Dreamsongs: Volume 1 - Part 2 - Discussion

First and foremost, my apologies for being late on this part. Life got a bit busy, tests especially (so much reading in regards to freedom of speech) and I lost track of time. So here we are! Heh.

The Hero

Here's where things begin to get interesting, I think. Though his stories are, for the most part, unconnected, it would be a good idea to try and remember some of the terms and names used.

That being said, what did you guys think of it? Kagen's fate at the end, was it truly a good thing, to keep him from visiting Earth, or did he deserve to see humanity's homeworld, the world he'd been fighting for? What similarities do you see with present day soldiers serving overseas?

The Exit to San Breta

Personally, I find this story to be...ethereal, almost, I guess. Fitting, then, that it is, in essence, a ghost story. I don't really have any major questions for it, just want to know what were your thoughts?

The Second Kind of Lonliness

Ahh, here we are, one of my favorites. How well did you think Martin did in showing how lonely the man is? How about describing the Cerberus Star Ring? It was a monstrous, insane thing the man did, activating the Star Ring and killing his replacement, ultimately sealing him away from humanity (at least for god knows how long), yet in a way is he really responsible? A single man, left alone for so very long...eats away at the mind.

With Morning Comes Mistfall

Another favorite. This one truly speaks to me, the message within the interesting setting of Wraithworld.

First off though, what did you think of Wraithworld? Could you see yourself coming there, if only to see the Mistfalls and Mistrise? Maybe try and see the mysterious Wraiths?

But the core thing here is whether or not we should investigate everything. Sanders argues that man needs "mystery, and poetry, and romance. I think he needs a few unanswered questions to make him brood and wonder." Do you agree with this way of thinking? Or do you agree with Dubowski, about needing to know the answers?

Next Week: Part 3 - The Light of Distant Stars

Again, my apologies for being late. Will do my best not to let that happen again. So, I'll try to have the next post up the Sunday after Thanksgiving (since I'm sure most will be busy, and this next section is rather large). So next set is part 3, which encompasses the following stories:

• A Song for Lya
• This Tower of Ashes
• And Seven Times Never Kill Man
• The Stone City
• Bitterblooms
• The Way of Cross and Dragon

I hope you enjoy!

Dreamsongs: Volume 1 - Part 1 - Discussion

Few days late, my apologies, but not too late anyway, heh. So, been about two weeks since I posted the first post, time to start up discussion on the first portion of Dreamsongs, Vol. 1.

A Four-Color Fanboy

Though not required, I figure some of you may've read through this portion anyway. Good thinking, in any event. No real questions about it as it is just an autobiographical bit by Martin, but just out of curiosity, what did you think so far? One thing of interest especially, I think, is how he refers to the three stories that follow as his "apprentice work" and to "read on if you dare."

Only Kids Are Afraid of The Dark

The first of the three stories, involving Saagael, the Prince of Demons, Lord of Darkness, etc etc (so many titles) and the hero Doctor Weird.

1. What did you think of the overall story? Did it seem somewhat childish to you, battle between definite good and evil, a superhero, demon, and so on?
2. Even as one of his early works, Martin's ability to set up a scene is evident in this story. Did you find his description of the temple, of the plane where Saagael waited to be overly descriptive, or fitting?

The Fortress

The Fortress, aka Sveaborg, is, if you couldn't tell/didn't know, based on a real location of the same name (though it was once known as Suomenlinna). This is a departure, in my experience, from most of Martin's work. Typically he doesn't go for a sort of historical fiction. An oddity.

1. Why do you think Martin chose Sveaborg to write about? Was he trying, much like the character Carl Bannersson in the Epilog, to be an armchair general of sorts (though to be fair to Bannersson, at least in the story, he was present at Sveaborg so had some ground to stand on in that regard)?
2. Based on your reading of these three stories, do you think that Martin's choice of historical fiction was a good idea?
3. With question # 2 in mind, why do you think Martin chose to not do any historical fiction stories (that I know of, anyway, Dreamsongs vol. 1 & 2 do not, to my recollection, have any other, his A Song of Ice and Fire series is not based on our reality, and the Wildcard series of books based on present day with superheroes and the like)?

And Death His Legacy

Personally, my favorite of the first three. I found it an interesting way to tell a story.

1. Just whose legacy is death in this story? The Prophet or Maximillian de Laurier?
2. Though he wrote it around 1968, in a way this story could easily (and eerily) be seen as taking place today. Whatever your feelings about the current (and immediate future) political layout, do you think this story holds a message? And do you agree with it?
3. And do you agree with what Maximillian chose to do in the end? More to that matter, do you think it was the right thing to do at all?

And I'll end this out with announcing that Part 2, The Filthy Pro, which encompasses The Hero, The Exit To San Breta, The Second Kind Of Loneliness, and With Morning Comes Mistfall, will be up next Friday (if I'm on time, anyway, heh). Enjoy!

Dreamsongs: Volume 1 - Part 1

First, sorry for the delay on making this, life got a bit busy and then my book vanished on me. Finally found it, in the last place I looked, of course: My car.

So! I have it now, heh. And figure its time to start a reading for it. Not sure how many of you are going to join in, so for the first part I figure I'll give it two weeks time. Plenty of time to get a book (if you don't have it at the moment), maybe let stragglers in.

Anyway, part 1. Both volumes of Dreamsongs are helpfully split up into subsections, so we'll just go with that. For the most part, each section follows a theme. It also starts with a small autobiographical bit from the author, George R R Martin.

So, for the first reading, Part 1, A Four-Color Fanboy. This includes the following three stories:

• Only Kids Are Afraid Of The Dark
• The Fortress
• And Death His Legacy

Simple enough stuff at the start, as I recall. I believe some of these are his earliest works (fitting then that they show up at the start of his sorta-autobiography), so they may be a bit rough around the edges, but still a good read, I think. I'll make the discussion post for this on October 26th.

Happy reading!

Next Book to Read?

Hey guys, been a little while since Redwall was finished, was thinking maybe I could present, I guess, a book for those who are interested to read?

I want to add, there's no rush at all for this. Its August still, for some of us school is starting (whether that means through jobs or our children), for others its vacations, and so on. I myself have my Fall semester starting up in two weeks, so I'll be getting busy myself. So, basically, just want to test the water about this, wouldn't be putting it up for a while still.

Anyway, after giving it a lot of thought, I was thinking the next book could be Dreamsongs, Vol. 1, by George R. R. Martin. It is, admittedly, a rather large book (and there is a second, as the presence of "volume 1" makes clear), but it has some advantages, despite its size.

Specifically, Dreamsongs (both vol. 1 and 2) is a collection of short stories by the author GRRM. The books are tied together in a vaguely autobiographical way, with each section of short stories bordered by small bits about his life, from childhood to where he is now. His short stories range from science fiction to fantasy to a sorta horror to superheroes and the like.

I figured you guys may like it, both for its variety, and also the fact that its all short stories. It'd make it a lot easier to read through, just spend a bit of time, read one or two, and so on.

I'm in no rush about this, like I said, I know people can be busy around this time. Lord knows I'll be shortly. Was thinking of starting it up sometime mid-September if anyone's interested. Let me know!

Redwall-Section 3

The intensity heightens, Matthias makes a dangerous gamble, and meanwhile Cluny resorts to underhanded means to get a foothold in the Abbey...the final section of the book is action-packed and has a bit more graphic description of battle scenes than most would expect of a book often marketed to children. Thoughts on the battle descriptions and the give and take of the Abbey-dwellers and the vermin? For being peaceful creatures, the Redwallers come up with some rather frightening schemes for stopping Cluny...from a giant crossbow to boiling water. Thoughts on the fact that Jacques isn't afraid to let characters die, such as old Methuselah and the Abbot? Thoughts on the book in general?

Redwall-Section 2

By the time you've finished this section, you've been introduced to the majority of the main cast. How did everyone like the various creatures and their mannerisms and especially their dialects? Hearing this on audio, especially the mole speech, is really quite hilarious. Plot-wise, thoughts on the search for the sword, and the lengths Matthias goes to, as well as the growth as a character, in his quest? Thoughts on Cluny, his plotting and scheming, and his cast of vermin? Things are getting heated as the battle for Redwall continues.

Redwall-Section 1

I apologize for the late post, but I'll admit to having slacked a bit this week and not finishing reading until today. Any first impressions of the world of Redwall, the magnificent Abbey, and the order of mice? So many different types of animals are represented, and in later books almost all of them get their time in the spotlight, but I'll admit right now that my favorites have always been the hares, the otters, and the badgers. The mice are great, but these other species and their mannerisms and ways of life have always intrigued me. Thoughts on the writing style, description, or the poetry and music? What about the story, our young hero Matthias, Abbot Mortimer, and Cluny the Scourge? I know not everyone has finished reading, so feel free to post as you get there.