[Aptorian]

Speaking of Sanderson. I finished Steelheart.

It's a disappointingly mediocre book. It wasn't as much of a clone of Mistborn book one as I'd feared but it's incredibly formulaic. It's like he attempted to replicate the American action film formula, where you have a team of badasses that all fill out generic roles. Like the tough no nonsense girl, the charismatic but mysterious leader, the sensitive muscle dude, the guy with the mouth and quirky personality, etc.

It's a book about super villains taking over the world but there's so little about the story that actually concerns itself with super powered people. It's frustrating and boring. There's so much you want to know about what happened in the aftermath the Epics emerging but the book goes out of its way to ignore it. The book also telegraphs most of its twists or reveals so inelegantly that you have to roll your eyes.

It's not all bad though. As a Young Adult novel it's sort of okay. It has plenty of action and it moves fairly quickly. The dialogue can be fun all though it remains juvenile though out.

Because I'm a masochist, I'm going to read the sequel but so far I wouldn't recommend the series. 3/5 Epics.

This post has been edited by Alternative Goose: 29 September 2017 - 07:44 PM

[Abyss]

Alternative Goose, on 29 September 2017 - 06:07 PM, said:

Speaking of Sanderson. I finished Steelheart.

It's a disappointingly mediocre book. It wasn't as much of a clone of Mistborn book one as I'd feared but it's incredibly formulaic. It's like he attempted to replicate the American action film formula, where you have a team of badasses that all fill out generic roles. Like the tough no nonsense girl, the charismatic but mysterious leader, the sensitive muscle dude, the guy with the mouth and quirky personality, etc.

It's a book about super villains taking over the world but there's so little about this books that actually concerns itself with super powered people. It's frustrating and boring. There's so much you want to know about what happened in the aftermath the Epics emerging but the book goes out of its way to ignore it. The book also telegraphs most of its twists or reveals so inelegantly that you have to role your eyes.

It's not all bad though. As a Young Adult novel it's sort of okay. It has plenty of action and it moves fairly quickly. The dialogue can be fun all though it remains juvenile though out.

Because I'm a masochist, I'm going to read the sequel but so far I wouldn't recommend the series. 3/5 Epics.

I read the series. Found it meh. There was just barely enough novelty and twists to hold my interest, with considerable skimming even so.

I did finish it tho'.

[worry]

Can't say I was disappointed in the Blaine stuff at all. After all, he's

Spoiler

literally just Gollum combined with HAL 9000. The outcome was always inevitable.

[Abyss]

PARADOX BOUND, Peter Clines.
3 chapters in... ...y'know... this guy is fast becoming one of my favorite authors., and I'm starting to enjoy his no EX-HEROES stuff more than that series.
He has a great talent for taking the ordinary, working in an element of the extraordinary, and then slowly but steadily building to crazy shit, as he did in 14 and THE FOLD.

[JPK]

worry, on 29 September 2017 - 07:12 PM, said:

Can't say I was disappointed in the Blaine stuff at all. After all, he's

Spoiler

literally just Gollum combined with HAL 9000. The outcome was always inevitable.

WP, don't read this until after Wizard and Glass.

Spoiler

I personally think that Blaine is one of the best parts of the entire series, I just agree with WP that it should have been the ending of The Wastelands and not tacked into the front of Wizard and Glass. Could you imagine having to wait 6 years for the resolution to that bullshit? Then again, if he hadn't tacked it on there, we would have pretty much no forward progression of the current storyline in W&G at all. And THAT is my major issue with W&G. Book 4 of 7 in a large series and all we really get is the introduction of the Rainbow, the first hint of Susannah's pregnancy, and Sheemie. It feels wrong to me to have the middle volume stall the plot progression as hard as this book did.

[worry]

I don't agree with any of that, I'm afraid! Including the wait between books. And nothing pleases me more than authors throwing a monkey wrench in people's expectations or desires for plot progression, and W&G is -- by far -- my favorite book in the series in part because of, not despite, its detour-ish nature.

[Andorion]

Honey Cups, on 29 September 2017 - 07:55 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 29 September 2017 - 04:54 PM, said:

Andorion, on 29 September 2017 - 04:43 PM, said:

Started reading Arcanum Unbounded. I might actually end up doing a Sanderson reread.

That whole book is pretty great (with some SOLID info from the Worldhoppers on the Cosmere itself!)....but that last story is the damned BEST! You're in for a treat!

Still bitter there was no Nalthis in it(Warbreaker). Feels like a crime. Good stuff in it though. Don't read the thread in BS.

Hang on, hang on, direct me the worldhopper stuff!

I have already read Emperor's Soul, 11th metal, the other mistborn story, 6th of the dusk, and Shadows for Silence, Just started Edgedancer.

[Puck]

worry, on 29 September 2017 - 09:48 PM, said:

I don't agree with any of that, I'm afraid! Including the wait between books. And nothing pleases me more than authors throwing a monkey wrench in people's expectations or desires for plot progression, and W&G is -- by far -- my favorite book in the series in part because of, not despite, its detour-ish nature.

I agree with that on all counts. W&G is, also, by far my favourite book in the DT series.

Honey Cups, on 30 September 2017 - 02:08 AM, said:

worry, on 29 September 2017 - 09:48 PM, said:

I don't agree with any of that, I'm afraid! Including the wait between books. And nothing pleases me more than authors throwing a monkey wrench in people's expectations or desires for plot progression, and W&G is -- by far -- my favorite book in the series in part because of, not despite, its detour-ish nature.

Indeed. I forgave it just because bk 4 is epic. I was infact a bit bitter going into 5.

I should really read 4.5 but I'd need to do a reread. Will do in 2022

Oh and if I'm not mistaken I believe there is some graphic novels set around then?

Yeah. There's one graphic novel series (consisting of five arcs/mini-series) which retells the events of W&G and some stuff beyond it, which is excellent, even if one has already read W&G. It then continues with several new arcs, one of which retells The Little Sisters of Eluria, none of which I can comment upon because the artist changed and without a book to follow the problems I'd had with Robin Furth's writing became too glaring for me and I stopped reading.


As for me, I've finished The Chosen and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I couldn't help wishing the book was told from the protagonist's father's point of view, 'cause I'm not into teenaged protagonists at all. Also, didn't much care for the love story towards the end, which felt tacked on in light of the last chapter. Still, I loved the setting and the election storyline, so on to The Standing Dead, and lo and behold, a Sardian PoV in the first chapter. Hell yeah!

This post has been edited by Puck: 30 September 2017 - 09:34 AM

[JPK]

I did admit from the beginning that I'm in the minority with my views on W&G. I think that's the wonderful thing about opinions, you can all be wrong and I'll still like you all anyways. Regardless, I think we can all agree that the story contained in W&G is really a wonderful work that deserves the read.

As far as my current read goes, I'm around 70% on The Causal Angel. There's been so much awesomesauce in this book I don't even know where to begin.

[Andorion]

Finished reading The Battle of Britain by James Holland. Absolutely excellent read with a very necessary larger perspective than just the air war.

[Puck]

JPK, on 30 September 2017 - 03:35 PM, said:

I did admit from the beginning that I'm in the minority with my views on W&G. I think that's the wonderful thing about opinions, you can all be wrong and I'll still like you all anyways. Regardless, I think we can all agree that the story contained in W&G is really a wonderful work that deserves the read.

Just to be clear, my above post was not meant as 'Your opinion is wrong' (though...). I'm just a worry fangirl and jump on any opportunity where our opinions match

[Chance]

Finished up Half a War and the series got a bit more First Lawish during the last book and I probably enjoyed the first and second book more then the third. Still pretty good and entertaining all the way though, if it hadn't been entertaining the list of flaws and things that normally would have annoyed me would be long thou.

Next is either Provenance by Ann Leckie or The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis, guess I'll test both and see which of them catches my interest.

[Andorion]

Finished Nichalas Sparks' A Walk to Remember. Distinctly juvenile.

Reading: Dunkirk by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore,


An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington,

The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger


Also rereading The Way of Kings.

[polishgenius]

Okay, so I've been doing my Malazan re-read, and I'm nearing the end of RotCG, and I mean obviously it's all great (interestingly, especially with the Erikson books, once I got into the second half of the series- I just finished RG before jumping back to RotCG, I found the flaws I percieved on first read to be a lot less visible when read in the context of a whole 10 book story rather than one novel) but I have one thing that's bugging me (that I'm asking here because I don't know which inactive book forum to put it in): what the fuck is up with Kallor?

Spoiler

Like, he can't be human, right? He's active before humanity arises as a race. When they mentioned a High King in Forge of Darkness I thought that either couldn't be him or was some weird post-series GotMism- FoDism?- of a few that that book seemed to create, but re-reading the series, no, his being around long before humanity was established, especially with the infamous 'I was around when the T'lan Imass where but children' rant. But then on the other hand in RotCG he's depicted as arising from tribal warfare on Jackuruku in what is implied, though not confirmed, to be indeed human times.

So waddup with that? Is there more explained in Fall of Light- still not read that, decided to reread first, is it just a 'Timeline is not important' thing, or is Kallor like Eriksen's evil counter to Tom Bombadil, unexplained and just there as an embodiment of tyranny (as opposed to Bombadil's spirit of freedom)?

[worry]

Spoiler

You're the one doing a reread. Why don't YOU tell US what's up with Kallor!

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 01 October 2017 - 09:36 PM, said:

Okay, so I've been doing my Malazan re-read, and I'm nearing the end of RotCG, and I mean obviously it's all great (interestingly, especially with the Erikson books, once I got into the second half of the series- I just finished RG before jumping back to RotCG, I found the flaws I percieved on first read to be a lot less visible when read in the context of a whole 10 book story rather than one novel) but I have one thing that's bugging me (that I'm asking here because I don't know which inactive book forum to put it in): what the fuck is up with Kallor?

Spoiler

Like, he can't be human, right? He's active before humanity arises as a race. When they mentioned a High King in Forge of Darkness I thought that either couldn't be him or was some weird post-series GotMism- FoDism?- of a few that that book seemed to create, but re-reading the series, no, his being around long before humanity was established, especially with the infamous 'I was around when the T'lan Imass where but children' rant. But then on the other hand in RotCG he's depicted as arising from tribal warfare on Jackuruku in what is implied, though not confirmed, to be indeed human times.

So waddup with that? Is there more explained in Fall of Light- still not read that, decided to reread first, is it just a 'Timeline is not important' thing, or is Kallor like Eriksen's evil counter to Tom Bombadil, unexplained and just there as an embodiment of tyranny (as opposed to Bombadil's spirit of freedom)?

Regarding Kallor,

I am not entirely sure. I

Spoiler

t should be noted that he has yet to make an in-person appearance in Kharkanas. But given his enmity with Ereko, it is quite probable that he is the High King they refer to. He could be a variation of the Azathenai.

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 02 October 2017 - 12:37 AM, said:

Did you see the World Hopper post?

Oh yeah I saw that. I read all the pre-chapter stuff about each system. Then I went on the Coppermind wiki and read up about 17th Shard and all the different shards. Cleared up a lot of stuff. BK did you know someone has compiled all those chapter-starting epigraphs from WoK and WoR on the Wiki?

Briar King, on 02 October 2017 - 01:24 AM, said:

Finished Dresden 2 onto 3.

No gaze.

Didn't Dresden soulgaze Marconi at some point?

[Puck]

Andorion, on 02 October 2017 - 12:30 AM, said:

polishgenius, on 01 October 2017 - 09:36 PM, said:

Okay, so I've been doing my Malazan re-read, and I'm nearing the end of RotCG, and I mean obviously it's all great (interestingly, especially with the Erikson books, once I got into the second half of the series- I just finished RG before jumping back to RotCG, I found the flaws I percieved on first read to be a lot less visible when read in the context of a whole 10 book story rather than one novel) but I have one thing that's bugging me (that I'm asking here because I don't know which inactive book forum to put it in): what the fuck is up with Kallor?

Spoiler

Like, he can't be human, right? He's active before humanity arises as a race. When they mentioned a High King in Forge of Darkness I thought that either couldn't be him or was some weird post-series GotMism- FoDism?- of a few that that book seemed to create, but re-reading the series, no, his being around long before humanity was established, especially with the infamous 'I was around when the T'lan Imass where but children' rant. But then on the other hand in RotCG he's depicted as arising from tribal warfare on Jackuruku in what is implied, though not confirmed, to be indeed human times.

So waddup with that? Is there more explained in Fall of Light- still not read that, decided to reread first, is it just a 'Timeline is not important' thing, or is Kallor like Eriksen's evil counter to Tom Bombadil, unexplained and just there as an embodiment of tyranny (as opposed to Bombadil's spirit of freedom)?

Regarding Kallor,

I am not entirely sure. I

Spoiler

t should be noted that he has yet to make an in-person appearance in Kharkanas. But given his enmity with Ereko, it is quite probable that he is the High King they refer to. He could be a variation of the Azathenai.

Spoiler

That, or - and I don't know how spoileriffic that is regarding FoL, though it was heavily hinted at in DoD/tCG and is simply confirmed in FoL - the various races didn't develop as we were led to believe they did in the MBotF. My assumption before that and especially since then has been that Kallor is a remnant of an early off-shoot of humans which evolved on Jacuruku, potentially even partly parallel to the Imass on other continents. Taking into consideration that SE is an archaelogist/anthropologist and would know that the evolution of humans is much more complex and happened simultaneously to varying degrees and at varying speed almost all over the planet, and the Imass sounds suspiciously like Neanderthals, this seemed to me like a logical theory. It also works well with the tribal warfare thing from RotCG. I think we like to imagine Kallor's big empire as a rather advanced civilization, but what little we see of it in MT through Silchas' vision isn't all that different from early civilizations, which also started happening in the real world much earlier than initially thought, as it's becoming increasingly clear.

Just my thoughts on the matter. That, or he just didn't care.

This post has been edited by Puck: 02 October 2017 - 11:00 AM

[JPK]

Briar King, on 02 October 2017 - 02:35 AM, said:

Andorion, on 02 October 2017 - 01:39 AM, said:

Briar King, on 02 October 2017 - 12:37 AM, said:

Did you see the World Hopper post?

Oh yeah I saw that. I read all the pre-chapter stuff about each system. Then I went on the Coppermind wiki and read up about 17th Shard and all the different shards. Cleared up a lot of stuff. BK did you know someone has compiled all those chapter-starting epigraphs from WoK and WoR on the Wiki?

Briar King, on 02 October 2017 - 01:24 AM, said:

Finished Dresden 2 onto 3.

No gaze.

Didn't Dresden soulgaze Marconi at some point?

I didn’t. I ll look up at some point before November.

Yes he gazed him in bk1. I’m referring to Kitsu Murph gaze he told me to pay attention to that he thought might be in bk 1 or 2. It’s probably in 3 I think considering what the arc theme is.

Ok, I looked it up again.

Spoiler

The section I had in mind is in book 3, and he sees he using Sight instead of a proper soulgaze.

[polishgenius]

Andorion, on 02 October 2017 - 12:30 AM, said:

polishgenius, on 01 October 2017 - 09:36 PM, said:

Okay, so I've been doing my Malazan re-read, and I'm nearing the end of RotCG, and I mean obviously it's all great (interestingly, especially with the Erikson books, once I got into the second half of the series- I just finished RG before jumping back to RotCG, I found the flaws I percieved on first read to be a lot less visible when read in the context of a whole 10 book story rather than one novel) but I have one thing that's bugging me (that I'm asking here because I don't know which inactive book forum to put it in): what the fuck is up with Kallor?

Spoiler

Like, he can't be human, right? He's active before humanity arises as a race. When they mentioned a High King in Forge of Darkness I thought that either couldn't be him or was some weird post-series GotMism- FoDism?- of a few that that book seemed to create, but re-reading the series, no, his being around long before humanity was established, especially with the infamous 'I was around when the T'lan Imass where but children' rant. But then on the other hand in RotCG he's depicted as arising from tribal warfare on Jackuruku in what is implied, though not confirmed, to be indeed human times.

So waddup with that? Is there more explained in Fall of Light- still not read that, decided to reread first, is it just a 'Timeline is not important' thing, or is Kallor like Eriksen's evil counter to Tom Bombadil, unexplained and just there as an embodiment of tyranny (as opposed to Bombadil's spirit of freedom)?

Regarding Kallor,

I am not entirely sure. I

Spoiler

t should be noted that he has yet to make an in-person appearance in Kharkanas. But given his enmity with Ereko, it is quite probable that he is the High King they refer to. He could be a variation of the Azathenai.

I don't really think that

Spoiler

he's likely to be Azathani. They're all essentially gods, and we know that he isn't and will never ascend.

Puck may be onto something with the 'the stated origins of humanity aren't the only ones' theory, but I don't ever recall a mention of any kind of human presence in FoD, beyond that High King mention, and tbh throughout the series there has so far as I've reread been no serious evidence that the Onrack/Kilava story isn't the true one, or at least that humanity existed in any form before the Ritual of Tellann.

Heck, maybe he's some kind of rogue Eres.