The Best of Pam’s Pages— Book Reviews

Last week’s post, an impromptu plug for a book I enjoyed quite a lot, prompted a comment from “Elizabeth” who is, I believe, the managing editor of Zumaya, which published the title Tigra, which was the subject of last week’s post. If you look back at last week’s post, in the comments, she thanked me for my review, which is too kind.

In fact, I hesitate to call my efforts here reviews, although some entries come closer than others. I have written reviews for three different internet sites, and I really enjoyed it, but I am not seeking reviewer status right now. On a SF message board which I read and sometimes post messages, one writer commented that the review is usually more of a reflection of the tastes of the reviewer than of the book, and while I like to think of myself as objective, the comment rings true. So, any comments I have made regarding books do reflect my tastes. That said, here are some links to past posts for books which I find worthy of keeper status:

•Linnea Sinclair’s Finders Keepers, a space opera with a romantic side, and the first title I read by this eBook author. My favorite is An Accidental Goddess.

•Quick takes, Catherine Asaro’s Skyfall and Neal Boortz’s Fair Tax Book are books which have no relation to each other apart from when I read them.

•Paranormal adventure awaits, Warprize and Tiger Eye.

•The superb Lois McMaster Bujold's debut novel, Shards of Honor.

•More short takes in romantic SF, which is one of my favorite genres.

All of these posts still point out some good reading, so do have a look at books I've enjoyed, and revisit some of my favorite posts on Pam's Pages.

Space Opera is Alive and Well!

One of the Yahoo groups to which I subscribe is for fans of Romantic Science Fiction and Fantasy, which is something I often read for fun. There are several sub genres within this off shoot of SF, including paranormal romances, various versions of fantasy, futuristic romances, and space operas. Some of the newbies to that list have been asking for recommendations for lovers of space opera, so the old hands (including yours truly) have been making lists of our favorite titles, authors, and series. No such list could be complete without the space operas of Lois McMaster Bujold, Elizabeth Moon, David Weber, Catherine Asaro, and Sharon Lee and Steve Miller.

However, many of the titles we were mentioning have been around for several years. Bujold began her Vorkosigan series in the mid-eighties and has been writing fantasy of late. Elizabeth Moon has a new series going which is good, if not quite as memorable as some of her previous efforts. Weber’s works have suffered from bloating and poor editing for some time, so I only mention his earlier works when I make such a list. Asaro seems to be publishing more than ever, and she has multiple story arcs going with multiple publishing houses. Her Skolian series is in the best tradition of space operas. Lee and Miller’s Liaden series is getting a bit long in the tooth, but I love their characters, and it is a real pleasure to introduce them to new readers.

Space opera was once a derisive term, a sort of blending of soap opera and bad science fiction, wherein all sorts of license is taken to create action filled plots, and an attitude which says, “who cares if the physics works?” With the popularity of Star Trek on the small screen and Star Wars on the big screen, space opera has become much more main stream.

In literature, too, the space opera seems to be doing quite well. Baen Books specializes in this genre, and some interesting new ventures are embracing it as well. A new ezine, RayGun Revival, has some gorgeous artwork and publishes serials, short fiction, and even a poem now and then. This one, obviously, is going for a retro look and feel. A very new site, the Quantum Kiss is devoting itself to romantic science fiction, and I am interested to see how that will take shape. I’ve mentioned eBooks in other posts, but some of the best electronic titles belong to some sub-genre of SF.

Of course, my own Trinity on Tylos pays homage to the science fiction stories of yesteryear, as well as focusing on themes which matter in our time, including the concepts of sacrifice and the survival of a species.

“A Fascinating Space Romance”

The Romance Studio recently reviewed Trinity on Tylos, and I’m thrilled to have another positive review from a romance site. In part, the reviewer states, “Trinity of Tylos is a fascinating space romance filled with thrilling action and adventure....The storyline is creative and filled with exciting action as one race fights another for their survival. Trinity of Tylos is a fascinating emotionally stirring space adventure that shows how far someone will go for someone they love.” Romance sites are sometimes a bit tough on this book, because it doesn’t follow the standard romance conventions.

Long time readers of this blog may remember that this science fiction action adventure was also named a “Recommended Read” by Fallen Angels Reviews and it has received favorable reviews from several other sites. For quotes from the major review sites and links to excerpts, please see www.pamelajdodd.com.

For the upcoming holidays, I’m accepting mail orders. Of course, my site lists several ways for readers to secure a copy of this science fiction pageturner, including links to the publisher, to Fictionwise, and to EBookIsle.

More Q and A

Trinity on Tylos was officially released on February 1, and already it is on the "hot title" list at WCP. For the locals, it will be a few weeks before I have printed books on hand to do any promotions in this area. While I'm getting those plans together (and I really am working on doing those) I'll fall back on some of my "prepared" questions and answers. Prior to doing my stint as Love Romances Author of the Day, I made a list of common questions and had ready answers. Most of these weren't asked by the moderator or guests, so I'll use them here.

What is your ideal hero/heroine?

I like to write about people who are realistic, but I often place them in surreal situations. I’ve noticed that many other writers do the opposite— that is, they create larger than life characters and have them interact with boring and mundane situations. Either way, conflicts are bound to ensue, and most people read fiction to see how those conflicts are resolved.

What is your perception of romance genre today rather than 10 years ago?

Over the years, I’ve read romance sporadically, but it would seem that ever more sensual characters and situations are the most remarkable trend, and one which continues to change the genre.

Do you prefer writing in 1st person or 3rd person?

I like both. One of my favorite sci-fi novels uses them alternately, but when I tried it in an early effort, my editor said to stick to 3rd person b/c it is easier to write well. By and large, that is true, but I think 1st person is better for creating memorable main characters.

Do any of your characters have any of your personality quirks or other people's quirks?

All fiction writers base their characters on something. Mine are most often composites of people I have known. Most of my characters have flaws, sometimes a lot of them, and that’s because real people are like that. I’ve based characters on people I knew in college and people I have worked with, but so loosely, that I don’t think anyone would recognize them.

Do you find it difficult to write love/sex scenes?

Somewhat, but I do have two children, neither of whom are adopted. I don’t usually write graphic sex scenes, but I don’t have any problem with reading them, or with those who choose to write that way. Actually, I’m glad that with so many books and writers, there is something for every person’s taste.

Not just another romance

Since my last post, I’ve read a couple of really good books— works which stand out from the rest of their genre. Like many authors, I write what I enjoy reading. One of my favorite scenarios, and one which is a perennial favorite of fiction writers, is to take a character out of what is usual and normal, and to have that character face all the conflicts which are generated by being away from one’s comfort zone. The kidnap/capture theme is one way to do this, but it’s not the only way, and both of these novels manage it without a kidnap scene.

Elizabeth Vaughan’s Warprize, a debut novel from Tor Romance, introduces the reader to Xylara, a heroine who is both a healer and a princess, while she is in the midst of trying to save the life of a warrior with a severe wound. With attention to detail, sure plotting, and dramatic world-building, the reader follows Xylara from the battlefield tents to the palace, where she learns that the war can end and her people be saved from what seems to be certain destruction. The price: Xylara must be offered as tribute to the Warlord, whose warriors had caused the very wounds she was treating in the opening scenes. Soon, she is way out of her comfort zone, taken from her dual role as master healer and stepsister of the king, to the Warlord’s tent, as his Warprize. Gradually, Lara learns about the culture of her captors and of Keir, the Warlord of the plains— an entertaining and suspenseful journey of the heart with plenty of politics, warfare, and culture shock for good measure. This page-turner kept me up half the night, and I can’t wait for the sequel, which will be released in April.

Tiger Eye, by Majorie Liu, is a paranormal romance, sans blood sucking. Oh, there is magic aplenty, which begins in a splendid opening sequence set in modern day China. Liu also supplies a hero who is truly timeless, a heroine who is both resourceful and witty, and a villain who is sufficiently evil to deserve the hatred of all the characters and the reader. Liu’s plot moves swiftly, and there is plenty of action and suspense, right until the end. This book is sassy and sensual, and while it introduces characters for a series, it stands alone quite well.

I’m a fan of paranormal romance, but I really don’t care for vampire books, and it is difficult to find good stories in this genre which don’t seem to be written for gals who just couldn’t get enough of Buffie, so I found Tiger Eye to be quite a treat. While the heroine, Dela, isn’t removed physically from her comfort zone, the intricate plotting against her and her lover provide some out-of-the-ordinary conflicts to resolve.

If anyone asks what my writings have in common, I invariably think of the kidnap/capture method of getting my characters into a mess. In both The Gift Horse and Trinity on Tylos, the heroines are physically and emotionally removed from what seems normal, and each of these characters must deal with the ensuing conflicts, whether they be physical threats or emotional ones. After all, we read fiction to see how characters work through their problems. If it were not for that, I really think libraries and bookstores would have only nonfiction books on the shelves. As much as I enjoy reading how-to books, I certainly would miss being able to transport myself into other places and other people’s minds, as they solve the dramatic conflicts of their lives. Life would be so boring and mundane without fiction!

Book review links for Warprize and Tiger Eye:

• Fallen Angels Reviews gave Warprize five angels and a "recommended read."

• Coffee Time Romance's review of Vaughan's novel is here.

• FAR also gave Tiger Eye five angels and a "recommended read."

• Coffee Time Romance really liked Tiger Eye— Look here.