The Chalion books

[stoutfellow]

I'm currently rereading Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion books - The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. I'm in the midst of the second book just now.

Taken as a whole, I think PoS is rather a darker book than CoC, but I'm delighted to be reminded that in parts, it's actually quite funny - funnier than its predecessor. I'm thinking in particular of Ista's conversation with Ferda at the beginning of Chapter 9:

"Ferda," she interrupted gently.
"Yes, Royina?"
"I want... a piece of bread and a bedroll."
"This rough camp is no place for your repose - "
"Any bread. Any bedroll."
"There may be some women I can find for your attendants, but they are not what you are used to - "
"Your bedroll would do."
"Royina, I - "
"If you do not give me a bedroll at once, I am going to sit down on the ground right here and start to cry. Now."

And of course there's this:

"Oh, but I love my task," said Liss cheerfully, slapping her dirty tabard. "People give me fast horses and get out of my way."

(Liss is almost always fun.)

LMB is such a wonderful writer...

Comments

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

Yes. Lots of memorable vignettes. *starts to list a couple, then realizes they are farther on.* *bites fingers to stop them typing*

:<}

[kd5mdk.livejournal.com]

Personally, I really prefer CoC. I think that has to do with being much more aligned with Cazaril (and even more with Ingrey). There are indeed some very funny parts but overall I think it's much more for an older audience than me.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

Icon Love!

[kd5mdk.livejournal.com]

from ase

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

It took me a long time to warm up to CoC, but I adored Ista's book right away. She has *attitude.*

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

I did love CoC and PoS immediately. The book I couldn't get into was Hallowed Hunt. I couldn't care about the characters and the plot stopped making sense to me right about the time that Horseriver came out of the closet, as it were. The book was beautifully written, but even a second read did not clarify for me the motivation behind the plot or endear me to the characters. The most interesting to me was Learned Hallana.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's a male/female difference, but I had a hard time with Caz and just loved Ista from first word.

Also, I have a hard time getting into universes, usually, so that was a difficulty with CoC for me.

Strangely enough, I had absolutely NO problem immersing myself in the Sharing Knife universe from first word. I've been wanting to post/email about it, but haven't had the time yet. Loved Beguilement. Have to go back and see if the beginning was with the male or female protagonist, that might have made the difference.

You're making me want to go back and do a reread of these three too!

[filkferengi]

I *knew* I should've picked up that paperback copy of _Chalion_ the other day; it would've been perfect for tomorrow's flight to WorldCon. I'll just have to keep that in mind for when we fly out to terrorize you next year. [weg]

I feel a major reread coming on, but it'll just have to wait until after DragonCon [the one that starts 2 days after we're back from WorldCon; welcome to the zoo!].