"Tales of Dunk and Egg" by George R.R.Martin

I know George R.R.Martin as a creator of "Game of Thrones" naturally, although so far I have actually not attempted to read the novels because I was so much enjoying TV serial. But I will eventually get there. However, he was one the authors represented in "Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy" collection, which I just finished and I must admit that along Stephen King, he by far towered above everybody else in the book. I did liked the other authors more or less, but George R.R.Martin was a real deal - his story "The Hedge Knight" was a top class and I felt completely lost in this  quasi-medieval world of lords and peasants, squires and knight competitions. The main character is extremely likable Dunk who is basically outsider from the very bottom of society but is strong, young and brave enough to search for some recognition in this world of knights, perhaps good position in some aristocratic castle under protection of influential lord. But first he needs to prove himself in knights tournaments and there is a whole saga about his arrival in town and how destiny throws him around from one trouble to another, while along the way he even gets himself a squire who turns out to be much more than just a sulky boy - when the dust settles, it is the relationship between Dunk and Egg that I enjoyed more than anything else, I truly loved both of them and when I finished the collection, I looked immediately for "Legends II" where another tale of these two was published.

This is actually something outside of "Game of Thrones" - same world, same universe but is happening some hundred years before - "The Sworn Sword" continues the story exactly at the spot where we left the guys last time around and it felt just perfectly to find them together again. This time Dunk gets involved with fight between two feudal powers and has to protect elderly Ser Eustace Osgrey from far more powerful Red Widow who turns out to be completely different from what we expect. There is a lot of sword fighting, lots of talk about ancient wars and even some interesting ideas about what makes a winners and traitors (basically just a wrong choice of the side) but the best of all is again the interaction between brave Dunk and his young helper Egg, how they love each other in their own way and yes, I gulped it all in one sitting with the greatest pleasure (I even skipped some pages because I was so engrossed in the story). I could just read about these two forever. When I finished, I thought how this could easily have been a western - with different clothing and scenery, one can easily imagine them somewhere in Colorado - basically it is a good guy fighting bad ones. As it happens right now Fantasy is very popular genre but some 50 years ago this would have been fantastically successful Western. 

There is a third story floating somewhere around and I am dead serious about finding and reading that one as well.

Trondheim and Nidaros Cathedral

Since I am waking up in different city, no wonder occasionally I mix them all and have no idea am I in Trondheim or Tromsø.

Well, now I know.

Trondheim is the one with the church. Previously I have seen it only from the ship, it was pouring rain and not very inviting so I decided not to bother, but this time around it was bright and sunny day and I was curious what is this place I have no memories of visiting before. So bravely and full of adventure spirit, I took a walk where no man has gone before, alone - without colleagues or any acquaintances, which turned out excellent idea as I was free like a bird and without obligations to entertain anyone, just me with my I-pod. Than I turned it off, because I wanted to enjoy birds singing and the sounds of the sunny day around me. In all honesty, city is nothing much to talk about - clean, orderly and therefore slightly boring - I almost miss the chaos and dirt of Naples because every brick in this place shines unrealistically and there is a strange museum-like atmosphere of the whole place, it does not feel real somehow, maybe because there were not many people around except tourists.

BUT there is a very famous cathedral here - not just Europe's but world's northernmost cathedral - centre of medieval pilgrimages and built on a grave of Norwegian King/Saint Olav, so naturally it was something to check out as I love historical buildings and church was clearly visible over the rooftops. I enjoyed relaxing walk to there, somehow found my way to the impressive cathedral - Gothic, spiky and full of sculptures of saints, just as churches are all over the world. So far, so good. I walked little bit around the area, noticed that this cathedral is actually in a very good shape (later found out it had been extensively reconstructed, rebuilt and refurnished trough last two centuries) and than, in the spur of the moment decided to pay the ticket and have a look inside. This one is not just any church but also a tourist attraction and since something constantly needs to be rebuild - roof here, stained glass window there - visitors pay the ticket. Fine. 

I entered and immediately gasped in amazement. This is he most beautiful, the most perfect church I have ever seen - very simple (protestant, I think, this is north after all), very dark and theatrical, it is huge inside and feels Gothic, very "Game of Thrones", very medieval, like a temple, light coming from candles and from stained glass windows. Just beautiful and very, very impressive. I am constantly thrilled with protestant churches and equally unimpressed with what I see in the catholic world of Italy, Spain and at home - those leave me cold, while these northern temples are real and appeal to me far more. This feels like a God's temple. Its simply my own personal impression. I was perfectly happy here - not feeling like a small mouse in awe of big God who is going to punish me and squeeze with his thumb any moment (as you feel in Vatican, for example) but excited for being in such enchanting place full of history and shadows. My head buzzing from fantasy working overtime and everything looking like some huge theatre stage (am I medieval lord or the wizard or perhaps priestess of Avalon?) I peeked in every corner, gawked at few rare portraits and decorations (if there were any, there were historical and purposely placed there as memorial) and later hid behind the altar to take this crappy photo, because photography is forbidden. 

Why would photography be forbidden I have no idea, because my camera would definitely not damage 11th century stone cathedral, except that perhaps locals are sick and tired of tourists clicking and this is a very special place, after all. So I respect and agree with this, but clicked my camera nevertheless, hiding behind some wall and voilà there was ancient St.Olav's Well right behind me. The whole place was just magnificent.

After I roamed enough everywhere and discovered what it feels like a dozen little chapels inside, I found myself in front of the main altar where I had my usual little meditative moment & conversation with God but surprisingly, this time I had not asked for anything. This time I was just perfectly happy and content with myself and life around me, glad that I am who I am at this particular moment of my life, grateful for such a beautiful day, grateful for standing here and for seeing all of this. So I thanked for all of this and than had a coffee on a sunny terrace right in front of church, feeling relaxed, fulfilled and happy for once. 

B.B.King

"B.B.King is dead" I said to my colleague as we found a place in ship's smoking room - claustrophobic little room designed to punish smokers - here is the only place on the ship we can light a cigarette and have some coffee. "Who is B.B.King?" he replied. Oh God, I said to myself. This one knows all about Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue but has never heard of and doesn't even care for B.B.King. I felt sad immediately and crestfallen why do I even have to spend my time with people like this.

Farewell B.B.King, I love your music and always will. 

"Debt of bones" by Terry Goodkind (1998)

"Debt of bones" is actually part of previously mentioned book "Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy" and this was for me introduction to the world of literary genre of Fantasy, Terry Goodkind being one of authors presented. Goodkind apparently created the whole fictional universe of his own and he is author of highly successful multi-volume saga titled "The Sword of Truth" - after several books, he also wrote "Debt of bones" as stand-alone prequel and this was included in "Legends" for it works as a part of his Fantasy novels but it can also be introduction to his work. I was very intrigued because his writing style is quite captivating and it did had a feeling of some good, atmospheric medieval adventure novel. 

The main character is Abigail, daughter of Hensa, who arrives in big town with decision to search help from all-powerful wizard in order to protect her small village from invaders. Goodkind is very good at describing the overcrowded city, its people and all sorts of citizens crowding the streets, he also cleverly puts our focus at the main character and slowly unfolds the story that presents itself like an onion peeled of many different layers until we realize that nothing is what it seemed at the beginning. Everybody lies and cheats at one point or another, some must be sacrificed for the final results and sometimes one person means nothing in bigger scheme of things. I was really deeply immersed into this one and liked it enough to search for more of the same author in the future.

"Game of Thrones" (season 4)

I have enjoyed "Game of Thrones" immensely while I watched first three seasons but there was a break in my continuation until I could get my hands on season four, so I wasn't sure would I like it anymore, once my initial excitement vaned a little bit. Recently I decided to give it a go and watched first episode of season four, just to find myself thinking "this is all one bombastic cliché after another" - since I wasn't anymore so lost in the fantastic world of George R.R. Martin and had drifted little bit away from it, suddenly I saw it with different eyes and things did seem a bit overblown, all big gestures, dirty hair and swords all over the place. It saddened me a bit but it did feel like awakening after a drunken party and seeing things in different light, clearer. 

However, curiosity got better of me and so I continued, just to find myself again completely and utterly lost & immersed into story. Apparently I had to kind of re-introduce myself again to everything because there are so many characters and places that its really difficult to catch up with all of them, I am still not 100% sure do I remember all these people and honestly, though I can tell that eventually this will probably all get connected (in a season 365) so far story is happening in ten different parts of kingdom simultaneously and new characters are constantly coming up while old ones intrigue, plot and travel all over the places - I still think this is the best TV serial I have ever seen in my life ("I, Claudius" mixed with "Lord of the Rings" on unsurpassed, grand scale) and I still think the part of the story dealing with that dragon mother is boring, because visually spectacular as it is, she is still far away, on the other side of the sea and this is season four - she was far away at the beginning of season one so although I expect she will eventually arrive in the main story eventually, it really takes forever and every time her scenes come along I became impatient because it kind of forces viewers to stop concentrating on main story and follow her, behind seven seas far away. 

My favorite character is still dwarf (excellent Peter Dinklage) who is right now at this part of the story in prison, suspect of murder and I care for him deeply, I was just thinking that if anything happen to him I will stop watching the darn serial. His evil sister queen is kind of one-dimensional because she is obviously hateful woman with empty heart and most of the time we see her sipping wine - earlier, she was fascinating, now she is just cartoon but there is another character (Diana Rigg) who is far more clever, manipulative and formidable. And yes, giantess Brienne of Tarth is still around and I absolutely love her, if I see this actress in real life I would probably give her a hug. Right now I am halfway trough season 4 and can't wait to continue watching it again tonight.

Update:

Saw the final episode of season 4 and still excited - I honestly think this is the best TV serial that I have ever seen in my entire life and it is a compulsively watchable program, you simply can't stop watching episode after episode - all those cliffhanger-ends, ever-changing adventures of characters who travel all around the kingdom, it is all truly mind-boggling. And this is coming from someone who does not really care for sword fights and massive fights, but scenery and mass scenes are truly magnificent and I can hardly imagine this being surpassed any time soon.

"Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy" (1988)

Apparently there is a literary genre that eluded me so far, or perhaps it is actually two of them combined: Fantasy and Science Fiction. With everything I had read in my life, it seems that I ignored these two, for no other reasons but ignorance how to approach them. You see, both of them have a passionate cult followers who know where to start and how many volumes these usually long novels have. If you look at the titles, its frightening and intimidating to face serials and sagas: few months ago, while I visited my favorite bookshop in Amsterdam and finally got a courage to roam trough these shelves, it was truly intimidating just to look at those titles (swords of this and wizards of that in 17 volumes) and to be honest, trilogy is as far as I would dare to go anyway, so I decided to check Internet recommendations first + as a kind of introduction I got myself this collection of stories by most prominent writers in the genre. With exception of Stephen King I was not familiar with these people previously (except by their names) so I said to myself lets check them out and if its not for me, well, at least I tried.

It turned out, Fantasy and SF are relatively easily divided and recognized: Fantasy literature deals with wizards, dragons, witches and magic (completely fictional and mythological) while SF umbrella covers space ships, aliens and time travels (therefore something that might eventually be possible). I must admit that I always thought Fantasy was for children and SF for geeks who are into space ships. With exception of "Harry Potter" and Frank Herbert's brilliant "Dune" I had never experienced neither of these genres previously - at least not consciously, though "fantasy" basically lies at the bottom of all literature anyway - so now I decided to have a peek.

To my biggest surprise, I found that I enjoy it very much. Instantly. And who knows it is because of the quality writers represented here (they all came up with new stories specially for this collection) or for pure delight of exploring different path from what I usually read, I simply could not put it down. So far I am roughly halfway trough and it gives me a great pleasure to dive completely lost into magic world. At first I thought that Stephen King by far overshadows and eclipses anybody around, because he is really such a strong talent that his style cuts the widest mark but slowly I realized that everybody represented here has their own voice and different style. For example, this was my very first meeting with Terry Goodkind who turned out to be quite gripping author, same for Ursula K. Le Guin, both of them definitely on my to-read list. So far I am absolutely thrilled with this collection (it was very good decision and excellent introduction) and still have second part to go trough, however must admit that most memorable - and most unusual - is the humorous story by Orson Scott Card. This guy has completely different style than other authors represented here and where everybody else leans towards fantasy as in wizards, magic and dragons, he tip toes through almost folksy tale with a quirky charms. At first I though he was being silly (specially when compared with genuinely creepy Stephen King) but his funny little story is the one I still remember now.

Update:

"The Hedge Knight" by George R.R.Martin was wonderful - I actually enjoyed most of this collection very much (except for Terry Pratchett) but when I came to George R.R.Martin that was love at first sight, immediately. I just love the way he writes and the whole realistic atmosphere of his unreal, fantastic and medieval world + how recognizably he kills of the most unexpected characters. Obviously it is time to face the "Game of Thrones" novels.

There were quite a few authors I enjoyed and noted down, right now I am at the very end preparing myself to dive into universe of Robert Jordan.

Update II :

I expected much more from Robert Jordan who apparently wrote the whole saga. This one, called "New Spring" was not bad but follows Frank Herbert's Bene Gesserit idea, which excellent as it is, is someone's else ida anyway.