Did Disney come calling?

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by Riselka

I haven't read any of Powers' novels yet, but I do have The Anubis Gates, and The Stress Of Her Regard in my TBR pile. Which would you recommend I start with?

My vote would be for Anubis, but then I'm pretty transparent that way.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Originally Posted by Riselka

I haven't read any of Powers' novels yet, but I do have The Anubis Gates, and The Stress Of Her Regard in my TBR pile. Which would you recommend I start with?

My problem with The Anubis Gates was that even though I liked the basic plot and setting, and loved some of the ideas, I couldn't make myself care about the main character -- and by care, I don't mean that I wanted to like him more (I'd have been perfectly happy liking him less), but that I wanted to care what happened to him and didn't.

On the other hand, I don't recall much connection with the characters in The Stress of Her Regard either. I loved the idea of it, though.

I would say that of all of Powers's books that I have read, in theory these were the two I should have loved the best, but somehow didn't. The one I should have liked least, Last Call, I enjoyed tremendously. Maybe it was a matter of higher or lower expectations, and feeling disappointed, or pleasantly surprised, accordingly.

So, as to which one you should read first, Anubis or Stress I think you should read the descriptions on the covers and see which story sounds like it would appeal to you personally, because I think they both have a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses, and it would just depend on which plot is most likely to engage your own imagination.

[Connavar]

Even if they had the characters its not like it will be as fantastical,voodoo,more serious pirate story than the funny action adventure they go for with the movies.

Although it would be cool if Blackbeard,Shandy was supporting characters. Like Orlando Bloom,Keira Knightley characters.

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

So, as to which one you should read first, Anubis or Stress I think you should read the descriptions on the covers and see which story sounds like it would appeal to you personally, because I think they both have a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses, and it would just depend on which plot is most likely to engage your own imagination.

Apropos of absolutely nothing: The novels for which Powers actually won awards were Anubis, Stress (Philip K. Dick award), and (in the Fault Line Series) Last Call. Declare won the World Fantasy award. FWIW.

[Connavar]

Clovis its Dinner at Deviant's Palace who won the 1986 Phillip K. Dick Award for best novel and Powers second PKD Award.


Anubis Gates is really well written, prose wise its his best i have read but the main character makes it not a very good start for Powers newbie. I agree with Teresa completely. If it had a Brian Duffy,Jack Shandy type hero it would have been a great read.

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by Connavar

Clovis its Dinner at Deviant's Palace who won the 1986 Phillip K. Dick Award for best novel and Powers second PKD Award.

Oops. Right you are. I'm easily confused.

[dwndrgn]

Connavar:

dwndrgn: You must read Drawing of the Dark as a Powers fan

Well, I'll certainly put it on my list! Since my list is currently 218 titles long, it may be a while This is completely off topic but I was moaning because a friend suggested another book to me last Friday and it put my list up to 201. Then, in a fit of boredom, I surfed some of my favorite sites and blogs about books and added 17 more. I should apologize to her, shouldn't I?

[Connavar]

When its about special authors like big favs of mine the fact my to read pile is 100+ doesnt matter. Powers and a few others i will make a book haul of soon so i can read more of them. Fav authors i like reading two books after another.

[williamjm]

Originally Posted by Riselka

I haven't read any of Powers' novels yet, but I do have The Anubis Gates, and The Stress Of Her Regard in my TBR pile. Which would you recommend I start with?

I'd recommend The Anubis Gates out of the two, since it is my favourite novel out of Powers' books. Stress has a fantastic premise, but I thought it wasn't as well executed as many of Powers' other books and I really didn't like the protagonist (which is unusual, I think The Skies Discrowned is the only other Powers book where I didn't like the protagonist). Byron and Shelley were very entertaining supporting characters, though.

Personally, I'd probably rank Powers' books something like:
The Anubis Gates
Declare
On Stranger Tides
Last Call
The Drawing of the Dark
Three Days to Never
The Stress of Her Regard
Expiration Date
Earthquake Weather
An Epitaph In Rust
The Skies Discrowned (the only Powers book I'd say wasn't worth reading)

[Teresa Edgerton]

Concerning the upcoming movie, I've read that neither Orlando Bloom nor Keira Knightley were interested, so I guess that leaves Will Turner ... where the third movie left him.

[Riselka]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

Concerning the upcoming movie, I've read that neither Orlando Bloom nor Keira Knightley were interested, so I guess that leaves Will Turner ... where the third movie left him.

I believe it was reported several months back that they wouldn't be in it. I guess that means there will be room for a decent love story for Jack Sparrow.

The whole thing between Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann was kind of vapid anyhow. Maybe they can write something for Jack that's a lot more interesting.

And thanks everyone for your input on the books.

[littlemissattitude]

If I'm remembering correctly, I heard Powers say during a question and answer session at LosCon one year that he sort of stole the idea for his book shamelessly from the ride at Disneyland, not the other way around.

Anyway, he said something about having taken inspiration from it.

[Connavar]

Inspiration is one thing, he didnt get the elements of vodoo,Blackbeard,his pirates,fountain of youth etc from a ride but more like from history,mythlogies.

It would be ironic though if he saw the ride as inspiration now that the film will be based on his book.

[Toby Frost]

FWIW, Powers is credited at the end of the new film. It's not a great film, but has some good effects - although the plot was clearly written by a committee, half of whom were either sleeping or deeply confused. I met Powers a few years ago and he is a really nice guy.

[jojajihisc]

Originally Posted by Connavar

I dont care either way, the only thing i hope is seeing On Stranger Tides get reprinted,better known by fantasy fans who havent read it. The last two film in the series ruined the series for me anyway.

It has been by Harper and was released just a couple weeks ago. On the back of that trade paperback is the quote "The novel that inspired the motion picture - Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." It sounds more to my liking than The Anubis Gates - we'll see.

So in terms of what inspired what this appears to be the order:

Pirates of the Caribbean (the ride) --- On Stranger Tides (the novel) --- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (the film)

The swashbuckler entertainment dialectic, if you will.