Patty Jansen
Author of Fire & Ice
About the Author
Image credit: Huguette LeDuc
Series
Works by Patty Jansen
Mailing Lists Unboxed (The Three--year, No-bestseller Plan For Making a Sustainable Living From Your Fiction Book 2) (2017) 5 copies
Self-publishing Unboxed (The Three-year, No-bestseller Plan For Making a Sustainable Living From Your Fiction Book 1) (2017) 4 copies
Going Wide Unboxed (The Three--year, No-bestseller Plan For Making a Sustainable Living From Your Fiction Book 3) (2017) 4 copies
Bigger Fish 3 copies
Ambassador: Books 1, 1.5 and 2 2 copies
Highway 1 copy
Stripped Bare: A Light-Hearted Guide to Getting the Most Out of Writers' Critique Groups (2011) 1 copy
Black Dragon 1 copy
Sorcery & Seers 1 copy
Ambassador Series Mega Set 1 copy
To Look At The Sky 1 copy
Mass Extinction 1 copy
Geospermia {short story} 1 copy
The Only One He Ever Feared 1 copy
Taking Back The Words 1 copy
Ambassador: Ten Book Set 1 copy
Never On A Birthday 1 copy
Metal Dragon 1 copy
Straight Through The Heart 1 copy
From The Parrot's Mouth 1 copy
Indie Writer Unboxed (The Three-Year, No-bestseller Plan For Making A Living From Your Fiction Book 4) (2019) 1 copy
The Ten Days Of Madness 1 copy
Little Boy Lost 1 copy
Legal Aliens 1 copy
Coming Home, Ambassador 4 1 copy
Project Charon 2: Originator 1 copy
Associated Works
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 27 (2011) — Contributor — 58 copies, 9 reviews
Bridge Across the Stars: A Sci-Fi Bridge Original Anthology (2018) — Contributor — 24 copies, 1 review
Extreme Planets: A Science Fiction Anthology of Alien Worlds (Chaosium fiction) (2014) — Contributor — 15 copies, 1 review
Rogue Stars: 8 Novels of Space Exploration and Adventure — Contributor — 5 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 20th century
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- writer
- Organizations
- Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
- Awards and honors
- Writers of the Future
- Nationality
- Australia
- Places of residence
- Sydney, Australia
- Associated Place (for map)
- Sydney, Australia
Members
Discussions
(M42'12) Fire & Ice, Patty Jansen in World Reading Circle (August 2012)
Reviews
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
I’ve read other books by Patty Jansen, and like her science fiction, so I picked up one of her fantasies to try. This world is complex with many layers running through it. There are few simple answers or clear villains and heroes. The one constant is power, or more specifically control, but what that means for each character is different.
Tandor is a mix of hero trying to overthrow an illegitimate government and villain willing to do whatever show more necessary to achieve his aims. But that is far from the whole of his nature as his care for the imperfects he has rescued fights with his need to use them in his plan. As an imperfect himself, he sees the benefits in what he offers them as much as the loss, but doesn’t understand the rage that drives his servitor to fight his control absolute.
Isandor, an imperfect Tandor rescued a long time ago and placed with the woman he loves, has grown up in the capital city with an instinctive command of icefire. He also sought forbidden books that speak of icefire to learn more. Still, he joined the Knighthood when being an imperfect means abandonment on the ice floes when newborn. This is a policy the Knights brought into practice when they overthrew the old king because imperfects can use icefire, and yet they have not noticed Isandor’s wooden leg.
Then we get to Carro, Isandor’s childhood friend. His father mentally tortured him as a child, a practice the Apprentice Knights are all too happy to continue when he follows his friend into their ranks. With Carro we see the darker side as much as with Tandor, though I can’t say more without spoiling. His situation is complicated, and fair warning, involves on-screen male-male rape. However, there are hints of healthy gay relationships, so the two are not considered equivalent but rather one of power and the other of pleasure.
The complexity of the world comes to play in Loraine role, Isandor’s foster mother and Tandor’s love. She’s a breeder, one of the rare women able to bring a child to term. For this she is offered contracts to continue other family lines in return for her children being ripped from her. Economic imbalance also plays a part with the City of Glass much less prosperous since the overthrow. Most of the remaining wealth is funneled to the higher levels and away from the outer city. Which isn’t even covering the secret society, a black market in loot from the old palace, and many other aspects that make the world multilayered and fascinating.
There are many characters who have a crucial role and the point of view. I haven’t listed them all (some for spoiler reasons), but once I realized Carro’s friend Isandor did not grow up to be Tandor, I had no trouble keeping track. They have different parts to play, different skills, and distinct personalities. The imperfects are born with visible birth defects, meaning a good number of the characters are disabled, including two of the leads.
Bloodline is also critical because imperfects tend to come from the older, Thillei, bloodline while the bloodline that dominates the senior Knights can sense, if not see, icefire. This ability means illusions are harder to hold.
The world is not a bright and happy one. It has its moments, but there are as many if not more where the characters suffer or do something that turns my stomach. There is violence and hate, for sure, and yet there are moments of connection and love even in unexpected characters. It’s a harsh place with rules designed to keep the old bloodlines from returning. The costs are high. You won’t find straightforward characters that fall into place. Instead, the characters are as multi-faceted as the world and make as many bad choices as good. This is the strength of Fire & Ice. You will not find simplicity or easy answers, but there are many deep questions to consider, something I appreciate.
This is the first of a trilogy, and yet several storylines come to a satisfying conclusion. In some cases, that is a “for now” answer with more needing to be resolved and in others one situation resolves but with hints at more to follow. I’m not sure where the next book will take me, but I’m curious to find out.
P.S. I purchased this in the Icefire Trilogy The Complete Series box set for those who want to know the series is written before they start. show less
I’ve read other books by Patty Jansen, and like her science fiction, so I picked up one of her fantasies to try. This world is complex with many layers running through it. There are few simple answers or clear villains and heroes. The one constant is power, or more specifically control, but what that means for each character is different.
Tandor is a mix of hero trying to overthrow an illegitimate government and villain willing to do whatever show more necessary to achieve his aims. But that is far from the whole of his nature as his care for the imperfects he has rescued fights with his need to use them in his plan. As an imperfect himself, he sees the benefits in what he offers them as much as the loss, but doesn’t understand the rage that drives his servitor to fight his control absolute.
Isandor, an imperfect Tandor rescued a long time ago and placed with the woman he loves, has grown up in the capital city with an instinctive command of icefire. He also sought forbidden books that speak of icefire to learn more. Still, he joined the Knighthood when being an imperfect means abandonment on the ice floes when newborn. This is a policy the Knights brought into practice when they overthrew the old king because imperfects can use icefire, and yet they have not noticed Isandor’s wooden leg.
Then we get to Carro, Isandor’s childhood friend. His father mentally tortured him as a child, a practice the Apprentice Knights are all too happy to continue when he follows his friend into their ranks. With Carro we see the darker side as much as with Tandor, though I can’t say more without spoiling. His situation is complicated, and fair warning, involves on-screen male-male rape. However, there are hints of healthy gay relationships, so the two are not considered equivalent but rather one of power and the other of pleasure.
The complexity of the world comes to play in Loraine role, Isandor’s foster mother and Tandor’s love. She’s a breeder, one of the rare women able to bring a child to term. For this she is offered contracts to continue other family lines in return for her children being ripped from her. Economic imbalance also plays a part with the City of Glass much less prosperous since the overthrow. Most of the remaining wealth is funneled to the higher levels and away from the outer city. Which isn’t even covering the secret society, a black market in loot from the old palace, and many other aspects that make the world multilayered and fascinating.
There are many characters who have a crucial role and the point of view. I haven’t listed them all (some for spoiler reasons), but once I realized Carro’s friend Isandor did not grow up to be Tandor, I had no trouble keeping track. They have different parts to play, different skills, and distinct personalities. The imperfects are born with visible birth defects, meaning a good number of the characters are disabled, including two of the leads.
Bloodline is also critical because imperfects tend to come from the older, Thillei, bloodline while the bloodline that dominates the senior Knights can sense, if not see, icefire. This ability means illusions are harder to hold.
The world is not a bright and happy one. It has its moments, but there are as many if not more where the characters suffer or do something that turns my stomach. There is violence and hate, for sure, and yet there are moments of connection and love even in unexpected characters. It’s a harsh place with rules designed to keep the old bloodlines from returning. The costs are high. You won’t find straightforward characters that fall into place. Instead, the characters are as multi-faceted as the world and make as many bad choices as good. This is the strength of Fire & Ice. You will not find simplicity or easy answers, but there are many deep questions to consider, something I appreciate.
This is the first of a trilogy, and yet several storylines come to a satisfying conclusion. In some cases, that is a “for now” answer with more needing to be resolved and in others one situation resolves but with hints at more to follow. I’m not sure where the next book will take me, but I’m curious to find out.
P.S. I purchased this in the Icefire Trilogy The Complete Series box set for those who want to know the series is written before they start. show less
I’ve been reading the Ambassador Series by Patty Jansen. Every book has been a great surprise, but book 9 is definitely my favourite. Red Crystal Desert takes place on Asto, the main planet of the Coldi people. Cori Wilson and his very pregnant wife are visiting for Cori’s official induction into the Domiri clan. It should be an easy trip, but nothing is easy when Cory is involved. And since he underwent his DNA modified to be genetically compatible with having children with his Coldi show more wife Cori is changed and he seems to be the only one not to realise that. And this is what I want to talk about here. The main character change throughout all the previous books. From dandy human ambassador to respected member of the Domiri clan on Asto. If you haven’t read the books, these are just words, but the change is impressive. Book after book, Cori changes to become the new being he is in this incredible story. I expected something to happen by the end and feared that moment. I feared it more than Cori did because sometimes he’s as blind as we can be when we don’t want to see the truth life puts right in front of our eyes. And I was utterly surprised when it happened. So kudos to Patty Jansen for this pearl.
And now back to reading book 10 and fearing the moment the series is over. What am I gonna read next? show less
And now back to reading book 10 and fearing the moment the series is over. What am I gonna read next? show less
{first of 6 (+3 prequels) Greenwing and Dart series; or (currently) ninth of 26 in the author's recommended reading order of The Nine Worlds; also contained in Sword & Magic: Eight Fantasy Novels; fantasy, magic, empire, adventure, manners, society, fantasy of manners, mischief}(2016)
According to the (current) blurb for each book in this series, 'magic is out of fashion'. Go ahead and flout fashion.
Jemis Greenwing, aged 21, returned from university in disgrace to Ragnor Bella - where he has show more to adapt to reduced circumstances and former high society acquaintances avoiding him - with not very much more than his name (though his father was accounted a traitor after being commended as a hero, so even that has minimal value) and the remnants of a bad illness which still has him sneezing uncontrollably (oh, I can empathise!) at strong scents, startling noises and ... almost everything, it seems. We first meet him on his first day at work in Elderflower Books, Mrs Etaris's bookshop (the only one in Ragnor Bella; which town has the reputation of being the dullest in the barony and possibly the country). As he is sent out for coffee, he spots a figure acting suspiciously by the fountain in the square and when it runs off he discovers a pie with fish heads sticking out of the crust so he takes it back with him to investigate further.
Mrs Etaris and Jemis look into the recipe books in the shop
I enjoyed this story though I was a bit confused at the beginning because Jemis mentioned a lot of things without explaining them, such as different towns and cities (I could really do with a map of this world) and made constant references to 'the Fall' and I felt frustrated every time not knowing: the fall of what? The book got off to a slow start for me (possibly partly due to my reading it on my Kindle which I don't often do; this was one of eight books in the Sword & Magic: Eight Fantasy Novels collection) though it was entertaining enough. It seemed to be modelled on Victorian or Regency society (though the author is Canadian) with social standings and things like 'the cut direct' but women seem to be treated equally; they also go to university to earn degrees and learn to use weapons. To be honest, this also confused me (maybe I've read too many Jane Austens? (Never! That is a base calumny.)) by initially confounding my expectations. It made me wonder if the author had been finding her way through this story (it seems to have been one of her first published works).
At around chapter 9 (of 31) the action picked up with a midnight adventure with Greenwing and Dart desperately running through the woods trying to escape ... well, read it. And around then some of the details started to finally be filled in; what happened for Jemis to be failed out of university, how his heart was broken there, a bit more about his family history and some of what happened to magic in this world. It was fun before; at this point it became interesting with Jemis and his friends careening from one situation to another. In hindsight it has a somewhat Wodehousian feel to it - maybe more Mike and Psmith than Jeeves and Wooster - which may be why it appealed to me. And at chapter 29 I was convinced something bad was going to happen and I couldn't look - but of course I went back and finished reading afterwards!
Not to say that everything was explained at the end - I'll see if it is, in the next book in this series (yes, I plan to continue). I have it on good authority that the books only get better; so I'm in for a treat - Bee Sting Cake, I believe.
I did like the prominence given to Mrs Etaris's bookshop:
(April 2024)
3.75-4 stars
Averaging : 3.75 - 4 stars show less
According to the (current) blurb for each book in this series, 'magic is out of fashion'. Go ahead and flout fashion.
Jemis Greenwing, aged 21, returned from university in disgrace to Ragnor Bella - where he has show more to adapt to reduced circumstances and former high society acquaintances avoiding him - with not very much more than his name (though his father was accounted a traitor after being commended as a hero, so even that has minimal value) and the remnants of a bad illness which still has him sneezing uncontrollably (oh, I can empathise!) at strong scents, startling noises and ... almost everything, it seems. We first meet him on his first day at work in Elderflower Books, Mrs Etaris's bookshop (the only one in Ragnor Bella; which town has the reputation of being the dullest in the barony and possibly the country). As he is sent out for coffee, he spots a figure acting suspiciously by the fountain in the square and when it runs off he discovers a pie with fish heads sticking out of the crust so he takes it back with him to investigate further.
Mrs Etaris and Jemis look into the recipe books in the shop
“Do you think cookery books should be organized by food or by region?”and determine that it is a Ghilousetten stargazy pie (in our world, they are actually a Cornish speciality - according to Wikipedia, the unique feature of stargazy pie is fish heads (and sometimes tails) protruding through the crust, so that they appear to be gazing to the stars). The bookshop receives quite a few visitors that day, among them the baron's son (the Honourable Master Roald Ragnor - dubbed the 'Honourable Rag'), who tells them that the fish are herring, and one Mr Dart; both formerly good friends of Jemis's before they all went to different universities but only Mr Dart seems inclined to continue the close acquaintance and he insists that they investigate the mysterious pie further. Which leads them, by convoluted ways, into the oddest adventures (narrated in the first person from Jemis's point of view).
Mr. Dart looked up at where I was pulling them down from the shelf. “What striking covers they have. Why not by colour?”
“People don’t usually come in and ask for books by jacket colour.”
“Don’t they? The aesthetics of bookcases are probably as satisfying as anything else."
I enjoyed this story though I was a bit confused at the beginning because Jemis mentioned a lot of things without explaining them, such as different towns and cities (I could really do with a map of this world) and made constant references to 'the Fall' and I felt frustrated every time not knowing: the fall of what? The book got off to a slow start for me (possibly partly due to my reading it on my Kindle which I don't often do; this was one of eight books in the Sword & Magic: Eight Fantasy Novels collection) though it was entertaining enough. It seemed to be modelled on Victorian or Regency society (though the author is Canadian) with social standings and things like 'the cut direct' but women seem to be treated equally; they also go to university to earn degrees and learn to use weapons. To be honest, this also confused me (maybe I've read too many Jane Austens? (Never! That is a base calumny.)) by initially confounding my expectations. It made me wonder if the author had been finding her way through this story (it seems to have been one of her first published works).
At around chapter 9 (of 31) the action picked up with a midnight adventure with Greenwing and Dart desperately running through the woods trying to escape ... well, read it. And around then some of the details started to finally be filled in; what happened for Jemis to be failed out of university, how his heart was broken there, a bit more about his family history and some of what happened to magic in this world. It was fun before; at this point it became interesting with Jemis and his friends careening from one situation to another. In hindsight it has a somewhat Wodehousian feel to it - maybe more Mike and Psmith than Jeeves and Wooster - which may be why it appealed to me. And at chapter 29 I was convinced something bad was going to happen and I couldn't look - but of course I went back and finished reading afterwards!
Not to say that everything was explained at the end - I'll see if it is, in the next book in this series (yes, I plan to continue). I have it on good authority that the books only get better; so I'm in for a treat - Bee Sting Cake, I believe.
I did like the prominence given to Mrs Etaris's bookshop:
“And look what I found. This is the new edition, by the way, the one that came out of Tara this spring, so it’s got post-Astandalan references in it.”I really enjoyed this and I recommend it.
I took the volume. “I hadn’t realized it was out. I’m impressed she has a copy already.”
“She’s the hinge-pin of town, I told you. The person who controls access to books—and the newspaper—” He gestured at the stack of New Salons on the counter—“controls information.”
(April 2024)
3.75-4 stars
Averaging : 3.75 - 4 stars show less
** spoiler alert **
This is getting more and more interesting. I really like the portrayal of Roald and how Johanna is realizing he's not "just a halfwit," but someone who needs to be approached differently and has his own talents. It's really awesome to have this in a book. I think this is the first time I've seen it done this way, and so far I am impressed. It's really more like Roald is mid-to-high functioning autistic and completely misunderstood. Nellie drives me a little crazy. And show more should they trust the old duke and his son? Forward! show less
This is getting more and more interesting. I really like the portrayal of Roald and how Johanna is realizing he's not "just a halfwit," but someone who needs to be approached differently and has his own talents. It's really awesome to have this in a book. I think this is the first time I've seen it done this way, and so far I am impressed. It's really more like Roald is mid-to-high functioning autistic and completely misunderstood. Nellie drives me a little crazy. And show more should they trust the old duke and his son? Forward! show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 119
- Also by
- 18
- Members
- 1,251
- Popularity
- #20,508
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 100
- ISBNs
- 203
