[Baco Xtath]

25% into the Stars My Destination - not at all what I was expecting but holy shit it's good. I'll be checking out the Demolished Man next. Also picking around in City of Saints and Madmen; I've read the rest of the Ambergris books just never did this one.

Started listening to Ian Tregillis's Rising. So far so good. Also about an hr left in Echopraxia. This one does a hell of a lot more on the re-read/listen. Watts is definitely one of my favorite authors.

[Andorion]

Finished A Deepness in the Sky. An excellent read. This is the type of sf I like. Kept me guessing till the end. Picking up A Fire upon the Deep now.

[polishgenius]

A Deepness in the Sky is ridiculously good. A Fire Upon the Deep is also, although I favoured the prequel.


I started The Centauri Device by M. John Harrison this morning. I really liked Viriconium when I read it way back (his prose is incredible), and I discovered the other day that this book directly inspired Iain M. Banks, so it became a must-read.

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 07 December 2015 - 02:37 PM, said:

A Deepness in the Sky is ridiculously good. A Fire Upon the Deep is also, although I favoured the prequel.


I started The Centauri Device by M. John Harrison this morning. I really liked Viriconium when I read it way back (his prose is incredible), and I discovered the other day that this book directly inspired Iain M. Banks, so it became a must-read.

Harrison is on my TBR as well, I am going to read Light and Nova Swing

[Binder of Demons]

Andorion, on 07 December 2015 - 02:40 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 07 December 2015 - 02:37 PM, said:

A Deepness in the Sky is ridiculously good. A Fire Upon the Deep is also, although I favoured the prequel.


I started The Centauri Device by M. John Harrison this morning. I really liked Viriconium when I read it way back (his prose is incredible), and I discovered the other day that this book directly inspired Iain M. Banks, so it became a must-read.

Harrison is on my TBR as well, I am going to read Light and Nova Swing

I'll give a note of caution on the John Harrison love. I have read many of the other books on your TBR pile and really enjoyed them. And in particular I am a huge fan of Iain M. Banks. So it is something of a surprise to see that Banks considered Harrison to be such an inspiration, because I could never manage to finish LIGHT (by Harrison) despite trying a few times. And that has probably only happened 2 or 3 times ever, cos if i start a book I will finish it purely to see if the author can somehow redeem it at the end. But LIGHT left me utterly cold.

I'm probably in a minority on this, but since there is so much overlap on the other books, maybe temper your expectations on that one (LIGHT).


I currently have a bunch of books and articles about filmmaking and editing that I want to get though, but also have THE MARTIAN as my light relief. Hopefully it's entertaining at least (since I haven't seen the movie, and would prefer to read it first).

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

I received Tower Lord a few days ago and have been reading it since then. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and it's captivating. This is a damn good book.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 07 December 2015 - 05:12 PM

[acesn8s]

It's interesting the difference a book makes. It took me close to a month to finish Daggerspell, as I couldn't really be bothered to make time to read it. Retribution Falls, I can't wait to get back to it.

[Andorion]

Binder of Demons, on 07 December 2015 - 04:42 PM, said:

Andorion, on 07 December 2015 - 02:40 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 07 December 2015 - 02:37 PM, said:

A Deepness in the Sky is ridiculously good. A Fire Upon the Deep is also, although I favoured the prequel.


I started The Centauri Device by M. John Harrison this morning. I really liked Viriconium when I read it way back (his prose is incredible), and I discovered the other day that this book directly inspired Iain M. Banks, so it became a must-read.

Harrison is on my TBR as well, I am going to read Light and Nova Swing

I'll give a note of caution on the John Harrison love. I have read many of the other books on your TBR pile and really enjoyed them. And in particular I am a huge fan of Iain M. Banks. So it is something of a surprise to see that Banks considered Harrison to be such an inspiration, because I could never manage to finish LIGHT (by Harrison) despite trying a few times. And that has probably only happened 2 or 3 times ever, cos if i start a book I will finish it purely to see if the author can somehow redeem it at the end. But LIGHT left me utterly cold.

I'm probably in a minority on this, but since there is so much overlap on the other books, maybe temper your expectations on that one (LIGHT).


I currently have a bunch of books and articles about filmmaking and editing that I want to get though, but also have THE MARTIAN as my light relief. Hopefully it's entertaining at least (since I haven't seen the movie, and would prefer to read it first).

Could you explain without spoilers what you found to be wrong with Light? Also are his other books better?

[Abyss]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 07 December 2015 - 05:11 PM, said:

I received Tower Lord a few days ago and have been reading it since then. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and it's captivating. This is a damn good book.

Yes, yes it is.

And bk 3 is arguably even better.

[Binder of Demons]

Andorion, on 07 December 2015 - 06:17 PM, said:

Could you explain without spoilers what you found to be wrong with Light? Also are his other books better?

To be honest Andorian, it's so long since i tried to read it that I have no clue what it was about. I just remember my utter boredom while reading it, and my repeated failures in trying to get through it.

I have never read any of his other titles either, so i can't comment on those. Perhaps if i had started with THE CENTAURI DEVICE I might have fared better.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Abyss, on 07 December 2015 - 09:05 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 07 December 2015 - 05:11 PM, said:

I received Tower Lord a few days ago and have been reading it since then. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and it's captivating. This is a damn good book.

Yes, yes it is.

And bk 3 is arguably even better.

I finished Tower Lord earlier. That was a great cliffhanger ending.

Unfortunately, book 3 is not out in paperback yet. I'll probably get it from Amazon UK (paperback release Feb 16) cuz I don't want to wait 10 years for the US paperback.

[worry]

So you guys are saying it's a good enough series to overcome the awkwardness of telling people you're reading a book called Tower Lord? Very intriguing.

[polishgenius]

Andorion, on 07 December 2015 - 06:17 PM, said:

Could you explain without spoilers what you found to be wrong with Light? Also are his other books better?

Light was my first book by him I read, and I have to say, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either- it was a long time ago now and I don't remember it well but there just wasn't all that much about it that stood out, for what was billed as the return of a legend. That's including the prose, which is fantastic in Viriconium and, to where I am so far, impressive in The Centauri Device.

Although it's a wholly different book (actually a set of short stories that sort of connect, and more for fans of VanderMeer, Gilman, or Mieville than Banks), Viriconium is immeasurably better.



I am gonna give Light another go soon though to refresh and see if I fancy carrying on the trilogy.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

worry, on 07 December 2015 - 11:48 PM, said:

So you guys are saying it's a good enough series to overcome the awkwardness of telling people you're reading a book called Tower Lord? Very intriguing.

I actually do think that Ryan is not great at titling his books. Blood Song, Tower Lord, and Queen of Fire, with the series titled Raven's Shadow.

Boring.

[Abyss]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 07 December 2015 - 11:06 PM, said:

Abyss, on 07 December 2015 - 09:05 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 07 December 2015 - 05:11 PM, said:

I received Tower Lord a few days ago and have been reading it since then. I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and it's captivating. This is a damn good book.

Yes, yes it is.

And bk 3 is arguably even better.

I finished Tower Lord earlier. That was a great cliffhanger ending.

Unfortunately, book 3 is not out in paperback yet. I'll probably get it from Amazon UK (paperback release Feb 16) cuz I don't want to wait 10 years for the US paperback.

Ebook is also available.

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 08 December 2015 - 02:14 AM, said:

worry, on 07 December 2015 - 11:48 PM, said:

So you guys are saying it's a good enough series to overcome the awkwardness of telling people you're reading a book called Tower Lord? Very intriguing.

I actually do think that Ryan is not great at titling his books. Blood Song, Tower Lord, and Queen of Fire, with the series titled Raven's Shadow.

Boring.

Hardly the worse titles out there. Generic, sure, but so what? Character gets named Tower Lord, call the book TOWER LORD.
Some authors would benefit from being a little less clever with their titles. ... Goodkind could have called his entire series TERRY GOODKIND I MEAN RICHARD RAHL KICKS ASS GETS THE GIRL PRAISE AYN RAND PARTS 1-12.

[worry]

Oo-OO-oohI am the Tower Lord! Come take a look at my magic tower! Isn't it a wonderful tower? I am the most special boy with the fanciest tower of all!

[Tiste Simeon]

worry, on 08 December 2015 - 05:40 AM, said:

Oo-OO-oohI am the Tower Lord! Come take a look at my magic tower! Isn't it a wonderful tower? I am the most special boy with the fanciest tower of all!

Tower Lord: a new erotic comedy movie coming to PornHub soon!

[Baco Xtath]

worry, on 07 December 2015 - 11:48 PM, said:

So you guys are saying it's a good enough series to overcome the awkwardness of telling people you're reading a book called Tower Lord? Very intriguing.

I just switched jackets with "How to Live with Erectile Dysfunction; Master of the Tower."

This post has been edited by Baco Xtath: 08 December 2015 - 09:00 AM

[acesn8s]

Retribution Falls done. That was a lot of fun. I'll be reading book 2 in the near future. Now I need to pick something from the queue.

[QuickTidal]

Finished EAGLE IN THE SNOW by Breem. It's a complete masterpiece from start to finish. The epilogue made me weep (on the damned subway!). Just a fantastic story of the last days of Rome. HIGHLY recommended to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Have to acknowledge the book hangover from it, so I'm reading an old favourite, TARZAN OF THE APES by Burroughs.