[caladanbrood]

jitsukerr, on May 28 2009, 10:12 AM, said:

I never thought Tiste Edur essential. They're crude, and _unspeakably_ plain.

Honest to god, jitsukerr just won the internet Though MT is my second-favourite book, just behind MoI.

You could probably get away with reading Bonehunters before MT, but the ending of it would make exactly no sense, without some background info...

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Aptorian, on May 30 2009, 03:48 AM, said:

Raymond Luxury Yacht, on May 30 2009, 12:04 PM, said:

ethnocentrism.

Oh ladida look at me I have a college education and I like to use words that confuse Aptorian.

English, do you speak it?

This post has been edited by Raymond Luxury Yacht: 02 June 2009 - 09:08 PM

[MTS]

Don't you have a university education as well, Apt?

[HoosierDaddy]

Where can I find words that confuse Apt?

Yes. Read the book. It is important stuff, and if you don't find it entertaining I find you crude, and _unspeakably_ plain.

[Alex2000]

SilverFox2134, on 08 February 2009 - 10:31 PM, said:

because all i'm really able to get out of it is Trull Sengar's story, but is it really that important? I've read several chapters now, but i just can't get into this book like I did with the others. So is there really anything important i need to read or what?

Yes I have to second that feeling.

I am at page 100, and feel like bailing. It feels like homework every time I pick it up. This is my second attempt too. I gobbled up the first four books, only stopping to work and sleep. But just like the first time through, I get to this book 5, and feel my passions for the series disappearing.

I guess I will push on, in homework like fashion because I want to "get back" to the Seven Cites and Genabackis, and reading the comments here it sounds like I can't skip this book. :-/

[Eispeis]

Alex2000, on 22 October 2009 - 12:33 AM, said:

I guess I will push on, in homework like fashion because I want to "get back" to the Seven Cites and Genabackis, and reading the comments here it sounds like I can't skip this book. :-/

If you skip it Reaper's Gale (the 7th book) won't make any sense at all to you, nor will some of the characters in The Bone Hunters. Midnight Tides introduces a completely new storyline, but it will intertwine with the Seven Cities and Genabackan storylines in the next three books.

Though things seem unfamiliar I argue that the read is well worth it even though there are no Bridgeburners or Wickans in it

[Sindriss]

Well, can only reiterate what I have said earlier to such threads. First reading is confusing and leaves a weird feeling but on a reread is suddenly becomes one of the very best books in the series.

[Salt-Man Z]

Even if you don't like the book by itself, and even without knowing that subsequent books will depend greatly on it, MT brings its own rewards toward the end in the form of stronger, more direct ties with the previous four books.

[HoosierDaddy]

We should just create a, "So you think Midnight Tides might not be great 100 pages into it...." thread. And then just tell them to shut up and keep reading.

What I've never been able to understand is someone getting through the initial absolute fuckeddom of GotM, seeing an almost entirely new cast of characters in DG, and then suddenly becoming stupid again at book 5.

TRUST IN SE.

[Salt-Man Z]

It's a miracle we don't see more threads that go: "I'm 200 pages into HoC, and who the heck is this Karsa guy and what does he have to do with the previous 3 books? Do I really have to read HoC to understand the rest of the series?"

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Or:" Who the heck is Coltaine and these Wickans and theses other guys? And where is Seven Cities, is it near Genabackis? Do I have to read it or can I skip it?" when someone starts DG

Although in DG there are Fid, Kalam and Co

[Puck]

HoosierDaddy, on 06 November 2009 - 04:06 AM, said:

We should just create a, "So you think Midnight Tides might not be great 100 pages into it...." thread. And then just tell them to shut up and keep reading.

What I've never been able to understand is someone getting through the initial absolute fuckeddom of GotM, seeing an almost entirely new cast of characters in DG, and then suddenly becoming stupid again at book 5.

TRUST IN SE.

I SO second that.
People, get a hold of yourselves, imo MT is one of the best books in the series. And you survived reading GotM and DG, what's so different about MT? Bridgeburners and Bonehunters are cool, but let's face it, they need a break AND everyone else needs a break, otherwise they'd be going on your nerves in no time with the same bikering everytime they show up

This post has been edited by Puck: 15 November 2009 - 06:55 PM

[Illuyankas]

READ IT

[Abyss]

One day i'm just going to change the subforum title to

'Midnight Tides (just read it)' .



It's odd that people are so thrown off. Trull, who makes up about a quarter of the pov sections in HoC, is a significant player in MT. HoC practically ends on a cliffhanger with Trull guarding the First Throne, plus throw in Silchas Ruin who is Rake and Darist's brother. And we know all this in the first 20 pages or so.

So it's not like the book is a complete separation or the cast of MT is a complete and utter out of nowhere.




- Abyss, ...Hmm... maybe 'Midnight Tides (trust in SE)' ...

[champ]

i have to say first time i read the book it just annoyed me and i found i had to battle through to get it finished, mainly because Rhulad/Janath/Quillias pissed me off summet rotten and i found myself constantly flicking forward to find out when Tehol returned but have just finished it on a reread and enjoyed the book so much more, liked the way Rhulad's character developed and thought Udinas was really well written! And to top it off, Tehol/Bugg, by far the best dual act going!

[Mezla PigDog]

I recall Midnight Tides being a bit of a shock to the system. It takes a while to get to grips with being back in time and I think the main hook that got me through the first few chapters was that something catastrophic must happen to Trull's family to get from the jolly(ish) village life at the beginning of MT to HoC where Trull is chained to a wall in a flooded continent surrounded by mutant giganta-catfishes .... and bald. By the end, I was completely on board.

MT also challenges the readers perception that the action is all going to take place between Genabackis and Seven Cities. Turns out SE's mind is bigger than just 2 continents! Sit back and enjoy the ride because the world just got a whole lot bigger and there is no going back!

[Alex2000]

Salt-Man Z, on 06 November 2009 - 04:47 PM, said:

It's a miracle we don't see more threads that go: "I'm 200 pages into HoC, and who the heck is this Karsa guy and what does he have to do with the previous 3 books? Do I really have to read HoC to understand the rest of the series?"

Here is the thing. In HoC, SE sticks with Karsa. The momentum builds quickly, and is not interrupted by the jumping around between two points of view.

In MT, it seems like just as you start to understand what is going on, SE jumps to another POV. And then, just as you begin to understand what is going on in that POV, he jumps again. Then, when things are getting interesting, just as you are beginning to be drawn into the book, he jumps POV back again. It is almost like SE pushes a reset button. It is like this for at least half of the book. Unlike Karsa and HoC, where SE lets the action build up without jumping around.

And yes, I am just about finished the book now, and everything has come together. But I wish SE or his editor had structured the book differently, especially when introducing us to a new batch of characters. With the exception of Trull.

Also, all the new terminology, it is confusing as heck, especially after you finally sort of come to grips with the language after 4 books, you get a whole new set thrown at you. Plus all the Ascendants, the holds, etc. I can't keep straight who is who. The glossary at the back is next to useless. It should have been throughly expanded. I know, I know, wait for the encyclopedia to come out after book 10. But I am confused and need help now, not 4 years from now. And yes, I do use the encyclopedia on this site. But I shouldn't have to boot up my computer just to read the book.

Anyway, as I said, just about to finish the book. As everyone else says here, you have to stick with it, and it finally comes together. But I think with some better editing or structuring the "ramp up" period could have been a lot shorter, and with a good glossary it might have been a lot easier to dive into.

This post has been edited by Alex2000: 28 November 2009 - 08:34 PM

[maro]

I've just finished it.

Whilst it is different in tone, I greatly enjoyed it. Trull is by far the most detailed character so far I think.

Also, you'd miss out on the hilarity of Tehol and Bugg if you don't read it!