The current series is great too, but I’m not sure if it’s the world building and the character together.

And I really love the current series. I’m waiting for my copy of SotSB to come in so I can read the final version. But this is a fantastic series, with enormous range and scope and the usual tremendous worldbuilding. And great highs and lows. And terrific ideas. For me, it’s edgier than the first trilogy, which is probably why I like it best of all.

Of course, everything will pale into insignificance next to the Random Rains quarter. *g*

Havenstar comes in a close second, however. It’s a bit different in style to the more recent fantasy books I’ve read (recently written/published, that is) which makes it a great romp of a read and think it’s definitely a book I’ll be rereading.

My favourite still has to be Havenstar though, I think. Partly because it’s the first Glenda novel I read, and partly because of its originality and subtle complexity. My favourite characters are in the later books, but my favourite book as an overall read is Havenstar – if that makes any sense at all!

Patty, I know what you mean about the act of god thingy. I did try to indicate, though, that it wasn’t the act of god that resolved the issue so much as the character faults of those who refused to listen. It was arrogance that brought them down, not the act per se. There would have been a totally different outcome, had they been less arrogant.

I think one major reason why Gilfeather was not nominated was that the judge(s) (not sure if it applies to them all but I know it applies to one of them, and I suspect it was all) did not bother to read The Aware first. The Aware was published the previous year, you see, with a different set of judges.

Therefore the second set of judges missed so much of the fun and subtleties of Gilfeather – Kelwyn’s first encounter with Flame and Blaze for example; the whole Dustel birds thing must have been puzzling, and so on.

In other words, I don’t think they gave it a fair chance.

What is more puzzling to me is the odd descrepency in the sales between the 3 books.

You are right – Heart of the Mirage is very much Ligea’s book. She drives the action a good deal. You may enjoy the world in Book Two better, as much of it takes part in Tyr.

You have confirmed my gut feeling. I haven’t read Havenstar (I hear it’s OOP and quite rare).

Forgive my musings and ramblings below.

I think I could spot that Gilfeather was your favourite. The character is just so real. He has real concerns and isn’t trying to play hero.

It is the one I like best, too.

(For the record, I’ve just asked my 14yo daughter who has just read the trilogy, and she liked part 1 best – she says because she found the POVs less confusing. Now I want to add that it is a no mean feat of yours that she read all three books. She is an EXTREMELY picky reader. She tried a number of very good and acceptable authors, but didn’t like any of them)

Personally, part one would be my second favourite. I liked the innovative way of the resolution in part 3. I liked the surfing. I thought it was a bit of a pity that in the end everything was resolved through an ‘act of God.’ But in general, I really liked the trilogy. I’ve recommended it to many others.

I’ve read part 1 of the Mirage Makers. Part 2 is on my to read list.

So far, I like Ligea. I think she’s more involved in the story than Blaze. The story is *about* her, it’s not a story in which she takes part.

I find the setting in Isles of Glory easier to grasp and therefore a bit more alive for me, but maybe part 2 of the Mirage Makers will set me straight. Maybe, too, I was too jet-lagged when I read it on a recent overseas trip 😉

I thought the semi-science in Isles of Glory just beaut. This was a good part of the reason that I liked Gilfeather so much.

I don’t understand why that book wasn’t nominated.