an adventure in library systems

[rivendellrose]

I'm so glad I have access to three completely separate library systems.

A few weeks ago, I checked out Blood Trail by Tanya Huff from the Seattle Public Library. Read it in about a day. Loved it. Went back, checked out the only other book of hers that the main branch has - another in a connected series, still completely out of order (the first I read was the second book in the series). Finished that one (Smoke and Shadows) last night, after a few days of being so enthralled that I pretty much read it any time I had a spare second.

So today, I go online in search of more of her books. I already know the UW library doesn't think she exists (no surprise there), so I go straight to the Seattle Public Library system. They only have the two I've already read, and a few of hers that I either already own, or am not interested in, and some anthologies she contributed to. I'm not that desperate... yet. But they do have the sequel to Smoke and Shadows, even though it's out, so I place a hold.

On to the King County Library system. They have them! They appear to have the whole series... and they've all got at least one prior hold. So I'm second in line for two, fourth in line for another. At this point, the order doesn't really matter. I'll piece it together somehow. I just want to read the damned things!

Of course, this also means I have to get back out to Renton whenever they come in. And it turns out that I have late fees there, probably from last summer. Whoops.

In other news... wheeeeeee. Working two jobs at once is tiring. I'm not looking forward to the weekend, as I am used to having my peace on those days, but... ah well. Money is a good thing, too. I'm scared of Sunday, though - my first day on the admissions desk and register. I practiced yesterday, but it still kind of freaks me out. I hope I don't have to do anything complicated.

Comments

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. I adore Tanya Huff. Can see if I've got any of the harder to find ones, if you like- I used to have the whole set, but got rid of the ones I didn't particularly enjoy, like the Keeper series.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*Loves her so much*

You didn't like the Keeper series? Wow, that was my favorite of everything she's done. The latter two were kind of "eh" in some ways, but the first one... mm, still my favorite comfort book.

I ignored the Vicki series for waaaay too long - somehow, I found it and the Anita Blake series at exactly the same time, got totally confused between the two and their similarities, and swore off both in the mix-up. An ex-boyfriend lent me the whole Anita Blake series, I read the first... six or so really really fast, then felt like I was having a smut-and-angst overdose and gave up. Which led me to finally picking up poor Vicki again, and loving her. *Laughs*

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

Well, it was the last two that turned me off it a bit. I loved the first, but then the others just got very same-ish. And Claire's snark isn't enough to make up for my intense dislike of her younger sister.

I adore Vicky, though. So much better than Anita, once you get past the first few (good) books, and into the disaster of epic orgies. Although again- the last book, not so much. I pretend that it never happened.

Have you read the one with the actual threesome in it? Chandra & the other two? My mind's blanking on the title, because it was part of an omnibus for me.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

*Laughs* Oh, yes. Diana is... special. Much as I love Claire and Dean, though, Austin is totally my favorite part of the books. He's such a cat. I can see how you'd be put off them if you didn't like Diana, considering how Diana-centric the last book was.

Vicky's a real person, that's the thing - all of Tanya Huff's characters are real people. And that's so rare in fantasy writing, sometimes. Anita... bleck. That woman started to drive me crazy after a few books. I have nothing against erotica, but those books took it waaaay the hell beyond believability sometimes. And I'm not even gonna talk about the unbelievability of the Merry Gentry books. *Headdesk* Although at least those tend to be slightly more amusing, as porn goes.

Hmm... probably in the Quarters series? I haven't read any of those. For some reason they always fail to grab my attention. In the end, what I really like about Tanya Huff is her sense of humor, so the more serious books are kind of "eh" for me.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

No, I never even finished the Quarters books. I wasn't a fan. This was . . . hmm. *turns to Google* The Fire's Stone. It's great- humour, real characters in a more traditional fantasy setting than her usual urban style. It's available in an Omnibus with a more urban type one, which is again brilliant- Angels in Toronto, demons causing riots at Blue Jays games . . . You can see where that style of humour led into the Keeper books. the combined books are called Of Darkness, Light, and Fire.

Merry Gentry gives me a headache. The scary thing? There's less sex in the Merry books, where she's got a harem of how many people now, than there is in the latest Anita. LKH just forgot to put the plot in entirely, in that one . . . (and I don't know why I keep reading, except that once I've read enough to be invested in a series, it's hard to stop me at least browsing through it in a bookshop!)

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Ohhhh, okay! I found the other half of that omnibus at the library, years ago, but I've never had the chance to read The Fire's Stone. I'll have to get hold of that one. The other one is totally the precursor to the Keeper books - I felt like The Second Summoning was really her effort to redo that first book with familiar characters and a slightly better grasp on her own writing style.

I started out with the Merry Gentry books, and I remember realizing not all that far into it, "wow. I seriously can't get ten pages without finding a sex scene, can I?" I would believe it about the Anita Blake books, though - they were headed that way when I gave up on them. Sad thing is... I like erotica, and it was getting to be way too much for me. If there's a bit, it's "oooooo," but if it's every other page it loses the vitality.

The thing that really tickles me is that LKH still refuses to admit the books are anything other general fiction. Suuuure they're not porn, lady. Whatever. *Rolls eyes*

On the other hand, this is also the woman who apparently once claimed that women under size 5 "aren't real people." So I'm not a huge fan of her personality. I'm all about winning back body image for women of all sizes, but when people start vilifying people my size it really pisses me off.

[cirakaite.livejournal.com]

And yet Anita & Merry are both tiny, curvy, beautiful & yet strong enough to overpower whatever various creatures they come up against with sex (and supposedly smarts, but I think Anita lost that at about the 5th book). And it's truly sad that their outfits are described in enough detail for me to remember what *size* they are. I'd be a lot more forgiving if one of 'em was size 14 and gorgeous.

The Fire's Stone is worth the read, if you can find it- like the other, it *is* an early effort- but that doesn't detract from it, if that makes sense? I'm sure she could have polished it up a lot, but it's lovely the way it's written.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Give me Vicky any day - eye problems, stubbornness, and such lack of care about how she looks that, right after finishing the book, I couldn't tell you what she looked like aside from to say that I was thrilled that no attention had been paid to whether or not she was pretty, except by one creepy gross guy. Claire's as close as any of Tanya's heroines have come to being conventional, I think, and she makes up for it by being so snarky and self-righteous. And, once again, not focusing on the fact that she's small and pretty.

Don't get me wrong - women owning their sexuality in literature is fabulous. That's awesome. But making it all you notice completely defeats the purprose.

I'm sure with a bit of searching I can track it down, there's about a zillion used bookstores in my area.

[scearley.livejournal.com]

I woudl like for someone to explain to me why the Seattle Public Library is not part of the King County Library System.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

The same thing happens with the actual City of Renton and (I presume) a lot of other cities. I think it has something to do with making sure the funding gets to specific areas, and that the people within those areas can actually use the books that are intended for them. I've never really understood it, either.

[shadawyn.livejournal.com]

I read Blood Trail back in junior high.

All I remember is the cover, Tanya Huff, and that I think it had vampires in it.

And, yeah, I got it confused with Anita Blake.

And I know I read it.

Let me know if it's any good. :D

And all this Huff talk means I chose Summon the Keeper off the to-read pile since I finished the previous book last night.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I loved it, but that's because I love Tanya Huff, particularly her sense of humor and way of writing urban fantasy. She may very well be an acquired taste that's not up your alley, but since you're writing urban fantasy right now, I definitely recommend reading her as a way to see what other people have done with the genre.

Blood Trail is much better than Anita Blake. It does indeed have one vampire in it - Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII (apparently a real historical character, I was amused to find out). Let me know how you like Summon the Keeper, and that'll give me a good idea of whether or not you'll like the rest of her stuff, probably.

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

I can pick up the books at Fairwood if that's where you had them sent and bring them to you.
Remind me and I will give you my library number and pin so that when you order things down here I can pick them up for you.
Either that or you would have to tell the library that I am able to pick things up for you. I'd rather you just put them on my card though. I tried to call you earlier, but I know that you sometimes don't get reception at work.
I was wondering if you wanted me to pick you up tomorrow and take you to do the cats, so you can get home to the party and have a little fun time before you need to catch some sleep, since you have to be up really early on Saturday.
Only problem being that I don't remember exactly where it is.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's where I had them sent - I'll have to come with you, for this set. I'm not sure when they'll come in, but hopefully not too long. Hopefully it won't be inconvenient. I could probably undo the hold and redo it with your info, if that'd be easier.

Sorry about that, my phone's off. It's kind of disruptive when it rings in the office, 'cause I have such a strange ring-tone.

Oh, only if you have time, I know driving downtown is a real hassle. If you did, I'd probably just meet you... hmm. There's no actual drive-up access to the museum, since it's at the Center House. I think the best bet might be the area behind the Science Center, where I used to meet you. It really isn't a big deal if you can't, though, I only get off at 5:15 tomorrow. The real tough one will be Saturday, since I don't get off til 6:15 and I'll have been there since 7:30. Ick.

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

maybe give me a call when you get off work tonight

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Okay, I will. I get off at 6, so I should be calling just after that!

[narsilion.livejournal.com]

Don't you have to go do the kittens tonight?

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

Yup, I do. I'm running up there after work and stopping by Kari's on the way home to visit for a bit. It's easy, when I'm coming from campus.