tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post8880427216963107087..comments2024-03-29T06:16:21.012+08:00Comments on Monsters and Manuals: Thoughts on LyonesseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-78394389456310125672023-08-10T04:02:53.889+08:002023-08-10T04:02:53.889+08:00I am finally reading it now, it has a wonderful au...I am finally reading it now, it has a wonderful audiobook version. I am almost at the end of "The Green Pearl" and loving every second.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-41654276283297396702012-07-20T21:02:09.792+08:002012-07-20T21:02:09.792+08:00Yes, really. Thanks -- I agree that she's a co...Yes, really. Thanks -- I agree that she's a compellingly drawn character. It was just that I couldn't find any examples of her in a role more active or "resistant" than restraining her tears beyond around page 130, so was curious what made her such a strong lead in your eyes. Suum cuique, I suppose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-74584157251151414822012-07-20T14:54:32.269+08:002012-07-20T14:54:32.269+08:00Really? She's in most of the first book, I thi...Really? She's in most of the first book, I think. <br /><br />What makes her a strong female lead is that she does what she wants to do, even unto death. If a male character does that sort of thing she does in fiction, we tend to applaud the sense of defiance, his courage, and also the courage of the author in creating a hero whose heroism comes from resistance rather than action. I don't see why Suldrun is any different (unless we are coming at it from the school of "In order for female characters to be interesting they have to be all-action badasses"). <br /><br />Being a protagonist doesn't necessarily mean doing lots of things. In can mean remaining resistant in the face of repression, which is what Suldrun does.noismshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933436762608669966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-84545919393178734162012-07-20T12:24:52.261+08:002012-07-20T12:24:52.261+08:00Please say more about what makes Suldrun a "s...Please say more about what makes Suldrun a "strong female lead." I don't recall her getting that much time to function as anything like a protagonist. Thanks...!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-54518944013218003062012-07-18T21:22:05.003+08:002012-07-18T21:22:05.003+08:00The Demon Princes is fantastic space-adventure; bu...The Demon Princes is fantastic space-adventure; but all of Vance's heroes tend to be what we would call Mary Sue these days. Understand, it wasn't a thing back then; and Vance balances it with lots of anti-heroes (like Cugel) in his other writing.<br /><br />I always felt the book Madouc was a form of penance, necessitated because he had mistreated poor Suldrun so badly in the first book.<br /><br />I have (AFAIK) every sci-fi and fantasy Vance has written, but I have to say the Demon Princes and the Cugel books are the best. In the Demon Princes he perfects the style of whimsical locations and odd asides and footnotes. Gene Wolfe is a master stylist, but I think Vance is the most under-rated writer of the last century. It's like he invented irony. (Although James Branch Cabell preceeded him.)MCPlanckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239576472889126413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-3238066304683432902012-07-18T18:48:35.581+08:002012-07-18T18:48:35.581+08:00It's safe to say that if you like the Dying Ea...It's safe to say that if you like the Dying Earth books you'll like Lyonesse. It's slow going, but worth sticking with.noismshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933436762608669966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-62569321294554313912012-07-18T18:48:00.392+08:002012-07-18T18:48:00.392+08:00No. I'm gradually working my way through Vance...No. I'm gradually working my way through Vance's back catalogue, but it's not always easy to find them in book shops. (Kindle helps, thankfully.)noismshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933436762608669966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-71362261328358819092012-07-18T18:45:31.914+08:002012-07-18T18:45:31.914+08:00The third one is the best. Madouc is a great chara...The third one is the best. Madouc is a great character, and the story comes to fruition in a very satisfying way.noismshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933436762608669966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-67976749816188928252012-07-18T16:48:37.349+08:002012-07-18T16:48:37.349+08:00I might have to look it up.I might have to look it up.NathanRyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17963023116440525852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-35856559787203811432012-07-18T09:58:07.959+08:002012-07-18T09:58:07.959+08:00Virtually the same experience trying to slog throu...Virtually the same experience trying to slog through the first Lyonesse book. <br /><br />I definitely agree that Vance's whimsical turns mirror the randomized threats and exploration principles of Old School D&D. Have you read the Demon Princes books?Greg Gorgonmilkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15397374629757817360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2513019539869706574.post-70053193342787590492012-07-18T09:21:17.485+08:002012-07-18T09:21:17.485+08:00I read the first two in the eighties when I was mo...I read the first two in the eighties when I was most active in gaming. Your review is dead-on. I think I hear Amazon.com calling.Robohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15830826332699427926noreply@blogger.com