[QuickTidal]

Finished DRAGONFLY IN AMBER by Diana Gabaldon. Great book, but at 1000 pages it's got a significant draggy section in the middle which has a little too much politicking for my liking...but after that section (only about 100-150 pages) things came back up to speed and it's solid for the rest of the ride.

Next I'm finishing up THE FALL OF THE TEMPLARS by Robyn Young. It's a bit all over the place as Young attempts to bring her fictional Templar Scottish protagonist, into not only the Wars of Independence with Longshanks and the Sots (William Wallace, Black Douglas, Robert Bruce ect.), but also to Phillip the Fair's wars in Flanders and the successive reigns of Popes, and then tying that all up with the fall in 1307. So it feels like it skips over some stuff to get there in a reasonable page count. Great series, but the last book is a bit rushed.

I need fresh Historical fiction that takes place/is about The Crusades/Templars/Knights Hospitaller. I'm having a rough time finding another one. I'm tempted by Jan Guillou's Crusades series, but I'm unsure if it's any good.

[Chance]

QuickTidal, on 19 June 2015 - 12:57 PM, said:

I need fresh Historical fiction that takes place/is about The Crusades/Templars/Knights Hospitaller. I'm having a rough time finding another one. I'm tempted by Jan Guillou's Crusades series, but I'm unsure if it's any good.

No clue about the translated version but the original is average or a bit better if I remember right. The second book which focuses on the time in the holy land significantly better then the first (main characters youth) and third (his influence after his time in the holy land). The series is more about some (at least part fictional/mythic) of the families and people invlved in early swedish nation building then the crusades which are mainly on the stage while the main character takes part in the second book. They are also fairly short and easily devoured in short order.

This post has been edited by Chance: 19 June 2015 - 03:33 PM

[QuickTidal]

Chance, on 19 June 2015 - 03:30 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 19 June 2015 - 12:57 PM, said:

I need fresh Historical fiction that takes place/is about The Crusades/Templars/Knights Hospitaller. I'm having a rough time finding another one. I'm tempted by Jan Guillou's Crusades series, but I'm unsure if it's any good.

No clue about the translated version but the original is average or a bit better if I remember right. The second book which focuses on the time in the holy land significantly better then the first (main characters youth) and third (his influence after his time in the holy land). The series is more about some (at least part fictional/mythic) of the families and people invlved in early swedish nation building then the crusades which are mainly on the stage while the main character takes part in the second book. They are also fairly short and easily devoured in short order.

Cool, sounds like they would be decent reads. I'll look into them.

[EmperorMagus]

Hyperion.
I've no idea whether it's the best sci-fi ever written, or the most boring, subtly racist, and pompous book I've read in my life. It certainly was enjoyable during certain parts though. I'm considering the whether it's worth bothering with the other books in these series.

[Baco Xtath]

EmperorMagus, on 19 June 2015 - 07:16 PM, said:

Hyperion.
I've no idea whether it's the best sci-fi ever written, or the most boring, subtly racist, and pompous book I've read in my life. It certainly was enjoyable during certain parts though. I'm considering the whether it's worth bothering with the other books in these series.

IMHO, the Hyperion Cantos (all four) ranks in the top five sci-fi books of all time next to Gap Cycle, Dune, Culture, and Revelation Space (though Nemesis Game and Poseidon's Wake are shaking up my top five). Anyway, they're great - the Endymion duo not as much but still well worth the read.

Finished Peter Clines' the Fold. It's on par with 14. Popcorn goodness. Almost finished with the Water Knife. It's really good but probably my least favorite thing he's written. Still reading Greatswords #2 and Poseidon's Wake, both awesome.

[amphibian]

Baco Xtath, on 19 June 2015 - 09:31 PM, said:

EmperorMagus, on 19 June 2015 - 07:16 PM, said:

Hyperion.
I've no idea whether it's the best sci-fi ever written, or the most boring, subtly racist, and pompous book I've read in my life. It certainly was enjoyable during certain parts though. I'm considering the whether it's worth bothering with the other books in these series.

IMHO, the Hyperion Cantos (all four) ranks in the top five sci-fi books of all time next to Gap Cycle, Dune, Culture, and Revelation Space (though Nemesis Game and Poseidon's Wake are shaking up my top five). Anyway, they're great - the Endymion duo not as much but still well worth the read.

Finished Peter Clines' the Fold. It's on par with 14. Popcorn goodness. Almost finished with the Water Knife. It's really good but probably my least favorite thing he's written. Still reading Greatswords #2 and Poseidon's Wake, both awesome.

No, Hyperion is not that good and yes, Dan Simmons frequently has problematic stretches of writing. He also has problems with ending his series well.

I would recommend finishing the series and seeing what Simmons is like over a full series (I think he fades from stronger first books repeatedly).

[QuickTidal]

Briar King, on 19 June 2015 - 10:19 PM, said:

At Scott is S2 going to be better if it follows close to book?

It will be good methinks

[Andorion]

amphibian, on 19 June 2015 - 11:28 PM, said:

Baco Xtath, on 19 June 2015 - 09:31 PM, said:

EmperorMagus, on 19 June 2015 - 07:16 PM, said:

Hyperion.
I've no idea whether it's the best sci-fi ever written, or the most boring, subtly racist, and pompous book I've read in my life. It certainly was enjoyable during certain parts though. I'm considering the whether it's worth bothering with the other books in these series.

IMHO, the Hyperion Cantos (all four) ranks in the top five sci-fi books of all time next to Gap Cycle, Dune, Culture, and Revelation Space (though Nemesis Game and Poseidon's Wake are shaking up my top five). Anyway, they're great - the Endymion duo not as much but still well worth the read.

Finished Peter Clines' the Fold. It's on par with 14. Popcorn goodness. Almost finished with the Water Knife. It's really good but probably my least favorite thing he's written. Still reading Greatswords #2 and Poseidon's Wake, both awesome.

No, Hyperion is not that good and yes, Dan Simmons frequently has problematic stretches of writing. He also has problems with ending his series well.

I would recommend finishing the series and seeing what Simmons is like over a full series (I think he fades from stronger first books repeatedly).

Have to disagree here. I only read the first two Hyperion books but I found them to be absolutely excellent. As for Simmons as a writer, I loved his historical-horror the Terror

[amphibian]

I think you don't have enough Simmons experience to make a real call yet (The Terror is his absolutely best writing and a single book).

[Salt-Man Z]

I'll agree that Simmons often has problems "sticking the landing", as it were. I enjoy his books for the journey, not the destination. (But yes, The Terror is magnificent.)

[Andorion]

Regarding the ending, I did read Simmons' Abominable, which was a gigantic letdown especially the rather arbitary and all too rushed ending. I did learn a lot about old style mountaineering though.

[EmperorMagus]

Salt-Man Z, on 20 June 2015 - 05:09 AM, said:

I'll agree that Simmons often has problems "sticking the landing", as it were. I enjoy his books for the journey, not the destination. (But yes, The Terror is magnificent.)

I have read the terror and it WAS magnificent.
Hyperion though, was different. I understand how he hoped to string the stories in the book together to create a whole. I just think he never actually reached a climax in the story. Also, some of the stories of the individuals were incredibly boring(Looking at you Father whatsyourface). And there wasn't enough Fetman Kassad.

This post has been edited by EmperorMagus: 20 June 2015 - 07:39 AM

[Baco Xtath]

I would definitely at least read Fall of Hyperion as it concludes the story....and it's really fucking good. And it has Kassad in top form.

[Salt-Man Z]

EmperorMagus, on 20 June 2015 - 07:38 AM, said:

Also, some of the stories of the individuals were incredibly boring(Looking at you Father whatsyourface)

Man, the priest's tale was when the book sank its hooks into me.

[Tiste Simeon]

QuickTidal, on 19 June 2015 - 12:57 PM, said:

I need fresh Historical fiction that takes place/is about The Crusades/Templars/Knights Hospitaller. I'm having a rough time finding another one. I'm tempted by Jan Guillou's Crusades series, but I'm unsure if it's any good.

QT we may have had this discussion before but stay away from "Knight of the Black and White" or whatever it is by Jack Whyte. Starts off promising but is ultimately an incredibly boring and terrible series.

[Patremagne]

Anyone here read Marc Turner's When the Heavens Fall? I plowed through it late last month and I definitely think it's something Malazan readers will love. Here's the part of my review that talks about the comparison:

Quote

There's no surprise that When the Heavens Fall has been compared to Erikson's Malazan, since Turner cites Erikson as a major influence. Whenever you find people looking for recommendations, you'll see the same books repeated over and over so many times that it's hard not to imagine the recommender giving a deep sigh, pulling a scroll from their pocket, and rattling off the go-to genre names. More often yet, these insta-recommendations often don't have anything more than the basic fantasy tenets in common with the book in question. Turner's debut is one of the very few books that I can safely and wholly recommend to fans of Erikson. In fact, it's common in so many ways that it's probably easier to point out its differences (the only glaring one being that there are fewer main characters in Turner's). The most prominent similarities are probably the magic and the richness, or even over-richness of the world. I say over-richness because while reading both Malazan and When the Heavens Fall, there are a ton of names of people, races both ancient and modern, events, and objects that it's staggeringly difficult to keep track of at times. It's only fitting that both authors' works have detailed maps and dramatis personae to help out the overwhelmed reader (though a list of terms would have been nice). The magic is the highlight of both series for me. Sometimes it's very descriptive and visceral like Turner's death magic, and other times both series simply describe it as sorcery a la "waves of sorcery stripped the flesh from his bones." The only clear, black-and-white difference between the two is that Mayot Mencada is without a doubt the bad guy, whereas Malazan doesn't necessarily have one so clearly defined.

Definitely recommend at least checking out the preview chapters at Tor.com.

Currently reading Michael R. Fletcher's Beyond Redemption and it's quite good.

[Baco Xtath]

Just finished Poseidon's Wake. Absolutely beautiful. If I had a million dollars, I would pay it to him for a fourth book. In fact, my goal is to now make a million dollars and pay him to do just that. Swift/Evolvarium, Risen, Poseidon, Zanzibar, Mandala, M-builders, good god, this book, this series was amazing. I need to digest it for a while but I really think this is now my favorite sci-fi series. Probably the most realistic future, beautiful future, I've ever seen.






And welcome to the forum Marc (unless you're not Marc in which case you should know that you really came off as Marc.......1st post reccos to obscure or new books are kinda a giveaway).

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Patremagne, on 21 June 2015 - 12:33 AM, said:

Anyone here read Marc Turner's When the Heavens Fall? I plowed through it late last month and I definitely think it's something Malazan readers will love. Here's the part of my review that talks about the comparison:

Quote

There's no surprise that When the Heavens Fall has been compared to Erikson's Malazan, since Turner cites Erikson as a major influence. Whenever you find people looking for recommendations, you'll see the same books repeated over and over so many times that it's hard not to imagine the recommender giving a deep sigh, pulling a scroll from their pocket, and rattling off the go-to genre names. More often yet, these insta-recommendations often don't have anything more than the basic fantasy tenets in common with the book in question. Turner's debut is one of the very few books that I can safely and wholly recommend to fans of Erikson. In fact, it's common in so many ways that it's probably easier to point out its differences (the only glaring one being that there are fewer main characters in Turner's). The most prominent similarities are probably the magic and the richness, or even over-richness of the world. I say over-richness because while reading both Malazan and When the Heavens Fall, there are a ton of names of people, races both ancient and modern, events, and objects that it's staggeringly difficult to keep track of at times. It's only fitting that both authors' works have detailed maps and dramatis personae to help out the overwhelmed reader (though a list of terms would have been nice). The magic is the highlight of both series for me. Sometimes it's very descriptive and visceral like Turner's death magic, and other times both series simply describe it as sorcery a la "waves of sorcery stripped the flesh from his bones." The only clear, black-and-white difference between the two is that Mayot Mencada is without a doubt the bad guy, whereas Malazan doesn't necessarily have one so clearly defined.

Definitely recommend at least checking out the preview chapters at Tor.com.

Currently reading Michael R. Fletcher's Beyond Redemption and it's quite good.

Well, if ever a review were going to get me to add a book to the top of my to-read pile (not the bottom, mind you), it is apparently this one.

Also, I'm about 100 pages

Spoiler

right after the security guard shoots Tony

into Bujold's Falling Free, and I'm really digging it, mainly because of two things - Bujold's writing style...and Leo Graf.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 21 June 2015 - 05:22 AM

[Andorion]

I might take a look at this.

[Nicodimas]

Why haven't each and everyone of you..read red rising yet...they are so much fun!!

Pierce Brown.

< i guess it did it for me...total +3, i love sevro>

This post has been edited by Nicodimas: 22 June 2015 - 05:57 AM