[Abyss]

Aptorian, on 30 March 2019 - 07:31 PM, said:

Finished Labyrinth Index by Charles Stross. Great book. Great shift in the parameters The Laundry works within. I was expecting something more catastrophic but the ending didn't disappoint.
...

I really enjoyed the finale of that book. So much going on, so much going sideways, all the revelations... Stross really does just go from strength to strength with this series.

[Aptorian]

I felt like it was a bit disappointing to find that:

Heavy Labyrinth Index spoilers!

Spoiler

First of all Dread Cthulhu is "just" a weird wasp monster eqivelant and not something truly mind shattering.

But also that Cthulhu, at least as translated through the mouth piece, is similar to The Sleeper in the Pyramid and The Black Pharaoh. Monstrous and powerful, sure, but still quantifiable and understandable in a way that I find opposite to Lovecraftian design. I'm not sure I want Cthulhu to be able to or care about communicating with humans, any more than we communicate with ants.

But maybe what I'm really looking for is what the deputy director hinted at. Something out there that the other Elder Gods apparently fear or are fleeing from. Sounded sort of like Frost Giants plural.

On another subject, the epigraphs or quotes at the start of the chapters in The Silkworm are terrible. I don't think I've ever seen Epigraphs as pointless or obtuse as the ones JK Rowling is employing here. Either I'm just dumb or she's trying to be too smart for her own good.

.

This post has been edited by Aptorian: 31 March 2019 - 10:32 AM

[Andorion]

Read Swordheart by T Kingfisher. Extremely entertaining and funny. Absolutely loved the book.

Premise is that a middle aged widow who has been left a fortune is being harassed by evil relatives. She finds a magic sword with an ancient warrior trapped inside. Adventures ensue.

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 28 March 2019 - 04:29 PM, said:

Abyss, on 22 March 2019 - 02:19 AM, said:

O'Sullivan's THE ROOK.Light urban fantasy spy-fi stuff, fun. Excellent earbook narrator makes it more engaging than the otherwise unsurprising story might be.About 75% thru and if it ends as strong as it's been i'll Probably jump right to book 2 unless the next EXPANSE arrives.

Just finished ROOK, satisfied.

It's abit light, and there's a tonal shift to near comedy about 2/3rds of the way thru that's almost jarring (tho, when it's funny, very much funny), but overall it was an enjoyable urban fantasy take on the 'superagent in super secret agency loses memory, has to fake they know what they're doing while solving crime, saving world' story. Great earbook narrator really sells it. The main character(s) is/are engaging. The supporting cast are fairly cardboard but the way the story is written that's not problematic. Some of the pov shifts from first to subjective third to omniscient third are less than smooth, but again, not problematic. Despite those 'flaws', using the term loosely, the book never lost my attention, and i went right into the sequel STILETTO.



ETA.....ooooh, TV SERIES THIS SUMMER DID NOT KNOW THAT!

https://twitter.com/...143345926922240

Surprisingly STILLETO is sufficiently entertaining that I’m not sidelining it for TIAMAT’S WRATH.

[Andorion]

Currently reading Sea of Rust by Robert Cargill and its absolutely excellent.

[Cyphon]

I'm reading Dave Hutchinson's Europe at Midnight. It's the second in the series and an equally enjoyable spy thriller with fantasy elements in. Reviews of the first book didn't always like it because the fantasy concept it added was quite lowballed and towards the end. This book starts much more up front with the fantasy concept and is easier to get into. Two thirds of the way through now and enjoying it, looking forward to the end and seeing exactly why it was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke award.

I may just pile through and finish the last two books in the series after this.

This post has been edited by Cyphon: 01 April 2019 - 05:58 PM

[worry]

I read Sleepover. Another nightmarish look at a grim near future to keep me up at night. Thanks stone monkey!

Now I'm reading Red Rising. Dystopia abounds for some reason.

[Abyss]

worry, on 01 April 2019 - 07:05 PM, said:

I read Sleepover. Another nightmarish look at a grim near future to keep me up at night. Thanks stone monkey!

Now I'm reading Red Rising. Dystopia abounds for some reason.

Re RED RISING.... oh, you have NO idea....

[stone monkey]

worry, on 01 April 2019 - 07:05 PM, said:

I read Sleepover. Another nightmarish look at a grim near future to keep me up at night. Thanks stone monkey!

You're welcome. I personally find they cheer me up, so I can go back to contemplating Brexit

[worry]

Never thought of it that way, but post-apocalyptic fiction > pre-apocalyptic fact for sure.

[Aptorian]

Avoid Shadows of the Apt. Nothing happens for three books and then people claim it gets better but I'll never know.

[Abyss]

Briar King, on 02 April 2019 - 06:07 PM, said:

I want to read something epic. Malazan and Inheritance just ain't doing it for me right now. Only reading to complete at this point.

Considering picking up Shogun, Solar Cycle, Tigana, Shadow March, Shadows of the Apt, Dragonbone Chair or Briar King.

SHOGUN.

Absolfuckinglutely SHOGUN.

Especially if Malazan and Inheritance aren't working for you just now. Skip the fantasy (which is everything else you're considering) and indulge in the historical EPIC.

[Aptorian]

I remember Taipan being very good as well though it's been decades since I read it.

[polishgenius]

Briar King, on 02 April 2019 - 06:07 PM, said:

I want to read something epic. Malazan and Inheritance just ain’t doing it for me right now. Only reading to complete at this point.

Considering picking up Shogun, Solar Cycle, Tigana, Shadow March, Shadows of the Apt, Dragonbone Chair or Briar King.

Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle is what you want. Trust a man.

[Tiste Simeon]

polishgenius, on 02 April 2019 - 08:41 PM, said:

Briar King, on 02 April 2019 - 06:07 PM, said:

I want to read something epic. Malazan and Inheritance just ain’t doing it for me right now. Only reading to complete at this point.

Considering picking up Shogun, Solar Cycle, Tigana, Shadow March, Shadows of the Apt, Dragonbone Chair or Briar King.

Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle is what you want. Trust a man.

I really wanted to love that book, I just... Couldn't... I got quite far in too!

[End of Disc One]

Briar King, on 02 April 2019 - 06:07 PM, said:

I want to read something epic. Malazan and Inheritance just ain’t doing it for me right now. Only reading to complete at this point.

Considering picking up Shogun, Solar Cycle, Tigana, Shadow March, Shadows of the Apt, Dragonbone Chair or Briar King.

You should try Gentleman Bastard or Stormlight Archive. But you have to push through a couple of boring books to get to an awesome book 3.

[Abyss]

Pot. Kettle. Tigana.

[Mentalist]

Briar King, on 02 April 2019 - 06:07 PM, said:

I want to read something epic. Malazan and Inheritance just ain’t doing it for me right now. Only reading to complete at this point.

Considering picking up Shogun, Solar Cycle, Tigana, Shadow March, Shadows of the Apt, Dragonbone Chair or Briar King.

Glenn Cook's "Instrumentalities of the Night". Or K. M. McKinley's "Gates of the World" series.

EDIT: finished both my books tonight. For commute I'll grab "Pattern Recognition"

At home I'll try "Lost Symbol", since otherwise it'll be another half a decade before I get to it, and then I'll want to re-read the first 2 langdon books again before reading it.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 03 April 2019 - 04:37 AM

[acesn8s]

I have about 30 pages left in The Dragonbone Chair. I just keep falling asleep on the sofa at night.

[Morgoth]

Aptorian, on 02 April 2019 - 06:45 PM, said:

Avoid Shadows of the Apt. Nothing happens for three books and then people claim it gets better but I'll never know.

It's so very rare that we agree this completely on something.