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I've been having a book problem...
Dec. 3rd, 2009 05:22 pmBut it's not the one you think.
Somewhere on the internet (I could tell you where, but it's not important) I ran across a recommendation for Meji, which is a fantasy duology set in a land based on ancient Africa. This sounded potentially cool, and not like something the local library was going to have, so I went ahead and ordered the books.
( cut for long saga of confusion )
So, having actually obtained both books, I've now read the first one. The copy editing is atrocious and there are one or two continuity and word choice moments I might flag as well (but I'm picky), but other than that it's a pretty cool story. The beginning was a bit disorienting, because of course none of the names either of people or societies or gods & sacred things are the least bit familiar to me and the author does rather toss one into the thick of it, but I sorted it out rather more quickly than a number of more mainstream alternate worlds I've run into.
It is that sort of epic fantasy that sweeps across the landscape, and there are constantly people plotting to be the dominant empire in a world where empire is very much tied to a single person who leads his people to greatness in a generation, and then runs the risk of getting overturned or annexed by his sons or sons in law if they're not in the direct line to inherit. There are also several strong female characters who have differing degrees of influence over those around them. Other attractions include lions, a village of evil spirits who eat people, evil medicine men, and the treacherous deaths of at least two great warriors. Not that I mean to imply that great warriors are in short supply, as this is very much not the case. It's that kind of world.
Also, I've got this spare copy of the first book, so if anyone's interested, let me know.
---On a related note, passing on from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
leimon_malakoi, I thought some of you who don't know her might also be interested in short story podcasts:
Fantasy: Podcastle
Horror: Pseudopod
Sci-Fi: Escape Pod
I've just put a bunch of the fantasy ones onto my i-pod for the trip out to see the in-laws (er, still a bit confused about this having in-laws thing...) so I'll be able to report on their worthiness soon enough.
Somewhere on the internet (I could tell you where, but it's not important) I ran across a recommendation for Meji, which is a fantasy duology set in a land based on ancient Africa. This sounded potentially cool, and not like something the local library was going to have, so I went ahead and ordered the books.
( cut for long saga of confusion )
So, having actually obtained both books, I've now read the first one. The copy editing is atrocious and there are one or two continuity and word choice moments I might flag as well (but I'm picky), but other than that it's a pretty cool story. The beginning was a bit disorienting, because of course none of the names either of people or societies or gods & sacred things are the least bit familiar to me and the author does rather toss one into the thick of it, but I sorted it out rather more quickly than a number of more mainstream alternate worlds I've run into.
It is that sort of epic fantasy that sweeps across the landscape, and there are constantly people plotting to be the dominant empire in a world where empire is very much tied to a single person who leads his people to greatness in a generation, and then runs the risk of getting overturned or annexed by his sons or sons in law if they're not in the direct line to inherit. There are also several strong female characters who have differing degrees of influence over those around them. Other attractions include lions, a village of evil spirits who eat people, evil medicine men, and the treacherous deaths of at least two great warriors. Not that I mean to imply that great warriors are in short supply, as this is very much not the case. It's that kind of world.
Also, I've got this spare copy of the first book, so if anyone's interested, let me know.
---On a related note, passing on from
leimon_malakoi, I thought some of you who don't know her might also be interested in short story podcasts:Fantasy: Podcastle
Horror: Pseudopod
Sci-Fi: Escape Pod
I've just put a bunch of the fantasy ones onto my i-pod for the trip out to see the in-laws (er, still a bit confused about this having in-laws thing...) so I'll be able to report on their worthiness soon enough.