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Post by schlager7 on Aug 21, 2008 17:34:38 GMT -6
The 4th novel in the Captain Alatriste series, The King's Gold, has just come out in English... and my lovely wife bought it for me for my birthday!
There are no tournaments this weekend and it will likely rain. Ah, for a good chair, good music on the stereo (a cantiga, perhaps) , a nice glass of rioja (now you just knew Nicole & I saved a bottle for ourselves from fete de Lune!) and a good novel!
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Post by Aldo N on Aug 21, 2008 17:40:21 GMT -6
This is the next one, after Sun over Breda, right?
Sweet! I'm off to Borders tomorrow.
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Post by JEC on Aug 21, 2008 19:28:03 GMT -6
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Post by JEC on Aug 31, 2008 18:01:04 GMT -6
The 4th novel in the Captain Alatriste series, The King's Gold, has just come out in English... and my lovely wife bought it for me for my birthday! There are no tournaments this weekend and it will likely rain. Ah, for a good chair, good music on the stereo (a cantiga, perhaps) , a nice glass of rioja (now you just knew Nicole & I saved a bottle for ourselves from fete de Lune!) and a good novel! I am looking forward to see your reviews about the book and the wine.
There are two additional published novels in Spanish about Alatriste: "El Caballero del Jubon Amarillo" (2003) and "Los Corsarios de Levante" (2006). The first one should be translated by early next year.
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Post by schlager7 on Sept 1, 2008 12:08:03 GMT -6
I am looking forward to see your reviews about the book and the wine.
I liked this book quite a bit. I thought the supporting cast was much better developed as characters. We got to explore a bit more of Alatriste's shadier moments in his past. The character of Inigo is definitely maturing. Much of this feels like we are setting the stage for the next novel. We got more intrigue. One of the things I have always loved with the novels of Alexandre Dumas, pere was his ability to draw us into court intrigues. Perez-Reverte has a similar skill. Done well, this lends importance to the characters' actions and decisions in the reader's mind. The taking of the ship was quite exciting. Action scenes with multiple characters are often difficult to generate, and too often confuse the reader or break the narrative down into little more than stage directions. Perez-Reverte and his translator avoided those pitfalls. The action was brisk and organized. Keeping the point of view limited to Alatriste and Inigo helped greatly. As to the wine, a smooth, full-bodied red (Rioja). Dry, but not too vinegery. Rather soft and velvety going down. Nice with spicier dishes. Can hold its own without taking over a meal. Saved some to go with fajitas. Nice mix. Interesting finish with a subtle after-taste of fresh-ground peppercorn.
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Post by schlager7 on Sept 1, 2008 17:25:39 GMT -6
On the topic of Captain Alatriste... I should also add I found a delightful video that I have added to the rogue site's Swordsman's Theatre. It is about halfway down the page. Fencing Master Jesus Esperanza choreographed a piece for the stage. It is his interpretation of the fight in the Corral de Comedias near the end of the first novel, Captain Alatriste. This scene was not present in the dvd I saw of the film made of all five novels. Too bad, too. For those familiar with the scene in the novel, figuring out who is performing the parts of Alatriste, Quevedo and Malatesta will be easy.
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Post by JEC on Sept 1, 2008 17:42:38 GMT -6
I am glad that you liked the novel. I think you would eventually find that the novel #6 will top #4. Corsarios de Levante did not make it into the movie. Overall, I think that the major reason why the later novels have improved (as compared to the first 3) is that the character of Inigo matures. As often, it is his, the point of view that is narrated, his maturity pushes the novel to a more complex drama.
As of the wine, my bottle is in my cellar waiting for a special fencing occasion.
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