I’ve always enjoyed Williams’ works. Nearly 3 decades ago, I devoured his “Memory, Sorrow & Thorn” trilogy, which began with The Dragonbone Chair. That series was said to have inspired George R. R. Martin to write A Game of Thrones. And that series really, really stuck with me.
So I was thrilled earlier this year when he released a brief novella, The Heart of What Was Lost, outlining the events right after the conclusion of the MS&T trilogy, with Duke Isgrimnur laying siege to the Norns in their fortress city of Nagikka. I tore through that pretty quick, and upon reading that he planned to release at least 3 more books in that universe, taking place 30 years after the events of MS&T, I rushed back to re-read the original trilogy.
Now I’ve just finished up the first full length book in the new series, The Witchwood Crown. A hefty tome, it brought back all the things I loved about the original works. Simon and Miri are present, along with a host of characters from the past. But there’s a whole lot of new people and perspectives in this one, too. The author really explores those dark immortals, the Norns. And I’m enjoying the heck out of it. Imagine elves who transform themselves into orcs . . .
(Yes, yes, I know, the whole work absolutely reeks of derivation from JRRT, along with the England of Aelfred the Great. Even so.)
Anyway, before I gush any further (or bitch a bit), I wanted to see if any other past fans of Williams’ best known work are still around, and interested in joining me in kicking this new tome around. It is almost 3 decades later, and many of us faithful readers of that universe are dead, and many that remain are getting long in the tooth. But if you’re still around and interested, check in here!
I haven’t read MS&T since they came out as hardbacks but I read The Heart of What Was Lost last month and, while it didn’t bring everything rushing back to me, I did enjoy it.
The new book seems to be written so you don’t have to have read the previous set so I might read it, but I doubt I’ll go back to the beginning and re-read the original books.
I moved away from his books after his Sci-Fi series (Otherland) so this wasn’t even remotely on my radar! I have fond memories of MS&T from when I was little - I bought this from the Sci-Fi book club for 3 bucks, before To Green Angel Tower was released.
How does it compare to his recent stuff, if you’ve read it?
I really enjoyed Williams’ Otherland series and his Bobby Dollar stuff quite a lot, but I enjoyed Witchwood Crown even more. Lots of nostalgia value, seeing a host of characters return, but 30 years older. Just like me.
I really enjoyed the original series, and have kinda felt that Mr. Williams hadn’t captured that magic again since, so I am tentatively excited about this.
I started The Witchwood Crown this weekend. But I have twin boys who are 21 months old so reading time is limited. The Heart of What Was Lost was ok, I read it a couple weeks ago.
I am a little disappointed with the Miri/Simon characterization so far. We will see where it goes.
I like the new stuff so far but not as much as I remember liking MS&T.
I loved the original trilogy when they came out, but I was, what, in high school then? At a point in my life where my standards for fantasy were… lower than they are now. And I’ve been afraid of being disappointed by it on reread. May give the new ones a try.
I have started it. So far, so good. It seems very much at the level of the original series (which was quite high I thought). Less teenage angst so far, although I definitely see signs of it in the grandson.
I recently re-read the original trilogy, which was a seminal teenage experience for me. For the most part, I think it holds up quite well. I had heard these news books were coming, but I managed to forget. I will definitely give them a read!
