[pat5150]

L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Overcaptain is 2.99$ on Kindle.

James Islington's The Shadow of What Was Lost is 2.99$ on Kindle.

Karen Miller's The Innocent Mage is 1.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Holy fuck... Audible just gave me another 3 months of Audible Plus for $1 / month. lol

After the 3 months last year that was almost immediately followed by another offer for another 3 months (which of course I took).

Might be time to switch back to near max speed mode after all (for the streaming at least)... zoom zoovaroom. My brain better buckle in, and focus on the flow...

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 14 March 2025 - 08:54 PM

[pat5150]

Terry Brooks' Running With the Demon is 2.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[pat5150]

Robin Hobb's The Inheritance and Other Stories is 1.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[pat5150]

Kim Stanley Robinson's 2312 is 1.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[pat5150]

Helene Wecker's The Hidden Palace, sequel to the bestselling The Golem and the Jinni, is 1.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Just noticed that Audible Plus now includes books 3 through 5 of the Books of the Raksura, as well as Stories of the Raksura volume 1 and 2.

But not books 1 and 2... I'd assume that starting with book 3 and skipping 1 and 2 would probably be a very bad idea? Apparently the first three books form a "self-contained trilogy", so perhaps it would make more sense to read books 4-5? Not sure how Stories of the Raksura would fit into that. Of course I could use credits for books 1 and 2, but I haven't really liked anything by her yet so I'm reluctant to. There are much more appealing candidates for my credits.

Also has book 1 of Murderbot and book 5, which is supposed to be readable as a standalone with minor spoilers for the other books. Hmm. It is pro-Murderbot I hope right?

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 19 March 2025 - 04:21 PM

[Abyss]

Azath Vitr (D, on 19 March 2025 - 03:26 PM, said:

Just noticed that Audible Plus now includes books 3 through 5 of the Books of the Raksura, as well as Stories of the Raksura volume 1 and 2.

But not books 1 and 2... I'd assume that starting with book 3 and skipping 1 and 2 would probably be a very bad idea? Apparently the first three books form a "self-contained trilogy", so perhaps it would make more sense to read books 4-5? Not sure how Stories of the Raksura would fit into that. Of course I could use credits for books 1 and 2, but I haven't really liked anything by her yet so I'm reluctant to. There are much more appealing candidates for my credits.

I wouldn't, great series but bk 3 is seriously the middle of the story.

Quote

Also has book 1 of Murderbot and book 5, which is supposed to be readable as a standalone with minor spoilers for the other books. Hmm. It is pro-Murderbot I hope right?

I reco bk 1, i would not reco jumping directly to bk 5 from there. It might make sense mostly but the reading would be missing a tonne of context and story for almost every interaction Murderbot has with most of the cast..

[JPK]

When is skipping straight to book 3 or 5 in a series ever a good idea though?

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

JPK, on 19 March 2025 - 08:13 PM, said:

When is skipping straight to book 3 or 5 in a series ever a good idea though?

Two scenarios OtToMH: 1. first two books suck and book 3 (or the internet) contains more than adequate summary of what you need to know 2. series is actually a self-contained duology followed by self-contained trilogy and you don't mind spoilers for the duology (or it doesn't contain them, or you can have AI remove them or bleep them out)---or in this case the first three books are supposedly like a self-contained trilogy which implies the last two may be like a self-contained duology, thus the possibility of skipping to 4 and 5.

[Abyss]

Azath Vitr (D, on 19 March 2025 - 09:25 PM, said:

JPK, on 19 March 2025 - 08:13 PM, said:

When is skipping straight to book 3 or 5 in a series ever a good idea though?

Two scenarios OtToMH: 1. first two books suck and book 3 (or the internet) contains more than adequate summary of what you need to know 2. series is actually a self-contained duology followed by self-contained trilogy and you don't mind spoilers for the duology (or it doesn't contain them, or you can have AI remove them or bleep them out)---or in this case the first three books are supposedly like a self-contained trilogy which implies the last two may be like a self-contained duology, thus the possibility of skipping to 4 and 5.

It's not unthinkable, it's borderline accepted reality that Shannara reads better if you start w book 2. I see people on reddit proselytizing starting Malazan w Midnight Tides (heretics). It really doesn't work for Raksura tho, and while Murderbot might maybe possibly be ok, the read wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable.

[JPK]

Abyss, on 20 March 2025 - 01:42 PM, said:

Azath Vitr (D, on 19 March 2025 - 09:25 PM, said:

JPK, on 19 March 2025 - 08:13 PM, said:

When is skipping straight to book 3 or 5 in a series ever a good idea though?

Two scenarios OtToMH: 1. first two books suck and book 3 (or the internet) contains more than adequate summary of what you need to know 2. series is actually a self-contained duology followed by self-contained trilogy and you don't mind spoilers for the duology (or it doesn't contain them, or you can have AI remove them or bleep them out)---or in this case the first three books are supposedly like a self-contained trilogy which implies the last two may be like a self-contained duology, thus the possibility of skipping to 4 and 5.

It's not unthinkable, it's borderline accepted reality that Shannara reads better if you start w book 2. I see people on reddit proselytizing starting Malazan w Midnight Tides (heretics). It really doesn't work for Raksura tho, and while Murderbot might maybe possibly be ok, the read wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable.

Maybe it's a me thing, but I just can't picture jumping into the middle like that. The only exception I really see for myself is Published Vs Chronological order (ala Michelle West). Even then, I tend to stick to published order as it's often rough to revisit an author's earlier works after reading their later ones.

Also... Reddit really has some hot takes regarding Malazan. The fools.

This post has been edited by JPK: 20 March 2025 - 05:37 PM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

JPK, on 20 March 2025 - 05:36 PM, said:

Maybe it's a me thing, but I just can't picture jumping into the middle like that. The only exception I really see for myself is Published Vs Chronological order (ala Michelle West). Even then, I tend to stick to published order as it's often rough to revisit an author's earlier works after reading their later ones.

Also... Reddit really has some hot takes regarding Malazan. The fools.

In medias wreck...

[JPK]

Azath Vitr (D, on 20 March 2025 - 06:10 PM, said:

JPK, on 20 March 2025 - 05:36 PM, said:

Maybe it's a me thing, but I just can't picture jumping into the middle like that. The only exception I really see for myself is Published Vs Chronological order (ala Michelle West). Even then, I tend to stick to published order as it's often rough to revisit an author's earlier works after reading their later ones.

Also... Reddit really has some hot takes regarding Malazan. The fools.

In medias wreck...

Sure, if a book is intentionally written in that style. However, we weren't talking about that, but instead an instance where you're clearly meant to have read 2-4 books prior.

[pat5150]

Ed McDonald's Witch Queen of Redwinter is 2.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[pat5150]

31 of J. R. R. Tolkien's works are on sale for 1.99$/2.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

[Abyss]

pat5150, on 22 March 2025 - 03:47 PM, said:

31 of J. R. R. Tolkien's works are on sale for 1.99$/2.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

your link's a little sideways Pat....

Spoiler

Close to You: A Novel

Kindle Edition by Kara Isaac...

A disgraced scholar running from her past and an entrepreneur chasing his future find themselves thrown together—and fall in love—on a Tolkien tour of New Zealand.
...

[Tsundoku]

It gets even better - apparently it's a faith-based romance-lit with barely any Tolkien references. So,

[worry]

Tsundoku, on 22 March 2025 - 09:24 PM, said:

It gets even better - apparently it's a faith-based romance-lit with barely any Tolkien references. So,

But enough about The Rings of Power...

[pat5150]

Abyss, on 22 March 2025 - 06:14 PM, said:

pat5150, on 22 March 2025 - 03:47 PM, said:

31 of J. R. R. Tolkien's works are on sale for 1.99$/2.99$ on Kindle​​​​​​​.

your link's a little sideways Pat....

Hard to believe that such authors actually sign book deals!