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2011 Books: Walton
Oct. 22nd, 2011 03:50 pmI just spent 30 seconds trying to remember what book I'd finished on Wednesday. I really need to get more sleep. The chain of remembrance was--I took it to work for someone, what books did I take? pictured the books--oh yes, I took off the dustcover--that's it!
Anyway, after many years on one of the to-read bookcases, I finally read Jo Walton's Tooth and Claw. I'm trying to read several of her books that have languished on the to-read shelves after reading Lifelode last year and the amazing Among Others this year. Walton has said that Tooth and Claw is modeled after Anthony Trollope, who I've never read. It feels similar to Jane Austen as it has the same focus on British country life among the upper middle and upper classes complete with some snarky asides by the 'author.'
Walton is a fantasy author. So what makes Tooth and Claw fantastical? The society are dragons. While they can survive on animal meat, only eating dragon meat enables a dragon to grow large and gain powers like fire. Servants are forbidden dragon meat and have their wings bound as well. The family patriarch dies, and although he had left most of his hoard to his younger children (who weren't established yet), a brother-in-law says that the will doesn't specifically include the body and proceeds to eat or feed most of it to him, his wife, and dragonets.
The story then follows the younger children as the son decides to sue, and the daughters are split up among two households.
I would have to say that like Austen, it's mostly a domestic story, focused on small happenings, and perhaps a romance, as there are several (both established and new) in the book. There are hints that there are humans or at least some sort of humanoids elsewhere in the world.
I quite enjoyed it, and wish there was a sequel.
Walton has several interesting, long-running blog posts on tor.com. One set has reviewed the Hugo nominees and award-winners up to 2000, while the other is Walton re-reading older works.
I'm currently re-reading Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Plan B, and will probably follow it with I Dare. I'm also pulling books to get signed to take to World Fantasy this week. It's within driving distance for me, so I don't have any weight or space limits! Several authors that I really like are going to be there, that have never been at a convention that I've been at. So it's a great opportunity. Plus, after several years of multiple worldcons and other conventions, I probably won't get to any for close to two years (at least) due to some coming life changes.
Anyway, after many years on one of the to-read bookcases, I finally read Jo Walton's Tooth and Claw. I'm trying to read several of her books that have languished on the to-read shelves after reading Lifelode last year and the amazing Among Others this year. Walton has said that Tooth and Claw is modeled after Anthony Trollope, who I've never read. It feels similar to Jane Austen as it has the same focus on British country life among the upper middle and upper classes complete with some snarky asides by the 'author.'
Walton is a fantasy author. So what makes Tooth and Claw fantastical? The society are dragons. While they can survive on animal meat, only eating dragon meat enables a dragon to grow large and gain powers like fire. Servants are forbidden dragon meat and have their wings bound as well. The family patriarch dies, and although he had left most of his hoard to his younger children (who weren't established yet), a brother-in-law says that the will doesn't specifically include the body and proceeds to eat or feed most of it to him, his wife, and dragonets.
The story then follows the younger children as the son decides to sue, and the daughters are split up among two households.
I would have to say that like Austen, it's mostly a domestic story, focused on small happenings, and perhaps a romance, as there are several (both established and new) in the book. There are hints that there are humans or at least some sort of humanoids elsewhere in the world.
I quite enjoyed it, and wish there was a sequel.
Walton has several interesting, long-running blog posts on tor.com. One set has reviewed the Hugo nominees and award-winners up to 2000, while the other is Walton re-reading older works.
I'm currently re-reading Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Plan B, and will probably follow it with I Dare. I'm also pulling books to get signed to take to World Fantasy this week. It's within driving distance for me, so I don't have any weight or space limits! Several authors that I really like are going to be there, that have never been at a convention that I've been at. So it's a great opportunity. Plus, after several years of multiple worldcons and other conventions, I probably won't get to any for close to two years (at least) due to some coming life changes.
