No, it’s not going to be THAT kind of post…The Husband and I just finished up the last book in Kage Baker’s Company series over the weekend. Yes, it went from his hot little hands straight into mine and I was done 14 hours later (I paused to sleep). I say “last” book…it’s the endgame in the multitude of threads she’s woven thusfar. I could see how there’s plenty of room for at least short stories down the road. Hope, hope.
Anyway.
Baker’s writing style is best described as “restrained ebullience.” She loves the language, you can tell, and has a subtle sense of humor. The biggest compliment I ever received about my (cough) writing is that I reminded the reader of Kage Baker. Not bad for something I don’t even enjoy doing, eh?
The Company series starts with In the Garden of Iden, and weaves through alternating volumes of short stories and novels. Yes, the short stories are just as important as the novels, mainly just for story backfill, but still important. Baker has a multitude of short stories scattered around different compliations as well (often otherwise unworthy of the purchase price), and two other short story collections: Dark Mondays and Mother Aegypt and Other Stories. Oh, and her standalone fantasy novel, The Anvil of the World, is quite one of the very best books I’ve ever read, right up there with Bridge of Birds.
I’m going through about a book a day here, and need some more recommendations. Forget anything related to the “human condition.” I know what the human condition is…fucked up…and I don’t care to read about it. My tastes lean heavily towards sci-fi, fantasy (as long as it’s not unicorn/princess schmaltz), basically anything escapist. I do read the occasional Kathy Reichs book, though those are so damned heavy you really have to indulge in a three-month palate cleansing afterwards with as much drivel as you can get your hands on. What I need is some hard sci-fi. I just finished the first two books in Allen Steele’s Coyote series, and that whetted the appetite. I do not love sci-fi authors who write as if their audience already knows wtf they’re talking about (I’m looking at YOU, Larry Niven). Charles Sheffield was a fantastic sci-fi author, but Charles Stross leaves me cold.
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After I took all the time and trouble to review Burn Notice, did you people start watching it? Because its 2-hour season finale last Thursday kicked all sorts of ass. The tradecraft remains impeccable throughout. The supporting characters are still kind of thin, but then that’s what episode progression is for. You can catch it in reruns on the USA network, I’m sure…season 2 starts next summer (!!!).
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The fall television season starts this week, as you know, with lots of sci-fi goodness. I firmly believe they will completely hork up The Bionic Woman but we’re going to try it anyway. Heroes got off to a good start last night, though I swear that sodding little symbol is starting to give me a headache. How I Met Your Mother started last night as hoped for (“…DARY!”), and if you’re not watching this show then there’s no hope for you.
Reaper starts tonight on the CW network…”A twenty-something slacker works as a bounty hunter for the devil.” Tasty premise. It’s only directed by Kevin Smith, not actually written by him, so I’m trying not to get too excited.
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Aaand that’s what I’ve got for today. Aren’t you glad you stopped by?