Outside of a Dog: Kirstein, Rosemary: (02) The Outskirter's Secret

Mike Kozlowski

Mike Kozlowski wrote on March 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM:

For expectation management purposes, I'll say that this is the best book of the series, so don't expect the others to be at this level. (They're still very good, though.)

Kate

Kate wrote on March 2, 2008 at 11:59 AM:

Mike: expectations managed, thanks. Though I was doing that anyway because I know that they were written after a long hiatus, which is a tough thing to manage.

Konrad Gaertner

Konrad Gaertner wrote on March 2, 2008 at 1:38 PM:

I particularly admire the handling of the title character.

Really? [admin note: ROT13'ed for possible spoilers] Vs lbh'er guvaxvat bs jub V guvax lbh'er guvaxvat bs, uvf jubyr punenpgre vf onfrq ba gur snpg gung ur vfa'g ernyyl na Bhgfxvegre. Crefbanyyl, V guvax guvf obbx fubhyq unir orra gvgyrq Gur Bhgfxvegf' Frperg.

The next book is probably my least favorite of series (because of its title character), but it has the most powerful scenes and best quotable lines.

Kate

Kate wrote on March 2, 2008 at 1:45 PM:

Konrad, I think your comment is too close to a spoiler and I've ROT13'ed it.

Also, I disagree with you and I think the book does too (REALLY BIG spoiler) pbafvqrevat gur shareny ur'f tvira.

Konrad Gaertner

Konrad Gaertner wrote on March 2, 2008 at 4:57 PM:

Sorry. But I still think my title is less of a spoiler than the given one, since anyone who has read the first book will think they already know what my title is referring to.

As for my other complaint, I was referring to something (IIRC) revealed when we met him, not the spoiler you seem to be thinking of. But my memory may be faulty, since I don't remember the bit you rot13ed, just its cause. I should add this series to my re-read queue.

Kate

Kate wrote on March 2, 2008 at 5:25 PM:

It wasn't your proposed title by itself, just the prior sentence and then the additional context.

And yes, I understood what you were referring to.

Jo Walton

Jo Walton wrote on March 30, 2008 at 8:25 AM:

As for highpoints, I think _The Language of Power_ is just as good as _The Outskirter's Secret_, though in a different way.

Want more of these ASAP!