The start of Jingo features the introduction of the magical island of Leshp which makes a reappearance after being submerged for what appears to be most of recorded history and then, fairly predictably, becomes a pawn in the territorial disputes of the countries around the Circle Sea, chiefly the city of Ankh-Morpork and the country … Continue reading The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 21: Jingo
Tag: Magic
The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 16: Soul Music
After exploring some of the big issues of life in the last few books, Soul Music marked a bit of a return to the Pratchett of old, with loads of puns, slapstick and a menace from beyond-the-universe-we-know. It’s the story of Imp y Celyn, bard. Having had an argument with his father on the nature … Continue reading The Great Discworld Retrospective No. 16: Soul Music
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 Novel Ian Likes: Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Isaac dan der Grimnebulin, a freelance scientist with some dubious ties to the underworld, is commissioned to create a means of flight for a Garuda – a race of humanoid bird-like creatures – who has had his wings removed for reasons that are never made entirely clear until the novel’s conclusion. Isaac throws himself into … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
A Novel Ian Likes: King Of Morning, Queen Of Day by Ian McDonald
Emily is the daughter of a scientist considered… eccentric… by his peers. She also believes that she can communicate with faeries. Jessica is a free spirit confined to a drab world of work and home; she gets caught up with a young man she thinks is a member of the IRA but is in fact … Continue reading A Novel Ian Likes: King Of Morning, Queen Of Day by Ian McDonald
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 Book Ian Likes: Tea With The Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy
Martha Macnamara has come to California to find her daughter Elizabeth, who appears to have disappeared. While searching for her she meets the enigmatic Mayland Long, an oriental gentleman of indeterminate age with lovely long fingers that can reach all the way around a teacup and – importantly for Martha’s day job as a musician … Continue reading A Book Ian Likes: Tea With The Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy
An Author Ian Likes: in memorium, Sir Terry Pratchett
(This post was originally written on the original stuffianlikes blog the day after Sir Terry passed. I've tidied up some grammatical errors and added a couple of pictures but this is otherwise the way it appeared 4 years-minus-a-day-ago) I usually dwell on these posts for bloody ages but this one needs to be gotten down … Continue reading An Author Ian Likes: in memorium, Sir Terry Pratchett
Stuff Ian Likes 