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Reading Wednesday
Sep. 2nd, 2015 07:09 pmI've actually managed two recs today, one fanfic and one book.
One is a very long (115k) Middle-earth story - The Shadow of War by rhymer23
I've loved all of rhymer23's Tolkien-based stories, but this one is an epic. It has one of my favourite fanfic literary devices, each chapter begins with an excerpt from one of the historical works written about the period, from the social historians to the Great Man obsessive.
( e.g. From The Shadow of War, by Hanion son of Hannor, loremaster of Osgiliath, F.A. 942 )
It's a wide-ranging and nuanced tale, with sympathy for the different cultures and societies represented, and for the high and lows of human nature. It also brings a wide range of characters, both Tolkien's and original, to life, and gives us the chance to identify with their fears and their joys. I particularly liked her handling of Eowyn, one of my favourite characters, and the way she is coming to terms with her new life and the expectations placed on her.
It's the kind of story AO3's ebook download function is made for, and I will certainly be keeping it in my ebook library for the future.
The other is a cosy travel book, ideal for people who like Michael Portillo's Railway Journeys (and I definitely count myself in that category). On the Slow Train Again by Michael Williams is a sequel, a second set of journeys on the branch lines and byways of the modern day network. It covers 12 journeys, in places from Cornwall to the north of Scotland, and west Wales to East Anglia, talking to railway staff, campaigners for the various lines, and residents. It's interesting, readable, and even has the occasional Tolkien reference. :-)
One is a very long (115k) Middle-earth story - The Shadow of War by rhymer23
I've loved all of rhymer23's Tolkien-based stories, but this one is an epic. It has one of my favourite fanfic literary devices, each chapter begins with an excerpt from one of the historical works written about the period, from the social historians to the Great Man obsessive.
( e.g. From The Shadow of War, by Hanion son of Hannor, loremaster of Osgiliath, F.A. 942 )
It's a wide-ranging and nuanced tale, with sympathy for the different cultures and societies represented, and for the high and lows of human nature. It also brings a wide range of characters, both Tolkien's and original, to life, and gives us the chance to identify with their fears and their joys. I particularly liked her handling of Eowyn, one of my favourite characters, and the way she is coming to terms with her new life and the expectations placed on her.
It's the kind of story AO3's ebook download function is made for, and I will certainly be keeping it in my ebook library for the future.
The other is a cosy travel book, ideal for people who like Michael Portillo's Railway Journeys (and I definitely count myself in that category). On the Slow Train Again by Michael Williams is a sequel, a second set of journeys on the branch lines and byways of the modern day network. It covers 12 journeys, in places from Cornwall to the north of Scotland, and west Wales to East Anglia, talking to railway staff, campaigners for the various lines, and residents. It's interesting, readable, and even has the occasional Tolkien reference. :-)
