[Abyss]

Right then, here DISCUSSION THREAD for Tamsyn Muir's GIDEON THE NINTH

The RULEZ....
We are all over the place on this book, so post clearly how far along you are and use BLOCKS for SPOILERS until we can safely assume many/most are done.

Go.

[Abyss]

21 Chapters in....

Spoiler

Teacher just explained to all the candidates what the reader already figured out.... that there are No Rules, anything goes, and intimidation and most definitely murder are very much open options.

I loved how Judith the Second was so horrified and Palamedes the Sixth was stunned everyone else hadn't figured that out yet.

And of course Gideon just tried to keep a straight face and not react.

The earbook narrator is glorious but i'm seriously considering buying an ebook too just to keep the names and Houses straight.


A few misc points so far.

Spoiler

The byplay between Gideon and Harrow is priceless. And it seems a little heavy handed at times that they are gradually forming this new sister-like relationship of mutual respect except that i'm fairly certain Harrow will throw Gideon under several buses before this is over.

Marcus and Abigail were so clearly dead the minute he was nice to Gideon early on. They threw an Anniversary Party FFS, it might as well have been an advanced wake.

I liked how Issac and Jeanmarie give this ongoing impression of awestruck out of their depth kids, and Palamedes, as usual, has a completely different take and wonders how dangerous they probably are.

The interplay between Third's Coronabath and Ianthe is interesting, particularly since Third and only Third sent TWO necromancers, which would seem like an obvious and unfair advantage, especially after Teacher spelled out how the game is really played.

Dulcinea is a great character, and i have the impression she's mainly there hoping to avoid dying, but suspect there's more to it.

Silas and Colum the Eighth.... not quite as creepy and the characters seem to feel, but i'm expecting big things.

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 26 September 2019 - 04:37 PM, said:

Macros, on 26 September 2019 - 07:19 AM, said:

You all need to stop this.

I am waiting until it is available used.

I am.not buying any more new books this year

I am not

Mac... i get it. I do.
I'm always all about ignoring the hype, waiting til the series is done... but... Stross, then Schwab THEN frikkin Ellis
And now a chunk of the more active forumites at least some who can be trusted some of the time.

It's Lesbian necromancers in space, Mac.

Necromancers.

In Space.

Some of whom are Lesbians (or possibly bi or nb, to be honest i'm not sure yet).


There is a time to stand on principle, and there is a time to run with the pack. Join us, Mac. Join us over here, where the walls are gritty black and the swords are stabby and the Lesbian (or bi) swordmasters wear facepaint and sunglasses and say things like "I think i really want to fight that thing." and endearingly call people 'shitheel'....

Oh hey, the author actually answers the Lesbian-or-bi thing in a goodreads response...

Quote

I hope this doesn't sound too rude, but just how much lgbt stuff is in this book? I don't mind it (hell, a book I read recently actually hinted at a lgbt romance between two characters), but I'm curious if it's a major theme throughout the story, or is it more of something that comes up from time to time. I'm really curious about the book, cause the premise sounds fantastic, and I mean, damn is that cover awesome!

Quote

Tamsyn MuirThank you so much for your interest in Gideon the Ninth, and I don't think you sound rude at all. It's hard to quantify how much LGBT content is in the book -- the plot contains arguably very little romance, and conflicts/issues surrounding being LGBTQIA+ don't come up at all and never will. Hilariously, the word 'lesbian' comes up in the blurb, but is never used in the book. That said, it's a book written by an LGBTQIA+ author about two LGBTQIA+ leads, and I can Word-of-God confirm that the POV protagonist is a lesbian whose interest in women is very obvious throughout the book. The non-POV protagonist's interest in bones is very obvious throughout the book. Hope that helps...

[Salt-Man Z]

BfuckinK, on 26 September 2019 - 04:50 PM, said:

Frontline titties of the Fifth had me grinning.

Double Bones with Doctor Skelebone

[Salt-Man Z]

Speaking of which, the author's favorite line that got removed in editing was at the very end of Act One, where Gideon lets out a breath and says, "Well, suck my dick." Agreed it works better with that bit gone, but still

[Abyss]

Salt-Man Z, on 26 September 2019 - 06:42 PM, said:

Speaking of which, the author's favorite line that got removed in editing was at the very end of Act One, where Gideon lets out a breath and says, "Well, suck my dick." Agreed it works better with that bit gone, but still

Heh.
That has got to be a nod to film GI JANE.

[RACHEL]

Damn you all. I told myself I was going to wait on buying this even though the sample chapters I read were awesome. One minute I was reading everyone's comments, and the next I was clicking PLACE ORDER. My copy won't be here until October 3-9th so hopefully I can resist this thread and don't spoil myself.

[Abyss]

BfuckinK, on 26 September 2019 - 09:08 PM, said:

I haven’t agreed to stone cold dick

Why, do you need to sleep on it first?

[Andorion]

Due to general hype and Abyss manipulating the fabric of reality, I have started this book.

6 chapters in
Looove the setting. For some reason it reminds me of Warhammer if Warhammer had a sense of humour. (And if it had a sense of humour I would actually read more Warhammer)

Spoiler

Very enigmatic origin story for Gideon. I can see that coming up later.

I like how the author wrote these huge names in the Dramatis Personae but has basically decided to shorten them down for the narrative. Goblin Emperor take notes.

I wonder what Harrow's long term plans for her house are.
Also this litany of the tomb that must never be opened: Definitely will come up again. Shades of the Jaghut Tyrant and the poem Calot recites about Brood early in GotM

[Abyss]

Andorion, on 27 September 2019 - 06:24 AM, said:

Due to general hype and Abyss manipulating the fabric of reality, I have started this book.

6 chapters in
Looove the setting. For some reason it reminds me of Warhammer if Warhammer had a sense of humour. (And if it had a sense of humour I would actually read more Warhammer)

Spoiler

Very enigmatic origin story for Gideon. I can see that coming up later.

I like how the author wrote these huge names in the Dramatis Personae but has basically decided to shorten them down for the narrative. Goblin Emperor take notes.

I wonder what Harrow's long term plans for her house are.
Also this litany of the tomb that must never be opened: Definitely will come up again. Shades of the Jaghut Tyrant and the poem Calot recites about Brood early in GotM

I WIN/you're welcome.

Yah, from my limited knowledge of WH, the dark/gritty/everything is dead and grey and woo vibe is similar.

Meanwhile, done Ch23 just the very start of Ch24 before the gang splits up to investigate.

and HOLY FUCK that was GREAT.

Spoiler

Speculation: The bodies in the cairn are Teacher and his two sidekicks. Teacher is either the last Lichter, or the Emperor.

The way chapter 23 played out, from the 7th Cav going missing, to the 2nd demanding the keys and throwing down on the 6th.
I love that the 2nd picked on the 6th thinking they were easy prey, and Pel and Camila are just wholly unphased.
The fight between the 2dn and 6th Cavs was glorious. Seriously, Muir writes great great action, the fight is brief, bloody, and clear. Also, it happens on a table which is wholly ridiculous fun.
"Camilla... go loud." ...niiiIIIiiiiice.

And then of course, of course, the 3rd makes a dick move and brings a further challenge.
Cue Camilla, wounded, exhausted, STILL unphased... "Guess it's round 2 then."
And Gideon and Jeanmarie both jump in ready to utterly kick 3rd's ass.

...the amazing thing about Ch 23 is how it works in and moves forward in the entire cast, even the ones who aren't even in the room. It's a great bit of writing.

[Andorion]

Would everybody be very mad at me if I said I finished it?

[Andorion]

So I picked it up yesterday morning and finished it late at night.
I loved it. The writing is excellent, the funny parts just sneak up on you. The character work is great. Some of the best I have read recently.

And the setting is reminiscent of Warhammer in a certain way and yet not.

Spoiler

Coolest moment: Gideon getting out of the shuttle wearing sunglasses. I laughed out loud at that one. It was so unexpected and the image in my head was soo funny.
The overall character arc of Gideon hating Harrow and then getting closer and then the revelations coming - when you strip it all aways its the story of two childhood friends separated by an unspeakable tragedy finding each other again.

The Lictor-in-hiding part was very cool. Of the various houses I loved Camilla the most. I hope she made it. Her fight with the second was pure popcorn.

Overall I loved the book and I am thrilled that the sequel is coming out next year. I can't wait.

[Andorion]

BfuckinK, on 28 September 2019 - 03:01 AM, said:

I don't think anyone would be shocked ha

Well, y'all did hype me up. First book I have stormed through in quite some time.

[Abyss]

BfuckinK, on 27 September 2019 - 08:41 PM, said:

Have finished part 1.

Spoiler

really like this intro. I’m wondering if this solar system is possibly Sol and Ninth is like Pluto or another Kiper Belt body.. 2 planets closer to sun then First, so Mercury and Venus maybe? Hopefully we get hints or visit other worlds so I can see if they on moons of the gas/ice giants.

So there is 16 immortals out there searching other galaxies(maybe) or theirs and they seem to be stretched thin(?) so the Emp needs new blood to join the ranks.

Very happy so far.

Iirc, the suggestion at the outset is that most of the original 16 Lichtors are dead so the Emp needs some new ones.

[Andorion]

BfuckinK, on 29 September 2019 - 01:41 AM, said:

Just finished ch 10.

Spoiler

i thought this whole bit was extremely well done. Gideon gets a note from Harrow back in ch 9 from Harrow instructing her not to speak to anyone and she obeys. 2 chapters of a mute Gideon...wow! The interaction with Dulcinea was fairly brilliant.

Do we think Maark will actually like this or will it doom him to a further 2 year reading slump?

I had a lot of fun imagining Gideon from the perspectives of others

Spoiler

Here is this forbidding figure from the mysterious Ninth house, all in black, with skull paint, silent and sudden. They were all so scared

[Abyss]

BfuckinK, on 28 September 2019 - 06:43 PM, said:

Is it just me or does anyone else get reminded of Wolfe at points? That may be a huge stretch but sometimes it just hits me.

No but now you mention it I can see why you'd say so.

Andorion, on 29 September 2019 - 02:09 AM, said:

...
I had a lot of fun imagining Gideon from the perspectives of others

Spoiler

Here is this forbidding figure from the mysterious Ninth house, all in black, with skull paint, silent and sudden. They were all so scared

I loved that bit.
Also, at least from where I'm at w ch25, they weren't wrong to be

[Morgoth]

I agree BK. It has a very strong Wolf-like vibe to it.

I finished the book in two sittings and loved it. A rare gem to be sure, and I am very excited for book two.

[champ]

I trust this board, I bought the book over the weekend but haven't had much time to read it yet.

Only about four chapters in but really enjoying it.

I should get a few hours in tonight and looking forward to diving back into the world.

[Imperial Historian]

I finished it, I really enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing more from this author.

[QuickTidal]

Has anyone let Tamsyn know that we are having a site-wide hype read of her book? I'm sure she'd be chuffed to know.