[Abyss]

I thought Tigana sucked for a bunch of reasons, but hey, everyone should make up their own mind (about how many reasons it sucks for).

[Mentalist]

Tigana is (imho), the weakest of GGKay's "pseudo-history" novels (DISCLAIMER: I've no opinion on "Ysabel", as numeorus people whose taste I trust told me to avoid it). It's supposed to be a pseudo-medieval Italy, but with the overwhelming theme taken from the parallel with Communist censorship, which erased periods of history from people's collective memory. It's an interesting idea, but it wasn't communicated clearly till the author's afterword, and individual elements of the magical backstory to the event don't mesh together well. Basically, Kay tried to tell several disparate stories, with conflicting themes, and it didn't really work (imo). Some of the writing was pretty awkward as well, from what I remember. (It's been a bunch of years since I read it).

But I wouldn't say Tigana is a sad book. Just not a very good one.

[acesn8s]

Abyss, on 22 December 2015 - 06:06 PM, said:

Finished CALIBAN'S WAR,

Spoiler

am i the only one disappointed that Bobbie didn't join the Roci's crew?

....couldn't resist jumping straight into bk 3 ABADDON'S GATE. This series is seriously great.


In earbook, started Gaiman's THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE. I like that Gaiman does his own narration, he's good at it. Very charming story so far.

I enjoy his narrations too. I love his "American" accent for certain characters.

[acesn8s]

Mentalist, on 23 December 2015 - 06:22 PM, said:

Tigana is (imho), the weakest of GGKay's "pseudo-history" novels (DISCLAIMER: I've no opinion on "Ysabel", as numeorus people whose taste I trust told me to avoid it).

I found Ysabel to be rather weak. Since you haven't read it, I just wanted to pop in an FYI. It's not technically one of his pseudo-histories. It's a contemporary setting, kinda like the beginning of the Fionavar Tapestry.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Finished Cibola Burn. I really liked it, as evidenced by the quick read time. Fuck Murtry. I haven't felt such pure dislike (in a positive way) for a character in a long time.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 24 December 2015 - 01:39 AM

[Abyss]

ABBADONS GATE was meandering for a minute there but we're back in the shit now and picking up nicely.
OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE.... damn Neil that is DARK for a kids book...

[Andorion]

Mellowed out with Star wars and a few old favourites. Either going to jump into Tigana or take up Zelazny. Lord of Light, or Amber? Hmmm

[Maark Abbott]

Had some recommendations for Kate Elliott. Is this the Katestacy I've heard of here? If so where do we start?

[polishgenius]

Abyss, on 25 December 2015 - 04:33 PM, said:

OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE.... damn Neil that is DARK for a kids book...

That's coz it's not a kid's book.

[Chance]

Andorion, on 25 December 2015 - 05:33 PM, said:

Mellowed out with Star wars and a few old favourites. Either going to jump into Tigana or take up Zelazny. Lord of Light, or Amber? Hmmm

Chosing Amber over Lord of Light would be a crime , the first five amber books are good (lets not speak of the later five) but Lord of Light is a masterpiece.

Maark, on 25 December 2015 - 05:56 PM, said:

Had some recommendations for Kate Elliott. Is this the Katestacy I've heard of here? If so where do we start?

Kate Elliott = a lot of fairly boring tormenting of protagonists not really worth the slog.

Katestacy I belive referes to the Kate Daniels urban fantasy series which is mostly unadultered fun and occtionally really good Urban Fantasy.

This post has been edited by Chance: 25 December 2015 - 11:55 PM

[Andorion]

Maark, on 25 December 2015 - 05:56 PM, said:

Had some recommendations for Kate Elliott. Is this the Katestacy I've heard of here? If so where do we start?

Katestacy is Kate Daniels. Kickass urban fantasy heroine, who really doesn't give a fuck. Better than Dresden imo, though now I have to hide from Abyss

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 25 December 2015 - 07:08 PM, said:

Andorion, on 25 December 2015 - 05:33 PM, said:

Mellowed out with Star wars and a few old favourites. Either going to jump into Tigana or take up Zelazny. Lord of Light, or Amber? Hmmm

I thought you were doing Dune or New Sun?

Or I might do those. I am really undecided. Since I started Tigana, I am going to finish it. Dune - Zelazny - Wolfe maybe...

[Puck]

Finished The Darkness That Comes Before, started The Warrior Prophet. So sold on this. Happy, happy Christmas days.

[Maark Abbott]

Andorion, on 26 December 2015 - 02:30 AM, said:

Maark, on 25 December 2015 - 05:56 PM, said:

Had some recommendations for Kate Elliott. Is this the Katestacy I've heard of here? If so where do we start?

Katestacy is Kate Daniels. Kickass urban fantasy heroine, who really doesn't give a fuck. Better than Dresden imo, though now I have to hide from Abyss

Fair cop, I've tried out the first KE anyway because digging on the FB ME page has revealed this is the Kate who is 'like ASOIAF but better'.

[Maark Abbott]

Puck Puckster, on 26 December 2015 - 10:12 AM, said:

Finished The Darkness That Comes Before, started The Warrior Prophet. So sold on this. Happy, happy Christmas days.

Inchoroi time is coming. Splat splat.

[Puck]

Maark, on 26 December 2015 - 10:17 AM, said:

Puck Puckster, on 26 December 2015 - 10:12 AM, said:

Finished The Darkness That Comes Before, started The Warrior Prophet. So sold on this. Happy, happy Christmas days.

Inchoroi time is coming. Splat splat.

The more, the merrier.

[Gredfallan Ale]

I've just started reading Perdido Street Station by China Tom Miéville. I'm still getting used to his writing style, but I'm getting there. The book seems promising.

[QuickTidal]

Amongst the stack of books I was spoiled with for Christmas was THE MOUNTAIN SHADOW by Gregory David Roberts...so I figured it was about time to crack into SHANTARAM (the first book), 30 pages in. Not bad so far!

[polishgenius]

Damn, I forgot The Mountain Shadow was out. Shantaram is astonishing.

[amphibian]

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison is a very powerful book.

She changed up her technical style from the 100,000 Kingdoms stories and at first, it takes some getting used to (a narrator tells some sections, other sections jump between past and present, and the sections all contain moments of real sadness). This isn't a happy story, although there are stretches of joy for the main character, and it's affecting for being such a grim book.

But wow, it's tremendously well thought out and the characters are extremely vivid. I already like this geo-mancy based universe better than the 100,000 Kingdoms one.