[Binder of Demons]

I've been doing rereads of a few series while I wait for the latest entries to be released.

Am currently mid-way through the AGENT CORMAC novels by NEAL ASHER. Love the character of Mr. Crane, would love to see him on the big screen

[worry]

Is there an e-reader version of Worm available (preferably epub or mobi)?

[Baco Xtath]

Almost done listening to Kill Decision by Daniel Suarez. Not nearly as good as Daemon or Freedom tm but still pretty good. Stopped about midway through Canticle by Ken Scholes. Just not feeling it for some reason. I liked the world, his prose, but I think I just didn't really care about any of the characters. Anyway, I'll definitely give it another go one day I've just have too much good stuff on deck.

Started reading Hard Luck Hank last night and got about 10% in. It's a little silly. Reminds me of Lobo. Otherwise, it's fun enough that I'll continue.

[amphibian]

worry, on 25 March 2014 - 09:39 PM, said:

Is there an e-reader version of Worm available (preferably epub or mobi)?

The author is still editing the book for future publication, so it's somewhat of a "He doesn't want ebooks to get out, but realizes that he's put essentially the entire book up on the web and the ebooks do exist" situation.

There are fanmade versions of ebooks, but you have to ask people on the Something Awful forums or elsewhere to get 'em. I read the webpages, as it wasn't a big deal for me (each page is a few thousand words and a nice digestible chunk by itself or a couple at a time).

If you can save webpages for reading a few at a time, you can do that. Or if you know how to use scripts to pull pages for off-line reading, there's a Something Awful page that has a script that will do it for you (possibly rearranging the timing of the interludes, which are usually steps out of the main storyline to illuminate something or someone who will feature in the story soon or has already been shown).

[polishgenius]

After finally reading The Wasp Factory (by which I was a bit underwhelmed), I'm onto the third Edda of Burdens book. I like the totally different tone and style taken on in each.

This post has been edited by polishgenius: 26 March 2014 - 07:48 PM

[TheRetiredBridgeburner]

The Book Thief - very impressed so far

This post has been edited by TheRetiredBridgeburner: 26 March 2014 - 07:58 PM

[McLovin]

Finished SHE IS THE DARKNESS - dunno why, it was a bit of a slog for me. Then the end is kind of abrupt, like SHADOW GAMES. Taking a bit of a break before I tackle the last omnibus.

Now onto VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA #1 - ILSE WITCH.

Meanwhile, also still reading DEATH GATE CYCLE #1 - DRAGON WING. I'm really torn on this one. The setting and portions of the story are really interesting, but most of the characters are just grating. Reminds me why I bailed on DRAGONLANCE after the second trilogy. I'll finish the book, but I'm not sure I can take another six books of this.

[Abyss]

McLovin, on 27 March 2014 - 03:19 PM, said:

Finished SHE IS THE DARKNESS - dunno why, it was a bit of a slog for me. Then the end is kind of abrupt, like SHADOW GAMES. Taking a bit of a break before I tackle the last omnibus.

SHE IS is where the series starts to fall apart for me. BLEAK SEASONS was my favorite book of the Black Co., but SHE basically retells the same story from a new perspective and it's al downhil from there.

Quote

Now onto VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA #1 - ILSE WITCH.

I enjoyed this trilo far more than expected. Likely in part due to having had an extended break from Brooks', but even so, something about the quest, the archetypical characters, the little 'modern' twists, it all just came together nicely.

Quote

Meanwhile, also still reading DEATH GATE CYCLE #1 - DRAGON WING. I'm really torn on this one. The setting and portions of the story are really interesting, but most of the characters are just grating. Reminds me why I bailed on DRAGONLANCE after the second trilogy. I'll finish the book, but I'm not sure I can take another six books of this.

It gets better. 1 suffers from some setupicitis. Even with the changes in setting, 2 onwards move at a better pace.
I don't want to spoil anything, and some of the elements of the first book that jar don't entirely go away, but the series does improve steadily, for what that's worth. Not to say you should tough it out if the same things really bug you after 2 tho'.


Still reading HELLBOY and the Marvel Meth. Not likely to break from that before SKIN GAME.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Abyss, on 27 March 2014 - 03:54 PM, said:

McLovin, on 27 March 2014 - 03:19 PM, said:

Finished SHE IS THE DARKNESS - dunno why, it was a bit of a slog for me. Then the end is kind of abrupt, like SHADOW GAMES. Taking a bit of a break before I tackle the last omnibus.

SHE IS is where the series starts to fall apart for me. BLEAK SEASONS was my favorite book of the Black Co., but SHE basically retells the same story from a new perspective and it's al downhil from there.

I think that the last two are some of the best in the series, but only if you have an emotional connection to the characters. Otherwise, they're definitely weaker than the earlier books.

EDIT: So, I guess I'm saying that they are weaker, but they make me feel things, like emotions and stuff, which makes them seem stronger. Especially the bittersweet ending.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 27 March 2014 - 11:34 PM

[amphibian]

I agree that the last two really focused on the feelings, politics and the military matters, as the tactical magic got handed over to a particular party.

I liked it that way. Having One Eye, Goblin and Silent do the same general scams all the time was getting boring.

[worry]

I think Abyss and I have already had words about our differences re: the Glittering Stone books. But I will back him up on that Shannara thing. VotJS was surprisingly entertaining and finally at least somewhat (all things relative with Brooks) breaks the mold. Kinda sorta. And then he followed it up with such a bad trilogy that I finally quit. Maybe once I start going senile I'll go back and read everything after that.

[amphibian]

worry, on 28 March 2014 - 12:33 AM, said:

Maybe once I start going senile I'll go back and read everything after that.

What a nice segue for my most recent read, Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett.

It's not going to be considered "one of the really good ones". Sir Pterry at this point is like a fisherman who can take you to some very good fishing spots, but doesn't come up with the biggest fish (jokes or sly commentary) anywhere near as often as he used to.

There's a shift in Vetinari's character among others, some futzing of the story (specifically how talented Simnel is) to get things going and the footnote/actual story interworkings is slightly off. Basically, this needed a much better editing job and challenging Pratchett to tighten up dialogue or boil things down until they're as succinctly savage as his earlier works constantly display.

At the same time, it's Sir Pterry and the moving of the Discworld into the industrial age. Moist remains fun to read about.

Three and a half out of five for the actual book. Five of five for writing the book while going senile and not abandoning the series entirely or turning it over to someone else.

Sir Pterry is a worldwide treasure and I wish he'd been able to escape the Alzheimer's.

This post has been edited by amphibian: 28 March 2014 - 07:44 AM

[D'rek]

Abyss, on 27 March 2014 - 03:54 PM, said:

Quote

Now onto VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA #1 - ILSE WITCH.

I enjoyed this trilo far more than expected. Likely in part due to laserbeams and elf-cyborgs.

Fixed.

[Abyss]

D, on 28 March 2014 - 03:53 PM, said:

Abyss, on 27 March 2014 - 03:54 PM, said:

Quote

Now onto VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA #1 - ILSE WITCH.

I enjoyed this trilo far more than expected. Likely in part due to laserbeams and elf-cyborgs.

Fixed.

Fixed indeed!

[Coco with marshmallows]

amphibian, on 28 March 2014 - 07:44 AM, said:

Sir Pterry is a worldwide treasure and I wish he'd been able to escape the Alzheimer's.

True, but regarding last two/three books - I have a suspicion that Terry isn't the one doing all the writing any more, I think Rhianna has already started to be honest.

The last couple of books just have an odd 'feeling' to them. Just a suspicion on my part if i'm honest, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise to me if it turned out to be the case.

[amphibian]

I don't think Rhianna is doing the writing. I think what we're seeing is the "raw" Pterry, before he and his editors boiled everything down to bon mots and gloriousness. It's the same thought process and usually the same set ups as veggie, but not as refined.

If it were Rhianna, the logic would be a bit different. Then, again, this is my guesstimates, not based on anything concrete.

[Coco with marshmallows]

amphibian, on 28 March 2014 - 11:28 PM, said:

Then, again, this is my guesstimates, not based on anything concrete.

So is mine though.....

Still, the fact that Pratchett got Alzheimers and Goodkind is fine is a real pisser.

[amphibian]

Wtf was my autocorrect doing changing "usual" to "veggie" in that above post?

I'm reading a couple books right now. One has to do more with self motivation and the other is Grossman's The Magicians, which has started off promising.

[polishgenius]

I don't think Rihanna is doing any writing- I don't think they'd keep that hidden - but keep in mind that Pterry does most of his work by dictation now, which is gonna change the writing and editing process a lot. Raising Steam in particular feels like a novel affected by that - it's almost stream-of-consciousness the way it's set out.

[JPK]

Starting Absolute Sandman Vol 4 and thus new territory in the Sandman universe for me. Also starting Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan.