Fantasy Book Club discussion

Post here if you are planning to read this book.

Definitely going to be reading this one. Looks like it's going to offer a little something beyond the typical fantasy novel, so I'm very excited!

I've heard good things about it.

I read it a couple of weeks ago. Looking forward to the discussions.

Yes, it is in my to read pile. This novel seems different than your regular fantasy novel.

Derrick wrote: "In my TBR pile, so I should be participating in the discussion.

I hope it is good. For some reason it brings to mind Peter V. Brett and his The Warded Man series. Hopefully it will be that good :)"
If it reminds folks of The Warded Msn, I don't think I'm going to read it. Slogged through the first book and never even picked up the second. Same thing with that thing about the colors where the guy supposedly lives 7 years after becoming king. Can't even remember the name of that one. Interesting but I just couldn't get into either of them

I also read it recently and am looking forward to talking about it.

I've ordered it and will be reading it once I get it.

Just started reading it.

It's not available for Kindle in the UK, so don't think I'll be reading it yet.

I just reserved it at the library. I definitely plan on reading it, especially since two of my book clubs are reading it.

Started it last night.

I was planning to read this book, read the description and got quite excited about it but have just discovered that it is only available in the United Kingdom as an expensive Hardcover! Paperback is not due out until 2013 and there is no ebook for Kindle version. Oh well... i'm going to have to give this one a miss for now.

That's just ridiculous that they limit ebook sales by geographical area. Don't the idiots know they're missing out on sales? I bought four or five books from Waterstone's until they realized I'm in the US and sent me an email that they couldn't sell me any more! Bah humbug!

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "That's just ridiculous that they limit ebook sales by geographical area. Don't the idiots know they're missing out on sales? I bought four or five books from Waterstone's until they realized I'm ..."

Agreed. There's been some discussion about this in the Sword & Laser group -- apparently, with the Kindle, at least, you can work around it by going into your account settings and temporarily changing the country of registration. I'm pretty sure it's driven by the publishers, not by Amazon.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

Joseph wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "That's just ridiculous that they limit ebook sales by geographical area. Don't the idiots know they're missing out on sales? I bought four or five books from Waterstone's ..."

It's driven by different copyright (intellectual property) laws in various countries.

Jon wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "That's just ridiculous that they limit ebook sales by geographical area. Don't the idiots know they're missing out on sales? I bought four or five books fro..."

Yes I know. I still think it's stupid.

Got a little catching up to do, but I plan to read it in a week or so.

I'm planning to read it at some point, but maybe not in June. My county library system doesn't have it and I can't request it via InterLibrary Loan because it hasn't been out for 6 months yet.

I started reading it today andi like it so far.

I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic concepts that people seem to have about this part of the world. So to spare myself the anger, tantrums and hurling the book out of the window scenarios I'm going to pass on this one.

I'm currently reading it, might finish it today or tomorrow, can't say I'm very impressed by it though....

Lilyan wrote: "I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic concepts that people seem to hav..."

well I'm an arab as well and didn't find it that simmilar to Arabic civilization, I agree with you that it might give a wrong idea about our culture and world, and I'd really like to see what an other Arabian person would think about it, but right now, I'm trying to figure out how am supposed to tell people what is real and what is not... though I can't pretend to be an expert in the late Abbasid era, which I think the events of this book take place in a similar parallel universe

ok ,I'll have to agree about the cliches as well....though no tantrums from my part...more of this in the spoiler discussion

Just started reading it. Like it so far.

Jasmine wrote: "Lilyan wrote: "well I'm an arab as well and didn't find it that simmilar to Arabic civilization, I agree with you that it might give a wrong idea about our culture and world, and I'd really like to see what an other Arabian person would think about it, but right now, I'm trying to figure out how am supposed to tell people what is real and what is not... though I can't pretend to be an expert in the late Abbasid era, which I think the events of this book take place in a similar parallel universe"

I'd love to read your comments on it! :) It's great when someone can point out the things the rest of us will very likely miss.

I hope I'll find the time to read this, although I'd have to take a break from my WOT re-read. Oddly enough I seem to be able to download a Kindle version from Sweden.

Lilyan wrote: "I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic concepts that people seem to hav..."

One of the things that drew me to the book was that the author draws on his own Arab-American background to write a setting that is different from most of what is out there. I am wondering if that different setting mmatters or if this book simply apllies a different set of cliches to a typical adventure tale.

Lilyan wrote: "I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic concepts that people seem to hav..."

I'd think that, in reading any fantasy at all, one would need to consider the fact that the cultural context of the book, while it may mirror the "real world" to some degree, is by no means meant to be authoritative. In fact, from my perspective, it seems that the very cultural 'inconsistencies' that might lead to irritation in a historical work, would be one of the very things that contribute to the designation of a book as "fantasy."

We don't read fantasy because we want parity with reality. We read fantasy for where it can take us, imaginatively, FROM reality. I view the similarities only as a tool to help the reader identify with the world described.

Many religions portrayed in fantasy novels bear unmistakable similarities to real religions. It would be a waste of offense to be bothered by such things. The 'gods' or 'creator' or whatever, while they may bear similarities to those of real world religions, are NOT those real world religious entities...and the worlds they rule over are NOT the real worlds and cultures we see around us.

Fantasy is just that. :-)

My two cents.

Matt wrote: "Lilyan wrote: "I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic concepts that peo..."

that's a good point Matt, I guess I shouldn't worry very much about correcting misconceptions :D

Sitting on my desk next to me, plunging into the first part later.

Derrick wrote: "Jasmine wrote: "I guess I shouldn't worry very much about correcting misconceptions"

Do you really realize how insulting your comment is? You take it upon yourself to prejudge me and my reactions ..."

I don't think she meant it that way. English is a second language with Jasmine.

I'm 38% in and I'm really enjoying it so far. I like the Arabic style because it sets it apart from other Fantasy novels, but I don't read it as representing reality. To me it seems like the setting, characters, etc. are inspired by Arabic culture.

I'm also really liking it. It's definitely not trying to be a historical fantasy or anything like that (for example, something like The Desert of Souls by Howard Andrew Jones that's actually set in historical Baghdad); it's an imaginary-world fantasy that's drawing on Arabic folklore and customs instead of the usual medieval Europe filtered through D&D.

Derrick wrote: "Jasmine wrote: "I guess I shouldn't worry very much about correcting misconceptions"

Do you really realize how insulting your comment is? You take it upon yourself to prejudge me and my reactions ..."

um, what did I say wrong? my comment was a continuation to a discussion we had above, all I meant to say, is when I was reading the book I found some similarities to the arab history, now when people (non arabs) read this book, and they don't know much about our history, they won't be able to tell what is real and what is fantasy, in the beginning I found it my duty to tell you guys (for example, there is no such order in the arab or Islamic culture that says a man can't get married, marriage is most sacred relationship for us,it's the foundation of the arab and muslim civilization, and it bothered me to see two of the characters are from orders that forbade marriage) and this is but one example, but after reading Matt's comment, I thought " maybe I shouldn't bother, it's a fantasy book, and I shouldn't tell people what to think about it.

I'm picking it up soon, but I'm a little wary about it. I have not enjoyed a few of the books this book club and others I read with have chosen to read in more recent months. I feel like there are a lot of average romantic fantasy novels lately.

Jasmine wrote: "when I was reading the book I found some similarities to the arab history, now when people (non arabs) read this book, and they don't know much about our history, they won't be able to tell what is real and what is fantasy ..."

Despite what I said earlier, I do think it would be interesting to find out about some of these kinds of differences/issues -- maybe it could be its own thread? For example, I didn't know about the marriage thing; I just thought, "OK, holy warrior, marriage forbidden, check."

Well I won't be participating and found out why it isn't on kindle, the book isn't released in the UK until next year. What a *&^%*@$&^E£"£ joke! This is like the Fortress series, where parts 1, 2, 4 & 5 are on kindle but part 3 is paperback. Publishers!

Looks like you'll have discussions aplenty from this thread!

Matt wrote: "Lilyan wrote: "I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic concepts that peo..."

I agree with you. Fantasy novels are always extortions of existing cultures/religions/ casts/ etc., I mean you see reference to the Arabian culture in WOT and that doesn't bother me. I just instantly developed an aversion to this book for some reason, it could be the main characters name which is really bothering me, I don't know, but feel like it's going to piss me off. Hence, I'm not going to read it :D

Joseph wrote: "Jasmine wrote: "when I was reading the book I found some similarities to the arab history, now when people (non arabs) read this book, and they don't know much about our history, they won't be able..."

I would read the book just to participate in the thread you suggested :P.

Helen wrote: "Well I won't be participating and found out why it isn't on kindle, the book isn't released in the UK until next year. What a *&^%*@$&^E£"£ joke! This is like the Fortress series, where parts 1, 2,..."

I guess after this we should check to make sure books are available in other countries.

Thanks Sandra. Seems odd that release dates can be so far apart.

Helen wrote: "Thanks Sandra. Seems odd that release dates can be so far apart."

Yes it does.

I just finished the prologue to part II and am relieved that it is hugely improved since the misbegotten prologue.

After the comments about the book in relation to Arab culture it occurs to me that this is, after all, a fantasy book - perhaps patterned on Arab culture but certainly not meant to be realistic. I am truly enjoying the Doctor the dervish and the Badawi tribe girl. An interesting mix of characters.

Helen wrote: "Thanks Sandra. Seems odd that release dates can be so far apart."

Odder still that it seems to be a UK thing (I'm happily reading it on my Kindle, downloaded from Sweden), although I suppose the rights might well be different since no Swedish publishing house has a translation out.

I felt so-so about the prologue, but liked the first chapter rather more. It's nice to have a protagonist who's not in the prime of his life.

About a quarter of the way through, and so far I am enjoying it. It is much more of an adventure story than I had first thought. By that I mean, it does some worldbuilding and exposition, but much of it takes place in the context of the ongoing tale. Unlike sprawling mythological fantasy like Tolkien or GRRM or a myriad others, Ahmed's story seems more grounded in the moment.

I do feel that at times it's essentially an "Arab Forgotten Realms" or (insert generic fantasy world here) but since I can appreciate those sorts of tales as much as doorstopper fantasy novels, I do not mind at all. The characters are interesting and I enjoy the interplay between them.

Lilyan wrote: "Matt wrote: "Lilyan wrote: "I'm deff. not going to be reading this. I'm an Arab, and from the names he gave his characters I have a feeling this book is gonna be a trove of cliches and idiotic conc..."

Fair enough. I'd be lying if I said I'd never been rubbed the wrong way by something similar.

I do wish that those who know their Arabic culture would point out which parts are real and which fantasy. I hope Jasmine will start the thread! I understand that this is fiction, but it usually bothers me not to know which part was fiction and which real.

I don't have time to read this in June but I hope to read in July.

If you hope to read more about what writers think about writing other cultures than the Western one:

http://worldsf.wordpress.com/2012/05/...

Sini wrote: "I do wish that those who know their Arabic culture would point out which parts are real and which fantasy. I hope Jasmine will start the thread! I understand that this is fiction, but it usually bo..."

Agreed. I admit to having less lore than I'd like about Arabian-style fantasy, having only read 1001 Nights and some pulpy novels of the type.

I can't say I've read much fantasy based around Muslim/Arab settings. I'm not sure how many there really are. I would however recommend The Lions of al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay. It's based in a fantasy version of medieval Spain, and is absolutely wonderful.

I'm trying to read this book, but can't get into it. Struggling to get past the first chapter.

Sini wrote: "I do wish that those who know their Arabic culture would point out which parts are real and which fantasy. I hope Jasmine will start the thread! I understand that this is fiction, but it usually bo..."

hi, I just saw your suggestion, I'm sorry I haven't been a around for a while, I was very sick and bed ridden, and today is my first time in 10 days to be online...

I think I'll have to decline, first, for the reason above, since I'm still sick and in bed, and my mental capacity is to its minimum, and second.... I think it's better if one doesn't know what is real and what is not...for example, in GRRM's world I was amazed to the amount of detail he poured into his books, and I was wondering, did he he come up with all of this?! he must be a wonderful writer to come up with all those names, foods, histories, traditions, relations...etc as much as he did...and since I have no idea what the middle ages were like I allowed myself to give full credit to Martin or assume that most of it was his...it's nice this way, not telling where the line between fantasy and reality is drawn, don't you agree?

but there are certain things (like the marriage part I mentioned before) I might address in the other discussions, since they are outrageously different that our culture...if you like to hear about those, that is