kgbooklog

Brandon Sanderson, Alcatraz versus the Scrivener's Bones
Scholastic (2008) ISBN: 0-439-92553-3
Score: 2.5

Second book about Alcatraz Smedry, in which he tries to rescue his grandfather from the Library of Alexandria. We meet a few more members of his family, and learn more of the secrets of the world (that the librarian conspiracy is hiding from us), and Alcatraz continues to spend as much time lecturing the reader as telling the story.

Next Book: Carrie Vaughn, Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

12-31-08
Brandon Sanderson, "Firstborn"
http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=story&id=10489
Score: 1

A MilSF short story about the incompetent younger brother of a perfect commander.

Next Book: Terry Pratchett, Nation

Brandon Sanderson, The Hero of Ages
Tor (2008) ISBN: 0-7653-1689-7
Score: 4

Conclusion of the Mistborn trilogy, in which the heroes learn what's really going on and try to fix the problems they caused in the previous books. We also learn about the mists and how the third metal-based magic system works, and in between the big battles there are discussions of faith, religion, and how to lead/manipulate people. I was worried by the second book being so bleak and secretive, but this conclusion does a great job tying everything together in a way that makes perfect sense.

Brandon Sanderson, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians
Scholastic (2007) ISBN: 0-439-92550-9
Score: 2

Start of a juvenile urban fantasy series about an evil conspiracy of librarians, with a narrator who spends a lot of time lecturing the reader about how he isn't a nice person (can we use "breaking the fourth wall" when talking about literature?). The plot was exactly the sort of thing you expect in this sort of book, but there was a goodly amount of imagination in the details (though the magic system[s] weren't as systematic as I've come to expect from the author). And given recent news, I should mention that this book is not typical of Sanderson's usual style and tone.

Brandon Sanderson, The Well of Ascension
Tor (2007) ISBN: 0-7653-1688-9
Score: 2

Second book of the Mistborn trilogy, in which the characters try to pick up the pieces of what they broke in the first book, while giving long internal monologues about how they don't deserve to be loved. Some characters gain new powers, other get voices in their heads, and still others are given heroic deaths. I had trouble suspending disbelief at the very end, and suspect that in the next book the author will have more trouble just explaining what's really going on than finding a plausible solution.

Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker
online serial
http://www.brandonsanderson.com/drafts/warbreaker/WarbreakerFull3.4.doc
Score: 3

High fantasy novel (with one sequel planned) about a couple of princesses trying to prevent a war. As usual with Sanderson, it features an elaborate and well thought out magic system, this time involving breath and colors.

Next Book: Charlaine Harris, All Together Dead

Brandon Sanderson, "Hope of Elantris"
Amazon Shorts (2007)
Score: 1

A 6,000 word bonus scene for Elantris, about a battle that happened when all the POV characters were busy elsewhere.

Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: the Final Empire
Tor (2006) ISBN: 0-765-31178-X
Score: 3

Start of the Mistborn trilogy, about a gang of magic-assisted thieves helping a slave rebellion. It has several thematic similarities with his first novel, Elantris, but they don't seem to belong to the same setting. I suspect that just as Tolkien wrote stories to show off his languages, Sanderson is writing to show off his magic systems. Which is fine with me, I like nifty magic systems; this post was delayed a bit because I compulsively tried to create an expanded Allomantic chart that includes the three higher metals we know of and the presumed five we don't (and I hope he eventually tells or shows us exactly what happens when someone tries to use lead or silver, since those two are obviously missing).

Next Book: Jo Walton, Farthing

Brandon Sanderson, Elantris
Tor (2005) ISBN: 0-765-31177-1
Score: 2.5

Stand alone high fantasy; the worldbuilding is decent but not remarkable, and the magic system doesn't really show up until the end, where it's mainly a plot device. However, the characters are quite good, and most of the book is spent watching them interact. The chapters rotate through 3 POV characters: POV #3 is a high priest who has 3 months to convert this country before his empire's armies arrive to kill the unbelievers. He is mainly opposed by a princess (POV #2) from the other country holding out against the empire. She starts the book learning that, due to a clause in her marriage treaty, she has gone from "betrothed" to "widow" without ever marrying (or even meeting) her husband (POV #1), who starts the book as a zombie.

Next Book: Erin Hunter, Into the Wild