[Hound]

Got the first three books, there are a total of four books, is that correct?

Anyway, sounds good!

[Salt-Man Z]

 Hound, on 12 April 2012 - 11:24 PM, said:

Got the first three books, there are a total of four books, is that correct?

Anyway, sounds good!

Yup. The fourth (and, for now, final*) book just came out last week. There's also a short story available online.

*In a recent interview, Stover says has the plans for an Act of Faith trilogy, if he can get a publisher to pay him to write it.

[busy monster]

Just a bit into book two, like I said in the other topic, and I just can't barrel through. I thought Robin Hobb was depressing...

[Abyss]

2 is a challenge, especially after the riot ride that's 1, but stick with it.
Because. The payoff is MASSIVE.

And then you have 3. And now 4.
Which are pure awesomefuck.

[Alrin]

Mine arrived today. I found it on the doorstep as I went to leave for work.

Needless to say I almost quit then and there. So tempted.

[kcf]

After far too long, I finally got around to reading The Blade of Tyshalle by Stover. It is excellent. An exerpt from my review is below:

Quote

Stover plays a bit with the narrative structure of Blade of Tyshalle, beginning with narration of someone who attended actor training academy with Hari and we see Caine being born through the eyes of someone who had no idea at the time. Then we flash forward to Hari seven years after events of Heroes Die, a Hari who has everything he ever wanted in life – a wife, a child, a relatively high caste position, etc. Of course Hari is miserable, his family is miserable, his job unsatisfying, his only friend is his greatest enemy and he continually questions who really ‘won’ in the events of Heroes Die. Much could be read into this portion of the book – is it commentary on a mid-life crises, the standard American-dream, what is a hero, what is a victory, knowing who you are and who you want to be, the various problems with an autocratic government, etc. The answer is yes and much could be written, but won’t – I encourage you all to read and make your own conclusions. However, the personal aspect of this, the ultimate journey of Hari, of Caine is expressed in sculpture crafted by none other than Caine’s nemesis from Heroes Die, Ma’elKoth – a classic look at a man in the fashion of David.

All of this is told in a compelling manner that makes it near impossible to put the book down. And that is the real key – execution. Stover writes well, very well. Caine is not really a likeable person, yet you can’t help but like him. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that had me so excited about what would happen next. You know that point in a great book or movie when the ‘hero’ reaches that absolute low, when that key realization is made, a decision is made, and you just know that the ‘hero’ is about to rise and all hell is going to break loose? One of the best examples of that moment that I can recall is in Blade of Tyshalle and it was simply brilliant to read all that hell breaking loose.

Through all of this, Stover plays with many of the reader’s expectations. Caine is the classic anti-hero – we want him to win, he’s the good guy. But he’s essentially completely selfish, he solves his problems through violence, he doesn’t much care for collateral damage, etc. And yet he is a good guy – he fights the horrible government, he fights to save lives, he fights for his wife and daughter. But he’s cold. Redemption is not what he wants. He leaves regret behind. Vengeance is attained. And it’s complicated – we see Caine’s origins, we see his present, we see Hari realizing who he is and who Caine is, we see choices made, we see the consequences of those choices. This mess of a character, with no clear or easy conclusions to be made is what keeps Caine real and interesting.

The complexities of Caine further let Stover explore what is evil. Is Caine’s nemisis, Ma’elKoth evil? Is Caine’s former boss in the ‘real’, dystopic world evil? Is the Board of Directors for the network evil? Or is evil more simply and more correctly humanity itself? This blend of good and evil, the blend of science fiction and fantasy, the blurring of hero and anti-hero makes for nuanced reading that serves to reinforce Stover’s writing and the compelling nature of Blade of Tyshalle.
Full Review

This post has been edited by kcf: 17 May 2012 - 04:09 AM

[Abyss]

 kcf, on 16 May 2012 - 07:37 PM, said:

After far too long, I finally got around to reading The Blade of Tyshalle by Stover. It is excellent. An exerpt from my review is below:

Quote

Stover plays a bit with the narrative structure of Blade of Tyshalle, beginning with narration of someone who attended actor training academy with Hari and we see Caine being born through the eyes of someone who had no idea at the time. Then we flash forward to Hari seven years after events of Heroes Die, a Hari who has everything he ever wanted in life – a wife, a child, a relatively high caste position, etc. Of course Hari is miserable, his family is miserable, his job unsatisfying, his only friend is his greatest enemy and he continually questions who really ‘won’ in the events of Heroes Die. Much could be read into this portion of the book – is it commentary on a mid-life crises, the standard American-dream, what is a hero, what is a victory, knowing who you are and who you want to be, the various problems with an autocratic government, etc. The answer is yes and much could be written, but won’t – I encourage you all to read and make your own conclusions. However, the personal aspect of this, the ultimate journey of Hari, of Caine is expressed in sculpture crafted by none other than Caine’s nemesis from Heroes Die, Ma’elKoth – a classic look at a man in the fashion of David ROYALLY FUCKED.

All of this is told in a compelling manner that makes it near imFUCKINGpossible to put the book down. And that is the real key – execution. Stover writes well, very FUCKING well. Caine is not really a likeable person, yet you can’t help but like him. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that had me so excited about what would happen next. You know that point in a great book or movie when the ‘hero’reaches that absolute low, when that key realization is made, a decision is made, and you just know that the ‘hero’ is about to rise and all FUCKING hell is going to break loose? One of the best examples of that moment that I can recall is inBlade of Tyshalle and it was simply brilliant to read all that hell breaking loose. WAY FUCKING LOOSE. LOOSE LIKE A PISSED OFFFUCKING HERD OF FUCKING VENGEFUL ELEPHANTS LOOKING TO FUCK UP A JEEP FULL OF NAMIBIAN ELEPHANT POACHERS LIKE AN ELEPHANT FUCKING A CHICKEN POT PIE.

Through all of this, Stover plays with many of the reader’s expectations. Caine is the classic anti-hero – we want him to win, he’s the good guy. But he’s essentially completely selfish, he solves his problems through violence, he doesn’t much care for collateral damage, etc. And yet he is a good guy – he fights the horrible government, he fights to save lives, he fights for his wife and daughter. But he’s cold. Redemption is not what he wants. He leaves regret behind. Vengeance is attained. And it’s complicated – we see Caine’s origins, we see his present, we see Hari realizing who he is and who Caine is, we see choices made, we see the consequences of those choices FUCKED UP. This mess of a character, with no clear or easy conclusions to be made is what keeps Caine real and interesting FUCKING AWESOME.

The complexities of Caine further let Stover explore what is evil. Is Caine’s nemisis, Ma’elKoth evil? Is Caine’s former boss in the ‘real’, dystopic world evil? Is the Board of Directors for the network evil? Or is evil more simply and more correctly humanity itself? This blend of good and evil, the blend of science fiction and fantasy, the blurring of hero and anti-hero makes for nuanced reading that serves to reinforce Stover’s writing and the compelling nature of Blade of Tyshalle.
Full Review

fixed.

[champ]

Fuck me... BoT puts you through the ringer doesn't it!

This, so far, is the most depressing book that I have had the pleasure of reading!

It's ridiculous, it's bridge jumping depressing but I could not put it down!

I finally had to drag myself to sleep last night at about 3am just as the finale was all about to kick off - I cannot wait to see how it plays out! Pretty wrote-off at work now but it was worth it!

[Abyss]

 champ, on 07 June 2012 - 10:53 AM, said:

Fuck me... BoT puts you through the ringer doesn't it!

This, so far, is the most depressing book that I have had the pleasure of reading!

It's ridiculous, it's bridge jumping depressing but I could not put it down!

I finally had to drag myself to sleep last night at about 3am just as the finale was all about to kick off - I cannot wait to see how it plays out! Pretty wrote-off at work now but it was worth it!

i KNOW! It's brutal. utterly brutal and every time you think it's gotten as bad as it can, shit gets worse.
But that finale... oh man... when you drag a character THAT fucking low and then deliver a pay-off THAT fucking brilliant...

Do yourself a favour. Turn off the phone, tell everyone to fuckoff, lock yourself in a room and read it right through. You will not be sorry.

[champ]

 Abyss, on 07 June 2012 - 03:26 PM, said:

 champ, on 07 June 2012 - 10:53 AM, said:

Fuck me... BoT puts you through the ringer doesn't it!

This, so far, is the most depressing book that I have had the pleasure of reading!

It's ridiculous, it's bridge jumping depressing but I could not put it down!

I finally had to drag myself to sleep last night at about 3am just as the finale was all about to kick off - I cannot wait to see how it plays out! Pretty wrote-off at work now but it was worth it!

i KNOW! It's brutal. utterly brutal and every time you think it's gotten as bad as it can, shit gets worse.
But that finale... oh man... when you drag a character THAT fucking low and then deliver a pay-off THAT fucking brilliant...

Do yourself a favour. Turn off the phone, tell everyone to fuckoff, lock yourself in a room and read it right through. You will not be sorry.

My internal running commentry was something like...

'Oh it's going down now, not looking good.'
'This is bad...'
'That's fucked up!'
'Oh gimme a break!'
'Shits hit the fan, uh oh!'
'WHAT THE FUCK'
'Uh that's sick'
'I cannot take this anymore'

Then about here you start to think what more can happen, what more can Stover subject us too, the last famous words, 'What more can go wrong?'

'God dammit I didn't just read that did?'
' ...what..? '
'Stover your a dick'

But I have now just finished and woah, what an end, what a great finish to the book. Stover I forgive you!

And aye, got to agree, all the depressing shit you read through probably three quarters of the book just makes the pay off so much more special, so much more Fuck Yeh! I was reading the final few pages singing the Team America theme tune trying to fit Caine into it... Safe to say I'm not very good at that, best I could come up with was:

'Michaelson, FUCK YEAH!
Coming again, to save the mother fucking day yeah!'

So many great lines throughout but:

Spoiler

Quote

Marc? You home, old buddy? Knock fucking knock."

Had me grinning from ear to ear!

Onwards to the next book... I cannot wait!

[Salt-Man Z]

Yeah, that line is made of 100% grins and fist pumps. Crowning Moment Of YES FUCK YES right there.

I'm also quite fond of

Spoiler

That middle-aged paraplegic was just a role I used to play so I could get along on Earth. I don't need him anymore. I will move my fucking legs.

Of course, you could write a book out of the best lines from BoT. I've been thinking long and hard on it for a couple years now, but at this point I'm fairly comfortable naming BoT the best book I've ever read.

[Tapper]

 Briar King, on 09 June 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:

Is it just me or did pg 11 in this thread vanish?

All the spoiler discussion bits are gone, aye

[Salt-Man Z]

You sure they're not just in this thread?

[champ]

 Salt-Man Z, on 08 June 2012 - 03:50 PM, said:

Yeah, that line is made of 100% grins and fist pumps. Crowning Moment Of YES FUCK YES right there.

I'm also quite fond of

Spoiler

That middle-aged paraplegic was just a role I used to play so I could get along on Earth. I don't need him anymore. I will move my fucking legs.

Of course, you could write a book out of the best lines from BoT. I've been thinking long and hard on it for a couple years now, but at this point I'm fairly comfortable naming BoT the best book I've ever read.

I don't think I could name my best book but it is definately one of the top books that I have read, it's a work of art!

The way it makes you think, the way it plays on your emotions - drags you through the very rough lows and lifts you up to the ass-kicking-super-duper-fuck-yeh-rocking highs - and the fact that its a hook me in page turner. Definately a special book!

And I have to agree about the best lines bit, there was so many that I could have quoted, too many!

Half way through reading CBK and again, loving it!

Spoiler

Quote

"I'm serious about this, Kier. Remember what happens to people who hurt my family."
A whole river of glass bells cascaded off that cliff.
"Your adopted ogrillo family!"
"Kier."
Glass kept tinkling. What?
"Faith is adopted."
The river of bells flash-froze in midair.

Caine my favourite character - ever? Fuck yeh!

[Vengeance]

Ok so now that I am done with School. Finally graduated. I have broken down and purchased Heroes die on my quest to catch up on my reading. Which was basically on hold until I was done with school with a few exceptions (S.E.). I have to say that it is absolutely fucking brilliant. A shit flinging storm of statue bloody vagina beheading brilliance.

[Abyss]

 champ, on 12 June 2012 - 05:46 PM, said:

...Half way through reading CBK and again, loving it!

Spoiler

Quote

"I'm serious about this, Kier. Remember what happens to people who hurt my family."
A whole river of glass bells cascaded off that cliff.
"Your adopted ogrillo family!"
"Kier."
Glass kept tinkling. What?
"Faith is adopted."
The river of bells flash-froze in midair.

Caine my favourite character - ever? Fuck yeh!

likely my favourite fucking exchange in the book. SO loaded w meaning it's sick.

[James Hetfield]

Just finished BoT. Fucking god. One of the best books I have ever read. For sure top 10. Thanks to the forum for the thread(Abyss), otherwise I probably would never have fucking picked up Stover. Thanks. Starting CBK tomorrow:-)

[Salt-Man Z]

An update on the Overworld comic:

Moe said:

No lawsuit.

All parties have come to an agreement. We simply do not have the written authorization to make a profit from Caine like we all thought we did. We could sue. But...it's just too much work. Not to mention money. Besides Matt seems to be doing ok now as far as other work goes. And since no one is profiting from this Kickstarter project we are clear for takeoff (at least we hope).

Halloween is the new and final deadline. Books are being purchased. Comics are being printed. And hell...might as well release the PDF version of the comic now. I was going to wait till Halloween but why do that?

In other news Matt is replacing Karen Traviss as the author of the 501st novels for Star Wars.

You all should not only drop him a line congratulating him but you should also tell a friend or three about the great news.

My second-favorite SW author's series being continued by my first-favorite SW author? YES PLEASE!!

[yuna_anomander25]

as i don't want to read full-on the spoilers in this thread, and don't want to post it on the Reading at the Moment thread, so I'm posting this here,
and as I still don't have Blade of Tyshalle,

Heroes Die is goodly intense!! as with the prologue I'm hooked, but in the middle it kinda lulled with the Pallas Ril-Rescue subplot, but things got hairy and intense throughout the ending!! though it became predictable with:

Spoiler

Lamorak's betrayal

I didn't mind it, because Stover throw in enough twist in there to make it so good!!

one minor question:

Spoiler

in the finale, after Ma'elKoth's and Pallas Ril Showdown, as Caine was lying there surrounded by Pallas, Lamorak and Ma'elKoth,
what was the spell that Caine remembered? that made Lamorak talk?

This post has been edited by yuna_anomander25: 24 January 2013 - 12:13 AM

[Salt-Man Z]

 yuna_anomander25, on 24 January 2013 - 12:09 AM, said:

one minor question:

If I recall,

Spoiler

Wasn't it that Ma'elKoth was going to absorb Caine's memories or something like that? So then when Caine flips cuts Lamorak's head off and flips it into Ma'elKoth's lap, Ma'elKoth absorbs Lamorak's memories, and because his body hasn't undergone Studio conditioning, he's able to spill everything? (And in his confused state that's exactly what he does.)