[polishgenius]

Abyss, on 16 September 2013 - 01:40 PM, said:

Am just hoping it has a better ending than the last book.

Hee hee. (I read Broken Homes the other day)

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

If any of you spent any part of adolescence in the 1980s, and haven't yet read Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, please slap yourself in the face a few times, and then go buy and read this book. I'm only ~ 1/3 of the way through it, but I find myself constantly giggling and bouncing up and down in my chair as I read.

Or, as one reviewer correctly put it:

"If you identify yourself as a nerd, geek, gamer, 1980s history buff, a fan of science, fantasy, or dystopian fiction, otaku, 1980s movie fan, romantic, someone who grew up in the 1980s, or a human with emotions—you will enjoy Ready Player One by Ernest Cline."

[Use Of Weapons]

I'd follow up Caine with the Long Price Quartet for something completely different and equally awesome.

Or a Malaz re-read, natch

[QuickTidal]

Stalker, on 16 September 2013 - 03:19 AM, said:

I just finished Clarke's Rendezvous With Rama. I've been on a space archaeology / exploration kick recently (as my last post here was The Engines of God). Anyway, it was exactly what I was looking for, and I just wish it was longer. Has anyone read the "sequels" and can comment on if they should actually be read?

I'm now onto King of Thorns again before moving onto Emperor.

polishgenius, on 16 September 2013 - 07:38 AM, said:

Stalker, on 16 September 2013 - 03:19 AM, said:

Has anyone read the "sequels" and can comment on if they should actually be read?

No. NONONONONONONONONONONONONONO! I did it so you don't have to: please don't waste that sacrifice.


Instead, read Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds. It tells a very similar story to the point I'm sure it's a tribute, but deals with the ideas Lee and Clarke attempt to bring in in the later books much, much better.

As rarely as it happens, I am in 100% agreement with PG with the above notion.

And he gets bonus points for the Reynolds mention. Adding to PUSHING ICE I'd like to recco DIAMOND DOGS & TURQUOISE DAYS by Reynolds as well...basically two novella's set in the Revelation Space universe...and DIAMOND DOGS actually bucks for my all time fave Reynolds tale with one of his short stories (THE GREAT WALL OF MARS).

[polishgenius]

When me, Abyss and QT all agree that something is shit, I'd argue that that's a pretty strong stamp of disapproval.

Use Of Weapons, on 16 September 2013 - 05:05 PM, said:

I'd follow up Caine with the Long Price Quartet for something completely different and equally awesome.

This was actually the other thing on my shortlist for my post... Especially since Daniel Abraham is probably my favourite of the New Author Boom of 2005-2007, which is a pretty fucking solid list.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 16 September 2013 - 05:41 PM, said:

When me, Abyss and QT all agree that something is shit, I'd argue that that's a pretty strong stamp of disapproval.

It's like when the Autobots and Decepticons HAVE to team up to fight something WAY worse.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 16 September 2013 - 06:04 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 16 September 2013 - 05:41 PM, said:

When me, Abyss and QT all agree that something is shit, I'd argue that that's a pretty strong stamp of disapproval.

It's like when the Autobots and Decepticons HAVE to team up to fight something WAY worse.

...like Michael Bay!

[polishgenius]

We can even get T-shirts.

[JPK]

Cracking open The Protector's War as soon as I finish typing this. Btw, Abyss, I've noticed you mention a couple places that you enjoy Stirling's work. How much past this first trilogy is worth the read? Does it stay pretty solid?

[worry]

Finished The Scar. Excellent, top to bottom.

Now I'm reading Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery, a bit of true crime that's along the lines of Zodiac or the Paradise Lost docs, except these murders were much more recent and the serial killer is still out there.

[Abyss]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 16 September 2013 - 07:15 PM, said:

Cracking open The Protector's War as soon as I finish typing this. Btw, Abyss, I've noticed you mention a couple places that you enjoy Stirling's work. How much past this first trilogy is worth the read? Does it stay pretty solid?

I haven't read his Nantucket/Dies the Fire series yet, tho it occupies a massive chunk of the TRPFH, so i can't tell you anything other than keep going til it stops being good.

worry, on 16 September 2013 - 07:39 PM, said:

Finished The Scar. Excellent, top to bottom.
...

Told ya so.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 16 September 2013 - 07:47 PM, said:

worry, on 16 September 2013 - 07:39 PM, said:

Finished The Scar. Excellent, top to bottom.
...

Told ya so.

It's been a while but I seem to remember being quite disappointed by the ending of that book (this is Mievilles Scar right?) I can't quite remember it but I definitely remember thinking it was a let down compared to the rest of the book. I mean that sword that attacks in every possibility is flippin' sweet, but... meh... maybe I should read it again?

Speaking of reading things again, I will soon have finished Cold Days. Not sure what to read after that... My immediate choice is a MBOTF reread I have been promising myself for a while, especially as I haven't read OST, BnB or FoD...

[worry]

The end is what sold me on it. It was exactly what I wanted (not necessarily what I predicted, mind you). I certainly think it's a stark YMMV situation, but who knows, you might enjoy it more on a reread. I believe it's possible.

[polishgenius]

The Scar has been my 'reread once a year' book since I first read it. Gonna have to buy it for my e-reader soon, coz my hardcopy's in another country and the read's about due. Love every word, it's glorious.

[dietl]

Finished Caine's Law and the ending was great! A fitting end to the whole series.

Will start Blindsight tomorrow, which I'm really looking forward to.

Edit: I love The Scar!

This post has been edited by dietl: 16 September 2013 - 09:13 PM

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 16 September 2013 - 08:22 PM, said:

.... I will soon have finished Cold Days. Not sure what to read after that... My immediate choice is a MBOTF reread I have been promising myself for a while, especially as I haven't read OST, BnB or FoD...

Tough call... i would go ahead and read OST, BnB and FoD... AND THEN start the reread.

Tiste Simeon, on 16 September 2013 - 08:22 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 September 2013 - 07:47 PM, said:

worry, on 16 September 2013 - 07:39 PM, said:

Finished The Scar. Excellent, top to bottom.
...

Told ya so.

It's been a while but I seem to remember being quite disappointed by the ending of that book (this is Mievilles Scar right?) I can't quite remember it but I definitely remember thinking it was a let down compared to the rest of the book. I mean that sword that attacks in every possibility is flippin' sweet, but... meh... maybe I should read it again?

Well...

worry, on 16 September 2013 - 08:37 PM, said:

The end is what sold me on it. It was exactly what I wanted (not necessarily what I predicted, mind you). I certainly think it's a stark YMMV situation, but who knows, you might enjoy it more on a reread. I believe it's possible.

polishgenius, on 16 September 2013 - 08:57 PM, said:

The Scar has been my 'reread once a year' book since I first read it. Gonna have to buy it for my e-reader soon, coz my hardcopy's in another country and the read's about due. Love every word, it's glorious.

dietl, on 16 September 2013 - 09:11 PM, said:

...Edit: I love The Scar!

...you have your answer Tiste.

dietl, on 16 September 2013 - 09:11 PM, said:

Finished Caine's Law and the ending was FUCKING great! A fitting end to the whole series.

Fixed that for you.

Quote

Will start Blindsight tomorrow, which I'm really looking forward to.
...

Gah... CAINE'S LAW followed by BLINDSIGHT... you'll be so brain-dead you'll have to watch watching MY LITTLE PONY cartoons after that!


...i mean that in a good way, btw.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 17 September 2013 - 03:01 PM, said:

Gah... CAINE'S LAW followed by BLINDSIGHT... you'll be so brain-dead you'll have to watch watching MY LITTLE PONY cartoons after that!


...i mean that in a good way, btw.

Er...are you saying that the one two punch of CAINE'S LAW followed by BLINDSIGHT creates...Bronies?

That is...incongruous.

[Abyss]

ok fine poor choice of simple-minded childrens' cartoon... how about THE FLINTSTONES?

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 17 September 2013 - 03:01 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 16 September 2013 - 08:22 PM, said:

.... I will soon have finished Cold Days. Not sure what to read after that... My immediate choice is a MBOTF reread I have been promising myself for a while, especially as I haven't read OST, BnB or FoD...

Tough call... i would go ahead and read OST, BnB and FoD... AND THEN start the reread.

Really? Cos... I have pretty much forgotten like, everything about these books! Thought a reread first would get me set up for who is who etc.

Quote

Tiste Simeon, on 16 September 2013 - 08:22 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 September 2013 - 07:47 PM, said:

worry, on 16 September 2013 - 07:39 PM, said:

Finished The Scar. Excellent, top to bottom.
...

Told ya so.

It's been a while but I seem to remember being quite disappointed by the ending of that book (this is Mievilles Scar right?) I can't quite remember it but I definitely remember thinking it was a let down compared to the rest of the book. I mean that sword that attacks in every possibility is flippin' sweet, but... meh... maybe I should read it again?

Well...

worry, on 16 September 2013 - 08:37 PM, said:

The end is what sold me on it. It was exactly what I wanted (not necessarily what I predicted, mind you). I certainly think it's a stark YMMV situation, but who knows, you might enjoy it more on a reread. I believe it's possible.

polishgenius, on 16 September 2013 - 08:57 PM, said:

The Scar has been my 'reread once a year' book since I first read it. Gonna have to buy it for my e-reader soon, coz my hardcopy's in another country and the read's about due. Love every word, it's glorious.

dietl, on 16 September 2013 - 09:11 PM, said:

...Edit: I love The Scar!

...you have your answer Tiste.

It seems I do! Will probably get around to a reread one day.

[dietl]

No, I think Abyss was right. MLP makes a whole lot of sense. Caine's Law was all about horses after all...