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Adam Knight

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Adam Knight’s books

Average rating: 3.87 · 159 ratings · 43 reviews · 9 distinct works

	The Big Bad: An Anthology of Evil by John G. Hartness (Goodreads Author) (Editor And Contributor), Emily Lavin Leverett (Goodreads Author) (Editor And Contributor), Adam Knight (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	At the Trough 4.08 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 2019 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Extinct Doesn't Mean Forever by Phoenix Sullivan (Editor), David North-Martino (Goodreads Author), Chrystalla Thoma (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 3.18 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Villainy by John Anglin (contributor), J.J. Beazley (Goodreads Author) (Contributor), Jaleta Clegg (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) 4.60 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Made of Iron it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Song Stories: Volume 1 by Wakefield Mahon (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Lou Antonelli, Becky Beard 4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Told You So by Jessy Marie Roberts (Editor), Seán David Gardner (Goodreads Author), Adam Knight (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hoping for Red 3.67 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hunting the Mantis 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Adam Knight…

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Adam is currently reading

Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1)

by Larry McMurtry

bookshelves: audiobooks, currently-reading

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Oct 04, 2025 12:41PM

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The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

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read in July 2018

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Adam said: " The Tombs of Atuan
By Ursula K LeGuin

The second volume in LeGuin’s Earthsea series is quite different from A Wizard of Earthsea, the first book. A Wizard of Earthsea, while its setting and magic systems are refreshing takes on fantasy tropes, is recog The Tombs of Atuan
By Ursula K LeGuin

The second volume in LeGuin’s Earthsea series is quite different from A Wizard of Earthsea, the first book. A Wizard of Earthsea, while its setting and magic systems are refreshing takes on fantasy tropes, is recognizable as a young man on a quest story. The tale sprawls all over the map, includes battles and riddles and magic, and ends in an epic showdown-- all things readers expect in a fantasy.

The Tombs of Atuan, on the other hand, takes place in largely one location, moves slowly, features a society afraid of magic, and is heavy on dialogue and light on action. I admit when I read it years ago, to being rather disappointed. I wanted more of the expected fantasy qualities, and I thought The Tombs of Atuan rather dull. But as a more mature and patient reader now, I understood it better, better understood its quiet beauty, and better understood its contributions to the fantasy genre.

The main character is Arha, a special priestess who is ritually consecrated at a young age. Revered and lonely in the Place of the Tombs, she one day finds a man among the tombs. Men are expressly forbidden there, and he ought to be swiftly killed. But her curiosity and compassion get the better of her, and she deceives her handlers into keeping the man alive. The man --it’s Ged, hero of A Wizard of Earthsea-- turns out to be a sorcerer, and they slowly build trust with one another. In their conversations they learn that together, they will be much stronger than if they are alone. They unite in an effort to find freedom for one another.

The pacing of this novel is much slower, with lots of dialogue and little action, especially in the first half. Though a short novel at 150 pages, it still has the feel of a novel that might have wanted to be a short story or novella. If you like your fantasy to have sweeping epic battles and blasting fireballs and crashing swords, this is not your book.

However, the pleasures to be found in The Tombs of Atuan are subtler and more nuanced. For one, it subverts some expected fantasy tropes. It begins as a classic “princess-waiting-to-be-rescued-from-solitude” tale, with Arha imprisoned by her power and position. Traditional fantasy and fairy stories would have a handsome prince come to rescue her. However, the man who shows up is powerless and dying of thirst and starvation in her tombs. He lives at her will. Though he is a sorcerer who can show her to her own freedom, there is no doubt that Arha is the one with the upper hand. Arha’s society is utterly dominated by women, and the presence of a man in the tomb is nothing short of sacrilege. Another subversion is that the magic only appears at the end of the novel, It plays a small but key role in the plot and is essential to the functioning of the fictional world. While many fantasy stories have wizards sling lightning bolts all over the countryside, Ged’s magic demands a heavy toll, is hard to achieve, and lacks the dazzle of what fantasy readers have come to expect. But that makes it far more impactful in its use.

Finally, I would argue that much (though of course not all) fantasy is conservative in nature, meaning that it advocates a return to order from a previous time. Restore the rightful king, slay the invading dragon, find the enchanted artifact that will set things right. The Tombs of Atuan are about none of these things. They are about the way that two very different people are seeking freedom-- Arha from her place as the Priestess, and Ged from the tomb. By banding together, building trust, and letting go of what is familiar, they aim to achieve that which all people, regardless of background and culture, want-- human freedom. And for this reason, the quiet little Tombs of Atuan is worth reading. ...more "

Jul 29, 2018 11:15AM · see review

Adam is currently reading

Child of God

by Cormac McCarthy

bookshelves: audiobooks, currently-reading

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Jul 21, 2024 05:44PM

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Adam and 1 other person liked Samantha’s status update Samantha wants to read Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1)
Oct 04, 2025 12:41PM · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Adam rated a book liked it Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side by Julia Shaw	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book has an interesting premise-- the psychology of evil-- but Shaw is more interested in challenging the definition of evil to the point where I don’t know what her definition is. The ideas in this book may challenge low-level popular thought, ...more
Oct 04, 2025 12:41PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Evil by Julia Shaw. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Evil by Julia Shaw <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Adam started reading Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 04, 2025 12:41PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Adam rated a book liked it Evil: The Science Behind Humanity's Dark Side by Julia Shaw	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book has an interesting premise-- the psychology of evil-- but Shaw is more interested in challenging the definition of evil to the point where I don’t know what her definition is. The ideas in this book may challenge low-level popular thought, ...more
Oct 04, 2025 12:34PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Evil by Julia Shaw. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Evil by Julia Shaw <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Adam rated a book really liked it Comanche Moon (Lonesome Dove, #4) by Larry McMurtry	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The last of the Lonesome Dove novels to be published but 2nd in chronology, Comanche Moon bridges the gap between Dead Man's Walk and Lonesome Dove. As always, McMurtry has a gift for character and interiority. Every character is given some nuance. Y ...more
Oct 04, 2025 12:24PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Adam rated a book it was amazing A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A Wizard of Earthsea By Ursula K LeGuin An absolute fantasy all-time classic, A Wizard of Earthsea is not only highly enjoyable, but is valuable to a genre that sometimes gets stuck in certain tropes and expectations. Yes, there are dragons and wizards ...more
Sep 11, 2025 02:21PM · like · see review
Adam started reading The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2) by Ursula K. Le Guin	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 11, 2025 02:21PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Adam rated a book really liked it Dead Man's Walk (Lonesome Dove, #3) by Larry McMurtry	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
While maybe not quite on par with the epic Lonesome Dove, this pre-prequel presents two young Texas Rangers who later are the center of LD. The author does a fine job depicting these young men as youthful, but believable for who they will become. As ...more
Sep 11, 2025 02:20PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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Sep 11, 2025 02:20PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Comanche Moon by Larry McMurtry <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">