[QuickTidal]

Finished the TEMPLARS non-fiction book. It was really good entry level stuff...until the last section where the author spoke about the Templars in fiction, where he turned into a huge smug asshole for 50 pages. Seriously, I doubt you could find a smarmier jerk in all of North America. That was offputting. The rest of the book is fine though.

Either doing a re-read of ELFSTONES OF SHANNARA next or going to start CIBOLA BURN.

[Tattersail_]

I am on chapter 9. I love it. I hate Regal with a passion, I want to morph into the story, because an amazing assassin and just take him out. Little weasel. I love the Queen in waiting, and the Fool is always awesome. Why can't Fitz listen to Burrich's advice on The Wit and bonding animals. It pisses me off because he is an intelligent boy/young man, and leans in every other aspect of his life except that one. Although just by saying that, he is a bit crap around women, but that has been explained. Anyway, cannot wait to keep reading. (Nothing really happened in the first book, nor this one but I want to read on, and I am happy enough reading all about it)

[Tiste Simeon]

QuickTidal, on 16 July 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

Finished the TEMPLARS non-fiction book. It was really good entry level stuff...until the last section where the author spoke about the Templars in fiction, where he turned into a huge smug asshole for 50 pages. Seriously, I doubt you could find a smarmier jerk in all of North America. That was offputting. The rest of the book is fine though.

Either doing a re-read of ELFSTONES OF SHANNARA next or going to start CIBOLA BURN.

Well if he is slagging off some of the fiction about the Templars, in particular Jack White's Knights of the Black & White trilogy, he may have a point. They were terrible books.

[QuickTidal]

Tisteon Simeonus, on 16 July 2014 - 10:47 AM, said:

QuickTidal, on 16 July 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

Finished the TEMPLARS non-fiction book. It was really good entry level stuff...until the last section where the author spoke about the Templars in fiction, where he turned into a huge smug asshole for 50 pages. Seriously, I doubt you could find a smarmier jerk in all of North America. That was offputting. The rest of the book is fine though.

Well if he is slagging off some of the fiction about the Templars, in particular Jack White's Knights of the Black & White trilogy, he may have a point. They were terrible books.

Coincidentally he did NOT mention Whyte's trilogy (which I agree with you was perfectly AWFUL!)...but he did mention Robyn Young's BRETHREN trilogy, a series I find well crafted and informed with a believable "treasure" the Templar's possessed and a really solid character-driven tale. And his comments on it were to explain what happens in each book in short, and add the snarky words "...and love and angst" or something along those lines to the end of each description. As if to say that it such things didn't BELONG in a Templar book...forgetting (I think) that Young's series is historical fiction. He speaks on movies, and gets right up in Ridley Scott's face about KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (which Ridley has always maintained was an amalgam of Crusader tales crafted into a story about Saladin's 1178 siege and conquer of Jerusalem and nothing more), he complains about how Guy De Lusignan and the Templars are painted as evil in the story, and Gerard De Ridefort (grand master at the time) is painted in a terrible light. Meanwhile earlier in his own book he talks about how there are conflicting stories about De Ridefort at the battle at the Horns Of Hattin...he complains how Ridley made Saladin too sympathetic and not cold enough...meanwhile earlier in his book he talks about how though Saladin could be cold and brutal, he also held to the Muslim nobility equivalent of Chivalry as well and really WAS sympathetic in a lot of ways.

It was his choice of words with how he dealt with them in fiction that urked me. He was derisive of nearly ALL Templar representation in fiction. Which makes me think he's one of those people who would complain about anything historical that is not word for word like a textbook.

[QuickTidal]

Tattersail_, on 16 July 2014 - 10:44 AM, said:

I am on chapter 9. I love it. I hate Regal with a passion, I want to morph into the story, because an amazing assassin and just take him out. Little weasel. I love the Queen in waiting, and the Fool is always awesome. Why can't Fitz listen to Burrich's advice on The Wit and bonding animals. It pisses me off because he is an intelligent boy/young man, and leans in every other aspect of his life except that one. Although just by saying that, he is always really crap around women, but that has been explained. Anyway, cannot wait to keep reading. (Nothing really happened in the first book, nor this one but I want to read on, and I am happy enough reading all about it)

Fixed that for ya.

[McLovin]

QuickTidal, on 16 July 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

Seriously, I doubt you could find a smarmier jerk in all of North America.

Newt Gingrich. No one will ever claim his throne as the fucking Prince of Darkness. Discussion over.

Anyhoos, about halfway through A CAVERN OF BLACK ICE by JV Jones. It's kind of a slow build, but the characters and setting are interesting.

[QuickTidal]

McLovin, on 16 July 2014 - 01:21 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 16 July 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

Seriously, I doubt you could find a smarmier jerk in all of North America.

Newt Gingrich. No one will ever claim his throne as the fucking Prince of Darkness. Discussion over.

I stand corrected.

McLovin, on 16 July 2014 - 01:21 PM, said:

Anyhoos, about halfway through A CAVERN OF BLACK ICE by JV Jones. It's kind of a slow build, but the characters and setting are interesting.

I never got past about page 100, let me know if it finishes strong as I might go back to it one day.

[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 16 July 2014 - 10:23 AM, said:

Seriously, I doubt you could find a smarmier jerk in all of North America.

Why, has Piers Morgan come back to England?

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 16 July 2014 - 01:26 PM, said:

...

McLovin, on 16 July 2014 - 01:21 PM, said:

Anyhoos, about halfway through A CAVERN OF BLACK ICE by JV Jones. It's kind of a slow build, but the characters and setting are interesting.

I never got past about page 100, let me know if it finishes strong as I might go back to it one day.

Decent end, long slog to get there. Didn't find the second book any better. Stopped there.

[stone monkey]

Stormcat, on 15 July 2014 - 08:37 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 15 July 2014 - 10:55 AM, said:

Stormcat, on 15 July 2014 - 06:03 AM, said:

I loved the Liveship books. You can skip them but why would you? The Soldiers son was very grim and it took awhile to get to the point but I enjoyed it. I can't wait for the new Fitz book! I just got Half a King so I will start on that tonight. I am super excited that Abercrombie will be here on the 29th. Hopefully it won't be as crowded as the Butcher book signing.

Oh sweet, you're meeting Abercrombie? Enjoy! That would be super cool.

Yes! I am super excited. I got the new First Law graphic novel I will ask him to sign. I am lucky I live in the L.A. area so a lot of authors stop here on their tours.
As for reading so much... I HAVE to read every day. I always have one Book and one audio book going at all times. I also have some textbooks I read daily. I usually work night shift which is either crazy busy or completely dead so I often have hour a free to read.

I've met Abercrombie twice now. You'll enjoy the experience, I think, he's a very funny and charming guy in person. And he swears a lot less than you'd probably expect.

[Tiste Simeon]

QT, like you I was really interested in Templar history. Jack Whyte put me off that and I haven't looked back.

PG, have to agree with you Piers must be up there. I really hope the yanks keep him...

[MTS]

Finished The Crimson Campaign a few days ago. I'm enjoying this series, I just wish he would stop inserting what seem like amateurish and unbelievable elements into his story. Ka-poel for instance,

Spoiler

who I thought was a nice character who succeeds because establishment sorcerers aren't aware of what her magic does/is capable of (a point which McClellan stressed strongly in the first book), is suddenly an uber-sorcerer who can take down gods. Fell and Vetas were graduates from the same, uber-secret training academy that no one has ever heard of. Taniel and Tamas are for no explained reason way stronger than everyone else, and destroy all in their path, to the point where the new 'Black Wardens' are a completely trivial threat to them, and reading any of their combat scenes was yawn-inducing. A random washer-woman is the only Privileged in the world who can touch the Else without gloves. This is not to mention the fact that everyone in Kez is a horrendous human being who eats people, except for one of the royal family, who conveniently is actually not that bad a guy, him and Tamas might even become friends! Meanwhile everyone in Adro is generally awesome, skilled and a nice person.

None of those things are bad in and of themselves, mind you, but the lack of depth in his world-building and magic systems make it seem like these things are made up on the fly. Story-wise there's no reason to believe that Ka-poel is any different from any other Bone-eye. But she is. Reason? Who the fuck knows. But she's badass, ok? So just go with it.

I'll keep reading, but I'm not going to pick up the next one immediately.

[Baco Xtath]

Halfway through Causal Angel audiobook. Absolutely pissed that they switched narrators. This new guy didn't even listen to the previous installments cause he pronounces everything different. I'll make it through but every mispronunciation, I'm jarred right out of the story.

[Andorion]

MTS, on 17 July 2014 - 01:02 AM, said:

Finished The Crimson Campaign a few days ago. I'm enjoying this series, I just wish he would stop inserting what seem like amateurish and unbelievable elements into his story. Ka-poel for instance,

Spoiler

who I thought was a nice character who succeeds because establishment sorcerers aren't aware of what her magic does/is capable of (a point which McClellan stressed strongly in the first book), is suddenly an uber-sorcerer who can take down gods. Fell and Vetas were graduates from the same, uber-secret training academy that no one has ever heard of. Taniel and Tamas are for no explained reason way stronger than everyone else, and destroy all in their path, to the point where the new 'Black Wardens' are a completely trivial threat to them, and reading any of their combat scenes was yawn-inducing. A random washer-woman is the only Privileged in the world who can touch the Else without gloves. This is not to mention the fact that everyone in Kez is a horrendous human being who eats people, except for one of the royal family, who conveniently is actually not that bad a guy, him and Tamas might even become friends! Meanwhile everyone in Adro is generally awesome, skilled and a nice person.

None of those things are bad in and of themselves, mind you, but the lack of depth in his world-building and magic systems make it seem like these things are made up on the fly. Story-wise there's no reason to believe that Ka-poel is any different from any other Bone-eye. But she is. Reason? Who the fuck knows. But she's badass, ok? So just go with it.

I'll keep reading, but I'm not going to pick up the next one immediately.

If I remember correctly, the reason for Taniel being so strong comes from his encounter with the god. There was some crossover of power or something. Ka-poel does seem very strong, but there isn't another Bone-eye in the book to compare her against.

[MTS]

Andorion, on 17 July 2014 - 05:04 AM, said:

MTS, on 17 July 2014 - 01:02 AM, said:

Finished The Crimson Campaign a few days ago. I'm enjoying this series, I just wish he would stop inserting what seem like amateurish and unbelievable elements into his story. Ka-poel for instance,

Spoiler

who I thought was a nice character who succeeds because establishment sorcerers aren't aware of what her magic does/is capable of (a point which McClellan stressed strongly in the first book), is suddenly an uber-sorcerer who can take down gods. Fell and Vetas were graduates from the same, uber-secret training academy that no one has ever heard of. Taniel and Tamas are for no explained reason way stronger than everyone else, and destroy all in their path, to the point where the new 'Black Wardens' are a completely trivial threat to them, and reading any of their combat scenes was yawn-inducing. A random washer-woman is the only Privileged in the world who can touch the Else without gloves. This is not to mention the fact that everyone in Kez is a horrendous human being who eats people, except for one of the royal family, who conveniently is actually not that bad a guy, him and Tamas might even become friends! Meanwhile everyone in Adro is generally awesome, skilled and a nice person.

None of those things are bad in and of themselves, mind you, but the lack of depth in his world-building and magic systems make it seem like these things are made up on the fly. Story-wise there's no reason to believe that Ka-poel is any different from any other Bone-eye. But she is. Reason? Who the fuck knows. But she's badass, ok? So just go with it.

I'll keep reading, but I'm not going to pick up the next one immediately.

If I remember correctly, the reason for Taniel being so strong comes from his encounter with the god. There was some crossover of power or something.

Or something, exactly. The what, how and why of it is barely mentioned at all. The reader cannot infer with any certainty what happened because the author never makes it clear.

That doesn't explain Tamas either, because

Spoiler

Vlora specifically states Taniel and Tamas were always faster and stronger than everyone else. McClellan hinted that maybe he's just in a higher tier of powder magery than everyone else (a la Privileged-Marked-Knacked) but he never expands on it. It's just a throwaway concept halfway through the book that never gets mentioned again, which is what bothers me. The main characters just happen to be superior than everyone else because they're special, and belong to a higher tier of powder magery that no one noticed before. It just smacks of lazy, convenient storytelling.

Quote

Ka-poel does seem very strong, but there isn't another Bone-eye in the book to compare her against.

Spoiler

True, but that defense holds less water when you realise she's a self-trained child. Why does she have so much innate power? Why isn't Fatrasta a continental power if their sorcerers are anything like Ka-poel? I'm fine with it as a plot device, what irks me is that it's never explained. It reads as if she's powerful just so she can have badass scenes, rather than her power making sense within the plot.

Spoiler'd just in case.

This post has been edited by MTS: 17 July 2014 - 07:18 AM

[QuickTidal]

Tisteon Simeonus, on 16 July 2014 - 08:03 PM, said:

QT, like you I was really interested in Templar history. Jack Whyte put me off that and I haven't looked back.

Don't let Whyte's books stop you...Out of all the Templar fiction I've read, Robyn Young's trilogy is unarguably the best and well worth checking out.

[Macros]

Finsihed Gallow: crimson shield.
kind of meh by the end of it, kind of regret buying all 3 now

[Coco with marshmallows]

yeah, agreed.

I ended up reading all 3, but by the end it was more for the sake of finishing them than out of any great enjoyment i was getting.

[worry]

I finished the John Waters book. It was decent and entertaining but a little underwhelming during the nonfiction portion. The Worst Case Scenario novella was really the highlight.

Now I'm a chapter into Best Served Cold. Interesting to see the addition of a dramatis personae! It's been a long while since I read the trilogy so it wasn't unwelcome.

[End of Disc One]

BSC had a dramatis personae?