[Sixty]

My only Gripe with book 2 is that part of the plot with the bad-guy-blackmail and all felt like a rehash of book 1. Otherwise it was an entertaining read--nothing phenomenally deep, but entertaining.

[polishgenius]

The main problem with Red Skies was that there was an awkward narrative lurch between the sections about the pirates and the rest- both were good individually but didn't quite sit right together. I also had issues with

Spoiler

the way he presented the cons- in Lies we either were privy to what was going on or found out very quickly, in Red Skies he very artificially left out parts of conversations to leave us in the dark. And the eventual resolution of the prologue was pathetic, especially since the only reason he made it the prologue was to build tension that wasn't needed and had no payoff.

It was still a good book though, it just didn't have the classic simplicity of flow that drove Lies.

This post has been edited by polishgenius: 13 July 2009 - 05:30 PM

[HoosierDaddy]

Ullem, on Jul 10 2009, 06:55 PM, said:

Wow. I don't know what to say. First, don't paint me as a jerk due to my intense love of good fantasy. Second, of course any author can take as much time as he/she feels is necessary between books, regardless of reason. Perhaps I was too glib to suggest the death of a family member was merely "acceptable". I don't take myself that seriously, you shouldn't either. And lastly, what's it to you if my method of research is to ask someone rather than google? I thought that was what forums like this were for...

Just ignore us. We're mostly screwing around.

[wolf_2099]

HoosierDaddy, on Jul 13 2009, 11:33 AM, said:

Just ignore us. We're mostly screwing around.

It's the interwebs, take nothing seriously.

[Zhuangzi]

Personally I agree with Ullem, posting on a forum where we get very accurate and up to date information from guys like Wert. I looked on Google before, although not very recently, and was unable to find any reason for the delays. Other than "Don't worry, Scott's not dead, just dealing with stuff." Anyway, I did find out his wife played World of Warcraft and I was tempted to level up a character on her server just so I could join her guild just so I could ask - but I barely have time as it is to play just one character on that game.

Any rate, thats why I love this forum. Lots of great info on some great literature!

[wolf_2099]

Zhuangzi, on Jul 15 2009, 07:47 PM, said:

Personally I agree with Ullem, posting on a forum where we get very accurate and up to date information from guys like Wert. I looked on Google before, although not very recently, and was unable to find any reason for the delays.

Maybe part of the problem is the sheer amount the same questions, about the same authors, get asked over and over again here?

And since I am having a massive brain fart, does anyone remember the title of the short story gentleman bastard novels?

[lobo the wolfman]

Wolf, are you talking about The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic and The Choir of Knives? i think they are going to be released in a omnibus called The Bastards and the Knives. When i don't know.

[wolf_2099]

lobo the wolfman, on Jul 15 2009, 11:21 PM, said:

Wolf, are you talking about The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic and The Choir of Knives? i think they are going to be released in a omnibus called The Bastards and the Knives. When i don't know.

That's them, one of them about the case of Brandy and the other about god knows what.

Weird, the only thing that really comes up searching about it is the fact it is available for pre-order on amazon, and has been for a year or so.

Seems weird they would announce and get artwork for a book that they had no idea when would be written or turned in.

[Werthead]

wolf_2099, on Jul 16 2009, 04:19 PM, said:

lobo the wolfman, on Jul 15 2009, 11:21 PM, said:

Wolf, are you talking about The Mad Baron's Mechanical Attic and The Choir of Knives? i think they are going to be released in a omnibus called The Bastards and the Knives. When i don't know.

That's them, one of them about the case of Brandy and the other about god knows what.

Weird, the only thing that really comes up searching about it is the fact it is available for pre-order on amazon, and has been for a year or so.

Seems weird they would announce and get artwork for a book that they had no idea when would be written or turned in.

The idea was that Lynch was going to finish Republic of Thieves, write Bastards and the Knives immediately, then move onto Book 4 of the series. The delays on Book 3 have affected everything else.

Even worse is that Bastards and the Knives will have an 18-month exclusivity period on it, meaning that Bantam US and Gollancz can't published the book until a year and a half after the Sub Press limited edition comes out. Which at the moment puts it somewhere in 2012 or later.

[Ullem]

Isn't that sort of par for the course for amazon though? "Hey this book is getting published sometime in the future on a date that has yet to be determined. Now sit and salivate and wait." I suppose they don't really perform any other useful function. For my purposes anyway. I prefer to purchase my books from an actual physical store.

[Abyss]

Amazon doesn't really need to put dates on their TBD entries but i suspect they do it anyways just to prompt pre-orders from the few who actually believe it when for example they post a street date for DANCE OF DRAGONS.

Lynch ends his books solidly enough that I'm content to wait until he gets on with it. I can't quite decide if i'm willing to pay tall dollars for a limited ed. tho'. After LIES i would have but after RED i'm less inclined. I suppose i'll see what the prices and advance buzz look like.

- Abyss, short on tall dollars.

[Tarcanus]

Quote

I prefer to purchase my books from an actual physical store.

Good luck affording this habit in the long run. I've taken to buying most of my books used on half.com or amazon or abebooks or something. The only time I'll buy from a brick n' mortar is when I want to directly support the author. I buy Erikson's stuff in stores, as well as a few others. Other than that, it's too expensive.


OT: I've only read LIES, so far, and it was a wonderfully solid and entertaining book, so I intend to grab RED on my next buying binge. I don't really have a problem with Lynch dealing with what he needs to before continuing with his other books. It seems I've gotten more patient as I've gotten older and realized there are plenty of other books to keep me busy in the meantime. (Often more than I can afford)

[Salt-Man Z]

Well, I also prefer to get my books from a physical store, my favorite being Half Price Books.

[Hetan]

Mal and I were talking about this series and we are still wondering how he's going to re-introduce some kind of tension into it.
I enjoyed the first book but couldn't get through the second and I guess I agree with Sixty's comment above - it all felt like a re-hash.

[Sixty]

As for the tension between books--the series as a whole feels a little too episodic for a significant over-arching backstory. I'm hoping that Lynch will introduce something along those lines eventually, but I'd be satisfied with just the enjoyable read otherwise.

[caladanbrood]

Thread-necro! Though I doubt it's gonna add anything new. I was re-reading both these books, was enjoying RSORS immensely, and then came the dreaded naval section. I actually thought it was ok the first time round... but it really does kill the book I've actually stopped reading it, and moved onto some new books instead

[Macros]

I reread Lies again recently. Seeing this thread makes me think of attempting Red seas. I really didn't like it so much at all, a massive drop from the slickness of lies. Its reminds more of the disappointment of oceans 12 and 13. A rehash of the original premise, that they ramped up to keep people interested, but in ramping it up, they make it just plain stupid.
Meh, had promise but I think Republic will have to breakaway from the idea of "we need money, lets heist this shit" and throw any ideas we can at the page. I'm not giving up hope on the series, but Republic will definately have to recapture some of the magic of Lies if I'm going to avidly follow and buy the rest (Did I read somewhere there was 10 projected?)

[bubba]

I thought it was just a three book deal.

[Bonesaw85]

The series is currently projected as 7 books

• The Lies of Locke Lamora (June 2006)
• Red Seas Under Red Skies (July 2007)
• The Republic of Thieves (forthcoming)
• The Thorn of Emberlain (forthcoming)
• The Ministry of Necessity (forthcoming)
• The Mage and the Master Spy (forthcoming)
• Inherit the Night (forthcoming)

[Werthead]

Bonesaw85, on 25 November 2009 - 02:00 AM, said:

The series is currently projected as 7 books

14. Seven books featuring Locke and his adventures, then another seven set twenty-odd years later featuring some of the offspring of major characters in the first seven.

I'm guessing that was the plan before the massive delays to Book 3, however. Unless he really wants to spend 33 years writing the rest of the series, which he may very well do (seems to be working for Donaldson, Feist and Brooks)