[Andorion]

Macros, on 19 July 2017 - 07:10 PM, said:

I'm about 50% in Aeneid, keep forgetting to bring it down with me.
So far I prefer The Odyssey
But probably prefer Aeneid over the Illiad

Interesting. I prefer the Iliad over the Odyssey.

[worry]

I like when Launchpad's plane is surrounded by harpies and Scrooge has the bright idea to take the whole gang to the Black Sea to find the Golden Fleece.

[JPK]

After thinking more about it, I found something that wasn't a graphic novel to read.

The Fractal Prince is perfect for what I want right now.

[Baco Xtath]

Finished Orca (Taltos book 7) and Raven Strategem (Ninefox Gambit sequel). Taltos was as fun as always. This one had a second female co-narrator which was different. Raven Strategem was good. Reminded me of the Ancillary trilogy a lot. Enjoyed both of them.

Started listening to The Years of Rice and Salt. And while I'm enjoying it, I really hate how at the end of each chapter, the narrator says "and to see what happens, you'll have to read about it in the next chapter." It's always jarring to me when authors address me.

Also, on kindle, reading Cixin Li's Wandering Earth collection. Pure mind-fuckery and very original.

[Mentalist]

Finished "Stormdancer" by Jay Kristoff yesterday. Not bad, but like "The Emperor's Blades", nothing earth-shattering.

I think now for commute and home I'm gonna knuckle down and try to finish my Land Without Joy" re-read. I'm on Part 3 right now, so might as well get it done. Then I think i'll do the same for re-reading "The Judging Eye" and "White-luck warrior" before jumping into the last 2 Bakker books.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Still pushing through Curse of the Mistwraith. It seems to slowly be improving.

For funsies, I'm also reading Gladstone's Last First Snow. I've already read Three Parts Dead, and wanted to try something new. So, instead of reading the series in publication order, I'm going to read it in chronological order (excluding 3PD).

[Andorion]

Finished October Horse. Another excellent book.

About 30% into Anthony and Cleopatra.

Also reading the Raven Stratagem. So far its pretty great.

[QuickTidal]

DC sale at Comixology over the weekend allowed me to get Grant Morrison's JLA Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 (free!)...so I will finally be able to read the fabled ROCK OF AGES arc!

[Abyss]

SENLIN ASCENDS is killing me. Too 'cute', too meandering, too repetitious, everything takes too damn long to happen. I see what so many of you liked about this book, the setting is amazing, the actual writing is solid, but the protag is boring me and his progress towards anything is tedious and at times predictable. May be just the wrong book at the wrong time for me, but i'm finding it slog'esque at points.

THE DELERIUM BRIEF, is pure glorious LAUNDRY mad crazy fun. This is the book that brings all the Laundry stories to date wonderfully together and then clusterfucks everything. About 2/3 thru and loving it.

[the broken]

Air War, Adrian Tchaikovsky. It was pretty good, but I'm starting to to question Collegiate Ethics.

Spoiler

They expect all their allies to help them, but they don't seem to help any of their allies. Myna's obviously going to take the brunt of any invasion, but they don't send them any Stormreaders or feel the need to intervene when the Wasp army starts committing genocide on the Mantids.

[End of Disc One]

Funny, I just finished The Air War too. It was pretty good, not my favorite in the series but probably in the top half.

[Mentalist]

Okay, finally wrapped up my re-read of "Land Without Joy" . The last part is a nice refresher about the New Mages.

Tempted to jump into "Godsdoom 2" right now while it's all still fresh, but I think I'll stick with my plan to switch to Bakker.

So gonna start re-read of "The Judging Eye" tomorrow.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 07 December 2017 - 06:56 PM

[Macros]

the broken, on 24 July 2017 - 07:02 PM, said:

Air War, Adrian Tchaikovsky. It was pretty good, but I'm starting to to question Collegiate Ethics.

Spoiler

They expect all their allies to help them, but they don't seem to help any of their allies. Myna's obviously going to take the brunt of any invasion, but they don't send them any Stormreaders or feel the need to intervene when the Wasp army starts committing genocide on the Mantids.

Very much this.

You'll really question their hypocrisy by the end of the book

[the broken]

Hmm. Finished now, and while I had gripes, nothing majorly ethical struck me beyond

Spoiler

not helping the Felyal or Myna at all. Keeping the Air Force grounded I accepted as a tough but necessary call.

Obligatory gripes: Stenwold Maker and the College Faculty should not need a warning from a student to realise they could be targets for assassination. They should have automatically assumed it, Stenwold's survived his share of attempts, it's out of character not to assume by default that assassins were en route.

Straessa's trick shoulder in the duelling club also not the big issue she made it out to be. Yes, the rules are different on a battlefield, but a duelling club is not a battlefield.

Why does nobody ever mistrust seductive Spiders? They're literally famous for screwing people over.

Liked the empire politics for the most part and the imperial pilots. Missed not having Thalric around, though.

[Macros]

I really thought a body as "enlightened" should have baulked more at their final solution to the air war. There didn't seem to be enough horror at it, given the reactions of some of the inventors later in the series (I *THINK* its warmasters gate has one scene in particular highlighting this)

[Mentalist]

No, "Seal of the Worm is the one that goes really off-kilter, imho.

As for sexy spiders... their Art is making people their slaves, pretty much- their whole society mandates that institution. I think it's implied that unless your kinden has some kind of spider immunity (see: Mantids), you're gonna make them your best friend because you can't help it.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 07 December 2017 - 06:57 PM

[Andorion]

Finished Antony and Cleopatra, thus wrapping up the series.

Spoiler

I was initially quite worried about the book because Caesar, who was the central character was missing. Parts of the book were a bit monotonous, especially some Antony and Cleopatra PoVs, while Octavian was pretty good.

Looking back, apart from Caesar, my favourite characters are Sulla and Scaurus Princeps Senatus. In fact the more I read, the more I missed Scaurus. He was the epitome of a principled conservative.

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 27 July 2017 - 01:17 AM, said:

Andorion, on 27 July 2017 - 01:16 AM, said:

Finished Antony and Cleopatra, thus wrapping up the series.

Spoiler

I was initially quite worried about the book because Caesar, who was the central character was missing. Parts of the book were a bit monotonous, especially some Antony and Cleopatra PoVs, while Octavian was pretty good.

Looking back, apart from Caesar, my favourite characters are Sulla and Scaurus Princeps Senatus. In fact the more I read, the more I missed Scaurus. He was the epitome of a principled conservative.

So are you pleased with my reco to read this series then?

Briar King, on 27 July 2017 - 02:03 AM, said:

I still encourage you if have the ability to to watch HBO's Rome and Taylor's film Cleopatra now that you are done. Both well worth your time especially Rome. Such a brilliant series that turned out to be.

Also although I haven't read the books but have every intention of doing so I'd reco you to watch I Claudius. You can find that on YouTube. None of it is covered in what you just read unlike those other two. It's set a number of years after Actium with Octavian firmly on the throne and covering Emperors 1-5. 4 being Claudius.

I loved the series. One of the things I liked most was all the details about Roman life and Roman rule. Very few historical fiction books about Rome have this level of detail. As someone who prioritises worldbuilding, this was a very appealing part of the books.

I will look into Rome the series. I may be able to see it.

Also I will definitely look up I Claudius.

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 27 July 2017 - 03:49 AM, said:

Glad to hear I didn't fail you yet again with a reco!

I Claudius is very dated now, I think it was 1976 but the story is superb. I don't think the visuals will matter much to you after you realize how masterful the story is.

Also there have been rumors for years now that both it and Sho Gun are being remade.

Your recos usually always work out BK. In fact I am going to be reading another James Clavell later in the year. Already got the book.

As for I Claudius, it is pretty old, but the book itself is by Robert Graves who is my favourite translater of classical works, so I think I will like it.

[Abyss]

China Mieville's LAST DAYS OF NEW PARIS.

My head hurts.