Whaddaya Know?

Well, I've done a couple of movies, and a television show, so now it comes down to my other favorite pastime: Reading!

The book I am currently reading is Wrath of a Mad God by Raymond E. Feist. As it is part of a series which is part of a series, I am not going to review it specifically, but I am going to review my close and personal friend (I wish) Mr. Feist.

Feist writes a series of serieses based in Midkemia, an earthlike world of magic, elves, trolls, and feudalism. One thing I quite enjoy about Midkemia, is that the stories are written generationally, aka: Series 1 - These guys Series 2 - These guys kids Series 3 - These guy's grandkids (assuming these guys are still alive). This keeps the characters fresh, due to the fact that they are rotated out. The generational rotation also gives his worlds a real, true sense of time, unlike a great deal of fantasy where only hardcore fans are able to plot out timelines that say "this book covered 1yr 21 days, and here is what happened those days". I salute those who make those timelines, because I have oft used them, but I am in no way suited to measure the passage of time, fictional or not.

There are recurring characters, ones who have been given a lifetime that spans further than any mortal's. I wont divulge them, although you can find out by reading any dust jacket, because there are reversals, untimely deaths, vanishing into the cosmos, etc, and its just plain ol fun to find out who what when where.

Each series is connected to the main world gererationally, as i have mentioned, and each book is connected to each of the others in the series because of a war that is occuring. The First being the Riftwar, followed by the Serpentwar and the Darkwar. Other serieses focus more in depth about certain people or places in the realm, such as the Riftwar Legacy, The Conclave of Shadows, The Mistress of the Empire series (cowritten by Janny Wurts), and a new series, Legends of the Riftwar.

The Midkemian universe contains 24 books at the moment, any series of which can be picked up and read on its own, though I do not recommend it, as there is a great deal of "insider information", backstory, and references that generate a much richer world to explore.

The rating i give to Mr. Feist is "Awesome". The sheer scale of his writing and the fact that he keeps coming back with new and better ideas keeps me drawn to him, breathlessly awaiting the new book, the new series, or just word of it.

Last thought: Read it, recommend it to all, Long Live Feist!

Tommy