Fantasy Book Club discussion

The newest book in this series is coming out on Oct. 27, 2011 in the UK and in January 2012 in the US. It's titled Initiate's Trial and I cannot wait!

I started reading this series almost a year ago and have been immersed in it pretty much since, although I've taken vacations for another equally compelling series. Off the top of my head, here are my thoughts about the series so far:

Athera is the most intriguing, fascinating, mysterious, and beautiful place I've ever had the privilege to enjoy. I would love to live there. Somehow Janny has created a place that has come alive for me and I love it almost as much as the F7, the clans, and Arithon must. (Among others, of course).

Arithon is one of the most intriguing, fascinating, aggravating, intense, arbitrary and angst-filled heroes in literature. The only other hero that has fascinated me as much is Francis Crawford of Lymond from D. Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles. He seems to come of age in this last installment. Yet he remains arrogant as he never bothers to explain his actions to anyone. Elaira is the only one who has the patience to wait him out.

The role of dragons twists my mind up trying to figure it out. In the most recent book, Stormed Fortress, (view spoiler)[the scenes between Seshkrozchiel and Davien are very very powerful. Asandir's role in it was touching beyond words. Yet I struggle to understand and foresee the future. Seshkrozchiel's care in cleansing the grimward was beautiful. I wonder if she will tend to the others. (hide spoiler)]Janny has indeed created a dragon species that is unique in literature as far as I know it. AND more interesting. I guess we'll see what GRRM does with it (wry grin) if he ever finishes SoIaF.

The role of music and sound in the series is truly magical - and believable! It's logical and makes complete sense to me. That's one of the things I love about the series. The magic is based in science, and is so believable that I wish it could be true. Science did seem 'magical' to the uneducated when it first came into being. And who knows? If we ever were able to use all of our unused brain cells perhaps we could come to the kind of awareness that could manipulate matter with our own energy. Seems possible.

I have to say that I came to forgive Lysaer just a teensy bit at the end of Stormed Fortress. But he has been the most maddening, hateful character to me so far. I've expressed my disgust with his actions many times so I won't go into it here. The only thing I can say is that Janny has wowed me many times already with her ability to create scenes of forgiveness, love, and redemption, so perhaps she can come up with some way to make me like him again, but so far I'm skeptical. I tend to be a little primitive in my dislikes and just want to squash people and later am ashamed when someone more mature shows me the way to forgiveness. :-/

My fingers are tired, so will type more later, but have many thoughts about Dakar, Feylind, Selidie, Lirenda, etc., as well. And there were some critical holes in that ceremony at Athir that make me fear for Arithon's future with the Koriathain. Plus, I have read the teasers for Initiate's Trial - grin.

I hope some of the rest of you who love this series will post so that we can discuss it.

This has become my favorite modern Fantasy, Sandra. I started the 1st book in early January and am near the end of Traitor's Knot, having just encountered the most erotic, PG-rated, straight, romantic scene I have ever read. WOW!

I'm going to take an emotional break before starting Stormed Fortress and read some short SF's, though one is Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand for a group read by Samuel R. Delany, so I don't know what to expect and may just flip out entirely ;-)

I'm feeling anxious about finishing Stormed Fortress, 'cause I'll have to wait till the Fall to read the next book and then who knows how long for the rest? But this will give me time to read all of Janny's other novels, perhaps even a re-reading of the Empire series, if I can find the books.

Kernos wrote: "This has become my favorite modern Fantasy, Sandra. I started the 1st book in early January and am near the end of Traitor's Knot, having just encountered the most erotic, PG-rated, st..."

Well, unlike you, I could not stop between books, but I do understand the emotional intensity. These books do wring you out! I have yelled, wept, cheered, and sighed while reading them. While I am an emotional reader and usually base my ratings on how and whether I respond emotionally, few books have taken me to the intensity of Janny Wurts. I've enjoyed reading your posts as you've read the series, and will be anxious to see how you like Stormed Fortress.

I plan to reread the series (third time) late this summer in anticipation of the release of Initiate's Trial.

Good luck with your diversions. Stars in my Pocket sounds a little weird.

Janny's anticipating two years until Destiny's Conflict and two more til Song of the Mysteries. She'd better not take longer as I am getting old! Grin.

Could you maybe mark the title of this thread to indicate that it contains series spoilers? Maybe it's obvious to others, but I wasn't aware that it would contain any before I opened it and started reading them....

Dawn wrote: "Could you maybe mark the title of this thread to indicate that it contains series spoilers? Maybe it's obvious to others, but I wasn't aware that it would contain any before I opened it and started..."

Done.

Thank you :)

Dawn wrote: "Thank you :)"

I also edited my post to hide a spoiler. I don't think the rest of it is spoilery.

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "...Good luck with your diversions. Stars in my Pocket sounds a little weird...."

Indeed. Delany and weird go together like bread and butter.

It strikes me that perhaps a list of the books in the order they are meant to be read is appropriate here. This series is a long one with several climaxes, and a few pauses in the action. The first book is called Arc #1 (stage setter).
Two and three are Arc #2 (deepens the personal conflicts).
The next 5 are called Alliance of Light (Arc #3 includes broader world view).
The next two to be released are called Sword of the Canon or Arc #4 - (stages and then unveils the Mysteries).
The last book is Song of the Mysteries or Arc #5 - climax and resolution.

Apparently this causes some confusion to readers and marketers alike, but I fail to see what all the fuss is about. They are meant to be read in order.

The Curse of the Mistwraith
The Ships of Merior
Warhost of Vastmark
Fugitive Prince
Grand Conspiracy
Peril's Gate
Traitor's Knot
Stormed Fortress

The story is in chronological order. If you don't read them that way, you'll be lost, believe me.

I actually see the series as a great novel, like LOTR, though much longer. And, it needs the length, nearly every paragraph is a necessary part of the whole.

There is nothing quite like this in all of literature.

Kernos wrote: "I actually see the series as a great novel, like LOTR, though much longer. And, it needs the length, nearly every paragraph is a necessary part of the whole.

There is nothing quite like this in al..."

You're right! I couldn't stop, once I started. Do you want to say anything about the language she uses? She's been accused of 'too many adjectives' and what not.

I totally disagree as the language is bardic and has its own rhythm, like poetry almost. Once you get buried in it, it's hard to pull yourself out. Almost like a wonderful dream that you don't want to wake up from.

The language is what makes it musical, certainly a meme of this series.

Another reason for the very descriptive language is, it is often describing more than one thing. While telling us the apparent story, the imagery is often hinting at something else. Or the words can be taken in a way that might not be so apparent at first. Some of the things that we notice towards the end of the series, were mentioned very early but were not obvious. Some of the themes that we get in the last book Song of the Mysteries, have already been covered in some form through all the previous books. You can re-read the covers of the books and still not pick everything out Janny has put in there. Some things we have not yet been given the 'key' yet to unlock that part of the story, even though there have been hints some might have noticed. But as you read through the series multiple times, different aspects will turn up depending on what the perspective of the reader was, or what specifically they were looking for if they already suspected something was hidden in there that they had missed when previously reading.

You can re-read the series multiple times and have the fun of uncovering a bit more of the story each time. I do not believe it is possible to actually see everything on just one read through. And then there is the even more obscure things for fans to chase who need something to keep them busy between books. Janny created her own language, Paravian for the books. Each book we get more words and definitions, to add to the mix. The language is not just any common language, any who fancy themselves a linguist will see some patterns in it. Yes Janny seems to have put hints in there to keep the imaginative busy. Not just in how the language is used, and its descriptive words, but also in the letters that make up those words. We are not going to be uncovering Ath's secrets yet, since Janny has not given us all the clues. But still fans could get a lot of ideas if they want to look really closely at things. Whether it is the artwork, the story, the imagery within the story or Paravian itself Janny put plenty of hints in there and is not likely to be handing us the answers till the final book. That is not to say she has not given us enough to work it out, but most of us are still clueless, or waiting for more clues.

So whether you just want an obvious story of the woes of two Princes set at odds by a curse, whether you are interested in a deeper tale of the evolving spirit or even a tale of how Light and Shadow can be interpreted differently, or even misinterpreted, Janny threw plenty of options in there, you can interpret the story lots of ways, how much depth you see is dependent on the reader and how much time they want to spend looking. But yes the language can be a bit different and some might not persist or might not be able to see past that to uncover the fantastic world, vivid characters and intriguing story.

I've been meaning to ask this and I guess this is as good a place as any.

I have been wanting to read Janny Wurts for months now. But not sure of where to start. I kind of would like to start with a standalone to get an idea of her style without jumping into another long series. But if the standalones aren't as good I might be better off just taking the plunge.

Here are the books I'm looking at,
1. The Curse of the Mistwraith
2. The Master of Whitestorm
3. To Ride Hell's Chasm

Recommendation?

Traci wrote: "I've been meaning to ask this and I guess this is as good a place as any.

I have been wanting to read Janny Wurts for months now. But not sure of where to start. I kind of would like to start with..."

There are samples on her website:

http://www.paravia.com/JannyWurts/web...

To Ride Hell's Chasm is probably a good place to start. If you like it, then read The Curse of the Mistwraith. If it doesn't knock your socks off, it is complete in and of itself, so you wouldn't have to continue.

I would also recommend To Ride Hell's Chasm as a good place to start if you just want to try one book. Not all Janny's books are written in the same style though, so even not liking one, you could love some of the others. I had read The Empire Trilogy, The Master of Whitestorm, Sorcerer's Legacy and The Cycle of Fire books liked them well enough but never became a fan till I had read the WoLaS books. Started on The Curse of the Mistwraith and then read the entire series in one go up to Stormed Fortress. I then decided to buy all of Janny's novels and the WoLaS short stories. WoLaS and To Ride Hell's Chasm would be my favourites.

Aussie500 wrote: "Another reason for the very descriptive language is, it is often describing more than one thing. While telling us the apparent story, the imagery is often hinting at something else. Or the words ca..."

I've had this urge for some time to write about a book or series. But, most that really interest me have been done. Tolkien: one could spend a lifetime reading everything written about Tolkien. Dhalgren was the next that stimulated me, and could be done too. I think one would need to know a lot more about writing than I to do it without a lot of research. American Gods is a possibility and an interest, again requiring a lot of research. The Wars of Light and Shadow would be a good choice for me. I am not aware of an analysis of the intricacies, levels, meanings found throughout the books. It would be an interesting project, approachable from many POVs and I think worth such an analysis. I wish I were younger.

Sandra, again thank you and thank you again for electing To Ride Hell’s Chasm as November 2014 group read, I loved the book and I put the other standalones of Janny Wurts on my TBR, but thanks to the group interaction and Janny's interesting replies I decided to spend my Christmas vacation with the light and shadow series, I'm currently reading The Curse of the Mistwraith and so far I'm loving it, I'm experiencing many things I've loved in both Hell's Chasm and The Master of White Storm with a great compelling setting and a depth of style and characters that's awesome!! I read the short story Child of Prophecy before starting with Mistwraith and I warmly recommend it as a treat, the beginning of the book was complicated at first for the background information, but I recognized some things mentioned in the short story and it was easier to proceed. But after reading other books by Janny I know I'm in for a lot of surprises, I don't even try to predict how the story is going to play. I'm still in the first part of the book but it's so absolutely INTENSE. When I noticed I let out a breath I wasn't even aware I was holding when the princes started to call each other by first name I knew I was hooked.

Alissa wrote: "Sandra, again thank you and thank you again for electing To Ride Hell’s Chasm as November 2014 group read, I loved the book and I put the other standalones of Janny Wurts on my TBR, ..."

That's cool, Alissa. So glad you're enjoying her work. It's so under appreciated that it's ridiculous. Happy reading.

Any word about when Destiny's Conflict will be available?

I heard from official sources that the volume is nearly done (http://www.paravia.com/discus/message...).

Thank you, Alissa, for fully appreciating Janny's work. Yes, she is the most under-appreciated fantasy author, and to me the best one writing today. I will be very interested to see what happens when the WoL&S series is finished. A big reader response would be so appropriate.

Janny has not yet finished the first draft for Destiny's Conflict, then she spends time editing and polishing till she is happy with the book. And it takes a fair while for the publisher to get things ready. But I am hoping we get to read it next Christmas, if not it will be worth the wait.

Hi Charles! You're absolutely right. And as you foretold, I've been delighted by both the story and Janny's stylistic exquisiteness (quote). Reading The Master of White Storm (though different, you can't fail to appreciate the puzzle who is Arithon after meeting Korendir, the master of White Storm) and Child of Prophecy before Mistwraith was an educated bonus. I've just finished it and I've seamlessly started The Ships of Merior. I loved the book, and even if that part of the story is self-contained I needed to know how things were going to play next, and so I'm savoring Merior without delay.
@Aussie The end of 2015 would be my hope, too, because I'm quite positive I'll find my way up to book 9 before next Christmas. Janny wrote "Destiny's Conflict will finale that arc, and it is nearly done." in the Hell's Chasm Q&A thread on November :):)