Mechail is the son of Korhlen and his second wife, Nilya. At the age of three he was attacked by something while asleep in his cot, leaving him crippled. As an adult, he is the target of fear and abuse from those around him, mostly his stepbrother Krau. Krau finally arranges for Mechail to be … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: The Blood Of Roses by Tanith Lee
Tag: epic
A Novel Ian Appreciates: Quest For Lost Heroes by David Gemmell
David Gemmell sprang to almost immediate attention with the publication of his first novel, Legend, in 1984. In the years after that he wrote twelve more novels about the Drenai, the people who were defending their land from the incursions of Ulric, the Nadir Warlord. These sequels and prequels cross centuries of time and space … Continue reading A Novel Ian Appreciates: Quest For Lost Heroes by David Gemmell
A Novel Ian Likes: The Hour Of The Dragon by Robert E. Howard
I normally open each column with a summary of the story or premise of whatever it is I like that month, but this time I’m jumping straight in with an extract, because it’s the only way to do The Hour Of The Dragon justice. Conan (of "The Barbarian" fame) is making his way home to … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: The Hour Of The Dragon by Robert E. Howard
A Cultural Juggernaut Ian Likes: The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
It’s one of the most famous stories in all of twentieth century literature: Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, is given a ring by his uncle Bilbo, who came by it during his adventuring days when he was younger. However, Frodo is informed by the wizard Gandalf that is in fact the Ring of Power, forged by … Continue reading A Cultural Juggernaut Ian Likes: The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
A Novel Ian Likes: The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Penman
Richard idolises his brother, Edward. When Edward becomes king, though, he worries that he won’t have any time left to be notice his little brother anymore. However, Richard hasn’t counted on growing up and becoming one of Edward’s most dependable and trustworthy advisors. So much so, that when Edward suddenly dies and leaves behind a … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: The Sunne In Splendour by Sharon Penman
A Novel Ian Likes: Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin
Peter Lake is a cat burglar. One night he breaks into the mansion of Isaac Penn, newspaper magnate and whaling enthusiast, and meets Beverly, Isaac’s daughter. They instantly fall in love and embark on a mad, whirlwind romance that they know will end in tragedy… because Beverly has tuberculosis, for which, in late Nineteenth Century … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin
A Series Ian Likes: The Chronicles Of Amber by Roger Zelazny
Corwin wakes up in a hospital. He’s clearly been in an accident but he has no memory of it… nor of his life up until this moment. Escaping from the hospital he learns that he was put in it by people posing as family members, so he goes in search of them. Discovering a woman … Continue reading A Series Ian Likes: The Chronicles Of Amber by Roger Zelazny
A Trilogy Ian Likes: Helliconia by Brian Aldiss
Helliconia is an unremarkable planet. Its primary orbit is around Batalix, with a year equal to about 480 Earth days. But Batalix is in an irregular orbit around Freyr, a larger star. This orbit causes some unusual fluctuations in Helliconia’s climate, with the result that it experiences a second year, which the inhabitants refer to … Continue reading A Trilogy Ian Likes: Helliconia by Brian Aldiss
A Novel Ian Likes: Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
Ash is an orphan girl who has become the leader of a respected mercenary company in late 15th Century Europe. Her company enjoys its success because of the “voices” in her head. These voices advise her on battle tactics and strategy. While other women might be taken as being insane, Ash is seen as touched … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle
A Novel Ian Likes: Legend by David Gemmell
The Nadir are on the rise. The fractious northern tribes have been united under one ruler – Ulric – and he is marching them south, conquering every country in his path. Only the fortress of Dros Delnoch stands between him and the Drenai nation. It’s undermanned, poorly maintained and run by a dying duke and … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Legend by David Gemmell
A Novel Ian Likes: Illusion by Paula Volsky
Eliste is the daughter of a minor noble in the kingdom of Vonahr. She secures a position as a maid of honour to Queen Lallazay, wife to King Dunulas. But Eliste arrives at the palace in a time of political unrest which soon bubbles over into outright revolution. She manages to escape from the palace … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Illusion by Paula Volsky
A Novel Ian Likes: Heart Of The Comet by Gregory Benford and David Brin
In the year 2061, humanity has launched an inspirational expedition to explore Halley’s comet on the occasion of its lifetime-spanning orbit around the solar system returning it to the neighbourhood of Earth. It’s supposedly a celebration of technology and ingenuity but the crew appears to be comprised largely of political embarrassments, has-beens and troublemakers. And … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Heart Of The Comet by Gregory Benford and David Brin
A Book Ian Likes: Titan by Stephen Baxter
Titan begins with the crash of a space shuttle on re-entry in 2003 and the realisation that people just aren’t that interested in going “out there” very much anymore. So Paula Benacerraf, grandmother, astronaut and nobody to trifle with, joins forces with a rogue scientist and a NASA administrator who knows that the agency’s number is … Continue reading A Book Ian Likes: Titan by Stephen Baxter
A Series Ian Likes: The Fey, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Blue Isle is placed several days sailing from the nearest port. An independent island, it has kept its nose out of international affairs for several hundred years. The Fey, a warlike race of magical beings, have just conquered the last country on the nearest landmass and are looking for a staging post to launch their … Continue reading A Series Ian Likes: The Fey, by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
A Trilogy Ian Likes: Memory, Sorrow And Thorn by Tad Williams
Memory, Sorrow And Thorn, comprising The Dragonbone Chair, Stone Of Farewell, To Green Angel Tower (1988 – 1993) by Tad Williams. In case you haven’t noticed, fantasy is a pretty hefty part of our literary lives now. But it has really only been the last ten years or so that fantasy authors have begun to shed their … Continue reading A Trilogy Ian Likes: Memory, Sorrow And Thorn by Tad Williams