(no subject)

[badseed1980]

Has anyone here read the books in the Saga of Pliocene Exile by Julian May? If you have, and if you are also familiar with Celtic mythology, did the books make you cringe, or were they any good?

Comments

[sororbabylon.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking alfrecht would be the person to ask about this. He's got a PhD in Celtic Studies.

[madamruppy.livejournal.com]

I have read all the May books and I loved them very much. No they didn't make ME cringe. I can't say they wouldn't do the same to you. If I didn't have so much else to read I would like to go through them again actually.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Thanks. I know that books that are based on or heavily influenced by mythology can be hit-or-miss. The Prydain chronicles, for example, are atrocious if you take them in the context of their mythological origin in the Mabinogi, and how much Alexander twisted elements of that mythology. But if you can put that aside, it's a great series of books. Sometimes, though, sci-fi and fantasy writers inspiired by mythology just come up with sickeningly annoying stuff, more like mythological fanfic than a real good meaty story.

[madamruppy.livejournal.com]

To me these were much more speculative sci-fi than mythic retellings. Althogh the myths are important. I like the way she integrated them and explained the origins of the myths.

[unferth.livejournal.com]

Mythological fanfic...heh. Nice way to describe it.

"OMG, Lancelot + Guinevere OTP! That Elaine tramp is SO wrong for him! The Graal poet is insulting all the fans!"

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

LOL!

[muninwing.livejournal.com]

Hey, if Marian Zimmer Bradley could get it published in that man-bashing cheeze "classic" of hers, why not?

[pir.livejournal.com]

I'm only familiar with celtic mythology in passing but I really enjoyed that series when I read them (quite a while ago) and agree with madamruppy about them being more sci-fi than retellings. I've got the whole set and the future set bits somewhere.

Not so fond of May's more recent work that I'm reading at the moment but it's still quite good.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Groovy. Sounds like something I should check out!

[gothtique.livejournal.com]

LOVED THEM!
I have reread them a number of times over the years (the only other sci-fi fantasy books I can say that about are the Dune Books and Tolkien) Mythology is definitely played with... but no more than any other historical fiction.
I loaned out one of my set... and have not gotten it back... it is killing me!

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Hmm...sounds like a lot of people liked these. I should pick 'em up sometime.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I loved them.

Some bits WILL make you cringe.

I found that the prequel books were VERY important to read, AFTER the Saga.

Anyone who uses thought from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin in s-f is good.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Do you have copies? I should ask before I run out and buy 'em. :)

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

No, I wish I did.

Try half.com or abe books.

I loved the series.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Ok. I will see about starting that, then!