[amphibian]

D, on 24 January 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

I have honestly not been enjoying Book of the New Sun at all so far, and Side Jobs just arrived, so putting down BotNS and starting Side Jobs tonight with Aftermath. We'll see how far I can get with Side Jobs before OST shows up and demands precedence.

Also re-read BF and am re-reading tLoLE and will re-read tHD soon. Am practicing taking notes on events and time references in preparation for my MBotF/NotME re-read where I plan to {a} read them all in chronological order and {b} record notes/quotes for any and all references to times and events for the purpose of timeline clarification

It's fairly odd to me that you're willing to do this analytical work for the Malazan books, but stalled out on Book of the New Sun. Have you gotten past the grave-robbing?

[Flawed]

My friend found the other Hyperion books. I now have “ The fall off Hyperion “ “ EndyMion “ and “ the fall of endymion “ staring at me on my desk at work.

Q ghostly disembodied voice that for some reason is always in a posh English accent “ read mee.......... reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeead meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee “

I will my children, i will.

[acesn8s]

worrywort, on 24 January 2012 - 01:08 AM, said:

Well, as you may or may not know, GRRM was originally just gonna skip ahead 5 years or something and do some of this stuff via flashback, but that became implausible. I think in writing ADWD he solidified in his mind where he's going, and while I don't agree that ADWD lacked forward motion in the plot, I can kind of see that in some spots it spun its wheels. I think ultimately that was in service to the plot, as place-setting -- I expect the last two books to be pretty much the thrilling end to a roller coaster ride, and I kind of think it will be a lot easier for him to write. The big wait wasn't just about this book, it was about everything to come, so now that he has it all figured out (big picture at least), the rest will come at a brisker pace.

I agree. I was a little frustrated with Dany's story line and Tyrion's series of unfortunate adventures, but I can see Martin linking up his ducks. I also recalled that this was originally 1/2 of A Feast for Crows, so we wouldn't be seeing a lot of the characters covered in Feast. The next book should have our merry band of POV characters all back in the same time frame and having equal representation in the book.

[QuickTidal]

Okay, I'm nearly 100 pages into OST and HOLY CRAP. I'm riveted, like glued to the page. It's really good so far!

First REAL insight into the Seguleh on Cant = Pure mutha fuzuckin' win!

[McLovin]

Huh, maybe one of these days I should give the ICE books a try. Sounds like he's gotten better.

Of course, maybe I should go back and finish MBOTF too.

[polishgenius]

I'm currently reading the sci-fi debut Faith, by John Love, and it's absolutely excellent. I bought OST at the same time and have blitzed through most of Faith before getting into OST, that's how good it is.

The basic idea is that the titular mysterious alien warship flies around attacking ships and military emplacements of the Commonwealth 300 years after a first appearance led to the fall of a previous empire, and the Commonwealth sends one of its elite, criminal-crewed Outsider warships to do battle with it.

But that doesn't really tell you much about what the book is like. It's got a really odd tone but it's compulsively readable, clever, and very good fun.


Also reading Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregilis, another very good book.

[D'rek]

amphibian, on 24 January 2012 - 05:25 AM, said:

D, on 24 January 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

I have honestly not been enjoying Book of the New Sun at all so far, and Side Jobs just arrived, so putting down BotNS and starting Side Jobs tonight with Aftermath. We'll see how far I can get with Side Jobs before OST shows up and demands precedence.

Also re-read BF and am re-reading tLoLE and will re-read tHD soon. Am practicing taking notes on events and time references in preparation for my MBotF/NotME re-read where I plan to {a} read them all in chronological order and {b} record notes/quotes for any and all references to times and events for the purpose of timeline clarification

It's fairly odd to me that you're willing to do this analytical work for the Malazan books, but stalled out on Book of the New Sun. Have you gotten past the grave-robbing?

Got just about to the end of Claw of the Conciliator - if you mean the grave-robbing at the very start then yes, otherwise no I don't think so.

I just can't get past how seemingly childish the way it is written is. "I am Severian. I am in this town. The mayor talked to me and paid me to cut off the head of a criminal. Then I went for a walk. There was a tent. I went inside the tent. There was a green man inside the tent. He said things I don't understand with no context. Then I stole a horse. Then I met a girl and we talked and then I sexed her. Then I was in a theatrical production." etc etc. While the writing is, I suppose, good, the plot nevertheless breaks down into that sort of series of events that happen one after another with very little effort at linking any of it together. So much of it just happens for no particular reason and there is never any effort at exposing characters' feelings or motivations or anything (okay there is a little but it seems so false to me). Yes, I get that it is written like a memoir, but couldn't Gene Wolfe make Severian a better memoir writer so it'd actually be interesting?

Probably my breaking point:

Spoiler

"Eventually I grew resentful of Jolenta sleeping on the boat so I crouched down, took off her clothes and had sex with her." Really? REALLY? I mean, not only is it this massive problem that being female in the world of Severian's memoirs means you are constantly being naked and/or sleeping with Severian, but right up until that point Severian had expressly thought that he didn't like Jolenta at all and actually cared about Dorcas (who cries when they come back and Severian just plain doesn't give a shit). I don't mind some romance, or even some kink, in what I'm reading, but there is not a word that Severian has suddenly decided he likes Jolenta, or is even attracted to her, or anything, and so when it just completely comes out of nowhere like this my willingness to continue reading is tested.

And yes, I realize this might not be "the truth" and Severian is lying in his memoir, but that is sooo much worse. That means I'm reading the perverted fantasies of old-man Severian and since he still can't write believably there's really no reason I want to keep reading his alzheimers fantasies.

And all the post-apocalyptic-technology-in-fantasy-setting references aren't going to change any of that.

This post has been edited by D'rek: 24 January 2012 - 03:59 PM

[Imperial Historian]

I had a pretty similar problem with tBotNS, and another book by Gene Wolfe the Wizard Knight to the point where I gave up on both books, Wolfe's style just doesn't seem to work for me. I get the whole the surface isn't what it appears to be, and that the narrator is unreliable, and there were lots of hints of stuff going on beneath the surface which kept me reading but I just couldn't get over the fact that it was incredibly painful to read. The fact that this is an artistic choice by Wolfe doesn't make the writing any more fun to read, it's still a typical example of bad writing, ableit with a cleverer writer trying to hide stuff among this. I can see why some people like it, and I may give him another chance at some point, but it got to the point where it was a chore to read more at which point I had to give up.

[Abyss]

Abyss, on 23 January 2012 - 04:38 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 23 January 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

Abyss, on 23 January 2012 - 07:05 AM, said:

MOON OVER SOHO by Ben Aaronovitch.
Good fun. Sort of Dresden's bastard child in London.

I'm assuming you've read the first one, because that's the second one.

Decent books, so far. Promising for the series.

Yes, and agreed.
Arguably better than the first one. Emphasizes the mystery angle nicely and a takes an interesting approach to magic... plus 'jazz vampires'...

Finished it. Great book. Ben gets further into his 'magic system' (i hate using that term but have nothing better), mostly by the protagonist arguing about how it doesn't make sense even while he's learning to use it better and it makes for an interesting setting. He also takes fairly practical approach to magic in a police environment which is fun to read, plus the supporting cast, while not quite as awesome as Dresden's become, are a lot of fun. Succubus maid Molly particularly owns every scene she's in without actually saying a word.

Terrific second novel in the series, with a hell of a teaser ending. I'm totally in for #3 whenever it appears.



And now i need to kill time with something frivolous until OST appears...

[Salt-Man Z]

Quote

The fact that this is an artistic choice by Wolfe doesn't make the writing any more fun to read, it's still a typical example of bad writing

Gee, how many times has this been said about the Malazan books?

[Salt-Man Z]

Anyway, I finished F. Paul Wilson's first Repairman Jack novel, The Tomb. It wasn't quite what I was expecting--I was thinking more along the lines of The Dresden Files--but after a short time to adjust to it, I ended up really enjoying it. If, as Jim Butcher says, The Dresden Files is a comic book, then Repairman Jack is an action movie. Think adventure/thriller/mystery, with a little bit of magic and supernatural horror thrown in for good measure. Jack himself is a great character, a little (okay, a lot) more grey than Harry Dresden, but just as much a "good guy". I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for subsequent books.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 24 January 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

Finished it. Great book. Ben gets further into his 'magic system' (i hate using that term but have nothing better), mostly by the protagonist arguing about how it doesn't make sense even while he's learning to use it better and it makes for an interesting setting. He also takes fairly practical approach to magic in a police environment which is fun to read, plus the supporting cast, while not quite as awesome as Dresden's become, are a lot of fun. Succubus maid Molly particularly owns every scene she's in without actually saying a word.

Terrific second novel in the series, with a hell of a teaser ending. I'm totally in for #3 whenever it appears.



And now i need to kill time with something frivolous until OST appears...

This is is in the ToRead pile after I thoroughly enjoyed the first. Just need to get to it. Good to know it's still good stuff!

[Grumble]

Salt-Man Z, on 24 January 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Anyway, I finished F. Paul Wilson's first Repairman Jack novel, The Tomb. It wasn't quite what I was expecting--I was thinking more along the lines of The Dresden Files--but after a short time to adjust to it, I ended up really enjoying it. If, as Jim Butcher says, The Dresden Files is a comic book, then Repairman Jack is an action movie. Think adventure/thriller/mystery, with a little bit of magic and supernatural horror thrown in for good measure. Jack himself is a great character, a little (okay, a lot) more grey than Harry Dresden, but just as much a "good guy". I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for subsequent books.

Just 13 more novels in print to go then ..... plus the final novel The Dark at the End and the re-issue of Nightworld when it comes out !

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did ..... and remember ..... What would Jack do !!! ( Have you visited repairmanjack.com yet )

This post has been edited by Grumble: 24 January 2012 - 06:10 PM

[QuickTidal]

Grumble, on 24 January 2012 - 06:09 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 24 January 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Anyway, I finished F. Paul Wilson's first Repairman Jack novel, The Tomb. It wasn't quite what I was expecting--I was thinking more along the lines of The Dresden Files--but after a short time to adjust to it, I ended up really enjoying it. If, as Jim Butcher says, The Dresden Files is a comic book, then Repairman Jack is an action movie. Think adventure/thriller/mystery, with a little bit of magic and supernatural horror thrown in for good measure. Jack himself is a great character, a little (okay, a lot) more grey than Harry Dresden, but just as much a "good guy". I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for subsequent books.

Just 13 more novels in print to go then ..... plus the final novel The Dark at the End and the re-issue of Nightworld when it comes out !

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did ..... and remember ..... What would Jack do !!! ( Have you visited repairmanjack.com yet )

Damn you both. These sound interesting. I may have to add them to the ever-teetering ToRead pile.

[Abyss]

It helps if you start counterbalancing the TRP.

[Morgoth]

Imperial Historian, on 24 January 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

I had a pretty similar problem with tBotNS, and another book by Gene Wolfe the Wizard Knight to the point where I gave up on both books, Wolfe's style just doesn't seem to work for me. I get the whole the surface isn't what it appears to be, and that the narrator is unreliable, and there were lots of hints of stuff going on beneath the surface which kept me reading but I just couldn't get over the fact that it was incredibly painful to read. The fact that this is an artistic choice by Wolfe doesn't make the writing any more fun to read, it's still a typical example of bad writing, ableit with a cleverer writer trying to hide stuff among this. I can see why some people like it, and I may give him another chance at some point, but it got to the point where it was a chore to read more at which point I had to give up.

Bad writing? Wolfe is by far one of, if not the greatest living master of prose within the fantasy sci fi genre. You might not like his writing, I've for instance never been able to enjoy Dostoyevsky's prose, but to claim it is bad is rather absurd.

[Fist Gamet]

Morgoth, on 24 January 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

Imperial Historian, on 24 January 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

I had a pretty similar problem with tBotNS, and another book by Gene Wolfe the Wizard Knight to the point where I gave up on both books, Wolfe's style just doesn't seem to work for me. I get the whole the surface isn't what it appears to be, and that the narrator is unreliable, and there were lots of hints of stuff going on beneath the surface which kept me reading but I just couldn't get over the fact that it was incredibly painful to read. The fact that this is an artistic choice by Wolfe doesn't make the writing any more fun to read, it's still a typical example of bad writing, ableit with a cleverer writer trying to hide stuff among this. I can see why some people like it, and I may give him another chance at some point, but it got to the point where it was a chore to read more at which point I had to give up.

Bad writing? Wolfe is by far one of, if not the greatest living master of prose within the fantasy sci fi genre. You might not like his writing, I've for instance never been able to enjoy Dostoyevsky's prose, but to claim it is bad is rather absurd.

Pretty much exactly what I was about to say. Every other point you make is, to my mind, valid and understandable as he can be difficult, but I would argue vehemently than it is never, ever bad writing. Quite, the opposite, in fact. I believe that most people, lay and professional, lovers of the genre and critics alike, would agree that he is a superbly talented writer. For me, he truly pushes the boundaries of what is possible, exploring styles that others wouldn't dare, and his skill is such that he succeeds far more than he fails. None of his writing is, however, 'bad'.


Anyway, on topic, reading Orb, Sceptre, Throne and it is starting to pick up after a shaky start.

[Grumble]

Grumble, on 24 January 2012 - 06:09 PM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 24 January 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

Anyway, I finished F. Paul Wilson's first Repairman Jack novel, The Tomb. It wasn't quite what I was expecting--I was thinking more along the lines of The Dresden Files--but after a short time to adjust to it, I ended up really enjoying it. If, as Jim Butcher says, The Dresden Files is a comic book, then Repairman Jack is an action movie. Think adventure/thriller/mystery, with a little bit of magic and supernatural horror thrown in for good measure. Jack himself is a great character, a little (okay, a lot) more grey than Harry Dresden, but just as much a "good guy". I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for subsequent books.

Just 13 more novels in print to go then ..... plus the final novel The Dark at the End and the re-issue of Nightworld when it comes out !

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did ..... and remember ..... What would Jack do !!! ( Have you visited repairmanjack.com yet )

Just a further point regarding the Repairman Jack series ... you say you have started with the Tomb which is the 1st Repairman Jack book ... I would recommend reading The Keep# next or soon ( #Book 1 of the adversary cycle of which The Tomb is book 2 ) , not about Jack but it does lay the ground in terms of future Jack Ally/Adversary story lines. In fact all The Adversary Cycle books build towards the climax of the Repairman Jack Series, as the Author himself F.Paul Wilson begins to tie all the threads together in an updated finale "Nightworld" which will merge and close both series.

[BlackMoranthofDoom]

A Feast for Crows

This post has been edited by BlackMoranthofDoom: 26 January 2012 - 01:42 PM

[QuickTidal]

Fist Gamet, on 24 January 2012 - 10:24 PM, said:

Anyway, on topic, reading Orb, Sceptre, Throne and it is starting to pick up after a shaky start.

Shaky start? Wut? I've been enthralled from page/minute one.