[QuickTidal]

pat5150, on 09 February 2023 - 04:03 PM, said:

You have a point.

Well, you'll see. I'd suggest waiting for the paperback or an ebook sale, but it will be up to you.

I'm only buying ebooks anyways, so I'll wait for that.

[pat5150]

Good call.

Because as subjective as liking/disliking a book is, you are still only getting about half a novel. So paying full price for Witch King doesn't make a whole lot of sense. . .

[Aptorian]

Anyone read Tim Power's Anubis Gates?

It started out pretty cool but this uncharismatic dude is stuck in time and I don't really care about his plight.

I'm sorta thinking of dropping the book despite looking for recommended time travel books.

[Chance]

Nearly half way into Deadhouse Gate, this Erikson dude and his books are awesome.

Aptorian, on 11 February 2023 - 05:19 PM, said:

Anyone read Tim Power's Anubis Gates?

It started out pretty cool but this uncharismatic dude is stuck in time and I don't really care about his plight.

I'm sorta thinking of dropping the book despite looking for recommended time travel books.

I remember liking it but it might be the ending which is kind of cool, awesome enough that I remember it but it was a long while since I read it.

This post has been edited by Chance: 11 February 2023 - 05:55 PM

[worry]

Finished Arm of the Sphinx (aka Senlin Continues Ascending). So the first one was pretty episodic (kinda-sorta Infinity Train-ish as I expected), but Abyss was right that it more or less leaves that behind. This is maybe a weird thing to say, but book 2 is structurally a lot closer to quest fantasy, with a fellowship and all, just set in a completely atypical milieu. At the very least, it's more of an adventure story. I liked the first one, and I liked this one more. I imagine each of the four books will have its own flavor, which is exciting.
Other recent reads (I'm well above my average for the last few years!):

Paper Girls -- the complete collection. Liked this quite a bit. It has a pretty well organized time travel element, some actually surprising and effective twists, and the characters are all well thought out.

Hello Molly! -- I've never been into audiobooks but I'm dipping my toe into them with memoirs, which is way less intimidating than fiction. I like Molly Shannon's voice, she's very expressive. All of the family stuff in this is good. The section on her early Hollywood days isn't my cup of tea, and the SNL stuff is hit and miss, but 1) it's not gossipy at all, which is good and 2) it comes back around to personal stuff that's all really moving. Also I had forgotten that she preceded the big cast revamp that brought in Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Chris Kattan, and all them. Her reflection on that stuff was among the better show biz stuff in this.
Gender Queer -- a graphic novel memoir that was actually more recent than I was expecting. Maybe cuz of the name I thought it was more foundational -- like nobody had snatched that title up before 2019?? Anyway, I liked it quite a bit and it was more LOL than I was expecting. Some very funny stuff with her high school nerd friends and their LOTR debates. It has its vulnerable bits as well, and I appreciated how frank it was.
Harlem Shuffle -- by Colson Whitehead. I've been meaning to read his stuff for a while, and this is the first one I got my hands on. It's both slice of life and a crime novel, but without any detective angle. More like three linked novellas, with time jumps in between, but it adds up to a pretty compelling whole by the end.
The Graveyard Book 1 & 2 -- this is the Neil Gaiman thing but I read the graphic novel adaptation rather than his book. He didn't adapt it himself. Turned out really cool though, I would have loved this as a middle schooler or thereabouts, and I liked it enough now.

_________________
Now reading: Strange Beasts of China, my first time reading along with people here! (if you don't count Malazan releases)

This post has been edited by worry: 14 February 2023 - 05:28 AM

[Tiste Simeon]

Reading "Why I'm no Longer Talking to White People about Race" which is fascinating, uncomfortable, and so tragic all at once.

[QuickTidal]

Started a really light and airy Sci-fi/Fantasy book called HOW RORY THORNE DESTROYED THE MULTIVERSE by K. Eason, and it's really hitting the spot for me right now. I'll weigh in more after I'm done, but so far this is shaping up to be a great and memorable read.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 17 January 2023 - 05:52 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 01 January 2023 - 10:19 PM, said:

Aptorian, on 01 January 2023 - 08:59 PM, said:

Oh boy, is this the first time reading the Laundry Files?

Yep! I found a collected edition (On Her Majesty's Occult Service) at an estate sale a few months ago.

Pausing this for the moment. Lyons' The House Of Always has just arrived!

Finished The House of Always. This was my least favorite of the series (so far) — I don't really like locked-room style stories OR flashbacks. This book was essentially two locked-room stories tied together with many short flashbacks, so basically my most disliked style of narrative.

That said, I still enjoyed it and have the last book in the series on the way!

I started Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild-Built as a palate cleanser.

[Abyss]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 16 February 2023 - 03:02 AM, said:

...

Finished The House of Always. This was my least favorite of the series (so far) — I don't really like locked-room style stories OR flashbacks. This book was essentially two locked-room stories tied together with many short flashbacks, so basically my most disliked style of narrative.

That said, I still enjoyed it and have the last book in the series on the way!...

it was very different from the prior 4 books. I liked it for that reason, but many people have like it less.
Book 5 is a return to form, i think you'll enjoy.

[Tiste Simeon]

Tiste Simeon, on 06 February 2023 - 07:27 PM, said:

Abyss, on 06 February 2023 - 03:39 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 03 February 2023 - 04:39 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 02 February 2023 - 05:24 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 02 February 2023 - 12:19 PM, said:

So

I'm ploughing my way through the Rivers of London series on audiobook and utterly loving it. Currently heading towards the end of FOXGLOVE SUMMER which has possibly been my favourite so far. I picked up (from the library, I've not broken my NY resolution) the dead tree versions of the two novellas, WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER and THE FURTHEST STATION which I understand are the next two chronologically.

Will read them while waiting for my next Audible credit to drop. Does anyone know how many full length novels there are going to be?

As of the latest Rivers of London book, it's completely open. He could write 50 more with the current set up.

The rumor is 500 more.

I don't think Aaronovich has put a timeline on the story, and certainly between Abigail and a few other characters in London, and the foreign agents he's introduced, he's got plenty to work with even if he lets Peter step back from active duty - which seems unlikely in any event.

Aptorian, on 03 February 2023 - 05:51 AM, said:

I would read all of them.

Without hesitation. It is such a great series.

Agreed. My initial thought was that maybe he's going to do 10 as Nightingale (the Nightingale?) says it takes about 10 years to become a fully trained wizard but it's kind of veered away from the strict "now I'm in my third year learning I can do these things" that I thought it was going to do.

Now I'm only in book 6 - The Hanging Tree - so I'm not after an actual answer from those who are ahead, but

Spoiler

I really want Lesley to pay for her betrayal. I mean I can kind of get the motivation, but really, it was a very dumb move on her part and, to my mind, quite out of character. I hated that bit and I do hope it doesn't end so well for her. She's made her choice (stupid though it may be) and she's going to have consequences. Though I can see her switching sides last minute in an epic conflagration that saves Peter but takes her own life in the effort. I guess that would be fitting...

Anyway, Kobna Holdbrook Smith is a treasure.

I'm now reading/listening to Lies Sleeping and re: the spoilers above,

Spoiler

I really dislike Lesley now. It's like she's completely thrown away everything she ever believed in and it's actively working for the bad guy, because he magicked up a new face? It doesn't sit well with me from how her character was in the first few books. Like, I get that she's stopping the FM from killing Peter but that's still not good enough to my mind.

Anyway, Lady Ty is the best, as are Stephanopolous and Seawoll and Nightingale. I'm still really enjoying this series!

[Gothos]

GF got me a new copy of Before They Are Hanged and I've been surprised to discover from it that there's been like 4 new Abercrombie books in the setting since I last checked (Red Country). Looks like a feast is coming up

[Tiste Simeon]

Gothos, on 21 February 2023 - 10:32 AM, said:

GF got me a new copy of Before They Are Hanged and I've been surprised to discover from it that there's been like 4 new Abercrombie books in the setting since I last checked (Red Country). Looks like a feast is coming up

Our grumpy Polish friend is alive! How are you?

[Gothos]

Tiste Simeon, on 21 February 2023 - 10:39 AM, said:

Gothos, on 21 February 2023 - 10:32 AM, said:

GF got me a new copy of Before They Are Hanged and I've been surprised to discover from it that there's been like 4 new Abercrombie books in the setting since I last checked (Red Country). Looks like a feast is coming up

Our grumpy Polish friend is alive! How are you?

Better than ever How's married life?

This post has been edited by Gothos: 21 February 2023 - 10:56 AM

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 21 February 2023 - 09:07 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 06 February 2023 - 07:27 PM, said:

Abyss, on 06 February 2023 - 03:39 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 03 February 2023 - 04:39 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 02 February 2023 - 05:24 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 02 February 2023 - 12:19 PM, said:

So

I'm ploughing my way through the Rivers of London series on audiobook and utterly loving it. Currently heading towards the end of FOXGLOVE SUMMER which has possibly been my favourite so far. I picked up (from the library, I've not broken my NY resolution) the dead tree versions of the two novellas, WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER and THE FURTHEST STATION which I understand are the next two chronologically.

Will read them while waiting for my next Audible credit to drop. Does anyone know how many full length novels there are going to be?

As of the latest Rivers of London book, it's completely open. He could write 50 more with the current set up.

The rumor is 500 more.

I don't think Aaronovich has put a timeline on the story, and certainly between Abigail and a few other characters in London, and the foreign agents he's introduced, he's got plenty to work with even if he lets Peter step back from active duty - which seems unlikely in any event.

Aptorian, on 03 February 2023 - 05:51 AM, said:

I would read all of them.

Without hesitation. It is such a great series.

Agreed. My initial thought was that maybe he's going to do 10 as Nightingale (the Nightingale?) says it takes about 10 years to become a fully trained wizard but it's kind of veered away from the strict "now I'm in my third year learning I can do these things" that I thought it was going to do.

Now I'm only in book 6 - The Hanging Tree - so I'm not after an actual answer from those who are ahead, but

Spoiler

I really want Lesley to pay for her betrayal. I mean I can kind of get the motivation, but really, it was a very dumb move on her part and, to my mind, quite out of character. I hated that bit and I do hope it doesn't end so well for her. She's made her choice (stupid though it may be) and she's going to have consequences. Though I can see her switching sides last minute in an epic conflagration that saves Peter but takes her own life in the effort. I guess that would be fitting...

Anyway, Kobna Holdbrook Smith is a treasure.

I'm now reading/listening to Lies Sleeping and re: the spoilers above,

Spoiler

I really dislike Lesley now. It's like she's completely thrown away everything she ever believed in and it's actively working for the bad guy, because he magicked up a new face? It doesn't sit well with me from how her character was in the first few books. Like, I get that she's stopping the FM from killing Peter but that's still not good enough to my mind.

Anyway, Lady Ty is the best, as are Stephanopolous and Seawoll and Nightingale. I'm still really enjoying this series!

re Lesley...
SPOILERS RE RIVERS OF LONDON SERIES UP TO LIES SLEEPING
SPILERS
SPOILERS
MASSIVE SPOILERS
SPOILERS YOU FOOLS SPOILERS

Spoiler

The amazing thing about this is we met Lesley for all of one book before she's disfigured by Puck, and she spends another book massively bitter and two more still bitter but trying to make the best of it before the turn comes. We actually know very little about her pre-magic life except Peter's limited 'best buds' narrative, yet again and again i see posts elseforum where people are FURIOUS that she did what she did.

Me, i think her turn is well foreshadowed, she's clearly seeking a magic 'fix' from the start and hates that she's Nightingale's 'other' apprentice because she can't be a normal cop anymore. It's esp hinted at when she starts dating the fae and there are hints she's going deeper and darker in her search.

I also really enjoy Peter's interactions w her once she turns, both as rival and 'friend'. Her arc is a great part of the series.

[Gwynn ap Nudd]

Abyss, on 21 February 2023 - 04:24 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 21 February 2023 - 09:07 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 06 February 2023 - 07:27 PM, said:

Abyss, on 06 February 2023 - 03:39 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 03 February 2023 - 04:39 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 02 February 2023 - 05:24 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 02 February 2023 - 12:19 PM, said:

So

I'm ploughing my way through the Rivers of London series on audiobook and utterly loving it. Currently heading towards the end of FOXGLOVE SUMMER which has possibly been my favourite so far. I picked up (from the library, I've not broken my NY resolution) the dead tree versions of the two novellas, WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER and THE FURTHEST STATION which I understand are the next two chronologically.

Will read them while waiting for my next Audible credit to drop. Does anyone know how many full length novels there are going to be?

As of the latest Rivers of London book, it's completely open. He could write 50 more with the current set up.

The rumor is 500 more.

I don't think Aaronovich has put a timeline on the story, and certainly between Abigail and a few other characters in London, and the foreign agents he's introduced, he's got plenty to work with even if he lets Peter step back from active duty - which seems unlikely in any event.

Aptorian, on 03 February 2023 - 05:51 AM, said:

I would read all of them.

Without hesitation. It is such a great series.

Agreed. My initial thought was that maybe he's going to do 10 as Nightingale (the Nightingale?) says it takes about 10 years to become a fully trained wizard but it's kind of veered away from the strict "now I'm in my third year learning I can do these things" that I thought it was going to do.

Now I'm only in book 6 - The Hanging Tree - so I'm not after an actual answer from those who are ahead, but

Spoiler

I really want Lesley to pay for her betrayal. I mean I can kind of get the motivation, but really, it was a very dumb move on her part and, to my mind, quite out of character. I hated that bit and I do hope it doesn't end so well for her. She's made her choice (stupid though it may be) and she's going to have consequences. Though I can see her switching sides last minute in an epic conflagration that saves Peter but takes her own life in the effort. I guess that would be fitting...

Anyway, Kobna Holdbrook Smith is a treasure.

I'm now reading/listening to Lies Sleeping and re: the spoilers above,

Spoiler

I really dislike Lesley now. It's like she's completely thrown away everything she ever believed in and it's actively working for the bad guy, because he magicked up a new face? It doesn't sit well with me from how her character was in the first few books. Like, I get that she's stopping the FM from killing Peter but that's still not good enough to my mind.

Anyway, Lady Ty is the best, as are Stephanopolous and Seawoll and Nightingale. I'm still really enjoying this series!

re Lesley...
SPOILERS RE RIVERS OF LONDON SERIES UP TO LIES SLEEPING
SPILERS
SPOILERS
MASSIVE SPOILERS
SPOILERS YOU FOOLS SPOILERS

Spoiler

The amazing thing about this is we met Lesley for all of one book before she's disfigured by Puck, and she spends another book massively bitter and two more still bitter but trying to make the best of it before the turn comes. We actually know very little about her pre-magic life except Peter's limited 'best buds' narrative, yet again and again i see posts elseforum where people are FURIOUS that she did what she did.

Me, i think her turn is well foreshadowed, she's clearly seeking a magic 'fix' from the start and hates that she's Nightingale's 'other' apprentice because she can't be a normal cop anymore. It's esp hinted at when she starts dating the fae and there are hints she's going deeper and darker in her search.

I also really enjoy Peter's interactions w her once she turns, both as rival and 'friend'. Her arc is a great part of the series.

Even more spoilers for Rivers of London

Spoiler

I agree that the turn was well foreshadowed. The only complaint I had about Lesley's arc was there were a couple times I thought it could have been wrapped up sooner.

[Tiste Simeon]

Gwynn ap Nudd, on 22 February 2023 - 01:37 AM, said:

Abyss, on 21 February 2023 - 04:24 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 21 February 2023 - 09:07 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 06 February 2023 - 07:27 PM, said:

Abyss, on 06 February 2023 - 03:39 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 03 February 2023 - 04:39 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 02 February 2023 - 05:24 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 02 February 2023 - 12:19 PM, said:

So

I'm ploughing my way through the Rivers of London series on audiobook and utterly loving it. Currently heading towards the end of FOXGLOVE SUMMER which has possibly been my favourite so far. I picked up (from the library, I've not broken my NY resolution) the dead tree versions of the two novellas, WHAT ABIGAIL DID THAT SUMMER and THE FURTHEST STATION which I understand are the next two chronologically.

Will read them while waiting for my next Audible credit to drop. Does anyone know how many full length novels there are going to be?

As of the latest Rivers of London book, it's completely open. He could write 50 more with the current set up.

The rumor is 500 more.

I don't think Aaronovich has put a timeline on the story, and certainly between Abigail and a few other characters in London, and the foreign agents he's introduced, he's got plenty to work with even if he lets Peter step back from active duty - which seems unlikely in any event.

Aptorian, on 03 February 2023 - 05:51 AM, said:

I would read all of them.

Without hesitation. It is such a great series.

Agreed. My initial thought was that maybe he's going to do 10 as Nightingale (the Nightingale?) says it takes about 10 years to become a fully trained wizard but it's kind of veered away from the strict "now I'm in my third year learning I can do these things" that I thought it was going to do.

Now I'm only in book 6 - The Hanging Tree - so I'm not after an actual answer from those who are ahead, but

Spoiler

I really want Lesley to pay for her betrayal. I mean I can kind of get the motivation, but really, it was a very dumb move on her part and, to my mind, quite out of character. I hated that bit and I do hope it doesn't end so well for her. She's made her choice (stupid though it may be) and she's going to have consequences. Though I can see her switching sides last minute in an epic conflagration that saves Peter but takes her own life in the effort. I guess that would be fitting...

Anyway, Kobna Holdbrook Smith is a treasure.

I'm now reading/listening to Lies Sleeping and re: the spoilers above,

Spoiler

I really dislike Lesley now. It's like she's completely thrown away everything she ever believed in and it's actively working for the bad guy, because he magicked up a new face? It doesn't sit well with me from how her character was in the first few books. Like, I get that she's stopping the FM from killing Peter but that's still not good enough to my mind.

Anyway, Lady Ty is the best, as are Stephanopolous and Seawoll and Nightingale. I'm still really enjoying this series!

re Lesley...
SPOILERS RE RIVERS OF LONDON SERIES UP TO LIES SLEEPING
SPILERS
SPOILERS
MASSIVE SPOILERS
SPOILERS YOU FOOLS SPOILERS

Spoiler

The amazing thing about this is we met Lesley for all of one book before she's disfigured by Puck, and she spends another book massively bitter and two more still bitter but trying to make the best of it before the turn comes. We actually know very little about her pre-magic life except Peter's limited 'best buds' narrative, yet again and again i see posts elseforum where people are FURIOUS that she did what she did.

Me, i think her turn is well foreshadowed, she's clearly seeking a magic 'fix' from the start and hates that she's Nightingale's 'other' apprentice because she can't be a normal cop anymore. It's esp hinted at when she starts dating the fae and there are hints she's going deeper and darker in her search.

I also really enjoy Peter's interactions w her once she turns, both as rival and 'friend'. Her arc is a great part of the series.

Even more spoilers for Rivers of London

Spoiler

I agree that the turn was well foreshadowed. The only complaint I had about Lesley's arc was there were a couple times I thought it could have been wrapped up sooner.

I guess I never thought about it like that and now you've mentioned it, you're very right.

I'm still annoyed but not enough that it's ruining the series for me, still very much enjoying it!

[QuickTidal]

...and just like that, I'm in for the whole series.

EMPIRE OF SILENCE by Christopher Ruocchio (Sun Eater series, book 1)

Look, I've heard a lot of things thrown around about Christopher Ruocchio's recent successful SUN EATER series...the most humbling of which (To the author himself) would be "Sci-Fi has found its Brandon Sanderson"....I assume for both readability, and pumping out novels one after the other like a machine.

I've seen a few minor complaints (most seemed to indicate that at least the beginning of the first book is a little NOTW mixed with DUNE...I get the DUNE comparison [but only in VERY broad strokes] but the NOTW comparison is only because it's someone narrating their early life and how they ended up the legendary mythic figure they became by telling the story of how they got there)....but nothing that would lead me astray, in fact more books even mildly similar to DUNE (as this is) is only a good feature to me.

But I found a reviewer (from the UK) who pretty much nailed how I feel (bearing in mind I'm only at the 30% mark of book 1 so far...but good gods is it driving me to read on; pacey AF):

What starts out, as has been said by other reviewers, as a sci-fi Name of the Wind crossed with Dune (mentat equivalents, family atomics, more besides), becomes a little more than that. Dune? Try every sci-fi and fantasy influence between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. Even just names. I'm tempted to read it again to find the references that I missed. Everything is in here. It's like geek gumbo. Mysterious old Earth, check. Aliens, check. Mysterious god like aliens we meet through archaeology, check. Magic swords, check. Sword fights, check. Free and poor to rich and trapped, check. Jack-the-lad enjoyable employment of every other trope I could think of. Maybe it was intentional. Maybe it was the result of the glorious bath of geekdom we can revel in these days. Whatever.

You'd think I hated it having read that description. No. It was like eating cake. Good cake. Actually, maybe the best stew you've ever had, a sci-fi cassoulet compendium, a geek gumbo. Nothing in here is going to shake the pillars of the earth but damn I was looking forward to getting on the Underground to work so I could read some more, and I was sad when it ended.

So, leave off notions of originality and of literary criticism, read some cake. It's one of those books.

I concur, eat some fucking CAKE man. It's damned fine cake, and I'm going to want to eat all the cakes now.

EDIT: Just did a search, and it appears I'm late to the damned party, and some of you knew about these already! Anyways, 5 books and 2 novellas is lotsa reading ahead of me!

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 22 February 2023 - 04:47 PM

[amphibian]

The Sun Eater books are great and I'm waiting for the next one eagerly. However, do not buy or read The Lesser Devil novella thing. It's badly not up to the quality of the other books and gets very Jesus-y.

[QuickTidal]

amphibian, on 22 February 2023 - 04:53 PM, said:

The Sun Eater books are great and I'm waiting for the next one eagerly. However, do not buy or read The Lesser Devil novella thing. It's badly not up to the quality of the other books and gets very Jesus-y.

Oh good to know, how about QUEEN AMID ASHES?

Also, I had no idea it was more than 5 books....didn't know a 6th was on the way! Exciting.

[amphibian]

Better than Lesser Devil - I would go for it.