[amphibian]

Chance, on 20 March 2016 - 10:06 PM, said:

About the Grace of Kings being read by a few above, last years most underwhelming book by far. Just had to vent some vitrol on it, it was underwhelming enough that mentions of it builds rage.

It's told in a deliberately flat way - like the Iliad. It is good writing for sure.

However, I don't vibe with it that much, so I probably won't read more Liu, but I didn't mind my time and money reading it at all.

I'm cogitating on reviews of Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion series, which I just went through, and the trilogy of the Twelve Fingered Boy books by John Hornor Jacobs, which I finished up two days ago. They'll go up here soon enough.

[Mentalist]

Esa1996, on 20 March 2016 - 11:21 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 20 March 2016 - 04:42 AM, said:

Bout 2/3s into "Grace of Kings". Liu took this in a a direction I didn't quite expect. Starting to get a "Wars of Light and Shadow" vibe. Which means I'm getting more intrigued.

Oh, and I also discovered that Panov wrote the 20th "Secret City" book already. It's now official, once I'm done with the Moorcock collection, I'm getting an e-reader.

and beyond that, my TRP continues growing as I'm back-reading the thread.

You've read WOLAS? I just finished the first book. I like the plot and the world (And, finally, near the end I came to like some of the characters too), but I really dislike the way the narration is not strictly limited to one POV at a time and the overly fancy language. Anything you can say about book two (No spoilers though )?

I've only read the first 3 (I got them in mmpb, so I count them as 3). 4th one is sitting on my shelf, waiting until I'm in the right mood.

The narrative style doesn't change- if you don't like the fancy prose, then you probably won't like it. I don't mind it, but I have to be in a certain mood to appreciate it-it's the type of books that make you "work" to get it.
The story does pick up, though and the payoff in "Warhost" is really good. This is a series I'll certainly be proceeding with, just not sure when.

amphibian, on 21 March 2016 - 12:45 AM, said:

Chance, on 20 March 2016 - 10:06 PM, said:

About the Grace of Kings being read by a few above, last years most underwhelming book by far. Just had to vent some vitrol on it, it was underwhelming enough that mentions of it builds rage.

It's told in a deliberately flat way - like the Iliad. It is good writing for sure.

However, I don't vibe with it that much, so I probably won't read more Liu, but I didn't mind my time and money reading it at all.

I'm cogitating on reviews of Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion series, which I just went through, and the trilogy of the Twelve Fingered Boy books by John Hornor Jacobs, which I finished up two days ago. They'll go up here soon enough.

I haven't read the Iliad (me and poetry don't mesh well), but I absolutely dig the flat, history-book style narrative voice. I'm weird like that. SO I'll be checking out the next book in the series, though i'll wait for an MMPB release, most likely.


ETA: thinking on my next read- before I start the FoD re-read, I'll give "Of Bone and Thunder" by Chris Evans a try. I thought "Iron Elves" trilo was ok, not great, but this book is supposed to Be basically a fantasy Vietnam with dragons, so I felt it was worth a look.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 21 March 2016 - 12:59 AM

[acesn8s]

amphibian, on 21 March 2016 - 12:45 AM, said:

Chance, on 20 March 2016 - 10:06 PM, said:

About the Grace of Kings being read by a few above, last years most underwhelming book by far. Just had to vent some vitrol on it, it was underwhelming enough that mentions of it builds rage.

I'm cogitating on reviews of Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion series, which I just went through, and the trilogy of the Twelve Fingered Boy books by John Hornor Jacobs, which I finished up two days ago. They'll go up here soon enough.

I read the first Chalion book and while it wasn't chock full of action, it was still an enjoyable read. I mean to pick up book 2 at some point.

[Abyss]

Puck, on 20 March 2016 - 10:04 PM, said:

Finished Downfall yesterday, and even after a whole day, I still think this book must've been written by a trained monkey instead of Rob Thurman. My rant can be found in the dedicated thread.

So naturally, looking for more pain, I started book 10, Nevermore. This better be back on track. The prologue's already much better. Cal forgot the pizza, shit went 'splody. Good times. Hopefully.

Am on BLACKOUT. Cal's inner monologue is tiresome. Considering how good ROADKILL was, this is meh.

[Andorion]

Started Salyards' Chains of the Heretic,

11 chapters into Andrew Gordon's Jutland: The Rules of the Game - this is a very interesting, informative book that really focusses on the details

15 chapters inot James Herriot's All Things Wise and Wonderful. I recommend this book to anybody who is depressed, sad or tired. Its delightful

[Puck]

Abyss, on 21 March 2016 - 02:16 AM, said:

Puck, on 20 March 2016 - 10:04 PM, said:

Finished Downfall yesterday, and even after a whole day, I still think this book must've been written by a trained monkey instead of Rob Thurman. My rant can be found in the dedicated thread.

So naturally, looking for more pain, I started book 10, Nevermore. This better be back on track. The prologue's already much better. Cal forgot the pizza, shit went 'splody. Good times. Hopefully.

Am on BLACKOUT. Cal's inner monologue is tiresome. Considering how good ROADKILL was, this is meh.

Blackout does pick up after a bit. Also, imagine that inner monologue turned up to eleven and stream-of-consciousness style. The former is basically all Downfall consists of, and the latter seems to be building up to be the style of Nevermore. If this continues, I'm considering calling it quits and pretending the series ended after Downfall, as bad as that one was, but it was a good ending. I didn't mind the flaws of the first eight books because the FUN was much bigger. I love that series. But eh, no.

[Andorion]

Puck, on 21 March 2016 - 07:19 AM, said:

Abyss, on 21 March 2016 - 02:16 AM, said:

Puck, on 20 March 2016 - 10:04 PM, said:

Finished Downfall yesterday, and even after a whole day, I still think this book must've been written by a trained monkey instead of Rob Thurman. My rant can be found in the dedicated thread.

So naturally, looking for more pain, I started book 10, Nevermore. This better be back on track. The prologue's already much better. Cal forgot the pizza, shit went 'splody. Good times. Hopefully.

Am on BLACKOUT. Cal's inner monologue is tiresome. Considering how good ROADKILL was, this is meh.

Blackout does pick up after a bit. Also, imagine that inner monologue turned up to eleven and stream-of-consciousness style. The former is basically all Downfall consists of, and the latter seems to be building up to be the style of Nevermore. If this continues, I'm considering calling it quits and pretending the series ended after Downfall, as bad as that one was, but it was a good ending. I didn't mind the flaws of the first eight books because the FUN was much bigger. I love that series. But eh, no.

I think the series should have ended at Downfall. There were 0 plot reasons to continue. Which is why I did not pick up Nevermore

[QuickTidal]

Started my re-read of FoD in prep for FoL.

[Abyss]

Andorion, on 21 March 2016 - 09:34 AM, said:

Puck, on 21 March 2016 - 07:19 AM, said:

Abyss, on 21 March 2016 - 02:16 AM, said:

Puck, on 20 March 2016 - 10:04 PM, said:

Finished Downfall yesterday, and even after a whole day, I still think this book must've been written by a trained monkey instead of Rob Thurman. My rant can be found in the dedicated thread.

So naturally, looking for more pain, I started book 10, Nevermore. This better be back on track. The prologue's already much better. Cal forgot the pizza, shit went 'splody. Good times. Hopefully.

Am on BLACKOUT. Cal's inner monologue is tiresome. Considering how good ROADKILL was, this is meh.

Blackout does pick up after a bit. Also, imagine that inner monologue turned up to eleven and stream-of-consciousness style. The former is basically all Downfall consists of, and the latter seems to be building up to be the style of Nevermore. If this continues, I'm considering calling it quits and pretending the series ended after Downfall, as bad as that one was, but it was a good ending. I didn't mind the flaws of the first eight books because the FUN was much bigger. I love that series. But eh, no.

I think the series should have ended at Downfall. There were 0 plot reasons to continue. Which is why I did not pick up Nevermore

Gonna drag us back to the ded-thread. Stand-by.

[Andorion]

I am in that weird mental space again where I keep on bouncing off books I should be loving. Happened thrice for Salyards.

I think I am going to quit a bit and read something different

[Mentalist]

Chris Evans' "Of Bone and Thunder" is a much better effort than The Iron Elves. Toxic, suffocating jungle, quite similar to "Blood and Bone", actually.

120 pages in, done Part 1, and I suspect I'll probably kill this book in a week, because it's good pacing, decently likeable, if somewhat cliched grunt PoVs, and a formulaic, but somehow engrossing setting.

No real plot to speak of yet, though.

[Andorion]

Went to the library to get something to poke me out my reading rut.

Got Moorcock's Cornelius Quartet on Ment's reco, and a huge volume of short stories by H.G.Wells which I have had my eye on for some time

In non-fiction I got Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World

Following BK's suggestion I scrounged up my old copy of Dune.

At least one of these should hit the spot. BCS I like them all and they last me till I pick up FoD

[acesn8s]

Briar King, on 22 March 2016 - 03:30 AM, said:

Andorion, on 22 March 2016 - 03:17 AM, said:

I am in that weird mental space again where I keep on bouncing off books I should be loving. Happened thrice for Salyards.

I think I am going to quit a bit and read something different

Dune!

Quote

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.

[Maark Abbott]

acesn8s, on 22 March 2016 - 12:09 PM, said:

Briar King, on 22 March 2016 - 03:30 AM, said:

Andorion, on 22 March 2016 - 03:17 AM, said:

I am in that weird mental space again where I keep on bouncing off books I should be loving. Happened thrice for Salyards.

I think I am going to quit a bit and read something different

Dune!

Quote

Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.

Spoiler book 7 of the main sequence onwards

Spoiler

Deus Ex Erasmus

[Salt-Man Z]

Maark Abbott, on 22 March 2016 - 03:04 PM, said:

book 7 of the main [Dune] sequence

That's not a thing.

[Andorion]

Just to clarify, Frank Herbert's Dune Books stretch from the original Dune, to Chapterhouse Dune? Anything else is by Brain Herbert?

Also has anyone read anything of Frank Herbert's except the Dune books? I like the sound of his Destination Void and Jesus Incident books

[Maark Abbott]

Andorion, on 23 March 2016 - 03:57 AM, said:

Just to clarify, Frank Herbert's Dune Books stretch from the original Dune, to Chapterhouse Dune? Anything else is by Brain Herbert?

Also has anyone read anything of Frank Herbert's except the Dune books? I like the sound of his Destination Void and Jesus Incident books

Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson.

The House prequels aren't awful. The Butlerian Jihad is pretty bad. The rest approach Stormlight levels of awful, so I'd totally avoid them.

[Andorion]

Maark Abbott, on 23 March 2016 - 11:28 AM, said:

Andorion, on 23 March 2016 - 03:57 AM, said:

Just to clarify, Frank Herbert's Dune Books stretch from the original Dune, to Chapterhouse Dune? Anything else is by Brain Herbert?

Also has anyone read anything of Frank Herbert's except the Dune books? I like the sound of his Destination Void and Jesus Incident books

Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson.

The House prequels aren't awful. The Butlerian Jihad is pretty bad. The rest approach Stormlight levels of awful, so I'd totally avoid them.

Briar King, on 23 March 2016 - 12:20 PM, said:

Dune, Dune Messiah,Children of Dune,God Emperor of Dune,Heretics of Dune,Chapterhouse Dune.

Then the duo wrote Hunters/Sandworms of Dune "from Frank's notes".

Right, but what about his non Dune books? Has anyone read them

[Andorion]

Reading:

Two chapters into Sagan's A Demon Haunted World. Sagan does a good job advocating for science, but his prose is mediocre

Finished Phase One of The Final Programme in The Cornelius Quartet by Michael Moorcock. No clue what the larger story here is, but loving it so far.

Another four chapters into Herriot's All Things Wise and Wonderful. This book is going into my all time best series

17 chapters into Rules of the Game. After a rather lengthy digression into late-Victorian events it seems the book is going to focus on Fisher as Admiral which is very promising.

I think I can safely say I blasted my reading rut to pieces. Going to capitalise on this momentum and start Dune soon.

[QuickTidal]

About 110 pages into my FoD ReRead. I'm finding it so enjoyable to re-read! It's doing the job of getting me even more amped for FoL!