Since I have been laid off, I have read close to 25 books. I have re-read the entire Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey (except the 3 in the Vows of Honor trilogy), which accounts for 23 of the books afore-mentioned.
Last night I finished New Spring the Novel by Robert Jordan. This book is a prequel to the 10 books (so far) in the Wheel of Time series. This was a much shorter book than his usual tombs; 334 pages instead of the usual 800, or so, pages. New Spring introduces us to characters that are pivotal to the finding of the Dragon Reborn.
Morraine (who discovers Rand in The Eye of the World), is the main character as she rises from Accepted to Sisterhood in the Blue Ajah with her friend Siuan. Other characters that are important in later books of the series are also touched upon; Sherriam, Cadsuane, Elaida and more. New Spring explains how Lan became Morraine's warder as well as the beginnings of the suspicions that the Black Ajah is working against the Dragon Reborn.
We are brought into the story just before the Dragon Reborn (Rand) enters the world so I am sure there will be at least one more book to bridge the 15 (or so years) between New Spring and The Eye of the World.
This was probably the most enjoyable book to read of Jordan's, since the Eye of the World. In later volumes of the series, Jordan seems too caught up in explaining every little detail in a scene. In New Spring The Novel, there is much less of that so I didn't find myself skipping long paragraphs on how a flower smelled!
You should try the David Kilpatrick books. They're fantastic!
Posted by: Da Goddess | February 27, 2004 at 07:31 AM
Have you read the saga of Miles Vorkosigan, by Lois McMaster Bujold? You'd love it!
Posted by: Buffy | February 27, 2004 at 03:08 PM
I'll have to check out both of your suggestions!
Posted by: Bogie | March 01, 2004 at 07:29 AM