[Matriarch]

Salt-Man Z;365374 said:

Matriarch> Where's your favorite line?

On that topic, I'm halfway through Reaper's Gale, and I gotta say, one of my favorite "lines" is the poem "Stone Bowl" by Fisher kel Tath.

he he.... my memory SUCKS, so unless I write it down immediately, I forget.

But don't let that hold YOU back! I'll try for next time.

[Optimus Prime]

I need a good recommendation. Waiting on RotCG and just finished TtH.

[Slum]

Try that Shadow of the Wind book by Zafon, Pat was raving about it.

Or try a Guy Gavriel Kay Book; I recommend The Lions of Al-Rasan, Tigana, or A Song for Arbonne.

Or some Jim Butcher...it's always a good time for Dresden.

Or maybe some Gemmell.....


I'm reading Throne of Jade by Novik...it's kind of lame.

[thrinidir]

My bloggie friend and a fellow Malazan fan - Blindman - posted his thoughts on Return of the Crimson Guard on Realms of Speculative Fiction.

excerpt:
Ian Cameron Esslemont has decided to write an epic book. Taking us over several continents (or at least island chains) he brings us to the continent of Quon Tali. We visit numerous locations, previously only hinted at – Unta, the dreaded Stormwall, more of otataral mines, Wickan planes and of course Li Heng and lands of Seti. And all of these will leave you unsatisfied.
Unta and Li Heng have no soul, Stomwall it's function and his assailants still remain a mystery, otataral mines seem more like an prison camp for elderly and senile, and lands of Seti and Wickans nothing but a green blots in the distance. True, the main worldbuilding has been done by Esslemont and Erikson years ago, but still one expects something more tangible when it comes to local geography. So don't expect Seven Cities or Darujhistan from MBoF, or even Malaz city from "Night of Knives". Here the places are no more than badly painted scenography in front of which the story unravels.

As you can see he wasn't too kind to the book...read the whole review.

[Tremolo]

Anomander Rake;355660 said:

I've got that on my To read pile, let us know what you think to it.

Very good read! Lots of politicking(?) mixed with a few great battles and skirmishes. And as is usually the case with Glen Cook's writing there is a lot of soldiers wit and point of view. Nice and gritty.

When you are a few pages into the book go visit http://www.glencook.org/index.php/Instrume...es_of_the_Night, as this will help you understand the geography that is mentioned quite often. I felt really lost at first untill I found this key to understanding what and where.

And I have one name for you: Grade Drocker!

[Wordmerchant]

Tiste Simeon;91164 said:

Reading list for the summer:
The Ninja - Eric Lustbader

Outstanding read.

Quote

White Ninja - Eric Lustbader

He should have left it with one book, it was "done". If you can find them, his long OOP trilogy "Sunset Warrior" is worth the trip.

[pat5150]

Just finished David Louis Edelman's Multireal.

As was the case with Infoquake, the book is a superior read. Moreover, if the final installment lives up to the expectations generated by its predecessors, this series could well be the best thing ever published by Pyr. That's saying something!

The Jump 225 trilogy remains one of the very best ongoing science fiction series on the market. Read it and you'll thank me for the recommendation!

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick

[Matriarch]

Just finished Jim Butcher's Storm Front. What a great read- especially for summer (easy, entertaining). As for a favorite part....

Harry and Susan, trying to remain standing in the 3ft. protective circle while the demon lurks outside of it, and Susan having accidentally consumed a love potion...

"Take me, Harry. I need you."

"Uh, Susan. That's not really a good idea right now."

"Your mouth says no, but this says yes."

"That thing is always saying something stupid!"

(ain't that the truth, boys?)

Also read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie. Very interesting, especially since I live in Spokane, and he is a Spokane Indian. I'll have to visit the reservation someday. I had heard things are bleak there.

I have always wondered about the problem between preserving your heritage and embracing modern civilization. Maybe I will go teach on the reservation when my kids are grown...

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Books of the South. Hell yeah.

[Aooga]

Just started lord of the Silver Bow by Gemmel.

abandoned Hal Duncan's Vellum half way through. What a mess that book is. Totally unreadable. If there's a big pay off in the end then I might consider revisiting it otherwise it stays in book shelf purgatory.

[Cougar]

Reading Enemy of God by Bernard Cornwell, 2nd book of the Arthurian 'Warlord' Trilogy. Pretty decent, very straightforward, bit Gemmell-ish in that it's kind of no messing around linear story telling. Not that that's surprising after reading all the Sharpe books and the Utred books (Last Kingdom, Lords of the North etc). It's odd to switch to that after spending time reading more complex, multi-viewpoint stuff like SE, both stlyes have merit I think.

Most interesting thing is that he hints at magic, you're never sure if there are subtle magics at play or if it's just coincidence, which I find very realistic and it gives you a good idea of how people of the time must have felt about curses and Druid spells etc.

[acesn8s]

Just finished Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. Little Country by Charles DeLint is next on the pile.

"When musician Janey Little discovers a hidden book in her grandfather's Cornwall home, the magic within its pages unleashes a chain of events that stretches across the sea to America, where a self-styled magician senses and covets its power, and to Madrid, where a sailor responds to a deeper, more lasting call."

I'm also reading Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen.

[stone monkey]

I'm currently reading Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt. Which is very much weirder than you'd think.

[Deornoth]

I've just finished reading Steven Brust's 'Jhegaala'; the latest in the tales of Vlad Taltos, assassin, gangster and man on the run... I had some issues with what Vlad's perspective allowed me to get out of the tale but on the whole I really enjoyed it (a sweet mixture of detective tales and fantasy) and will probably find more of these books to read. My full review is over Here.
I don't know what to read next, probably whatever comes to hand when I'm heading off to work tomorrow...

[Morgoth]

Just borrowed Blood Merridian by Cormac Mccarthy after several recomendations

[Dr Trouble]

I'm a few hundred pages from finishing Deadhouse Gates, and I really marvel at how much Erikson improved as a writer during those 9 odd years between this and GotM.

Although I'm not liking Duiker at all. I use to think he was okay. But on further inspection, the guys a whining little girl. I would have much rather him being replaced with, say, Baudin. Now that would have been a more interesting Chain of Dogs.

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Re-reading for the 4th time the Song of Troy by McCullogh

[Slum]

After seeing several excellent reviews, including Pat's perfect 10, I got Carlos Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind from the library today.

100 pages in and I am completely engrossed...really good so far.

[Tif the Barber Boy]

Just finished Greg Bear's 'The Forge of God' and before that Jim Butcher's 'White Night'. Good stuff, both of them. Trying to decide what to read next. So many books, so little time...

[Terminus Est]

Morgoth;369175 said:

Just borrowed Blood Merridian by Cormac Mccarthy after several recomendations

A great read, I love McCarthy's style. I'm sure you've already been warned of the violence.

I'm currently reading the Neil Gaiman anthology 'Fragile Things'.