(no subject)

[yendi]

As most of you know, I don't read High Fantasy. Brust and Pratchett are very notable exceptions, but other than those and the occasional book that slips through the crack (the last of which was Stoddard's The False House a few years ago), I just avoid it like the plague (and my reaction to most high fantasy is similar -- I break out in a rash, get achy, and eventually throw up; I suspect that I may be allergic to elves and dwarves).

I also don't like novels set in gaming worlds. Nothing against the concept -- I know more than one person who makes a living (or, more accurately, supplements a paycheck) by doing this. But such books usually rank below Trek and similar novels for me, because the world is usually so restrictive, and even the best authors usually have to rehash rules and settings, and attempt to translate some untranslatable events in novel form (unless they want to incur the wrath of irate gamer-geeks upset that the vampire didn't make a willpower check, or whatnot).

And I've already mentioned, in the past, my general dissatisfaction with vampire fiction in general, as, for every rich or interesting book, there are dozens of cliche-ridden pieces of crap that make Anne Rice seem readable.

So, guess what I read and loved yesterday?

Yup. A high-fantasy book set in a gaming universe, featuring a vampire.

It was Drachenfels, by Jack Yeovil. A Warhammer (as in, possibly the most clich-ridden universe not created by Gary Gygax) book.

Of course, that's cheating.

"Jack Yeovil" is actually Kim Newman. Kim "Anno Dracula" Newman. The man who had Tom Ripley and Clark Kent mixing it up with vampires in a Fellini film. The guy who (co-) wrote Back in the USSA. Just a damned talented and funny author. And someone who doesn't take the whole gaming world thing seriously at all.

The book is hysterical, and highly recommended. Lots of parody of gaming concepts and of theatre. And a damned good story to boot. And it (like the next two books in the series, only one of which is in my possession) tells the story of Genevieve, co-star of Anno Dracula. All of these books were written very early in his career, and Games Workshop is re-releasing them now (although, for some reason, they still put "Jack Yeovil" on the covers).

It's a book that I'll definitely be foisting on friends. Although I'll probably foist his Dracula books first.

Comments

[galdrin.livejournal.com]

No George R.R. Martin, eh?

[yendi]

I adore George R.R. Martin, and have read most everything he's written other than the Big Ass Trilogy That's Now at Book Four. When it ends, I'll pick it up. But not before all the books have been released.

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

You know, since finding out Jack Yeovil was actually Kim Newman, I'd been considering reading this. Naturally, I was a bit sketchy about it, since it was a Warhammer book. Great, just something else to add to the teetering pile.

[yendi]

Four somethings, actually. Aside from the three novels in the series, there's a collection of his short stories in the Warhammer universe, including a new Genevieve tale. :-)

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

But why oh why did it have to be Warhammer?

I'm currently getting ready to read a book called American Exorcisms (have to finish the mediocre book of ghost stories first, which I'll do on the commute). I can't wait to see the looks on people's faces...

[yendi]

Warhammer is a mediocre universe, but they have some nifty games, at least!

What's so bad about American Exorcisms (as opposed to ghost stories, or any other horror theme)?

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't think anything's wrong with them (neither does podling, as she was the one who introduced me to the book in the first place). But I have this odd suspicion that the people I commute with may get a little nervous. I'll be following this one up with the two books on the Salem witchcraft trials I got for Christmas.

And you should be so lucky to get a rash from an elf!

[yendi]

And you should be so lucky to get a rash from an elf!

Umm. As in, elf rashes are good things? Or they normally cause worse reactions? ;-)

[two-star.livejournal.com]

She just wasnts to get a rash from Legolas. Rowr.

[yendi]

Ick. I need to scrub my head.
And would that rash be called "sylph-ilis?"

[piratejenny.livejournal.com]

Ouch, that was bad.

And you mean the icon didn't give it away?

[podling]

Hey now, it's a *history* book!!! :) And people did look at me odd when I had it on the train.

[bookslacker.livejournal.com]

I always like a good book recommendation.

Fantasy-wise, Galdrin's right--George R.R. Martin has decimated the competition for now. If only he would finish that next book. He's not really doing the elf/dwarf/wizard thing, though, anyway. Robin Hobb is pretty good example of the less "elfish" style, too. I think the last series in traditional genre that I read and liked was the Tad Williams "Memory Sorrow Thorn" a few years ago. I've started others that I thought were absolutely horrid--Goodkind, Eddings, J.V. Jones.

I read Stoddard's The High House but didn't read The False House. I thought it was pretty fun. A very unusual book that reminded me more of old-school stuff like George MacDonald.

[yendi]

I actually liked Hobb more before the name change and genre shift (Wizard of the Pigeons<.I> is still my favorite of her books). And yeah, I'll definitely try the Martin series; I just want it to end first. :-)

Re:

[bookslacker.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me of Wizard of the Pigeons. That's one I've heard good things about but haven't read yet.