[Tiste Simeon]

Try this?

https://m.media-amaz...MB_FINAL_R3.jpg

[Chance]

Currently going through the Expeditionary Force books which are decidedly lightweight military SF, but it does have its high points in the very nicely imagined aliens. The prize being taken by the gambling crazy beetle jeraptha who make for insect aliens you want to meet. I wholeheartedly agree with the beetles ship naming and their covert operations organization the Ethics and Compliance Office, all of which make me imagine that Banks had a lasting impact in the world of SF writers which is great.

Perfect lightweight listening to at work, requiring little thought but high entertainment value.

This post has been edited by Chance: 21 October 2022 - 03:15 PM

[Mentalist]

Mentalist, on 08 October 2022 - 01:04 AM, said:

Hit a point in "Wall of Storms where I just want to put the book down.

The Emperor's wife, out of of her beliefs for what stability of the realm is, is fomenting a rebellion to fabricate a threat to elevate herself and her faction.

I can't see this ending in anything but disaster. Don't want to RAFO.

I hate when authors do this.

Gritted my teeth and powered through the dumb political intrigue garbage.

In Part II, the book gets quite good. Some ridiculous battle scenes.

Why did the beginning have to be such a slog?

EDIT: Okay, finished last night. It gets quite good, and sets up the next volume nicely. So I'm moving onto "Veiled Throne" now.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 27 October 2022 - 04:43 AM

[Macros]

Finished Ithaca by Claire North

Yes yes another take on Troy and its fall out, but it's Claire North, so naturally it's a little different, and a lot good.

Its dark in places, as it should be I guess given its perspective, and thoroughly eviscerates "heroes" and their legends through the lens of Hera and by extension I guess women of the time. Can I relate to this perspective, absolutely not and to say I could would be ridiculous, but can I say I think its very well done? Absolutely.

10 horrible child murdering bastard Kings and heroes out of 11 incestuous petty cruel gods and godessess

[worry]

Dang that's one of the highest scores I've ever seen!

[Macros]

Read the final book of the Firmame Trilogy recently (Feists latest trilogy, new world new setting....) not sure if I posted my thoughts but.....

Spoilers for the final book, not book killing, just a gripe I had with the writing, but also includes a fairly large spoiler

Spoiler

For fuck sake Raymond, let Nakor rest in peace and step away from the riftwar like you said you would

I was so annoyed when Nakor showed up and immediately pegged him. After all the set p the ending was too sudden, siege in, out chop chop, too simple.
Le sigh, another barons bastard son who is a Smith comes good.
And then Nakor shows up and we're back on sorcerers Isle again right at the end of the book, does this mean we get another 3 trilogies of good versus evil and demon Nakor trying to educate the baby universe good?

Blargh!

[Tiste Simeon]

Macros, on 27 October 2022 - 11:52 AM, said:

Finished Ithaca by Claire North

Yes yes another take on Troy and its fall out, but it's Claire North, so naturally it's a little different, and a lot good.

Its dark in places, as it should be I guess given its perspective, and thoroughly eviscerates "heroes" and their legends through the lens of Hera and by extension I guess women of the time. Can I relate to this perspective, absolutely not and to say I could would be ridiculous, but can I say I think its very well done? Absolutely.

10 horrible child murdering bastard Kings and heroes out of 11 incestuous petty cruel gods and godessess

I was sort of concerned about this as it's a departure from her normal style. Shouldn't have worried. I trust Claire North!

[champ]

Macros, on 27 October 2022 - 12:02 PM, said:

Read the final book of the Firmame Trilogy recently (Feists latest trilogy, new world new setting....) not sure if I posted my thoughts but.....

Spoilers for the final book, not book killing, just a gripe I had with the writing, but also includes a fairly large spoiler

Spoiler

For fuck sake Raymond, let Nakor rest in peace and step away from the riftwar like you said you would

I was so annoyed when Nakor showed up and immediately pegged him. After all the set p the ending was too sudden, siege in, out chop chop, too simple.
Le sigh, another barons bastard son who is a Smith comes good.
And then Nakor shows up and we're back on sorcerers Isle again right at the end of the book, does this mean we get another 3 trilogies of good versus evil and demon Nakor trying to educate the baby universe good?

Blargh!

I haven't read it but I think Feist tapped out long ago.
The absolute shit show that was the end to the Pug series made me never want to read a book of his again.

[Macros]

Books one and two were solid enough if a little trope ridden

[Maark Abbott]

QuickTidal, on 18 October 2022 - 02:39 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 18 October 2022 - 02:27 PM, said:

Is that the Crown of Stars series?

I really should finish that one day. I remember enough to know exactly who "Absolutely fuck Hugh" referred to, it seems!

Yep.

It's funny, there's other "evil/bad" characters in the series, but Hugh is on another level.

I actually tweeted something like 'fuck Hugh' to Kate Elliott and she just came back with tented fingers and something to the tune of 'excellent'.

Extremely well written character, and sadly what sold me on Elliott as a writer - I HATE THAT MOTHERFUCKER. But he's just so convincingly written and... fuck that guy.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Tiste Simeon, on 27 October 2022 - 12:08 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 October 2022 - 11:52 AM, said:

Finished Ithaca by Claire North

Yes yes another take on Troy and its fall out, but it's Claire North, so naturally it's a little different, and a lot good.

Its dark in places, as it should be I guess given its perspective, and thoroughly eviscerates "heroes" and their legends through the lens of Hera and by extension I guess women of the time. Can I relate to this perspective, absolutely not and to say I could would be ridiculous, but can I say I think its very well done? Absolutely.

10 horrible child murdering bastard Kings and heroes out of 11 incestuous petty cruel gods and godessess

I was sort of concerned about this as it's a departure from her normal style. Shouldn't have worried. I trust Claire North!

I was looking at this in Waterstones the other day - I haven't read any Claire North before.

Should I start elsewhere or good to go with Ithaca?

[Tiste Simeon]

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 28 October 2022 - 02:13 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 27 October 2022 - 12:08 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 October 2022 - 11:52 AM, said:

Finished Ithaca by Claire North

Yes yes another take on Troy and its fall out, but it's Claire North, so naturally it's a little different, and a lot good.

Its dark in places, as it should be I guess given its perspective, and thoroughly eviscerates "heroes" and their legends through the lens of Hera and by extension I guess women of the time. Can I relate to this perspective, absolutely not and to say I could would be ridiculous, but can I say I think its very well done? Absolutely.

10 horrible child murdering bastard Kings and heroes out of 11 incestuous petty cruel gods and godessess

I was sort of concerned about this as it's a departure from her normal style. Shouldn't have worried. I trust Claire North!

I was looking at this in Waterstones the other day - I haven't read any Claire North before.

Should I start elsewhere or good to go with Ithaca?

Read everything she has ever written!

My opinion is that you should start with The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August or Touch, only because they are my two favourites.

We have a dedicated thread for her - in reality I don't think you can go wrong with any of them and you'll see in the thread that we all have ones we prefer for various reasons. I imagine you quite like The Sudden Appearance of Hope now I think about it...

[QuickTidal]

Started THE SHINING COURT by Michelle West (Book 3 of The Sun Sword, and Book 6 of the overall Essalieyan series), and I'm excited to get more info on the Voyani!

I re-read the ending to THE UNCROWNED KING just to refresh myself on it as I go into this one, and it's still such an epic finale....but I know people ADORE Book 3/6 so I'm excited to see where the story goes now.

[Macros]

Tiste Simeon, on 28 October 2022 - 02:25 PM, said:

TheRetiredBridgeburner, on 28 October 2022 - 02:13 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 27 October 2022 - 12:08 PM, said:

Macros, on 27 October 2022 - 11:52 AM, said:

Finished Ithaca by Claire North

Yes yes another take on Troy and its fall out, but it's Claire North, so naturally it's a little different, and a lot good.

Its dark in places, as it should be I guess given its perspective, and thoroughly eviscerates "heroes" and their legends through the lens of Hera and by extension I guess women of the time. Can I relate to this perspective, absolutely not and to say I could would be ridiculous, but can I say I think its very well done? Absolutely.

10 horrible child murdering bastard Kings and heroes out of 11 incestuous petty cruel gods and godessess

I was sort of concerned about this as it's a departure from her normal style. Shouldn't have worried. I trust Claire North!

I was looking at this in Waterstones the other day - I haven't read any Claire North before.

Should I start elsewhere or good to go with Ithaca?

Read everything she has ever written!

My opinion is that you should start with The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August or Touch, only because they are my two favourites.

We have a dedicated thread for her - in reality I don't think you can go wrong with any of them and you'll see in the thread that we all have ones we prefer for various reasons. I imagine you quite like The Sudden Appearance of Hope now I think about it...

I'll double down on this, for some god unknown reason we all three seem to like a pot of the same so I'll go out on a limb and say try Hope or August and you'll be reeled in

[Salt-Man Z]

Tiste Simeon, on 28 October 2022 - 02:25 PM, said:

Read everything she has ever written!

My opinion is that you should start with The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August or Touch, only because they are my two favourites.

We have a dedicated thread for her - in reality I don't think you can go wrong with any of them and you'll see in the thread that we all have ones we prefer for various reasons. I imagine you quite like The Sudden Appearance of Hope now I think about it...

Probably don't make 84K your first Claire North read. It's really the only thing by her that's not flat-out fantastic. (Shoot, I still haven't read The End of the Day; I need to remedy that soon.)

[JPK]

I'll join the chorus speaking up for Harry August. That was a good book.

[Abyss]

JPK, on 28 October 2022 - 06:14 PM, said:

I'll join the chorus speaking up for Harry August. That was a good book.

AND MY SWORD!

...wait, what were we talking about?

[amphibian]

I still think the Matthew Swift books were the best things she ever wrote. But she's found more success doing these other things.

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

Thanks all!

[Tiste Simeon]

amphibian, on 29 October 2022 - 12:40 AM, said:

I still think the Matthew Swift books were the best things she ever wrote. But she's found more success doing these other things.

I keep meaning to get these! I have a £25 Kindle Credit so maybe I'll get all 4...