Sorcery by Terry Pratchett

Sorcery 

By Terry Pratchett

     Some people end up on all the adventures... it's to bad for Rincewinds that once again he's pulled into adventure. On diskworld there is an eighth color, great wizards are the eighth son of an eighth son... eight is a special number when you are dealing with magic. Wizards and women also don't mix. The why is nether really covered it;s just not done. So when a wild and diferent Wizard becomes astranged from the Unseen University builds a family has seven (wizard) sons then has an eighth things get complicated. 

     When Sorcery is let louse on the world dangerous things happen. Rincewind takes it upon himself to run away.  Trying to get as far away as possible only to find he cares and is the only one left to do anything about it. The world may survive (since this is book 5 out of 38 thats a safe guess) even if Rincewind gets stuck in the Dungeon Dimension at of it all. 

     Theres not much to really say about this book... the only question I had is where are the witches will all these wizard towers and magic being brought up from nowhere... I KNOW its not a story about them... but Diskworld is generally very good about covering all the options about people who might be able to have an effect on the situation and this was the first time I really questioned things... 

Book Review, Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

Wyrd Sisters

by Terry Pratchett

     Witchcraft is not what you think it is. You don't need candles and flashy symbols drawn in blood, or dancing naked under a full moon (sometime though Margrat would like things it if the other witches would be a little more Occult like... though I don't think even she would want to see Granny Weatherwax dancing naked...).  Witches are mostly solitary people, but even solitary people like to be a little social once in a while... other wise how would the others know you don't need them. 

     Most of the magic that is done by Witches on the disk is every day things, things that just take a little bit more knowledge and a lot of headology. They may be a bit closer to the vale between life and death. Which helps when theres a ghost around who needs a little justice and they do happen to fly around on broomstick (which aside from being a little cold is just a practical way to travel when your the only one in the ramtops who really does travel). 

       The witches are enjoyable characters because they are as I said, very down to earth and honest old ladies. Very Real, Wizards are the ones who mess around with Magic on the disk. Nanny and Granny are two cute and intelligent old ladies who care for the country folk that live in there aria. Sometimes this requires a little magical help... sometimes things work out anyways.

Book Review, The Prodigal Mage by Karen Miller

The Prodigal Mage

by Karen Miller

     Hero's save the world. Its what they do. Then they get to live happly ever after right? Yet saveing the world changes it, and humans whether they are Olken or Doranen have trouble excepting that change. In the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker pair of books Asher saved the world from the evil of Morg and freed the Olken from the control of the Doranen gaining them the right to use the magic that they always had but were forbidden from using. The Prodigal Mage continues this story in the world that has been changed by his actions. 

     Asher's magic is different than a normal Olken's simpler earth based power, and because of the things he was forced to do with it he dislikes it greatly. His son is also in position of the same or maybe even greater amounts of power. Yet must grow up with a hero for a father, and hiding this power since it would frighten the world. But when the world starts to die and his father can't save it this time he steps up to the task. 

     Story's don't often cover the after part of things. How a hero may do his job but the great changes he tried to create... just make some things more difficult. Like what happens when a hero has children... And what happens if things go bad again and the hero's too old and worn out from saving the world 10 years earlier before anyone knew about it... This story though it takes the point of view of multiple different characters at different times is mostly about Rafel, Ashers son. The way he grew up and his taking on of the responsibility to help the world when his Father can't.  

     This book really does require you to have read the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker book's (in order The Innocent Mage is first, The Awakened Mage is second making this book three) first. I read them some time ago (1998 I think...) and it took me a few chapters to really remember the world and the way it worked. Especially because there are a lot of changes the world has faced since those books. This book also doesn't give you much of a reminder at all as to what happened (though in general I don't mind this it really didn't cover the past books at all). It jumps from character to character a little too much, and it took a bit to start realizing what family I was following.  But the two families you read about are important in there own way. 

     Rafel steps up to his place in the world. Becoming more comfortable with his magic, learning why it was so important to his father no to show his power to the world and that some things are worth taking a risk for. The story is continued in The Reluctant Mage. 

Book Review, (Faust) Eric by Terry Pratchett

(Faust) Eric 

by  Terry Pratchett

     There is a world that is carried through space on the back of four great Elephants who stand on the back of a giant turtle who is swimming through space with an unknown destination. This world is shaped as a disk, a round circle peppered with mountains across its center (know as the hub), and great waterfalls that crash over the edge and shower the elephants below.
     Rincewind is a Wizard, he even has a hat that says so. He also has a way of getting stuck in the middle of things he'd much rather have nothing to do with. Through miss-adventure he ended up stuck in the Dungeon Dimensions (see my review of Sorcery).
     Eric is a demonologist, he may be only 13 and may be less demonoligist more lucky. After studying his grand father's books he opens a door to the Dungeon Dimensions and summons a Demon... well... Rincewind (though the Luggage is thought of by many as a Demon...).  Eric demands that his demon grant him three wishes and even though Rincewind tells him its not possible it seems to work. Well... as well as any wish granted by a demon would work that is....
     The disworld books are written in a different formant, there aren't any chapters, which other than not giving me a place to stop reading when I need to sleep doesn't really change much. I also like how even though this is one story that is part of a 38 book serous (and even though it directly takes place after another book) it doesn't matter one bit when you read it in relation to the other books. This can be said of every one of the disk world books. Each story you read developed the world more and more in my head, but none of them go in to extensive details about things that happened before (boring you if you have read it). It really doesn't matter to your understanding of the current story.
     Rincwind is very bothered by the laws of Nature that the world he lives on doesn't follow. He sometimes wishes that the world was a nice sphere shape with a center of liquid rock.... but the world just doesn't work like that.

Arms-Commander by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Arms-Commander

by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

     Being a woman in the 21st century and living in north america is prity good. There are options and chances open to us that haven't been always been there, and still aren't form many. If I was to some how be stuck in a world where the chances I have in my life suddenly disipeared I can only hope I would be able to handle myself as well as the ladies of Westwind.

     The Angels of Westwind arrived there when there space ship failed and they had to land on the nearest planet. Those events are covered in the book The Chaos Balance, this story takes place 10 years after they landed. They have since built themselves a place to live in the snowy mountaintop know as the Roof of the World. Even though the land they live on is harsh and unwanted they are continually finding themselves attacked by men in a world who don't believe in equality and are very threatened by the Angels presence. We follow the tail of Saryn who is sent down to the lowland country of Lornth to help them prevent a civil war. The land has lords who are bothered by the fact that the country has a female Regent. 

     In the world of Candar there are two different forces of magic. Order and Chaos, they are both found in nature and work together to create a balance. There are magi use the forces to do different kinds of things. One of the things I enjoy so much about the Recluce books is this idea of magic. Each mage you read about is learning, teaching themselves how they personalty see this magic. The different forces are not good or evil, they just do different things, but are looked upon different by different country throughout Candars history.

     One of the things I enjoy about the series is how each book doesn't always follow the same characters. You can pick them up and enjoy each one on its own without havening ready anything before it. Sometimes you will find characters and events mentioned that you have read about in other books but there is no perfect order you need to read them in. It lets you explore the creation of the world and its history in little chunks and makes the reader a better historian on the world than any of the characters ever could be. 

     Saryn's path in the story is not an easy one, she is working to improve the rights of women in a time where they are still though of as property. Though she does have a lot of women on her side. I know that what she does changed Candar in a way it was fighting against. I respect the women who had to do this in our world. All so that I can sit here all day working on math so that I can go to university and become an engineer. Something that wouldn't have been possible without them. 

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love

By: Elizabeth Gilbert

     It’s very easy to get overwhelmed by our day to day lives that we forget about ourselves. Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of  Eat, Pray, love was as susceptible to this in her life as any of us. She was overwhelmed by what tradition told her that her she should want in her life. A marriage that had fallen apart and being a successful writer with a very busy lifestyle..  She decided to take a year away from all this, in a way that is not always possible for people. She was able to spend a year traveling to Italy, India and Indonesia. Taking this time to rediscover who she was and what she wanted with her life.

     The book is divided in to three parts, one for each of her four month stay in a country. It has also been divided into 108 tales which is symbolic in its connection to a japa mala ,which is a  spiritual string of beads used all over India to aid in prayerful meditation.  The Structure of the book works very well and I like how the author let the spiritual influences of her journey be reflected in every aspect of the story even just the way it was presented.

     In Italy Elizabeth went to just enjoy herself. When she was going through her divorce she decided to learn Italian for no reason other than she wanted to. It had always been something she wanted to do and she really needed something in her life that was hers and hers alone.  Going to Italy was a dream come true for her, a chance to live and breathe the language that she loved and to explore her freedom and the little things. She calles her trip to Italy and exploration in Passion, it was a place to enjoy life, enjoy the beauty of the world and to enjoy the food.  

     Where Italy was her exploration in passion, India was for devotion. She had found direction through a Guru who she had originally discovered when she was dating a guy during her divorce.  This boyfriend had been both wonderful and troublesome at the same time.  Yet he had led her to her Guru. When she went to India her original plan was to spend one month at her Guru’s Ashram and then explore the country. Looking for herself and strengthening her connection to god.  She ended up feeling that there was more to learn at the Ashram then she expected and spent all her time there instead. Leaving with a freeing feeling. I enjoyed the part of her experiences in the Ashram the most.  It is very interesting place. A place to just completely loose yourself in devotion to your faith. Then come out the other side knowing more about yourself.

     In Indonesia, Bali she looked for Balance. A way to take what she learnt about Passion in Italy and Devotion in India and combine them into a life. A life she could take back home to the US with her and keep once she got back to the real world. It’s all good to find yourself but you don’t want to lose it. She worked with a medicine man, learning his ways. Made friends with a Healer lady who was also divorced, a rarity in Bali. Her new friends brought her back into the real world. The world of having fun and going out dancing. She met a new man in places she didn’t expect who pushed her to let herself love again.  

    All in all the book was very inspiriting. It shows us, even me who isn’t as old and worn out as the author felt,  the importance of knowing who we are. Of keeping ourselves as a priority in our own lives and not living for the people around us.  It makes me want to find a way now, while I am 24, to understand myself and to nether loose myself in the everyday world.  I am very happy for the Author that she was brave enough to take the chance and go on this adventure, all so that she could share it with the world and give us all hope that it is possible for us to understand ourselves too.

(P.S A comment about the movie:  I liked it a lot, I think it’s not really a “movie theatre” movie. Would be much better at home in comfy clothes with a glass of wine.  It also felt very long to me. But is very true to the book.)