[Ukjent]

So what you are saying is that is should be read as Malazan? Then I better just buy the rest of the series asap.

[polishgenius]

Graablick, on 11 January 2014 - 11:33 PM, said:

So what you are saying is that is should be read as Malazan? Then I better just buy the rest of the series asap.

It's a lot denser and more obscure than Malazan, but essentially, yeah.

[Ain't_It_Just_]

HELLHOLE by Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert is sitting on my bookshelf eyeing me accusingly...I may just start it.

[HiddenOne]

Finished Blood & Silver by J Tuck over the weekend, a friend dropped it off, so I figured why not. Kind of reminds me of Dresden at times; it's urban fantasy - lots of gun toting & lycanthropes, large caliber silver bullets, fist fights with monsters. It held my interest enough to read it all, but I don't think I'll spend any money on the series. Sort of pulpy in the instant gratification of the action lust way, had some horror elements as well.

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

Burning through lots of comics, because I grabbed too many from bargain bins, Amazon sales, and discounted pre-orders last year, and didn't read enough...

1. The adventures of a comic-con girl graphic novel by Dana Braziel-Solovy and Matthew Spradlin - Hungover cosplay girl searches for her missing comic book.

2. Body Bags: Theories of Violence graphic novel by Jason Pearson - The further adventures of father/daughter team Clownface and Panda. Think Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, except Hit-Girl is older and...shall we say...indecent, and they are bounty hunters instead of superheroes. Anyway, fun over-the-top violence.

3. Dangerous Curves: Comics' Sexiest Bad Girls edited by Comics Buyer's Guide - More indecency. Just kidding, most comic book women dress appropriately. Except the New 52 Starfire. You've outgrown that bikini, Starfire!

4. Grimm Fairy Tales: The Dream Eater Saga, Volume One by Raven Gregory - Okay, the GFT books are borderline indecent as well. Now I'm starting to look like a perv. I swear I don't take cleavage into account when choosing comics. It's more about getting 200+ pages for $1. Anyway, these pale in comparison to Vertigo's Fables series.

5. Love in Hell manga by Reiji Suzumaru - Well, yet again, more fan service than I typically go for. This one's not my fault. Most manga is pervy. This one was genuinely funny, though.

Time to read some Sunday School comics to cleanse my palate.

6. Young Allies graphic novel by Sean McKeever - Oh, hey, fully-clothed young Marvel C-list superheroes (Arana the Spider-Girl, etc.) have some age appropriate adventures.

7. Works of Wonder by Michael Whelan - Loved the art, especially his Asimov stuff.

And now for some books without pictures:

8. King Raven by Stephen R. Lawhead - I'm a Lawhead fanboy...but...I just found this Robin Hood retelling boring as compared to his King Arthur stuff...

9. The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May - Good, but far less complicated than what I was expecting, given what others have said about it. Maybe the first novel is setup and it gets more Malazanesque later on.

10. The Ringworld Throne by Larry Niven - I like these books, but it always seems like I start to lose interest about halfway through. And this was the weakest of the series so far.

11. Vacuum Diagrams by Stephen Baxter - Ditto above. Also, harder to follow, maybe because it's supposedly more of a collection of short stories than a cohesive novel.

[Abyss]

Kruppe, on 13 January 2014 - 08:30 PM, said:

...
9. The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May - Good, but far less complicated than what I was expecting, given what others have said about it. Maybe the first novel is setup and it gets more Malazanesque later on....

I would never say it hits Malazanesque levels, but the series does get more complex and interesting.

[CowboyYojimbo]

Enjoying The Name of the Wind much more now

[Morgoth]

I finished Millenium by Tom Holland, and I really enjoyed it. Holland sometimes interpret events different than many other historians without elaborating on that much, but he has a charming style of writing that makes Reading his non-fiction almost like Reading regular fiction. It's pretty great.

I'm now 50 pages into City of Fortune - How Venice Gained and Lost a Naval Empire by Roger Crowley. So far so good. His style too keeps you entertained.

[Ukjent]

Done with the first volume of the Book of the New Sun, guess I have to get the rest know.

[Ain't_It_Just_]

Briar King, on 12 January 2014 - 04:05 AM, said:

Is that a Dune book?

Nah, it's a standalone. I tried reading it a year ago and got bored, but I'm feeling better about it now

[Serenity]

Since last visit:

Tatja Grimm's World by Vernor Vinge - a bit rough around the edges but enjoyable enough

The Once and Future King by T. H. White - really enjoyed this, apart from The Book of Merlyn, which I pretty much hated

Dawnthief by James Barclay - thought this was very poor, especially in terms of characterisation. Doubt very much that I'll read any further in this series

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher - fecking loved it, probably my favourite Dresden so far. Polka will never die!


Now about 400 pages into Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

This post has been edited by Serenity: 14 January 2014 - 02:57 PM

[QuickTidal]

Serenity, on 14 January 2014 - 02:55 PM, said:

The Once and Future King by T. H. White - really enjoyed this, apart from The Book of Merlyn, which I pretty much hated

Being a fan of Arthurian tales, I've surprisingly never read this. Glad to hear it's good. I need to find myself a decent copy.


I'm finishing up the second half of SHARPE'S PREY by Cornwell, and not sure what I'll read after that in the gap between now and my Bday in which I've asked for a few books.

[Abyss]

Serenity, on 14 January 2014 - 02:55 PM, said:

...Dawnthief by James Barclay - thought this was very poor, especially in terms of characterisation. Doubt very much that I'll read any further in this series

Sadly, all i can tell you is that the books slowly get better and the second trilo is actually quite good, but yeah, the first one is a slog at times.

Quote

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher - fecking loved it, probably my favourite Dresden so far. Polka will never die!

It remains my fave for all the obvious reasons, Polka included. Great great book.


Meanwhile, i shelved Fahy's PANDEMONIUM for now because Clines' EX-PURGATORY dl'd this am!!!!!

20 pages in, utterly hooked. Slower start that the preior books but that works because we actually know the characters. So happy!

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 14 January 2014 - 03:18 PM, said:

20 pages in, utterly hooked. Slower start that the preior books but that works because we actually know the characters. So happy!

Preior? Is that like a Priory but with superhero zombies?

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 14 January 2014 - 04:25 PM, said:

Abyss, on 14 January 2014 - 03:18 PM, said:

20 pages in, utterly hooked. Slower start that the preior books but that works because we actually know the characters. So happy!

Preior? Is that like a Priory but with superhero zombies?

Pedant.

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

Abyss, on 13 January 2014 - 08:59 PM, said:

Kruppe, on 13 January 2014 - 08:30 PM, said:

...
9. The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May - Good, but far less complicated than what I was expecting, given what others have said about it. Maybe the first novel is setup and it gets more Malazanesque later on....

I would never say it hits Malazanesque levels, but the series does get more complex and interesting.

Given what I'd heard, I was expecting to practically have to take notes while reading. But I found it to be a very straightforward story with a modest cast of characters. An enjoyable read, certainly. Just a simpler one than I was expecting (and hoping) for. (Malazan has spoiled me - making me crave more challenging reads.) Anyway, I'm glad to know that it gets more complex.

[Abyss]

Kruppe, on 14 January 2014 - 05:26 PM, said:

Abyss, on 13 January 2014 - 08:59 PM, said:

Kruppe, on 13 January 2014 - 08:30 PM, said:

...
9. The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May - Good, but far less complicated than what I was expecting, given what others have said about it. Maybe the first novel is setup and it gets more Malazanesque later on....

I would never say it hits Malazanesque levels, but the series does get more complex and interesting.

Given what I'd heard, I was expecting to practically have to take notes while reading. But I found it to be a very straightforward story with a modest cast of characters. An enjoyable read, certainly. Just a simpler one than I was expecting (and hoping) for. (Malazan has spoiled me - making me crave more challenging reads.) Anyway, I'm glad to know that it gets more complex.

Definitely, but i never found it note-taking-required.
I will, however, note that at one point in a later book you're going to feel like you missed something important. You didn't. It's explained in a later series.

[Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast]

Well I've just started Deadhouse Gates again.

[Aptorian]

Finished Best Served Cold a couple of hours ago.

Fantastic book. I'd give it 5 out of 5 sacked cities.

It felt a bit long in the middle and I thought the supernatural players were unnecessary but otherwise I think this book is a modern classic. I wouldn't change a thing about it.

[Aptorian]

As much as I enjoyed BSC I think I have had enough Abercrombie for a while.

I was going to start reading Moon over Soho but just discovered that I also have Gun Machine by Warren Ellis on the Kindle. I am reading that first.