Worth a Mention

In preparation for my vacation, I had packed up a couple books. Rule of Two is a continuation of the Darth Bane story in Star Wars. More Sithy goodness (badness?) there. It was interesting, but not overwhelming in any way. It played out about as it had to. One thing I dislike about Star Wars books is Jedi usually come across either as "Teh Awesome" or ineffective chumps. There's rarely a middle ground.

I also picked up Mistborn, by Brandon Sanderson. I'd seen it on some list/review and it seemed like it might be a decent fantasy read. I went in only with modest expectations, but was quite pleasantly surprised. The main plot is almost a fantasy version of Ocean's Eleven with a crew and build-up to a big heist of sorts. The characters came across well, and the setting really grabbed me. The magic of the world has a unique flavor and makes intriguing use of physics (it's still magic, but "mass matters" is unusual for telekinesis-style effects). The story of how the world got where it is, leaked in bits and pieces through the book, was captivating to me. This one gets a recommendation from me. I find myself wondering if there are enough threads open for the rest of the series, but I think I want to find out.

Comments

  1. ajeyaDecember 30, 2008 at 1:36 PM

    Tongue in cheek: Perhaps Jedi who are not ub3r l33t are ineffective chumps?

    ReplyDelete
  2. marinredwolfDecember 31, 2008 at 10:42 AM

    Probably the simplest explanation. ;) Unfortunately, I find myself having difficulty connecting with the former and wondering why any writer bothers with the latter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. kyn_elwynnDecember 31, 2008 at 10:09 PM

    Blame the movie presentations? First three films are Obi-Wan and Yoda (and to some degree Vader as ex-Jedi) philosophical, mystic, powerful. The semblance to kung-fu sensei, so potent that they shouldn't have to lift a finger to fight their adversary, having already won in advance. So flash back to a young, awkward, geeky Anakin. Show the Jedi padawan as a learning process. Sure they're a cut above the average folk, but full of foibles and faults, potentially unable to be as powerful as the greater masters (See Ep. 3 and Order 66) Fill in the gaps with RPGs, both computer and table top, which allow players with varied imaginations to take the reigns of the beloved samurai-mystics of a far off universe. Get 1,001 different tales and types of Jedi. I cannot at the moment think of Jedi that aren't in the extremes of the scale of bad-assery.

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  4. marinredwolfJanuary 2, 2009 at 11:17 AM

    Huh. Found out just today that Brandon Sanderson was tapped to do the actual writing of the next Wheel of Time novel, following what Robert Jordan had laid out.

    ReplyDelete
  5. marinredwolfJanuary 2, 2009 at 11:30 AM

    I cannot at the moment think of Jedi that aren't in the extremes of the scale of bad-assery. I've seen a couple in books... typically in the "competent padawan" phase. They're good, they have a "mystical" edge, but they're still fallable. They can parry blaster bolts, but you can still empathize with the moral choices they're forced to make and such. By the time characters hit Jedi Master, they often come across more as superhuman plot devices than characters to connect with. - I liked Etain in the first Republic Commando book, where her senses and mental abilities helped while the soldiers still did the most physical butt-kicking, but after that she seemed to be put into a slow slide toward leaving the Order rather than trying to make things better and I pretty much wrote her off. - I also liked Barriss Offee in the Medstar books, which are mostly non-combat situations anyway.

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