[amphibian]

King Kazma, on 14 August 2011 - 04:20 AM, said:

Okay, was about halfway through THE BLACK COMPANY...but I've noticed (and this was something I thought briefly during trying to read SHADOWS LINGER few years ago as well) that Cook's writing is umm....scattered and choppy/abrupt...like short sentences with the narrative skipping around willy nilly...

...is this something that's going to go away in future books? Cause right now it's putting me off. totally.

At any rate, I switched gears and dropped into the first Vlad Taltos book JHEREG by Steven Brust with much better results, having a blast with this one so far.

There are several voice changes within the Black Company series. The first one occurs when Croaker "grows up", which is in Shadows Linger. I'm of the opinion that the plot complicates itself enough to be very interesting, even if you're not a fan of the choppy, unadorned writing style Croaker generally has.

I know you like Mieville and Gene Wolfe, so consider this the other end of the spectrum, with a pretty good payoff for each trilogy you finish. They're relatively short and the underpinnings of the Malazan marines are truly there - sans the philosophizing though.

[Rhand]

Rhand, on 11 August 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

Finished Danny Wallace's Yes Man last week after which I started in GRR Martin's A Game of Thrones to do a complete reread before I start in DWD.

Completed, almost halfway in A Clash of Kings! If I continue at this level I should order DWD asap.

[QuickTidal]

amphibian, on 14 August 2011 - 06:32 PM, said:

King Kazma, on 14 August 2011 - 04:20 AM, said:

Okay, was about halfway through THE BLACK COMPANY...but I've noticed (and this was something I thought briefly during trying to read SHADOWS LINGER few years ago as well) that Cook's writing is umm....scattered and choppy/abrupt...like short sentences with the narrative skipping around willy nilly...

...is this something that's going to go away in future books? Cause right now it's putting me off. totally.

At any rate, I switched gears and dropped into the first Vlad Taltos book JHEREG by Steven Brust with much better results, having a blast with this one so far.

There are several voice changes within the Black Company series. The first one occurs when Croaker "grows up", which is in Shadows Linger. I'm of the opinion that the plot complicates itself enough to be very interesting, even if you're not a fan of the choppy, unadorned writing style Croaker generally has.

I know you like Mieville and Gene Wolfe, so consider this the other end of the spectrum, with a pretty good payoff for each trilogy you finish. They're relatively short and the underpinnings of the Malazan marines are truly there - sans the philosophizing though.

Okay, good to hear. I'll keep reading it in a week or two when I get back to it. Good to hear it's worth it.

[Salt-Man Z]

Just read Patrick O'Sullivan's short story, "Maddy Dune's First and Only Spelling Bee" in the L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future, Volume XXVII collection. Wow.

[acesn8s]

Finished The Cardinal's Blades - lots of fun.

Started Stonewielder.

[QuickTidal]

UseOfWeapons, on 05 July 2011 - 02:31 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 05 July 2011 - 01:50 PM, said:

...also picked up my very first Brust Vlad Taltos book DRAGON (which I realize is mid-series but they never have the first book) which I am reading now and enjoying. I think my only issue so far is that I think Brust uses the word "said" too much....other than that I am enjoying it...but I do feel kind of lost as to what the houses are and why there's a castle flowing in the air ect....

Taltos rocks. But you won't get any explanations for stuff like that unless you read the earlier books. The origins of Castle Black are also not found in the Taltos novels, but in the Khaavren romances, specifically _The Lord of Castle Black_. You also get a much better idea of how the Dragaeran Houses work.

LIES!

LOL

Just kidding UoW, however...

I got about 25 pages or so into DRAGON by Brust and was enjoying so much that I felt like I wanted to start at the beginning instead, so I popped out to the only store in the city that had the omnibus collection of the first 3 Vlad Taltos books THE BOOK OF JHEREG, and it TOTALLY gives me a better idea of how things are. I don't get Castle Black explained per say, but it is mentioned how there used to be more of them and that after old school sorcery went out there wasn't any way to do it till the Intereggnum and the Orb. Plus it gives me a better description of Morrolan, Aliera, Kragar, and even Sethra Lavode (who I now know has survived since the Khaaraven Romances), and I ttoally know how most of the houses work now, namewise ect.

So I think the first book really DOES give you a better starting point as opposed to starting mid-series.

That said, I am absolutely LOVING this series so far!

This post has been edited by King Kazma: 16 August 2011 - 12:49 PM

[Gothos]

War and Peace
Setting itself up to be a long, long read.

[Rhand]

Finished A Clash of Kings last night, will continue in A Storm of Swords later this afternoon.

[Fist Gamet]

Finished The Way of Kings, part one. Much better than I expected, has a couple of very interesting story arcs and one dull one, but imaginative and well written. Recommended.

Now powering through The Last Argument of Kings...now, as one who abandoned Abercrombie after 100 or so pages of book one at the first reading, I am now a total convert. Soooo glad I give him another go, absolutely loving this series and the humour throughout (especially the Bloody-Nine, Dogman and co.) is great fun. I think that Glotka and Logen may well be amongst my favourite fantasy literature characters now

[QuickTidal]

Fist Gamet, on 17 August 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Finished The Way of Kings, part one. Much better than I expected, has a couple of very interesting story arcs and one dull one, but imaginative and well written. Recommended.

Esplain.

don't say Shallan...don't say Shallan.....

[Solidsnape]

King Kazma, on 08 August 2011 - 03:04 PM, said:

Solidsnape, on 08 August 2011 - 02:30 PM, said:

Read SW Death Troopers yesterday. Only took me 11 hrs, killed a shift at work nicely. Was half decent and done the trick as I hadn't read anything since finishing TCG.

A long long time ago in galaxy far far away........
Zombies!!!! Haha. Like it!!!

Hear the sequel RED HARVEST is even better.

There's a sequel!!!??!?!? I'm there!!!!!
I'm also going to buy the black company chronicles soon. Been looking forward to starting them.

Now reading Surface Detail! Eventually.

[MWKarsa]

Fist Gamet, on 17 August 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Now powering through The Last Argument of Kings...now, as one who abandoned Abercrombie after 100 or so pages of book one at the first reading, I am now a total convert. Soooo glad I give him another go, absolutely loving this series and the humour throughout (especially the Bloody-Nine, Dogman and co.) is great fun. I think that Glotka and Logen may well be amongst my favourite fantasy literature characters now

I really loved Glotka's character and his dialogue was fantastic and funny throughout, Logen was another great one as well. I'll be interested in how you like the end of the book.

I finished The Ones Who Hit the Hardest and it was a typical sports book- not great writing and the "story" was not well done at all. Even so it had enough recap of games and certain events to make a pretty quick read. Went back to Dresden for Dead Beat and I'm only a few pages in.

[QuickTidal]

MWKarsa, on 17 August 2011 - 04:29 PM, said:

Fist Gamet, on 17 August 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Now powering through The Last Argument of Kings...now, as one who abandoned Abercrombie after 100 or so pages of book one at the first reading, I am now a total convert. Soooo glad I give him another go, absolutely loving this series and the humour throughout (especially the Bloody-Nine, Dogman and co.) is great fun. I think that Glotka and Logen may well be amongst my favourite fantasy literature characters now

I really loved Glotka's character and his dialogue was fantastic and funny throughout.

Whenever I think of Abercrombie I always remember that first chapter with Glokta in THE BLADE ITSELF where he's looking for that dude to confess and it's a "confess!" thump (piece of finger rolls off table) "Confess!" thump (more of finger rolls off) "So and so made it to halfway up their arm before they confessed. Confess!" thump (finger up to the second joint chops away)....

That entire scene is absolutely MADE of amazing.

[Use Of Weapons]

Glokta has a claim to being the best new character in fantasy this century

[Obdigore]

King Kazma, on 17 August 2011 - 04:10 PM, said:

Fist Gamet, on 17 August 2011 - 04:09 PM, said:

Finished The Way of Kings, part one. Much better than I expected, has a couple of very interesting story arcs and one dull one, but imaginative and well written. Recommended.

Esplain.

don't say Shallan...don't say Shallan.....

You know thats what he will say. I want to know what she is seeing when she draws. That thing could get really creepy really quickly.

[Illuyankas]

Not as disturbing as the 'jokes' Sanderson makes his 'funny' characters write. Hoid and Shallan cause me considerable mental anguish, especially that insults/in-sluts line.

[Salk Elan]

About 150 pages into Prince of Thorns and not particularly impressed by it so far.

So Jorg is what, fourteen? - But of course he has all the experience in the world, is in general the most badass character in the book and everyone he encounters would be deeply impressed by him, were it not for his absolute heartlessness. He's more Marty Sue than Kvothe and Thomas Cale combined, only that the concept of the heartstricken youth with the terrible past is already a bit worn out imo.

Well, maybe it get's better, but so far I'll count it as totally average.

[QuickTidal]

Finished up the first Vlad Taltos book this morning JHEREG by Brust, not totally mind blowing but really, really solid fun fantasy! I have the omnibus for the first 3 books and will start YENDI after I take a break with another book first. Consider me a Brust fan, as if all the books are this decent I have a whole new series to read which is always exciting.

[Use Of Weapons]

Good news -- they only get better! Be warned tho, the Khaavren books are very different in style. Equally good, at least IMO, but very different.

[amphibian]

Briar King, on 19 August 2011 - 01:45 AM, said:

Yeah I like the way this books sounds other then fact taht he is only 14. Reading about teens was okay until I turned around 25 or so. Im 31 now. Not to dis teen stories or anything. I will still get this book but Im gonna wait for the PB ed.

I think your decision to wait for the paperback is a good one. Keep in mind that Werthead absolutely nailed the character of Jorg (the 14 year old) when he said "Jorg is a protagonist with the quick wits of Locke Lamora, the charm and resourcefulness of Kvothe but the moral compass of Gregor Clegane."

As for the Mary Sue accusations, it may seem like that at first, but you quickly learn that Jorg is small time in everything he's managed to achieve before the book starts. It's kind of like Abercrombie in that you see a bad-ass at first, then realize that whatever individual feats have already been achieved, there's bigger and badder guys out there that don't give a shit about anything other than furthering their own plans.