[Mentalist]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 23 October 2016 - 05:18 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 23 October 2016 - 01:37 PM, said:

Macros, on 23 October 2016 - 08:34 AM, said:

@ment.
I disliked Tom Louise first book so much that even though I had the second book on my shelf I gave it away to a charity shop unread.
Should I try again?

Hard question. I can't answer it without a pretty major series spoiler.
I also did not like Bk 2 the first time I read it. It introduces a set of new characters, and a very interesting "villain". But the plot feels VERY derivative from SE (the main plot device is "convergence"
-then I read the Bk 3 prologue, which features the kind of plot stupidity I hate, so I gave up on the series for good.

Then, sometime later, when browsing in a store, Iread the blurb of Bk 3 and spoiled myself to the fact that

Spoiler

Isak dies in Bk3

.
This made me want to give the series another chance. I re-read Bk 2, and liked it a lot more (I guess the first time I read it was soon after a new Malaz novel, which is why it didn't compare well). And Bk 3 sold me, by completely taking the focus off Isak, expanding the world-building, and making a whole bunch of better characters (both "good" and "evil") take center stage.

So, it's a hard series to recommend, because the first 2 books are mostly about Isak, and I hated Isak. Imho, the series improves drastically (and takes the focus off Isak, thank God), by book 3, but I can't say without reservation that it's worth slogging through for everyone. I have a tendency to forgive a lot of stuff, if world-building is iinteresting- and in this case, it certainly was. Even so, I can't describe characterization in BK1 anything other than "atrocious drivel". Bk 2 improves to be a solid 3/5, because it introduces more side-plots. Bk 3 takes the series to Ericson-like places.

But whether it's worth trying to get there- I can't speak for everyone.

Can one just start at book 3?

Bk 2 might be a better start point, b/c it actually introduces the "threat" of the series, so to speak. There's still a bunch of background info in 1 that I'm not sure is explained again- it's referred to, but not in as much detail.

Might be worth a try, though.

[Andorion]

Finished reading Barbara Hambly's Dragonsbane. Its actually quite good.
Reading Nicholas Monstsarrat's WW2 novel The Cruel Sea.

Also started the Dark Tower. A little bit into Gunslinger. The tone of the book is a bit more verbose than what I am used to from King.

[polishgenius]

Finished re-reading Samit Basu's Turbulence, just as much awesome superhero fun as it was the first time. Also reading The Name of the Rose as part of my 'polishgenius reads real books' project.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

I started Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower yesterday, and haven't been able to put it down since then. It's bleak and depressing, but there's a hard kernel at its core - not of hope, but of something close. A belief that there can be something better, but that it must be made better. It won't just appear better? Dunno.

The only other Butler I've read is Dawn. She was a magnificent, no-nonsense author. Anyone read the full Earthseed series?

I have to say - Earthseed speaks to me. I've always believed that humanity's "destiny" is to take root upon the stars. This being a core tenet of Earthseed makes me very amenable to it.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 24 October 2016 - 09:27 PM

[worry]

All I've read from her is Kindred and a short story collection (Blood Child? Seems right.) and she really is a fantastic writer. Her bibliography isn't huge so I do wanna eventually read it all from her.

[Macros]

I'm finding A crown of Cold Silver slow going.

Nothing really dragging me into it, for all the love it got here I'm surprised to be honest. especially by the comparisons to Erikson.

[End of Disc One]

Macros, on 24 October 2016 - 10:30 PM, said:

I'm finding A crown of Cold Silver slow going.

Nothing really dragging me into it, for all the love it got here I'm surprised to be honest. especially by the comparisons to Erikson.

I'd compare it more to Abercrombie than Erikson. For me the draw was in the humor, colorful characters, and interesting world

[the broken]

Macros, on 24 October 2016 - 10:30 PM, said:

I'm finding A crown of Cold Silver slow going.

Nothing really dragging me into it, for all the love it got here I'm surprised to be honest. especially by the comparisons to Erikson.

Its self awareness hurt it for me, like the characters would be pointing out 'look, this trope is stupid', when real characters wouldn't think in tropes, they'd just do what was effective.

[Mentalist]

End of Disc One, on 24 October 2016 - 11:35 PM, said:

Macros, on 24 October 2016 - 10:30 PM, said:

I'm finding A crown of Cold Silver slow going.

Nothing really dragging me into it, for all the love it got here I'm surprised to be honest. especially by the comparisons to Erikson.

I'd compare it more to Abercrombie than Erikson. For me the draw was in the humor, colorful characters, and interesting world

Yeah, I wouldn't say it was nowhere near SE. It reads like a more plot-complex "Best Served Cold" (and I loved that book)

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 25 October 2016 - 12:28 AM

[amphibian]

The bugs are what elevates that book into real Erikson territory. Plus you haven't met all the characters.

[worry]

Finished Knife of Dreams. It was aight. Didn't find it much different from the other middling books, aside from some characters finally facing pretty definitive consequences. Sucks that it was RJ's last, since it has some pretty clear "I'm heading somewhere" trajectories.

[Maark Abbott]

Tiste Simeon, on 23 October 2016 - 02:52 PM, said:

OK I found The Final Empire, The Week of Ascension and The Hero of Ages on my Kindle. That's the original Mistborn right? Think I'll start reading this.

Yep. The Essential Sanderson, as it were. I'd take anything that comes after with a pinch of salt, but that trilogy will always be special to me.

[QuickTidal]

Finished DRUMS OF AUTUMN by Gabaldon...thoughts in ded-thread.

Got back into Conn Iggulden's 3rd Wars of the Roses book BLOODLINE, and it's as good as the second so far!

[champ]

QuickTidal, on 25 October 2016 - 12:23 PM, said:

Got back into Conn Iggulden's 3rd Wars of the Roses book BLOODLINE, and it's as good as the second so far!

Are they anygood? I read his Emperor and Conqueror series but not checked out the Roses.

[QuickTidal]

champ, on 25 October 2016 - 12:55 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 25 October 2016 - 12:23 PM, said:

Got back into Conn Iggulden's 3rd Wars of the Roses book BLOODLINE, and it's as good as the second so far!

Are they anygood? I read his Emperor and Conqueror series but not checked out the Roses.

I struggled a BIT with the first book STORMBIRD at first, but not because of Iggulden...but rather because the Wars of the Roses are SO dense with characters (a lot of whom have the SAME damned names!) that it's really tough to keep all the names, sides, and plots straight...thankfully Iggulden created a fictional spymaster named Derry Brewer who is loyal to the Lancastrian side to follow around as a POV most of the time and that helps you get settled. It's also cool to follow Margaret as well which you do a lot on the first book. So once all that started clicking I was fine and it was enjoyable. Book 2 was even better in my opinion, and book 3 even better than that so far. Recommended.

[Jahdu]

Reading "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" at the moment and I must say I'm really enjoying it.
The blurb says it's a cross between Northern Lights and Pan's Labyrinth which was what attracted me to it
and so far the story has me hooked.

[Mentalist]

Maark Abbott, on 25 October 2016 - 11:12 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 23 October 2016 - 02:52 PM, said:

OK I found The Final Empire, The Week of Ascension and The Hero of Ages on my Kindle. That's the original Mistborn right? Think I'll start reading this.

Yep. The Essential Sanderson, as it were. I'd take anything that comes after with a pinch of salt, but that trilogy will always be special to me.

Warbreaker was quite good. Stormlight Archive-not so much.

[QuickTidal]

Mentalist, on 25 October 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 25 October 2016 - 11:12 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 23 October 2016 - 02:52 PM, said:

OK I found The Final Empire, The Week of Ascension and The Hero of Ages on my Kindle. That's the original Mistborn right? Think I'll start reading this.

Yep. The Essential Sanderson, as it were. I'd take anything that comes after with a pinch of salt, but that trilogy will always be special to me.

Warbreaker was quite good. Stormlight Archive-not so much.

I'm the reverse on this. Warbreaker is his weakest in my eyes, while Stormlight is one of the best series I've ever read.

[End of Disc One]

Mentalist, on 25 October 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 25 October 2016 - 11:12 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 23 October 2016 - 02:52 PM, said:

OK I found The Final Empire, The Week of Ascension and The Hero of Ages on my Kindle. That's the original Mistborn right? Think I'll start reading this.

Yep. The Essential Sanderson, as it were. I'd take anything that comes after with a pinch of salt, but that trilogy will always be special to me.

Warbreaker was quite good. Stormlight Archive-not so much.

Whoa I thought Maark was the only anti-Stormlight Sanderson fan here. FWIW I love all of Sanderson's Cosmere books. The Way of Kings was pretty slow, but Words of Radiance is my absolute favorite.

[Mentalist]

QuickTidal, on 25 October 2016 - 02:16 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 25 October 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 25 October 2016 - 11:12 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 23 October 2016 - 02:52 PM, said:

OK I found The Final Empire, The Week of Ascension and The Hero of Ages on my Kindle. That's the original Mistborn right? Think I'll start reading this.

Yep. The Essential Sanderson, as it were. I'd take anything that comes after with a pinch of salt, but that trilogy will always be special to me.

Warbreaker was quite good. Stormlight Archive-not so much.

I'm the reverse on this. Warbreaker is his weakest in my eyes, while Stormlight is one of the best series I've ever read.

End of Disc One, on 25 October 2016 - 02:24 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 25 October 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 25 October 2016 - 11:12 AM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 23 October 2016 - 02:52 PM, said:

OK I found The Final Empire, The Week of Ascension and The Hero of Ages on my Kindle. That's the original Mistborn right? Think I'll start reading this.

Yep. The Essential Sanderson, as it were. I'd take anything that comes after with a pinch of salt, but that trilogy will always be special to me.

Warbreaker was quite good. Stormlight Archive-not so much.

Whoa I thought Maark was the only anti-Stormlight Sanderson fan here. FWIW I love all of Sanderson's Cosmere books. The Way of Kings was pretty slow, but Words of Radiance is my absolute favorite.

Different strokes for Diff. Folks and all that.

For the record: unlike Maark, I don't hate Stormlight. It's a decent B-list series in my books. But I'm far from wowed by it, it remains a mmpb-only purchase for me, and there's a number of Sanderson-specific flaws that get exacerbated by the Stormlight's size.