The Spell of the Black Dagger

So does anyone even read what I have to say about Ethshar books anymore? Because I just finished Lawrence Watt-Evans’ The Spell of the Black Dagger, and I’m sitting here wracking my esophagus (my brain being all wracked out) trying to come up with something to say about it that I haven’t already said about the umpteen billion previous entries in the series.

“Well,” I thought, “What did Trent say about Book MCMLXVII of that Sharpe’s Something-Or-Other series?” And I realized: I had no idea, because I hadn’t read it. I was at first discouraged at not having an answer to the question of what to write, but then realized that I’d gotten an answer after all: If nobody’s going to bother reading my comments on this book, then I hardly see any reason to write them.

I feel vaguely uneasy about this, like the Booklog Council of Elders is going to come swooping in and issue a judgment against me, compelling me to read and write long critical essays of all the DragonLance novels or something; but what the hell. I can take those bastards.

Comments

Jenn on March 16, 2003:

I’m reading all your comments on his books, so, please continue to write. I have’t read all his books, but I’ve like the few I have read and want to know which are the best.

Mike Kozlowski on March 16, 2003:

Oh, okay, then: The Spell of the Black Dagger was a good one, full of all the virtues that make me like this series, and better than its immediate predecessors.

Pam on March 16, 2003:

I read them! I’m waiting for you to read all of the series, so you can tell us which is the best book, or at least, a good one to start on. ‘Cause it ticks me off when I read a book in a series, hate it, and get told that it’s because I picked the one bad book in the lot, or something like that.

FWIW, I have the same problems writing about series, especially long ones. (How many volumes of Lone Wolf and Cub have I logged thus far? Or Nero Wolfe mysteries?). I then remind myself of the original purpose of the book log— to help me remember what I read— and do a short plot summary and maybe a comparison to the other books in the series (same/better/worse).

Mike Kozlowski on March 16, 2003:

You can safely start on the first one (The Misenchanted Sword), here. It’s a bit less peppy than the sequels, but if you don’t like it, you probably won’t like them.

Trent on March 16, 2003:

Cute post. I of course have the same problem with series, and default to much the same method as Pam: short plot summary, quick comment about whether i liked it or not.

Pam on March 17, 2003:

Oh, I thought of another reader-benefit for continued series blogging: we can see if the series degrades or improves as it progresses. Although, this is more applicable to series with an overall unified plot arc, than to independent books with the same setting, which is what I understand the Estar books to be.

Carl on December 5, 2006:

I’ve just discovered Waesel Words today, and am enjoying your reviews immensely (although at present I’m limiting myself to books I’ve read myself - which, it appears, is most of them! - to see if I agree with you).

Your Ethshar comments are pretty much the same I would make myself - it’s a favourite series, although I’m not keen on “Taking Flight”, either. I’d like to hear your comments on some of the Ethshar short stories, if you can find them - and await your take on “The Spriggan Mirror”, LWE’s newly-released full-length Ethshar novel, with interest.

Regards,

Carl.