[QuickTidal]

Jade-Green Pig-Hog Swine-Beast, on 23 September 2012 - 06:05 PM, said:

I just finished The Stories of Ibis, which was a really enjoyable read. I wasn't sure about it to start with but it just got better and better. I think I'm gonna start GotM again, next, though I'm not yet certain I'm I'm gonna do a full on MBotF re-read or not—it really depends on whether or not I can find anything new to read after GotM. I've not yet read any of the novellas so I might go and buy them.

Also, mostly aimed at QT or anyone else who's read The Stories of Ibis, at the back of the book, there's a page with a few other Japanese SF books published by the same company—have you read any of them? I might look them up and try out anything that tickles my fancy.

I have one other Haika Soru book, and it's by the same author (haven't read it yet) it's about giant monsters. I've heard that some of the other stuff by the publisher is good as well, but can't vouch for any of them yet.

Glad you liked STORIEs Of IBIS. Told you it was good stuff!

[Traveller]

I've just started reading 'Perdido Street Station' by China Meiville, having recently finished 'The Scar.'

Yet another author I've found from scouring threads like these on the forum. I think they cropped up a few times in the 'Top ten reads' thread, so I checked them out.

Really enjoyed 'The Scar' - the style, pace, characters, and the story itelf was really absorbing. My only slight criticism is of something early in the book. I could get my head round Crays; I could believe in the underwater cities, and the places where the two merged - but the description of the underwater 'streets' with Cray children playing in them reminded me more of a Fururama episode! Things that live underwater would surely not be pushing carts around in underwater streets. imo! Maybe he pushed it it bit far there...

Otherwise brilliant, loved the ending too.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 23 September 2012 - 09:24 PM

[MTS]

QuickTidal, on 23 September 2012 - 05:13 PM, said:

After some significant buzz (and the much lauded release of the second book in the series) I've picked up Ken Follet's FALL OF GIANTS. Looking fwd to it, Follet usually impresses me with his stuff.

Fall of Giants is very good, providing you like historical fiction. I believe the sequel came out last week as well.

[JPK]

Finished Lord Foul's bane today. So glad I reread that.

Working on finishing The Book of Athyra and then diving into Cryptonomicon. I have plenty of reason to che through these as day as finally possible since F.O.D. is the next thing up after those.

[QuickTidal]

MTS, on 23 September 2012 - 10:07 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 23 September 2012 - 05:13 PM, said:

After some significant buzz (and the much lauded release of the second book in the series) I've picked up Ken Follet's FALL OF GIANTS. Looking fwd to it, Follet usually impresses me with his stuff.

Fall of Giants is very good, providing you like historical fiction. I believe the sequel came out last week as well.

Thanks MTS, yeah I'm a hundred pages in and I'm so totally immersed in the book that I missed my bus stop this morning and was late for work. It's excellent!

And yeah I saw the sequel had come out, it's pretty much gracing the store window displays of all the Chapters/Indigo's in Toronto right now and is what prompted me to finally settle in to read the first book. I've not at all been disappointed. I love a historical generations, multi-familial tale like this.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 24 September 2012 - 01:28 PM

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

I've been reading several of the Angry Robot offerings lately. Some of them are duds, but three worth mentioning, so far:

The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar

A steampunk story about a London ruled by alien lizards; includes a cast composed of circa 1800s fictional characters.

The World House by Guy Adams

Self-explanatory title - a house that contains worlds, and various characters trapped therein.

These first two were a bit unfocused and I found it sometimes hard to keep track of all that was going on. But at the very least, they are great pulp-fictiony beach reads.

The best of the lot was:

City Of Dreams & Nightmare by Ian Whates

Another sort of steampunk-ish novel about a multilevel city, and starring orphans, thieves, guards, and assassins. Also, more alien lizard people! Dangit, I love me some alien lizards! How can anyone pass that up?

Just started The Passage by Justin Cronin and The Way Of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, and I am jazzed about both of these, based on all the positive things I've heard.

[worry]

Finished Soldier's Son trilogy...slow and steady wins the race!

Now I'm 50 pages into Forge of Darkness. Trying not to neglect the rest of my life to speed through it.

[Orlion]

worrywort, on 25 September 2012 - 09:00 PM, said:

Now I'm 50 pages into Forge of Darkness. Trying not to neglect the rest of my life to speed through it.

It's like a fine wine. You have to hold it up to the light, admire its color, sample its bouquet, let it breath... taste it, breathing in as it rolls off your tongue.... realize the analogy has broken down, and get to reading it...

[QuickTidal]

Anyone wondering if they should read Follet's FALL OF GIANTS...DO IT.

I seriously CANNOT put this book down. Have not been this immersed in a book in a long while...(probably since SHADOW OF THE WIND).

All the plotlines are splendidly entertaining, but I find myself totally enthralled by the portions in Russia showing the events that lead up to the 1917 Storming of the Winter Palace and the Bolshevik revolution.

Man, this guys just makes this stuff come alive!

[Hound]

QuickTidal, on 26 September 2012 - 01:02 PM, said:

Anyone wondering if they should read Follet's FALL OF GIANTS...DO IT.

I seriously CANNOT put this book down. Have not been this immersed in a book in a long while...(probably since SHADOW OF THE WIND).

All the plotlines are splendidly entertaining, but I find myself totally enthralled by the portions in Russia showing the events that lead up to the 1917 Storming of the Winter Palace and the Bolshevik revolution.

Man, this guys just makes this stuff come alive!

Agreed, especially your last line. I wish the history books I've read at school were this interesting and entertaining. History class would have been a hell of a lot less boring Ah well, that's all ancient history (lol) now.

Currently reading WINTER OF THE WORLD by Ken Follett. Just als immersing as part 1 of the trilogy!

[MTS]

QuickTidal, on 26 September 2012 - 01:02 PM, said:

Anyone wondering if they should read Follet's FALL OF GIANTS...DO IT.

I seriously CANNOT put this book down. Have not been this immersed in a book in a long while...(probably since SHADOW OF THE WIND).

All the plotlines are splendidly entertaining, but I find myself totally enthralled by the portions in Russia showing the events that lead up to the 1917 Storming of the Winter Palace and the Bolshevik revolution.

Man, this guys just makes this stuff come alive!

My one complaint about Fall of Giants is that the romances oftentimes seem formulaic and contrived, but it's an otherwise awesome book.

[Serenity]

Haven't done a lot of reading in the last couple of weeks due to having a week away in Chicago. As a result, I waded through Stephen Leather's Hard Landing in fits and starts whilst on holiday - it was a fairly generic thriller - but am now back in the UK and just over halfway through David Gemmell's Stormrider - absolutely loving it.

[amphibian]

Serenity, on 26 September 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:

Haven't done a lot of reading in the last couple of weeks due to having a week away in Chicago. As a result, I waded through Stephen Leather's Hard Landing in fits and starts whilst on holiday - it was a fairly generic thriller - but am now back in the UK and just over halfway through David Gemmell's Stormrider - absolutely loving it.

A week in Chicago? You realize that there are a few board members in that area, right? They're very fun.

[Morgoth]

So I just finished The Apocalypse Codex. I do enjoy the universe, the use of the Cthulhu mythos and the magic system in general.

I have however come to the conclusion that I really don't like Howard --the main protagonist for those of you not yet initiated. The first 30 or so pages of the book is him whining. Whining about having to go to a week long conference so that he can be fast tracked into a leadership position. Whining that he's asked to read a book as briefing for what is made abundantly clear will be a dangerous mission. He whines that he has to wear a suit for a business meeting. He whines that he has to wear a tie for a business meeting. And then he whines over not being allowed to use a tie with a cartoon motief.

I have worked with several Howards and I fucking hated every minute of it. Every change to the status quo --even when clearly for the better-- spawns weeks of whining, complaining and a general oh-woe-is-me attitude. It's all awfull and we should all feel sorry for him.

If I had been his boss I would have stuck him in a broom closet and let him rot for the rest of his career.

[wade]

Forge of Darkness, The Bonehunters, and the God Delusion by Dawkins.

[Otataral Toblakai]

Empire by Feist/Wurtz. Yes, I know I am late to the party.

[acesn8s]

Finished Dead Beat earlier in the week, bye Sue it was a fun ride. Reread of Proven Guilty in progress. Love the elevator conversation and hotel room scene. Poor Harry.

[T77]

Finished Homeland by R.A. Salvatore and was pleasantly surprised by it. I had avoided reading him since I thought it would be generic mass market, cookie cutter fantasy due to be a NYT best seller and writing in the D&D world. I think he's a pretty good writer and will read more of his works.

[End of Disc One]

Okay who here tagged Brandon Sanderson in this picture on facebook

http://www.facebook....&type=1

This has to be someone from this forum

[Defiance]

End of Disc One, on 28 September 2012 - 02:30 AM, said:

Okay who here tagged Brandon Sanderson in this picture on facebook

http://www.facebook....&type=1

This has to be someone from this forum

Out of curiosity, what was the picture? The link is currently down.

Anyway, after much debate I've decided to try reading the Wheel of Time series again. I was thirteen or so the last time I read them and I got all the way up to book 8, but I couldn't make it past page 150 of that.

I'm about halfway through The Eye of the World and, well, I have mixed feelings about it. It's not amazing, but it would be really good if not for a few things that really get under my skin. There are just some mannerisms that are quite silly. For example, Lan comes off as an annoying douche. He's always grumbling or growling (wtf?) or sighing loudly when people move too slow or aren't being quite enough (there was one part where he was making loud noises every time people weren't being quiet since they were being pursued, that one cracked me up). He also loves to leap off of his horse. I guess Jordan wanted Lan to look like a badass since he always leaps off his horse, but it just seems rather silly. Also, some of the dialogue seems a little off.