Song of Naga Teot by Heather Gladney
Jul. 28th, 2004 11:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dmarleyOn an impulse, I started poking around for information on an old favorite, Heather Gladney, today, and found out that she delivered the manuscript of the third Naga Teot book to DAW back in January. Squeee!!!
For those of you now scratching your heads, Heather Gladney is the author of Teot's War and Bloodstorm, books one and two of a series called The Song of Naga Teot (published by Ace Books). Bloodstorm, the second book, was published in 1989, and as one might imagine I'd long ago given up on the series being finished.
The story is, as the series title suggests, about Naga Teot, a desert-dwelling Upai warrior/harper, who risks life and limb to deliver an urgent warning to Caladrunan, the Liege Lord of Tan. Teot's people have been nearly wiped out by the vicious flame-throwing machines of the Osa, and he has to convince the Tannese that the Osa threat is much greater than they think, and that they should prepare for a much worse war.
But that's only the plot. For me, one of the two great strengths of the story lies in the rich, complex detail that Gladney has put into her world. Every sentence, nearly every word, gives the reader another clue about the culture, another insight in the characters. It's a dense read, and I pick up missed details nearly every time I read the books again. I admit, I tend to dislike the "toss the reader into the deep end" school of explication, but Gladney completely made it work for me.
That's not to say that the story drags down in detail. Even though the details are crucial, the broad strokes of the plot flow along well enough even if--as I did on my first reading--the reader doesn't quite absorb all the nuances. The different cultures are all well-crafted, and the author has done an especially good job of portraying the alliances and conflicts and shifts of power between them.
And then, of course, there's the other aforementioned strength: the relationship between Naga and Caladrunan. It's a strong "duo" partnership, to quote Ray Kowalski, founded on mutual respect and trust. It's a classic buddy relationship, and of course the (very) slashy subtext has nothing to do with my enjoyment of it. At all. Really.
So, with any luck at all, the third book might be out within a year. Here's hoping. :)
For those of you now scratching your heads, Heather Gladney is the author of Teot's War and Bloodstorm, books one and two of a series called The Song of Naga Teot (published by Ace Books). Bloodstorm, the second book, was published in 1989, and as one might imagine I'd long ago given up on the series being finished.
The story is, as the series title suggests, about Naga Teot, a desert-dwelling Upai warrior/harper, who risks life and limb to deliver an urgent warning to Caladrunan, the Liege Lord of Tan. Teot's people have been nearly wiped out by the vicious flame-throwing machines of the Osa, and he has to convince the Tannese that the Osa threat is much greater than they think, and that they should prepare for a much worse war.
But that's only the plot. For me, one of the two great strengths of the story lies in the rich, complex detail that Gladney has put into her world. Every sentence, nearly every word, gives the reader another clue about the culture, another insight in the characters. It's a dense read, and I pick up missed details nearly every time I read the books again. I admit, I tend to dislike the "toss the reader into the deep end" school of explication, but Gladney completely made it work for me.
That's not to say that the story drags down in detail. Even though the details are crucial, the broad strokes of the plot flow along well enough even if--as I did on my first reading--the reader doesn't quite absorb all the nuances. The different cultures are all well-crafted, and the author has done an especially good job of portraying the alliances and conflicts and shifts of power between them.
And then, of course, there's the other aforementioned strength: the relationship between Naga and Caladrunan. It's a strong "duo" partnership, to quote Ray Kowalski, founded on mutual respect and trust. It's a classic buddy relationship, and of course the (very) slashy subtext has nothing to do with my enjoyment of it. At all. Really.
So, with any luck at all, the third book might be out within a year. Here's hoping. :)
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-07-28 10:46 pm (UTC)So, how are things with Boo?
(no subject)
Date: 2004-07-28 11:16 pm (UTC)She's beginning to talk a lot more lately, and use more words and sentences. She has now learned the very useful phrase, "Mommy, help," which I suspect will see her through the greater part of the next several years. :) She also just started saying her own name yesterday, which is a relief to me because I was wondering if she thought her name was "Boo." She's also become a big fan of housework, and loves to "help" me load the dishwasher and do the laundry. Her latest thing is to point at every single light in each room she enters and say "'ight!" which indicates her desire to have said light switched on or off. I understand from Albert that he taught her this while reading a book about opposites, which had an on/off opposite. I'll get him back for it one day. He's also starting to teach her how to play cricket. :)
So, in short, she's a wonderful, perfect, little girl whom I worship and adore. And don't post about enough. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2004-07-29 07:20 am (UTC)Good news!
I haven't officially weighed or measured her (we have a doctor's appointment tomorrow) but the unofficial Mommy's Arm scale and the Chubby Cheek scale indicate that she's put on some weight, and her clothes are finally looking a bit smaller on her.
Well, give us the bird's eye lowdown on the doctor's report, but it does sound like she's starting to ramp up. Watch out, she could give an almighty spurt at any moment.
My biggest weapon in the battle of the fatty calories has been PediaSure, which she loves. Naturally, because I *want* her to eat the kind of food that most pediatricians lament as part of the toddler diet, she's only interested in very limited quantities of things like French fries and Cheetos, and would rather have some fruit or carrots instead. :)
Wouldn't you know it. Maybe if you act like you don't want her to have those nasty ol' Cheetos...
She's beginning to talk a lot more lately, and use more words and sentences. She has now learned the very useful phrase, "Mommy, help," which I suspect will see her through the greater part of the next several years. :)
My number two son scarcely said anything until he was almost two. He got by famously with two phrases: "I wan' it!" and "I don' wan' it!!", each repeated with increasing urgency and volume until Mom, Dad or older brother figured out what the heck it was and either supplied or removed the item.
Then he hit two and hasn't shut up since.
She also just started saying her own name yesterday, which is a relief to me because I was wondering if she thought her name was "Boo."
*G*
She's also become a big fan of housework, and loves to "help" me load the dishwasher and do the laundry.
This will wear off as soon as she actually becomes able to do such things in a manner that could really help. *g*
Her latest thing is to point at every single light in each room she enters and say "'ight!" which indicates her desire to have said light switched on or off. I understand from Albert that he taught her this while reading a book about opposites, which had an on/off opposite. I'll get him back for it one day. He's also starting to teach her how to play cricket. :)
Ah, papas. Such helpful little bas...ahem...such helpful critters!
So, in short, she's a wonderful, perfect, little girl whom I worship and adore.
Naturallamente!
And don't post about enough. :)
That's for sure! I, for one, like hearing about the little dickens. (Helps me remember why exactly we're not having anymore.)(As if I were in danger of forgetting!) :oD