[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

After a handful of ho-hum Star Wars books, I finally started one that I'm finding immediately engaging: The Joiner King by Troy Denning.

[QuickTidal]

Kruppe, on 26 November 2012 - 06:56 PM, said:

After a handful of ho-hum Star Wars books, I finally started one that I'm finding immediately engaging: The Joiner King by Troy Denning.

Denning is the go-to guy for GOOD SW books.

[Use Of Weapons]

Finished _I Have Waited, And You Have Come_. Man, that was a chore. If it wasn't for the fact that I was reading it for a book club, there's no way I would have finished it. It has all the irritating affectations of self-confessed literary novels, with none of the redeeming depth. Argh.

Just started _Whispers Underground_ by Ben Aaronovitch. Hoping it'll be a palate cleanser. Back to _Blood and Bone_ after that. Or maybe a reread of _Cold Days_.

[Serenity]

Since my last visit . . .

Finished Bitter Seeds - brilliant (the next book isn't out in the UK until February, mwaaah!)

Safe House by Chris Ewan - run-fo-the-mill thriller set on the Isle of Man (Kindle cheapie, so no complaints)

David Gemmell's Troy trilogy - Lord of the Silver Bow, Shield of Thunder, and now on the last one, Fall of Kings.

[T77]

There has been a bit of discussion about Butcher's Codex Alera series here recently. I pulled the first book off of my TBR pile prior to this and just finished it. It started off okay but it fizzled about a third of the way through to the point where I had to push myself to finish it. The general consensus is that it gets much better after the first book. At some point I'll try the second book. But, I don't have too much hope as I found this one kind of laughable, it was like it was written by a high school student.

[Abyss]

Use Of Weapons, on 26 November 2012 - 08:41 PM, said:

...Just started _Whispers Underground_ by Ben Aaronovitch. ...

Come to the ded-thread when you're done. Am curious what you think of it.

Serenity, on 27 November 2012 - 01:48 PM, said:

Since my last visit . . .

Finished Bitter Seeds - brilliant (the next book isn't out in the UK until February, mwaaah!)...

Kindle version is out next week, or you could order from amazon.com.

Worth it. Book two is even more of a mindfucker.

T77, on 27 November 2012 - 03:15 PM, said:

There has been a bit of discussion about Butcher's Codex Alera series here recently. I pulled the first book off of my TBR pile ...kind of laughable, it was like it was written by a high school student.

Everything you say is true and but for various forumite reco's I was as sceptical as you were as then some, and almost dropped Bk 2 a few pages in before Butcher throws the first curveball.

My $0.02, go to bk 2 while 1 is still in your brainz and give it 50 pages. If he doesn't have your attention by then, move on.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 27 November 2012 - 03:34 PM, said:

Everything you say is true and but for various forumite reco's I was as sceptical as you were as then some, and almost dropped Bk 2 a few pages in before Butcher throws the first curveball.

My $0.02, go to bk 2 while 1 is still in your brainz and give it 50 pages. If he doesn't have your attention by then, move on.

^^This. A really good recco.

[stone monkey]

Currently reading:

The Fall of Chronopolis by Barrington Bayley
Red Country by Joe Abercrombie
Existence by David Brin

[heretics fork]

QuickTidal said:

1354030577[/url]' post='1012651']

Abyss said:

1354030471[/url]' post='1012650']
Everything you say is true and but for various forumite reco's I was as sceptical as you were as then some, and almost dropped Bk 2 a few pages in before Butcher throws the first curveball.

My $0.02, go to bk 2 while 1 is still in your brainz and give it 50 pages. If he doesn't have your attention by then, move on.

^^This. A really good recco.

Are you guys fucking with us? The first book almost made me give up the English language.
Anyway, I'm finally reading Deadhouse Gates. Yes, I know, I'm a little late to the party but I am loving it. About 100 pages in and it is excellent. GotM was really good but this is an improvement at every level.

This post has been edited by heretics fork: 27 November 2012 - 07:55 PM

[QuickTidal]

heretics fork, on 27 November 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

QuickTidal said:

1354030577[/url]' post='1012651']

Abyss said:

1354030471[/url]' post='1012650']
Everything you say is true and but for various forumite reco's I was as sceptical as you were as then some, and almost dropped Bk 2 a few pages in before Butcher throws the first curveball.

My $0.02, go to bk 2 while 1 is still in your brainz and give it 50 pages. If he doesn't have your attention by then, move on.

^^This. A really good recco.

Are you guys fucking with us? The first book almost made me give up the English language.

Not at all. The first book definitely reads like typical farmboy on a quest fantasy (and I gave up on it not once, but twice before getting through it)....but books 2-6 ramp up with Butcher/Dresden style and in book 2 Butcher nearly immediately switches up the status quo and the world building is blown wide open. You gotta remember that Butcher's writing grew as he wrote the Dresden files...and the 1st FURIES book was written in 2003 at the same time as FOOL MOON...and the writing in that wasn't all that great either, but he got better and better as the Dresden Files went on...the same is true of the Codex Alera. The first book is so bad that when I re-read the series the first time, I simply re-read 2-6 and didn't bother with 1.

We aren't messing with you, the rest of the series is about a hundred times better.

[amphibian]

heretics fork, on 27 November 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

Are you guys fucking with us? The first book almost made me give up the English language.
Anyway, I'm finally reading Deadhouse Gates. Yes, I know, I'm a little late to the party but I am loving it. About 100 pages in and it is excellent. GotM was really good but this is an improvement at every level.

You've been a member since late 2010! How is it that you're getting round to DG now? Stayed for the community?

Also Jim Butcher got the literary equivalent of steroids in between 1999 and 2001. Just jumped up several levels in those two years and has steadily improved at a good pace since then.

This post has been edited by amphibian: 27 November 2012 - 08:35 PM

[heretics fork]

amphibian said:

1354048389[/url]' post='1012977']

heretics fork said:

1354045998[/url]' post='1012947']Are you guys fucking with us? The first book almost made me give up the English language.
Anyway, I'm finally reading Deadhouse Gates. Yes, I know, I'm a little late to the party but I am loving it. About 100 pages in and it is excellent. GotM was really good but this is an improvement at every level.

You've been a member since late 2010! How is it that you're getting round to DG now? Stayed for the community?

Also Jim Butcher got the literary equivalent of steroids in between 1999 and 2001. Just jumped up several levels in those two years and has steadily improved at a good pace since then.

I joined when I made my first attempt at GotM. As you can see by my post count, I've been mostly lurking. I finally decided to renew my efforts earlier this year.
You guys have me on the fence now about the Alera books. Luckily I have about 13000 pages of Malazan before I have to make up my mind.

[Stalker]

Agreed! Seriously, books 3-5 of the Codex Alera are excellent, with book 6 being only slightly less so.


I'm currently reading filler books while I wait on Cold Days / Blood and Bone to come in the mail. Just started Stina Leicht's Of Blood and Honey, so I'll see how it goes. Nightshade Books had been doing holiday promotions for their debut authors by giving out free ebooks, so no loss if it isn't great

This post has been edited by Stalker: 27 November 2012 - 09:46 PM

[Serenity]

Abyss, on 27 November 2012 - 03:34 PM, said:

Serenity, on 27 November 2012 - 01:48 PM, said:

Since my last visit . . .

Finished Bitter Seeds - brilliant (the next book isn't out in the UK until February, mwaaah!)...

Kindle version is out next week, or you could order from amazon.com.

Worth it. Book two is even more of a mindfucker.

Ooh, I might get it on Kindle, thanks - although I like the UK paperback cover designs, so kind of want to get them all in that style

[Morgoth]

Although I enjoyed the Codex books I wouldn't go so far as to describe them as excellent. Decent, fast paced fun for sure, but apart from some stunning scenes they are quite ordinary. Not much in the way of interesting characters, but filled with Butcher's easy, humours style.

So, don't expect to be blown away, but it'll be fun all the same.

[polishgenius]

Morgoth, on 28 November 2012 - 12:01 PM, said:

Although I enjoyed the Codex books I wouldn't go so far as to describe them as excellent. Decent, fast paced fun for sure, but apart from some stunning scenes they are quite ordinary. Not much in the way of interesting characters, but filled with Butcher's easy, humours style.

So, don't expect to be blown away, but it'll be fun all the same.

I actually thought most of the supporting characters were pretty good, but that was countered by the stunning dreadfulness of Tavi as the lead.

The other main problem I had with it though is that shit just happens too fast. There's no real time to feel the impact of one big huge thing before the next one happens and it all just gets a bit relentless.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 28 November 2012 - 02:06 PM, said:

Morgoth, on 28 November 2012 - 12:01 PM, said:

Although I enjoyed the Codex books I wouldn't go so far as to describe them as excellent. Decent, fast paced fun for sure, but apart from some stunning scenes they are quite ordinary. Not much in the way of interesting characters, but filled with Butcher's easy, humours style.

So, don't expect to be blown away, but it'll be fun all the same.

I actually thought most of the supporting characters were pretty good, but that was countered by the stunning dreadfulness of Tavi as the lead.

The other main problem I had with it though is that shit just happens too fast. There's no real time to feel the impact of one big huge thing before the next one happens and it all just gets a bit relentless.

Don't complain cause you're a wussy about relentlessly paced books PG.

[T77]

Thanks for the Alera comments. I will finish book 2 before I decide whether to finish the series. Unfortunately I am knee deep in Cook's Instrumentalities, I want to finish the 3 books since I think the fourth is due out soon. And seeing that Blood and Bone is released outside the US I want to catch up on ICE and read SW and OST. Maybe I can sneak in the second Alera book on audiobook. Too many books, too little time...

[JPK]

Well shit. I have a dilemma. Bitter Seeds, Cold Days, Red Country, AND Blood And Bone all came in the mail today. Too much to choose from!

[Ukjent]

Thats a real problem. I have to check out this Jim Butcher soon.