[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 17 December 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

Noted.
Relatedly, If you haven't read the 7 BROTHERS yet you owe it to yourself to find the first collection.
The second was weaker, just ok, but the first.... it's a modern urban fantasy actioner comic, written by John Woo... yes, THAT John Woo... think big-screen, unlimitted budget... ninjas and magic and sorcerors and pure holydragonballsfuck glory.

I've not read that yet, but I loved Woo's ONCE A THIEF concept which was one of the best things on Canadian television and was underrated.

Will hunt this comic out.

Also RE: Hearne...defo light and fluffy, but ultimately lots of fun.

[rhulad]

QuickTidal, on 17 December 2012 - 04:48 PM, said:

Abyss, on 17 December 2012 - 04:44 PM, said:

Noted.
Relatedly, If you haven't read the 7 BROTHERS yet you owe it to yourself to find the first collection.
The second was weaker, just ok, but the first.... it's a modern urban fantasy actioner comic, written by John Woo... yes, THAT John Woo... think big-screen, unlimitted budget... ninjas and magic and sorcerors and pure holydragonballsfuck glory.

I've not read that yet, but I loved Woo's ONCE A THIEF concept which was one of the best things on Canadian television and was underrated.

Will hunt this comic out.

Also RE: Hearne...defo light and fluffy, but ultimately lots of fun.

I loved ONCE A THEIF. Must read this comic as well. After COLD DAYS which will be after I finish the ALERIA series. Started PRINCEPS' FURY yesterday.

[Mentalist]

One day later....

Finished "Prince of Thorns". Good, but not mindblowing. Call me a cynic if you must, but I didn't find it all that "dark and edgy". Yes, the main char/narrator is a lovable, amoral, self-indulgent sociopath, but aside from that it's pretty standard. The post-apoc setting was nice, and the whole notion of

Spoiler

magic people using so-called "nobles" as pawns

was intriguing, though not new. I'd like to see more, but it's not a "must read now" for me.

Also, read the last Iron Elves book. It's a bit all over the place and doesn't quite match up the second volume, but still good. Has some nice setpieces (you don't often read about toboggans in fantasy lit), and is generally lighter in tone than what I usually read (actually, it seemed much lighter after the last volume, but that's I guess because the theme of this one was "hope"), but still, fairly enjoyable trilogy, all in all.

Next up--probably "Birth of the Mage" in my Perumov re-read. Maybe "The Ragged Man" (Tom Lloyd's 4th Twilight Reign book") after that

[Primateus]

So I finished the first book, Dauntless, in Jack Campbells series "Lost Fleet" yesterday evening and I'm now two thirds through the second book, Fearless.

It. Is. Awesome!

To put it mildly.

This is serious well thought out Military SciFi with a great story and awesome descriptions of fleet combat and completely different from what we see on tv and, I don't hesitate to guess, in other works of fiction.

I've NEVER seen the use of actual relativistic combat in other stories by other authors. And it works, oh boy does it work! It's actually far more compelling and exciting than the fast and loose action you'd see in, say, Starwars/trek/gate/whatever.

Now I only wish I didn't have to wait until after new years for the next 4 books.

I highly recommend you pick up this series, it is WELL worth the cost and the time.

[QuickTidal]

Primateus, on 18 December 2012 - 04:24 PM, said:

So I finished the first book, Dauntless, in Jack Campbells series "Lost Fleet" yesterday evening and I'm now two thirds through the second book, Fearless.

It. Is. Awesome!

To put it mildly.

This is serious well thought out Military SciFi with a great story and awesome descriptions of fleet combat and completely different from what we see on tv and, I don't hesitate to guess, in other works of fiction.

I've NEVER seen the use of actual relativistic combat in other stories by other authors. And it works, oh boy does it work! It's actually far more compelling and exciting than the fast and loose action you'd see in, say, Starwars/trek/gate/whatever.

Now I only wish I didn't have to wait until after new years for the next 4 books.

I highly recommend you pick up this series, it is WELL worth the cost and the time.

This was already on my radar as a number of people (including Felicia Day apparently) totally rave about this series...and as such the first book is on my Christmas List this year. Looking forward to reading it!

Good to hear that it holds up to the rather stellar praise. Thanks for letting us know!

Excited.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 18 December 2012 - 04:57 PM

[JPK]

Mentalist, on 17 December 2012 - 06:41 PM, said:

Finished "Prince of Thorns". Good, but not mindblowing. Call me a cynic if you must, but I didn't find it all that "dark and edgy". Yes, the main char/narrator is a lovable, amoral, self-indulgent sociopath, but aside from that it's pretty standard. The post-apoc setting was nice, and the whole notion of

Spoiler

magic people using so-called "nobles" as pawns

was intriguing, though not new. I'd like to see more, but it's not a "must read now" for me.

Mentalist, I was in the same boat with Prince of Thorns, and as such, held off on reading King of Thorns for several months after it was published. I wish I hadn't. King was much better written and the story was much more gripping. Enough to bump Emperor of Thorns to preorder for me anyways.

[Ukjent]

Finished fool moon last night, and now its over to Grave Peril, witch will be the last dresdenbook for this year.

[Primateus]

I just finished the second Lost Fleet book, "Fearless" and it just keeps getting better.

It's clear to me that Jack Campbell has done his homework before writing these books because the attention to detail regarding physics and theoretical spacecombat is amazing. And it, as I mentioned in my earlier post, makes the books all the more exciting and compelling for the simple reason, to me at least, that it gives the books a taste of it actually being possible.

As with any writer he does make mistakes, but the very few I have noticed detracts in no way from the quality and gripping feel of the story.

This is without a doubt the best scifi, or SF if any of you adhere to that (in my opinion) silly distinction, I have ever read.

Again, I highly recommend you pick these books up and read them as soon as possible.

This post has been edited by Primateus: 19 December 2012 - 03:24 PM

[Mentalist]

I picked up and read "Age of Ra" by James Lovegrove.
The setting was neat (Egyptian gods defeat all other gods on Earth and inherit the Earth. It's split between them, with everyone getting a chunk and they use people to settle their rivalries). As I've mentioned elsethread, the focus seems to be on a core group of characters, rather than an epic, world-spanning plot, and this may go against people's expectations with an idea like this. Once you get rid of preconceived expectations and take this novel for what it's worth, though, it's a nice, fast-paced read with some interesting twists. I like it enough to want to pick up "Age of Zeus"a nd "Age of Odin"

Also, chugging along in my Perumov re-read, finished "Birth of the Mage", the first of the "Keeper of the Swords" books, which is a direct sequel to "Diamond sword, Wooden sword". As I remembered, this book is weaker, serving to set up the new world setting more than anything else. Too much stuff happening with 0 explanations, and the fact that the main char is suffering from amnesia--that most cliche of "how do we slow the plot down?" devices doesn't help.

Still, the book presents a new way to view necromancers--not as the highly evil "source of all the plot's woes"-type, but rather as persecuted craftsmen, who are the only ones capable of subduing the risen dead, using the Darkness' own power against it. Similar to The Witcher (and this seems to be a common theme in Eastern fantasy lit), there's a lot of focus on the idea of "lesser evil"--doing what's wrong in order to prevent a much bigger evil. While this isn't necessarily enough on its own, combined with the strength of the previous book, it's enough to make the read enjoyable, with the promise of more awesomeness to come.

Next up, not sure. I have Tom Lloyd's "Ragged Man" sitting on my shelf, and after surprisingly strong volume 3 "Grave Thief", I want to read it. I've also got more Perumov. And, for something completely different, I'm considering digging into some Michael Moorcock Eternal Champion stuff. I fancy trying to do a full read of that sequence (though probably just novels, not short stories) in the near future.

[Ukjent]

Ever bin unable to go to sleep before you finished the chapter, or the hole book if its less den 100 pages left? That was how i felt when I trying to go to sleep about 02.00 last night, but no. Sleep would not come for me, so now I done with Grave Peril and left wondering what on earth shall I read now.

[Use Of Weapons]

Graablick, on 20 December 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

Ever bin unable to go to sleep before you finished the chapter, or the hole book if its less den 100 pages left? That was how i felt when I trying to go to sleep about 02.00 last night, but no. Sleep would not come for me, so now I done with Grave Peril and left wondering what on earth shall I read now.

I suggest _Summer Knight_ *grins evilly*

[Abyss]

Use Of Weapons, on 20 December 2012 - 12:38 PM, said:

Graablick, on 20 December 2012 - 12:34 PM, said:

Ever bin unable to go to sleep before you finished the chapter, or the hole book if its less den 100 pages left? That was how i felt when I trying to go to sleep about 02.00 last night, but no. Sleep would not come for me, so now I done with Grave Peril and left wondering what on earth shall I read now.

I suggest _Summer Knight_ *grins evilly*

THAT^

[Defiance]

Having successfully plodded my way through The Eye of the World, I'm moving on to The Great Hunt this evening.

[Studlock]

Reading through the first Acacia book which I am enjoying. Enjoy a lot of the characters, and writing seems to rely on telling more than showing but in a good way. Instead of a book long travelogue of showing you the amazing lands he will give it to you in a well written paragraph moving the plot and keeping the characters the stars of the book. Also surprising is the deft touch of social issue both current and that make sense in context. The impact of imperialism is felt throughout the book and it has one the better descriptions of an addict in any fantasy book I've ever read. I haven't finished it yet but I really looking forward to how the conclusion will play out. Will it be the same old genocide of the enemy (I really doubt it) or something completely different? The ending might ruin it for me but so far I would recommend it. As an aside it feels something like a reconstruction of the epic fantasy. Or rather a more idealistic response to the out-of-control romanticism of early works compared to the more pessimistic response such as the works of Joe Abercrombie and the like. A good change of pace anyway.

[Obdigore]

Defiance, on 20 December 2012 - 08:54 PM, said:

Having successfully plodded my way through The Eye of the World, I'm moving on to The Great Hunt this evening.

If you think you 'plodded' through EotW, I can't wait to see your comments on Crossroads of Twilight. (I think that was the one?).

I tried to find all my Jordan books and all I can find is Path of Daggers and Crossroads of Twilight. I need to finish the series, and I need to remember whats going on so I need to reread... but I really don't want to purchase nearly all the old books again.

[Ukjent]

1/3 trought the den of thieves, but I think thats enough for me and perhaps move over to a reread of the sarantium tapestry.

[Abyss]

Graablick, on 21 December 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

1/3 trought the den of thieves, but I think thats enough for me and perhaps move over to a reread of the sarantium tapestry.

Yah i wanted to like it, i really did, and in the end i read all three in the series since i brought it on vacation, but ultimately i could only give it a 'decent'.


Finished Hearn's HOUNDED. It has flaws, some of them glaring, but overall it was an entertaining fast urban fantasy read, fun enough for me to proceed to the second Iron Druid book, HEXED.

[Salt-Man Z]

Finished Moorcock's The Eternal Champion omnibus (the US White Wolf version) and it was great:

The title story was fantastic. Loved loved LOVED it.
The Sundered Worlds didn't do anything for me, and wasn't more than tangentally-related to anything else in the book.
Phoenix in Obsidian, continuing off the first story, was great as well.
To Rescue Tanelorn, a related short story at the end, was okay. It had a vaguely Dunsanian feel, but wasn't anything special.

The two Erekose stories are totally worth it, though.

[Nocturnal]

Just started Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan. Actually, I stormed through 100+ pages in a night, the concept of "sleeves" is so very interesting. I'm not a fan of science fiction/futuristic books, but I find it hard to put this one down.

[D'rek]

Finished FoD. While I didn't think it was necessarily bad, I found a lot of it really repetitive/tedious and also have severe worries about it damaging certain parts of MBotF. Full response in the appropriate thread...

...on the other hand, I'm 100 or so pages into Blood and Bone and enjoying it immensely!

This post has been edited by D'rek: 22 December 2012 - 05:36 AM