If you register with tor.com you get a free ebook each week. This week's book is In the garden of Iden by Kage Baker, which is an excellent history/science-fiction/romance novel that explores faith, passion and what it's like to be immortal. This is your chance to see if you like it before buying a paper copy!

Thanks to Smart Bitches, Trashy Novels for the link!

Tags: baker, books

OK this entry includes the book exchange, in the form of the YA book Exchange by Paul Magrs. It's the story of Simon, a 16 year old who has to live with his grandparents after his parents die, and the role a unique book exchange plays in changing his life, and the life of his grandmother. I liked the well-rounded characters - they and their relationships rang true to me. I also liked the slightly fey air the book exchange has in the middle of an otherwise straightforward story. OK, I admit that the loving descriptions of the books themselves would have won me over even if the rest of the story wasn't as good as it was! However, I felt that the story wrapped up too quickly, especially for the bookstore owner and the relationship between Simon's grandparents. I was a bit ambivalent about some of the messages about reading, and think I gobbled the book down too fast, so I'll certainly be reading it again. But it was a great book and I can see why you like it so much lady_schrapnell - thanks for the recommendation!

generalblossom I finished The machine's child (by Kage Baker)! I haven't read all the books in a row for a long time and found some characters and sub plots were hard to recall, so I will definitely need to re-read it when I've got the earlier books. But generally I enjoyed it. I agree that it was slightly episodic. And that the characters seemed to have a lot of sex rather than conversations - I mean, surely if you're immortal you would want a bit more out of a relationship, and this novel really relied on us knowing why they were in love from earlier books. But sometimes series have weak links so I think the next one will determine if the story arc that's been building up over the Company novels lives up to its promise.

Another recommendation that I followed up on and enjoyed was The wand in the word: conversations with writers of fantasy by Leonard S. Marcus - thanks checkers65477! This book included interviews with some of the best fantasy writers including Susan Cooper, Diana Wynne Jones, Ursula le Guin, Garth Nix, Terry Pratchett, Phillip Pullman, Tamora Pierce, Madeleine L'Engle and Jane Yolen. A fantastic mix! I dipped into this book over the course of a few weeks, and found most of the interviews very interesting. The authors are all very different in how they view their work, how they write and what influenced them in their lives. I loved the photos of their offices and their manuscripts. I disagreed sometimes with the books they picked out for each author's "reader" at the end of each interview, and sometimes wished the interviews were a bit longer (at times it was clear intervening questions had been cut out) but overall a good read for fantasy fans.

EDIT: why haven't I had a non-fiction tag before? I know I've reviewed some non-fiction books before (although only the excellent Freakonomics is coming to mind at the moment) - something to be investigated when I get around to finished re-tagging old entries.

Tags: baker, books, fantasy, magrs, marcus, non-fiction, science fiction, young adult

As usual my lack of recording makes remembering what I've been reading difficult. I do remember that I've been doing quite a lot of re-reading recently. For example, Lynn Flewelling's The bone doll's twin and Hidden warrior were a pleasurable re-read in preparation for the trilogy's third book, which is being released in July this year. Lynn Flewelling is a great fantasy writer who incorporates a great sense of fun with questions of gender and sexuality into her novels. The bone doll's twin is more serious than her other books, and a bit spooky at times, but I think it's probably her best book. Go chase Flewelling's books up if you're a fantasy reader that hasn't discovered her yet!

My next re-read, Kage Baker's The anvil of the world was prompted by generalblossom. Although I had read and enjoyed this book I couldn't remember loving it. But it was fantastic on the second read. Like generalblossom I couldn't really see the Pratchett resemblances but could sometimes see a Diana Wynne Jones touch. (eg:"Poisoned?" inquired Smith. "Aren't all darts that mysteriously appear out of nowhere smeared with deadly poison?" said Lord Ermenwyr.) But the author that this book most evoked was Steven Brust. It wasn't just the assassin character, but also the setting, style and challenges for the characters. I even had the same pattern of thinking Brust OK the first time around and adoring his books the second time. However, all these comparisons shouldn't distract me from saying that this is a clever, funny fantasy that should be bought by all right-thinking fantasy readers. And that if you didn't like it or Brust the first time around have another go.

Finally, I've spotted a new book lying in my "to be returned to the library" pile that some of you might like. It's a YA book by Australian author Jaclyn Moriarty called Feeling sorry for Celia. It's main character is a 15 year girl, Elizabeth, who faces teenage tribulations such as a best friend who keeps running away, not having a boyfriend and a distant father. But these fairly standard events are told in a very funny manner through notes between Elizabeth and her mother, letters between Elizabeth and a new friend and imaginary letters to Elizabeth from different societies, such as the "Society of People who are Definitely Going to Fail High School (and Most Probably Life as Well!)" and the "Association of Teenagers". The latter group are disgusted with her lack of teenage behaviour (never been kissed, never even seen marijuana) and keep recommending she lock herself in the fridge until her teen years are over. A humorous and moving book that's got me hunting down her other novels.

Tags: baker, books, brust, fantasy, flewelling, moriarty, young adult

Kage Baker's first company novel, In the garden of Iden, has been reprinted! Thus allowing me to start converting new readers *evil laugh*.

I think this is the best Company novel (despite recently reading and loving The life of the world to come). It's a novel set in the future and 16th century Spain and England. The company series are basically a drawn-out series of science-fiction mysteries, but this first installment looks at love, passion and faith. talisen says it reminds him of Doomsday Book, but that might just be the time travel/doomed love theme. I don't know if the other books will hold up to re-reading (I remember them as being more confused) but I will be buying them as they are re-released so I can find out.

Tags: baker, books, science fiction