[Andorion]

Still didn't get at home reading time. But I turned two superlong commutes and one painful wait into reading time and made a lot of progress. 20 chapters in.

Spoiler

I am not entirely sure who Jonas is, but it seems that he was an android
There was one random chapter with a time travelling photo synthetic man

Overall its very interesting and I think I understand the main thrust of the narrative.

[Salt-Man Z]

Andorion, on 04 January 2016 - 05:24 PM, said:

I am not entirely sure who Jonas is, but ...

Yeah, Jonas

Spoiler

was an android, who left Urth along time ago, but his ship crashed upon returning. He was damaged, and was repaired using the organic remains of a human killed by their landing. I find him fascinating, given his nature as a machine, with his friendship/loyalty to Severian and love of Jolenta. He's also very old, so recognizes the story Severian reads him from the book as a retelling of the story of Theseus. That story is brilliantly done to convey how stories are distorted over time: the student dreams up his Thesis/Theseus who does battle with the Minotaur/Monitor (the Monitor being a famous ironclad warship.)

You're probably getting close to the transcription of Dr. Talos's play. That's always the most difficult part of the series for me (even this past sixth time) but it's a very important part of the story--though it's importance isn't really apparent until the reread, especially after reading The Urth of the New Sun.

[polishgenius]

I don't wanna squash discussion or anything, but I wanna beg you guys not to give too much away to Andorion. Half the fun is in working it out!

I squashed my New Sun books into my backpack on my way back to Germany on Sunday, so I'm gonna do my own reread soon. Unfortunately, I couldn't find my Long Suns- my dad packed them away in the attic somewhere - so I won't be able to finish them first.

Someday, I'll actually have read the whole Solar Cycle, and then I will be very very pleased.

[worry]

Finished The Shadow Rising:

Spoiler

It was definitely the best of the series so far, by several tiers. The snake and fox people through the gates were pretty cool. Seemed like something outta Chrono Trigger. A lot of the world-expanding stuff, especially glimpses into the past via Rhuidean, was quite impressive and gripping. I like having the sense that this is not all being made up on the spot (whether or not that's true, which I don't care about) and this was the first book that really felt that way through and through.

Also, even though the religious parallels to the real world have been generally too on the nose for me (Shai'tan? Shoulda just went with Spray'tan), having Rand -- the savior figure -- being born of a Maiden of the Spear instead of a Maiden of the Virginity was a neat trick. I also like that the Emond's Field Women's Circle literally circled around the children before the big battle, giving a neat etymological history to the village custom.

Most of the downsides of this book have been inherited from previous books.

Trollocs continue to be one of the dumbest concepts in all of "serious" fantasy, and have less personality in four books than Tolkien's orcs did in the few scenes they were allowed some. They're like villains out of a Saturday morning cartoon, and they are pretty much never scary. The Myrddraal are cool, if generic, but are still most often non-threats to anyone with a name.

Darkfriends is a terrible name and a mostly poorly handled concept: essentially people who've arbitrarily decided to worship Satan with the bonus of being voluntary canon fodder & food for Trollocs. Great decision, dorks.

The Forsaken are pretty cool, I guess. I always respond well to a panel of villains with a variety of powers/specialties, like in Darkman/Dick Tracy/The Running Man/etc. The downside is they're mostly idiots so far. Ishamael is supposed to be the best one, yet he's knocked out in book 3 (and 2 and 1, apparently). I have a feeling every time Rand faces one they'll be "rumored to be one of the most powerful of the Forsaken". The only one to counter those rumors will be Lanfear, who will rattle off 2 or 3 of their names w/ accompanying insults for no particular reason. "I'll be nice to you, Lews Therin. Unlike my fellow Forsaken, that fat idiot Rhoomba who is sneaky and clever, Mogadishu the Spider whose main weakness happens to be her left big toenail, and Gangriel who dresses in blue leather napkins stitched with yellow thread, edged with a fine purple lace and under all that silk He-Man Underoos. Farewell my love."

Anyway, yeah, decent book.

Now I'm starting The Rabbit Back Literature Society. I've read it described as “Twin Peaks meets the Brothers Grimm” which sounds good to me. Anyone familiar?

[Andorion]

worry, on 04 January 2016 - 10:55 PM, said:

Finished The Shadow Rising:

Spoiler

It was definitely the best of the series so far, by several tiers. The snake and fox people through the gates were pretty cool. Seemed like something outta Chrono Trigger. A lot of the world-expanding stuff, especially glimpses into the past via Rhuidean, was quite impressive and gripping. I like having the sense that this is not all being made up on the spot (whether or not that's true, which I don't care about) and this was the first book that really felt that way through and through.

Also, even though the religious parallels to the real world have been generally too on the nose for me (Shai'tan? Shoulda just went with Spray'tan), having Rand -- the savior figure -- being born of a Maiden of the Spear instead of a Maiden of the Virginity was a neat trick. I also like that the Emond's Field Women's Circle literally circled around the children before the big battle, giving a neat etymological history to the village custom.

Most of the downsides of this book have been inherited from previous books.

Trollocs continue to be one of the dumbest concepts in all of "serious" fantasy, and have less personality in four books than Tolkien's orcs did in the few scenes they were allowed some. They're like villains out of a Saturday morning cartoon, and they are pretty much never scary. The Myrddraal are cool, if generic, but are still most often non-threats to anyone with a name.

Darkfriends is a terrible name and a mostly poorly handled concept: essentially people who've arbitrarily decided to worship Satan with the bonus of being voluntary canon fodder & food for Trollocs. Great decision, dorks.

The Forsaken are pretty cool, I guess. I always respond well to a panel of villains with a variety of powers/specialties, like in Darkman/Dick Tracy/The Running Man/etc. The downside is they're mostly idiots so far. Ishamael is supposed to be the best one, yet he's knocked out in book 3 (and 2 and 1, apparently). I have a feeling every time Rand faces one they'll be "rumored to be one of the most powerful of the Forsaken". The only one to counter those rumors will be Lanfear, who will rattle off 2 or 3 of their names w/ accompanying insults for no particular reason. "I'll be nice to you, Lews Therin. Unlike my fellow Forsaken, that fat idiot Rhoomba who is sneaky and clever, Mogadishu the Spider whose main weakness happens to be her left big toenail, and Gangriel who dresses in blue leather napkins stitched with yellow thread, edged with a fine purple lace and under all that silk He-Man Underoos. Farewell my love."

Anyway, yeah, decent book.

Now I'm starting The Rabbit Back Literature Society. I've read it described as "Twin Peaks meets the Brothers Grimm" which sounds good to me. Anyone familiar?

The Shadow Rising is probably one of the best books of the series.

Regarding Forsaken RAFO, a lot to come

What did you think of Bubbles of Evil?

[worry]

Spoiler

The bubbles of evil are a convenient device. Frankly, like a few of the things I've mentioned already, they're kinda junior league. But they're also a much-needed injection of magic & action, and they're not as braindead a concept as trollocs, so I don't begrudge them. The only issue is that they're yet another antagonist without personality. It's natural they should be, I suppose, but the other baddies shouldn't be. There are stabs at that here and there in the series, but they're too few and far between. For instance Padan Fain has so much potential as a character yet almost every time we get his POV he's friggin Gargamel hand-wringing over those rascally Smurfs.

With the Forsaken I'm sure there's plenty to come. Likewise w/ the Black Ajah, the Aes Sedai coup group, the Whitecloaks, and especially the Seanchan (who are def the most genuinely scary foes). The series has no shortage of factions, and I'm glad of that.

[Andorion]

worry, on 05 January 2016 - 02:37 AM, said:

Spoiler

The bubbles of evil are a convenient device. Frankly, like a few of the things I've mentioned already, they're kinda junior league. But they're also a much-needed injection of magic & action, and they're not as braindead a concept as trollocs, so I don't begrudge them. The only issue is that they're yet another antagonist without personality. It's natural they should be, I suppose, but the other baddies shouldn't be. There are stabs at that here and there in the series, but they're too few and far between. For instance Padan Fain has so much potential as a character yet almost every time we get his POV he's friggin Gargamel hand-wringing over those rascally Smurfs.

With the Forsaken I'm sure there's plenty to come. Likewise w/ the Black Ajah, the Aes Sedai coup group, the Whitecloaks, and especially the Seanchan (who are def the most genuinely scary foes). The series has no shortage of factions, and I'm glad of that.

Agree entirely on the Seanchan. Padan Fain.... RAFO again

As you can probably understand by now, Trollocs are basically cannon fodder. The dark side gets more interesting as the series progresses

I giggled through the entire concept of Bubbles of Evil. I imagined giant bubbles of trollocs just drifting around and randomly popping.

So..... who are your favourite characters so far?

[worry]

I suppose Loial is my favorite so far. Perrin, Faile, and Min are all decent.

[Andorion]

worry, on 05 January 2016 - 03:25 AM, said:

I suppose Loial is my favorite so far. Perrin, Faile, and Min are all decent.

Briar King, on 05 January 2016 - 03:54 AM, said:

The respect is falling big time. Perrin, Falie......

It's Matrim Cauthon all the way!

To be fair, at this juncture of the series, I was going in this angle as well

[worry]

Can't agree about Mat. I hate smart alecks!

[amphibian]

Briar King, on 05 January 2016 - 02:42 AM, said:

You ll get lots more of that last paragraph in the books to come.

I may crack open Wolfe at any moment now thanks to y'all. I've not read but have Short, Long. What's the reading order of Solar Cycle?

Book of the New Sun, Urth of the New Sun (a novella that happens after New Sun with Severian as main character), Book of the Long Sun (switches main character), Book of the Short Sun (switches main character and makes one cry with the beauty of writing).

[Abyss]

worry, on 05 January 2016 - 04:14 AM, said:

Can't agree about Mat. I hate smart alecks!

I know you are but what am l???!!!

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

I think Shadow Rising was pretty much my pick of the bunch as well. Bubbles of evil evoked similar imaginings of bubbles of Trollocs wandering about - so pleased it wasn't just me!

Currently reading A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms which was a Christmas gift, and just finished The Hedge Knight last night. I'm really enjoying it so far.

[Andorion]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 05 January 2016 - 07:16 AM, said:

I think Shadow Rising was pretty much my pick of the bunch as well. Bubbles of evil evoked similar imaginings of bubbles of Trollocs wandering about - so pleased it wasn't just me!

Currently reading A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms which was a Christmas gift, and just finished The Hedge Knight last night. I'm really enjoying it so far.

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gave me a bit of a Forrest Gumpy vibe

[Morgoth]

So I finished Children of Time, and I enjoyed it. Much much better than the apt series of his.

I'm now reading Cinder Spires, and I'm not sure. I'll hold back until I've finished the book.

[Maark Abbott]

So who is this 'Denna'? Sarge? Rosemary, the telephone operator? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor?

[Serenity]

Currently reading Cherryh's Invader, the second 'Foreigner' book. It's pretty good.

[Mentalist]

I started "A Crown for Cold Silver" by Alex Marshall as my commute read. 7 chapters in, there's now 4 plot lines to follow, all seem decent enough, if nothing super-original. Still getting that "Ambercombie-Lite" vibe from it, in that it seems to be a good popcorn read.

At home, finished "Blood & Bone" re-read, moving onto "Assail".

[Macros]

On to wrath of a mad god.
I realise now this is as far as I had read before.
I realised it just there now.
Feist you lazy
Lazy
Lazy
Lazy
Son of a bitch.

If you're going to constantly reference previous works, take the time to at least get some of your info right.
Pug spouting off about how the serpent war tested the kingdom to the limit, and drops in the figure of 40,000 soldiers coming from novindus.
Despite pages of rage of a demon king being devoted to telling us how she had an army of 1/4 a million men. Hell she had 20,000 saurr, let alone her human armies.
Constant referencing on kelewan too, most of it wrong.
How can a casual fan like myself catch so much inaccurate canon in a world that the author helped correct, and about stories that he fucking wrote?? The last 2 books have been riddled with inconsistencies, some things being mis represented from one book to the next. Did he not proof read? Does he not have beta readers?
Editors?
Friends?
Bueller?
Anyone?

Hah, 5 1/2 books of pain to go

[Macros]

The next page.
The next fucking page
Kaspar has had no dealings with elves before.
Really?
WHAT ABOUT THAT TIME HE WAS IN ELVANDAR YOU LAZY CUNT