Take No Prisoners by John Grant (2004)

I've got a few authors on my Livejournal friends list; wouldn't it be fun, I thought, to read a book by each of them, since I'm blogging about everything I read this year? I'd already started doing so when I read pootle_and_rat's (well, Pootle's) Light Reading; now here's a short story collection by realthog. But first, a disclaimer: I promise, here and now, that I won't let an author's being on my friends list influence what I say about his or her book; what you'll read is what I think.

And what do I think of Take No Prisoners? Absolutely loved it. Grant writes fantasy in the broadest sense: in this book, you'll find tales of high fantasy; fantasy that looks like science fiction (which, the author has argued, is really a subset of fantasy anway); comic stories; and fantasy based in the contemporary world (or versions thereof). In all this variety, the main characteristics of Grant's work are, perhaps, an ear for -- and facility with -- language; and an eagerness to turn reality (and the conventions of fantasy) on its head.

The story that sums all this up best, I think, is 'The Glad who Sang a Mermaid in from the Probability Sea'. I'm sure you'll be familiar with the theme of human science destroying magic (be it the magic of elves, or the fair folk, or what-have-you) -- but I doubt you'll have seen it treated like this. Grant's 'Finefolk' came from a distant planet, and their 'magic' is really another form of science; a different, but equally rational, way of understanding how the universe works -- but the Ironfolk's (i.e. humans') crafting of metal, negates the Finefolk's ability to manipulate reality. So the Finefolk, in an attempt to escape, took to the stars -- but the Ironfolk followed... I'll say no more, because the great joy of reading this story lies in unravelling the fictional world -- but, once you do, it makes your head spin as all the best fantasy can.

I'd read four of the stories in Take No Prisoners before, and it was good to read them again (for example, it's remarkable how much more I noticed second time around in the subtle alternate-world story 'Wooden Horse'). Undoubtedly I got more out of the collection because I was already familiar with Grant's fiction; he often makes reference to characters and places from other of his works. But I'd say only a couple of the stories here are directly linked to his other books, and none so much that you can't enjoy them. If you've never read anything by John Grant, Take No Prisoners would be a fine place to start.

I've seen this on a few blogs, and the questions caught my imagination, so here are my answers...

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

Don't think I've ever seen a book garner solely positive reviews, but I have an aversion to reading anything recommended by Richard & Judy (for those who don't know, this is the British equivalent of a book being recommended by Oprah), on the irrational basis that if they recommend something, it can't possibly be good. I know this is irrational because i once read one of their 'summer reads' for the reading group (Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday) and throughly enjoyed it. Of course, the irrational part of me insists, this must be the exception that proves the rule...

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

I assume this question intends us to choose book characters, but what I'd really like to do is take three know-it-all television detectives to a murder mystery weekend and see who'd solve it first. Let's say Columbo, Horatio Caine and Robert Goren.

Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realize it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

I find it really hard to get along with many of the 'classics' (I wish I didn't, but I do) , so the chances are it would be one of those.

Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?

None, as far as I know. If I've ever implied n a review that I'm more knowledgeable about something than I actually am, I didn't intend to.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realize when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book?

No, I don't think there has been. There are plenty of books that fit the spirit of this question but which I know I haven't read. Top of the list is probably Truckers by Terry Pratchett; I've read most of his other books, including the other two 'Bromeliad' volumes, but never this. There was an animated version of Truckers on TV when I was a kid, after which I never felt the need to desire to read the book, because (I thought) I already knew the story. Now, as an adult, I think differently, and want to read it.

You’re interviewing for the post of Official Book Advisor to some VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why?

Several others respondents to this questionnaire that I've come across have suggested that it's not possible to answer this without knowing more about the VIP, and I would tend to agree. As a general-purpose introduction to the delights of reading... Actually, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen would be the kind of thing I'd recommend: it's funny and well-written, but with a sting in the tale. That, or maybe The Prestige by Christopher Priest if the VIP is feeling more adventurous.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

For all I know about the literatures of different nations, it hardly makes sense to single one language out. Actually, what I'd also like is the ability to read an old book, even one written in English, and automatically understand all the unspoken cultural nuances that I'd otherwise miss.

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

Has to be The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, because I can browse that for hours and not get bored. Just to check, I would be able to browse and not just have to read it from cover to cover, wouldn't I?

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed my reading borders. What’s one bookish thing you ‘discovered’ from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?

Reviewing has caused me to read quite a few books I would probably not have otherwise read; and maintaining a blog of reviews has meant my path has sometimes crossed with that of an author. That's how I discovered Brendan Connell's work, for example, and I'm happy to have done so.

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leather-bound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favorite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

Infinite shelf space will do nicely. As for the books, they would be small, attractively deisgned hardbacks.

And the final portion of this assignment is to tag four others

No, I think I'll open it to anyone who reads this and wishes to respond.