[amphibian]

Nah, there's almost always a point to rishata. The Ringworld stuff is one of the influential precursors to Iain Banks and Alistair Reynolds - the space/aliens/far future milieu with a bunch of science and science-y stuff put in without slipping into being pure info-dump like Neal Stephenson is prone to doing.

I think I actually started the series with the prequel Fleet of Worlds (which is about exactly that - aliens so technologically powerful that they've rigged up a set of planets to be their spaceships). My uncle gave it to my mother for some weird reason - I don't think she ever actually read it, but I did. So once I'd finished that book, I went to read the original Ringworlds Niven wrote solo and then returned to the Niven/Lerner books.

[acesn8s]

Lord Gator, on 31 July 2014 - 04:17 AM, said:

Oh. So it is to pornish or just awkward and pointless?

Not pornish, thank goodness. Rishata is the way many/most cultures on the Ringworld create alliances or close trading sessions. So, every time a new species of hominid is introduced I get to read about how or if they can rish with the other species (some are too big or small, some only do it under water, etc). Plus there's a vampire species whose pheromones induce the other hominids to lose all control (for the most part).

[QuickTidal]

acesn8s, on 31 July 2014 - 12:12 PM, said:

Lord Gator, on 31 July 2014 - 04:17 AM, said:

Oh. So it is to pornish or just awkward and pointless?

Not pornish, thank goodness. Rishata is the way many/most cultures on the Ringworld create alliances or close trading sessions. So, every time a new species of hominid is introduced I get to read about how or if they can rish with the other species (some are too big or small, some only do it under water, etc). Plus there's a vampire species whose pheromones induce the other hominids to lose all control (for the most part).

What kind of space porn are you people reading?

[acesn8s]

QuickTidal, on 31 July 2014 - 01:01 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 31 July 2014 - 12:12 PM, said:

Lord Gator, on 31 July 2014 - 04:17 AM, said:

Oh. So it is to pornish or just awkward and pointless?

Not pornish, thank goodness. Rishata is the way many/most cultures on the Ringworld create alliances or close trading sessions. So, every time a new species of hominid is introduced I get to read about how or if they can rish with the other species (some are too big or small, some only do it under water, etc). Plus there's a vampire species whose pheromones induce the other hominids to lose all control (for the most part).

What kind of space porn are you people reading?

It's not like we're reading Piers Anthony!

[Traveller]

Reading 'Whispers Underground.'

I'm really enjoying this series, bit Dresdenish, nice humour, and it's close to home which makes a change. I know London pretty well, and Grant even makes trips out to places I know round where I'm currently living. Adds a bit of realism to the whole thing.

Also has just the right amount of magic and weird and creepy stuff without overdoing it.

[Kruppe's snacky cakes]

Some e-book GN's:

133. Abyss Volume 1 by Kevin Rubio - Unwitting son of a supervillain inherits his father's organization.

134. The Beast of Wolfe's Bay by Erik A. Evensen

135. Breathe by John Sheridan

136. Chibi Vampire, Vol. 1 by Yuna Kagesaki

137. Darkstalkers, Vol. 1: The Rise of the Dark Ones by Ken Siu-Chong - I'm really enjoying this capcom stuff. Wish they had a larger variety than just darkstalkers and street fighter...

138. Eleventh Hour: Pt. 1 by Ian Sharman

139. Ezra: Egyptian Exchange by Sean Patrick O'Reilly

140. Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters Volume 1 by Eric Powell

141. High School DxD, Vol. 1 by Caleb D. Cook

142. Highschool of the Dead Vol 1 by Daisuke Sato

143. League of Super Groovy Crimefighters by Jan-Ives Campbell

144. Marvel Masterworks: Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 by Stan Lee

145. Muktuk Wolfsbreath, Hard Boiled Shaman: The Spirit of Boo by Terry LaBan

146. One Piece, Vol. 1: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda

147. Sankarea: Undying Love, No. 1 by Mitsuru Hattori

148. Skyward Volume 1: Into the Woods by Jeremy Dale - Great YA fantasy story.

149. Skyward Volume 2: Strange Creatures by Jeremy Dale

150. Spider-Man: Died in Your Arms Tonight by Dan Slott

151. Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi Volume 1 - Force Storm by John Ostrander

152. Supermarket by Brian Wood

153. The Thanos Quest 1 by Jim Starlin

154. Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 1: Power and Responsibility by Brian Michael Bendis - Good, but I am burnt out on Spider-Man origin stories. Note to people making Spider-Man movies/comics: He was bitten by a radioactive spider. We know that. Move on. Do something new.

155. Ultrasylvania, Vol. 1: King Dracula by Brian Schirmer

156. Werewolves of Montpellier by Jason

157. Willow Volume 1: Wonderland (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) by Jeff Parker - I loves me some Willow.

Some dead tree GN's:

158. The Advance Team by Will Pfeifer - Pizza delivery guy fights an alien invasion.

159. Ame-Comi Girls Vol. 1 by Jimmy Palmiotti

160. Batman Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star (The New 52) by Grant Morrison

161. Batwoman Vol. 1: Hydrology (The New 52) by J.H. Williams III

The N52 bat books are not working for me so far...

162. The City of Ember: The Graphic Novel (Books of Ember) by Jeanne DuPrau

163. Critter Vol. 1 by Tom Hutchison

164. Darkstalkers, Vol. 2: The Night Warriors by Ken Siu-Chong - Kind of boring, compared to the vol 1 stories.

165. Glory Volume 1: The Once and Future Destroyer by Joe Keatinge

166. Knightingail Vol. 1 : The Legend Begins by Wayne Gardiner

167. No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular! (Volume 1) by Nico Tanigawa

168. Route Des Maisons Rouges Vol. 1 by Giuliano Monni

169. Showcase Presents: Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 1 - Silver age hijinks by young guys and gals whose superhero names all end in -lad or -lass. 1950s-60s era comic book writers were nothing if not consistently unimaginative.

[Andorion]

Somehow in the last 48 hours my TBR list revolted and took over my brain. So I am now reading Stover's Caine, re-reading a science-fiction space opera, and seem to have acquired another fantasy book by Jeff Salyards whose name I seem to have zoned out on.

Need brain surgery......

[Salt-Man Z]

Andorion, on 01 August 2014 - 02:00 AM, said:

acquired another fantasy book by Jeff Salyards whose name I seem to have zoned out

Hopefully it's Scourge of the Betrayer , as that's the first book.

[Andorion]

Salt-Man Z, on 01 August 2014 - 02:38 AM, said:

Andorion, on 01 August 2014 - 02:00 AM, said:

acquired another fantasy book by Jeff Salyards whose name I seem to have zoned out

Hopefully it's Scourge of the Betrayer , as that's the first book.

It is! Any good?

[Salt-Man Z]

Andorion, on 01 August 2014 - 03:55 AM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 01 August 2014 - 02:38 AM, said:

Andorion, on 01 August 2014 - 02:00 AM, said:

acquired another fantasy book by Jeff Salyards whose name I seem to have zoned out

Hopefully it's Scourge of the Betrayer , as that's the first book.

It is! Any good?

Pretty good! It's relatively short, and feels a lot like a prologue to the second book, which I'm reading right now. I recommend the series (just the two books so far.)

[Andorion]

Salt-Man Z, on 01 August 2014 - 04:09 AM, said:

Andorion, on 01 August 2014 - 03:55 AM, said:

Salt-Man Z, on 01 August 2014 - 02:38 AM, said:

Andorion, on 01 August 2014 - 02:00 AM, said:

acquired another fantasy book by Jeff Salyards whose name I seem to have zoned out

Hopefully it's Scourge of the Betrayer , as that's the first book.

It is! Any good?

Pretty good! It's relatively short, and feels a lot like a prologue to the second book, which I'm reading right now. I recommend the series (just the two books so far.)

OK! Something to buzz through before Assail then.

[Imperial Historian]

Recent reads:

Prince of fools: fantasy flashman, thoroughly entertaining, enjoyed more than the thorns trilogy.

Valour: meh, distinct step down from malice which I enjoyed, storyline seemed more fragmented, the moral ambiguity wasn't as clever as it thought, and the little things which bothered me in book 1 seemed more so in this book, feeling even more of a cookie cutter fantasy than the first one which seemed to be trying to be more than that. I probably won't be picking up the third.

Half a king: realitively simple, but great fun. I enjoyed this a lot, great easy read. Abercrombie was clearly having fun with this and it shows.

Traitors blade: this was just great fun, suffered a bit from the main twist being blindingly obvious, and a couple of I did a really clever thing but I'm not going to even think about it until after it happens as first person povs occasionally do, but worth reading none the less.

Tower lord: enjoyed this, but not as good as blood song in my view, Ryan hasn't quite mastered the multi person POV, and the end was a bit abrupt. I will be reading number 3 though.

The rhesus chart: pure stross goodness, developed the ongoing story well, with a great new take on vampires

Also reread the fitz books by hobb, still a classic, looking forward to the new trilogy, but dread to think what she'll put fitz through this time

[QuickTidal]

Finished FIRST RIDER'S CALL. It was a bit better than the first. Typical classical fantasy fare. Nothing too extreme. Though I find it REALLY hard to like the protagonist Karigan. She's just so stiff and boring.

Started Conn Iggulden's STORMBIRD (Wars of the Roses #1). Having become fascinated by the Wars through Starz WHITE QUEEN series (which sees the Wars through the POV's of the women it involved), I had wanted to pick this book up as I've never read a book about this subject, and I like Iggulden's work (His Khan series, and Julius Caesar series are both great). I think the strength I noticed in the first 100 pages is (besides having given me not only maps in the front, but the massive character list, and family lineage trees for the Royals and then splitting down into trees of Lancaster, York, and Neville....all of which helps me keep track of the myriad Henry's and Margaret's, Edward's and William's) that he has focused on key people in each chapter who are a party to or present at major events in the Wars. This helps an absolutely staggering cast list not feel like a burden and instead you get to be a fly on the wall...which is nice. It also starts when Margaret of Anjou is only a 13 year old girl...whereas THE WHITE QUEEN begins with Elizabeth's marriage to the York line...and Margaret was already a widow...it's nice to start earlier in events. Anyways, enjoying. Nice for the historical fiction lovers among us.

[Baco Xtath]

Finished Sharps by K.J. Parker last night. Excellent book, the first I've read from him/her and if this book is anything to go by, I'll definitely be checking out his/her others. No magic to speak of, and this is usually a turn off for me, but I didn't miss it at all. In fact, I'd argue that it would've detracted from the novel. If you like Guy Gaverial Kay (with the prose turned down a notch), then you'll like this.

Finished a re-read/listen of Prince of Thorns. Probably even better second go, though this may be because I went audio this time. Also listening to Assassin's Apprentice. I'm enjoying it but not blown away. Had to quit listening to Hard Magic again. Just can't do it. 30's gangster scene with super powers just isn't my thing.

[McLovin]

Finished A Cavern of Black Ice, moving on to Fortress of Grey Ice.

Also still slogging through Altered Carbon. Can't seem to read more than a few pages at a time. Maybe I need to switch to something else.

[End of Disc One]

I started the second book of the Black Company, Shadows Linger. While I loved the first book in a sort of GotM-ish "not sure I follow but this is crazy and I like it," this book seems much easier to follow. And I'm probably enjoying it even more so far.

[JPK]

I'm about 30 pages from the end of Absolution Gap. This has been a slow burn, but hot damn it got tense when everything started coming together.

I am also about 90% through the Wizard and Glass audiobook. It is going to feel amazing to finally cross this beast off the trp. I will be continuing with this series via audiobook in the near future, I think.

About to start Kafka on the Shore.

[Tiste Simeon]

Really struggling with Blindsight at the moment. Am only about 15% in after a few weeks of reading. No real reason why, it's just not clicking with me. Wondering if I should give it up...

[amphibian]

Blindsight is an exploration of what a truly "other" alien civilization could be like with action sequences thrown in to keep things interesting.

It's kind of like the movie Event Horizon, but drier.

If that's not your thing, that's okay. I read it for free and then went out and bought it. That's how good I thought it was. My brother loved it as well.

[Tiste Simeon]

Hmm I'm just wondering if it's worth continuing. I really like the concept and world building but I can't seem to stay focused on it. Maybe I will just read a synopsis and move on.