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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

908.0. "Margaret Weis" by RIPPLE::REID_PA (Lookin' for a bigger hammer) Wed Aug 29 1990 19:37

Margaret Weis has temporarily detached herself from Tracy Hickman, and is in
the process of creating a new SciFi trilogy.

The basic concept of this trilogy is that 17 years ago the galatic monarchy
was overthrown from within by members of the king's (who is described as a
basic wimp) own guard and replaced by "democratic" government.  Several of 
the king's own were able to escape the butchering with the king's newly born 
son.

The antagonist has spent the last 17 years consolidating his power and tracking
down the escapees, so he can capture the heir for his own dark purpose.  This 
is where the story starts.

The first book, The Lost King, bears a strong resemblence to the Star Wars 
trilogy, but is well worth the read.  Ms. Weis starts the action right away
and never really lets up.  The book is well written and keeps the readers
attention.  I'm a bit tired today, becuase I couldn't put the book down last
night in which I finished the last half.

Paul
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908.1now I have to wait for the next bookTINCUP::KOLBEThe dilettante debutanteWed Aug 29 1990 22:2123
    I agree. This was a good read. I also liked Tracy Hickman's comment in
    the introduction that this was part of the new style of SF/F that he
    called Galactic Fantasy. The techno bits are just 'there' and the main
    story is about the characters. I really enjoyed the XJ computer. I want
    one. :*)

    liesl (who's always loved galactic fantasy and just didn't know what to
    call it)

    Possible spoiler:
    

    I really like the fact that the warload and the starlady are
    unavoidably locked together. This would normally be the "great" romance
    and I find this a nice twist that they are at odds over the betrayal
    and that she's fighting against wanting the power they could have
    together. And that he's fighting the path that god has chosen. I liked
    the line about her realising she was fighting a "seduction of the soul
    not the body".

    He's said several times that he is destined to kill her. I suppose if
    he does it will be in the last book, but I find I'm hoping his vision
    is wrong. 
908.2Can't WaitUSWRSL::SHORTT_LASat Sep 29 1990 03:518
    
    Thanks for the reviews.  I've alsways like the author myself.  I
    actually have the book, but it's on my "to read " shelf (which consists
    of 2 bookcases).  Now, I think I'll go get it and try it this week-end!
    
    
    
                             L.J.
908.3vol 2 - King's TestTINCUP::KOLBEThe dilettante divorceeFri Apr 12 1991 21:0322
I really enjoyed this one. This has a bit soap opera to it but I loved it. and
can't wait for Vol3. Some of the lines seem heavy but I ate them up anyway.


The Starlady thinking of her mental bond to the Warlord...

"Then we were bound by light, by intellect, by victory, by beauty. We were
strong, immortal, invincible. We were young. But now he and I are bound by
chains much stronger: by darkness, by age and experience, by sorrow and pain,
by fear, and by death."

And the link is holding the Warlord as surely as it holds the lady. The boy who
would be king is putting his own two cents into the political intrique now also.
Everybody is scheming on everybody else when a new (presumed dead) player
suddenly appears and rearrages the game.

This has complex characters, sword fights, politics, a bit of magic, spaceships,
and papprazzi hounding the players looking for stories. And the Blood Royal,
which was supposidly wiped out in the revolution (with the exception of the
warlord) is showing up in the most unlikely places. liesl


908.4The Death Gate CycleNAS007::CHARDONSat Oct 05 1991 00:385
    Has anybody read The Death Gate Cycle?  (_Dragon_Wing_ and
    _Elven_Star_, both by Weis and HIckman)
    
    If so, are they worth the read?
    
908.5The Ghost LegionRESOLV::KOLBEThe Goddess in ChainsThu Sep 02 1993 21:0212
There is now a 4th book in this universe. The Ghost Legion continues the saga
after the Lady's fall and the rise and marriage of the new King. The old gang
has pretty much fallen apart but, as you might expect, circumstances pull them
together when a mysterious group called the ghost legion begins recruiting all
the former warriors that fought for the young king.

This book was a good read and a bit of a weeper for me. The soap opera of human
relations gets even deeper. Wives and lovers, the dead and the living are all
bound up in the battle over fate and what the gods decree should be. The ending
completely blew me away with a surprise twist that was totally unexpected but
which fit right in. Weis must have planned this all along because she never did
anything that would preclude this ending. liesl