Some Bits: Nelson's books
The cover of A Stranger in Olondria

A Stranger in Olondria

★★★★★Shelved Aug 20, 2014

I am making the liberating decision to not finish this book, something I rarely do. I got halfway through and am just not feeling it. The problem is the main character and the story, they just don't engage me. I really could care less about the protagonist. And there's precious few other characters.

The other problem for me is the prose. Everyone's falling over how beautiful the language is. And some of it is, but in the same way a flashy guitar solo in an anthem rock song is beautiful. For a bit, then it becomes tedious because it shreds the same licks one time too many. And sometimes the prose is more like a drum solo that just never ends. I know people love this book, and I can see why, but it's just not for me.

Goodreads readers give it 3.65★, from 3,179 ratings. I gave it 1★, −2.6, where I'm usually −0.9: I liked it less than most.
Readers call it Fantasy, Books About Books, Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction, Ghosts, High Fantasy.
Won World Fantasy Award 2014, IAFA William L. Crawford Fantasy Award 2014, British Fantasy Award 2014.
Also nominated for Nebula Award 2013, Locus Award 2014.