Alexander Turcic
05-31-2006, 05:56 PM
I saw that Sammy over at Palm Addicts recommends (http://palmaddict.typepad.com/palmaddicts/2006/05/run_out_of_good.html) fantasy books by Robin Hobb. I also read two of her triologies:
The Farseer Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/055357339X/sr=8-1/qid=1149115892/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-0553922-3212949?%5Fencoding=UTF8): As a royal bastard in the household of King Shrewd, a boy called "Fitz" spends his early years in the king's stables. When the magic in his blood marks him for destiny, he begins receiving secret instruction, by order of the king, in the art of assassination, a calling that places him in the midst of a nest of intrigue and arcane maneuverings. Firmly grounded in the trappings of high fantasy, Hobb's first novel features a protagonist whose coming of age revolves around the discovery of the meaning of loyalty and trust. This gracefully written fantasy belongs in most libraries.
The Liveship Traders (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553575635/qid=1149115922/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/102-0553922-3212949?s=books&v=glance&n=283155): The untimely death of Old Trader Ephron Vestrit deprives his daughter Althea of her inheritance and places her ambitious brother-in-law Kyle in command of the live ship Viveca and the family fortunes. The author of the Farseer trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice, LJ 3/15/95; Royal Assassin, Bantam, 1996; Assassin's Quest, Bantam, 1997) launches a new series set in a world of sentient ships, merchant traders, ruthless pirates, dangerous treasures, seagoing dragons, and a mysterious elder race. Hobb excels in depicting complex characters; even her villains command respect, if not sympathy, for their actions. Most libraries should purchase this exotic, nonstandard fantasy.
Both excellent sagas and I recommend them to everyone who likes fantasy stories with deep character development.
The Farseer Trilogy (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/055357339X/sr=8-1/qid=1149115892/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-0553922-3212949?%5Fencoding=UTF8): As a royal bastard in the household of King Shrewd, a boy called "Fitz" spends his early years in the king's stables. When the magic in his blood marks him for destiny, he begins receiving secret instruction, by order of the king, in the art of assassination, a calling that places him in the midst of a nest of intrigue and arcane maneuverings. Firmly grounded in the trappings of high fantasy, Hobb's first novel features a protagonist whose coming of age revolves around the discovery of the meaning of loyalty and trust. This gracefully written fantasy belongs in most libraries.
The Liveship Traders (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553575635/qid=1149115922/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/102-0553922-3212949?s=books&v=glance&n=283155): The untimely death of Old Trader Ephron Vestrit deprives his daughter Althea of her inheritance and places her ambitious brother-in-law Kyle in command of the live ship Viveca and the family fortunes. The author of the Farseer trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice, LJ 3/15/95; Royal Assassin, Bantam, 1996; Assassin's Quest, Bantam, 1997) launches a new series set in a world of sentient ships, merchant traders, ruthless pirates, dangerous treasures, seagoing dragons, and a mysterious elder race. Hobb excels in depicting complex characters; even her villains command respect, if not sympathy, for their actions. Most libraries should purchase this exotic, nonstandard fantasy.
Both excellent sagas and I recommend them to everyone who likes fantasy stories with deep character development.