[LMB] OT: Tamora Pierce books was Introduction

[Anita]

On Nov 14, 2007 2:45 AM, Elizabeth Holden <azurite at rogers.com> wrote:

>
> --- Anita <mauvedragon at gmail.com> wrote:
> <snip!>
>
>
> What do you like about her books?  Where would you recommend a newcomer
> should start?  I really
> don't know anything about her books, except that I like their covers.
>
>
> <snip>


What I like about her books is the predomince of female characters. I was
introduced to the more feminist folktales around grade 2 and during high
school went to an all girls school so reading books with female main
characters and strong female main characters was appealing.
There's two world frames the Tortall worldframe and the Circle of Magic
worldframe. The first two series of Circle of Magic books are aimed at
younger readers than the Tortall books. The Tortall books at least are
definitely Sword and Sorcery.

Tortall worldframe:

Song of the Lioness Quartet
Alanna: The first adventure
In the hand of the goddess
The women who rides like a man
Lionesss Rampant

The Song of the Lioness Quartet is the first of Tamora Pierce's works.
They're about Alanna who wants to become a Lady knight. It's about her
struggles to achieve that goal and what she does immediately afterwards. The
first book was published in 1982. They're probably the weakest from a
literary point of view but I think they're well worth reading. These were
the first ones I read at 12/13.

The Imortals Quartet
Wild Magic
Wolf Speaker
Emperor Mage
The realms of the gods

Vearalidaine or Daine sets out on her own and leaves her country of birth
after her home is destroyed. She discovers she has magic that is different
from the usual magical 'Gift' and becomes involved in the politics of her
new country

The Protector of the Small Quartet:
First Test
Page
Squire
Lady Knight

Kel sets out to become the second Lady Knight and unlike Alanna can train
openly. She's steadier than Alanna and eventually gets given a commanders'
training. As an adult Kel is probably the character I appreciate most.

Trickster's Chosen Duo:
Trickster's Choice
Trickster's Queen

Alanna's daughter Aly runs away from home and gets caught up in the middle
of a revolution in a foriegn country. I had a little trouble with suspecion
of disblief with the ending of this one but I've studied the history of
revolutions and it is YA.

The Provorst's Dog or Beka Cooper:
Terrier

This one is a new series and only one has been published. It's set some
hundreds of years before the time of Alanna and is about Beka Cooper, a girl
who grew up rough but becomes a particularly devoted "Cop" (word is an
approximate only).

Circle of Magic World frame:

Circle of Magic Quartet:
SANDRY'S BOOK
TRIS'S BOOK
DAJA'S BOOK
BRIAR'S BOOK

Four young trainee mages are thrown together and in each book one of the
main characters gains better control of their powers.
Note: Different titles for the UK which also apply in Australia see
http://www.tamora-pierce.com/books.htm for details.

The Circle Opens Quartet
Magic Steps
Street magic
Cold fire
Shatter glass

Each of the four mages face new challenges as they travel and have to teach
potential mages that they discover.

The Circle Reforged:
The Will of the Empress

The four mages are now adults and reunite with each other. The thing I like
best about this book is that it has Tamora Pierce's first Queer main
character or rather we discover one of her main characters is a lesbian.

Melting Stones - currently on Audio only from places such as audible.com
Main character is the student from Magic Steps.

Anita