msmemory_archive: (Default)
msmemory_archive ([personal profile] msmemory_archive) wrote2005-04-15 02:24 pm

Books

6. College of Magics, by Caroline Stevermer
Lots of fun. Mannered in a Regency sort of way, but clearly set closer to 1890.
Alas, could have used a more aggressive editor. It's reading books like this that make me think I could work in that field - and save authors from two matching instances of the same weird phrase less than a chapter apart* (no, in description, not in dialogue), or awkward transitions of place. (OK, now we're going to have the incident with the highwaymen.)
People will probably think she based this school on Hogwart's, but I think College of Magics was published earlier.

*pg. 297 "He led Faris through a room off the ballroom, where white linen-covered tables held silver trays of crab puffs and lobster patties, and into the corridors beyond."
pg. 304 "Finally, in a room off the ballroom, where tables covered with white linen held splendid silver trays of crab puffs and lobster patties, they paused to collect themselves."

7. Schism, by Catherine Asaro
Soz goes to the military academy. Her family reacts emotionally to her choice of career.
(This is the one from which Ms. Asaro read at Balticon 2004.)

[identity profile] new-man.livejournal.com 2005-04-15 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I haven't read College of Magics, but it sounds like a less good version of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, which is long, but doesn't feel that way. I'd be happy to lend it to you if you're interested.

[identity profile] msmemory.livejournal.com 2005-04-15 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's in my pile too, waiting for a time when its sheer size isn't off-putting (as in, some time to read it at home instead of taking it along to the laundromat).
Thanks for the offer.