[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

So many

[Tiste Simeon]

Sold!

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

I've been reading Christopher Ruocchio's Sun Eater series. While I enjoyed it from the beginning, it wasn't until starting book 2 that I became enthralled. The world expands significantly after book 1, and that makes a big difference to how good the later books are.

It's sort of like WH40K meets Vernor-Vinge-Zones-of-Thought-but-if-thought-were-time meets The Matrix meets great space operas meets Alastair Reynolds meets Gene Wolfe in a way meets the good parts of Kevin J Anderson meets some overall really novel space opera concepts.

I'm midway through book 3 and stayed up until 2 AM the past few nights because I couldn't stop reading.

That said, I think the editor needed a bit of a heavier hand. There's a bit too much mopey melancholy from the main character. Understandable, given the narrative conceit and his flair for melodrama, but still, it could have been trimmed a bit.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for: grimdark billions of soldiers fighting aliens for centuries, classical references (Greeks, Romans, Renaissance, etc), cool aliens that feel alien, archaeology, forgotten histories rediscovered, swords that are 1 atom thick and can cut through almost anything, missing left hands replaced by technology (wait, is the main character Luke?), galaxy-spanning empire politics, multiple differing human civilizations, brain uploads, body modification that makes Alastair Reynolds' Ultras look cute, and more!

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 08 January 2024 - 10:07 PM

[Abyss]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 08 January 2024 - 10:01 PM, said:

I've been reading Christopher Ruocchio's Sun Eater series. While I enjoyed it from the beginning, it wasn't until starting book 2 that I became enthralled. The world expands significantly after book 1, and that makes a big difference to how good the later books are.

It's sort of like WH40K meets Vernor-Vinge-Zones-of-Thought-but-if-thought-were-time meets The Matrix meets great space operas meets Alastair Reynolds meets Gene Wolfe in a way meets the good parts of Kevin J Anderson meets some overall really novel space opera concepts.

I'm midway through book 3 and stayed up until 2 AM the past few nights because I couldn't stop reading.

That said, I think the editor needed a bit of a heavier hand. There's a bit too much mopey melancholy from the main character. Understandable, given the narrative conceit and his flair for melodrama, but still, it could have been trimmed a bit.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for: grimdark billions of soldiers fighting aliens for centuries, classical references (Greeks, Romans, Renaissance, etc), cool aliens that feel alien, archaeology, forgotten histories rediscovered, swords that are 1 atom thick and can cut through almost anything, missing left hands replaced by technology (wait, is the main character Luke?), galaxy-spanning empire politics, multiple differing human civilizations, brain uploads, body modification that makes Alastair Reynolds' Ultras look cute, and more!

I keep seeing this reco'd to people looking for their next epic sf series. Nice to have some context. May check this out.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Abyss, on 08 January 2024 - 10:09 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 08 January 2024 - 10:01 PM, said:

I've been reading Christopher Ruocchio's Sun Eater series. While I enjoyed it from the beginning, it wasn't until starting book 2 that I became enthralled. The world expands significantly after book 1, and that makes a big difference to how good the later books are.

It's sort of like WH40K meets Vernor-Vinge-Zones-of-Thought-but-if-thought-were-time meets The Matrix meets great space operas meets Alastair Reynolds meets Gene Wolfe in a way meets the good parts of Kevin J Anderson meets some overall really novel space opera concepts.

I'm midway through book 3 and stayed up until 2 AM the past few nights because I couldn't stop reading.

That said, I think the editor needed a bit of a heavier hand. There's a bit too much mopey melancholy from the main character. Understandable, given the narrative conceit and his flair for melodrama, but still, it could have been trimmed a bit.

I'd recommend it to anyone looking for: grimdark billions of soldiers fighting aliens for centuries, classical references (Greeks, Romans, Renaissance, etc), cool aliens that feel alien, archaeology, forgotten histories rediscovered, swords that are 1 atom thick and can cut through almost anything, missing left hands replaced by technology (wait, is the main character Luke?), galaxy-spanning empire politics, multiple differing human civilizations, brain uploads, body modification that makes Alastair Reynolds' Ultras look cute, and more!

I keep seeing this reco'd to people looking for their next epic sf series. Nice to have some context. May check this out.

Be forewarned: I can definitely imagine that a lot of people DNF book one. I even put it aside myself and came back to it midway through. But, I'm glad I did give it a second chance — it gets so good after book 1.

[Cyphon]

I gets a bit grim in like book 4 or 5, but the worldbuilding is pretty fun. Would add to the reco as flawed fun.

This post has been edited by Cyphon: 08 January 2024 - 10:27 PM

[polishgenius]

Yeah I thought the first one was okay but haven't been in a hurry to read the rest. I've heard enough good things that I probably will quite soon. The idea that the second and third books are a big step up seems pretty universal, and in that case since I did like the first well enough I should enjoy the rest.


Space opera/space fantasy are in such strong health at the moment. Basically since Ann Leckie released Ancillary Justice ten years ago or so this star empire stuff of various stripes has been going great guns. Myself I just recently read The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette De Bodard, which is really good.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Cyphon, on 08 January 2024 - 10:27 PM, said:

I gets a bit grim in like book 4 or 5, but the worldbuilding is pretty fun. Would add to the reco as flawed fun.

Woof. I just finished book 4 and that was grim. I cried at the end of the book. So many gut punches.

On to book 5...

[amphibian]

I recommend skipping The Lesser Devil entirely (is a side novella that gets really Jesus-y in a way that's grating).

Haven't read Queen Amid Ashes yet.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

amphibian, on 14 January 2024 - 03:30 AM, said:

I recommend skipping The Lesser Devil entirely (is a side novella that gets really Jesus-y in a way that's grating).

Haven't read Queen Amid Ashes yet.

Good to know!

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard and it was an absolute delight of a novel.

The obvious joke is that it's clearly fantasy because it depicts people in power using their power for the good of the whole society...

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 17 January 2024 - 01:19 PM, said:

...The obvious joke is that it's clearly fantasy because it depicts people in power using their power for the good of the whole society...

That's even fantasy within the fantasy genre. There should be a subgenre 'punk' for that sort of thing...
govpunk or beneficientpunk or nicepunk or something.

[Abyss]

Abyss said:

...
Next up, Felix Gilman's HALF-MADE WORLD. This one's been in the trp a looooooong time.
...Starting the sequel RISE OF RANSOM CITY straightaway.

Slow read for reasons that have nothing to do w the book, just RL stuff limiting my reading time.
Have to say i enjoy the way Gilman is telling only one character's story from a limited perspective, but he very skillfully weaves in all the other relevant events happening elsewhere.

[JPK]

Abyss, on 23 January 2024 - 03:09 PM, said:

Abyss said:

...
Next up, Felix Gilman's HALF-MADE WORLD. This one's been in the trp a looooooong time.
...Starting the sequel RISE OF RANSOM CITY straightaway.

Slow read for reasons that have nothing to do w the book, just RL stuff limiting my reading time.
Have to say i enjoy the way Gilman is telling only one character's story from a limited perspective, but he very skillfully weaves in all the other relevant events happening elsewhere.

I suspect a webcomic binge may be having an effect as well...

[Abyss]

JPK, on 23 January 2024 - 04:40 PM, said:

Abyss, on 23 January 2024 - 03:09 PM, said:

Abyss said:

...
Next up, Felix Gilman's HALF-MADE WORLD. This one's been in the trp a looooooong time.
...Starting the sequel RISE OF RANSOM CITY straightaway.

Slow read for reasons that have nothing to do w the book, just RL stuff limiting my reading time.
Have to say i enjoy the way Gilman is telling only one character's story from a limited perspective, but he very skillfully weaves in all the other relevant events happening elsewhere.

I suspect a webcomic binge may be having an effect as well...

DARBI DID NOTHING WRONG!
(except eat all those other dinosaurs' family members)

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished the Sun Sword series. Thoughts in dedthread.

Got a few options for audiobook next - I think I'll go with The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Chakraborty.

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 23 January 2024 - 03:09 PM, said:

Abyss said:

...
Next up, Felix Gilman's HALF-MADE WORLD. This one's been in the trp a looooooong time.
...Starting the sequel RISE OF RANSOM CITY straightaway.

Slow read for reasons that have nothing to do w the book, just RL stuff limiting my reading time.
Have to say i enjoy the way Gilman is telling only one character's story from a limited perspective, but he very skillfully weaves in all the other relevant events happening elsewhere.

Aaaaaand Just Finished.
Stuck the landing nicely. Fun well written book, took a completely wild turn from the first book but managed to be a sequel at the same time. I'll have to see about more from Gilman.

Next up, time to finish The Tide series w the final book, titled, brilliantly, FINAL SURGE.

[JPK]

I finally finished up my first physical read of the year with a classic that I've been meaning to read for quite a while. THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende. I have to say that I loved this book, and found it became very engrossing in the later half. I think partially it's because the movie (that I suspect most of us here are at least passingly familiar with) only really covers the first half of the book and it gets much more philosophical with Bastion during the second half. A lot in here to think about involving growing, changing, self-acceptance, and both healthy and unhealthy wishes. It's definitely a book I plan to read again in the future.

Next up, I'm jumping into WACO by Jeff Guinn. I have a fascination with events that strongly shape domestic policies in the states and I don't think many would argue that the events involved here still have deep influence on both governmental policy and our culture as a whole. I'm pretty excited to be getting into this one

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

The Priory of the Orange Tree

[Cyphon]

I am on the last of the Gaunts Ghost series having stuck to reading them back to back.

You have to give it credit in terms of how it paces and plots out the story in what you might consider a narrow frame of the WH40K universe.

Not sure what I'll read next, surely anything will br a good break from the unrelenting Grimdark.