"The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due"
Think of your favorite fantasy or science fiction novel. You'll know the author and title, of course. But can you think of its editor or publisher?
In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired "Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal," the first episode of its new documentary series "Renegades," which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.
A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.
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The Lies of Locke Lamora - 4/5 Stars
I have been wanting to read this book for a while. In fact I tried a few years ago but bounced off it. Listening to it, via the Libby audiobook app, finally got me through the book. The style of the book takes some getting used to, it jumps back and forward in time which was part of what was offputting for me, but once I got settled I found it quite enjoyable.
There is a character, "Chains" (and whatever you are imagining for this character, I guarantee you are wrong.) I quite like this character and I kept imagining them portrayed by John Noble back in the early 2000s, when he played Denethor in the LOTR movies.
I'm onto the second book in this series, here's hoping it keeps my attention!
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Last night I was chewing on the idea of a book which was nonfiction fiction. That is, a historical text about a fictional world. 'A history of the peoples of the Farundak continent' or something similar. Telling a broad and long history of this fictional continent, the politics and people of it, etc. But not delving into deep fictional storytelling on any of the events.
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Kushiel's Dart - 2 of 5
Kushiel's Dart is adult high fantasy fiction. It is not my normal cup of tea but I was drawn to it and found it's setting interesting. The main character is a woman who is masochistic and is raised to utilize that as a form of courtesan. The story itself takes a spin off of Judeo-Christian narratives with thinly veiled name changes, as well as the European map being renamed.
The tropes and ideas are not subtle, but the story itself is one of political intrigue. As is often the case I found the ending a bit of a let down after the intricate build up. Additionally, it lacks a pay off I was looking for.
This is a story which rides on the characters in it and the rest is just window dressing. There are two more in the series but I don't see myself seeking them out.
Kushiel's Dart by
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