Review of _Dzur_ by SKZ Brust

[filkferengi]

An enthusiastic, non-spoilerish review is posted by a fervent fan from Finland here:

http://www.curledup.com/dzurbrus.htm

Comments are welcome on the reviewer's LJ, here:

http://bright-lilim.livejournal.com/16636.html

I also posted these links in Brust's LJ, in comments about another review of _Dzur_ [which it'll be a while before I get to, as I'll probably reread all the books first].

Comments

[bright-lilim.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting them. Hm. Am I a feverent fan? I guess I am. Heh. I just need more time to reread the books.

[filkferengi]

Don't we all? ;)

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

I got really disillusioned with the Vlad books a long time ago. :( I wish I weren't but I just am.

[filkferengi]

That's when the Kelavren books make an attractive alternative.

[bright-lilim.livejournal.com]

What are the Kelavren books, please?

[filkferengi]

I meant the Khaavren books: _Phoenix Guards_ in particular, but also _500 Years After_. He's not in the Adrilankha books as much [_Lord of Castle Black_, _Paths of the Dead_, & _Sethra Lavode_].

I dearly love Khaavren's hope and idealism in _Phoenix Guards_, but am less enthralled with his descent into cynicism in the other books.

[bright-lilim.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. I have them all although I found the language... challenging.

[filkferengi]

It's meant to be. I enjoy the bombast and play with the language; it harks back to when the language was spontaneous, new, and playful, still invventing itself. But that's in my first language, in which I have extensive experience and have read lots of books in different styles, from varying periods of history. I can't even imagine trying something that complex in another tongue; you're very brave! [and a very devoted fan].

If there's something specific you have trouble with, just let me know; what else is a list pedant for? :)

[bright-lilim.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Alas, I don't have time now to reread but hopefully next year.

I loved Dumas as a teenager but of course I read the Finnish translations.

[filkferengi]

I'm a huge Heyer fan, but too scared of the specialized Regency vocabulary to read the German translations I have.

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

Although, hm...this review makes me think there might be more of what I used to like about them. (Swashbuckling, wisecracking mysteries.)

[filkferengi]

There's quite a bit of that. Just remember, the reviewer says the action starts immediately after _Issola_, so, if nothing else, you may need to read that as a lead-in. It's not that long & has lots of good adventure.

[joyeuse13.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I read that one--the last one I read was the one about Lady Teldra and how she took up residence in Spellbreaker...was that Issola?

[filkferengi]

Yes, it was.