different angle. This was entertaining and unique.

This volume is very linear. In essence the story line was agreed upon and each of the three contributors provided two chapters that carried the storyline forward. Of course, the fact that there were only three contributors could be a sign of the withering of this concept as previous volumes had as many as ten contributors!

The storyline here is all about the enmity between the two female witches in town - Ischade and Roxane. For reasons unknown to anyone, the rest of the groups in Sanctuary choose sides and Roxane is being attacked. This book examines the impacts of the magical and common attacks that take place as the two women work to destroy each other. Since everyone in Sanctuary is involved, the gods themselves manage to intervene and ever higher powers are invoked leading to some new and powerful beings being summoned from regions that they've never left before.

The battle takes place in all kinds of places including the mind and soul of Niko. Ultimately, nothing is really resolved as to destroy any of the main characters would bring this series to a screeching halt so it is not satisfying at all.

In Beyond Sanctuary, the Sacred Band of Stepsons must leave the cess-pool of a city that they have sworn to protect, and fight in a war against sorcery and the archmage Datan, upon the famed Wizardwall. The dangers that await them might cost them more than thier lives as they must battle the Nisibis witch Roxane, Death's Queen, for the very heart and soul of one of their best fighters, Nikodimus, the Bandaran Adept martial artist called Stealth. In the midst of the battles they must also rescue a half mage-blooded child named Shamshi, from the clutches of Roxane and Datan, before he can be trained to put his powers to malevolent use. Tempus Thales, avatar of the storm god Enlil, called The Riddler, leads the Stepsons on their toughest and most dangerous mission yet in this tale of sword versus sorcery, and sacred warriors against profane mages.
The book is loaded with action and also delves into the hearts and minds of some of the principle characters of the Sacred Band of Stepsons. This revised edition contains some new expanded sections, and parts of the book that were previously edited out in the original release have been re-inserted. It is a must have for die hard fans of the series, and also a great book on it's own for those who have never read any of the stories about The Sacred Band of Stepsons.

Beyond the Veil and Beyond Wizardwall are Sanctuary novels by Janet Morris.

In the entertaining afterword to Blood Ties, C.J. Cherryh writes about the experience of writing for the Thieves' World series:  "The honest truth is that we have very little idea what will happen. Unplanned war breaks out in the streets. It lurches and falters in settlements, just the way it does in real life, my friends, because certain people in it have to get certain things or believe there is a way out, or they go on fighting. Feuds break out between characters and resolve themselves they way they do in live-- with some change in both characters. Characters mutate and grow and turn out to have aspects that surprise even their creator."
As a reader, it is that very quality of evolving chaos and unpredictability that makes the series so much fun to read. At its best, there is a measure of barely controlled chaos that keeps the twists and turns interesting. At its worst, the different voices can mix badly and turn characters into a kind of confused mush.
This edition contains both the best and the worst of what the volumes can be. Blood Ties has a number of really impressive writers associated with the stories: Cherryh, Diana L. Paxson, Janet & Chris Morris, the two editors, Diane Duane, Robert Wayne Bailey, and Andrew & Jodie Offutt. The combined talents are less effective when they deal with the complicated alliances and tensions in Sanctuary ("Sanctuary is for Lovers", "Lovers who Slay Together") but there are also some truly inspired and even very moving sections-- the fate of Siveni Grey-Eyes in "The Tie that Binds" and the brilliant introduction of Strick in "Spellmaster."
As always, you cannot pick up volume 9 of Thieves' World without having read 1-8. Begin at the beginning, if you have not had any introduction to the characters before. If you are a veteran of Sanctuary and were wondering whether this is worth the effort (Volume 8 was a little bit disappointing, IMO) then you should rest assured that it is moving in the right direction. Blood Ties is worth the time to read, and reopens a number of interesting new directions for the poor beleaguered city.

Aftermath is the name of the book and an aftermath of sorts it is. In this 10th book in the series, there are only a few stories, and only a few of the characters that have made this series so memorable and interesting to read. As usual, there are contributions here from various authors with the proviso that while they use the same city, locations, and characters, none of the authors can kill the others' folks.

This book starts after Tempus and his two or three gangs leave the city and it is trying to recover from the wars of the gods that destroyed big portions of it in previous volumes. There are a couple of new characters being introduced, and several of the main ones from previous books show up, yet many of the mainstays make small cameo appearances - if they show up at all.

The pace of the stories is quite slower than the last few volumes and nothing much of substance takes place. Illyra coming to terms with her adopted baby, and prince Kitty Cat emerging from his shell are about the only two storylines that make any progress. On the other hand, the introduction of characters like Cade and the Shepherd makes an interesting new direction. Would you believe that Sanctuary is actually trying to improve and become a city that people might want to live in?

Shadowspawn is a Thieves World novel by Andrew J. Offutt.

Tempus is a Thieves World novel by Janet Morris.

I have probably mentioned here before that I have a long-standing love that I am nearly able to defend for the Thieves' World series. I have never lost my taste for the chaotic writers' world that started with the eponymous first book and ended with Stealer's Sky. I know that the quality is uneven. I recognize that sometimes the writers liked each other more than they liked us. But that, for me, was part of the fun. Anyhow, I have been rereading the series slowly over the last few years, and am disappointed to report that I am nearly done.

Book 11 is not one of the strongest books in Thieves' World. Although Book 10 is called Aftermath, book 11 has a strong Intermezzo feeling. Evidence, I guess, that the series was winding down. Magic has largely disappeared from Sanctuary; Daphne seems to be gaining a sense of perspective; Prince Kadakithis grows up; Ischade is still tortured. I was particularly fond of the Diana L. Paxson section on "The Vision of Lalo". This gives me hope that someday I will find a book that she has written which I actually enjoy.

"Dagger" could be considered a bit of a practice run for the author's later Lord Of The Isles series. A hyper-practical hardworking hero with no hesitation to kill when necessary? Check. Loving attention to the accurate and period-specific details of clothing, weapons, food, and buildings? Check. Heavy use of Middle Eastern folklore and culture? Check. It's an interesting little novel, but by Drake's own admission, not an altogether successful one.

It features Samlor hil Samt, a pragmatic and world-wise caravan master who made three appearances in the Thieves' World series of shared-universe books. (The first section of "Dagger" was also published in the tenth TW volume as the story "Inheritor", a decision which Drake now regrets because he admits that he doubled up this way strictly for the money.) He and his young "niece" (secretly his daughter) Star, an instinctive magical adept, have come to Sanctuary to pick up her inheritance from her late mother. There, they encounter Khamwas, a wizard from Napata whose own purposes happen to coincide with theirs. Adventure ensues.

The novel draws quite heavily on Egyptian folklore and settings, particularly the latter Khamwas-heavy sections. This makes it rather different than most fantasy novels, which is good. But a very lengthy flashback sequence involving a certain Prince Nanefer breaks up the momentum of the book, and in the ensuing pages, Samlor, our protagonist, becomes little more than a mere bystander to the deeds of his wizard companion. Structurally, "Dagger" has some real problems and more or less just limps to a merely satisfactory conclusion.

On the other hand, Drake does a great job showing Samlor's devotion to Star, who (perhaps unfortunately) is only featured in the first third of the book. And Khamwas's manikin-like familiar, Tjainufi, who constantly spouts gnomic wisdom, is amusing.

This is a good book if you're interested in checking out a fantasy setting that doesn't just cover the same ol' European ground, or if you want to complete your Thieves' World collection, but otherwise is not essential.

City At the Edge Of Time is a Thieves World novel by Janet Morris.

Tempus Unbound is a Thieves World novel by Janet Morris.

I am a long time fan of the Thieves world books, and I have always loved the feel of the books, and the use of differeant authors. I loved how each author could take an event and see it and convey it in a unique manner. However this book was dissapointing. The sand storm played a crucial role, and I liked how they used it as a catalyst for the story line.

Saying that, the writing in this one was frankly mediocre at best, and the story line was under huge stress as it seemed like they were just putting this one out because it was time to put another book out. Thieves world is a GREAT series but one that needs to creative and varying influences of authors who are willing to really pull the reader into the world. I liked this book, but frankly it will sit on my shelf as a valued addition to my collection, but it will be a boring day indeed when I remove to read it again.

Deathknight is a Thieves World novel by Andrew J Offutt.

Alas, the very last one of the Thieves' World-novels. It makes you crave for more! The intensity with which the authors write is spell-binding in itself, and truly of all ages (future earth is here, as well as ancient Azehurean culture and the place of timelessness): treating human matters of responsibility, friendship, growing up and the difference/reconciliation of the sexes in a powerful, rounded way. Whoever has read other novels by the Morrises will know that here philosophy, religion and the occult are tested against the human heart. Splendid! I only wish Niko and Kama had grown up a bit more. Note: it took me five years to understand exactly what maat-issue was at stake, and when I did I still thought the book very much worth reading!

This novel is devoted to Hanse, following his adventures in a little town that once housed a nasty wizard named Corstic. Shadowspawn got rid of Corstic (before the story opens) and most of the town is friendly. Unfortunately some are after Corstic's treasures, and Hanse looks like a handy guy to fetch them out of Corstic's maze, especially if he can be persuaded by the kidnapping of his girl Mignureal...

This volume is the relaunch to the Thieves World shared universe created by Abbey and Robert Asprin, which, as I recall, fired up around 1979 or so and ran through the '80s before sputtering to a halt. Thieves World was the precursor to such later series as George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards, C.J. Cherryh's Merovingen Nights, and Will Shetterly and Emma Bull's Liavek. The present volume picks up some years after the events of the twelfth installment of the original series. (In addition to the anthologies and mosaic novels, there seem to have been five stand-alone novels by the dreaded Janet and Chris Morris, against whom I continually rail, inasmuch as I hold their vile contributions to be directly responsible for killing both Thieves World and Merovingen Nights. Be that as it may, their five books evidently dealt with the despicable Tempus and his cronies and I believe they largely took place outside of the city of Sanctuary itself.)
Most everyone the longtime fan knew from back in the day is dead, fled, or vanished. Pretty much the only major figure left is an eighty-year-old Molin Torchholder, and due to circumstances he has to more or less dictate his memoirs in a nifty little ploy that allows the old school readers to dredge up memories of the first series while giving new readers a bit of background on the setting. This device makes it pretty apparent how wildly out of control the series had become and how critical it is to have a strong editorial hand (such as Martin) at the helm to reject the stupider ideas. My opinion is that very few of the authors could content themselves with "writing small" and with telling quiet little tales of interesting but limited and flawed characters. Very rapidly, after the first couple of books, every contributer wanted to turn their amps up to 11, and so each new character became deadlier, angrier, and more brutal than the last, and each of them seemed designed specifically as grudge monsters who were meant only to humiliate or eliminate the pre-existing characters. Not to mention that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as it were, rode through the city so often that it became ludicrous. Authors began to show off and have gods duking it out in the street, or had the city invaded again and again by awesome new and never-before-suspected threats from all quarters of the globe, or tossed in legions of the undead or bands of invincible and sneering warriors. In hearing Molin relate the whole sorry mess, it just really seems ludicrous in retrospect.

This particular addition to the milieu is a necessary but somewhat awkward bridge between the decades-old material accumulated over the first run of the series and the new tales that follow in the newest collection of short stories (entitled Turning Points) that has just become available. (Another volume, First Blood, will be rolling out soon.) Quite likely, it can be skipped, and it may only really be compelling reading for continuity devotees who need to acquire each Thieves World volume for their collections.

Now that Abbey has cleaned the slate by jumping the series into the future so that everyone has keeled over or wandered off, Thieves World can enjoy a fresh start and avoid the mistakes of the past. In Cauvin and Bec, the Thieves World setting has a couple of interesting characters to serve as a starting point, with the help of some of the supporting cast, such as Soldt. Here's hoping that Abbey can prevent future contributors under control so that Sanctuary will not again implode under the weight of overly ambitious and byzantine plots and the hordes of grandiose heroes and villains.

Lynn Abbey has returned to the city again and worked his magic. Once again the city of Sanctuary is in full bloom. This is the first of the new set and it is a great beggining. The setting is many years after the end of the last book from the last collection. This gives the city a new feel, but does leave an old reader wondering what happened to the various characters from the last anthology. Some old characters do make appearences as older or dead versions of themselves, but most of them are gone without mention. A new reader can figure out what had happened with the history from the new stories, but there is nothing like living the old books. This is my only complaint about first book. The writing is superb and Abbey gets my compliments with his editing and choice of writers. My personal favorite story is "Doing the Gods' Work" by Jody Van Nye. Even in a city of cutthroats, somebody is trying to build something for the good.

The second book, "Enemies of Fortune" is very very good. There isn't a bad story or filler here. The book has both light and very dark stories. You feel bad for the various characters and yet laugh at them too. You find both love and gallantry among the denizons as well as honesty among thieves. The stories warn of the dangers of drug use "Good Neighbors" as well as not kidnapping the wrong woman "Protection". My personal favorites are "Ghost in the Pheonix" a light hearted story about possesion and "The Man from Shemhaza" which is anything but lighthearted.

"Enemies of Fortune" shows there are growng clouds for the future, which makes me want to read the next book before it is published. For those of you who have not read the original series, buy them if you can or at least read "Sanctuary", which will provide you a working knowledge betweent the old series and the new version. Highly Recommended.

"The Sacred Band" is a classic work of heroic fantasy. This novel takes place deep within the established rules of Janet Morris's Thieves World, and I like that it doesn't waste any time on throwaway passages designed to "catch up" those readers who are new to the realm. This is a sink or swim type novel, and the reader as well as the characters involved are not the least bit coddled. The result is that you start to acquire a sense of achievement as you piece together all the clues, as if you have earned the right to enjoy this world and become a member of its legions of fans.

The first Thieves World novel is "Beyond Sanctuary," and I believe I might tackle that one now that I've had a taste of Tempus and the Sacred Band of Stepsons. Janet and Chris Morris create a great classic ambiance in "The Sacred Band." I found myself imagining a setting that looked much like Dante's version of Hell decorated and populated with people and artifacts out of Greek Mythology.

The action is instant and non-stop, and the characters are not "squeaky clean" by any stretch of the imagination. For example, early on in the book Tempus takes a troop of new recruits into a brothel and decides to just wait and see "how things play out" when he begins hearing terrifying screams from the room of one of his charges. When the prostitute in question turns up dead a few days later, Tempus embarks on an investigation that is more about maintaining his own autonomy over his group than correcting any wrong. I like the fact that Janet and Chris Morris have the courage to make strong statements on wartime morality, rather than try to push modern society's sometimes hypocritical views of right and wrong into a setting that simply cannot support it (Thieves World deals with individuals who have bigger issues than whether or not the phone store has run out of the 4G portable you've been dreaming about for six months--yes, there was a time when people had REAL issues to deal with people).

The Morris's make some interesting stylistic choices in their writing. Quite a bit of the novel is written in the present tense. At first I found the switches from past to present tense a bit jarring, but after a while I began to enjoy the emphasis on immediacy that the present tense passages provided. The tense shifts help put you in the proper frame of mind to correctly comprehend the more traditionally written text. This is a novel that's happening here and now, and there is a certain sensory overload that the writing creates when you allow yourself to fall into step with it.

Overall, "The Sacred Band" evokes the brutality and lyricism of Robert E. Howard combined with the old school "sword and sandal" movies we all grew up watching. For those of you who aren't quite up for the challenge of swimming in the deep end, you might want to check out "Beyond Sanctuary." For the rest of you, buckle up and prepare to enjoy the ride!

Another wonderful story about Tempus, leader of The Sacred Band of Stepsons created by Janet Morris. If you haven't read any of The Sacred Band stories or novels, treat yourself to this slice of life in the ancient world where Tempus travels to Tyse, the capital of Ranke, to meet with potential allies he hopes will join him and the rest of the Sacred Band when they assault the mages and witches residing at the pinnacle of the mountain of Wizardwall. Wizardwall looks down not only on Ranke, but Mygdonia and Nisbis; the three countries have been controlled by the evil mages for three generations and the people have had enough. Tempus has gone ahead of the rest of the members of the Sacred Band, who are finishing up an assignment in Sanctuary (the putative armpit of the Rankan Empire) before joining Tempus at Tyse. He must contend with the remnants of the Rankan military, militias and guerrilla units that have been harassing the mages, but have not been cooperating with each other, and bring them all to an agreement to band together to finally rid the empire of the mages who are sucking the life out of the Rankan Empire and its neighboring countries.

George R.R. Martin

A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began the series in 1991 and published the first volume, A Game of Thrones, in 1996. Martin gradually extended the originally planned trilogy into four, six and eventually seven volumes. The fifth installment, A Dance with Dragons, took over five years of writing until being published in 2011. The sixth book, The Winds of Winter, is being written.

The story of A Song of Ice and Fire takes place on the fictional continents Westeros and Essos, with a history of thousands of years. The series is told in the third person by point of view characters, whose number reaches 31 by the fifth novel. Three stories become interwoven: the chronicling of a dynastic war for control of Westeros by several families; the rising threat of the dormant cold supernatural Others dwelling beyond an immense wall of ice on Westeros' northern border; and the ambition of Daenerys Targaryen, the exiled daughter of a king murdered in a civil war shortly before her birth, to return to Westeros with her fire-breathing dragons and claim her rightful throne.

Drawing inspiration from historical events such as the English period of the Wars of the Roses, Martin defied the conventions of the high fantasy genre. The series received praise for its realism; it subdues magic in favor of battles and political intrigue. Violence, sexuality and moral ambiguity are frequently displayed among a set of over a thousand named characters. Major characters are repeatedly killed off so that readers cannot rely on the supposed heroes to remain safe and sound. The multiple viewpoint structure allows characters to be explored from many sides so that the supposed villains can provide their viewpoint. A Song of Ice and Fire also received critical commentary for its diverse portrayal of women and religion.

Originally published without much publicity, the books in the series have now sold more than 22 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 20 languages. The fourth and fifth volumes reached the top of The New York Times Best Seller lists upon their releases.  Among the many derived works are three prequel novellas, the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, a comic book adaptation, and several card, board and video games.


The story of A Song of Ice and Fire takes place in a fictional world where seasons may last for years. Centuries before the events of the first novel (see backstory), the Seven Kingdoms on the continent Westeros were united under several generations of the Targaryen dynasty, who wielded the power of fire-breathing dragons until their apparent extinction. The last Targaryen king was killed in a rebellion of feudal lords led by a young Robert Baratheon some fourteen years before the events of the first novel. The books' present follows various viewpoint characters spread across divergent lands as winter is approaching.
The main story chronicles a many-sided power struggle for the Iron Throne of Westeros after King Robert's death in the first book, A Game of Thrones. Robert's son Joffrey immediately claims the Iron Throne with the support of his mother's powerful family, the immensely wealthy House Lannister. When Lord Eddard Stark, King Robert's "Hand" (chief advisor), is executed after finding out Joffrey and his siblings were in fact not sired by Robert, Robert's brothers Stannis and Renly individually lay claim on the throne. Meanwhile, several regions of Westeros seek to return to self-rule: Eddard Stark's eldest son Robb is proclaimed King in the North, while Balon Greyjoy re-establishes an independent Kingdom in his region, the Iron Islands. This so-called War of the Five Kings is in full progress by the middle of the second book, A Clash of Kings, with more people gradually joining the struggle for power.

The second story takes place on the northern border of Westeros, where an enormous, eight-thousand years old wall of ice defends Westeros from the Others, creatures believed to be mythical at the start of the series. The Wall's sentinels, the Sworn Brotherhood of the Night's Watch, are spending most of their time dealing with the human wildlings living beyond the Wall when the first Others appear in A Game of Thrones. The Night's Watch story is told primarily through the eyes of Jon Snow, alleged bastard son of Eddard Stark, as he rises through the ranks of the Watch and learns the true nature of the threat from the north. With the third volume, A Storm of Swords, this story becomes entangled with the civil war to the south when Stannis moves to the Wall to protect the realm from the threat of invasion and simultaneously win the favor of the northern strongholds. In the fifth book, A Dance with Dragons, Joffrey's younger brother Tommen holds the Iron Throne, with his mother and later his uncle serving as his regents as the first snowflakes reach their regal domicile at King's Landing.

The third story is set on a huge eastern continent named Essos and follows the adventures of Daenerys Targaryen, the last known scion of House Targaryen. Her story is isolated from the others until more POV characters join her in A Dance with Dragons. Living in exile on Essos, Daenerys's adventures show her growing ability as she rises from a pauper sold into a dynastic marriage to a barbarian warlord, to a powerful and canny ruler. Her rise is aided by the birth of three dragons from fossilized dragon eggs given to her as wedding gifts. With a three-headed dragon as her family's coat of arms, these creatures are of symbolic value to her before they grow big enough to be of tactical use for her goal of reclaiming the Iron Throne.

Martin believes the two last volumes of the series will be big books of 1500 manuscript pages each.  The sixth book is going to be called The Winds of Winter, taking the title of the last book of the originally planned trilogy.

Martin believes the most profound influences to be the ones experienced in childhood. Having read H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert A. Heinlein, Eric Frank Russell, Andre Norton, Isaac Asimov, Fritz Leiber, and Mervyn Peake in his youth, Martin never categorized these authors' literature into science fiction, fantasy or horror and will write from any genre as a result Martin classified A Song of Ice and Fire as "epic fantasy" and specifically named Tolkien and Tad Williams as very influential for the writing of the series. His favorite contemporary author is Jack Vance, although Martin considered the series not particularly Vancean.

The medieval setting has been the traditional background for epic fantasy even before Tolkien,  whose writing still dominates the genre.  However, before starting with the Ice and Fire series, Martin felt that many Tolkien imitators were writing "Disneyland Middle Ages" fantasy without grasping the true brutality of those times. Historical fiction appeared much grittier and realistic to him, fascinating him with the dramatic possibilities of the medieval contrasts such as chivalry co-existing with the brutality of war and ostentatious castles surrounded by hovels. However, where historic fiction leaves versed readers knowing the historic outcome,  original characters may increase suspense and empathy for the readers.  Thus, Martin wanted to combine the realism of historical fiction with the magic appeal of the best fantasies, subduing magic in favor of battles and political intrigue.

Martin is widely credited with broadening the fantasy fiction genre for adult content. For The Washington Post's Bill Sheehan, the series felt "grounded in the brutal reality of medieval times" despite overtly fantastic elements like dragons and sorcerers. Jeff VanderMeer of the Los Angeles Times found strong horror elements and a gritty, often bawdy physicality of the Ice and Fire world with an implied criticism of the moral simplicity in Tolkien's works. Writing for The Atlantic, Amber Taylor assessed the novels as hard fantasy with vulnerable characters to which readers become emotionally attached. CNN found in 2000 that Martin's mature descriptions were "far more frank than those found in the works of other fantasy authors", although Martin assessed the fantasy genre to have become rougher-edged a decade later and that some writers' work was going beyond the mature themes of his novels.

Laurence Yep

 "The Seademons are squid-like creatures that inhabit the seas of the planet Fancyfree, now in its second generation of human colonization. Until the advent of Maeve, a mysterious girl-child more at home among the sea creatures than among her own kind, the colonists have paid little attention to their aquatic neighbors. Maeve's continuing unorthodox behavior disrupts the staid life of the colony, drawing its ire upon the Seademons and leading to a disastrous war between the two species. Yep's poetic language, strong yet sympathetic characters, and echoes of Celtic legend make something rather special of what could have been an ordinary little story."

Dragon of the Lost Sea An intriguing and unique fantasy story based on Chinese mythos, written in Yep's captivating style. It features an exiled dragon princess named Shimmer, who is impressed by the courage and fairness of a young boy named Thorn. After a warrior of the witch Civet attacks Thorn, Shimmer saves him and takes him away from his abusive master. Civet once stole the sea belonging to the race of dragons and confined it in a pebble, leaving it a salt-covered wasteland. Shimmer, who has a terrible secret of her own, has decided to find her and reclaim the waters of her home. They set out across the sea and meet the mischievous and irritating Monkey, then find Civet after she floods a village. The dialogue is snappy and amusing, and the descriptions are well-done, especially the beautiful visions of the dragons' seas, prior to their draining by Civet. Yep strikes an excellent balance between spare prose and descriptive prose, placing each where it belongs. Shimmer's tough shell (she has both a literal and figurative one) is an effective shield against the kind of hurt that she has suffered in the past, given her rejection prior to this book. Her attempts to rebuff Thorn, or to convince him that she doesn't need his help and can do things perfectly well on her own, are as unconvincing to the readers as they are to Thorn. She needs a friend, though she does not wish to admit it. An effective counterbalance to her cynicism and I-don't-need-anybody attitude is Thorn, an intelligent and optimistic young boy, who was basically enslaved at an inn with an abusive master. He becomes Shimmer's friend after his rescue, wanting to help her out of sheer kindness. The situations in which he jolts her out of her huffs are entertaining and snappily written. An excellent, classic fantasy, well worth the while of the reader.

Dragon Steel Returning to her underwater dragon kingdom expecting to be rewarded for capturing an enchantress, Shimmer and young Thorn instead must continue their quest to restore the dragon princess’s clan to its ancestral home.A tale of dungeons, sea monsters, and magicians, this sequel to Dragon of the Lost Sea "will lure even more readers to [Yep's] legion of followers." —V. "The novel's fast pace [and] exciting action sequences mark this as a tale sure to delight fantasy lovers." 

Dragon Cauldron Shimmer, the dragon princess, pursues the quest she began in Dragon of the Lost Sea (1988) and continued in Dragon Steel (1985, both HarperCollins). Although she possesses the magic cauldron capable of reclaiming her clan's lost sea home, it is damaged. With her loyal companions, the children Thorn and Indigo; her former enemy Civet; and the trickster-hero Monkey, Shimmer now seeks the only being capable of repairing the cauldron. Monkey recounts their headlong flight from one adventure to another, with ever-higher stakes, until at last they inadvertantly release the evil Nameless One, who threatens the entire world. Cementing their friendship with insulting wisecracks, heroic rescues, and enormous sacrifice, these companions clearly value group loyalty above personal honor. Yep draws from Chinese folk tradition to paint landscapes and situations with an "Arabian Nights" extravagance. The characters in this action-adventure are sketched in broad strokes, without the subtle shading found in his realistic stories, Dragonwings (1975) and Child of the Owl (1977, both HarperCollins). Readers with a taste for dragons will want to join Shimmer on her quest, which is far from complete.

Dragon War The evil, immortal Boneless King has taken possession of the powerful dragon cauldron-with the soul of Thorn, the human child, trapped inside-and has declared all-out war on dragonkind. His plan: to use the cauldron to boil the seas and destroy the dragons. And he has convinced Shimmer's brother, Pomfret, to be his ally. The dragon princess Shimmer, the wizard Monkey, and Indigo, a human child, transform themselves into guards, horses, and even fleas to elude the despicable Boneless King. In desperation they return to the kingdom of the High King of the Dragons to recruit Shimmer's kinmates in a fight for their lives and to save the Inland Sea. Up high in the sky and down low to the underwater mountains they go to fight the Boneless King's army. Can they defeat this evil incarnate, return Thorn's soul to its human form, and restore the Inland Sea?

City of Fire When her older sister dies trying to prevent the theft of one of her people’s great treasures, Scirye sets out to avenge her and recover the precious item. Helping her are Bayang, a dragon disguised as a Pinkerton agent; Leech, a boy with powers he has not yet discovered; and Leech’s loyal companion Koko, who has a secret of his own. All have a grudge against the thieves who stole the treasure: the evil dragon Badik and the mysterious Mr. Roland. Scirye and her companions pursue the thieves to Houlani, a new Hawaiian island being created by magic. There, they befriend Pele, the volatile and mercurial goddess of volcanoes. But even with Pele on their side, they may not be able to stop Mr. Roland from gaining what he seeks: the Five Lost Treasures of Emperor Yu. Together, they will give him the power to alter the very fabric of the universe….

City of Ice From the islands of Hawaii, Scirye and her loyal companions pursue the villainous Mr. Roland and evil dragon Badik all the way to the city of Nova Hafnia in the Arctic Circle. With the help of a trader, Prince Tarkhun, and his daughter Roxanna, the companions chase their enemies into the vast and desolate Wastes. Scirye and her friends are determined to stop Mr. Roland from getting his hands on the second of the Five Lost Treasures of Emperor Yü, which will give him the power to alter the very fabric of the universe. But few who enter the Wastes ever return, and Scirye has no choice but to call on the spirit of the North for help. As wild and unpredictable as the Arctic itself, will the spirit turn out to be friend or foe?

City of Death (forthcoming, 2013)

The Tiger's Apprentice San Francisco is the setting for this modern-day fantasy. Tom is his Chinese grandmother's somewhat reluctant apprentice in magical arts, but after she dies while defending a mysterious coral rose from evil foes, the eighth grader finds himself enmeshed in a dangerous world where Chinese myth is a reality. The rose, a phoenix egg in disguise, is stolen by Kung Kung's lieutenant, who wants to use it to take over the world, and a motley crew of bickering magical creatures goes on a mission to get it back. The action is nonstop, with one predicament and villain after another, and plenty of humor to lighten things up. Tom's friends may be exotic, but they still have to take buses and taxis to get across the city, squabbling like siblings all the way. Some scenes feel a bit too familiar (a magical marketplace in Chinatown called Goblin Square is quite reminiscent of Harry Potter's Diagon Alley), but the emphasis on Chinese folklore and culture keeps the story fresh. The sense of menace from a powerful enemy isn't as strong or as pervasive as it could be, which sometimes gives the impression that Tom and his cohorts are on an afternoon jaunt rather than an urgent and dangerous quest, but the plot is still compelling, with enough strings left hanging to make readers eagerly anticipate the next book in this projected series.

Tiger's Blood: Book Two Ever since Tom became the apprentice to Mr. Hu, the Guardian of the phoenix egg, his life has been a whirlwind. Now Mr. Hu is weak after saving Tom's life in battle, and the two must flee with their motley crew of friends to the dragon kingdom, far below the ocean's surface. While Tom waits for Mr. Hu to recover, he realizes that even the dragons cannot promise safety. And as an unstoppable evil advances, Tom must find the strength within to protect the egg by himself.

Tiger Magic: Book Three Part of a secret network of ancient Chinese deities headquartered in his uncle's antique store, Tom gears up for a decisive showdown against evil while raising the precious baby phoenix that imprinted upon him at the end of book two. As Yep crowds ever larger hordes of characters and creatures into the conflict, even series fans will find it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. But the epic dust-ups will thrill action-addicted readers regardless, and most libraries will want to complete the Tiger's Apprentice adventures, one of few middle-grade fantasy series with roots in Chinese lore.

The Magic Paintbrush After his parents are killed in a fire, eight-year-old Steve experiences cultural and generational shock when he goes to live with his immigrant grandfather and Uncle Fong in a Chinatown tenement. Convinced that the stern, disapproving old men don't want him, his grief and misery are compounded by shame when he's penalized at school for not buying a new paintbrush--which his penurious grandfather can ill afford. The rapprochement begins when Steve's grandfather gives him a family heirloom, a paintbrush said to be made with the hairs from a unicorn's tale. Suddenly, whatever the boy paints springs to life, from a steak to the Chinatown moon of legends, transforming their dreary life. "Chinatowners are made, not born," insists his grandfather, who, with Uncle Fong's help, uses the new vistas that the paintbrush reveals as an opportunity to teach his grandson the lore of his ancestral homeland. As always, Yep's crisp style keeps the pages turning, and he leavens his story with snappy dialogue, realistic characters and plenty of wise humor.

The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Tale When a poor farmer falls into the clutches of a dragon, he begs each of his seven daughters to save him from death by marrying the horrifying creature. At last, the youngest consents. The dragon carries Seven (the daughters are named in birth order, following Chinese tradition) to his home under the sea. Far from being frightened, Seven is full of wonder. When she tells the dragon, "The eye sees what it will, but the heart sees what it should," the monster turns into a handsome prince. They live happily until Seven longs to return home. There, her jealous third sister tries to drown her and takes her place as mistress of the dragon's palace. Then the Prince must go searching for his lost bride. Lavish, hyperrealistic paintings appear opposite each page of text, with two wordless double-page spreads interspersed. However, few of the paintings begin to capture the shivery wonder of the narrative. Most are too literal to illuminate the mood of the story, and leave little scope for the imagination. In the version included in Betsy Hearne's Beauties and Beasts (Oryx, 1993), the monster bridegroom is a snake. Here, the snake transforms itself into a dragon, increasing the excitement and danger. Still, Yep's version of this romantic adventure celebrates resilience and understanding.

The Shell Woman and the King: a Chinese folktale When Uncle Wu marries the beautiful Shell, who is of the sea and can assume the form of a seashell at will, he cannot resist bragging about her, and word soon reaches the realm's greedy, cruel king. The ruler imprisons Wu, vowing to kill him and marry Shell--unless she can perform three seemingly impossible tasks. Relying on both magic and wiles, she accomplishes all three feats and destroys the monarch forever. Yep's evocative yet gentle retelling emphasizes the story's romantic aspects as well as its supernatural qualities: Wu and Shell meet because both are lonely, and they establish their bond with mutual understanding and trust. Yang's exquisite pen-and-watercolor scenes have the simultaneous delicacy and strength of traditional Chinese art. His precise, graceful lines and soft colors capture both the mystery of Shell's transformations and the practical determination that underpins her eventual success, and evoke settings ranging from the solitary expansiveness of the South China shore to the cold, terrible splendor of the royal palace.

The Ghost Fox Drawing on a classic Chinese ghost story, Yep delivers a lively, shivery tale in which a nine-year-old boy tests his wits against those of a powerful ghost fox. The stakes are high: the ghost fox is intent on stealing Little Lee's mother's soul. Prompted by his loving mother's seemingly inexplicable transformation into a harsh and distant woman, Little Lee pretends to be a ghost fox and gets the best of his adversary, restoring his mother to her former self. Little Lee--resourceful, persistent and remarkably self-sufficient--makes an appealing hero. His story, though simply told, spans an impressive range, from the tension of the supernatural to the humor of Little Lee's interactions with his mother's family to the darkness of the mother's estrangement. The Tsengs (who illustrated Yep's The Boy Who Swallowed Snakes , reviewed above) provide a visual grounding for the exotic 17th-century setting with historically accurate pen-and-ink drawings.

The Man who Tricked a Ghost Sung is a man so brave that he thinks nothing of walking home at night, despite his friend's warning. Accosted by a ghost (none of your flimsy European wraiths--this huge, solid-looking warrior has a fiercely craggy visage and ``antique armor made of rhinoceros hide with metal scales''), Sung boldly claims to be a ghost, too. Undaunted by the ghost's mission--to scare or kill the overcourageous Sung, whom he doesn't recognize--Sung tricks him at every turn, even getting the ghost to confide that ``once we are spat upon we cannot change our shape''--a useful bit of information that in the end not only saves Sung but enriches him. Yep's simple, lively narrative perfectly suits an entertaining trickster tale that, he notes, dates in written form to the third century; Seltzer matches its energy and humor in vibrant, freely rendered paintings that will enthrall listeners as much as the spooky, funny story. A winner.

Tongues of Jade Drawing on the same WPA project that provided the bare bones for his Rainbow People (HarperCollins, 1989), Yep has crafted a fine collection of short stories based in the oral Chinese-American tradition. Tongues of Jade has a distinctly more Chinese feeling than the previous title, and supernatural tales predominate. Organized under headings like "Roots," "Family Ties," etc., the stories are sometimes thoughtful, always effective, and usually point to some moral. The writing is replete with lush descriptions, witty asides, and crackling dialogue. Each story is a world of its own; each is successful and satisfying. All open with an attractive ink-and-wash illustration. The selections range from tragic to touching to richly humorous. The only peculiarities are the mini-essays that introduce the sections. While earnest in intent, they are not substantial enough to supply meaningful context and tie the pieces together by the slenderest of threads. This aside, Yep has gathered an excellent compilation of folktales that will be enjoyed by a wide audience of readers--and listeners.

The Rainbow People Chinese folktales, selected and retold by Yep from those collected in the 1930s in the Oakland Chinatown as part of a WPA project. His introduction helps children to see the Chinese workers, gathered in a shack after their day of "hot, grueling work," telling stories to pass the time before sleep comes. Each section is prefaced by a short explanation of how the tales might relate to the Chinese-American experience. Yep retells the stories simply and directly, attempting to use his own voice while preserving the "spirit and spare beauty" of the original tales. He does this by weaving bits of rich description into short, clear telling. The tales, while drawn from and depicting Chinese culture, present a variety of familiar motifs and types: wizards and saints, shape changing and magical objects, pourquoi tales and lessons. An "Afterword" provides suggestions for further reading on Chinese folktales. This is an excellent introduction to Chinese and Chinese-American folklore that reads aloud well, that will provide little-known tales for telling, and that is simple enough for older children to read by themselves.

Sweetwater On the planet Harmony, Tyree and his people are fighting to survive. Their beautiful world holds terrible dangers -- vicious sea creatures, diminishing food supplies, and, at the heart of it all, a rising tide that will soon destroy the city where they cling to their way of life. Tyree has secretly befriended Amadeus, the greatest songmaster of the native alien race. Amadeus teaches Tyree about the power of music, and, to Tyree's blind sister, he gives an awesome treasure. But his gift kindles the fears of Tyree's people -- fears more dangerous than the sea itself. Tyree must help his people before they tear their community apart. In this richly inventive science-fiction novel, acclaimed children's author Laurence Yep creates a future world that is as haunting and as powerful as the song that Tyree learns to play.

Monster Makers, Inc. Godzilla makes an unruly pet, as teenage Piper Kincaid learns when his geneticist father hatches a monster a foot high to prove it's possible. (On the command, "Tokyo," the little beast breathes fire.) Even so, Dr. Kincaid's fledgling business on the planet Carefree is foundering through bad luck and the tendency of his little creatures to get loose and wreak havoc at nearby resort hotels. One such ecapade introduces Piper to spoiled but personable Shandi Tyr, whose tycoon father may be the financial angel the Kincaids need. First, though, they learn that their bad luck was contrived by alien Xylk beings, who were worried that the scientist would see through their own genetic engineering, a key element of their plan of invasion. This is a lively young adult novel, but its marketing as an adult book creates expectations it was not meant to fulfill.

Tree Of Dreams Drawing on sources acknowledged at the end of the book, Yep retells 10 stories from Japan, India, China, Greece, Brazil, and Senegal in lively prose, shaping plot and point of view to emphasize each tale's dream aspect. In one selection, Badger guardians speak to their generous benefactor in his dream. In another, a prince braves distance and danger to find the princess of his dreams. In a third, a boy's dream spirit enters the body of a cricket, while a warrior dreams a lifetime as an ant, and learns humility. In yet another, a boy gains wisdom from the tree of dreams growing deep in the rain forest, only to incur murderous jealousy from other members of his tribe. A preface reminds readers that "dreaming is a bond that unites us," while an afterword briefly touches on the literary, scientific, and Freudian views on dreams. Seltzer offers one illustration per tale in a brash, deliberately rough-hewn style emphasizing the tales' strangeness. A collection to read for pure enjoyment, or to ponder the connection between dreams and folklore.