The Map of Sevendor
Some folks have complained that the map in the book did not display properly on their devices. For those who want to refer to it, here it is, the original deed map to the Domain of Sevendor, before Minalan arrives:
Also, if you want to discuss the book, here's your space to do so. Like it? Hate it? Why?
Thanks to everyone who's reading it.
Also, if you want to discuss the book, here's your space to do so. Like it? Hate it? Why?
Thanks to everyone who's reading it.
Wasn't bad. Took me all day yesterday to read it. Like all of my books it would probably have my feminist friends furious and running for their blogs. And since a coterie among my feminist friends, are currently, the only people I know who read Fantasy, it means that I'm sorry but I can't recommend this to anyone.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit long, and the story really isn't focused, which is okay since I am reading for the world building not for a really tight narrative. There were a ton of typos -- which I understand and accept. And now of course I dread the long wait for the next installment.
You may not have to wait as long as you think.
DeleteAs for your feminist friends, point out that feminism is a product of the industrial revolution. In a feudal/manorial agricultural culture, a strong family bond based on lifetime marriage is actually the best bet for women.
And thanks for recognizing that the point of this story is world building and stage setting. The next few books will have a lot more action, and a much higher body count. But it's all just a comic book unless there is adequate context in which to place the action.
I'm compiling typos. Feel free to send me any you catch by email.
Lol, if you truly believe that would rationalize anything you truly don't know...
DeleteA more measured reply to you would be that. Magic doesn't exist in real life. Nor do your four duchies. Nor any of the social orders you describe in your books. For that matter does much of the disease, filth, social problems that were the norm of feudal society. You have in fact created a world based upon a fantasy about how you would desire such a manorial system to work
From my perspective there is nothing inherently wrong with this. I come to your books because they are a fun bit of escapism, not because I want a realistic depiction of the complexities of the past.
But a feminist would probably say "Since you have already taken soooooooo many liberties with realism, why not take a few more. Why should I want to read a book where men were manly and women were restricted to being sex objects, family icons of virtue, manipulative schemers or just token background figures."
And besides, the magic system you portray hints at both the lingering traces of a post magic/industrial society and a burgeoning renaissance of modern ideas. It is in fact in your very kind of changing society that you are writing about where women's issues would begin to take root.
Not of course that I care. I like your books. I look forward to reading them. I just can't pass them on to anyone.
Butting in here. But you know that's pretty much exactly what my sister the burgeoning feminist said to me! Although she also linked in to a post that said anyone who wrote like I an Mancour do/did is 'inherently lazy'. The inherent laziness as far as I could see stemmed completely from the fact that we refrained from the changes of their ideal escapist fantasy. I.E. like you said changing society but not the women's role in a non-industrial, farm powered, magic driven world.
DeleteOf course then I pointed to a few Matriarchies that I had/or-was building towards and my sister didn't like that either. She didn't want male over female or female over male. Although she liked the rest of the book(s) minus that part. So all I can say is you just can't please everyone all the time.
I will say writing what she wants to read hasn't 'yet' light a burning flame under my creative burner. And my main goal in all of my writing is to put out a good story. If I could get excited about and write a 'fun' to read story involving those very issues which the feminists call 'just another change' I would.
Which is why I issued her this challenge. The same one I'd issue your feminist friends. My challenge is, why don't you write a book like that and then we'll talk. Or even better yet. We could write a book like that together. I wouldn't do all th heavy lifting, you know 50/50. But if your (and by your I mean the feminist's) constraint is that it has to be gender neutralized to whatever degree the feminists are looking for. Then my constraint is that it can't be too preachy and it needs to be 'Fun'!!! If you can manage that lets work on it. If you can't then I'm afraid you're out there on your lonesome until you get some feministic writers.
Although I would recommend to your feministic reading buddies these authors. Wen Spencer's, A Brother's Price and Sherwood Smith, with pretty much all of her writing, although you might want to start them off with the books with some of her female characters, like Crown Duel, Court Duel or Sartor (I think it is, big book just came out this year). And then get them into the Inda trilogy which is in the same neutralized world but focuses on a male character. Sherwood's books are fun. She has made her world pretty much without rape or equalities that aren't abberations to the world and addressed with punishing force and so on and so forth.
The Deposed King
If you want a great book set in a medieval manorial past with interesting women try Connie Willis' The Doomsday Book.
DeleteHonestly though it is Terry's personal business how he wants to write his books.
DeleteIf you read a lot of Feminist blogs you get the sort of absolutist view that theirs is the only valid viewpoint. That any writing which falls outside of their particular gender studies taught understanding is inherently misogynistic and only one short step away from the evil of HItler.
That said, when I was living in Washington DC I ran an Fantasy / Science Fiction book-group. Of the 100 members, I would say that easily 70-80 of them were Women. Fantasy is a changing demographic. Back in the 80s you could write to a male audience and nobody would give a damn, because 90% of the readers were guy's. Things have really changed in the past 10 years.
The girls in my book group weren't particularly radical, but whenever there were clumsy female characters (a staple in speculative fiction) we would all have hearty laughs at the author's expense.
Accept that these days around 50% of your potential audience will have a pair of X chromosomes. And if, as you write you accept that if you alienate this audience, you will probably lose 50% of your customers.
Sorry. Typo myself. It should read "Like all your books"
ReplyDeleteI think its actually my favourite so far. I preferred the style and feel of it over the others. far more detail. I cant wait to see what else they do to sevendor.
ReplyDeleteI just finished the book, and I have to say that I feel more refreshed than invigorated. The first two books left me feeling excited, while this book left me with a feeling of contentment. The additions to Minalan's positions, his children, and his new estate all have me looking forward to his future adventures, and the development of his apprentices and subjects. I truly couldn't put it down, and I would just like to say that although the Spellmonger Series was one of the first series that I've read on Kindle, it remains as one of my favorites. I'm really looking forward to the next installment in this series.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that the Spellmonger series is once again up and running. Now how about an update on the Space Viking/Tanith series.
ReplyDeleteAlready started working on it. No release date yet, but it will be within the next year.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely a fan. Only thing I was missing was that you made a point to augment Min's sphere and fill it with a library of mystical knowledge. Yet not once did he take the time to study it, nor pull one scrap of knowledge from said library. I was hoping for at least a little exposition on the nature of his sphere. One last thing: in Warmage you had Min sitting down with Count Salgo discussing the differences between a normal sword and a mageblade. I'd like to see something more in-depth about that. You may have mentioned pieces here and there, but a comprehensive explanation, maybe as an exclusive post for those of us who follow your blog, would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI thought the book was fantastic. Better than the first two. I really enjoyed the world building aspect.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I found missing was more maps. Honestly, I am having a hard time trying imagine where all of these domains are located. For example, it's my impression that Sevendor is in the NE of Castal, however, it seems like everything is N of Sevendor. Those two just don't seem to match up. Anyway, it's bothering the hell out of me, so if you get around to it, an explanation would be great, even a rough one. Or some sort of rough block diagram of the areas. This isn't a criticism as I think the book was great and even without maps it's totally fine. It's just a thorn of curiosity in my side.
Thanks.
I certainly would like more details on the maps. Like the hamlets, the towns, the cities, etc. While Birchroot Bridge is really small potatoes, still would be interesting to see on the map.
DeleteAnd, while the woodcut style pictures keeps with the medieval theme, be fun to see what a graphics artist renders how Alya, Min, Pentendra, Asar, Astral, Rogo, and the rest look like, include Min's very silly hat.
I just want to say that I just finished reading Magelord and I found it very enjoyable. I do have one question on plot point however, as I don't know if this is deliberate (that Min wouldn't remember it) or an oversight. In the chapter where the Forsaken are covered, Min is asked if he's ever heard of them and he says no. This is not correct however as General Hartarian has mentioned them to him in a previous book.
ReplyDeleteGreat series.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed, i have not had so much fun reading a book for a long time and every book is better than the last.
I know there are probably millions of people giving ideas and i am sure some are used in the books written by you the author and you are probably sick of reading so many ideas but i will add some i believe could be complimentary to the story.
How about writing about an attack on the "skull", where one of the magelords subjects takes it upon himself to use a secret magic to attack the "skull " directly. maybe using ancient technology and magic that works in a different way to the magic in use in the books. Something new and amazing and fresh.
I Just want to see an attack on the skull that does some damage that cannot be repaired, say someone breaks a portion of the skull of with some of the head inside it in the piece that helps the magelord understand the skull and its composition and maybe gives a few ideas on how to defeat it.
I can see someone waiting to impress the magelord and maybe someone being slightly mad, using shadow magic to it's fullest and escaping after the attack by the skin of his teeth.
Someone who believes he is going on a suicide mission but who is eventually made sane again by the tree people or any of the other "aliens"
Also i would love to have a three book omnibus released for three new books with over 400 000 words it would give me a few weeks of adventure and fun and no issues with waiting for q new book for a while.
One of the most terrible things about the series is the wait for new books, and while i am absolutely impressed with the amount of books written and i wish the author could have a meeting with the games of thrones author to show him how to write faster it would be nice if the author gave permission for other authors to write some side stories with a little guidance on not interfering with the main storyline and future plans.
I can imagine a future where there are numerous authors sending scripts to the authors editor and him approving of them and maybe just taking a small percentage in profit. What an amazing business plan that would be, creating more and more life to the land and giving other authors the opportunity to contribute some of their thoughts to new arcs in the story.
I can see a few stories about individuals or a few stories about the lands over the sea.
And if there were a lot of authors there could be new books being released every month and give the author of this series some time for other things.Damn every new author could be writing in conjunction with the author.