The Dragonbone Chair

Still reading Tad Williams series Memory, Sorrow and Thorn.Book 1: The Dragonbone ChairBook 2: The Stone Of FarewellBook 3: To Green Angel Tower: StormBook 4: To Green Angel Tower: SiegeOnce again I am caught in its grip, and this rereading (for like the zillionth time) of a major favourite of mine has established Memory, Sorrow and Thorn as my very favourite fantasy series. Comparable to Tolkien, but I find Williams more accomplished at creating real characters, ones that I truly feel grow as individuals from chapter to chapter. This is essential reading for any fantasy fan, but also a worthy pick up for those who love literary fiction.The feel of the prose, as weighty as Tolkien but as alive as Tolstoy, keeps me both intellectually charged, and wilfully entertained in a way that feels at once classic, and yet alarmingly modern. Tad Williams is not for the fainthearted: his books are heavy, and they are deep, and they are not for those who think fantasy is only about dungeons, dragons, and fast paced adventure, moving from one literary setpiece to the next with barely any room to breathe.This series often has the feel of moving in real time, and you either get down with it and live alongside the characters (highly recommended), or you sadly resign yourself to giving up around the two hundred page mark, and lose out on one of the most intoxicating adventures in all of literature.I love it when a writer takes their time establishing settings, characters, and events through gradual buildup. In the first book alone, hundreds of pages are spent following the daily tasks, tumblings, and creeping terrors of a castle kitchen boy and his friends; elsewhere, chapters and chapters can be spent wandering the damp, green and eerie forests; dismay, fear and tension during fights, ambushes and uncertainty of where and what to do next pulsate through beautiful prose, and with every mysterious question that arises, grandeur builds, and tension rises.Many of these characters genuinely touch my heart. Regarding the details provided, I swear I can smell everything; my mind sees the mediaeval architecture, the baked goods, the hog roasting on the spit, and the fabric of the very robes of the unholy king in such alarming detail it could easily be that I had dreamed of the very events of this book- as if this very story had been an accurate account of my first hand experiences.This series was a direct inspiration for A Song Of Ice And Fire (indeed, two characters are even referenced in passing in that series), and in all honesty, Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is infinitely superior. But regardless of whether or not you enjoy the works of Martin, Williams now classic series is worth all the time and effort you put into reading them.Captivated beyond words. Fantasy for the Tolstoy fan.

This was a fun read for an adult who has raised many children and worked in education. The internal dialogue is at times exasperating as you just know the character is being an idiot and making poor choices which often form a slow build towards a plot twist (there are several excellent ones, throughout the 4 books). I often found myself liking several of the characters and empathising with those who messed up. There is a Tolkien-like series of encounters with characters from different humanoid origins, both friend and foe as well as regular ‘human beings’. It was an entertaining world to travel through, well-realised (though characters fared suspiciously well through colds that should have killed them, IMO). If you’re buying the paperbacks, I suggest you look online for decent maps of Osten Ard as the ones printed in the book are so sparse in detail that most of the places mentioned aren’t on them.

Producto llegó en malas condiciones

(added 10/20/2015 - available on the AmazonUK site as an audible file, but Audible USA isn't even answering enquiries as to when/if it will come to the US market. Disappointed that Audible says 'We'll get right back to you' and over a month later... nada. Even with reminders.(added 06/16/2015 - Searched for this in Audible while on my Kindle - apparently the audio is coming out August 2015? But can't find the page while on my laptop. harumph.) Rehabilitating a 60 year old farm means I'm alone most of the time, moving around 30 acres, often doing repetitive labour. I listen to alot of free audio books from my library and have an Audible membership (soon to be dropped). I'd love to listen to these stories and have read them to my kids.I'm on my second set of paperbacks for these books and have gifted them to family and friends from 11yo to 58yo. I've stopped trying to review books for their literary worth - is it "good". I dunno - but I have found these books Entertaining. Good set of books for a gift to a young adult or older adult that enjoys humour and fantasy. A nice take on multi-culturalism - Elves, dwarves, royalty and wizards are shown to be people. The habits and culture may be a bit different, but they all lead very real lives of love, loss, hope and failure. It's funny how well a fantasy can teach your kids about the reality of life, compassion, honor and strength.As an integral part of the story, the glamour of legend and story is shown to be just a glittery reflection of reality. Alongside of Simon, you experience the hungry, dirty, frightening reality that is war and intrigue. Not to the point where I haven't allowed my thirteen yr old to read these - no graphic sex or gratuitous gore. The "lovestory" portions are a reflection of reality - Foot in mouth awkwardness and misunderstandings leading to over sensetive reactions. No glory of war or heaving bosoms here.I was homeless for almost a year 20 years ago (19yo, no family, no schooling - no... I was not a hippy/druggy/"soiled dove" - just unlucky and lost everything in a house fire) and as someone who knows the worth of dry socks and a safe place to sleep, the reality of hiking cross country is well portrayed. Hiding in trees, heart pounding so loudly you can't tell if someone is sneaking up on you, is a lousy way to spend night after night. Don't try to impress someone first thing in the morning with bug parts stuck to your sleep wrinkled face.Well... sorry if this isn't the best review I've written, but we're bringing in the hay, baby goats are being born and I just came in to cool off - so not much time to proofread this. Upshot is, if you enjoyed Redwall as a kid, you'll enjoy these. be well sf

I know I bought a used copy but it was still pretty badly damaged.