[amphibian]

Maark, on 21 March 2015 - 01:27 PM, said:

Honestly? A little bit of a slog. The pieces are all there, but... the black glue that should be holding it all together isn't there.

THE ONLY RULES OF THE SLOG, WIZARD, ARE THE RULES OF THE SLOG.

No sobbers. No limpers. The Captain gets the first taste.

[amphibian]

Briar King, on 21 March 2015 - 07:55 PM, said:

Black Jizz? I don't remember that! Is it in 1st 3 bks? Which one? Whoever that is needs to see a Euroligist asap.

It's a feature of the artificially created beings the Consult uses, from the Sranc on upwards to the skin spies and so on.

I'm not sure why the Consult put this specific design feature in, but Bakker uses it as a way to "otherize" the artificial beings and to gross out a little. It only shows up now and then because the Sranc are basically the LotR orcs taken to a further point.

To those who haven't read Bakker's Second Apocalypse books: this sounds gross, but it works within Bakker's universe.

[polishgenius]

amphibian, on 21 March 2015 - 08:19 PM, said:

To those who haven't read Bakker's Second Apocalypse books: this sounds gross, but it works within Bakker's universe.

Yeah, but that's because Bakker's universe is gross.


Don't get me wrong, I love the books (especially the second trilogy so far), but... well, ewwwwww.




Essentially, it's Frank Herbert and HR Giger gatecrashing Middle-Earth.

Quote

Touch.... did I say fascinating? Its captivating. Some of the best stuff I have read recently

Have you read Harry August? I found that better, though I did like Touch of course.

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 21 March 2015 - 08:41 PM, said:

amphibian, on 21 March 2015 - 08:19 PM, said:

To those who haven't read Bakker's Second Apocalypse books: this sounds gross, but it works within Bakker's universe.

Yeah, but that's because Bakker's universe is gross.


Don't get me wrong, I love the books (especially the second trilogy so far), but... well, ewwwwww.




Essentially, it's Frank Herbert and HR Giger gatecrashing Middle-Earth.

Quote

Touch.... did I say fascinating? Its captivating. Some of the best stuff I have read recently

Have you read Harry August? I found that better, though I did like Touch of course.

No, I haven't read Harry August, mainly because I wasn't aware of this persona of Kate Griffin until Touch. Now that I am enjoying Touch I will definitely go for Harry August

[worry]

My reading has slowed somewhat this year, but I've recently read:
Hunter's Run by GRRM et al: Pretty good. Nothing revolutionary, but solid character work and would make a good sci-fi flick.
The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins: Graphic novel, simple b+w but pretty clever style, and a decent moral.
The Tale of the Dark Warrior by Skywalker (from this very board): Some interesting characters. The second half is better than the first half. Some of the dialogue is a little on the nose, especially early on, but there are also some effective mysteries that pack the right punch at the reveals.
Orb Sceptre Throne by ICE (reread): I liked it the first time, and just about loved it the second time. Started it to go along with TOR reread but couldn't stop. Not focusing on the anticipation of all the possible whats makes it easier to appreciate the hows and whys, and they by and large click. There are still a few might-have-beens, particularly the obvious one but it's not the one I most wanted:

Spoiler

Obvious one = Torvald and Karsa. Personally preferred Tor's Moranth mission, the reunion can wait for the trilogy.
One I wish existed = Dassem and Brood. Lots of ways it could go, but it should have happened some way.
Also, I liked the crying Malazans even more the second time. Haters can eat it.

Next up: Eternal Sky book 3. Excited to see how it all comes to a head.

[Andorion]

Finished Touch, now on to Ian Tregillis' Mechanical.

[Maark Abbott]

amphibian, on 21 March 2015 - 07:32 PM, said:

Maark, on 21 March 2015 - 01:27 PM, said:

Honestly? A little bit of a slog. The pieces are all there, but... the black glue that should be holding it all together isn't there.

THE ONLY RULES OF THE SLOG, WIZARD, ARE THE RULES OF THE SLOG.

No sobbers. No limpers. The Captain gets the first taste.

What about Soulcatchers?

[QuickTidal]

Finished TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER PART II today. A really solid ending to the story, lots to enjoy and lots to ponder over. I think there is probably around 150-200 pages in the second volume that could have been sliced out for pacing...but otherwise it was a strong finale and has made a Tad Williams fan of me.

Starting into PYRAMIDS by Pratchett.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 22 March 2015 - 05:15 PM

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 22 March 2015 - 09:53 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 March 2015 - 05:15 PM, said:

Finished TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER PART II today. A really solid ending to the story, lots to enjoy and lots to ponder over. I think there is probably around 150-200 pages in the second volume that could have been sliced out for pacing...but otherwise it was a strong finale and has made a Tad Williams fan of me.

Starting into PYRAMIDS by Pratchett.

Was that with Simon underground that you mean?

Yep. It's almost a mirror to the multi chapter sequence in the first book that screws the pacing.

[worry]

I don't remember the order of how these things happened, but if you're talking about the waterwheel section, I cannot believe it. That was definitely, and far and away, my favorite sequence in the series.

[QuickTidal]

No, the waterwheel stuff was great...it was all the chapters that lead into that with him wandering (before he runs into Elias, and then Inch) underground that are paced poorly. The waterwheel section is brilliant....but getting there was a slog for a while.

[acesn8s]

Briar King, on 22 March 2015 - 11:24 PM, said:

I hated that shit. Williams is the only author that can make me clostriphobic. It's a big reason bk 3 of Shadow March was so hard for me to get through and I've had bk 4 on the pile for 4 yrs now. I hate underground shit and Tad loves to write it.

There was a lot of underground sequences in the Shadowmarch series.

[McLovin]

CALIBAN'S WAR (Expanse bk 2) by James SA Corey. Starting with the pedal to the metal. Awesome.

[Maark Abbott]

250 pages in and whilst we've had children being decimated, men bring disembowelled and incestuous rulers, I am still no closer to Bakkake. What the actual.

[Abyss]

Maark, on 23 March 2015 - 01:17 PM, said:

250 pages in and whilst we've had children being decimated, men bring disembowelled and incestuous rulers, I am still no closer to Bakkake. What the actual.

Trust us, you'll know it when you see it.

[QuickTidal]

About 60 pages into Pratchett's PYRAMIDS and really loving it. But it's bittersweet to know that there are now a finite number of Discworld books left to read.

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2015 - 02:48 PM, said:

About 60 pages into Pratchett's PYRAMIDS and really loving it. But it's bittersweet to know that there are now a finite number of Discworld books left to read.

That opening obstacle course could have given lessons to the Claw

[Maark Abbott]

Abyss, on 23 March 2015 - 01:49 PM, said:

Maark, on 23 March 2015 - 01:17 PM, said:

250 pages in and whilst we've had children being decimated, men bring disembowelled and incestuous rulers, I am still no closer to Bakkake. What the actual.

Trust us, you'll know it when you see it.

What if it gets in my eyes?

[QuickTidal]

Andorion, on 23 March 2015 - 03:03 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2015 - 02:48 PM, said:

About 60 pages into Pratchett's PYRAMIDS and really loving it. But it's bittersweet to know that there are now a finite number of Discworld books left to read.

That opening obstacle course could have given lessons to the Claw

I love that his instructor is literally sitting at every point of the test going "When you're ready, Teppic." or "In your own time Teppic."...makes me giggle cause I think to myself, look what Teppic had to do to get there...and this guy is just already sitting at each location.

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2015 - 04:36 PM, said:

Andorion, on 23 March 2015 - 03:03 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 23 March 2015 - 02:48 PM, said:

About 60 pages into Pratchett's PYRAMIDS and really loving it. But it's bittersweet to know that there are now a finite number of Discworld books left to read.

That opening obstacle course could have given lessons to the Claw

I love that his instructor is literally sitting at every point of the test going "When you're ready, Teppic." or "In your own time Teppic."...makes me giggle cause I think to myself, look what Teppic had to do to get there...and this guy is just already sitting at each location.

I want to know when you figure out the "Worlds greatest mathematician" part