Good Omens- Everything about this is awesome. Read, minions.
Particularly liked War.
Good Omens- Everything about this is awesome. Read, minions.
Angelmass by Timothy Zahn: Not bad, but Zahn couldn't keep a consistent time period for the story. It's supposed to be very far in the future, but he keeps throwing in anachronistic modern-day phrases that throw off the mood.
Dragons of the Dwarven Depths and Dragons of the Highlord Skies by Weis and Hickman: Typical Dragonlance - you either like it or you don't by now. I do wish they wouldn't make the fucking kender the focal point of EVERY SINGLE BOOK.
For more like that, try The Hitler Options. It's a much more analytical collection of essays on the subject. I read it a long time ago though. I should reread, since long stints at work are stretching my reading material thin. From what I remember though, they're more general What-Ifs (What if D-Day had been thwarted, what if Hitler had bypassed Stalingrad instead of sending troops to the grinder, etc).
The Great Hunt: Siuan Sanche is the Amyrillin? Oh snap! Damn your spoilers, New Spring!
Beginning was decent, the bulk of the middle largely sucked, and the ending was good. Selene and Lilandrin were so fake that I wanted to beat the protagonists with the obvious stick.
G11 series (Mistaken Identity, Planetfall, Colony). Surprisingly very good. My thought process, though, was:
"You can't report on that in the Books topic--that's like talking about fanfiction or something."
"But it's been published into three books."
"Okay sure, but it still has traces of its internet fiction origins."
"Such as?"
"It has sexual content!"
"Less than the Song of Fire and Ice series, to be perfectly honest, and that's probably the most talked about series in these topics."
"Well...the pacing could be improved."
"The pacing was ultimately fine, seeing as I lost a lot of sleep reading it, and it actually distrated me away from both TF2 and WAXF."
"The editing could be better--it has the occasional grammatical error."
"True, and that's the biggest strike against it, but so does Eve Zaremba's White Noise, and I reported on that book--small-scale publishers don't find 100% of grammatical errors."
"What about the non-grammar typos? What about the mathematical inconsistencies in the story?"
"Pfft, even the best edititng ever doesn't always save you from those. Look at Harry Potter--Dudley got a Playstation before it was released, and the population of Hogwarts doesn't add up."
"It has sexual content!"
"Less than the Song of Fire and Ice series, to be perfectly honest, and that's probably the most talked about series in these topics."
Given that I've seen much worse than "fanfiction" (and talked about worse! Ech, Jane Austen) talked about here...
"It has sexual content!"
"Less than the Song of Fire and Ice series, to be perfectly honest, and that's probably the most talked about series in these topics."
This can be said for pretty much everything. Up to and including most Japanese h-games.
Given that I've seen much worse than "fanfiction" (and talked about worse! Ech, Jane Austen) talked about here...
Would now be a bad time to mention that I was thinking about comparing the G11 series to Jane Austen? I mean, one might be able to describe it as Jane Austen in space. Except with more sex, violence, LGBT, and epicness of plotline. (Which is to say it has such stuff...in fact all of the above, barring perhaps lesbians).
Given that I've seen much worse than "fanfiction" (and talked about worse! Ech, Jane Austen) talked about here...
Would now be a bad time to mention that I was thinking about comparing the G11 series to Jane Austen? I mean, one might be able to describe it as Jane Austen in space. Except with more sex, violence, LGBT, and epicness of plotline. (Which is to say it has such stuff...in fact all of the above, barring perhaps lesbians).
You totally had me until that last phrase.
EDIT 3: Also, after rereading MC's first post, hahahahahaha. Mathematical inconsistencies. Hahahaha. Oh, man, what do you expect? A writer to not fail at math to a degree? Hahahaha. Haaaaah.
Just finished reading The Giver.
Been on a reading/movie binge recently. Figured I'd start here first, but just one book. Granted, this book is awesome.
World War Z, by Max Brooks.
This is the same guy who wrote the humorous Zombie Survival Guide. However, this isn't a joke book - Brooks outlines an actual zombie apocalypse (theoretical, of course), and fills it with loads of social commentary and a unique perspective that really illustrates an understanding of multiple cultures, ideals and mechanics of the world at large. The book is written as a collection of interviews of survivors of the war, giving a good perspective of the world's reactions to a world-wide zombie outbreak. It's...a great social commentary and an excellent read either way. Great if you like social commentaries, zombie books, post-apocalyptic novels, etc. Really a good book I'd suggest to anyone looking for something good to read. I'm thinking I'll be reading it again soon. Just really good.
There's not much point to having a Perrin PoV (To quote the author, all he was doing was being a newlywed and rebuilding the two rivers). The other plot arcs were more important.
The Gnostic Gospels, by Elaine Pagels: Excellent analysis of the actual beginning of Christianity and the arguments between the orthodox which assembled the Church and pretty much drove off all opposition and the gnostic Christians, whose opinions varied widely between the sensible to the flat-out new-age trippy insanity-level stuff at times. Interesting read, definitely.
...Yes, this is the sort of thing I read when I go for non-fiction. >_>
Ultimately all Feminist rhetoric should boil down to is that even with minor differences between the sexes/genders none are large enough to disqualify anyone from having potential to do anything or performing at tasks at acceptable levels compared to others of the opposite sex/gender. There could be some room for deconstructing the concept of gender and blurring the lines and whatnot but meh, it ultimately acheives little beyond loosening up Sexuality somewhat, when you have equality between the genders the need to do that is decreased a lot.
Well, part of what makes makes me inclined to think there is some biological process that affects our construction of gender norms is this: For the innumerous, diverse societies that existed in the pre-globalized (and thus, I would imagine, before social mores and norms became nigh-universal in the first world) world, I don't think there are any maternalistic societies. Now, I fully realize that this could be due to a number of reasons (the most likely of which is that because women are basically out of commission for at least 7 months for pregnancy, prehistoric tribes had to rely on men to fight off threats if a majority of women were pregnant, and that had an effect on the development of social norms and...
I think I just answered my own dillema; perhaps hunter-gatherer societies developed off of this basis so there WAS an initial biological basis for it but had nothing to do with hormonally or evolutionary influenced dispositions but instead just arose on the basis of how early tribes worked and now has no basis in the modern day because the majority of us aren't trying to scare off lions and tigers and bears to survive and pregnancy isn't nearly so much of a handicap as it was back then and run on sentences.
Granted, the fact that men and women go about their work together without anyone making an issue of it or even contemplating the possibility of innate differences in suitability conveys the ideal of respectable feminism far better than beating the reader with sermons ever could.
Soppy: I've read a little Elizabeth Moon. One with Esmay Suiza, but it was many many years ago and damned if I can remember the name. There was some kind of judicial hearing early on and the main plot was about those berserker people trying to take over the ship.
Moon's M.O. seems to be military fiction, above all. From the book I read, there was a great emphasis on detailing the lifestyle and routine of people living and working in a military environment. I got the same impression from what little I read of The Deed of Paksennarion before getting bored of it. Granted, the fact that men and women go about their work together without anyone making an issue of it or even contemplating the possibility of innate differences in suitability conveys the ideal of respectable feminism far better than beating the reader with sermons ever could.
Sky is an angsty, feminine, crippled teenager. If your name is Super, you probably are Sky. (For the record, the angst moments are because you fail.Corrected.
Don't be silly, Grefter. Super can't be Sky. Sky is likeable. >_>Sky is an angsty, feminine, crippled teenager. If your name is Super, you probably are Sky. (For the record, the angst moments are because you fail.Corrected.
Twilight: Movie's coming out, figured I check out the book and see what the hype is about. Teenage girl + vampires? Yeah, this is gonna be terrible...
... and it's not terrible. In fact, it's damned good. Really good writing style, and it doesn't contain emo angst like every other book with vampires ever. Literally couldn't put the book down, and am already planning to go to the store tomorrow and get the rest of the books. Yeah, it's that good.
Seems like it would adapt to a movie fairly well, so here's hoping the movie doesn't suck. Ha ha. Suck... Vampires...
Bella/Edward may give off Richard/Kahlan vibes and I can see why it might be popular to hate the series
I think the main reason I read so much fantasy is because I read so damn fast and I hate trying to find a new series. I'm a really loyal reader and when I find an author I like, I stick with them until I've read up everything they've written. Then I mope about despondently looking at other books when I go to the bookstore until some happenstance introduces me to something new.
Gave up on Wheel of Time around book 5 or 6. Will probably come back to it later, but I was pissed off at the circularity and how goddamn SLOW everything was. Still, I really loved the world and a few of the characters.
QuoteGave up on Wheel of Time around book 5 or 6. Will probably come back to it later, but I was pissed off at the circularity and how goddamn SLOW everything was. Still, I really loved the world and a few of the characters.
;_;
Finished book 2 of the Mistborn series. READ THIS SERIES.
Breaking Dawn - finished the Twilight series. Nothing I can really say that wouldn't be a massive spoiler. But suffice it to say great series overall, and deserves its hype.
It isn't fun to hate on Harry Potter. It is fun to hate adults that consider it the most important piece of literature ever written.
Edit - Not to knock the impact it has for child readers of course, but I am kind of adverse to saying it is more important even in that bracket than something like Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
It isn't fun to hate on Harry Potter. It is fun to hate adults that consider it the most important piece of literature ever written.
Edit - Not to knock the impact it has for child readers of course, but I am kind of adverse to saying it is more important even in that bracket than something like Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
Judy Blume >>> Rowling? I think I'm down with that sentiment, yes.
It's off to a pretty scrubby start so far. We'll see what the rest of the book has to offer.
Someone either beat Goodkind too much as a kid, or not enough. I'm leaning towards 'not enough' at this point.
I'm still going to try and slog through at least the first couple books and see what happens.
Try the Chuck Austen run on X-Men. It has way less in the way of redeeming points.
I think you underestimate just how huge a deal telegram was when it became affordable though >_>
I hate reading and also life.
Currently should be translating Beowulf rather than reading The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory or posting here.
I hate reading and also life.
I like casts of one dimensional characters!
Gee, my cat keeps screwing that lady cat.
Gee, you should take him in to get his you-know-what removed.
Hm, good idea. What do you call that?
QuoteCurrently should be translating Beowulf rather than reading The Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory or posting here.
I have an entire scale of Mercedes Lackey songs on my computer. But... they write books? Tell me more.
I--!SOh
H
New Moon from the Twilight series. I can't help it -- I like vampire/werewolf stories and I hate being out of the loop on book hype for people my age.
Wait? Twilight's -not- directed at 15-year-olds?
As Andrew says, apparently I will have to kill someone at the DL just to make a point. XD
Besides. Age-appropriate material is lame. If I did that, I wouldn't've watched It when I was 9 and thus had coulrophobia defined for me.
I'm not trying to be elitist.
But I also never read Sandman.
I'm not trying to be elitist.
Why not?
Besides. Age-appropriate material is lame. If I did that, I wouldn't've watched It when I was 9 and thus had coulrophobia defined for me.
Hahaha. Am I the only one who watched it back then and didn't become afraid of clowns?
The Chronicles of The Black Company by Glen Cook- Finished The Black Company (book 1) and enjoyed it despite some minor annoyances.
Finished Shadows Linger (book 2) today and I feel the need to say something. Keep in mind, overall, I'm really digging this. Just, fuck you for doing that, Glen Cook. Just, fuck you. I don't care if you really did or didn't kill that character off. That was one of the more epic instances I've seen of trolling in a fantasy novel in quite a while. Just... what the fuck, man.
The Chronicles of The Black Company by Glen Cook- Finished The Black Company (book 1) and enjoyed it despite some minor annoyances.
Finished Shadows Linger (book 2) today and I feel the need to say something. Keep in mind, overall, I'm really digging this. Just, fuck you for doing that, Glen Cook. Just, fuck you. I don't care if you really did or didn't kill that character off. That was one of the more epic instances I've seen of trolling in a fantasy novel in quite a while. Just... what the fuck, man.
It's been a few years since I read those. Remind me of what you're talking about and why it infuriates you so?
Planetary: In one chapter, you have what amounts to a prolonged dissertation on the physical structure of reality, nanotechnology and the soul. In the next chapter one of the characters kicks a guy's spine clear out of his back. In other words, Warren Ellis wrote it. Good stuff.
That is right Andy, Djinn is overtly thrusting your general direction.
Y'know, for someone who proclaims disinterest in sex, you sure bring it up alot... >.>;;
And I always seem to be on the wrong end of it...
Grammar Nazi note: A judge is disinterested in the case before him because he has no "interests" in either side. Biff is uninterested in literature because he is a bore and would rather spend his time at the truck-stop.
Have also been reading the Dresden Files. They are sufficiently amusing! Definitely what they are, though, which is to say a super-pulpy wizardly twist on the detective novel, in which the author consistently strives to somehow make Harry's life worse each and every chapter and, with astonishing frequency, succeeds at making the poor guy the single most abused fantasy character I've read in a long while. Seriously, the guy needs a hug..
I think the start of The Shadow Rising (book 4, WoT) is one of my favorites.
Despite all this, I am enjoying the read.
Mm. I need to finish that reread of the Coldfire trilogy sometime. (Reread the first two books, then got distracted by something.) I've managed to remember virtually nothing about the last book.
C.S. Friedman's usually good. Likes to focus on extremes of human behavior; her protagonists are usually very intense and driven people. Also often dysfunctional or outcast in some way. In any event, she does a very good job of getting you inside the main characters' psyches, and I enjoy her books just for that. I think I prefer it when she does science fiction, though. The Madness Season/In Conquest Born/This Alien Shore are all pretty good. Only one I was fairly unimpressed with was The Wilding.
A genius female SCIENTIST conducts groundbreaking research in a lab unlike any other in the world. And she's hot, because all female scientists are.
So the last issue of Planetary finally exists. Truly, we are living in the end times.
Mistborn - yessss. I'll comment when I'm done (into Part 5 now) but this has been a very enjoyable read. Consider me officially on the aiel's hype train.
(That's part 5 of book 1, by the way. Spoil and die, etc.)
Kurt Vonnegut.
This is made of pure awesome and win.
3. Asmodean got murdered, possibly balefired, by someone, possibly Graendal (or maybe Bela). Regardless, he's not coming back.
I'm not surprised at the former. None really do until Coleman came out with the books about the warrior houses. That said, outside their insanity, none of the Liaos outside of Sun-Tzu were ever interesting anyway, including Candace. If Candace had been smart or interesting, she'd have fucking killed Sun-Tzu when she had the chance.
The latter I'd suspected, but never payed attention enough to confirm. It makes sense in the context of the trilogy since otherwise the feat accomplished seems even more absurd. He breaks out of it by the time BoK rolls around, since Hanse had been humbled by the War of 3039.
I'm not surprised at the former. None really do until Coleman came out with the books about the warrior houses. That said, outside their insanity, none of the Liaos outside of Sun-Tzu were ever interesting anyway, including Candace. If Candace had been smart or interesting, she'd have fucking killed Sun-Tzu when she had the chance.
Shit, they didn't even have to be Liaos. They could have cut all of Redburn's page time and replaced it with some Capellan MechWarrior who serves in the CRC, constantly being beaten, falling back and trying to figure out what's going on, and it would have maybe given the impression that the Capellans might not lose every single fight that this one dude personally gets in to, at least. The way Stackpole did it, I was expecting to see "You won! Got 50 xp and 22 gold!" at the end of every battle scene, that's how irrelevant they seem.
The latter I'd suspected, but never payed attention enough to confirm. It makes sense in the context of the trilogy since otherwise the feat accomplished seems even more absurd. He breaks out of it by the time BoK rolls around, since Hanse had been humbled by the War of 3039.
He doesn't. He has Theodore Kurita talk about how Hanse Davion attacks the Combine to strike blows for "freedom and equality" in Blood Legacy.
She's 16, it is the right age for it.
She's 16, it is the right age for it.
There is no right age to read what is apparently creepy Mormon propaganda masquerading as bad vampire porn.
She's 16, it is the right age for it.
There is no right age to read what is apparently creepy Mormon propaganda masquerading as bad vampire porn.
She also watched the Twilight movie before going to see New Moon. In English class.
She's 16, it is the right age for it.
There is no right age to read what is apparently creepy Mormon propaganda masquerading as bad vampire porn.She's 16, it is the right age for it.
There is no right age to read what is apparently creepy Mormon propaganda masquerading as bad vampire porn.
Ahem.Quote from: CTShe also watched the Twilight movie before going to see New Moon. In English class.
The United Kingdom education system disagrees with you.
She's 16, it is the right age for it.
There is no right age to read what is apparently creepy Mormon propaganda masquerading as bad vampire porn.She's 16, it is the right age for it.
There is no right age to read what is apparently creepy Mormon propaganda masquerading as bad vampire porn.
Ahem.Quote from: CTShe also watched the Twilight movie before going to see New Moon. In English class.
The United Kingdom education system disagrees with you.
Well, that's the UK education system failing, then.
I can only assume that it was shown in class as part of a lecture on abusive relationships and Battered Housewife syndrome. Really, Twilight is an amazing portrayal of how horrible relationships can be romanticized in a victim's mind.
Snow suggesting Hesse, let me try and contain my shock.
There is three normal reactions to Foucault.
(...)
Holy what the fuck this is some of the best shit I have ever read. Because Foucault is that damned good.
Foucault is that damned good.
Twilight: There's some vomit-inducing soft-porn in the middle, and some facepalm moments of stupidity from main characters, but in general this is a very fun book. The climax is pretty good. Also, I really want Bella to shack up with Alice. Besides the obvious "as long as it's not Edward" and "eww, heterosexual soft porn", Alice is just awesome, and already unusually intimate with Bella (definitely seems like she sees Bella naked before any of the other potential suiters).
Crafty move on Fox's part, since Dawkins is so incredibly condescending that using him to represent everyone on one side of a debate makes people extremely unsympathetic.
Crafty move on Fox's part, since Dawkins is so incredibly condescending that using him to represent everyone on one side of a debate makes people extremely unsympathetic.
I wouldn't read that much into it, unless you think they give Ann Coulter airtime because they hate conservatism. TV likes sensationalism, and he's sensational (in the bad way).
Crafty move on Fox's part, since Dawkins is so incredibly condescending that using him to represent everyone on one side of a debate makes people extremely unsympathetic.
I wouldn't read that much into it, unless you think they give Ann Coulter airtime because they hate conservatism. TV likes sensationalism, and he's sensational (in the bad way).
In fairness to him, he kinda tells it like it is. Yeah, you could be less confrontational if you said "well, there are valid arguments for your viewpoint." But the problem is that there aren't, and he really can't concede that point since if Intelligent Design was a valid scientific viewpoint, then he wouldn't have an argument for why it isn't being taught in schools. Someone who declares "your viewpoint is invalid" is going to come across as condescending.
Now, granted, they probably could pick an ambassador that wouldn't rub people the wrong way (say, someone who believes in god unlike Dawkins; the Pope has accepted evolutionary theory, it shouldn't be that hard).
There's no RATIONAL reason to believe in the divine, ergo there is no valid reason to believe in the divine, ergo there's no reason to respect that belief.
But if you're saying the position of atheism (or, more properly, agnosticism with a bias toward atheism) is based on faulty logic just to the same degree any religious viewpoint is some pretty damn tortured logic in itself.
If you can get past how Stackpole writes dialogue, though, they're not bad. But the comics are still his better work because of two reasons: less dialogue and the Wedge Antilles-Soontir Fel teamup. "CAUSE WE'RE BROTHERS!!!!"
Being planned != Good writing.
Errr did the book help the parts from previous novels where Bella was apparently an insufferable bitch? Cause that would be amazing.
Now you know why I chose the word "penultimate."Now be quiet, Super, or I shall have to hurt you.
So, I wasn't expecting the romance (or, um, the graphic depictions of sex), but the overall concept was kind of nifty.
The Vampire Lestat
Needless to say...much better than the first book for me. That was actually enjoyable...especially towards the second half of the book when stuff started getting more and more ridiculous. It is, however, noteworthy that I still find her descriptions of the mundane part of the universe pretty underwhelming. It's not like I can't enjoy mundane (I'm a big Jane Austen fan and all that) I'm just not hugely impressed by Anne Rice's mundane.
The Vampire Lestat
Needless to say...much better than the first book for me. That was actually enjoyable...especially towards the second half of the book when stuff started getting more and more ridiculous. It is, however, noteworthy that I still find her descriptions of the mundane part of the universe pretty underwhelming. It's not like I can't enjoy mundane (I'm a big Jane Austen fan and all that) I'm just not hugely impressed by Anne Rice's mundane.
...I just don't understand you. How can you rave about Twilight but rag on the Vampire Lestat... I'm just having troubles wrapping my head around this.
Pride and Prejuice and Zombies- Is bad fanfiction that at least has the good graces to realize it's bad. This puts it ahead of certain other undead related materials that are popular at the moment.
The art style was fantastic, while the rest was lacking.
They are boring because they are mundane things, partly so because they are mundane boring things in a book about a ROCK STAR VAMPIRE NIHILIST
We're referring to MC as "her" now? I always thought MC was genderless, like a Legendary Pokemon (or a Ditto...).
Man you guys confuse me. I always find her takes on things absolutely fascinating.
The majority of Neil Gaiman's books are Alice in Wonderland repackaged, but he's usually pretty entertaining. Would recommend American Gods over the others, personally.
(Incidentally, he denied a lot to Louis in Interview, like...refusing all information about other vampires. So uhh >_>)While there is the untrustworthy narrator of the first book, Lestat is just totally that vain.
Told you to stop after book 2 for a reason >_> I highly reccomend stopping now, it only goes downhill (You read book 1 not because it is good but because it sets up 1 and is a good insight into the genre in general).
Also...I really, really hope the line "the cheeseburger of pain" makes it into the movie.
Would you recommend Anathem if you haven't read the rest of the Baroque Cycle? (I read Quicksilver, but thats about it)
Tortured logic and extended discourse are welcomed in place of Stephenson's usual problem, utterly irrelevant, extended mythology/history lessons. It was worst in Snow Crash, because it COMPLETELY ruins the flow of the narrative.
Niven's Laws
Larry Niven is also known in science fiction fandom for "Niven's Law": There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it. Over the course of his career Niven has added to this first law a list of Niven's Laws which he describes as "how the Universe works" as far as he can tell.
Shocking news, Good Omens was as good as hyped and everyone should read it. Going to tackle Anansi boys next.
Shocking news, Good Omens was as good as hyped and everyone should read it. Going to tackle Anansi boys next.
If you haven't read American Gods yet, I'd recommend holding off on Anansi Boys. Not that it's unreadable without it (I did it), but there's a lot in AB that works within the framework that American Gods sets (plus, American Gods is flat better).
The Maltese Falcon - Cheesey dialogue ending? Why yes it is. Is it completely and totally awesome? Why yes it is. Fuck yes. Read this book. Do not regret purchasing. Will try another audiobook from iTunes sometime.
Shocking news, Good Omens was as good as hyped and everyone should read it. Going to tackle Anansi boys next.
If you haven't read American Gods yet, I'd recommend holding off on Anansi Boys. Not that it's unreadable without it (I did it), but there's a lot in AB that works within the framework that American Gods sets (plus, American Gods is flat better).
Agreed.
Also, LD, which Dying Earth book did you read? The first one is a disconnected series of short stories and kind of a jumble, yeah. Cugel stuff is much more worth reading (I think he had two books, but I could be remembering wrong) just for the sheer bastardry. He's not always a magnificent bastard in the tropetastic sense, as that generally implies likability; his disciplined venality is merely constantly inspiring in horrible, horrible ways.
He also does not give a good mental picture of his characters. Shadow in particular stands out for that, though it may be intentional there.
The Maltese Falcon - Cheesey dialogue ending? Why yes it is. Is it completely and totally awesome? Why yes it is. Fuck yes. Read this book. Do not regret purchasing. Will try another audiobook from iTunes sometime.
Finished Neverwhere the other day. Sort of on reading hiatus right now because work is being dumb, and hosting people takes up time too.
So. I still like Neverwhere a lot. I still think it may be one of my favorites, and I'm still glad it's the book of Gaiman's I read first. I think whatever real problems there in the book are solved by acknowledging two things: 1) Gaiman's characters are facets of the universe he writes; 2) this particular book is a novelisation of a TV miniseries.
I love Door. The whole ending sequence makes me think of Super Mario Bros. the movie, which I also adored for reasons that have nothing to do with how terrible a movie it really was.
So, <3.
Spirit Gate/Kate Elliot (3 books): Finishing up book 1. Big step down from Crown of Stars. The world feels less real (CoS was able to pretty quickly craft a reasonable political setup and give fairly strong reasons for it). Suppose this could be a setup book, but it's a bit underwhelming.
So books are totally better when you go to a reading/signing.
Shades of Milk and Honey's author, Mary Robinette Kowal, was in SF tonight. I went and dragged Andrew along, and it was great. She's still relatively new -- short story author, and this is her novel debut -- so it was a fairly quiet and intimate affair. I got her to sign my copy of her new book, and Andrew bought me a numbered, signed edition of her short story collection, Scenting the Darkness and Other Stories (149 of 500), and then we sat down to watch her read.
She read in her British accent, because that's what she did when she recorded her own audio book. It was terrific. Then she did a shadow play that is performed in the book itself (she's also a puppeteer), and it was hilarious. And she was very fun, and gracious, and I really enjoyed the whole thing.
So yeah.
Woot.
I should also mention that they had a bar at the event, and the bartender crafted a drink especially for the book, called Shadw of Milk and Honey. It was Velvet Falernum filled with champagne and a splash of lime juice, topped by a cherry. Delicious.
*Smack* for comparing Vasher to Kelsier in any way. Other than the very, very beginning, they have nothing really in common.
*Smack* for comparing Vasher to Kelsier in any way. Other than the very, very beginning, they have nothing really in common.
Definite seconding on this!
I'll admit, I'm not much of a reader. I've read all of, like, 3 books in the last 7-8 years. That said, it's a damn awesome trilogy. >.>
Finished the last in The First Law trilogy last night, Last Argument of Kings. Disappointing ending, but I couldn't really see another way for it to feasibly end. Definitely room for more sequels, which'd be nice. The first two books are much, MUCH better, although some little surprises in the third kept it interesting.
In the first two, the focal character changes each chapter - Logen, Jezal, Glokta, West... By the third book, it's every fucking paragraph, and that can get annoying at times, but is generally done well. All of the scenarios are different, yet somehow manage to mostly stay interesting and it keeps a nice flow throughout, although one scenario just bored me completely. Probably the writing style, since each character had their own way of writing.
Definitely a dark trilogy, but a damn good read.
Finished A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings this week. Didn't get but a few chapters into Game of Thrones until my trip home from DL-Con, but I ended up doing nearly nothing but reading it the entire time and marched right out to buy the sequel, which I've read over the last couple days. Great stuff, but a slog none-the-less. One or two of the plot threads at the end of CoK left me just sort of groaning (Theon). Hope we haven't seen the last of Davos though. Everyone loves Onion Knights! Danaerys seemed almost tacked on in CoK though. Hopefully it pays off in good time. Enjoying pretty much everything else though.
I'll probably get Storm of Swords tomorrow after class.
This was the only series you've read in the last 7-8 years? What specifically made you pick up this series? I read it...about 6 months ago. Interesting early foray (as noted, I think Grefter would like it. Or maybe Grefter would just really like Glotka), along it took a while to get rolling. Not really sure how much of an opening there would be a sequel just because...well, the author randomly decided to chuck out magic at the end, and it seems like without that, the odds were a bit overwhelming! But I suppose there is room for one, just hard to imagine it working all that well. I'd assume that West was the character/scenario that bored you?I picked up the first a few years back because I was on holiday and bored and it looked interesting, simple as that. I recently got hold of the other two, which I've wanted for a while 'cause I loved the first.
Smoke and Mirrors: Gaiman's earlier collection of short stories. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and some of the stories (The one about the Muse posing in Penthouse and the intro story about the wedding story) were quite good. It's still inferior to Fragile Things, but no shame in that.
$7? Hrm. I thought it was $16.
Maybe I'll just wait until I can library it.
The next book I have on order is taking a while to arrive, so I began rereading Twilight 1 again (I'm collecting quotes for...nefarious uses). Oh god, Soulless crushes Twilight 1. Crushes.
uh, right, books. Um, been trying to read a series by Stephen R. Donaldson (not sure if it has a name, friend tossed 'em at me) but attention span, lol, the usual.
Didn't like the first half enough to read the second half though!
If I had to strangle or shoot everyone who didn't read Mistborn as soon as I recommended it, I'd have to kill everyone in the group besides CT/Dhyer/LD.
Read Red Mars. Am reading Green Mars.
They're really great. I was genuinely surprised about Red Mars being so enjoyable. I am okay with hard sci fi, but I tend to like it better in short formats. But I really liked Red Mars! I think the managing factor is how important the hard science is to understanding the story, the less the better. Red Mars is like this: undoubtedly you will enjoy it more if you really enjoy the scientific principals, but it's also a really great book about people.
That said, I'm kind of burnt out on "serious" stuff, and there's a lot of very sad moments in these books. I think I'm going to wrap up Green Mars, give Blue Mars shelf space, sending Red and Green to MC (hey, Met, PM me your address!) and starting Way of Kings.
Unloved? I think that is a bit bleak a view of Fitz' life. He is just unwanted and unnecessary. He is an uncomfortable circumstance. Wait for it, you will find that far more of the problem in Fitz' life are of his own creation than the first book will suggest.
All Star Superman - Holy shit. This really is as good as advertised.
He sometimes makes mistakes (lol at the marriage he performs in this book) but learns as he goes.
Her botched interrogation in this book is pretty representative of what she's been like for the whole series.
You mean, botched because she happened to do it in the middle of a prison breakout nobody could have predicted? It was daring, of course, but entirely fair as a calculated risk. It was certainly less risky than, say, sneaking into the Tower of Ghenjei, but I don't see anyone blaming Mat for that (I'm not either!)
I read up to book 8. Honestly, Mazalan is by far the least recommendable fantasy I've read (Note: Not the worst, just not recommendable). Truth to be told, there's some awesome stuff in it, but it just has some absurd density. Didn't start to click with me at all until book 4 I think it was (Not so coincedentally, book 4 was were we actually focused on one group continuously!)
Hmm... out of curiosity, how many of the regular posters in this topic are actually Pratchett fans?
Pratchett is 0/1 for me but I suspect I'd like almost any other book by him more.
Pratchett is 0/1 for me but I suspect I'd like almost any other book by him more.
That said I'm pretty sure he's the most popular author at the DL overall!
Next up: Blue Mars (FINALLY).
I'm basically reading both at the same time picking whichever one I feel like most at the moment, and the second is Dragon Keepers, by Robin Hobb.
So does this mean that the betting pool on GRRM's death have started up? Given his current release schedule, I figure any time in the next six years should be good for him to pass on before finishing the series (Assuming he's still on target for six books.)
From what I hear, by the end of Book 6 the only surviving character will be Eddard Stark who is now possessing the runt who would be king. The seventh book will be about his epic quest to tame the dragons by beating their king in a thumb wrestling match before riding the Dragon-king into an epic battle against the frostwraiths while dual wielding Valyrian Steel greatswords.
On White Night of the Dresden Files. I left it in the car last night, so I had to take something else to read on the bus, and I picked up Green Rider. I read it before, waaaaay back before book 2 was published. I remember liking it, but I think I like it in the same way I liked Time Cat or Dark Lord of Derkhelm (anyone else read those books?): it's amusing and somewhat juvenile. Kristen Britain's style is unrefined, but I enjoy the worlds. Perhaps that's why I choose fantasy so much over anything else. It's just so damn forgiving a writing system, as long as you hit some world-building notes right.
Maskerade: 1995
Carpe Jugulum: 1998
Just sayin'.
A Game of Thrones: Enjoyed. Kind of sad what happens to the Starks, but hey, things can only get better for them from here, right? Right?
A Clash of Kings - This book lost a lot of what worked in Game of Thrones, namely that it *wasn't* high fantasy. Magic is talked about anecdotally by the characters, but it's really just old wives tales and such. GoT has some zombies at the beginning (which you quickly forget about), a guy with a flaming sword (which you later learn wasn't magic either), and then the stuff with Daenrys. Which worked because you were like, hey, there is some magic in the world. Then you get to the second book and there's magic shit everywhere. Wolf dreams (been there done that, thanks), shapeshifters, and all the shit with the R'lyeh worshippers. It really kills the mood of the series.
UPDATE: Speaking of Alan Moore being awesome, Top Ten is great.
Gunsmith Cats
That said: WTF, Martin. I HATE YOU SO MUCH FOR ENDING THIS BOOK THAT WAY. Argh.
I just started Darby English's How to See a Work of Art in Complete Darkness.
My face hurts.
There was Karsa/Samar banter, which is always fine.
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu: It is a book for people who enjoy physics, regret, and nonexistant dogs named Ed.
The movie trailer for the Hunger Games looked interesting, so I thought I'd check out the book. Wow. Absolutely riveting. Loved it.
I finally looked into those books. Turns out I really liked Hunger Games... when it was called Battle Royale.
Sarmiento and Gruber, Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics, tears. 67 pages of pure ocean science.
My biggest complaint is how Salandar doesn't immediately taser the fuck out of Blomkvist upon their first meeting. Sure it advances the story, but it's very inconsistent with her character established in the first part of the book.
Yay for Scalzi love!
Boo for the ambivalence toward Hunger Games. I liked them, though I was decidedly disinclined to impose any sort of understanding on them. They were fun to read, not terribly deep, and I'm ecstatically looking forward to the movie. Good enough for a $5 book I bought because I needed something else to read and people had been saying good things.
Definitely up there on par with such classics as My Immortal.
Finally got round to reading The Heroes after having had it sat on my shelf for the last 2 years or something. (The Heroes is.. pretty much a direct sequel to the The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.)
Solid book. Bit of a slow start, but once I got into it, I really couldn't put it down. Bremer dan Gorst and Corporal Tunny are fantastic, and I'm still a big fan of the changing perspectives throughout. Bayaz continues to be an underhanded bastard, and so well-written, and Calder is really fun to read about.
I know some people here had read The First Law. I've not had a chance to pick up Best Served Cold yet, wondering if anyone's read either that or The Heroes. ;o
Edit: Took a look at Best Served Cold earlier, although didn't have the money for it. It's set between The First Law and The Heroes. Fuck. :(
I'm pretty sure what you're reading is classified as a trade paperback, Dunie. That is, something that was originally a comic and being released as a comic, but now in a collector's edition that compiles several issues together. I may be wrong, seeing as I've somehow never read Transmetropolitan.
I'm pretty sure what you're reading is classified as a trade paperback, Dunie. That is, something that was originally a comic and being released as a comic, but now in a collector's edition that compiles several issues together. I may be wrong, seeing as I've somehow never read Transmetropolitan.
There's no solid line between "Graphic novel" and "comic book" anyway. Spider's no superhero, but neither are the characters in, say, romance comics.
It was weird seeing blatant reference to game mechanics in a book though. Assassins Creed book I started did do the same thing, but since this is for a game not out yet it is different and feels less referential and more informative (specifically it is describing the kinds of things a new class to the series does). D&D books for comparison rarely in my experience reveled in that kind of minutiae.
Fuck you Grefbro, stop hating life and read Bujold.
It is just very unfulfilling at times Ash. There is definitely something there!
I am reading 1Q84. It is definitely Japanese.
Plus if he used the name to make a joke about the verbal tics of some Expanded Universe authors, it's not like the FF7 reference would be too obscure.
The downsides are the usual Salvatore stuff. Can't write sexy to save his life, which I almost find as a blessing, because the thought of sexy Drizzt is weird. I'm a bit annoyed that there wasn't a scene between Artemis and Guenwhyvar
I picked this novel up on the inspiration that it was a science fiction novel set, not in deep space, but in a not-too-distant future where the Earth deals with serious ramifications extrapolated from the problems of the day.
It sucked.
The downsides are the usual Salvatore stuff. Can't write sexy to save his life, which I almost find as a blessing, because the thought of sexy Drizzt is weird. I'm a bit annoyed that there wasn't a scene between Artemis and Guenwhyvar
Yep.
Oh yeah, keep an eye out for me in the book- I'm a Red Shield!
I guess Sanderson couldn't resist the pun? Kinda hilarious to know that there is a gag in WoT that only a few dozen people will get.
The Awakened Mage - Definitely the weaker of the two books other than the large amount of supervillain POV. Ah, the restrictions of possession, always amusing.
Gonna start AMOL next~
The Awakened Mage - Definitely the weaker of the two books other than the large amount of supervillain POV. Ah, the restrictions of possession, always amusing.
Gonna start AMOL next~
I think I like Miller's other series better. How did you stumble upon these books (kind of obsure, I think)?
Oh, not saying that Sanderson came up with that part (don't really think he came up with much himself), just that it really felt like it could have been his.
The Awakened Mage - Definitely the weaker of the two books other than the large amount of supervillain POV. Ah, the restrictions of possession, always amusing.
Gonna start AMOL next~
I think I like Miller's other series better. How did you stumble upon these books (kind of obsure, I think)?
Oh, not saying that Sanderson came up with that part (don't really think he came up with much himself), just that it really felt like it could have been his.
Sorry, missed this! I just was at a fantasy novel bookstore and saw the books and read the cover and grabbed them. I actually have Empress right now but been too busy with thesis writing to read it. I wanted to finish Wheel of Time first and that hasn't even happened yet.
On Basilisk Station: Read this for a book club I'm in. It was awful and I want to set it on fire, except it was an ebook so I can't. Boo.
The Way Of Kings: So I guess this is what got Sanderson the Wheel of Time gig.
his approach works very well at making the reader comprehend the enormity of a global catastrophe and the human cost. And none of this will translate onto the screen because the only way Hollywood could possibly deal with this material is to jettison most of it and focus on an action lead.
Herodotus, The Histories: Two pages in, I encounter the following: "Abducting young women, in their opinion, is not, indeed, a lawful act; but it is stupid after the event to make a fuss about avenging it. The only sensible thing is to take no notice; for it is obvious that no young woman allows herself to be abducted if she does not wish to be."
Cannot tell if sarcasm or not. Presumably not since ancient Greece and women.
Connie Willis's time travel books are so great. Make sure you read To Say Nothing Of The Dog too, LD. It is wonderful.
The Door Into Summer: "Man, this is surprisingly good for Heinlein. The world building is interesting in a Fallout 'this is what the future looked like from the 60s' sort of way, and he even predicts the Roomba!"
"Okay, so the villains kind of disappeared by author fiat, but the world's still interesting, and the fish out of water stuff is neat. Plus it's got a cool theory of time travel."
"Did... Did the hero just marry his twelve-year-old niece? God dammit, Heinlein."
The Handmaid's Tale - Not sure how much awareness this novel has outside Canada, here it's one of our big novels and I'd never read it, so sure. Anyway it's quite good. Very, very reminiscent of 1984; it is a chilling portrayal of a near-future dystopia except with a different focus on sex and gender which is good stuff. Grefter you should read this if you haven't. I don't have many more specific comments on characters or writing; I don't think the book quite succeeds as making you feel its world as 1984 but on the other hand it's a sight more realistic and still highly highly relevant as I'm pretty sure this is the dream society of some hardcore social conservatives. Squick.
Doomsday Book: Didn't click with me. Nothing wrong with the writing; I just never felt interested in it. May have been the setting. I found the future segments with the Pandemic particularly boring. Also ends damned abruptly. I'd like a teensy bit of wrap-up at the end.
Legit recommendation of the movie because I can vouch for it.
Currently working my way through All Clear (second half of Connie Willis' most recent effort, first being Blackout). I'm not all that impressed. We have three time-traveling historians who are stranded in London during the Blitz, right? And they're all pretty sketched-in. It wasn't 'til they all finally found each near the end of the first book that I started getting a feel for personalities or anything. Obviously this is a problem! They just spend too much of their internal monologue thinking oh I'll be back home in no time and trying to puzzle out ways to arrange this or wondering why it hasn't happened yet, but we as the audience can pick up pretty quick that no you guys broke the space-time continuum and you're here for the duration, so it gets redundant pretty fast. Reading about daily life in the Blitz is pretty neat, though? I'm especially intrigued by all the little ways British intelligence misled the Nazis throughout the war. Some of this stuff I knew about (battalions of fake tanks and the like to inflate Allied troop numbers in the eyes of aerial recon), other stuff I didn't (public, large-scale fraudulence in mainstream U.K. newspapers to convince the Nazis their bombs were missing their targets and recalibrate them so that they actually would). It makes me want to go find a history book specifically about the intelligence war.
So, nice as a historical document, not so much as a narrative. One of the protagonists just got hit by a bicycle-mounted Alan Turing though. I guess that's a thing.
Rot and Ruin? That the ones with the half Japanese brothers? Just read a short story set in that world, it was decent.
That kinda puts the exclamation point on Forsaken Seifer as the best forsaken.*nodnod*
I've just about finished up the Magister series of books from CS Friedman. She isn't the best fantasy author I've read, but she does some things very well. Her characters and magic system are very engrossing, adn she does a good job in making almost every character a shade of grey. It's a very good read, even if I find her prose to be a little stilted at points.
I've just about finished up the Magister series of books from CS Friedman. She isn't the best fantasy author I've read, but she does some things very well. Her characters and magic system are very engrossing, adn she does a good job in making almost every character a shade of grey. It's a very good read, even if I find her prose to be a little stilted at points.
This is a very good description of Friedman in general. She puts a great deal of thought into how her worlds work and it shows. Prose is usually a bit stiff but I like her a lot anyway because worldbuildan'. Coldfire trilogy definitely recommended if you liked this, I'm inclined to call it better but I read it back in college and am really due to take another look now that it's not 2002 and I am moderately less stupid. Most of her standalone books are good--In Conquest Born, The Madness Season (shapeshifter psychology!) I enjoyed a lot. This Alien Shore, well, take the qualified plaudits above and apply them to a story with a MPD protagonist. It's fun stuff. The Wilding is the only one that stands out to me as being pretty middling.
I wish the actual writing was more fluid, but she pretty much always has great ideas to work with at the least.
Fire & Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones
Good book, a fantasy mystery (mystery in the sense that the main character is engaged in trying to figure out what is going on and why) that carefully unfolds in surprising directions, suffering from a confusing ending. Which is to say it fits squarely in the Wynne Jones oeuvre.
I adore her writing, but this is not one of her stronger books. I recommend Archer's Goon, and Dark Lord of Derkholm. The former is about a mild-mannered kid in his quest to rid his living room of a brick wall of a thug who is extorting his dad. The latter is about a wizard's attempts to free his world from the yoke of the inter-dimensional tourism industry.
Fire & Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones
Good book, a fantasy mystery (mystery in the sense that the main character is engaged in trying to figure out what is going on and why) that carefully unfolds in surprising directions, suffering from a confusing ending. Which is to say it fits squarely in the Wynne Jones oeuvre.
I adore her writing, but this is not one of her stronger books. I recommend Archer's Goon, and Dark Lord of Derkholm. The former is about a mild-mannered kid in his quest to rid his living room of a brick wall of a thug who is extorting his dad. The latter is about a wizard's attempts to free his world from the yoke of the inter-dimensional tourism industry.
I love that book. One of my first favorites.
Haven't read that, but I've been sneaking chapters of The Tough Guide to Fantasyland in between history books and it is heartily recommended for people who have read too much epic fantasy (which is to say the DL). It is basically the Grand List of Console Roleplaying Game Cliches except, you know, for books.
I've read the first three chapters of Storm Front. Ugh... not sure if I can continue.
You don't want to know about what Jim is talking about.
I've read the first three chapters of Storm Front. Ugh... not sure if I can continue.
...white supremacist lit?
I'm kind of getting tired of characters rebounding bon mots between themselves all the time.
I have no comparative rating. I just enjoy these kinds of books. I liked this one!
Female nerds don't exist, you must be a man.
Not quite done Words of Radiance yet, but I'm far enough along to be pretty certain that if you didn't like the first book much, there's no need to check out the second. It's a lot of moving pieces around in preparation for the Epic Fantasy Stuff that Way of Kings promised, and development of characters you've already met, but there's not much new. The most interesting addition to the world is the chapters told from a Parshendi viewpoint, and those are only in the interludes for some reason.
Three Cups of TeaBitter much?
Three Cups of TeaBitter much?
I'm taking a break from Dostoevsky right now (His books won't have as much of an impact if I read them in a row) but I definitely plan on having read his four big books in one year?
Does it really get better than Crime and Punishment though? That was intense.
He just finished posting about enjoying Dostoevsky and you tell him to read WoT?
There is still Brothers Karamazov and The Idiot to enjoy.
Remembering the name of every character is impossible. It's Persona 2 all over again except with Russian names instead of Japanese. Some characters even have nicknames that have nothing to do with their actual name! The main character is named "Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov" and he's not even the worst one about it.
"The three musketeers was fun but I'm pretty sure you've read that."Yep
"Fenrir man I dunno about you but I would've been way too much of a dufus at 12 to appreciate Candide if I'd actually read it then."
"This was my problem with Doctor Zhivago (one of those rare cases where I vastly prefer the movie to the book), except that had the additional bad habit of expecting you to remember who these random one-off ciphers were two hundred pages after their unremarkable first appearance. Crime and Punishment at least focused on a fairly compact central cast (and be awesome), from memory at least. I so couldn't immediately follow it up with more Dostoesvky, though. That is some of the densest writing I've encountered (English translation, at least)."
A Wise Man's Fear - Page 367 Kvothe describes how he lost everything he owned for th millionth time and specifically the item that prevents him from coming under opposing magic attacks.
FUCKING TABLE FLIP IS ONLY REASONABLE RESPONSE.
I enjoy the book but god fucking dammit I would like to go just 100 pages without Kvothe going broke. I almost think Patrick Rothfuss is a Marxist with his obsession with Kvothe's financial situation and the way it shapes his entire life.
I'm not surprised it's as well received by authors/fans as it is though, Rothfuss is really talented at writing in a way I haven't seen since probably RJ. If you combine his ability to make great prose with say CS Friedman's ability to write characters/worldbuild/structure things, whoof. You'd be onto something.
Holy fuck this is the biggest ripoff of any media I've seen, ever. This isn't like Lord of the Rings. It *is* Lord of the Rings.
Hey Dhyer, have you read Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey? Is it any good?
Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson is a good place to start.
Charles Stross
I would definitely start here. Super basically got most of the DL to read this, and I believe that it was universally very well liked here.
At my usual table, my friends were all just getting to their feet. I walked towards them.-pp 179-180 Life and Death, Twilight Reimagined
Patches of red flared in my cheeks, but that was probably okay. I was supposed to look emotional. Anyway, the pretty guy in the melodramatic soap my mom used to watch religiously looked fired up when he did this scene. Thanks to him, at least i had a general outline for my script, embellished by something I'd once thought about Edythe; I wanted to keep this flattering.
Jeremy noticed me first, and his eyes were speculative. They flashed from my red face to where Edythe was and back to me.
"Taylor, can I have a minute?" I said as I walked up to her. I didn't say it quietly.
She was right in the very middle of the cluster. Logan turned to glower at me with his fishy green eyes.
"Sure, Beau," Taylor said looking confused.
"Look," I said, "I can't do this anymore."
Everyone fell silent. Jeremy's eyes got all round. Allen looked embarrassed. McKayla shot me a critical glance, like she couldn't believe I was doing it this way. But she didn't know exactly what I was doing, or why I needed this audience.
Taylor was shocked. "What?"
I scowled. It was easy--I was pretty angry right now that I hadn't talked myself out of this, or come up with a better way. But it was too late for improv now.
"I'm tired of being a pawn in your game, Taylor. Do you even realize that I have feelings of my own? And all I can do is watch while you use me to make someone else jealous." My eyes darted quickly to Logan, whose mouth was hanging open, and back to Taylor. "You don't care if you break my heart in the process. Is it being beautiful that's made you so cruel?"
Taylor's eyes were wide, her mouth opened in a little o.
"I'm not going to play anymore. This whole prom charade? I'm out. Go with the person you really want to be with." A longer glare this time at Logan.
And then I stalked away, slamming through the cafeteria doors in what I hoped was a dramatic way.
I was never going to live this down.
But at least I was free. Probably worth it.
Suddenly Edythe was right next to me, keeping pace like we'd been walking together all along.
"That was truly spectacular," she said.
I took a deep breath. "Maybe a little over the top. Did it work?"
"Like a charm. Taylor's feeling quite the femme fatale, and she's not even sure why. If Logan doesn't ask her to the prom by Monday, I'll be surprised."
"Good," I grunted.
Also Lady Door got me kind of hooked on Charles Stross for some really down to earth near future sci fi. He paints a banal corporate future rather than a flat out dystopia (though I think it is somewhat chanelling Thatcher-era UK at times). Bonus points for police procedurals written in second person, also lesbian main characters.
Pride and Prejudice - too much dithering and nothing happens
The Innocent Mage by Karen Miller
So this was a book. It was largely 600 pages of characters faffing about. The antagonist was not introduced until about 4/5's of the way through the book, the overarching plot is presented early but is never really relevant during the story, it protracts some trainwrecks with stupid decision making (does this drive anyone nuts when something is obviously going to go horribly wrong and it takes forever for it to happen?), the "bad" folks are all irredeemably nasty, and, even when it tries to soften some of them (I'm looking at you, Fane), it completely ignores the fact that they tried to do things like commit straight up murder, and it ends effectively mid-scene to go into the follow-up book. Like, literally, some characters go off a cliff, some don't, book end.
Basically, it's kind of infuriating.
I will say that the dialogue and character stuff, on average, is quite fun. It's just that 600 pages of plotless, developmentless, faffing is a lot of goddamn faffing.
Unsure if I'll give book 2 a look.
Redshits: A Novel with 3 Codas
I read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I will echo some of Super's comments about the book - very good writing style, pretty bad storytelling. Devi is my pick for randomly awesome character, but a lot of the other characters made very little impact on me. I'll pick up the second book at some point.
Next is The Riven Kingdom by Karen Miller.
I finished the Riven Kingdom, finally. Good book, but it takes me a while to get through the books in this series for whatever reason. Female lead is pretty enjoyable if a bit of a generic feminist-empowerment character, and the male lead is pretty unusual in that he's pretty much just some dude. Definitely some interesting religious takes in the book, particularly with Zankadar.
I'm currently halfway through The Serpent's Shadow by Mercedes Lackey. Fast-paced and solidly written characters.
So I discovered my local library's e-book lending system last month, and as a result I have a lot to get through here.
Book 10-1 - Lois McMaster Bujold - Shards of Honor
Book 10-2
Book 10-1 - Lois McMaster Bujold - Shards of Honor (first part of Cordelia’s Honor)
This book is very fast-paced an enjoyable, and has a lot of action and love and intrigue packed into a small number of pages. Both of the main characters are quite endearing, and that is really what makes the book tick.
Book 10-2 - Lois McMaster Bujold - Barrayar (second part of Cordelia’s Honor)
The second half definitely has more character work and ends up being more politically intriguing and helps you understand Aral, Bothari, and Kou a lot better. The first part is a little on the slow side, but the book really picks up after the first attack on Aral. Overall, though, a very fast-paced, nice book that captures some themes about both feminism and disability/mental health acceptance. Kou struggles with depression because his disability makes him outcast by society. Bothari kind of reminds me of Lenny from Of Mice And Men, except that he is taken care of better and ends up with a happier conclusion to the story.
On a side note, the degree to which the back of the book spoils the story is hilarious.
*looks at topic* Nobody is talking about Oathbringer yet. Super losing his mojo.
Flowers for Vashnoi- Vorkosigan short story. Enrique was a fun character to revisit and it was neat enough even if I'm not a huge fan of Kat. Related: Why is it that the most unquestionably positive mental image you get of Piotr in the series remains from freaking Cordelia?
Also note that despite John Scalzi being the evil Pope of SJWism according to the Sad Puppies later, this book really doesn't qualify. It's not about an agender mixed race protagonist attempting to overthrow a thinly disguised metaphor for European imperialism or anything (if you WANT that, check out Ancillary Justice, of course), it's exactly the kind of crazy adventure that the Sad Puppies theoretically want. But I guess they really don't like his pithy blog posts. Well sucks to be them I guess.
Flowers for Vashnoi- Vorkosigan short story. Enrique was a fun character to revisit and it was neat enough even if I'm not a huge fan of Kat. Related: Why is it that the most unquestionably positive mental image you get of Piotr in the series remains from freaking Cordelia?
I enjoyed it. Not fantastic, but very solid which is welcome after Gentleman Jole. Ekaterin is just fine when you can be in her mind, not so great out of it. FfV is sort of like her own personal Mountains of Mourning, if not quite as viscerally personal, affecting, and formative as that was for Miles. Seeing Enrique again was great though.
As for Piotr... she's the only character we really get to see interact with Piotr in any real extent other than the one chapter with Miles in the beginning of Warrior's Apprentice. You see all his different features as a person, positive and negative, and through Cordelia's eyes it is relatively unvarnished by a lens of filial relationship or responsibility. Miles is the one who lets Piotr's expectations for him weigh on him. We never get inside Aral's head. And no one else in the series that gets a viewpoint knew him or had a very close relationship with him. Plus you know, he was a complicated, stubborn man who lived a rough life at most of its stages due to repeated tragedies and war, and his redemption to his family came in a time period we skipped over. Not a whole lot of opportunity there.
Yo I am in need of some Fantasy Bookes for summer reading. Suggestions?
Dhyer was hyping it up a while back. I have it! I haven't got around to reading it yet.
Also
Skyfarer and Dragon Road - by Joseph Brassey
Gonna bring these back up because they are really fucking good. Felt awkward doing it because he's a friend of mine and assumed people would think I'm just shilling for a friend but if anyone really thinks I'm the type to shill for a friend if the work wasn't Actually Really Good they can go fuck themselves~
They are "flying ships in an endless sky of floating islands" kind of setting. First one has the crew of the Elysium dealing with an attack on an island by the equivalent of fantasy Blackwater(only worse) and the second one is a murder-mystery intrigue with a heaping side of internal politics of a travelling nationship that is the size of a city as well as a dose of eldritch horror.
They are really freaking good. If you like space opera type stuff at all(for all that this isn't outer space, it's "endless sky") read them.
The most important recommendations on this list are probably the Malazan Book of the Fallen and literally anything written by Guy Gavriel Kay. I can and eventually will go into a lot more detail for my reasons, but the short version is, both guys have some fairly "close-to-home" things in their novels, albeit for very different reasons. There are points in these stories where I have been moved, and while I'm increasingly a sappy doofus in my old age, being moved by mass media in any form or context is.... not something that usually happens.
Catching up on Brandon Sanderson things I haven't read before.
Elantris: I'd been avoiding this because it was his first novel, so I figured it wasn't up to the quality of his other books. Surprisingly I was wrong, it's quite solid.
Warbreaker: Really enjoyed this.
Arcanum Unbounded: Large variety of quality in this collection. The Emperor's Soul may be the best thing he's ever written, and I also really liked Sixth of the Dusk.
Three Body Problem- A mix of Chinese cultural history with a dash of extremely hard scifi. Pretty good even if I had to google some of the math concepts involved.