The Novice by Trudi Canavan

The Novice picks up shortly after The Magicians Guild' leaves off, focusing on Sonea's first year as a guild novice(hence the title.)  Like The Magicians' Guild, in many ways, it's fairly normal for the middle book of a fantasy trilogy-Sonea is bullied by the other students by her classmates because of her background, she has to prove herself to them and her teachers, she does, Dannyl goes off investigating everything so we'll have a better idea of what's going on, and everything gets moved into place for the final book, etc.-but still a very well written one.  It stands out, though, for the revelations at the end of the first book, and how they alter the typical setup, as well as for the excellent characterization.

There, is, of course, Sonea, who remains smart, practical and resourceful.  She never whines about her bad situation and instead does what she can to make the best of it, and when she has good fortune, it's because she made it for herself, not because she lucked into it.  Then there's Dannyl, a clever man who is far more good natured than his past should allow for, and their mutual mentor, Rothyn, who I begin to fear iss far too kind and believing in the goodness of others(yet without seeming stupid or gullible) to live.  And Sonea's friend, Cery, who continues to carry a torch I feel is destined to be blown out, and Lorlen, placed in the terrible position of knowing too much about the last person he could want to know too much about.  And, of course, there's Lord Akkarin, the hard and cold head of the guild who's far more than he seems, even to those who think they've discovered all his secrets. 

I do, though, have a few reservations.

( spoilery )

Also, I am spending an inordinate amount of time wonder who Sonea's costar is on the cover of The Magicians' Guild.  From the matching wardrobes and antagonistic stance, I assume it's Regin on the cover of The Novice, and from his outfit, the back description and the story developments here, I assume it's Akkarin on The High Lord, but I can't figure out who it is on The Magicians' Guild.  It can't be Akkarin or Rothyn, and Cery isn't...well...man enough for it to be him(not that Cery's remotely wussy or anything, but that's no teenaged boy on the cover.)  I suppose Dannyl's a possibility...

And yes, I realize how absurd it is to try to apply context to 99% of the sff covers out there.  But I ponder these things.

The Novice by Trudi Canavan

The Novice picks up shortly after The Magicians Guild' leaves off, focusing on Sonea's first year as a guild novice(hence the title.)  Like The Magicians' Guild, in many ways, it's fairly normal for the middle book of a fantasy trilogy-Sonea is bullied by the other students by her classmates because of her background, she has to prove herself to them and her teachers, she does, Dannyl goes off investigating everything so we'll have a better idea of what's going on, and everything gets moved into place for the final book, etc.-but still a very well written one.  It stands out, though, for the revelations at the end of the first book, and how they alter the typical setup, as well as for the excellent characterization.

There, is, of course, Sonea, who remains smart, practical and resourceful.  She never whines about her bad situation and instead does what she can to make the best of it, and when she has good fortune, it's because she made it for herself, not because she lucked into it.  Then there's Dannyl, a clever man who is far more good natured than his past should allow for, and their mutual mentor, Rothyn, who I begin to fear iss far too kind and believing in the goodness of others(yet without seeming stupid or gullible) to live.  And Sonea's friend, Cery, who continues to carry a torch I feel is destined to be blown out, and Lorlen, placed in the terrible position of knowing too much about the last person he could want to know too much about.  And, of course, there's Lord Akkarin, the hard and cold head of the guild who's far more than he seems, even to those who think they've discovered all his secrets. 

I do, though, have a few reservations.

( spoilery )

Also, I am spending an inordinate amount of time wonder who Sonea's costar is on the cover of The Magicians' Guild.  From the matching wardrobes and antagonistic stance, I assume it's Regin on the cover of The Novice, and from his outfit, the back description and the story developments here, I assume it's Akkarin on The High Lord, but I can't figure out who it is on The Magicians' Guild.  It can't be Akkarin or Rothyn, and Cery isn't...well...man enough for it to be him(not that Cery's remotely wussy or anything, but that's no teenaged boy on the cover.)  I suppose Dannyl's a possibility...

And yes, I realize how absurd it is to try to apply context to 99% of the sff covers out there.  But I ponder these things.

Stargate SG-1 Season 9, eps 9-12

( babble here )

I think it's time for Vala to come back, now.

I think I need to examine why SG-1's "boys will be boys" approach to somethings make me smile and want to pat heads, while SGA's makes me want to hurt things.  It's probably because SG-1 loves its female characters, while SGA seems to think they're there to be made to look terrible so the boys can look good.  (Of course, everyone in SG-1 also has a functioning brain.  And cheerfully acknowledge when they aren't cut out for a decision, or when someone else is better equipped to make it.  SGA has...Teyla.  And Ross.  But they're stuck following the guys who screw everything up, but we're supposed to think it's all their female boss's fault, even though most of it is her having to clean up after their messes.)

Stargate SG-1 Season 9, eps 9-12

( babble here )

I think it's time for Vala to come back, now.

I think I need to examine why SG-1's "boys will be boys" approach to somethings make me smile and want to pat heads, while SGA's makes me want to hurt things.  It's probably because SG-1 loves its female characters, while SGA seems to think they're there to be made to look terrible so the boys can look good.  (Of course, everyone in SG-1 also has a functioning brain.  And cheerfully acknowledge when they aren't cut out for a decision, or when someone else is better equipped to make it.  SGA has...Teyla.  And Ross.  But they're stuck following the guys who screw everything up, but we're supposed to think it's all their female boss's fault, even though most of it is her having to clean up after their messes.)

randomosity

1.  Finally have books that were supposed to be here on Monday(ok, only two days, BUT IT STILL COUNTS!)  They were, indeed, left in the office on Monday morning.  As I was home all morning, DHL either went to the wrong apartment and left the wrong person a slip, or just didn't bother trying to leave it and left it at the office.  The manager said no one had shown up for a package that wasn't theirs, so apparently, DHL was lazy.  Also annoying is that one of the bottom flaps of the box had been torn loose.  Thankfully, my books were still there.

2.  Also, in the box was the first Girl Genius trade.  Uhm...I thought those were supposed to be in color?  This is B&W.

3.  My preferred chinese food place now has Bul Ko Ki(like most chinese places here, the owners are korean.)  This is good, as I've always wanted to try that.  Naturally, I didn't notice they'd added it until after I ordered.  (I was also scolded by the owner's wife for not having been in for a while...I almost lived there during college, but it is now out of the way, so when I don't go in for a while, she starts wondering if I moved or got married.)

4.  Remember the endless boxes of books I got at the booksale a few months back?  I got tired of going through them a while back and just left the rest sitting there, but started again today and unearthed gothics.  I haven't read any in ages.  Maybe since high school  Anybody read/heard of these:

Mignon G. Eberhart: The White Dress
Anne Eliot: Shadows Waiting
Marjorie G. Lowe: The Sudden Lady
Helen MacInnes: Pray for a Brave HEart
Anne Maybury: The Minerva Stone
S. J. Treibach: Haelstrom Manor

randomosity

1.  Finally have books that were supposed to be here on Monday(ok, only two days, BUT IT STILL COUNTS!)  They were, indeed, left in the office on Monday morning.  As I was home all morning, DHL either went to the wrong apartment and left the wrong person a slip, or just didn't bother trying to leave it and left it at the office.  The manager said no one had shown up for a package that wasn't theirs, so apparently, DHL was lazy.  Also annoying is that one of the bottom flaps of the box had been torn loose.  Thankfully, my books were still there.

2.  Also, in the box was the first Girl Genius trade.  Uhm...I thought those were supposed to be in color?  This is B&W.

3.  My preferred chinese food place now has Bul Ko Ki(like most chinese places here, the owners are korean.)  This is good, as I've always wanted to try that.  Naturally, I didn't notice they'd added it until after I ordered.  (I was also scolded by the owner's wife for not having been in for a while...I almost lived there during college, but it is now out of the way, so when I don't go in for a while, she starts wondering if I moved or got married.)

4.  Remember the endless boxes of books I got at the booksale a few months back?  I got tired of going through them a while back and just left the rest sitting there, but started again today and unearthed gothics.  I haven't read any in ages.  Maybe since high school  Anybody read/heard of these:

Mignon G. Eberhart: The White Dress
Anne Eliot: Shadows Waiting
Marjorie G. Lowe: The Sudden Lady
Helen MacInnes: Pray for a Brave HEart
Anne Maybury: The Minerva Stone
S. J. Treibach: Haelstrom Manor