Conrad's Fate

[jeregenest]

I just finished reading Conrad's Fate, the latet Chrestomanci novel by Dianna Wynne Jones. I'm a big fan of the Chrestomanci novels, and of Dianna Wynne in general, I find her YA novels more clever and sophisticated than 95% of the genre fantasy out there, which make it some of the few examples of fantasy I can read these days. A good example of YA books being bette written, plotted and more interesting than supposed "adult" fantasy and SF (Susan Cooper is another good example here, I'm currently reading the Magician's Boy to my boy and he's loving it).

The Chretomanci books are a fun series of magic kids geting in trouble and then smart wise and caring adults showing up at the last moment to solve everything -- but only being able to do so because the kids got in so much trouble. Its a nice change of pace from most YA books where the kids solve everything cause the adults are stupid. Its a cute niverse, fileld with infinite worlds (in series, very GURPS Infinite World there) where magic abounds and theres all sorts of cool stuff gong on in the background.

Conrad's Fate was fun, it brings back Christoper Chant (protagonist of earlier books in the series) but as a supporting character this time (something Jones does often and well in her books). The hole plot hinges on a beautiful probability shifting concept that I'm bound to steal sometime or another for a game.

Next I should ty to read 1610 again. Though peaseblossom is currently reading Camille Paglia's poetry book and it sounds quite fun.

On the issue of YA fantasy. I'd just like to say that Garth Nix's Keys of the Kingdom is ten-tiems more sophistciated and clever than anything Susanna Clarke can dram up and put ot paper. Fact is, I can tink of at least 6 YA books that are more sophisticated and better written than that Mr Strange crap so I'd like everyone to stop caling it the "adult Harry Potter" now. Actually I'm pretty sure Harry Potter would count in most ways as more sophisticated; at least Rowling can write a female character.

Oh, and robotnik I do have an idea for a one-shot magic school game but haven't the faintest idea when I'd run it for you before you go.

Comments

[yadoking.livejournal.com]

Conrad's Fate! I had no idea! A long time ago, I read and relished "Witch Week", "The Lives of Christopher Chant", "Charmed Life", "The Magicians of Caprona" and to a far lesser extent, "Witch Week". Are there any others?

Also, Garth Nix was for quite a long time my favourite YA author, with "Shade's Children" and especially the Abhorsen trilogy. I was just in a bookstore today in complete shock, picking up a Keys to the Kingdom book, not having realized he'd written anything since Abhorsen.

Now I know, and now I know that it's worth reading.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

There are 5 Chrestromanci novels now, and one collection of short stories. You've read the 1st four novels. So the only other thing is the collection Mixed Magics.

I think I find Keys to the Kingdom even more fun then the Abhorsen books, but that may just be my own biases showing.