[Abyss]

Tattersail_, on 15 October 2014 - 03:16 PM, said:

Powered through book one of the Codex Alera and immediately bought book 2. Accidentally I have read 11 chapters today. thanks for the recommendation. It'll be tough to follow I think.

Don't you worry, bk3 follows it just fine.
And then there's bk 4...

[polishgenius]

Book 5 > Book 1 > the rest > Book 4.

[Tattersail_]

Abyss, on 15 October 2014 - 03:47 PM, said:

Tattersail_, on 15 October 2014 - 03:16 PM, said:

Powered through book one of the Codex Alera and immediately bought book 2. Accidentally I have read 11 chapters today. thanks for the recommendation. It'll be tough to follow I think.

Don't you worry, bk3 follows it just fine.
And then there's bk 4...

polishgenius, on 15 October 2014 - 03:56 PM, said:

Book 5 > Book 1 > the rest > Book 4.

I mean after I read all 5 books

[Macros]

isnt there 6 books or did we all agree to forget about the last one as its the worst in the series.

[QuickTidal]

Oh I liked the 6th book. It's certainly not as good as the previous 5...but it's a decent ending.

Anyways, as for me I'm about 400pages into THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR. It's interesting that even with the pace still kinda of slow, I'm engrossed and every time I think "oh this is a slow bit", it speeds back up or gives me meaty scenes or ideas to read. Can honestly say I'm enjoying it as Classic-trope fantasy more than (for exmaple) WoT, and I think the world is REALLY well fleshed out.

Things to like:

-Williams version of trolls is very interesting and different and instead of just feeling like fairy creatures, or one-stop cardboard cutouts, they are a fully fleshed out culture with many differences to what we traditionally think of as trolls.

-Same goes for the Sithi so far. Instead of just making them Tolkien elves (which they heavily are influenced by mind you), he gives them a full-on culture to be a part of.

-The bad guys are irredeemably evil (I love this fact), and so a character like Pryrates jumps off the page with enough menace to give me the willies.

There is only one negative comment I have, and it's not really with Williams, it's with the editor at DAW. Williams has made a few Osten Ard names based off our earth names. Prince Josua, for example, is obviously off Joshua...but Tad mispells it multiple times as Joshua and the editor missed it in each of those moments...and this happens with other names as well. It's not a big beef, but it's happened enough now that I'm baffled why it's not been fixed in the interim 20 years since this was first published.

Otherwise, GREAT book.

[Serenity]

Finished The Cormorant. It wasn't at all scary, but it was a bit unsettling.

[Mentalist]

Finished "The Eternal Champion". 4/5 Review in the ded thread.

next up, more Moorcock-- "Hawkmoon: History of the Runestaff"

[McLovin]

Started A NEW DAWN. OK so far.

[acesn8s]

Finished Shadowmarch. Man, things at the end of the book sure came to a head. Will be picking up book 2 in the near future.

Now, on to Hawk. Gotta find out what Vlad has been up to.

[QuickTidal]

Okay, so I read recently that GRRM was inspired to write ASOIAF in part because of Tad Williams MS&T.

And as I've been reading I realize that it's a little MORE than inspiration, he's borrowed A LOT of stuff directly!

The Iron Throne = The Dragonbone Chair (throne sat by monarch that is from bested thing/people)

North of the Wall & the White Walkers = The Stormspike & The Norns (sect of bizarre mythical creatures that haven't been seen for hundreds of years reappear and begin to come south and harry the south)

Winter is Coming = Winter weather screws with seasons (in both books a winter lasts over the summer months in a magical/not correct way)

Westeros = Osten ard (Continent of previously warring states/families/houses is united under one King who took the throne by force and holds it tenuously with political infighting: this one is reaching because this can be said of MANY fantasy series)

The Maesters = The Lectors (religious order who don't seem to take sides, while its minions absolutely take sides)

The Night King = The Storm King (ancient ruler from the North who wishes to come back south and rule over all)

Dragonstone = Naglimund (fortress where ousted brother of the king plots against his brother, but gets occupied with the North instead)

King Robert & Stannis = King Elias & Josua (tyrant rules who's strings are being pulled from elsewhere, and their maligned brothers)

Littlefinger = Pyrarates (Weirdo master manipulator who pulls the Kings strings)

Hell, even Miriamele chopping her hair to hide as she goes north is what Arya does.

Not that the two series are identical mind you (not by a long shot), but these are the things I've noticed as standing out to me like a sore thumb.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 17 October 2014 - 12:58 PM

[Macros]

Just finished rereading the Thorns trilogy, just as good as the first time through, caught a lot of little things I missed on the first run,

Starting raising steam later

[Andorion]

Macros, on 17 October 2014 - 01:58 PM, said:

Just finished rereading the Thorns trilogy, just as good as the first time through, caught a lot of little things I missed on the first run,

Starting raising steam later

Really want to know what raising steam is like. Post after you are done please

[Abyss]

Tattersail_, on 15 October 2014 - 04:00 PM, said:

Abyss, on 15 October 2014 - 03:47 PM, said:

Tattersail_, on 15 October 2014 - 03:16 PM, said:

Powered through book one of the Codex Alera and immediately bought book 2. Accidentally I have read 11 chapters today. thanks for the recommendation. It'll be tough to follow I think.

Don't you worry, bk3 follows it just fine.
And then there's bk 4...

polishgenius, on 15 October 2014 - 03:56 PM, said:

Book 5 > Book 1 > the rest > Book 4.

I mean after I read all 5 books

Macros, on 15 October 2014 - 04:20 PM, said:

isnt there 6 books or did we all agree to forget about the last one as its the worst in the series.

Briar King, on 15 October 2014 - 04:23 PM, said:

Y'all are just begging for it aren't y'all???

Ignore them. They're clearly cold and dead inside.

[worry]

The last one is the only one nearly as good as book 5. The rest should be boiled in a stew and eaten by pigs.

[Macros]

I really thought 6 was a piss poor finale, 3&4 were my favourite of the series, I did a reread last month and my opinion remains unchanged.
1 was good, but is clearly a first book, the writting does feel as....fluid?
2 was entertaining because if Tavi struggling in a world clearly.unsuited for him
3 is excellent because he starts coming into his own, but still isn't capable
4 is good because he's developing but not a super power yet
5 is ok, entertaining but not excellent
6 is just blegh, a mess.


Regarding raising steam, about 60 pages in, its entertaining so far, but seems to be missing that little bit of punch in the humour to make it a true dis world great.

[Coco with marshmallows]

Powering through Schlock Mercenary still.

Up to November 2009.

[QuickTidal]

Finished THE DRAGONBONE CHAIR this morning. I enjoyed that book immensly, and the last quarter of it was like non-stop action and intrigue. Simply amazing. I want to go straight into THE STONE OF FAREWELL now...but no stores near me have it sadly.

Anyways, loving my first taste of MS&T (and it's nice to finally know what the series title refers to!)

[Andorion]

Macros, on 18 October 2014 - 06:54 AM, said:

I really thought 6 was a piss poor finale, 3&4 were my favourite of the series, I did a reread last month and my opinion remains unchanged.
1 was good, but is clearly a first book, the writting does feel as....fluid?
2 was entertaining because if Tavi struggling in a world clearly.unsuited for him
3 is excellent because he starts coming into his own, but still isn't capable
4 is good because he's developing but not a super power yet
5 is ok, entertaining but not excellent
6 is just blegh, a mess.


Regarding raising steam, about 60 pages in, its entertaining so far, but seems to be missing that little bit of punch in the humour to make it a true dis world great.

That missing punch is what has been bothering me over the last 3 books or so.

[Serenity]

Finished Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles last night. Absolutely loved it - fantastic book.

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished the first Farseer book. Nothing earth shattering but a jolly good read nonetheless! Am now on the second one.