update on the stumper

[snugglekitty]

So, I had another conversation with my mom about recommending her some sf. In the conversation, I was able to determine the following:

1) She's read something in this genre all of once before, a book I recommended to her in high school. Neither of us remembers what the book was.
2) She is more interested in fantasy than in SF. (I gave her examples of themes of each.)
3) And sadly, she's already read The Time-Traveler's Wife (although the good news is, she enjoyed it!).

So now I'm looking for something in a literary fantasy with good prose. Susannah Clarke is pulling ahead, I'll admit. I'm also wondering what she would think of Bujold's Chalion series, and what deLint book I would recommend to her if I had to tear my hair out and choose just one. If I was going to suggest a Sharon Shinn book to her I imagine it would be The Shape-Changer's Wife. If I suggested McKillip it would be Forgotten Beasts of Eld.

Then, there is also the possibility of just suggesting she read the anthology A Tangled Web, which has Sharon Shinn, Patricia McKillip, Lynn Kurland,

Does this inspire any further suggestions, faithful readers?

What I would like to do is narrow the list down to two or three books, and then describe them to her and see which one catches her interest.

Comments

[veek.livejournal.com]

*predictable*

LeGuin's Always Coming Home?

[ceelove.livejournal.com]

Robin McKinley, "Spindle's End"

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Thanks, that's a good idea. I just reread that one last year. :)

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

The Wooden Sea

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

How about the Outlander series? It's more historical fiction than fantasy, but it's time travel.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I actually hated that book, which is not at all Gabaldon's fault. What happened is that my RA found out I was a pagan, said, "Oh yeah, I know all about that from this book," and gave me Outlander to read. Imagine my dismay on finding out that she thought that pagans were manipulative poisoning witches, or something. So, I'm not going to use that one even though you're the third person to recommend it. I think if I had read it in a different setting I likely would have enjoyed it too.

Thanks, though.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Whoops - I hope I haven't recommended it to you before and forgot!

But what about the good witches in the early part of the book who told Claire's fortune and were dancing the stone circle at Beltane before Claire crossed over? There are more good magic users in her later books, including one who ... well, I don't want to include spoilers, but you'd like it. She has an evil gay character, too (Randall), but then she has a wonderfully good gay character later (Lord John). Anyway, I know you can't really argue with bad associations, but I just had to say a few words in Ms. G's defense.

[bandofsisters.livejournal.com]

LeGuin´s Tales of Earthsea. One of the best sagas I´ve read.

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

How about The City of Pearl by Karen Traviss? Or The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri Tepper.

[geeksdoitbetter.livejournal.com]

OoOOo

Riddle Master of Hed!

grand fantasy, with cross country trekking

also, i'd like to reinforce your anthology idea. they can be wonderful ways to dip into an author's world, getting a reader excited to branch out on her own