[acesn8s]

They kick his dog too.

[Mentalist]

Finished "Gloriana", as I was stuck in a transit delay last night and had to commute all over the city today.

It gets better than my early impressions, but not my favourite Moorcock work, certainly.

At home I haven' had a chance to get far into "The Buried Life" due to RL constraints. The premise seems kinda neat- it's a mystery in an underground (because it's kinda post-apoc) Victorian city. Like I said I was only 1.5 chapters in, bu i've liked how it started.

Gonna put that on hold for now, and reading same thing for home and commute power thru Deepgate starting next week.

[polishgenius]

This week I read Rachel Bach's Fortune's Pawn, which turned out to be a fun little space opera/military SF mix. I didn't love it as much as some people evidently did at the time, and, although the romance angle wasn't nearly as strong as some reviewers warned, that was a little balanced by some gaps in logic and, occasionally, science that bothered me even in a book being determinedly soft-SF adventure romp, but I liked it enough that I'll pick up the sequel and probably look out for her fantasy (under the name Rachel Aaron, which I didn't realise till now was the same person).




Now I'm onto a just-out debut called The Vynil Detective, by Andrew Cartmell, which, while not fantasy, does come with a recommendation by Ben Aaronovitch and is off to a promising start. It's about a bloke whose job consists of searching for rare records and, it seems, gets drawn into some shady goings on somehow by a commission he takes on.

[Baco Xtath]

polishgenius, on 20 May 2016 - 08:30 PM, said:

This week I read Rachel Bach's Fortune's Pawn, which turned out to be a fun little space opera/military SF mix. I didn't love it as much as some people evidently did at the time, and, although the romance angle wasn't nearly as strong as some reviewers warned, that was a little balanced by some gaps in logic and, occasionally, science that bothered me even in a book being determinedly soft-SF adventure romp, but I liked it enough that I'll pick up the sequel and probably look out for her fantasy (under the name Rachel Aaron, which I didn't realise till now was the same person).

Love Bach's Paradox series. It's in my top ten, though I really don't care for the romance bit.

Finished Meluch's Wolfstar: Merrimack #2 will be moving on to #3. Really good stuff. Also, finish Kay's Children of Earth and Sky; very similar to Sarantine Mosaic and just as good. Wonderful stuff. Almost finished with Jemisin's Shadowed Sun. She's fantastic and I definitely recommend everything she's written.

[Overactive Imagination]

Ditto on the FoD re-read. Almost finished!

[QuickTidal]

Finally reading Marv Wolfman and George Perez seminal DC comics classic CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, and it's DAMNED amazing!

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 22 May 2016 - 03:26 PM, said:

Finally reading Marv Wolfman and George Perez seminal DC comics classic CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, and it's DAMNED amazing!

It is THE original massive cross line crossover for a reason.

[West33]

Finished Abercrombie's Red Country. It maybe lost its way a little towards the end, but otherwise it was up to Abercrombie's usual exceptional standard. On to FoL now.

Deep breath.

[Salt-Man Z]

I'm like...a third? of the way through FoL, and man, it's good--it's really good--but it's so dense and plodding that it's...well, not exactly a chore, but no something I've been tackling with any enthusiasm. So I got to the next chapter break and instead picked up Neal Stephenson's Seveneves. It's just so compulsively readable, the contrast is amazing. I mean, the first sentence has the moon blow up! I'm actually starting to struggle with it a bit, on account of the whole everyone-on-Earth-is-going-to-die thing feeling a little too Real, but the pages are still just flying by. Good stuff so far.

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 23 May 2016 - 05:56 PM

[polishgenius]

polishgenius, on 20 May 2016 - 08:30 PM, said:

Now I'm onto a just-out debut called The Vynil Detective, by Andrew Cartmell, which, while not fantasy, does come with a recommendation by Ben Aaronovitch and is off to a promising start. It's about a bloke whose job consists of searching for rare records and, it seems, gets drawn into some shady goings on somehow by a commission he takes on.

I just finished this today and I recommend it. It's a bit rambly, a bit ramshackle, and hugely charming. Good read for when you want a lighter moment.

Although a correction, it's not a debut, Andrew Cartmell has been around for ages and indeed is the Cartmell of the 'Cartmell masterplan' that was trying to fix the original run of Doctor Who just as it ended.

[Andorion]

Has anyone read The Copper Promise by Jennifer Williams?

I just started it, about 20% in, and already enough things have happened that usually happen in the finale of a book or a series. Its quite startlingly refreshing. I thought I had some idea where this was going, but I was totally wrong. Off hand I can't think of any first book that crams in this much stuff in the first fifth of the first book of a series. Closest would be GotM with Pale and the Hounds.

[Abyss]

FoL still moving. Slowly, alas, but enjoying.

In earbook, having completed Thurman`s CAL LEANDROS series (wow, what a sad implosion bk10 turned in to), started Charlie Jane Ander's ALL THE BIRDS IN THE SKY. Just a half hour in, it`s charming and interesting... strong elements of Gaiman with a bit of classic Andre Norton vibe.

[JPK]

Salt-Man Z, on 23 May 2016 - 05:55 PM, said:

I'm like...a third? of the way through FoL, and man, it's good--it's really good--but it's so dense and plodding that it's...well, not exactly a chore, but no something I've been tackling with any enthusiasm.

I'm having the same problem with FoL. When I'm actively reading it I'm loving the thing, but is hard to want to pick it up because I know it requires one to pay solid attention. It also isn't very travel friendly.

In that regard, I picked Midnight Riot back up and finished it. I didn't feel this one as much and I think it's because I had such a hard time relating to the main character. I don't think I'm going to continue with this series.

On the other hand, I started Horns by Joe Hill last night and hard a very hard time putting it down. I actually ended up staying up an hour later then I meant to.

[QuickTidal]

Finished CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS and really enjoyed the heck out of it. I think it goes maybe ONE issue too long (there are only so many times the Anti-Monitor should be like "I'm back! Haha! You can't kill me!" before it gets old...and there is a whole issue of that)...but overall really solid. Though I have one query...if this was the death of Barry Allen and establishment of Wally as the main Flash...how does that compute with no one other than Psycho-Pirate remembering all that happened? Or did I miss something?

Also, original Supergirl was amazeballs...and then some.

The same sale on Comixology also got me the 2005 INFINITE CRISIS issues by Johns, and 2008 Morrison FINAL CRISIS for $12 total...so that was sweet and I'll get to those soon. That will finally catch me up with all the events for DC that I've not read (I've read FLASH: REBIRTH, BLACKEST NIGHT, BRIGHTEST DAY,and FLASHPOINT) crossover-wise.

On the book front, 200 pages into WAR OF THE FLOWERS and finding it compelling, and well written (as per usual with Tad) and a pretty unique take on portal fantasy. Really quite enjoying.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 24 May 2016 - 07:01 PM, said:

Finished CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS and really enjoyed the heck out of it. I think it goes maybe ONE issue too long (there are only so many times the Anti-Monitor should be like "I'm back! Haha! You can't kill me!" before it gets old...and there is a whole issue of that)...but overall really solid. Though I have one query...if this was the death of Barry Allen and establishment of Wally as the main Flash...how does that compute with no one other than Psycho-Pirate remembering all that happened? Or did I miss something?

Also, original Supergirl was amazeballs...and then some.

You missed something but not really.In the comics that followed the end of the Crisis and developed the new merged One Earth DC, everyone remembered the Crisis, just not the details about the multiverse.So everyone knew Barry Flash died in the crisis and Wally stepped up, but no one remembered Kara did bcs her origin, and Kal's, were substantially rewritten.

[QuickTidal]

Finishing up Geoff Johns & Phil Jemenez 2005 COIE follow-up INFINITE CRISIS...which is amazing! A fantastic follow up to COIE.

...but the big news...

My pre-order of THE WHEEL OF OSHEIM just delivered to my door weeks early! So Ima be putting WAR OF THE FLOWERS on hold while I crack into this badboy later today!

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 25 May 2016 - 04:16 PM, said:

How is Flower though?

Oh it's great so far. Very solid portal fantasy! Lots of enjoyable characters and plot points. It's paced a bit faster than his big series as well.

[Macros]

Started on The Last Mortal Bond.
Only on chapter 2 but Im already remembering why I liked the first 2.

[QuickTidal]

THE WHEEL Of OSHEIM by Mark Lawrence.

Wow. Only 30 pages in but already it's fantastic! You guys are gonna love this.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 25 May 2016 - 04:44 PM, said:

Briar King, on 25 May 2016 - 04:16 PM, said:

How is Flower though?

Oh it's great so far. Very solid portal fantasy! Lots of enjoyable characters and plot points. It's paced a bit faster than his big series as well.

Tol'ja.