(no subject)

[aliseadae]

So, aside from being annoyed at IM software, lately I've been reading. I just finished Michaela Roessner's The Stars Dispose. I only just now discovered it had a sequel, which I've ordered, but I was wondering if anyone recommended any historical fantasy along those lines? The sort of books that someone did their research for but are also interesting.

Also, anyone know where I can read folktales online? Project Gutenberg has some but not that great of variety.

Can't wait for library access again. Poor abebooks.com, when I do get library access, they'll stop getting so much of my money. Not that I've ordered any more than two books.

Comments

[danceswithwaves.livejournal.com]

I asked a similar question the other day over at athanarel and got www.surlalunefairytales.com as an answer.

[aliseadae]

I saw the question on danceswithwaves and meant to check back to see what people may have answered. Thanks!

[danceswithwaves.livejournal.com]

I got more answers over at athanarel than on my LJ, and the online online suggestions were over there.

[aliseadae]

Mm. I can't wait until I have library access again and, more specifically, access to my college's library where they have a whole section on folklore from various cultures.

SurLaLune seems to have quite a bit there, though, which is handy.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Do you have an historical period in mind?

[aliseadae]

Most of them, though I'd like to read more about the renaissance and the middle ages. I'd like any historical period, anywhere, though. I am interested in trade and international politics but most things would be neat.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Bear's Stratford Man books are historical fantasy. Guy Gavriel Kay is your man, I think, if you haven't tried him before. Not the Fionavar Tapestry or Ysabel, but the others. Charlie Finlay has an American Revolution trilogy out, but I've barely touched it. Will think of more as I have the chance but had left this sit long enough and wanted to make a start at least.

[aliseadae]

Oh, thanks! I'll be looking forward to more!

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

swan_tower is Marie Brennan, and her historical series is very good indeed.
desperance is Chaz Brenchley, and some of his stuff is historical and some not.
Freedom and Necessity is Emma Bull and Steven Brust. Took me awhile to learn to stop worrying and love the epistolary form here.
Colin Cotterill is not traditional genre fantasy, but I think it counts: it's magical realist murder mystery stuff. More recent history than the other stuff here (1970s), but set in Laos so still distant from our own country's present day.
Debra Doyle and James MacDonald have a diptych of Civil War fantasies out. I usually have no interest in the US Civil War, but Doyle and MacDonald fix that.
Of course there's Mike Ford's The Dragon Waiting.
Octavia Butler's Kindred and Karen Joy Fowler's Sarah Canary may fail due to being time travel SF rather than fantasy.
Mary Gentle's Ash novels are also SF, and alternatey and will eat your head, but...um. Worth it, I feel, and the framing device does eventually go somewhere.
Greer Gilman? Do you know Greer's stuff? For drowning in language, no one beats Greer.
Some of Lisa Goldstein's stuff is historical, and I think you might like it.
Lian Hearn does historicalish Japan, with the serial numbers filed off.
Naomi Kritzer also files serial numbers off, but Anatolia/Turkey/Near East.
Tim Powers, oh, Tim Powers! Read lots of Tim Powers!
You might enjoy Madeline Robins's fantasy mystery whatsits if you can find them.
And Pat Wrede's Mairelon the Magician is less often discussed than her other historical and alternate history fantasies but still good fun, I feel.

[aliseadae]

I found swan_tower's LJ a little while back but I haven't gotten to her books yet.
I love Freedom and Necessity.
I should read Greer Gilman.
Mairelon the Magician is fun, yes. Perhaps I should re-read it.

I just read Caroline Stevermer's When the King Comes Home for the first time and found it lovely.

[notadoor.livejournal.com]

Sacred Texts has an English folklore section, and a Legends/Saga section:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/index.htm
http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/index.htm

[aliseadae]

Cool, thanks!

[alecaustin.livejournal.com]

Dave Duncan's The Alchemist's Apprentice and its sequels are in a sufficiently similar vein to the Roessner books that if you liked The Stars Dispose and The Stars Compel, you'll probably like them as well. They're more mystery-oriented and focus almost entirely on Venice rather than Renaissance Italy as a whole, though.

[aliseadae]

Hmm, perhaps. I'll try checking them out when I get library access again. I liked the setting of Italy in the Roessner book (I've yet to recieve The Stars Compel as I ordered it today offline) but I mostly appreciated the detail. I would appreciate similar detail in any setting. Thanks for your suggestion!