[amphibian]

Chance, on 13 December 2015 - 09:34 PM, said:

Going through C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner universe, finding it delightful thought it isn't really science fiction but more of meeting and emercing in strange culture while the science is fairly in the bakground so far. Up to Defender and still going strong might get through the entire series at this pace as long as quality doesn't decline.

The weird thing about this series is that despite the huge attention paid to proper social manners etc Cherryh never lets it get boring.

The series has gotten better as it goes on bc Cherryh has a plan beyond just the world itself.

[acesn8s]

I started Vince Flynn's Extreme Measures.

[The Unfound]

Im trying to read KJ Parker's Devices and Desires. It sounded like it could be an interesting read. However, halfway through I am struggling. It is just so damn boring, absolutely nothing has happened. Does it get any better or should I just give it up now and find something else?

[Mentalist]

The Unfound, on 14 December 2015 - 02:42 PM, said:

Im trying to read KJ Parker's Devices and Desires. It sounded like it could be an interesting read. However, halfway through I am struggling. It is just so damn boring, absolutely nothing has happened. Does it get any better or should I just give it up now and find something else?

One of the few series I couldn't finish. I could've sworn I bought Bk II at some point, but if I ever tried it, I have no recollection of it.

Imho, if it doesn't click for you, it's not worth persevering through. Someone on the forum raved about it (Morgy?), but majority's opinion is not in her favour.

I heard that the fencer trilo is better, but not in any hurry to try.

[polishgenius]

I've read several of Parker's standalone books and like them mostly a lot (Sharps is particularly enjoyable), but I did struggle with Engineer and, like Mentalist, never got far into the second one.

[Andorion]

7 chapters into Jonathan Howard;s Carter and Lovecraft, which puts the detective, Carter in a Lovecraftian scenario. Interesting premise and I really like it so far

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

I'm reading King Rat right now, and I can't figure something out.

Spoiler

Why don't they just wear earplugs?

[Baco Xtath]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 December 2015 - 04:34 PM, said:

I'm reading King Rat right now, and I can't figure something out.

Spoiler

Why don't they just wear earplugs?

Haven't read that book in damn near 7 years so I can't really comment. Just wanted to say that that book has one of my favorite visuals; the crows?pigeons? carrying the Piper. Also, it was my first Mieville so it was a real treat.

I finished listening to the Rising. Another great Tregillis book. I'm ranking him up there with Robert Jackson Bennett now on consistent good and original books (though I don't think he's as good - but he's getting there).

[JPK]

I finished The Liar's Key yesterday. Jalan Kendath is one of my favorite pov characters of all time. My wife kept giving me funny looks as I was reading at night because I couldn't help laughing so many times.

I also finished up Death Masks on audio today. I forgot how much of a punch in the gut this one is.

Next audio up for me is Chapterhouse Dune. This is the last Dune book I'm going to read and I figure I should finish it out before the end of the year. I'm not very far in yet, but I'm very excited about the possibilities involving a certain young Ghola.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Baco Xtath, on 15 December 2015 - 12:16 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 December 2015 - 04:34 PM, said:

I'm reading King Rat right now, and I can't figure something out.

Spoiler

Why don't they just wear earplugs?

Haven't read that book in damn near 7 years so I can't really comment. Just wanted to say that that book has one of my favorite visuals; the crows?pigeons? carrying the Piper. Also, it was my first Mieville so it was a real treat.

I finished listening to the Rising. Another great Tregillis book. I'm ranking him up there with Robert Jackson Bennett now on consistent good and original books (though I don't think he's as good - but he's getting there).

Yeah, the chase scene with Piper and Saul was really well written. Mieville really knows how to bring cities to life. I love his works — I've completed Embassytown and Perdido Street Station over the years.

[Morgoth]

Mentalist, on 14 December 2015 - 03:17 PM, said:

The Unfound, on 14 December 2015 - 02:42 PM, said:

Im trying to read KJ Parker's Devices and Desires. It sounded like it could be an interesting read. However, halfway through I am struggling. It is just so damn boring, absolutely nothing has happened. Does it get any better or should I just give it up now and find something else?

One of the few series I couldn't finish. I could've sworn I bought Bk II at some point, but if I ever tried it, I have no recollection of it.

Imho, if it doesn't click for you, it's not worth persevering through. Someone on the forum raved about it (Morgy?), but majority's opinion is not in her favour.

I heard that the fencer trilo is better, but not in any hurry to try.

Not me. I couldn't finish it. There were so many completely daft turns of the plot I gave up on it.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 28 June 2012 - 10:28 PM, said:

Abyss, on 28 June 2012 - 06:38 PM, said:

Started INTERWORLD by Gaiman and Reaves.
For what seems to be intended to be YA, it's pretty catchy. A few pages in and i was right into the story, 50 pages along before i even noticed the time had passed.

A great YA book (with apparently more installments on the way) that I heartily enjoyed. Plus it's pretty strange so it doesn't tromp on many previously known tropes.

And three years later i pick up the sequel THE SILVER DREAM, in earbook.


About 30 min in and it's.... weak.

A quick google tells me that Gaiman basically checked out of this sequel, Michael Reaves became unwell and couldn't finish, and he passed it to his daughter, YA 'manga adaptation' author Mallory Reaves.
All i can say is that the first book succeeded very nicely despite its essentially YA roots, and this book is strangling in them. Not sure how much further i'll keep reading.

The narrator isn't helping... his voice for the female protagonist is just barely staying ahead of outright irritating.


In other news, 20% in CALIBAN'S WAR is awesome. Abraham/Franck really know how to build on what went on in a previous book without repeating/reiterating.

[End of Disc One]

Abyss, on 15 December 2015 - 03:09 PM, said:

In other news, 20% in CALIBAN'S WAR is awesome. Abraham/Franck really know how to build on what went on in a previous book without repeating/reiterating.

I think my only issue with Leviathan's Wake was too few POVs for my tastes, and Caliban's War fixed that. I really enjoyed all of the POVs in CW. CW is my favorite out of the first 3 books, but Cibola Burn is looking to take its place as my favorite in the series so far.

[Abyss]

End of Disc One, on 15 December 2015 - 04:17 PM, said:

Abyss, on 15 December 2015 - 03:09 PM, said:

In other news, 20% in CALIBAN'S WAR is awesome. Abraham/Franck really know how to build on what went on in a previous book without repeating/reiterating.

I think my only issue with Leviathan's Wake was too few POVs for my tastes, and Caliban's War fixed that. I really enjoyed all of the POVs in CW. CW is my favorite out of the first 3 books, but Cibola Burn is looking to take its place as my favorite in the series so far.

Funny, i really enjoyed the way the two POVs in WAKE interwove. Rather than multiple storylines told by povs that barely or rarely overlap, it really felt like two halves of one story. I enjoyed.

That said, WAR isn't suffering for having four povs. They're very distinct 'voices' and the authors are still doing a great job of interweaving the storylines.

[Nicodimas]

Decorative and Sculptural IronWork

(no reading fantasy until this has been read)

[Serenity]

amphibian, on 14 December 2015 - 12:16 AM, said:

Chance, on 13 December 2015 - 09:34 PM, said:

Going through C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner universe, finding it delightful thought it isn't really science fiction but more of meeting and emercing in strange culture while the science is fairly in the bakground so far. Up to Defender and still going strong might get through the entire series at this pace as long as quality doesn't decline.

The weird thing about this series is that despite the huge attention paid to proper social manners etc Cherryh never lets it get boring.

The series has gotten better as it goes on bc Cherryh has a plan beyond just the world itself.

This is good to know as I've only just started the series myself.

[amphibian]

Wait until you get to Cherryh's pizza scenes. Very droll humor.

[Andorion]

Finished Carter and Lovecraft, a nice entertaining read... will look out for more

What to read next.... a very heavy sci-fi list with Dune, Gene Wolfe etc... and a lighter fantasy list with Will Wight

[Maark Abbott]

Finally getting on to "Kvothe the Raven".

[Slow Ben]

Got to Heros Die in my TRP.

About 50 pages in so far, digging it.