[Abyss]

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

Started THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT in earbook. Three chapters in, I can see (hear) why it gets praise.

Started a dead tree non-fic, TIGER by John Vaillant. Basically a bunch of exKGB wildlife rangers go hunting for a killer tiger in backass Russia. Just a few chapters in, it's surprisingly addictive.

[Andorion]

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

Started THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT in earbook. Three chapters in, I can see (hear) why it gets praise.

Started a dead tree non-fic, TIGER by John Vaillant. Basically a bunch of exKGB wildlife rangers go hunting for a killer tiger in backass Russia. Just a few chapters in, it's surprisingly addictive.

I will be looking forward to your reaction regarding Baru Cormorant.

I finished Babylon's Ashes by James Corey. Great book. Excellent in fact.

Also Liberation by Ian Tregillis. Not as good as book 2. Unsatisfactory ending.

Currently halfway into the Warrior Prophet and it is so so so good.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

And frankly, the only character who WAS in need of his own book from AG, was Mr. Nancy. So that was fitting. I liked it once I settled into the fact that it is a COMPLETELY different genre of book from AG.

[Andorion]

QuickTidal, on 14 December 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

And frankly, the only character who WAS in need of his own book from AG, was Mr. Nancy. So that was fitting. I liked it once I settled into the fact that it is a COMPLETELY different genre of book from AG.

I really do have to get around to reading American Gods one of these days

[Glass Desert]

death rattle, on 11 December 2016 - 06:18 AM, said:

@BK

Spoiler

Because the Dark One preferred them to be backbiting losers who would claw at each other at least as much as they carried out his orders. It seems like even they don't really understand him. His goal isn't power, it's corruption and ultimately destruction, of everything. The Chosen think they're gonna rule the world once the Dark One wins, but my guess is they would eventually fare just as badly as everyone else, and then be destroyed w/ everything else. That seems to be what Ishamael is coming to understand, and the rest aren't.

Unless of course he turns out to be a generic Dark Lord type in the end after all, which would be a real shame.

Spoiler

Ishmael understood this from the begining, he's far too nihilistic compared to the rest of the them, which is why he is best attuned with the dark one's ambitions, more than any other forsaken. There is implied, among the other forsaken an intrinsic betrayal from the dark lord, a flavor of false promise.

If the charm & humor of these books could be captured, the material is a 7 part movie blockbuster or tv show waiting to happen.

This post has been edited by Glass Desert: 14 December 2016 - 07:53 PM

[Abyss]

Andorion, on 14 December 2016 - 01:50 PM, said:

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

Started THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT in earbook. Three chapters in, I can see (hear) why it gets praise.

Started a dead tree non-fic, TIGER by John Vaillant. Basically a bunch of exKGB wildlife rangers go hunting for a killer tiger in backass Russia. Just a few chapters in, it's surprisingly addictive.

I will be looking forward to your reaction regarding Baru Cormorant.

I finished Babylon's Ashes by James Corey. Great book. Excellent in fact.

Also Liberation by Ian Tregillis. Not as good as book 2. Unsatisfactory ending.

Currently halfway into the Warrior Prophet and it is so so so good.

Were you in the love or hate camp re BARU?
Just got BABYLON, will start soon. Excited about that.

Andorion, on 14 December 2016 - 02:10 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 14 December 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

And frankly, the only character who WAS in need of his own book from AG, was Mr. Nancy. So that was fitting. I liked it once I settled into the fact that it is a COMPLETELY different genre of book from AG.

I really do have to get around to reading American Gods one of these days

You do. You really really do.
Agreed w QT re ANANSI, and the book is a fun way to revisit that character. Interesting choice by Gaiman to go that route w the (not) sequel.If the AG show is successful (duh) we may see more.

Glass Desert, on 14 December 2016 - 06:21 PM, said:

death rattle, on 11 December 2016 - 06:18 AM, said:

@BK

Spoiler

Because the Dark One preferred them to be backbiting losers who would claw at each other at least as much as they carried out his orders. It seems like even they don't really understand him. His goal isn't power, it's corruption and ultimately destruction, of everything. The Chosen think they're gonna rule the world once the Dark One wins, but my guess is they would eventually fare just as badly as everyone else, and then be destroyed w/ everything else. That seems to be what Ishamael is coming to understand, and the rest aren't.

Unless of course he turns out to be a generic Dark Lord type in the end after all, which would be a real shame.

Spoiler

Ishmael understood this from the begining, he's far too nihilistic compared to the rest of the them, which is why he is best attuned with the dark one's ambitions, more than any other forsaken. Power for him is only the means, not the goal. There is implied, among the other forsaken an intrinsic betrayal from the dark lord, a flavor of false promise.

If the charm & humor of these books could be captured, the material is a 7 part movie blockbuster or tv show waiting to happen.

It'll happen sooner or later, tho wether it becomes a GAME OF THRONES or a SHANNARRA CHRONICLES is anyone's guess.

[Glass Desert]

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 07:57 PM, said:

Andorion, on 14 December 2016 - 01:50 PM, said:

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

Started THE TRAITOR BARU CORMORANT in earbook. Three chapters in, I can see (hear) why it gets praise.

Started a dead tree non-fic, TIGER by John Vaillant. Basically a bunch of exKGB wildlife rangers go hunting for a killer tiger in backass Russia. Just a few chapters in, it's surprisingly addictive.

I will be looking forward to your reaction regarding Baru Cormorant.

I finished Babylon's Ashes by James Corey. Great book. Excellent in fact.

Also Liberation by Ian Tregillis. Not as good as book 2. Unsatisfactory ending.

Currently halfway into the Warrior Prophet and it is so so so good.

Were you in the love or hate camp re BARU?
Just got BABYLON, will start soon. Excited about that.

Andorion, on 14 December 2016 - 02:10 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 14 December 2016 - 02:01 PM, said:

Abyss, on 14 December 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

Finished ANANSI BOYS.
Yknow, I get why some people were dissappointed this wasn't an epic like AMERICAN GODS, but it's a charming and fun story in its own right, and very much classic Gaiman.Excellent narrator for the earbook.

And frankly, the only character who WAS in need of his own book from AG, was Mr. Nancy. So that was fitting. I liked it once I settled into the fact that it is a COMPLETELY different genre of book from AG.

I really do have to get around to reading American Gods one of these days

You do. You really really do.
Agreed w QT re ANANSI, and the book is a fun way to revisit that character. Interesting choice by Gaiman to go that route w the (not) sequel.If the AG show is successful (duh) we may see more.

Glass Desert, on 14 December 2016 - 06:21 PM, said:

death rattle, on 11 December 2016 - 06:18 AM, said:

@BK

Spoiler

Because the Dark One preferred them to be backbiting losers who would claw at each other at least as much as they carried out his orders. It seems like even they don't really understand him. His goal isn't power, it's corruption and ultimately destruction, of everything. The Chosen think they're gonna rule the world once the Dark One wins, but my guess is they would eventually fare just as badly as everyone else, and then be destroyed w/ everything else. That seems to be what Ishamael is coming to understand, and the rest aren't.

Unless of course he turns out to be a generic Dark Lord type in the end after all, which would be a real shame.

Spoiler

Ishmael understood this from the begining, he's far too nihilistic compared to the rest of the them, which is why he is best attuned with the dark one's ambitions, more than any other forsaken. Power for him is only the means, not the goal. There is implied, among the other forsaken an intrinsic betrayal from the dark lord, a flavor of false promise.

If the charm & humor of these books could be captured, the material is a 7 part movie blockbuster or tv show waiting to happen.

It'll happen sooner or later, tho wether it becomes a GAME OF THRONES or a SHANNARRA CHRONICLES is anyone's guess.

I feel this material would be better served as a movie franchise a la HP, cutting out the slow/tedious & messy parts and focusing on the stronger aspects. Also making rand the central protagonist would be a mistake. He will prove more effective in small doses (a bit of an Anomander Rake maybe)

Also, GoT' adult themes would be wasted here.

[Hairshirt]

I agree, not too much "adult" content in WoT for HBO, it's better served as a movie series. I suppose network television would work but Shanarra is so bad it scares me what WoT would look like. I'm on the fence with Rand not being the main character. Personally as a fan I like it, but I'm not sure if that works in Hollywood. You need someone to be out front to sell the movie like, like Harry Potter.


Just started reading The Fallen Blade series by Kelly Mccoullough, I'm intrigued by the shades but it seems slow going.

This post has been edited by Hairshirt: 14 December 2016 - 08:55 PM

[Glass Desert]

Hairshirt, on 14 December 2016 - 08:49 PM, said:

I agree, not too much "adult" content in WoT for HBO, it's better served as a movie series. I suppose network television would work but Shanarra is so bad it scares me what WoT would look like. I'm on the fence with Rand not being the main character. Personally as a fan I like it, but I'm not sure if that works in Hollywood. You need someone to be out front to sell the movie like, like Harry Potter.


Just started reading The Fallen Blade series by Kelly Mccoullough, I'm intrigued by the shades but it seems slow going.

Alfonso Cuaron could do wonders with this.

[polishgenius]

I've started Infinite Ground by Martin McInes, a debut from this year. Despite being marketed as a mainstream book rather than being confined to our poor SFF ghetto, it rather reminds me of both VanderMeer's Area X books and Brian Catling's The Vohhr. So far it seems like a good read for anyone who enjoys slow-burn, creepy mindfuckery and bizarre mystery.

I've also got book 3 of Luke Scull's Grim Company series on deck, though since I'm going to England and my huge store of realpaper books on Saturday I might not get that finished before I take the chance to spend two weeks doing various pickups and piecemeal re-reads.

[Mentalist]

Wrapped up "The Southern reach" trilogy.


Mixed impressions. On the one hand, Acceptance provided some needed clarification. On the other, the overall message and the general almost helplessness it evokes is not something that sits particularly well with me.

I don't regret reading it. But making up my mind about it may take some time.

EDIT: next I'll give Marc Turner's "When the Heavens Fall" a shot.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 15 December 2016 - 05:45 AM

[Abyss]

25% into Warren Ellis' NORMAL.
...damn that is some crazy ass shit there.

[Traveller]

Just finished Patrick O'Brian's The Hundred Days.

I've just read maybe 15 of the series in row now, unable to stop picking up the next after finishing each. So very good, the best historical novels I've ever read (in the sense of feeling 'of the time') and I'll be sorry to leave the series.

Only one left now.. and I'm tempted to leave it for the future. I'm still slightly shocked by the

Spoiler

death of Diana; but apparently O'Brian lost his wife around the time he wrote it, which may explain the decision. Having it happen off-screen as it were works really well however, and it wasn't entirely unpredictable.. maybe he had planned it that way, as there had already been a mention of the bridge in a previous book.

What a series though. Thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to the near-end.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 15 December 2016 - 08:14 AM

[Macros]

What's the gist in them, is it Sharpesque follow one main character and his supporting cast or does it vary?

[Slow Ben]

Finally finished my re-read of Forge of Darkness.

Jumping right in to Fall of Light.

[Salt-Man Z]

Finished C. J. Cherryh's Rider at the Gate last night. Really good. Alien planet full of telepathic-ish (they "speak" in images) beasts, and the the only line of defense are trained riders who team up with native "nighthorses" (similar to Earth horses, though they have three toes and a love of bacon.) It's unlike other Cherryh sci-fi that I've read; the writing has a very trancelike, almost stream-of-consciousness thing going on, a brilliant choice given the way riders and their horses communicate. The worldbuilding is very much SE-style, where you get info only in dribs and drabs rationed throughout the entirety of the book. But the atmosphere is fantastic: the frigid snowstorms in the mountain roads, the oppressive sense of dangerous rogue beasts in the wilderness that can lead a man astray by implanting false visions into his head. And the dreamlike prose makes this one that resonates in your mind between readings, and long after, too. There's a sequel, too; I thought it was just a related book in the same world sharing a few characters, but no, according to the preview it picks up immediately after this one ends. And it's a fine, standalone ending as it is, but I'm definitely going to have to track the next one down.

[Dutch]

I have finished Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet a few days ago and I really enjoyed it.

Before Pillars I have finished Ringworld by Larry Niven, still on the fence wether or not to read more books of the Ringworld series.

Currently reading Doctor Who: Twelve Doctors of Christmas before delving into World without End by Ken Follet

[Mentalist]

Wrapped up "Quantum Thief" re-read. Gonna start "Fractal Prince" in the Monday commute.

[Andorion]

Finished CJ Cherryh's Foreigner.

An immensely frustrating, confusing and annoying read. But I think thats how the author wanted it to be.

[Abyss]

Mentalist, on 17 December 2016 - 01:38 AM, said:

Wrapped up "Quantum Thief" re-read. Gonna start "Fractal Prince" in the Monday commute.

You are in for SUCH a treat.