[Abyss]

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 11:02 PM, said:

 Briar King, on 24 April 2017 - 10:40 PM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 01:38 PM, said:

Finished STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT: TWILIGHT COMPANY by Alexander Freed. Fun book. Probably the most entertaining grunts-eye-view of the Star Wars books I've read. Had a GREAT Darth Vader scene as well.

Started into THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon, 5th book in the Outlander series. Goddamn these books are huge.

Obviously keep me informed with your opinions of it.

I'm kinda surprised you haven't jumped on Thrawn yet. That's gotta be the biggest want/curiosity generator for NuCanon sheep to date. Esp for old EU'ers, even non Thrawn fans as so much hinged on Zahn kicking off yrs of entertainment.

Never been the biggest Thrawn fan.

YOU SHUT YOUR BLUE HATING MOUTH.

[JPK]

 Abyss, on 25 April 2017 - 02:32 AM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 11:02 PM, said:

 Briar King, on 24 April 2017 - 10:40 PM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 01:38 PM, said:

Finished STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT: TWILIGHT COMPANY by Alexander Freed. Fun book. Probably the most entertaining grunts-eye-view of the Star Wars books I've read. Had a GREAT Darth Vader scene as well.

Started into THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon, 5th book in the Outlander series. Goddamn these books are huge.

Obviously keep me informed with your opinions of it.

I'm kinda surprised you haven't jumped on Thrawn yet. That's gotta be the biggest want/curiosity generator for NuCanon sheep to date. Esp for old EU'ers, even non Thrawn fans as so much hinged on Zahn kicking off yrs of entertainment.

Never been the biggest Thrawn fan.

YOU SHUT YOUR BLUE HATING MOUTH.

This deserves ALL of the rep today.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

I forgot to mention that I finished Absolution Gap the other week. It was a fitting conclusion to the RevSpace coda, but, if I had read it without having read Galactic North first, I might have been a little disappointed with the non-revelation about

Spoiler

the stars turning green (the cause of which is revealed in Galactic North).

Then again, maybe the mystery would have been a good one to dream on.

On the topic of "Dreams. Beautiful human dreams," I just finished The Prefect. It's a tight mystery story that kept me guessing with a likeable cast, high stakes, and enough small moments of drama to not be too dry (I liked Thalia but felt her plot was a little sparse). While I had anticipated it being a nice palate cleanser after finishing the main RevSpace sequence, it only left me wanting more (but in that good way you only feel when you have to leave behind a world you're invested in).

On to Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 25 April 2017 - 11:56 AM

[amphibian]

He's writing a sequel to The Prefect.

[acesn8s]

Almost done with The Aeronaut's Windlass. Wow, lots of fun. To me, he captured the atmosphere and dialog of a "Steampunk" novel wonderfully. I really enjoyed the banter and social interactions between the characters. I can see I'll be reading Senlin Ascends (based on the recommendations) and then I'll probably devour the rest of Ketty Jay books. If I can't have swashbucking based fantasy, airships/steampunk scratches my itch.

[Abyss]

 Briar King, on 25 April 2017 - 05:48 PM, said:

I have dug out GotM to find it has crystallized dog piss on it. Lovely..

Score! The Hound Of Shadow Pee Limited Editions are hard to find. Is it signed?

[Salt-Man Z]

 Abyss, on 25 April 2017 - 07:15 PM, said:

Score! The Hound Of Shadow Pee Limited Editions are hard to find. Is it signed?

I mean, in a manner of speaking.

[polishgenius]

 acesn8s, on 25 April 2017 - 05:32 PM, said:

Almost done with The Aeronaut's Windlass. Wow, lots of fun. To me, he captured the atmosphere and dialog of a "Steampunk" novel wonderfully. I really enjoyed the banter and social interactions between the characters. I can see I'll be reading Senlin Ascends (based on the recommendations) and then I'll probably devour the rest of Ketty Jay books. If I can't have swashbucking based fantasy, airships/steampunk scratches my itch.

Stick Reynolds' The Revenger on your list as well at some point. It's a full-on space opera rather than airships but has that same swashbuckling pirates deal.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

 amphibian, on 25 April 2017 - 12:25 PM, said:

He's writing a sequel to The Prefect.

Good to know!

[acesn8s]

 polishgenius, on 25 April 2017 - 07:53 PM, said:

 acesn8s, on 25 April 2017 - 05:32 PM, said:

Almost done with The Aeronaut's Windlass. Wow, lots of fun. To me, he captured the atmosphere and dialog of a "Steampunk" novel wonderfully. I really enjoyed the banter and social interactions between the characters. I can see I'll be reading Senlin Ascends (based on the recommendations) and then I'll probably devour the rest of Ketty Jay books. If I can't have swashbucking based fantasy, airships/steampunk scratches my itch.

Stick Reynolds' The Revenger on your list as well at some point. It's a full-on space opera rather than airships but has that same swashbuckling pirates deal.

That looks excellent! Thanks for the recommendation. I added it to my Amazon wishlist.

[acesn8s]

 Briar King, on 25 April 2017 - 05:48 PM, said:

I have dug out GotM to find it has crystallized dog piss on it. Lovely..

Years ago I tried to start a MBotF reread. Halfway through Deadhouse Gates my dog got a hold of it and ripped it to shreds. I never got around to replacing it and it killed my reread. One day I'll try it again.

[QuickTidal]

 Briar King, on 24 April 2017 - 10:40 PM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 01:38 PM, said:

Started into THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon, 5th book in the Outlander series. Goddamn these books are huge.

Obviously keep me informed with your opinions of it.

Well, it took 300 pages... To get SO annoyed, that I bailed out and Wiki'ed the rest of the story for the book.

I just could not read any more of it.

Non-spoiler-y reasons?

NOTHING HAPPENS. This book could have been called "Life on the Ridge with the Frasers and Friends". Those first 300pgs comprise A DAY. One...goddamn...long ass day. During that day, SO many random events occur that you'd check your sanity by 2 o'clock.

Mildly spoiler-y reasons?

Spoiler

I don't think that Gabaldon has anything big to aim towards except the American Revolution...and it's still years off yet. Just like it was in the last book. The lack of something like the Jacobite Uprising (and a decent villain like Black Jack Randall) have basically made the world in which our characters inhabit a BORING ass Little House on the Prairie one. The petulant villain (who became such in the last book) is SUCH a cartoonish, moustache-twirling asshole that he makes the many-layered excellence of Black Jack seem like shakespeare in comparison.

And I HAAAAAAAATE Brianna and Roger. I think that's my biggest takeaway. In the last book, and again in this...it's like Gabaldon thinks we are going to get bored of Jamie and Claire (who by the way feel like they were written by a different person in the books after the 3rd one) so she's shoved the story forward and given us Roger (a non-fighter, mostly useless, possessive-as-fuck assclown who just wants to screw Brianna all the time) and Brianna (who spends her time being as nasty as Jaime and her mother when they are in a mood....but she does so ALL the time...and basically accepts the asshole that Roger is....even though she's an strong-willed American girl...she kowtows to the sexism and possessive nature of her partner.

I've been warned by my sister-in-law that the books continue to focus down hard on Brianna and Roger over Claire and Jaime from here on out. Their story is largely done apparently, and they become more and more just the older generation who are present.

Fergus is still excellent mind you. As is Ian.

But yeah. Fuuuuuuuck Roger and Brianna. They are awful characters.

And I also know that nothing happens in the rest of the book because the Wiki shows me that it was more of the same for nearly the whole 1500 pages. Except there is ONE worthwhile note in the end, where a book is found that illustrates more on the time travel phenomenon with the stones and such.

[Abyss]

 acesn8s, on 26 April 2017 - 12:38 PM, said:

 Briar King, on 25 April 2017 - 05:48 PM, said:

I have dug out GotM to find it has crystallized dog piss on it. Lovely..

Years ago I tried to start a MBotF reread. Halfway through Deadhouse Gates my dog got a hold of it and ripped it to shreds. I never got around to replacing it and it killed my reread. One day I'll try it again.

In other news, finished RED RISING, and yeah, the book really does steadily escalate from ok to good to great.
Started bk 2, GOLDEN SON... hell of an opening.

[End of Disc One]

Glad you're enjoying Red Rising; I was a little worried there. Sevro is my man.

[Andorion]

 QuickTidal, on 26 April 2017 - 01:47 PM, said:

 Briar King, on 24 April 2017 - 10:40 PM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 01:38 PM, said:

Started into THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon, 5th book in the Outlander series. Goddamn these books are huge.

Obviously keep me informed with your opinions of it.

Well, it took 300 pages... To get SO annoyed, that I bailed out and Wiki'ed the rest of the story for the book.

I just could not read any more of it.

Non-spoiler-y reasons?

NOTHING HAPPENS. This book could have been called "Life on the Ridge with the Frasers and Friends". Those first 300pgs comprise A DAY. One...goddamn...long ass day. During that day, SO many random events occur that you'd check your sanity by 2 o'clock.

Mildly spoiler-y reasons?

Spoiler

I don't think that Gabaldon has anything big to aim towards except the American Revolution...and it's still years off yet. Just like it was in the last book. The lack of something like the Jacobite Uprising (and a decent villain like Black Jack Randall) have basically made the world in which our characters inhabit a BORING ass Little House on the Prairie one. The petulant villain (who became such in the last book) is SUCH a cartoonish, moustache-twirling asshole that he makes the many-layered excellence of Black Jack seem like shakespeare in comparison.

And I HAAAAAAAATE Brianna and Roger. I think that's my biggest takeaway. In the last book, and again in this...it's like Gabaldon thinks we are going to get bored of Jamie and Claire (who by the way feel like they were written by a different person in the books after the 3rd one) so she's shoved the story forward and given us Roger (a non-fighter, mostly useless, possessive-as-fuck assclown who just wants to screw Brianna all the time) and Brianna (who spends her time being as nasty as Jaime and her mother when they are in a mood....but she does so ALL the time...and basically accepts the asshole that Roger is....even though she's an strong-willed American girl...she kowtows to the sexism and possessive nature of her partner.

I've been warned by my sister-in-law that the books continue to focus down hard on Brianna and Roger over Claire and Jaime from here on out. Their story is largely done apparently, and they become more and more just the older generation who are present.

Fergus is still excellent mind you. As is Ian.

But yeah. Fuuuuuuuck Roger and Brianna. They are awful characters.

And I also know that nothing happens in the rest of the book because the Wiki shows me that it was more of the same for nearly the whole 1500 pages. Except there is ONE worthwhile note in the end, where a book is found that illustrates more on the time travel phenomenon with the stones and such.

You know one of the reasons I dropped the Outlander series was that I was worried that Brianna and Roger would now be the focus, and I thought that would be a terrible idea. Looks like I was right.


In other news I am reading The Divine Comedy by Dante and its a far more political work than I had been led to realize.

[Slow Ben]

Started a re-read last year sometime with Gardens, then got distracted and just now got back to it.

Jumped into DG and God Damn I always, somehow, forget how much i love these books.

[Baco Xtath]

On my third re-read/listen of Poseidon's Wake. Not sure what it is about this series (think it's everything) but it's one of my all time favorites. May do a Revelation Space reread after.

[QuickTidal]

 Andorion, on 27 April 2017 - 01:32 AM, said:

You know one of the reasons I dropped the Outlander series was that I was worried that Brianna and Roger would now be the focus, and I thought that would be a terrible idea. Looks like I was right.

You are not wrong to have done that....though I wish you had access to the TV show as they handle everything so much better on there. I have hopes that even the lacklustre books (and characters) in the series will shine brighter on the show when we get to those seasons.

[Salt-Man Z]

Nearing the end of Asher's War Factory (second in the Polity: Transformation trilogy) and am really enjoying it now. Still have these gaps in my memory regarding all these characters from the first book two years ago, but it's still a fun ride. I'm just glad I have book three ready to dive right into when this is done.

[Gabriele]

 Andorion, on 27 April 2017 - 01:32 AM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 26 April 2017 - 01:47 PM, said:

 Briar King, on 24 April 2017 - 10:40 PM, said:

 QuickTidal, on 24 April 2017 - 01:38 PM, said:

Started into THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon, 5th book in the Outlander series. Goddamn these books are huge.

Obviously keep me informed with your opinions of it.

Well, it took 300 pages... To get SO annoyed, that I bailed out and Wiki'ed the rest of the story for the book.

I just could not read any more of it.

Non-spoiler-y reasons?

NOTHING HAPPENS. This book could have been called "Life on the Ridge with the Frasers and Friends". Those first 300pgs comprise A DAY. One...goddamn...long ass day. During that day, SO many random events occur that you'd check your sanity by 2 o'clock.

Mildly spoiler-y reasons?

Spoiler

I don't think that Gabaldon has anything big to aim towards except the American Revolution...and it's still years off yet. Just like it was in the last book. The lack of something like the Jacobite Uprising (and a decent villain like Black Jack Randall) have basically made the world in which our characters inhabit a BORING ass Little House on the Prairie one. The petulant villain (who became such in the last book) is SUCH a cartoonish, moustache-twirling asshole that he makes the many-layered excellence of Black Jack seem like shakespeare in comparison.

And I HAAAAAAAATE Brianna and Roger. I think that's my biggest takeaway. In the last book, and again in this...it's like Gabaldon thinks we are going to get bored of Jamie and Claire (who by the way feel like they were written by a different person in the books after the 3rd one) so she's shoved the story forward and given us Roger (a non-fighter, mostly useless, possessive-as-fuck assclown who just wants to screw Brianna all the time) and Brianna (who spends her time being as nasty as Jaime and her mother when they are in a mood....but she does so ALL the time...and basically accepts the asshole that Roger is....even though she's an strong-willed American girl...she kowtows to the sexism and possessive nature of her partner.

I've been warned by my sister-in-law that the books continue to focus down hard on Brianna and Roger over Claire and Jaime from here on out. Their story is largely done apparently, and they become more and more just the older generation who are present.

Fergus is still excellent mind you. As is Ian.

But yeah. Fuuuuuuuck Roger and Brianna. They are awful characters.

And I also know that nothing happens in the rest of the book because the Wiki shows me that it was more of the same for nearly the whole 1500 pages. Except there is ONE worthwhile note in the end, where a book is found that illustrates more on the time travel phenomenon with the stones and such.

You know one of the reasons I dropped the Outlander series was that I was worried that Brianna and Roger would now be the focus, and I thought that would be a terrible idea. Looks like I was right.


In other news I am reading The Divine Comedy by Dante and its a far more political work than I had been led to realize.

I gave up after book 4. But she obviously got a big enough fanbase that will buy even book 20 in that series, so she's going on with it. Not that I blame her; I'd like to have her bank account. (Nor do I need to worry that I will ever produce 20 doorstoppers as long as my writing speed resembles that of GRRM )