Recent fantasy reads

[starlady]

Tim Powers, On Stranger Tides.

Elizabeth Bear, By the Mountain Bound.

Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making.

(All links go back to the reviews at my journal. I generally don't spoil.) Anyone else read these? What did you think? In particular, I'd love someone to explain to me just what the heck people love about Tim Powers, as I more or less can't stand his books. (I should mention that On Stranger Tides was recently optioned for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie.)

Comments

[finch]

My favorite Powers is the one with the beer, so I'm afraid I can't explain this one to you.

I should mention that On Stranger Tides was recently optioned for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie

Link please? I'm curious now. XD

[starlady]

The other one I've read and disliked is The Anubis Gates, the main character of which is actually quoted in the epigraph to On Stranger Tides, which did not predispose me to like the book, I admit. Also seeing Anubis Gates cited as a steampunk precursor, which I did recently, makes me see red.

Erm, link...it was here via cofax7.

[finch]

The Drawing of the Dark is the one I liked, I looked it up after I commented to you. XD It's got a good sense of humor. And it's about magic beer.

So what is Anubis Gates about? I've seen it listed as a steampunk precursor too, but never got around to finding it secondhand to read.

Thanks for the link.

[starlady]

With the caveat that it's been at least 7 years, Gates is about this guy English professor or something who goes back in time and is forced to take on the role of the Romantic poet William Ashbless, previously his research subject. Erm, and there are some Egyptians or something running around London doing nefarious things? As ungrateful colonials will do.

ETA: Neither money nor torture could induce me to understand what about it people say is steampunk.

[finch]

It's... um... set in something resembling the appropriate era? I got nothing.

[starlady]

I don't even know. It's Regency, with an early to middle Victorian epilogue. Seriously, WTH.