Comments for Shadows of the Apt http://shadowsoftheapt.com The Insect Man / Empire Rising Wed, 15 May 2013 23:46:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on The Prince by Jidasfire http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/780/comment-page-1#comment-2978 Jidasfire Wed, 15 May 2013 23:46:37 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=780#comment-2978 A good character does not make a good ruler, or at least not a worthy one. It would be hard to argue that Seda isn't competent, as she is certainly much moreso than her brother and terrifying in her own right. That said, the idea that she serves as anything resembling an argument for monarchy is ludicrous. She bathes in the blood of innocents and controls people's minds on a regular basis, not to mention plunging the world into a deadlier and bloodier war than even the one started by her father and brother. Also, no one can tell her no, lest they be killed or mind-controlled. That strikes me as everything that could possibly be wrong when one has an autocratic leader who is both evil and competent. A good character does not make a good ruler, or at least not a worthy one. It would be hard to argue that Seda isn't competent, as she is certainly much moreso than her brother and terrifying in her own right. That said, the idea that she serves as anything resembling an argument for monarchy is ludicrous. She bathes in the blood of innocents and controls people's minds on a regular basis, not to mention plunging the world into a deadlier and bloodier war than even the one started by her father and brother. Also, no one can tell her no, lest they be killed or mind-controlled. That strikes me as everything that could possibly be wrong when one has an autocratic leader who is both evil and competent.

]]> Comment on The Prince by Chris http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/780/comment-page-1#comment-2977 Chris Wed, 15 May 2013 19:33:08 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=780#comment-2977 I actually like the glorification of monarchy in fantasy, because as someone who studied ancient history I'm rather fond of the Roman notion that you inherit Virtus from your noble ancestors. More to the point, I find it rather hard to read Shadows of the Apt as an anti-monarchial series because as far as I'm concerned Empress Seda ties with Che for the title of best character in the series, and one of the best female characters in fantasy IMO. I know Che's going to off her in the end but I'd like to imagine she might win the war. I actually like the glorification of monarchy in fantasy, because as someone who studied ancient history I'm rather fond of the Roman notion that you inherit Virtus from your noble ancestors.

More to the point, I find it rather hard to read Shadows of the Apt as an anti-monarchial series because as far as I'm concerned Empress Seda ties with Che for the title of best character in the series, and one of the best female characters in fantasy IMO. I know Che's going to off her in the end but I'd like to imagine she might win the war.

]]> Comment on The Prince by communi_kate http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/780/comment-page-1#comment-2976 communi_kate Wed, 15 May 2013 08:09:23 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=780#comment-2976 I have no idea why royalty is so glorified in the majority of fantasy. I don't know any royals. I don't know anyone who does. Maybe it's the money angle (higher birth=more wealth=freedom???),but I wouldn't read a novel about Prince William's daily life. I have no idea why royalty is so glorified in the majority of fantasy. I don't know any royals. I don't know anyone who does. Maybe it's the money angle (higher birth=more wealth=freedom???),but I wouldn't read a novel about Prince William's daily life.

]]> Comment on The Prince by Claire http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/780/comment-page-1#comment-2971 Claire Mon, 13 May 2013 06:29:05 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=780#comment-2971 I've been enjoying Brent Week's new Lightbringer series. Except I have this horrid feeling that we are going to go down the 'ordinary young boy (a bit fat and too lippy for his own good) is the predestined saviour and genetic marvel'. I really hope it doesn't. Love the musings on the role of democracy in a war in the latest Apt book btw - very thought provoking and relevant. I've been enjoying Brent Week's new Lightbringer series. Except I have this horrid feeling that we are going to go down the 'ordinary young boy (a bit fat and too lippy for his own good) is the predestined saviour and genetic marvel'. I really hope it doesn't.

Love the musings on the role of democracy in a war in the latest Apt book btw — very thought provoking and relevant.

]]> Comment on New Story: Cities of Silver by Adrian Tchaikovsky http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/392/comment-page-1#comment-2967 Adrian Tchaikovsky Wed, 08 May 2013 22:38:27 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=392#comment-2967 I don't *think* I use the metric system for lengths at any point - it always feels like an immersion-breaker in a fantasy novel (whilst in SF I'd think it was de rigeur). All the kinden use the tenday as a convenient unit of time, but that's not necessarily "metric", just different. I don't *think* I use the metric system for lengths at any point — it always feels like an immersion-breaker in a fantasy novel (whilst in SF I'd think it was de rigeur). All the kinden use the tenday as a convenient unit of time, but that's not necessarily "metric", just different.

]]> Comment on New Story: Cities of Silver by an avid reader http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/392/comment-page-1#comment-2966 an avid reader Wed, 08 May 2013 22:03:58 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=392#comment-2966 A random note: Fosse gives dimensions of the raft in yards. However, I recall it being mentioned elsewhere that the Collegiates use the metric system, even going so far as to use tendays instead of 7-day weeks. Just an odd discrepancy. :) A random note: Fosse gives dimensions of the raft in yards. However, I recall it being mentioned elsewhere that the Collegiates use the metric system, even going so far as to use tendays instead of 7-day weeks. Just an odd discrepancy. :)

]]> Comment on Mind the Gap by Adrian Tchaikovsky http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/778/comment-page-1#comment-2963 Adrian Tchaikovsky Tue, 07 May 2013 12:01:54 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=778#comment-2963 Yep, as far as I'm aware and barring any last minute problems, War Master's Gate is set for the start of August (with The Seal of the Worm for the August following, at the latest). Yep, as far as I'm aware and barring any last minute problems, War Master's Gate is set for the start of August (with The Seal of the Worm for the August following, at the latest).

]]> Comment on Mind the Gap by Lee http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/778/comment-page-1#comment-2962 Lee Tue, 07 May 2013 08:38:58 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=778#comment-2962 Hope to hear more from you soon Adrian, I got started on Shadows of the Apt earlier this year and blitzed through books 1 - 7 all in a matter of months. I'm deliberately holding off purchasing The Air War until Warmaster's Gate is closer to release just because I know I'll read through them both quite quickly and then have to endure an agonizing wait until the final book. Believe me it's enough of a struggle holding off at this point, I really can't wait to see where this series is headed. Are you able to say if the release date indicated for Warmaster's Gate (1st August this year I think) is an approximate/soft-release date or if it is confirmed? Looking forward to any further news. Hope to hear more from you soon Adrian, I got started on Shadows of the Apt earlier this year and blitzed through books 1 — 7 all in a matter of months. I'm deliberately holding off purchasing The Air War until Warmaster's Gate is closer to release just because I know I'll read through them both quite quickly and then have to endure an agonizing wait until the final book. Believe me it's enough of a struggle holding off at this point, I really can't wait to see where this series is headed. Are you able to say if the release date indicated for Warmaster's Gate (1st August this year I think) is an approximate/soft-release date or if it is confirmed?

Looking forward to any further news.

]]> Comment on Seventeen flavours of news by Adrian Tchaikovsky http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/771/comment-page-1#comment-2961 Adrian Tchaikovsky Sun, 05 May 2013 10:04:19 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=771#comment-2961 The US rights to the Air War haven't been taken up as yet, and so you should be able to get hold of the UK edition (or Canadian, maybe?) in the US via anywhere that deals with imported books. Similarly, I can't think why you shouldn't be able to buy the UK e-book - it's only if the e-book rights have been bought up that the UK one should be unavailable in the US, or that's my understanding. For me, it shows up on Amazon.com, for instance, but I'm aware that might just be that Amazon knows I'm in the UK, and a US visitor would get different results on the site. The US rights to the Air War haven't been taken up as yet, and so you should be able to get hold of the UK edition (or Canadian, maybe?) in the US via anywhere that deals with imported books. Similarly, I can't think why you shouldn't be able to buy the UK e-book — it's only if the e-book rights have been bought up that the UK one should be unavailable in the US, or that's my understanding. For me, it shows up on Amazon.com, for instance, but I'm aware that might just be that Amazon knows I'm in the UK, and a US visitor would get different results on the site.

]]> Comment on Seventeen flavours of news by Cynthia Armistead http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/771/comment-page-1#comment-2960 Cynthia Armistead Sun, 05 May 2013 07:40:40 +0000 http://shadowsoftheapt.com/?p=771#comment-2960 I seem to be completely unable to get hold of The Air War in the U.S. Is it not being published here, or just not yet? What about ebooks? Thank you! I seem to be completely unable to get hold of The Air War in the U.S. Is it not being published here, or just not yet? What about ebooks?

Thank you!

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