Books

[Idun]

Reading: Sidney Kasfir's (emeritus) Contemporary African Art text.

I'll say this as I decided to rant in chat: there are too many anthropologists flooding the gates of the history of art and architecture. Their methodology has redirected the trajectory of discussing art away from iconographic or formalist interests INTO fairly honest or misdirected interests of authentic documentation and categorization of too many specifics. Roman/Greek art was not privileged to this same indirection. Sure, if you want to make an argument about art as a "western" development in all its linguistic trappings, it only makes sense that it's easier to discuss because of given contexts still relevant to society. However, let us remember how young art history is. Given that, the branch fields are even younger. African art is about as young as contemporary art in consideration of being regarded as a serious section of interest. Almost every text I run into depends too much on raw data  rather than the skills that art history stresses for visual interpretation. So, the best thing this book offers so far is questions into how to unpack pre-and-postcolonial 'African' art, introduced in a global context by connoisseurs, which is now entrenched in a pure market system unlike the clear increase from patron-artist to artist-institution. Kasfir does amazing work, amazing research, it was a pleasure to meet her and listen to her brilliant mind at Emory University and I am truly upset that she's reached the point of retirement, but she's trying to grant way too much agency to unheard voices that this text literally treads into pure listing decorated with broad themes and little contextual development.

Transmetropolitan 1 arrived today. I just finished Monstering in 5. I am glad Grefter suggested this, though I do find the background decorations much funnier at times than Spider's very flamboyant and dystopian snark. The dialogue between his filthy assistants are hit or miss, but I do appreciate his monologues as well as the well-placed image frames. So 1 has 5 issues in it. Purchased it with the intention to have some more background into some hints at older chapters. But I do have a question:

Is this a graphic novel? Or is this a comic? I'm leaning towards graphic novel, and I'm a noob. I believe this because of non-sequential chapters (except for technological developments). Plus he's no 'cape' character.

[Shale]

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.

[Veryslightlymad]

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.

Tiassa, by Steven Brust

Brust is a weird author, and this book was arguably the most experimental of the Taltos novels so far, which is really saying something, given that all of the books have a very gimmicky style. Nonetheless, it was definitely worth reading, and it was fun how the MacGuffin came into every individual story, and how things tie in with somewhat un-filled parts of the Taltos mythos. I sometimes wish these books had illustrations, because I have no idea what a Dragaeran is actually supposed to look like.

Lux the Poet, by Martin Millar

The titular character is a narcissistic weirdo and the whole thing is told in first person present tense. On the whole it's.... merely OK. Gaiman says this dude is one of his favorite writers, but as Gaiman is not one of MY favorite writers, perhaps I took his endorsement a little too seriously. At any rate, the book is simply "OK." At least a lot of the chief characters are gay or bi. I guess that's something.

[NotMiki]

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.

You're right, but it remains a silly distinction.

[Idun]

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.

Yes, so I have the editions with several issues together. Apparently it's cheaper that way. I guess once the series hits an 'edition' mark, it tumbles into 'trade paperback'? I've found single issues, but with shipping it makes no sense. And you should read Transmet with me! I'm working mid-counterclockwise.

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.

I don't expect a clear delineation, no. As a noob, however, I'm coming to terms with comic jargon though. I've never tapped into comics despite my friends who are avid readers. Transmet is the first I've purchased non-randomly in an edition that wasn't a single issue. I suppose my question also arises from several riders on the T trying to engage in comic chat with me -- hastily denied any knowledge though!

[Grefter]

It is a trade and anyone who gives 2 fucks enough to be worth talking to won't get anal about the difference between whether you call it a comic or a Graphic Novel. Though technically I suppose the difference would stem from use of panels and a few other specific things that stem from early comic routes.

Good media is good and doesn't need to be restricted by the medium it comes on for discussion or consumption.

[Cmdr_King]

A statement entirely too sane and rational for comic book fans.  They are nothing without fussing over terminology.

[Cotigo]

Kinda like RPG fans.  I certainly remember some heated debates about whether SotN counted as an RPG.  Idun's worries aren't unfounded when it comes to obsessive media fans.

[Grefter]

Fans like that tend not to have read or liked Transmet.

[Idun]

Not going to lie, but the polish for characters as well as coloring becomes much more tolerable and aesthetically-pleasing after Vol 4. Line-width changes, seems more confident. Coloring less flat and more vibrant. Better narrative box placement. I suppose the thing I dislike about the earlier art besides confidence is that illustrations of Jerusalem's physical features oscillate enough to where he doesn't look like Jerusalem. I could also be partial to Vol. 5 as that is where I began. In any case, the change in visuals do affect the thought bubbles as they become less bold, and Ellis doesn't rely on placing bold text within proximity to other bold text to imply simultaneity. I've finished Vol. 1-5 now, and will get the 6th in a few days. It's pretty damned good, yet I'm sure I don't understand a lot of the scientific jargon (which, could be a point of narrative intent or taste).

[Captain K.]

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter:  Makes me curious to read an actual biography of Lincoln to see how much of this is accurate.

[Shale]

Nation: Pretty great. Neat setting and a nice story, but it's also interesting to see Pratchett writing something other than Discworld, because his usual style is so mixed up in that setting.

The Walking Dead: Into volume...5, I think? I'm reading the omnibus and it doesn't actually mark the ends of individual issues. They're dealing with the Governor. Good lord this thing is bleak, even having seen the TV series. Good, but bleak.

[Grefter]

Guild Wars novels because I wanted to try ebooks on phone and dat hype.

Ghosts of Ascalon - This is pretty standard fantasy low magic adventure stuff.  Group of misfits gather then go somewhere and do something you couldn't do with an army.  Pulp fantasy stuff you can read in almost any setting but hey it works as a tie in novel.  Wears thin when it is just shit raining down on them constantly.

Destiny's Edge - This is the other kind generic fantasy pulp.  Group of misfits gather and be fuckin wicked awesome.  Gave me Dragonlance vibes with the ways I enjoyed it.  This largely comes down to likable characters being thrown in sequences of diversity to overcome.  Difference with the above largely is that the get to actually overcome them instead of just being shit on over and over.  Which is good when you like the characters.

Well at least it solidified which race I will be maining once the game launches.  Asura because Snaff4Life.  Still. Ot sure on class though.  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.

As standalone books, well I would recommend the second one to general fans of pulpy adventure driven fantasy.  The first I would say it is alright filler reading for someone who compulsively devours fantasy fiction like Dhyer.  It won't give you anything new or interesting but it isn't brazenly embarrassing or completely shit it's pants either.  Kind of yet another wants to be Black Company without any teeth books.

[Hunter Sopko]

Fuck you Grefbro, stop hating life and read Bujold.

[Grefter]

Buwhat?

Just letting you know

[Anthony Edward Stark]

Started reading Snow Crash again for the first time in like a decade. Funny how many parts of it seem as dated as old 50s sci-fi and yet some things are creepy accurate.

[Bobbin Cranbud]

"In the Courts of the Crimson Kings," S. M. Stirling

Conceptually really neat - Cold War probes find Mars and Venus inhabited by civilizations much like those described in pulp planetary romances. I didn't especially care for the story, though. The characters didn't grab me, I felt the writing dragged, and it didn't seem to capitalize on the potential of the concept. There's virtually no Cold War flavor here, despite the backstory, and it takes place too far forward from the point of divergence to set itself apart as alternate history rather than simple, well, planetary romance. And Burroughs does that better than Stirling.

I was disappointed, because I liked Stirling's "The Peshawar Lancers" a lot. Perhaps I would have been better served to seek out historical adventure novels about the Great Game.

"The Skinner," Neal Asher

Much more entertaining. Gritty but kind of pulpy action sci-fi. I liked the cast and the worldbuilding, both for the world of Spatterjay and the hints about the wider Polity. Had to laugh at the cover review that referred to it as hard sci-fi, though, with its downright Resident Evil-esque regeneration and mutation.

"The Fox Who Stole Hong Kong," Joshua Cole

Spectacular in every way. I recommend it unreservedly to every possible reader. I am completely unbiased about it.

>_>

<_<

This one is mine, so I'm not going to claim to be able to judge it fairly. I think it's good, that using caper rather than mystery (or romance) as the plot framework for an urban fantasy novel is cool, and that a Chinese fox spirit makes for a much more interesting supernatual protagonist than the usual White Wolf knockoffs, but whether readers agree or not remains to be seen.

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.

It's been many years since I read a D&D book, but back in the day they tended to do the exact opposite - ran screaming the other direction from anything that could be modeled in-game, and studiously ignored any possible setting implications of the game mechanics.

Fuck you Grefbro, stop hating life and read Bujold.

Always excellent advice.

[Grefter]

Yeah that is what I meant.  I remember flipping out one time in some filler Forgotten Realms book that made a deal out of the wizard needing reagents and how restricted spell casting is each day (it was depicting about level 5ish in 2nd Ed.).  It was like whoa that is like actually close to how rules are written (and mostly ignored).

[Grefter]

Cordelia's Honor - An omnibus of two short novels for one story arc.  So this is Dune.  Not like a rip off or anything, just like Dune level quality and kinds of story.  Space, political intrigue, short sharp bits of violence in a setting where people romanticize violence and the characters are just reviled by it to a degree but will do what is necessary.  I was joking that it was Dune before it even got balls deep in the politics parts.  I read Cordelia as Paul Atreides and Vorkosigan as Duncan Idaho because goddamned everyone in the world loves Duncan and they are totally a slash pairing (Gurney watches). 

Then I finished the book and found out the other billion books in the series are about their son and there is a prequel novel set a couple of hundred years afterwards.

HOLY SHIT THIS IS DUNE.

The book is good, early writing is early, so the first half isn't as well polished as the second half, but whatever it is really just a polish thing (better use of point of view story telling and internal monologue more characterised).  What I am really trying to say is that I enjoy this book for the same reasons I like Dune, it is fairly well written but the truly interesting thing is the setting and characters.  It decidedly lacks Dune's economics rambling (and replaces it some what with Progressive politics boosting, but it fits the characters) and I think it is a bit more humanist than Dune is.

So you know what?  It is a humanist Sci Fi book that is like Dune but pushes a socially aware agenda.  Of fucking course I like it.  It is like Frank Herbert and Kim Stanley Robinson shagged and this was the result (Right down to the sexy sexy scientists).

[Hunter Sopko]

And if nothing else, it shows that shopping trips can be badass.

[Sierra]

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke

Reading Christmas presents two years late, aw yeah. Anyway, this was fantastic. Concerns two friend/rival magicians in early nineteenth-century England, and particular care was taken to make it feel of its time. Not just fashion/politics/history/speech, but the actual prose seems calibrated to feel like a contemporary observation of events quite recent for the author. Quality writing, descriptive but not to excess, and succinct when it needs to be. Very good use of contextual detail, some historical figures pop in (Lord Wellington in a supporting role, cameos by a mad George III and a thoroughly disreputable Lord Byron) but never so prominently that you feel the story is leaning on them.

Book has its own detailed alternate history wherein actual magic is an acknowledged and respected English tradition (this changes...very little), complete with famous practitioners, spells, and psychotic fairies. These anecdotes, when they do intrude*, follow a certain dreamlike logic and are very effective at evoking the air of classic fairy tales while eschewing all the pitfalls of modern fantasy. The actual practice of magic is left almost entirely vague, which is absolutely to the book's benefit as we never get bogged down in any kind of jargon (except when the author wishes to communicate that one of the principal characters is a very tiresome individual). It's smart enough to know that how magic works is less important than what is done with it, why, and how this in turn changes the practitioner.

It's a thousand pages long and covers the Napoleonic wars, but the scope never really leaves the very personal. I consider this a virtue. 75% of the way in events seem to proceed with the inevitability of Greek tragedy, but ultimately the author knows better than to either tie everything up in a neat bow for everyone or merely despair. You feel like you're reading something that doesn't merely disdain modern genre conventions; it doesn't even know what they are. First time author, too. I am amazed at this and must wonder how long she worked on it.

Highly enthusiastic recommendation, people with good taste should feel obliged to read this.

(*Most of this is communicated through footnotes. As we know from Terry Pratchett, it takes a fearsome author to utilize footnotes effectively in fiction. That is assuredly accomplished here despite some of them extending for multiple pages.)

[Luther Lansfeld]

Knife of Dreams and The Gathering Storm completed! I am very happy that both books actually have Nynaeve POVs in them, especially 12. TGS is definitely more of my cup of tea, it stars my two favorite characters, but 11 is fine, it finally has shit happening! Hooray. Perrin in 12 is finally not an embarrassment to the series again, it only took five fucking books.  Reading Rand's chapters in TGS filled me with a lot of sadness throughout the book, especially late. I cried during the second to last (?) chapter before the epilogue. Mat's chapters were a nice reminder that I needed to go to sleep instead of continuing to read until 3 a.m. A mercy the night before I had a 15 hour shift.

I'm not so hyped for Towers of Midnight, because I know it stars Mat and Perrin, but I didn't bring it anyway so I can't read it. Maybe when I get back. ^_^

Started Elantris. It's a relatively light read compared to the rather depressing TGS. Raoden is objectively the least interesting of the mains, but I'm enjoying his chapters the most because they make me laugh and I think I needed a good laugh after TGS. <_<

[Grefter]

The Name of the Wind - So I had startd reading this aaaaaaages ago.  Threw it in my luggage because I figured I should pack something other than SRS BOOKS to read.  Picked it back up about where I left it off.  I had dropped it because the general writing method applied was "Entire world eat fuck loads of curry. Get Kvothe in a situation.  Entire world shit all over Kvothe." and then they introduced the female lead and I just gave no fucks about a romance plot in that.

My initial response to not giving a fuck about romance plot was pretty spot on.  I enjoyed this second half of the book more because I went in expecting nothing good to happen, no comfortable closure and no satisfaction with what happens.  Turns out it was quite compelling then!  Oddest response I have had to a book before.  Stop caring -> Book gets better! 

So I went and bought the sequel.  Maybe I will finish it a year after the next one comes out.

[Luther Lansfeld]

Finished Elantris last night. Odd book. I feel like it has very few really strong parts and basically no really weak parts, it's decent all around but not wonderful. Raoden's arc is my favorite, but I enjoyed all three well enough. I think I just like that arc because it's pretty fun and breezy to read despite its setting. Sarene is a little too perfect for my tastes, although it's amusing watching her in action and she definitely reminds me of myself a bit at times, and Hrathen is great, totally a dickbag. He's probably the best character in the book.

[Grefter]

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.