The Okal Rel Universe in evolution and in the world.

 


Found a 2006 review of Courtesan Prince that showed up on a site called bookpleasures. Click the image or title to visit.

Paul concludes with:
"This is a good piece of society-building. Since this is not the usual sort of
new world, this novel will require some patience on the part of the reader (it
takes a while to get going). It is also the first of a projected ten-book
series. It's very much worth reading."

Labels: Part 1: Courtesan Prince, Review

posted by Lynda at 21:02   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Connotations (Volume 19 Issue 5) reviewer Pam Allen says the following(partial):

"Again, Lynda Williams has topped herself with characters, world building,action, and insight into political intrigue with cultures. This is a keeper and it will be a joy to re-read this series when finished. I look forward to her future work with anticipation of awards coming her way."

(Re-posted from Dec 1 2009 entry on Edge website.)

Labels: Connotations, Pam Allan, Review

posted by Lynda at 19:43   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Lynda,

Connotations (Volume 19 Issue 5) reviewer Pam Allan says the following
(partial):

"Again, Lynda Williams has topped herself with characters, world building,
action, and insight into political intrigue with cultures. This is a keeper
and it will be a joy to re-read this series when finished. I look forward to
her future work with anticipation of awards coming her way."

Brian

Labels: Part 6: Avim's Oath, Review

posted by Lynda at 07:29   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

Ronald Hore's review of Far Arena, Part 5 of the Okal Rel Saga, is up on CM Magazine.

Ronald recommends the book, adding: "If you are a fan of the series, Far Arena advances the complex plot another step."

My favorite bit of his review is: "Far Arena is not your standard Space Opera, with large explosions on every page and ray guns blazing in all directions. The well-written story is character-driven and investigates the social problems that can arise. There are larger than life characters, but they are humanized by having to deal with their own personal problems as well as the larger affairs of their empires. "

Labels: CM Magazine, Part 5: Far Arena, Review

posted by Lynda at 19:47   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 


Just notified of the review on Amazon book sites, reproduced below, by SF author and physicist Mark Shegelski.

---

Source: Review on Amazon.ca


Far Arena is my first read in the Okal Rel Saga, the fifth book by Lynda Williams in her series. My decision: I want to start the series and read all the books! Although new to Okal Rel, it was easy for me to see why the books are so popular and highly praised. Williams has the rare ability to develop her characters, show us the story, maintain tension, and do all three at the same time. The characters are deep and intricate. The story moves quickly; the pages keep turning. The universe is unique and developed in impressive detail. I found the conclusion of the book to be very satisfying, leaving me wanting to read the previous books. The final chapter of the book is compelling. It told me more about the intriguing character Di Mon, and I could not help wondering how things all began. If you've read one or more of the previous books in this series, you'll love Far Arena. And if, like me, this is your first dip in, you've got five guaranteed good reads waiting for you. You can't go wrong with Far Arena.

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Mark is one of the people in the PhD category of readers who have turned on to the Okal Rel saga. I especially love the diversity of those who like my work, because it confounds the typical market-speak that used to demoralize me. What do a PhD physicist, middle-aged women, IT industry gurus, a computer scientist, a pastor with a PhD who lectures on comparitive religions, a library director, eighteen-year-old male university students, Terrace high school students of both genders, a handful of working poor of the starving artist variety, masters students, SF geeks, 'mainstream' readers, a book-crazy 12 year old, and young women in Prince George high schools who like the ORU have in common? They are intelligent, creative people who respond to characters with ambition, flaws, serious problems and real ethical dilemnas about how to deal with it all without becoming monsters or losers. No matter what you put in a book, it is the quality of the reader that determines whether it will "work" in the theatre of the mind. Readers who share Mark's taste will doubtless enjoy his book Remembering the Future. I've read half of it and put it down somewhere. Grr. Need to find it soon to be in a position to review it properply. It is published by the one and only Dr. Dee Horne of ScrollPress.

Labels: Mark Shegelski, Part 5: Far Arena, Review

posted by Lynda at 11:45   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Another blogger discovers the ORU.

" ...I was given one book, "The Courtesan Prince," written by Lynda Williams and I'm so intrigued with all these things going on in the book. She's Sci-Fi and I think now that my interest has shifted to that realm. I've lost interest in the Urban Fantasy, Paranormal region. I do like the space ships and outer space now. So it surprised me, because the first couple of chapters I was trying to think who would want this book when I was finished, but believe it or not, this book is going back on my shelf as a future "reread." Yeah, I think it's THAT great. On top of that, I rarely read sequels because there are just so many books to read, but I will be reading her second book, also given to me.

Labels: Christina Rundle, Review

posted by Lynda at 08:14   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Thanks to google alerts, I 'met' Lori today, at http://loricat.wordpress.com/ , a reviewer with diverse tastes and great experience. She isn't impressed so far. Sounds like she's dreading an interminable slog. :-) But a book lover has to be free to like or loath as her reactions require. And, indeed, the Okal Rel Saga has an element of soap opera about it as I think she suspects. It's an odd blend of my youthful dreams and adult experience. I'm looking forward - braced for the worst - to whether the insides appeal to her. I'll be particularly interested to know if she is able to enjoy Part 2 and Part 3 without Part 1, as I believe she is wondering herself.

Labels: Review

posted by Lynda at 07:34   2 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 2 comments links to this post

 

Author Deborah Jackson wrote this review of Righteous Anger in Jan 2008. I found it this morning tidying up backlogged e-mail. I expect we are all having interesting relationships with our e-mail these days. :-( But at least it is wonderful to find nuggests like this when one rummages in the treasure trove. Deborah is a Canadian Science Fiction author. Her latest book, called The Time Meddlers, is rooted in Canadian history. It's a children's book but I read it with pleasure.

Labels: Deborah Jackson, Review, Righteous Anger

posted by Lynda at 07:04   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Honored by the wonderful review of the Okal Rel saga written by Mel for the UNBC student newspaper, Over the Edge. I confess I was a little worried when I first heard about it for fear Di Mon would feature in those pink slippers she keeps threatening him with. :-) But for this Mel -- hell, I'll have to see what I can do in the pink slipper department for that promised novella of Ranar and Di Mon taking a holiday on one of the Commercial worlds. You are awesome, woman. Thank you from all the ORU gang.

Labels: Mel, Review, UNBC

posted by Lynda at 07:10   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
The Political Is Personal, September 30, 2007
By D. Horne (Prince George, B.C.) - See all my reviews


RIGHTEOUS ANGER, the second book in Lynda Williams' Okal Rel Universe, highlights tensions between father and son. As we follow the son, Horth, on his journey we are drawn into a universe where Nesaks want to unite with Nersallians, English is a dead language, Amel is mind-raped by Reetions, soul-theft and man-rape occur. As always, Williams depicts duels convincingly and illustrates how tensions between houses are mirrored on the home front. The personal is political and the political is, in the end, personal as Horth has to decide what is really righteous anger and at what cost. The author maintains suspense and tension not only in each scene but also within and between characters. Like all good science fiction/fantasy authors, Williams gives us a lens to re-examine our world: "... he did not see how they could ever teach the Reetions to live within the limitations set by Okal Rel if they started by breaking their own laws to conquer them!" (292). Throughout the book, there are frequent reminders that there is a need to move beyond differences and determine what unites diverse groups.

Labels: Review, Righteous Anger

posted by Lynda at 08:53   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

received by Janice of Edge Sept 3/07 with the following message:

>Dear Janice: > I'm very pleased to announce that the September 2007 issue of our > online book review magazine "California Bookwatch" features a > review of "Righteous Anger". > > Here is the review: > > California Bookwatch: September 2007 > James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief > Diane C. Donovan, Editor > Midwest Book Review > 278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575 > > The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf > > Righteous Anger > Lynda Williams > EDGE Science Fiction & Fantasy Publishing > Box 1714, Calgary, Alberta T2P 217 Canada > 1894063384, $22.95 www.edgewebsite.com > > In the Rel universe life and land are precious and warring is > against accepted practice ? differences are solved by duels fought > by a single champion- and RIGHTEOUS ANGER provides the story of > champion Horth, never accepted by either side of two warring > houses. A fast-paced fantasy of action results.

Labels: Review, Righteous Anger

posted by Lynda at 08:33   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 


"Lynda Williams has crafted a unique coming-of-age journey through an intiricately woven tapestry of political intrigue. What I most liked about Righteous Anger was the author's objective portrayal of characters. All were flawed, all possessed both good and bad qualities, and all were driven by complex, often conflicting, motivations, including the main character, Horth. Young Horth must navigate his way through a clash of cultures and conflicting moralities to discover and prescribe his personal version of honor." -- Nina Munteanu, author of "Darwin's Paradox"

Labels: Nina Munteanu, Review, Righteous Anger

posted by Lynda at 06:41   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Okal Rel Universe believers everywhere extend thanks to Ronald Hore for his review of Righteous Anger on CM Magazine. Just discovered the review this morning but it came out in the June 2007 edition of CM. CM reviews "Canadiana of interest to children and young adults, including publications produced in Canada, or published elsewhere but of special interest or significance to Canada ... " and the reviewer ranked Righteous Anger as suitable for children over the age of 13. Although written as adult entertainment, I've been delighted to find the books appeal to bright, imaginative young people. It is good to have a reviewer of children's books give Righteous Anger his attention. The best part, for me, was his conclusion: "Warning, it is a complex tale so you will have to pay attention; you can't just skip your way through it. If you do take the time and are a lover of the fantasy/science fiction genre, you will be rewarded." And the RECOMMENDED status he gave it, of course. :-)

Labels: Review, Righteous Anger, Ronald Hore

posted by Lynda at 07:22   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

Review of Righteous Anger on The Harrow by Dru Pagliassotti calls Righteous Anger "a strong, highly readable installment to this ambitious and far-reaching space opera." Much joy! It also says: "One can only hope that book three, the last one needed to bridge the gap between publications, will not take another leap back in time, but will close the timeline and advance the plot." Gulp. Much trepidation.

Because there is some overlap in Pretenders, timewise, with Righteous Anger. Keeping my fingers crossed that it won't prove to be too much. And Pretenders does fill the bill of setting things up the way they stay - more or less - until Throne Price. After Pretenders it is linear, promise, except for the rare-and-well-motivated flashback, very sparingly employed! There are three movements in the symphony of the saga. The first plays out in Courtesan Prince, Righteous Anger and Pretenders and is centered on the chaos stirred up by events in Courtesan Prince. The next three books, starting with Throne Price, deal with Erien and Amel finding their feet as the "ones in charge". The next book, Healer's Sword, stands alone as a view of the new elite from the perspective of a struggling nobleborn empowered, and threatned, by new opportunities. The final three books are the Okal Rel take on the classic big finale, in which first one and then the second of the lurking threats blustered about by one set of characters or another throughout the whole series, are taken on.

Labels: Dru Pagliassotti, Review, Righteous Anger, The Harrow

posted by Lynda at 17:31   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

I recently discovered (re-discovered?) a review of The Courtesan Prince by Jill, the book chick, that speaks to my own feelings about the whole Okal Rel Universe enterprise. She gives CP 4 out of 5 stars not because of any short-coming in its quality: "Only because it helps to be familiar with Okal Rel before diving in." But she goes on to thank me for the very qualities in my books that are such a sin from the perspective of the thirty-second sales pitch, for which I thank her with all my heart. I hope she is right about the ORU being treasured for many years by those for whom it "takes root". And I'm starting to have faith in that hope, thanks to all of you who have found the time in your busy, stressful lives to love the ORU along with me in whatever way worked best for you.

Featured Quote from Review at Amazon.com

Williams takes a brilliant and complex universe and invites us in, pulls us in, and keeps us there, turning pages, wanting more, voraciously lapping up everything she tosses our way. I should like to thank her for creating this wonderful thing, this series of books that will be treasured for years to come. - Jill Bell, cenobyte

Labels: Courtesan Prince, Jill Bell, Review

posted by Lynda at 06:38   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

Labels: Anne M. Stickel, Black Petals, Review, Righteous Anger

posted by Lynda at 07:48   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 



Delighted and honored by Elizabeth Woods' review of Righteous Anger, on Amazon.ca. Click title or image above for full review.

Labels: amazon.ca, Elizabeth Woods, Review, Righteous Anger

posted by Lynda at 07:45   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
Follow the link to a positive reception for Righteous Anger from T.M. Martin of the Yet Another Book Review site. Best of all, he concludes with "Bring on the third volume" which is both exciting and daunting as I struggle with same. Horth was a dream to work with as an author - he's so direct! Di Mon plays a larger role in the third volume, Pretenders, and is anything but straight forward, damn him. Not to mention the multiple story line challenge. But at least I have the theme which is how power (fear of it, desire for it, or the mere fact it exists in the form it does) forces people to "pretend" to be something they aren't; the impact on identity which results; and how people either break or cope.

Labels: Di Mon, Horth, Pretenders, Review, Righteous Anger, T.M. Martin, Yet Another Book Review

posted by Lynda at 09:10   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post