Has anyone read books by Tamora Pierce?

[alla]

Tamora Pierce has an LJ, and (whoo good news on release dates) the last post was regarding the release date of Bloodhound. April 14th! The news was from Random House, so that may just be for the US edition (not too sure about the Scholastic Australian edition). Her LJ (and the post) can be found at the following http://tammypierce.livejournal.com/.

Alanna has a temper, which is her no. 1 flaw - and it does count, I think. I hate the people who think that all of TP's characters are Mary Sues. The same can be said for many main characters in fantasy books, really, since most of them achieve what they set out to do - otherwise, the effect and reasoning for telling the tale is kinda lost. I always go the feeling that people labelled TP's characters as Mary Sues because they succeed in everything they set out to do. Sure, a character may face challenges and overcome every single one (e.g. Keladry in the POTS books; even Alanna (think going to George to learn how to beat Ralon up)), but this doesn't make them a Mary Sue. (/rant)

I wish there was more stuff with Alanna and Kel - thats the only thing that I dislike about TPs books - you learn to love a character, and then she is sent to the background. It would be great to see a collection of short stories (or something similar) focusing on the years immediately after each of the girls earns their shields - then you would see more of the spar that they have (which was briefly mentioned in the DOTL books), see more of Kel's potential relationship with Dom, and see more of Alanna. (can anyone guess who my favourite character is? )

[Silverclaw]

Really? Could you tell me what flaws Alanna has, because I can't think of any. Well, besides her temper of course, but frankly that doesn't really count, since it just makes her more likeable.

[Stormwind]

Seabiscuit1009: Thanks for the info, now I understand. I agree with you that that is how TP writes. I personally know lots of the flaws Alanna and the others have, and identify with them because of it.

According to TP's website: BLOODHOUND Cover April, 2009: BLOODHOUND, the second book in the Beka Cooper series, published simultaneously in US Hardcover and Australian paperback. More info at http://www.tamora-pierce.com/

[seabiscuit1009]

Anyone care to explain what is meant by Mary Sue? That confuses me just a bit.

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions about the books. I can't wait for Bloodhound, it's been too long waiting for it.

A Mary Sue is...sort of a character who is almost deemed to be too perfect; they have basically no flaws, can do anything, and seem like they are just there to fulfill an author's wishes. Many of Tamora Pierce's characters are called Mary Sues by people...personally, I think it's just the style she writes in. Wikipedia probably explains it better than I can in this case.

I forgot about Bloodhound! Does anyone know when that's coming out-I'll have to start stalking the library card catalogue, because this broke college student can't afford to buy brand new hardcover Tamora Pierce books when she's got used, paperback classics to buy for her English classes...XD

[Stormwind]

Tamora

Yes, I actually was introduced to Tamora Pierce before I found DD. Both series have their strong points, and somethings that annoy me.

Daisy - I read WotE, and didn't really like it all that much, in some ways it was a betrayal of the characters to me, and didn't seem to have the same flow of the other books. I really enjoyed Melting Stones though.

Of the Tortallan books, I can't say I've got favorites... I've loved them all since I read them.

Anyone care to explain what is meant by Mary Sue? That confuses me just a bit.

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions about the books. I can't wait for Bloodhound, it's been too long waiting for it.

[seabiscuit1009]

I actually reread all of the Tamora Pierce books last summer before I went to college, so that was what...7, 8 months ago? Anyway, it made me remember why I really loved those books; although the heroines are a little bit Mary-Sueish, like someone else said, they are still fairly strong women (By that I mean that they used swords and knives and things like that. ) And when I first read the books, I needed strong women characters to look up to; I actually picked my Confirmation name (I'm Catholic) because the saint, Joan of Arc, was a woman warrior like Alanna was.

And that's my little dorky moment for now. The Alanna books were and are still my favorite ones, even though I read Daine's books first. I guess I just liked how she pretended to be a boy, and didn't have to deal with female things like dresses and make-up during her teenage years. I'm a bit of a tomboy, if you can't tell.

[Dragon Writer]

I like all of them, but I've been library impaired since the move. I've only had access to buying and... The school library. *shudder*
So I haven't read terrier yet. Loved Trickster books, though - they were the first I read, though, so that might slant my views a bit on all of them.

[Silverclaw]

I love Tamora Peirce's books, though the Marysueness of her main characters bugs me. I like Trickster's Choice a lot because Aly isn't nearly as Marysueish as some of her characters. Terrier is also awesome. Unlike some of you, I didn't like Protector of the Small that much. They are well written, but I don't think the plots as good and Kel annoys me.

[Daisy]

I LOVE all of the Tamora Pierce books! I have read every book she has written several times. I don't really have a favorite book or series but I have to say I like the world of that the Lioness books take place in better than the Circle books' world. That reminds me, Has anyone read The Will of the Empress? It takes place when Sandry, Brair, Tris, and Daja are 18.

I started reading Tamora Pierce when I was 9.

[Wiccangixie]

YES! I loved Beka Cooper, and that book has me wanting Bloodhound. Terrier was an amazing book, and Beka is the perfect role model for girls that want to be strong.

[alla]

Eric: have you read the FAQs? You know the one that asks you not to post one-liners, because DD Herself pays for the bandwidth that these boards use. I dunno if you've noticed, but the last three of the posts that I've read posted by you have been one line... The FAQs are over here. You might want to have a read of number 3.

I would strongly suggest reading them in the chronological order - Start with Alanna: The First Adventure, and progress through the Tortall books from there (Song of the Lioness followed by Wild Magic, followed by Protector of the Small, followed by Daughter of the Lioness (the Trickster books)), and then move onto the ones set in the Circle Universe. I have known people to start with the Immortals quartet however. I think it makes a bit more sense to read them in that order. Oh, and her latest ones - the Provost's Dog books can fit in anywhere along there, as they are set before Song of the Lioness. That being said, it would probably make a little more sense if you knew who George and Eleni Cooper are before you read Terrier.



After that, why not try reading them in another language... German is fun

[Aray]

Oh wow, I used to be nuts about Tamora. =D I even bought her "Wild Magic" quartet. Still have it, in fact. I remember being really psyched when I saw that one of her characters had the name Kuri, which was similar to my own screen name at the time. (Kurichan) I probably need to reread her old stuff and get some of her newer things - it's been absolute ages since I last read anything by her, and I don't really remember the stuff I already have read.

[SopranoHarmony]

I also like Tamora Peirce, but I haven't had the chance to read all that I would like to... I've read the Circle of Magic set, the first two of the Circle Opens, and the first one of Protector of the Small.

[G@b!]

i just want to say that i think that tamora pierce is a GREAT auther. i love every book she's ever written. but my favorit is protector of the small because kel doesn't have magic or anything she just has lots of determination.

[J*8]

Originally posted by young reader:
And can anyone point out a good book of hers to start out with, in case i wish to read it?

Nita has valid points on the order, especially considering I read them in a similar order.
However, Makdragon has a pretty close list to what I'd suggest, but I just wanted to note the first quartet in the Circle Universe is Circle of Magic, which does start with Sandry's Book.

So to make the answer simple, start with Circle of Magic: Sandry's Book or Alanna: The First Adventure.