Category: Books

A classic work of modern fantasy. Set in the Italy-like peninsula of city states known as the Palm, this is a revenge story in essence. The Palm is split in two. The western states controlled by Brandin, the sorceror King of Ygrath. The eastern states controlled by the minor sorceror lord from Barbadior, who is seeking the imperial crown.
The invasion was begun by the Ygrathan’s as the King’s second son Stevan sought to carve out his own Kingdom. However, met by fierce resistance in Tigana, Stevan is killed. This drives Brandin mad with grief and his forces and sorcery make renewed war on Tigana, crushing it in the process. Brandin’s revenge is to wipe the name of Tigana from the mind of anyone not born in Tigana.
This book follows those who seek to overthrow the invaders and restore Tigana’s name.
An excellent book.

Rating: A

This was a strange read. Both deeply serious and deeply glib.
Morley spends the entire book within his memories, looking for an understanding of his father’s suicide. There’s a whole section that deals with the death of Ian Curtis, but it’s still intimately tied in with Morley’s reactions to his father’s death.
I think that this is a book I’d recommend just to gauge other people’s reactions to it – I think very lively discussions could come out of it.

Rating: B+

A classic work of science fiction.

Rating: A-

The War Of The Flowers by Tad Williams

Something Rotten by Jasper Fforde

Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin

A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson

Howl’s Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones

The Lonely Dead by Michael Marshall

This is the sequel to The Straw Men. It’s a good read but not up to the quality of the first book. Especially the weird bit about neanderthals.

Rating: C