[Malaclypse]

House of Chains - it's awesome. I suppose I should explain that I never re-read things due to my exceptional memory but I reckon I've got old enough and my brain has deteriorated enough so that I can enjoy re-reads so I'm making the best of it and it's pretty awesome actually. I started with Memories of Ice and I'm going to skip Midnight Tides and go straight to Bonehunters - I'm excited about all this which I acknowledge is kinda pathetic but fuck it, might as well reinforce my already strongly-held opinions - it's what old people do right?

Ha!

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 22 March 2014 - 03:12 AM, said:

I usually put a book on my 360 at the halfway pt of whatever book I'm reading to motivate me to get to it. There's nothing there ATM cause I'm trying to debate if The Emperor Blades or Blood Song grace my console.

BLOOD SONG. SO. EFFING. GOOD.

[polishgenius]

Instead of either of those, you should read The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway, purely because I haven't recommended it in a while and it's shameful how few of you on this board seem to have read it, given that it's probably the best SFF book to come out in the last ten years.

[Chance]

Starting Working God's Mischief by Cook long since I had this high hopes for a book.

[firvulag]

Nearly finished book one of the Shoal Sequence, Stealing Light. Pretty good space opera, not read sci fi for a while but liking this

Btw, author is Gary Gibson

[Coco with marshmallows]

polishgenius, on 22 March 2014 - 07:39 PM, said:

Instead of either of those, you should read The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway, purely because I haven't recommended it in a while and it's shameful how few of you on this board seem to have read it, given that it's probably the best SFF book to come out in the last ten years.

I read it and it was okay, didn't think it was particularly mind blowing though.

Spoiler

Saw the twist coming

[Ukjent]

Done with the second book of instrumentalities of the night. Cook is just pure awesomeness.

[QuickTidal]

Jeff Vandermeer's ANNIHILATION is only $1.99 for Kindle on amazon.ca right now. You kind of can't NOT buy it at that price!

So I bought it, and will begin it later tonight.

[JPK]

Finished both Pyramids and Absolute Sandman vol 2 today. I'm really really wishing I had Guards! Guards! already, but I feel I need to knock my trpfh down a little before I buy anything else.

I'm starting Absolute Sandman Vol 3 and The Last Guardian by Gemmell now.

[QuickTidal]

Finished Vandermeer's ANNIHILATION. It's only about 185pgs, and is the first part of a completed trilogy all of which will be released this year. It was quite good. Spoiler thoughts below:

Spoiler

I'm not usually a fan of this type of book. The cerebral, change-your-POV, encroaching weirdness sort of narrative, but this was one heck of a read. Being immersed in the main character to the level that her "change" is gradual, helps with this facet. I was most fascinated by the leftover journals, the lighthouse, the supposed "video" from the first expedition, and the LOST-ish style mysteries, more than I was with the ecosystem aspect. The "tower" was a solidly entertaining thing, and I loved the protag's conversation by the lighthouse with the Psychologist.

I also can't help but wonder at something that is blatantly placed in the story, but never mentioned again...the Eleventh Expeditioners who "came back" were Area X Doppelgangers, right? Well our protagonist has sex with her "supposed" husband the night he returns...perhaps she was already attuned to Area X and didn't even need the spores, or maybe the spores aren't even "changing" her...maybe that happened a lot earlier?

Anyways, a great book that I'm going to be thinking about for a long while yet. Bring on the second book!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 23 March 2014 - 02:54 PM

[QuickTidal]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 23 March 2014 - 06:35 AM, said:

I'm starting Absolute Sandman Vol 3.

Vol. 3 contains my second fave SANDMAN story, RAMADAN (my first fave is always THREE SEPTEMBER'S AND A JANUARY). Enjoy that one!

[Baco Xtath]

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2014 - 02:53 PM, said:

Finished Vandermeer's ANNIHILATION. It's only about 185pgs, and is the first part of a completed trilogy all of which will be released this year. It was quite good. Spoiler thoughts below:

Spoiler

I'm not usually a fan of this type of book. The cerebral, change-your-POV, encroaching weirdness sort of narrative, but this was one heck of a read. Being immersed in the main character to the level that her "change" is gradual, helps with this facet. I was most fascinated by the leftover journals, the lighthouse, the supposed "video" from the first expedition, and the LOST-ish style mysteries, more than I was with the ecosystem aspect. The "tower" was a solidly entertaining thing, and I loved the protag's conversation by the lighthouse with the Psychologist.

I also can't help but wonder at something that is blatantly placed in the story, but never mentioned again...the Eleventh Expeditioners who "came back" were Area X Doppelgangers, right? Well our protagonist has sex with her "supposed" husband the night he returns...perhaps she was already attuned to Area X and didn't even need the spores, or maybe the spores aren't even "changing" her...maybe that happened a lot earlier?

Anyways, a great book that I'm going to be thinking about for a long while yet. Bring on the second book!

the next book, Authority, is from the perspective of "Control", the head of the Southern Reach, as he looks through all the film, journals...etc of all the earlier expeditions. Ought to be awesome.

[QuickTidal]

Baco Xtath, on 23 March 2014 - 04:47 PM, said:

the next book, Authority, is from the perspective of "Control", the head of the Southern Reach, as he looks through all the film, journals...etc of all the earlier expeditions. Ought to be awesome.

That sounds REALLY awesome. I was already looking forward to it, but that makes me even more jazzed to read it.

[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2014 - 02:53 PM, said:

Spoiler

I also can't help but wonder at something that is blatantly placed in the story, but never mentioned again...the Eleventh Expeditioners who "came back" were Area X Doppelgangers, right? Well our protagonist has sex with her "supposed" husband the night he returns...perhaps she was already attuned to Area X and didn't even need the spores, or maybe the spores aren't even "changing" her...maybe that happened a lot earlier?

Spoiler

I'm not sure about that. They're definitely doppelgangers, obviously- presumably they got out through the 'door' at the bottom of the tower, since the procession into there is the last time the husband's journal mentions seeing them - but I can't recall any indication that she was changing prior. That said, it's implied that Southern Reach only took her on because of her husband, so maybe they realised or suspected he had affected her in some way.

I'm so curious about what Area X actually is. I mean, obviously it's not of our world given the means of entry and the borders not ending where they should, but there are questions like, for example, just how do the area X bosses have access to the journals and stories of expeditions that never come back?
My first thought was virtual reality of some sort, but that doesn't line up with the area interacting with the real world, obviously.

VanderMeer is a maddening genius. Amazing how different this book is to the Ambergris sequence.

[Baco Xtath]

Just finished Red Rising by Pierce Brown. I just happened upon this through amazon's recommendations and can't believe I've not seen (or noticed) it mentioned in these parts. Yes the protagonist is 16 years old but this in no way a YA book - not even close. It's sort of like a Hunger Games and then the protagonist has to go to a school that ends of being like Lord of the Flies. I know, I know, I should write book blurbs. But, seriously, this was a great listen. The narrator was fantastic and overall I give this one five stars.

Now to finish Canticle and start the Red Knight.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 23 March 2014 - 05:18 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2014 - 02:53 PM, said:

Spoiler

I also can't help but wonder at something that is blatantly placed in the story, but never mentioned again...the Eleventh Expeditioners who "came back" were Area X Doppelgangers, right? Well our protagonist has sex with her "supposed" husband the night he returns...perhaps she was already attuned to Area X and didn't even need the spores, or maybe the spores aren't even "changing" her...maybe that happened a lot earlier?

Spoiler

I'm not sure about that. They're definitely doppelgangers, obviously- presumably they got out through the 'door' at the bottom of the tower, since the procession into there is the last time the husband's journal mentions seeing them - but I can't recall any indication that she was changing prior. That said, it's implied that Southern Reach only took her on because of her husband, so maybe they realised or suspected he had affected her in some way.

I'm so curious about what Area X actually is. I mean, obviously it's not of our world given the means of entry and the borders not ending where they should, but there are questions like, for example, just how do the area X bosses have access to the journals and stories of expeditions that never come back?
My first thought was virtual reality of some sort, but that doesn't line up with the area interacting with the real world, obviously.

VanderMeer is a maddening genius. Amazing how different this book is to the Ambergris sequence.

Indeed. Point.

Spoiler

Also, I have a feeling that the Lighthouse Keeper / Crawler has a much larger role that we don't yet know about. Who was he? How did he come to be the keeper of a Lighthouse in such an insane place? How did he become the Crawler? To be honest, I thought the shadows of appendages she saw within the Crawler were going to be the Linguist from Expedition Eleven who told the others to "stay away from him" as he retreated further down the tower steps.

Seriously, I'm going to be thinking about this book for MONTHS.

Now I'm interested in reading more Vandermeer. The guy is insane, in a good way.

[Baco Xtath]

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2014 - 08:54 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 23 March 2014 - 05:18 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2014 - 02:53 PM, said:

Spoiler

I also can't help but wonder at something that is blatantly placed in the story, but never mentioned again...the Eleventh Expeditioners who "came back" were Area X Doppelgangers, right? Well our protagonist has sex with her "supposed" husband the night he returns...perhaps she was already attuned to Area X and didn't even need the spores, or maybe the spores aren't even "changing" her...maybe that happened a lot earlier?

Spoiler

I'm not sure about that. They're definitely doppelgangers, obviously- presumably they got out through the 'door' at the bottom of the tower, since the procession into there is the last time the husband's journal mentions seeing them - but I can't recall any indication that she was changing prior. That said, it's implied that Southern Reach only took her on because of her husband, so maybe they realised or suspected he had affected her in some way.

I'm so curious about what Area X actually is. I mean, obviously it's not of our world given the means of entry and the borders not ending where they should, but there are questions like, for example, just how do the area X bosses have access to the journals and stories of expeditions that never come back?
My first thought was virtual reality of some sort, but that doesn't line up with the area interacting with the real world, obviously.

VanderMeer is a maddening genius. Amazing how different this book is to the Ambergris sequence.

Indeed. Point.

Spoiler

Also, I have a feeling that the Lighthouse Keeper / Crawler has a much larger role that we don't yet know about. Who was he? How did he come to be the keeper of a Lighthouse in such an insane place? How did he become the Crawler? To be honest, I thought the shadows of appendages she saw within the Crawler were going to be the Linguist from Expedition Eleven who told the others to "stay away from him" as he retreated further down the tower steps.

Seriously, I'm going to be thinking about this book for MONTHS.

Now I'm interested in reading more Vandermeer. The guy is insane, in a good way.

Finch was one of my favorite books last year but you've got to read Shriek first, which is in itself awesome. Veniss Underground is a novella that is insane but beautiful.

[Puck]

Veniss Underground is one of my absolute favourites.

On topic, I'm working my way through The Farthest Shore by LeGuin. The Tombs of Atuan ended up being surprisingly readable, and, also surprisingly, I did not end up hating the protagonist, so now I figure I might as well finish the quartet und then see what I think about it.

[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2014 - 08:54 PM, said:

Now I'm interested in reading more Vandermeer. The guy is insane, in a good way.

Defo read more by him, but be aware going in that his other books are nothing at all like this. I mean, they're all mad, but the Ambergris sequence is less the conspiracy thriller angle, more a stumble through a fever-dream (and all three books in it are totally different from each other two - the first isn't even a novel, it's a short story collection. It's not strictly necessary to read it before Shriek and Finch, but two of the stories at least are pretty important to Shriek).



Haven't read Veniss Underground yet, I should get on that.

He's just so good at the sheer writing. Loves to take chances with prose, plot and style, and seems to hit gold every time.

[Morgoth]

Yeah, read City of Saints and Madmen first. It is fantastic, and sets the foundation for Shriek and Finch.