Dune: The Butlerian Jihad

Frank Herbert was undoubtedly one of the most prolific creative minds to ever see the light. To say that the man was a genius would be like saying that Harvard and Oxford are good schools. It doesn't begin to do justice to the man and the talented writer he was. The Dune saga will indubitably be considered the monument of science fiction for years to come. And if anything ever surpasses Dune, I just wish to be alive to read it.:-)

In their previous effort, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson fell short on several levels. Although entertaining, Dune: House Atreides, Dune: House Harkonnen, and Dune: House Corrino never came close to capturing the essence of the original Dune novels. It was neat to return to Herbert's universe and characters, but the books themselves left a lot to be desired.

Which explains why it took me so long to give Dune: The Butlerian Jihad a chance. And what a pleasant surprise to discover that this one more than lives up to the hype. This compelling story about humanity struggling for freedom would certainly have made Frank Herbert proud. With this book, the authors have managed to capture much of the essence of the original Dune series. And that is quite a feat.

Dune: The Butlerian Jihad is, in my humble opinion, the perfect starting point for any newcomers interested in the Dune saga. It is much more accessible than the original series, which could generate interest in a younger fan base that has not yet read the classic novel. And for aficionados, it is quite a treat to see the plotlines that will ultimately converge in Dune.

This book goes back in time: 10, 000 years prior to the events chronicled in Dune. As the title implies, The main story revolves around humanity's rebellion against the thinking machines' tyranny. And it's a multi-layered epic saga which should satisfy most readers.

The characterizations are at times brilliant and at times lacking. First and foremost, this novel is a tale of men and women, making this a character-driven storyline. And as such, the characterizations are well-developed and interesting, at least for the most part. We are introduced to a host of characters whose actions will set in motion the events that will lead to Dune, millennia later. The tables are turned on both Vorian Atreides and Xavier Harkonnen, and it's kind of neat to see an Atreides and a Harkonnen with different roles. Serena Butler plays an immense role, and I was totally taken by surprise by the incident which will mark the starting point of the jihad. Norma Cenva and Tio Holtzman are scientists who are taking science beyond new horizons. Tuk Keedair is a Tlulaxa slaver and flesh merchant who makes an interesting discovery. Omnius, the computer evermind, and Erasmus, the free-thinking robot, provide some insight pertaining to the thinking machines' social structure and agenda. Iblis Ginjo will, without realizing it at first, create the spark that will change humanity forever. And on Arrakis, a young outcast will become the legendary Selim Wormrider.

New concepts such as the evermind, the cymeks, the Cogitors, the Sorceresses of Rossak, the Titans, etc, give another dimension to this tale. And the revelations concerning the Zensunnis and the Zenshiites give us a bit of insight concerning the people who will one day become the fearsome Fremen. And we finally discover what atrocious role the atomic warheads stockpiled on numerous worlds for centuries played in the war against the thinking machines. And just how enormous the price to pay turned out to be. . .

The worldbuilding is interesting enough. But it is often overdone, which prevents many planets and systems to be quite as fascinating as they could be.

All in all, a terrific novel and a very good addition to the Dune saga. I will eagerly read the two sequels.

The final verdict: 9/10

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 23rd)

Nothing to report in hardcover. . .

In paperback:

Troy Denning Star Wars: The Joiner King debuts at number 31.

On another note, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince still holds the number 1 position on the USA Today bestseller list.

Rent-a-Midget

A friend of mine called me to tell me about this website. . . Unbelievable! It's so ridiculous that I can't even comment on it. . .:-)

Check it out at www.rent-a-midget.com

Hero by Nature

I don't normally do movie reviews. People frequently ask me why, and I'm forced to reply that I'm just not the right person for such a gig. Many of my friends would tell you that it's invariably because I find something wrong with every movie I see. As for me, I would simply tell you that it's indubitably because I am demanding. And in all honesty, the truth probably falls somewhere in between.:-)

Short films are generally not my cup of tea. Some are just plain bad. Some are just too odd. You need to have someone explaining every little detail, and then have another person explain the explanation.;-) And a lot of it gets lost in the translation. It's a bit like Modern Art!

By now, most of you are aware that I will shamelessly plug anything that really touched me, or anything that I really liked. Hell, it's my website and I can do what I want!;-) Which explains why I'm doing this movie review. I was invited to the wrap party of the short film Hero by Nature. A good friend of mine, Géraldine Macagno, co-produced it, so I was more than happy to accept the invitation. She had told me a lot concerning the filming and everything which surrounded the production, but very little about the story itself. Hence, I was curious to see the final product.

Hero by Nature was written and produced by Luke Bélanger, and directed by Roger Cantin. Starring in this short film are, among other actors, Frédérick De Grandpré, Laurent-Cristophe De Ruelle and Joe McComber. The soundtrack was composed by Pierre Marchand, whose music truly captures the essence of the story. The music definitely adds layers and textures of emotions, giving another dimension to this short film.

Given what I knew, I was expecting this short film to be of a certain quality. But I never would have thought that it would be this good. Every facet that comprise this movie was well-planned and well-executed. A lot of hard work went into this production; that much is obvious. But I also have a feeling that everyone went the extra mile to give this short film a very special feeling.

Hero by Nature is probably what I would call a social drama. The Oka crisis, which pitted the population of the city of Oka and the surrounding region against the Native Americans, is the backdrop for this story. This is still a very touchy subject in the province of Québec and in the rest of Canada, but the script just brushes over it to set the tone.

The two main themes, at least according to yours truly, appear to be intolerance and hope. It's a short film, which means that it's relatively brief -- about 15 minutes. And the most satisfying aspect of this movie is that it's not a second too long. The timing, the pace, the rhythm deliver the emotions and the message of hope the creators obviously attempt to convey to the public.

I truly enjoyed it. This short film doesn't preach, which was my biggest fear. It's done with a very humane touch, something that really grabs hold of you and makes you wonder. The image quality is excellent, as is the sound. All in all, a very, very nice movie.

I know that Hero by Nature will be competing in different film festivals during the next few months. And since I'm now read by people from over 30 different countries, it's the least I can do to try to spread the word around and to get the ball rolling.:-) You can check Viking Film's website at www.vikingfilm.com/hero/ And if Hero by Nature can be seen during a festival in a town near you, give it a shot. I'm persuaded that you will not be disappointed.

I would like to congratulate everyone who helped bring this short film to the screen for a job more than well-done. And I wish you all continued success. If Hero by Nature is any indication, the potential is definitely there.:-)

Knife of Dreams Review from Dragonmount

Just found this review on wotmania.com and dragonmount.com. . . As a big WoT fan, I have to admit that I'm eagerly awaiting the release of this new RJ book! And with such a review, I just can't wait to get my hands on it!;-)

Patrick
-----------------------

Knife of Dreams: spoiler-free review

Posted by: Jason on Monday, August 22nd, 2005I have copy and pasted by review below. But if you pass this link around, please link to:http://www.dragonmount.com/Books/Knife_of_Dreams/review.php. Thanks!

Standard Disclaimer: This "spoiler-free" review will not give away specific plot elements, but it will likely hint at a few things. Also, by the very nature of the fact that I'm going to talk about the book, I can't exactly hide some things which some die hard fans consider spoilers. (You know who you are). By reading this, you're going to find out who's in the books. But overall, I'm not going to ruin anything.

Introduction

Well once again, here we are, waiting for the new Robert Jordan book to come out. I think it would be an understatement to say that anticipation amongst fans for Knife of Dreams is really high, and a lot of people are still grumbling after Crossroads of Twilight.

Before I get into Knife of Dreams, though, I should remind you that a lot of you didn't agree with my review of Crossroads. I said CoT wasn't all that bad, and if you look at the big picture, it's actually enjoyable. Some of you thought I was nuts, but many of you seemed to agree with me on my other New Spring review. So maybe we're not all that far apart.Anyway, I don't think it will matter this time. You're going to love this book as much as I did.

Time is running out. No doubt about it: The Dark One is breaking free. Oh, he isn't free yet of course. But he's getting there. Remember all those weevils in CoT? Remember those "scary" but harmless ghosts? They're all back, but the weevils aren't so rare, and the ghosts aren't so harmless. Even the infamous wind from the opening of chapter one is (as many of you already know), touched with ash and not just a gentle breeze.

Practically every chapter gives us signs that something isn't right in the world anymore. The stakes are higher, time is running out, and the heroes -- as well as Jordan -- know it. The result: stuff happens. Better yet: stuff finishes.I was surprised when the first plot thread was completed. I thought to myself, "Will I ever read about this person again? Could it actually be possible that I've read their entire story now?" I stopped thinking that to myself by the time Jordan wrapped up his 4th or 5th plot line.

Then more story lines got wrapped up, at least to the extent where I don't need to hear about a certain character again without feeling cheated. All of the major plot lines advance. Some are completed. (Have fun with that statement on the message boards). Lots of smaller plot lines are resolved or brought near conclusion. I haven't done a full count, but a few days after the book's released I'm sure every website will have a tally going.

One particuarly refreshing thing I noticed in this novel, more so than the other most recent novels in the series, was how Jordan introduces new elements: people / items / places / stories, whatever, and then resolves them completely in the same book. Also, remember all those chapters in previous books that you read where you wondered who this person was and why were you reading about him or her? Knife of Dreams answers a lot of those. Sometimes in very big or surprising ways. More than one tiny character suddenly bumps into a much bigger character and, well, things happen.

Even when the pacing slowed down, RJ suddenly hits us with some interesting tidbit. Little snacks for the long ride, with the promise of a big dinner coming up.So, stuff happens. But is it any good?

In the words of Grandpa from The Princess Bride: "Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love...!" It's all there. All of it, and more. And not just at the end of the novel. The middle of the book is packed with stuff. I can honestly say, without hyperbole, that this novel is the most focused, most action-packed book in the latter half of the series. This book contains more death and dying than any other WoT novel. Talk about a body count! Not to mention a lot of answers to questions we've been asking for a while.(That little chill that may have just run down your spine, or the excited giggle that you let escape, was how I felt several times when RJ delivered some long over-due answers or shared a particuarly good action sequence.)

But despite all the Deathgates, zomaran, and bolt cranks, the best parts of this book center on the main characters finally reaching what is probably (or will be) the pinnacle of their destinies. To Emma, the webmaster of the official Nynaeve fan club: your heroine might have played out her biggest plot point by helping to cleanse saidin, but she stole the show in this book with one particular chapter about half-way through. All of you will know which chapter it is. After that powerful, emotional chapter, I had to put the book down for a while. Sign me up for Emma's club.All good stories are filled with iconic moments. They're those moments that are so good that they stick with you and are often all you remember years later when the details of the books fade. Moments like Rand taking Callandor, Mat hanging from the Tree of Life, Dumai's Wells, and Elayne putting on her 5th robe in as many pages. (Okay, kidding about that last one. You get the picture). Knife of Dreams has several of those iconic moments. The above mentioned Nynaeve moment, a certain vision coming true, a critical change in Rand, and yes, even Egwene's special tea. (That's not a joke). All of them are iconic moments in my mind. Not too big, however. You can tell that even now Robert Jordan is holding onto his best cards for the final novel. The biggest battles and encounters are yet to come. The end of the novel is not as abrupt as CoT, but it was just enough to whet my appetite for the last book.Boiling it downKnife of Dreams is a strong, strong addition to the series. It is not, however, all action and secrets revealed. Like the rest of the novels, the narrative is long and conservatively paced. It wouldn't be Robert Jordan if we didn't get every detail of armor, every insight into the situation, and yes, a description of every dress in the room. It's his style and you probably would not have made it this far if you didn't enjoy it on some level by now. Also, although I understand that the sub-plots need to happen, but I confess I wish there was more of Rand in particular. Don't get me wrong: he's in this book (way more than he was in CoT), he does a lot of stuff, gets in trouble doing it of course, and all the things that Rand normally does. But oh how I wish we had just a little more time with him.

Fortunately, Jordan cleared up enough plots in this novel that I'm guessing we're going to see an abundance for al'Thor in the final novel. I mean, we've got to, right?As every chapter reminds us, the Last Battle is coming. Plots are burned away, minor characters fade, and long kept secrets are revealed. All eyes are turning towards the same direction, and the question is being asked: Who rides for Tarmon Gai'don?

After reading Knife of Dreams, easily the most enjoyable overall book in the series in years, I am absolutely certain that I'll ride with Robert Jordan into the final Wheel of Time novel.

The Amber Spyglass

Sadly, I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed by this novel. It's not that The Amber Spyglass is a bad book. Far from it, to tell the truth. And yet, it doesn't live up to the expectations generated by its predecessors. The story falls short on certain levels, which prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I would have wanted.

Given the size of this one, I believed that The Amber Spyglass would continue to explore those concepts which, in the previous volumes, seemed to hint at a definite moral complexity. The theological and philosophical aspects, a bit more present in The Subtle Knife, are once more a part of the tale. But unfortunately, the author fails to elaborate on several issues, such as the Church and everything that surrounds it and its power in every world, Mrs. Coulter and her powers, Lord Asriel, etc. Incidently, every secret which I hoped would be revealed in this last volume remained hidden or half disclosed. That was a major disappointment for me.

As was the case with both The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife, the imagery was arresting. But the worldbuilding could have been much better. Pullman basically had carte blanche to create whatever his imagination fancied, so I was hoping for far more interesting worlds and universes. . .

The characterizations and dialogues are much better in this novel. Will and Lyra continue to be a well-balanced duo. But other characters, such as Dr. Malone and Father Gomez, were not fully realized.

The ending was anti-climatic, but I expected as much from a YA book. Volume 2 of His Dark Materials was too short. I'm of the opinion that The Amber Spyglass was a bit too long. The pace is at times sluggish.

All in all, a nice enough series. Yet it certainly doesn't live up to all the hype which has surrounded it since its initial release.

The final verdict: 7/10

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 16th)

Once more, nothing to report. . .

Meanwhile, J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Hlaf-Blood Prince still holds the number 1 position on the USA Today bestseller list.

And Robert Jordan's Knife of Dreams has just appeard at the number 21 spot on the amazon.com bestseller list, although it won't be out till October 11th. Jordan answers a few stupid questions on their site, if anyone is interested. But don't rush there in the hope of learning anything of value. . .;-)

The Subtle Knife

As mentioned in my previous book review, altough not a bad book, The Golden Compass undeniably remained a YA novel. But I had heard so much concerning Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials that I kept telling myself that there had to be more to this than what I first glimpsed in the opening chapter of this trilogy.

So I gave The Subtle Knife a chance, and I'm sure glad I did so. While its predecessor was definitely aimed at a younger audience, this one can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. There were a number of hints which appeared to point toward a moral complexity to this story in The Golden Compass. And I'm quite pleased that the author has been laying the groundwork pertaining to those by exploring concepts such as the unending conflict between Church and Science. The theological and philosophical aspects of this second volume give another dimension to what is shaping up to be a very good fantasy tale.

The worldbuilding is much better in The Subtle Knife. Now that the portal is open, we are exposed to a number of worlds. And since there are countless parallel universes linked by various doorways, I have a feeling that we might see more of them in the next volume. As was the case with The Golden Compass, the imagery is once more arresting.

The dialogues are better than in the first book. Definitely not as juvenile, which was a bit of a relief. Lyra is finally experiencing "character growth," which does her a world of good.

The characterizations have also improved. The addition of Will as a main character was perfect. Lyra was always some sort of brat, but Will is a child who was forced by circumstances to grow up too rapidly. Hence, they form a somewhat well-balanced team together. And Lyra becomes more mature as the story progresses. Secrets are revealed about Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel. Those secrets, along with the revelation of the great confrontation which is brewing, perfectly set the stage for The Amber Spyglass. We are also introduced to a number of new characters, such as Dr. Malone, who continue to give more depth to this story.

I felt that this novel was too short. It gives us a few glimpses of the depth of Pullman's work, but not enough. I can only hope that the final volume will live up to the expectations generated by The Subtle Knife.

The final verdict: 7,5/10

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (August 2nd)

Once again, nothing to report this week. . .

Although still number 1 on the USA Today bestseller list, J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has yet to make an appearance on the NYT list. . . That's a little odd considering that no book in the world sold more than this one in the last few weeks.

INDEX

Since there is an ever-growing number of people who visit these parts, and since no one wants to waste time perusing every post I've written thus far, here is a little index of what's been happening since the beginning of the year.:-) I have to admit that I am more than a little overwhelmed by the numbers. Since February 15th, over 21, 000 visitors checked things out, from more than 30 different countries, exploring more than 21, 500 pages!:-) Thank you all!!!

JANUARY

- The Book of Words trilogy (J. V. Jones): Book review (My very first. . . And worst!)
- Children of Amarid (David B. Coe): Book review
- The Outlanders (David B. Coe): Book review
- La Crème de la Crème (part 1): A list of my all-time favourites
- Eagle-Sage (David B. Coe): Book review

FEBRUARY

- Fall from Grace: David Eddings article
- Shadowmarch (Tad Williams): Book review
- Things that make you go hmmm. . .: Terry Goodkind article
- La Crème de la Crème (part 2): A list of my all-time favourites
- Ship of Magic (Robin Hobb): Book review
- Close but no cigar: A list of runner-ups that almost made it to my all-time favourites' list
- Mad Ship (Robin Hobb): Book review
- Around the World: Budget traveling article
- Ship of Destiny (Robin Hobb): Book review

MARCH

- Top 5 Ongoing Fantasy Series: Poll results
- The Runes of the Earth (Stephen R. Donaldson): Book review
- Europe's Low-Cost Airlines: Budget traveling article
- Favourite Fantasy Authors of All Time: Poll results
- Tad Williams Interview: Interview
- The Silences of Home (Caitlin Sweet): Book review
- Best Fantasy Series of All Time: Poll results
- Hostels around Europe: Budget traveling article
- Quicksilver (Neal Stephenson): Book review

APRIL

- L. E. Modesitt, jr. Interview: Interview
- So you want to be a book reviewer?: Article
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Matthew Stover): Book review
- Favourite Fantasy/Scifi Characters of All Time: Poll results
- The Confusion (Neal Stephenson): Book review
- Amazon's synopsis for Robert Jordan's Knife of Dreams: Synopsis
- The System of the World (Neal Stephenson): Book review
- Darth Vader's Blog

MAY

- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith: Soundtrack review
- The Darkness that Comes Before (R. Scott Bakker): Book review
- Check them out!: Websites of interest
- Best Fantasy Artists: Poll results
- Best Fantasy/Scifi Stand-Alone Novels: Poll results
- The Warrior-Prophet (R. Scott Bakker): Book review
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith: Movie review
- Fool's Errand (Robin Hobb): Book review
- The Contiki Experience: Budget traveling article
- Golden Fool (Robin Hobb): Book review
- R. Scott Bakker Interview: Link

JUNE

- Fool's Fate (Robin Hobb): Book review
- The Great Ladies of Fantasy: Poll results
- It's Only Temporary (Eric Shapiro): Book review
- In the King's Service (Katherine Kurtz): Book review
- Tad Williams Interview: Link
- The Curse of Chalion (Lois McMaster Bujold): Book review
- Paladin of Souls (Lois McMaster Bujold): Book review

JULY

- Robin Hobb Interview: Interview
- The Years of Rice and Salt (Kim Stanley Robinson): Book review
- Neverwhere (Neil Gaiman): Book review

AUGUST

- The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman): Book review

The Golden Compass

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has been sitting on my shelves for many years now. Not totally forgotten, but not a priority for me to read, either. Indeed, I have way too many books that are patiently awaiting my attention. But as I wait for the arrival of Robin Hobb's Shaman's Crossing from HarperCollins, I wished to read something light. Hence, I finally decided to give this series a chance.

Pullman's series has garnered much acclaim, and deservedly so. But although quite entertaining, The Golden Compass remains a Young Adult novel. Which means that if you are not young at heart, you should perhaps consider skipping this book. Having said that, however, there are many hints pointing toward a moral complexity to this tale, which may or may not be explored in the two sequels. But the Church's involvement could give another dimension to this series. In any case, this novel's ending promises a lot of things to come.

The worldbuilding is all right, if a little juvenile. Yet, considering the book's intended readership, that was to be expected. The imagery is at times arresting, making The Golden Compass a visual and colorful story.

As was expected, the dialogues are rather juvenile as well. But the narrative, much to my surprise, is not. Pullman's prose is impeccable, and the narrative flows extremely well. The pace is crisp and quick.

The characterizations are better than I expected, although they are often too cute. But there is a lot more to the Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel characters, and hopefully the author will delve a little deeper into their lives in the subsequent volumes.

As I mentioned, concepts such as the Church, the Magisterium, the Oblation Board, the strong bond between children and their daemons, etc, could give a lot more depth to this series. I can only hope that we learn more about these things in The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

All in all, a good read for a younger audience. This could be the perfect series to introduce youngsters to the fantasy genre, although it is not as accessible as Harry Potter. And the fact that the heroine is a young girl makes The Golden Compass a book that can be enjoyed by both boys and girls of all ages.

This novel was as light as I expected. But it did offer a few unexpected surprise that will make me read the sequel.

The final verdict: 7/10

This week's New York Times Bestsellers

Nothing to report this week. . .

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince debuts at #1 on the bestseller list of USA Today. It hasn't yet appeared on the New York Times list. But the NYT will rank it on its children's list only. . .

Neverwhere

I did not know what to expect from Neil Gaiman's debut. I had read a few issues of his The Sandman comic series, but had not been impressed. Of course, that was over a dozen years ago. Since then, Gaiman has received international acclaim for both Neverwhere and American Gods. Wanting to read something on the "light" side after reading a novel such as Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt, I elected to give Neverwhere a shot. And boy was I not disappointed!:-)

This book has been called an Alice in Wonderland with a punk edge, and I have to agree wholeheartedly with that claim. Gaiman takes the readers on a dreamlike trip to the Underside of London. The author's attention to details, odd or not, makes Neverwhere one of the most highly visual novels I have ever read.

The narrative and dialogues flow quite easily, making you turn those page well past your bedtime or lunch break. And Gaiman's witty, sarcastic and ironic writing style often made me think of Neal Stephenson. The author's sense of humour will make you smile/smirk at every turn.

The worldbuilding is dark, well-crafted and imaginative. Gaiman's ability to turn places we know into unfamiliar and whimsical setting is the hallmark of a gifted storyteller. With him, London takes on mythical dimensions. And since it's one of my favourite cities in the world, it was pure delight to read this tale. One thing is certain: you will never look at the Underground the same way again. I can't imagine not thinking about Neverwhere the next time I'm on the tube, coming to stations such as Black Friars, Knightsbridge or Earl's Court.

The characterizations are neat. Not overdone, just what the story needs to maintain its well-paced rhythm. It's a bit of a delirious joyride to follow Richard's adventures and misadventures, as he attempts to return to his former life. The supporting cast of characters gives more depth to what is already a fascinating story. In particular, Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar imbue this tale a pleasantly dark sense of humour.

Neverwhere is a book that reads really well, and too rapidly do we reach its very satisfying ending. What I truly enjoyed about this book is that fact that it's basically unlike anything else out there. And Gaiman's witty writing style makes reading this book quite a treat.

If you haven't given this novel a chance yet, please do so. You will not regret it!

The final verdict: 8/10

This Week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 19th)

Nothing to report this week. . .

But with the release of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, fantasy will once again be back on top of every chart in the world next week!:-)

The Years of Rice and Salt

This was my first reading experience with Kim Stanley Robinson. I knew of him, of course. The Mars trilogy created enough of a buzz that it is impossible not to have heard of this author. But not being a hardcore scifi fan, I never felt the urge to read those books, regardless of how much acclaim they had garnered. Now, if The Years of Rice and Salt is any indication, there is a very strong possibility that I might explore more of his books in the coming months.

I have to admit that I'm not too keen on the alternate history genre. But this novel's premise was extremely appealing: What if the Black Death (the plague which decimated Europe in the fourteenth century) had wiped out 99% of the population? That would leave a world in which Buddhism and Islam are the most influencial religions, while Christianity -- with the death of nearly all of its faithful -- becomes a mere historical footnote.

With a unique vision and bold imagination, Robinson explores how our world would have evolved, taking a look at the history that could have been. To say that this project was ambitious would be a gross understatement. Just to consider the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this book is staggering. And the result is a very engrossing novel.

It is, however, a complex and challenging book. Spanning more than 700 years and covering a group of related characters through multiple lifetimes, this is a novel for "deep thinkers." As such, it is a thought-provoking work that is unfortunately not for everyone.

It is impossible to put what The Years of Rice and Salt is about in a nutshell. It is a multilayered and masterfully written epic that spans continents, cultures and centuries. It is a richly detailed work, erudite, vivid, thoughtful and provocative. This is a book that will challenge the way you look at the world, if only you will let it.

It is also some sort of meditation on several concepts, such as reincarnation, the afterlife, the place occupied by religion in our lives, the impact scientific breakthroughs have on society at large, social upheavals, etc. The book is a wonderfully constructed speculation on what might have been. Robinson explores the evolution of Islamic, Chinese, Indian, and Native American cultures. The novel also offers a number of examinations on the divided nature of Islam, which adds to the philosophical richness that permeates Robinson's work.

The prose, I am glad to say, is of the first order. Kim Stanley Robinson is a truly gifted writer.

Taken as a whole, the book is an ensemble of novellas. Ten in total, they span the generations that followed the Black Death. And although each book contains a different cast of characters, the reincarnations of both "K" and "B" are always present in a different guise.

The Years of Rice and Salt is a literary achievement. As satisfying a book as you are likely to read this year. . .

The verdict: 9/10

This Week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 12th)

In hardcover:

Dan Simmons' Olympos debuts at number 25, which makes the novel a runner-up.

Robin Hobb Interview

Many thanks to Robin for graciously accepting to do this with me. I could not quite believe that she managed to email this Q&A to me just before her departure for Australia. What a great writer and a terrific woman!;-) No but seriously, for all of us living in North America, this will give us a little something to sink our teeth into before the upcoming release of Shaman's Crossing.

Robin Hobb continues to be, in my opinion at least, the most accessible fantasy author in the field. If you haven't already, please feel free to visit her website (www.robinhobb.com), from where you'll be able to access her newsgroup and the wonderful community you'll find there.:-)

Here is the interview:

1- What do you feel is your strength as a writer/storyteller?

Definitely characterization. I know and love my characters. For me, the story is really about how the events affect the characters rather than about the events themselves. As characterization is extremely important to me in the books I read, naturally it’s a big element in the stories I write.

2- What would you say was the hardest part of the entire process involved in the writing of THE FARSEER, THE LIVESHIP TRADERS and THE TAWNY MAN? Where did you get the initial idea that drove you to create those series in the first place? What was the spark that generated the idea which drove you to write THE SOLDIER SON?

You’re cheating, Patrick! That was 3 questions, not one!

The hardest part of any writing project is the first draft. Getting the story fixed on paper is really difficult for me. With every sentence, you narrow an infinite number of possibilities down to a single track. So every scene represents a decision in how the story is going to unfold. If one of those decisions is wrong, it carries the story off in a direction that may not work for me as a storyteller. And then I have to back up and take another run at it. I always feel a great deal of relief when the first draft is done. After that, the task is to go back and make it pretty.

3- After writing three bestselling series, is there added pressure when it comes to writing a new project?

The ‘bestseller’ tag doesn’t figure into the writing equation on my end. After all, there are many different types of ‘bestseller lists’. A book may be a bestseller on one list and not even show up on another one. So that isn’t something I dwell on. From the very beginning, writing has been about constructing the best possible book, telling the story in the way that I find most pleasing. I think if I ever sat down and said to myself, "I have to write something that a whole lot of people will want to read so I can sell lots of books," I’d give myself the worst case of writer’s block ever. Because I simply would have no idea what other people would want me to write. But when I think of all the stories I want to write, my reaction is to worry that I’ll never live long enough to write them all.

4- You have been acknowledged as one of the best writers in the genre? Where do you think you stand in the fantasy field?

Up in the Northwest corner, just a bit south of Greg Bear. Seriously, I think it would be impossible for me to answer this. It’s based on someone else’s opinion of my work. Who said I was one of the best writers in the field, and when? What book were they talking about, and how much of the genre were they familiar with? If I started giving things like that weight, I’d just make myself crazy. My day to day thoughts as a writer have a lot more to do with what scene I want to get written today and if I should go back into an earlier chapter and foreshadow something or if it’s better to completely surprise the reader. Discussion of the varying merits of different writers is the province of reviewers and people who compile best seller lists. Status in the field is completely out of a writer’s control, in my opinion. It’s entirely dependent on reader reaction to the work.

5- Is a World Fantasy Award something you covet?

Not really. As I mentioned above, the focus is on the writing, not on sales or awards. Even if I seriously coveted a World Fantasy award, I don’t think my books are likely to win one. I write trilogies and in many ways, they are not suitable candidates for this award because each book is only 1/3 of a story.

I’m not immune to the allure of a shiny trophy. I’ve won the Asimov’s Reader award a couple of times, and ‘Bones for Dulath’, my first short story published in a commercial venue, was in the anthology Amazons! and that did win a Best Anthology World Fantasy Award.

When I was a fairly new writer, I did long to win awards. I even went so far as to start thinking that I could write a story tailored for the purpose of winning nominations. Luckily, I came to my senses and realized that if I started doing that, it would no longer be my story. I think being mesmerized by award fantasies is a fairly common pitfall for beginning writers.

This is not to denigrate any of the awards. The lists of winners are a wonderful way to discover books and short stories that might have slipped past me.

6- What is your work ethic? Tell us a little more about your writing routine.

My basic routine starts early each morning. I start off with the daily paper and a cup of chai (I recently gave up coffee), do the necessary family organizing for the day (I’m a full time mom and grandmother) and then turn on the computer and get at it. I’m not in my desk chair all day; that is really bad for my back and hands, and when I do get on a marathon keyboarding session, I pay for it later. But I am writing all the time. Mundane chores are a great way to engage a different part of your mind while letting your writing brain work on dialogue or mull over that corner you’ve painted your character into. Of course I check my email daily and visit my newsgroup once or twice a day. The computer is turned off at about midnight.

7- The fact that you have your personal website and newsgroup is an indication that interaction with your readers is important to you as an author. How special is it to have the chance to interact directly with your fans on a daily basis?

Interacting with readers on a daily basis is like any other friendship. It covers the whole spectrum from amazing to awful, sometimes in half an hour! Seriously, I think interacting with people who have read my books works for me because the books are the starting point rather than the entire relationship. I know you’ve visited my newsgroup, and you’ve probably noticed that very little space is actually devoted to discussing my books. Instead it covers all sorts of topics with international input, sometimes serious and sometimes silly but always interesting. One thing I enjoy about the newsgroup is the high level of courtesy. There are misunderstandings, but I think that we are generally very tolerant. Some of our members have English as a second language, and I think that makes all of us aware that using language can be an inexact science. Often when it seems someone was being arrogant, it turned out to be a language difficulty, and we were all glad that flames were not the first choice response.

8- You were recently in France to attend a convention. And to promote the release of SHAMAN'S CROSSING, you'll be going on a book tour that will take you to Europe and Australia. Although time-consuming, how important is it for you to travel abroad to meet your readers?

I enjoy it. The travel is interesting, and meeting the readers even more so. I think readers enjoy the chance to talk with authors.

That said, I don’t think book tours are a necessary facet of being a writer. Very often when I come home from a trip, I feel a sort of panic when I think of all the days that have passed without my being engaged in a solid work schedule. I’m a person who has to stay ‘in the book’ in order to write daily. If I leave it alone for a few days, getting the book going again is like trying to start a car that hasn’t been run all winter. It takes some work. So I do my best to write every day when I’m traveling.

9- Writing 2 sets of trilogies from the POV of FitzChivalry was, in my opinion at least, a tour de force. How were you able to do it in such a realistic fashion, considering that you had to put yourself in the perspective of a male character?

This question and number 10 have pretty much the same answer.

10- Your characterizations always stand out, and character growth is omnipresent in each novel/series. One thing that strikes me is how all your characters stay true to themselves, enabling the readers to identify with what they are going through. Is this something you continuously strive to accomplish, or is this just a knack you have?

My technique with characters is to try to let each character be the main character in his own story. Even if someone is just a ‘walk on’, it helps to remember that maybe that barmaid is near the end of her shift and is really tired, and to let her behave accordingly. When I first started writing, I found it was very easy for me to fall into that trap where I made all of the characters do what they must to make the plot advance smoothly. I wound up with minor characters who existed only to take a bullet for the protagonist or to be the romantic prize to be won. Cardboard.

When the characters are not true to themselves, the story loses its veracity. If you can put on the skin of even your minor characters and say, "What would I really want to do next? Wouldn’t I duck when I saw the arrow coming?" the plot becomes more interesting and the characters are believeable.

11- When ASSASSIN'S QUEST was released, you claimed that you had no future plans to write another Fitz series. At which point during the writing of THE LIVESHIP TRADERS did you realize that there was another tale in the making?

I was midway through the first book, Ship of Magic, when I realized that one of the characters was behaving in a suspicious manner. That was my first inkling that something was going on in the back of my mind that I hadn’t consciously planned. And that is as much as I’ll say about that to avoid spoilers.

12- You once told me that writing THE LIVESHIP TRADERS had been a welcome break from Fitz's intense, first-person focus. Did you have to prepare yourself differently for your 3 past trilogies? Did the writing of SHAMAN'S CROSSING involve more research and preparation than the previous series?

Each book requires its own unique research because each book covers different topics. When writing fantasy, I think it’s always best to ask, "Historically and culturally, how did this work in our world?" and attempt to understand it. Then, of course, I mix in the fantasy element, but I try to do it with enough touch-points to our world that the reader has some sense of familiarity.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (July 5th)

In hardcover:

Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith may have spent its last week on the NYT list. It dropped 12 positions, ending the week at number 33. This marks the novel's 13th week on the prestigious list.

Accepting questions for a Raymond E. Feist

New York Times Bestselling author Raymond E. Feist has accepted to answer 25 questions submitted by his fans. If I am not mistaken, that interview will be conducted later on this summer. Joe, from www.hallofworlds.net, has asked me to "spread the word!" Which is exactly what I am doing!

So feel free to leave Ray a question right here in the comment section, or go directly to hallofworlds.net. I will make sure to post a link to this interview as soon as it becomes available online.

This week's New York Times Bestsellers (June 28th)

Not much activity again this week. . .

In hardover:

Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith continues to slip, down three positions from last week, and ending at number 21. The book has remained on the NYT list for 12 weeks.