[QuickTidal]

Started REPUBLIC OF THIEVES....so far, so good.

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

worry, on 21 October 2013 - 09:41 PM, said:

I have just started Iron Council myself, so we'll see how it goes.

Let me know what you think, I'm curious. It came to me highly recommended by someone whose opinion I respect- he introduced me to the Malazan series after all.

[Baco Xtath]

Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy, on 22 October 2013 - 04:35 PM, said:

worry, on 21 October 2013 - 09:41 PM, said:

I have just started Iron Council myself, so we'll see how it goes.

Let me know what you think, I'm curious. It came to me highly recommended by someone whose opinion I respect- he introduced me to the Malazan series after all.

I found it weaker than his other Bas Lag books but, that said, I thought it was an excellent book. Definitely worth a read, especially if you like Mieville.

[Stalker]

Just started Dan Simmons' The Abominable. I'm already hooked by the intro and can't wait to keep going. I think this, Republic of Thieves, and River of Stars were my most anticipated books this year. The others have been great reads so far, here's hoping this one keeps the streak alive.

Also cool to note is that Tower Lord, the book following Anthony Ryan's great debut Blood Song, is officially set for a July 1, 2014 release. Sweet!

[amphibian]

Baco Xtath, on 22 October 2013 - 05:22 PM, said:

I found it weaker than his other Bas Lag books but, that said, I thought it was an excellent book. Definitely worth a read, especially if you like Mieville.

Some of Iron Council can hit you differently if you've had a long term relationship or had a few medium term ones go bad. And also if you've ever tried to get a group of people to go do something complex over a long period of time. It's very much a book written by someone sick of small group politics, yet still hopeful.

I too thought Iron Council was bad, then I re-read it a few years later. It improved considerably - to the point where I think in terms of writing, it's better than Perdido Street Station, but is less original or more reliant upon the events/concepts of the other two Bas Lag books and thus weakened that way.

It's a complex book and I'm glad Mieville wrote it.

[JPK]

QuickTidal, on 22 October 2013 - 11:07 AM, said:

Started REPUBLIC OF THIEVES....so far, so good.

Huh, started it today too. Had been nervous cause of the reviews going in, but I'm at the 80 page Mark and I'm getting angry every time I have to put it down...

[QuickTidal]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 23 October 2013 - 06:37 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 October 2013 - 11:07 AM, said:

Started REPUBLIC OF THIEVES....so far, so good.

Huh, started it today too. Had been nervous cause of the reviews going in, but I'm at the 80 page Mark and I'm getting angry every time I have to put it down...

Yup, me too. That's EXACTLY how I felt reading LIES...and not so much reading Book 2...so yeah, this is DEFO a return to form.

[Mrs Savagely Wishy Washy]

amphibian, on 23 October 2013 - 03:54 AM, said:

Baco Xtath, on 22 October 2013 - 05:22 PM, said:

I found it weaker than his other Bas Lag books but, that said, I thought it was an excellent book. Definitely worth a read, especially if you like Mieville.

Some of Iron Council can hit you differently if you've had a long term relationship or had a few medium term ones go bad. And also if you've ever tried to get a group of people to go do something complex over a long period of time. It's very much a book written by someone sick of small group politics, yet still hopeful.

I too thought Iron Council was bad, then I re-read it a few years later. It improved considerably - to the point where I think in terms of writing, it's better than Perdido Street Station, but is less original or more reliant upon the events/concepts of the other two Bas Lag books and thus weakened that way.

It's a complex book and I'm glad Mieville wrote it.

Yes- that's a great summary, and I can formulate now better why I didn't like this book so much. Most of the characters really annoyed me because all of them were so busy with their own agendas and manipulating others around them to get their way. I couldn't sympathise or empathise much with the main character and his love story neither,

Spoiler

because he spent all his life following someone around who didn't care about him at all, and despite the fact that he was fully aware of the situation, he let it happen and followed like a sheep to the butcher.

.

[amphibian]

That's a great point, Mrs. Savagely Wishy Washy - but I actually grew to like it because I realized that I was getting ticked off at a fictional character's actions and the unfairness of it all.

That's good writing.

Although the same thing in JK Rowling books has me groaning and wondering why people made her a billionaire. Go figure...

[Mentalist]

I finally finished "Les Miserables". Man, that ending.....

It's been a while since I was blown away by an ending like that.

now that i'm on historical kick, I think i'm gonna delve straight into some more pseudo-history with Baroque cycle Volume 2: The confusion

[Morgoth]

Elmore Leonard's Rayland. I needed something light and fun after Fante finished using my emotional state as a violin.

[Traveller]

Briar King, on 24 October 2013 - 03:27 AM, said:

Holy shit BSC is so SO awesome! I've heard The Heros is even better though. I ll prob jump straight to that one after.

There are some awesome scenes in there... and I really love his dark sense of humour, I always find myself laughing at things that really shouldn't be funny but he just writes so well.

And yes, bet you'll be wanting Heroes next.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 24 October 2013 - 06:49 AM

[D'rek]

I finished The Quantum Thief. Holy crap that was exhilarating! I think if I'm optimistic I understood maybe three quarters of it, and it was still fantastic. Fractal Prince is definitely going to be in my next book order. I'm sad the only thread on here about it has spoilers for both books so I don't dare go in there yet.

I don't know what to read now. Thinking I'll start Replay by Ken Grimwood since the grounding in the near-present without magic or advanced technology will be enough of a change of setting and style.

This post has been edited by D'rek: 25 October 2013 - 02:49 PM

[Malaclypse]

Morgoth, on 20 October 2013 - 01:46 AM, said:

Ah, the delicious taste of passive aggressive smilies

Not exactly sure what you are referring to here but just between us, 'flavour' in place of 'taste' would be better, imo.

Tiste Simeon, on 20 October 2013 - 06:50 AM, said:

Malaclypse, on 19 October 2013 - 08:30 PM, said:

edit; I was on hiatus from here because I was so upset about the growing influence of people like Tiste Simeon - I would log onto the forum and see that he'd posted in every forum, from top to bottom, just so he could see his own name all the way down the forum homepage. I'm still angry about it. Anyway, so yeah, I know all about Westeros and I miss all of my old mafia mates

I'm still surprised how friendly you were when I met you IRL!

But yeah I was pretty annoying then (you probably think I still am no doubt) Its part of the reason I don't post so frequently now (that & how full life has become...)

When I first laid eyes on you coming through my gate, my eyes glazed over a bit and I had to suppress the rage if I'm being honest. It's a good thing for all concerned that you were well-behaved that day. In a way, you brought me and Hetan together in our mutual hatred of you and I accept you're are not as massive a douchenozzle now as you were then. That's about as close as we're going to get.

Briar King, on 21 October 2013 - 01:48 AM, said:

Malaclypse, on 19 October 2013 - 09:19 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 19 October 2013 - 08:39 PM, said:

Fair enough. Fair enough. I'm quite impressed you get banned, it's pretty difficult...

I went by 'Green Pig' when I was there

edit: and now I'm feeling nostalgic - maybe I'll head over there and see if I can run into anybody I used to know and try to avoid converse with the faithful.

second edit: no, sorry can't do it. I ought to have anticipated that there would be a huge influx of Game of Thrones-noobs *shudders* I can't cope with that shit.

Just think about all the noobs that will be there after the porn parody releases.

Haha, now that is a funny thought

[Tiste Simeon]

Malaclypse, on 25 October 2013 - 11:09 PM, said:

When I first laid eyes on you coming through my gate, my eyes glazed over a bit and I had to suppress the rage if I'm being honest. It's a good thing for all concerned that you were well-behaved that day. In a way, you brought me and Hetan together in our mutual hatred of you and I accept you're are not as massive a douchenozzle now as you were then. That's about as close as we're going get.

You make me feel all warm & fuzzy inside, as I crave your approval...

On topic-related news, reading MBOTF with the Tor reread is ace! Really enjoying the discussion between the readers & I am picking up on lots of things I may have missed or being reminded about things to come...

[Use Of Weapons]

Currently reading:

Bujold: _Brothers In Arms_ -- this is where the Vorkosigan universe starts its first real climb towards its best. The three books in internal chronology of which this is the first -- the other two are _Mirror Dance_ and _Memory_, and are waiting in the wings -- are simply the best sequence of space opera I have ever read, as well as some of the best character studies, with tremendously quotable lines and intensely memorabl;e scenes that stay with you for years after reading. hugely looking forward to reading them all again.

While those are on the go, Tad Williams's _Happy Hour In Hell_, the second Bobby Dollar novel, is on hold.

[Imperial Historian]

Use Of Weapons, on 26 October 2013 - 09:39 AM, said:

Currently reading:

Bujold: _Brothers In Arms_ -- this is where the Vorkosigan universe starts its first real climb towards its best. The three books in internal chronology of which this is the first -- the other two are _Mirror Dance_ and _Memory_, and are waiting in the wings -- are simply the best sequence of space opera I have ever read, as well as some of the best character studies, with tremendously quotable lines and intensely memorabl;e scenes that stay with you for years after reading. hugely looking forward to reading them all again.

While those are on the go, Tad Williams's _Happy Hour In Hell_, the second Bobby Dollar novel, is on hold.

Enjoy, personally I think the komarr/civil campaign duology is better... But it isn't really space opera anymore at that point (I once tried to describe them and the best I could get was detective-scifi-political thriller-regency romance-comedy, those books take genre bending to a new level)

[Tiste Simeon]

Imperial Historian, on 26 October 2013 - 10:12 AM, said:

Use Of Weapons, on 26 October 2013 - 09:39 AM, said:

Currently reading:

Bujold: _Brothers In Arms_ -- this is where the Vorkosigan universe starts its first real climb towards its best. The three books in internal chronology of which this is the first -- the other two are _Mirror Dance_ and _Memory_, and are waiting in the wings -- are simply the best sequence of space opera I have ever read, as well as some of the best character studies, with tremendously quotable lines and intensely memorabl;e scenes that stay with you for years after reading. hugely looking forward to reading them all again.

While those are on the go, Tad Williams's _Happy Hour In Hell_, the second Bobby Dollar novel, is on hold.

Enjoy, personally I think the komarr/civil campaign duology is better... But it isn't really space opera anymore at that point (I once tried to describe them and the best I could get was detective-scifi-political thriller-regency romance-comedy, those books take genre bending to a new level)

Not heard of those books but they sound ace! Will be checking them out!

Edit: Bujold seems to have a mass of books on Kindle where would be the best place to start?

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 26 October 2013 - 11:11 AM

[Imperial Historian]

Tiste Simeon, on 26 October 2013 - 11:07 AM, said:

Imperial Historian, on 26 October 2013 - 10:12 AM, said:

Use Of Weapons, on 26 October 2013 - 09:39 AM, said:

Currently reading:

Bujold: _Brothers In Arms_ -- this is where the Vorkosigan universe starts its first real climb towards its best. The three books in internal chronology of which this is the first -- the other two are _Mirror Dance_ and _Memory_, and are waiting in the wings -- are simply the best sequence of space opera I have ever read, as well as some of the best character studies, with tremendously quotable lines and intensely memorabl;e scenes that stay with you for years after reading. hugely looking forward to reading them all again.

While those are on the go, Tad Williams's _Happy Hour In Hell_, the second Bobby Dollar novel, is on hold.

Enjoy, personally I think the komarr/civil campaign duology is better... But it isn't really space opera anymore at that point (I once tried to describe them and the best I could get was detective-scifi-political thriller-regency romance-comedy, those books take genre bending to a new level)

Not heard of those books but they sound ace! Will be checking them out!

Edit: Bujold seems to have a mass of books on Kindle where would be the best place to start?

Well the vorkosigan series which we are talking about officially starts with Shards of honor and barrayar which are about the main character, miles vorkosigan, parents, personally I wouldn't recommend starting with those (as they are her first books, and in my view some of the weakest, though others would disagree, it's worth coming back to read them later, as individuals in them show up in all the rest of the series, personally I enjoyed the miles books more knowing that there was a lot of backstory that I (and indeed the main character of the rest of the books) didn't know)

The main series, with miles vorkosigan, starts with warriors apprentice which is where I started, and would recommend starting.

Then continue chronologically from there. Here is the list http://www.goodreads...a-chronological

Baen used to have most of the series available to freely download as ebooks, but I can't find that anymore.

[Traveller]

I'm reading Blood Song.

Ok so far I guess, feels a bit familiar though. I hope it picks up a bit.