From: "Pedro Mizukami" 
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 10:57:37 -0300
Subject: Re: Doug's Library

Hello Doug!

    I've stumbled upon your site today. Let me tell you, first of all, how
much I enjoyed it. I had tremendous fun going through the reviews, and
surprisingly enough, I enjoyed many of the books you enjoyed with the same
intensity. Obviously, I disagreed with you a few times (the most divergent
opinion I had from yours was concerning "Ender's Game", which rates only 6
in my list), but most of the times, your opinion matched mine.

    Since you welcome recommendations, I thought of some for you. In the
sci-fi realm, have you tried Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow"? I picked it
up a couple of months ago, initially skeptical, because of the amount of
hype it was getting, but the book won me over. Surprisingly good sci-fi.
Lately, I've also read Nicola Griffith's "Slow River", and enjoyed it
immensely. I was also surprised at this, since I didn't care much for
Griffith's first effort, "Ammonite".

    As for fantasy, have you read anything by Elizabeth Hand? She's not a
fantasy writer in the classical sense of the word. I would recommend you
"Waking the Moon" if you haven't read anything by her. The book drags for
the first fifty pages, but after it finds its pace, it's quite a ride. It
could be shelved both under fantasy and horror. Hand's "Glimmering" is also
interesting, more of a horror novel, and has some tremendously good ideas,
but in the end is just an average book. You could also check "Winterlong". I
did not like it, but lots of people seem to. It's a sci-fi book, with a
touch here and there of fantasy. But it's way to confusing for my liking.

    I've read another interesting, unusual piece of fantasy writing these
days. It's called "Archangel", by Sharon Shinn. It's fluff, but exceptional
fluff. It's a fantasy world, but has a huge sci-fi plot working behind it,
if you can figure it out (and it's very easy to do so). there are other two
books in the same setting, "Jovah's Angel" and "The Alleluia Files", but
they're all stand-alone pieces. If you enjoy "Archangel", you should enjoy
the rest.

    Now, for a note about Jordan. I think you've made an interesting
decision concerning the reading of his work, or of any other series that is
yet to be completed. But, anyway, taking in consideration the reviews I've
read on yoursite, I doubt you will enjoy The Wheel of Time series. I can
imagine all the hype you've taken over those books. The hype is indeed, is
excessive. And there's no way, I think, that by the time you get to read it,
the hype will match the books' contents.
    I am a huge fan of the series, I must confess. I loved every single one
of the books so far. I have succumbed to the "hardcover curse". And I think
Jordan's work in unmatched in all of fantasy fiction. Of course, it has an
extraordinary ammount of flaws. But it worked for me. It struck a note with
me, deep down. Hey, I even feel that he's way better than Tolkien. But I
only think that way, because I read the first book on intuition alone. I had
not read any reviews, nor had anyone recommended me the books. There's no
way that anyone in the world, hearing so much praise for a single series,
would read the books and not be disappointed with them. I think you will,
when you manage to read them. In fact, I think that even if you had not
heard any of the hype over the books you would enjoy them. Then again,
that's only intuition. So I suggest you pick "The Eye of the World" and give
it a read. Don't worry about the "hardcover curse". I doubt you will feel
like reading the rest of the books.

    I think that for the same reason, you have not read any of the Terry
Goodkinds work. Well, I suggest you read "Wizard's First Rule", then keep
long distance from the rest of the books. WFR is a masterpiece. I truly
loved that book, despite its low start. It has some brilliant stuff in it.
The rest of the books though, ruined the first. I do like them, but I don't
feel they're any good. Book two is a Jordan ripoff. Book three is the second
best of the series, but the ending is an Aliens ripoff. The fourth book is
original, but it sucks. Goodkind should have stopped with WFR.

    Finally, if you're in for some horror, there's a delightful little
anthology of short stories called "Robert Bloch's Psychos" that is most
amusing. I would also recommend you Ramsey Campbell's "Nazareth Hill". Nice
haunted house novel. And last, but not least, I strongly recommend you a
book called "The Ignored", by Bentley Little. It's unusual, and very
disturbing. There are a few flaws to it, but overall, it's brilliant.

    Best wishes,
    Pedro

--
From: "Pedro Mizukami" 
Subject: Re: Doug's Library

Hi again Doug,

    Thank you for your reply. Since I wrote that message, I've read George
R. R, Martin's A Game of Thrones, and let me tell you, stay away from it if
you don't want to spend money on the yet to be published hardcovers that
will complete the series (called A Song of Ice and Fire).

I decided to give Martin a try after it was recommended by a friend. I knew
that the series still needs three books to be finished. I just didn't think
I would enjoy it as much as I did. Now, when A Clash of Kings comes out next
year, I'll be forced to spend 25 bucks to read it.

After I put aGoT down, I thought about your decision of not reading any
series until it was entirely published in paperback, and felt kinda
dumb...but I do not regret it. It's going to be quite a while before it gets
all published in paperback (considering a 2 year interval between hardback
copies) Well, I'll spend some extra money in this series, but I wasn't at
all disappointed in reading it. It's quite terrific.

Pedro