[JPK]

I just finished Adrian Goldsworthy's BRIGANTIA (Vindolanda #3). It was a very strong end to the trilogy and wrapped up all of the loose ends of the first two books brilliantly. I'd say this is a rare occurrence where the last book was my favorite.

Now I'm jumping into THE SANDMAN: ACT 2 and only 10 minutes in I'm reminded how brilliant this production is. Kirsten Schall is pure genius in her role.

[Abyss]

polishgenius, on 06 January 2022 - 04:09 PM, said:

I tend to have a live and let live approach with Sanderson these days- he's not for me, but his work isn't offensively bad or anything and he hasn't been caught up in any #metoo scandals or islamophobia, so whatever- but I do sometimes get a bit baffled as to why he in particular is so massively popular when writers like Adrian Tchaikovsky, Chris Wooding, Robert Jackson Bennet, a Django Wexler maybe - guys with a similar sorta vibe and level, but at least in my opinion without Sanderson's prose and dialogue clunk- never broke out of the fantasy ghetto in the same way.

Just my theory: Sanderson just hit that sweet spot of having a few books that were an easy intro to fantasy when Harry Potter fans were growsing up and looking for more. ELANTRIS and MISTBORN had a simplicity to them that drew in a lot of readers who stuck around when the WoT boost happened. Of the other four you mention, iirc only Wooding dabbled in YAish early and even then it was fairly dark. Tchaikovsky's got some but it is interspersed with his 'normal' work, came after his massive ten volume uber series, and the marketing isn't entirely clear. Bennet goes full sf/f/uf'ish adult and Wexler is mil/f. Aside from Wexler who i have not read yet, i like all of those authors, but i can see why Sanderson is the most successful.

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Anyway, I've got a bunch of new stuff I need to get onto, also finish The Fall of Babel, but currently I'm re-reading Gears of the City by Felix Gilman, the second of his Ararat duology. I think fans of Bancroft would like Gilman actually, y'all should get on that.

Noted tnx.

[worry]

If it's any consolation, I think RJB's horror (Mr. Shivers, American Elsewhere) is better than his fantasy.

[Morgoth]

worry, on 06 January 2022 - 10:20 PM, said:

If it's any consolation, I think RJB's horror (Mr. Shivers, American Elsewhere) is better than his fantasy.

By a mile.

[Maark Abbott]

Maybe that's one reason I've enjoyed Licanius so much - it does hearken back to Ole Sandy's heyday of Mistborn level fun, whilst being fresh and engaging on its own merits. I will never say Licanius is the best I've rear, nor the most original, nor the most well written - but what Islington does very well is to do everything serviceably and then serve it up in a way that's pretty fuckin' good.

Yes, I said something popular is good. You can all chak pants now.

[Tsundoku]

Maark Abbott, on 07 January 2022 - 08:53 AM, said:

Yes, I said something popular is good. You can all chak pants now.

So when are you and Apt moving in together?

[Maark Abbott]

Tsundoku, on 07 January 2022 - 09:58 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 07 January 2022 - 08:53 AM, said:

Yes, I said something popular is good. You can all chak pants now.

So when are you and Apt moving in together?

The great chakkening has only begun.

[Tiste Simeon]

Naomi Novik just announced September 27th as release date for book 3 of the Scholomance trilogy! So excited for that one!

[Abyss]

Morgoth, on 07 January 2022 - 07:04 AM, said:

worry, on 06 January 2022 - 10:20 PM, said:

If it's any consolation, I think RJB's horror (Mr. Shivers, American Elsewhere) is better than his fantasy.

By a mile.

I adored ELSEWHERE. Have yet to read anything else by him but I own most of it.

Maark Abbott, on 07 January 2022 - 08:53 AM, said:

Maybe that's one reason I've enjoyed Licanius so much - it does hearken back to Ole Sandy's heyday of Mistborn level fun, whilst being fresh and engaging on its own merits. I will never say Licanius is the best I've rear, nor the most original, nor the most well written - but what Islington does very well is to do everything serviceably and then serve it up in a way that's pretty fuckin' good.

Noted - another series in the trp standing by for when i feel like a fantasy binge.

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Yes, I said something popular is good. You can all chak pants now.

Is it raining fire where anyone else is?
What about crocodiles?

[Tiste Simeon]

It's raining flaming crocodiles here but that's usual for this time of year.

[Abyss]

Time to catch up...

Just Finished LEVIATHAN FALLS. That was a deeply satisfying end to a well paced series. No spoilers, just praise, I was content with everything, thrilled with most, and blown away by some bits.

Then started and Just Finished Benedict Jacka's RISEN, ending the Alec Verus series. Jacka totally sticks the landing, the book is a thrill ride from start to end, wraps up logically and satisfying. I really enjoyed this series.

Well fed by endings I decided to start something new, prompted by the Book Club thread I went with THE BLACKTONGUE THIEF... and oh my godses four chapters in I am LOVING this earbook. The narrator is perfect, the protagonist engaging in a way a only a well written charming thief can be, and the world is already drawing me in. So happy with this book so far.

[JPK]

Just finished Thermidor in Sandman: ACT 2. Holy hell, I am completely blown away. I've always loved this chapter, but the performance was absolutely top notch.

[Tiste Simeon]

JPK, on 08 January 2022 - 04:02 PM, said:

Just finished Thermidor in Sandman: ACT 2. Holy hell, I am completely blown away. I've always loved this chapter, but the performance was absolutely top notch.

Is that the Johanna Constantine chapter in revolutionary France? With the spine chilling song by Orpheus? Yes. You're correct.

[JPK]

Tiste Simeon, on 08 January 2022 - 04:49 PM, said:

JPK, on 08 January 2022 - 04:02 PM, said:

Just finished Thermidor in Sandman: ACT 2. Holy hell, I am completely blown away. I've always loved this chapter, but the performance was absolutely top notch.

Is that the Johanna Constantine chapter in revolutionary France? With the spine chilling song by Orpheus? Yes. You're correct.

Yes. So so good. And then Three Septembers and a January brought manly manly tears to my eyes.

[Aptorian]

Still reading Elantris but also opened up Shogun and The Blacktongue Thief for the Book Club.

REMINDER for those unaware that between January and April, we're doing book club reads of Shogun and The Blacktongue Thief. Jump in when ever you like.

I think I'll read The Blacktongue Thief first, since it's shorter and immediately sucked me into the fantasy setting. The setting and the narrative is really enjoyable. A traditional take on fantasy tropes but written with such swagger and humor you have to love it.

Bringing back up Brandon Sanderson, Elantris seems so vanilla compared to The Blacktongue Thief. It's like jumping into molasses going from TBF to Elantris.

[Tiste Simeon]

Was getting a little fed up of Kvothe and Dennah being whiny annoying fools and have paused Wise Man's Fear and am now listening to The Blacktongue Thief. It's grand!

[Cyphon]

I have got lost in wheel of time. Romped through book one and now almost finished book 2...

Comfort reading.

[Abyss]

JPK, on 08 January 2022 - 06:53 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 08 January 2022 - 04:49 PM, said:

JPK, on 08 January 2022 - 04:02 PM, said:

Just finished Thermidor in Sandman: ACT 2. Holy hell, I am completely blown away. I've always loved this chapter, but the performance was absolutely top notch.

Is that the Johanna Constantine chapter in revolutionary France? With the spine chilling song by Orpheus? Yes. You're correct.

Yes. So so good. And then Three Septembers and a January brought manly manly tears to my eyes.

Act 2 was so so great. The Johanna story may have been better than the original floppy version.

[Macros]

Finished up Fall of the Argosi by De Castell
I'll say it again, if you enjoyed his Greatcoats series, pick up the spell slinger stuff, first book feels a bit YA at school but it moves on, and the books clip along at a good pace. None of them past 400 pages and he churned the 8 books out in 4 years. The kind of author I would like to be

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 10 January 2022 - 08:16 PM, said:

Finished up Fall of the Argosi by De Castell
I'll say it again, if you enjoyed his Greatcoats series, pick up the spell slinger stuff, first book feels a bit YA at school but it moves on, and the books clip along at a good pace. None of them past 400 pages and he churned the 8 books out in 4 years. The kind of author I would like to be

I have the first one on my kindle. I'll move it up the list!