[Macros]

Just finished Shogun.


I get why so many of you pushed it, and there were some epic moments.
But I can't but feel let down by book 6.

I Feel like it should have stopped after Osaka, then carried on in another book, possibly expanding the run up to, and maybe the aftermath after, THE battle. Or just had an epilogue there.

I dunno, I just felt I should have got more for 1100 pages of investment, but we can all agree Toranaga is the shit.

Disappointed the rest of the Asian saga doesn't directly tie into this, a direct sequel, much shorter sequel, would be nice to roll into just to tie it up for myself.

[Salt-Man Z]

worry, on 04 May 2017 - 07:56 PM, said:

Now onto Citadel of the Autarch.

Yaaaay

[Baco Xtath]

About 3/4 through City of Miracles. Robert Jackson Bennett is definitely one of my favorite authors and again, he's knocking it out of the park. This series is as different as Jemisin's imo. And just as good if not better.

[polishgenius]

I'm certainly looking forward to Bennett's new one soon. But I do think that Max Gladstone's Craft sequence does a similar sort of premise better (though the tone is very different- not a comedy, but definitely more at home with its own ridiculousness, so to speak. Bennett goes more mythical). Suspect it's close enough that it's a matter of 'each to his own' though...

[Morgoth]

I've been reading a lot on the Kindle lately. Most recently I finished the first two books in the Bobiverse by Dennis E. Taylor. It's not high art for sure, but it's fun and feels strangely like playing a 4x space strategy game.

I finished Senlin Ascends, which I really liked, and Three Parts Dead, which I loved (thanks polishgenius!). Tried Starship Mage but couldn't stomach the poor writing and gave up after 36 %. Pushed my way through the Forgetting Moon even though I didn't really like it. Consumed The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi in one sitting even though I didn't feel particularly enamored by the plot. I just really enjoy Scalzi's dialogue.

I'm now working my way through the Stand for the first time.

[Andorion]

Morgoth, on 05 May 2017 - 07:00 AM, said:

I've been reading a lot on the Kindle lately. Most recently I finished the first two books in the Bobiverse by Dennis E. Taylor. It's not high art for sure, but it's fun and feels strangely like playing a 4x space strategy game.

I finished Senlin Ascends, which I really liked, and Three Parts Dead, which I loved (thanks polishgenius!). Tried Starship Mage but couldn't stomach the poor writing and gave up after 36 %. Pushed my way through the Forgetting Moon even though I didn't really like it. Consumed The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi in one sitting even though I didn't feel particularly enamored by the plot. I just really enjoy Scalzi's dialogue.

I'm now working my way through the Stand for the first time.

The bobiverse books are very very entertaining.

I just finished Senlin Ascends and I really loved it. Halfway into Arm of the Sphinx and its very very good

[Macros]

What didn't you like about the Forgetting Moon?
It was going to be my next doorstopper to read

[Morgoth]

Macros, on 05 May 2017 - 10:22 AM, said:

What didn't you like about the Forgetting Moon?
It was going to be my next doorstopper to read

I guess first and foremost the whole orphan with mysterious parents and a secretive guardian thing stopped being interesting a few decades ago (or centuries, maybe). Yes the author tries to play with expectations, but he does so without much success I think. The story never strays far from familiar territory and is too predictable for my taste.

I also didn't much care for any of the main characters. They stray little from the classical archetypes and it just became boring after a while.

[Baco Xtath]

Also finished the second Bobiverse book last week (or the week before). Really looking forward to the next one and the potential showdown.

[QuickTidal]

Morgoth, on 05 May 2017 - 10:45 AM, said:

Macros, on 05 May 2017 - 10:22 AM, said:

What didn't you like about the Forgetting Moon?
It was going to be my next doorstopper to read

I guess first and foremost the whole orphan with mysterious parents and a secretive guardian thing stopped being interesting a few decades ago (or centuries, maybe). Yes the author tries to play with expectations, but he does so without much success I think. The story never strays far from familiar territory and is too predictable for my taste.

I also didn't much care for any of the main characters. They stray little from the classical archetypes and it just became boring after a while.

I think these are all the reasons I liked it. It's Classic FantasyTM (with a little more brutality than average for that). But I think I was actively seeking out this type of Classic Tropeish Fantasy as a respite from everyone else who is telling fantasy in other niches. I wanted something that hearkened back.

[Macros]

Well hell there's two conflicting views on the same issue.

Now I had to read it to pass final judgement on who is right and who is a racing lunatic.

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 05 May 2017 - 04:15 PM, said:

Well hell there's two conflicting views on the same issue.

Now I had to read it to pass final judgement on who is right and who is a racing lunatic.

I will likely be the raging lunatic...but I hope you don't hold it against me.

Morgoth usually has his head on his shoulders more than I do.

[JPK]

Well, I just finished Water Sleeps. I understand why this book is very divisive because Cook makes some very interesting/odd choices on where to take the Company in this one.

Spoiler

1- that was a harsh time jump for this one. 14 years of lying low while waging guerilla warfare is rough. Poor Sahra.

2- While I'm ok with Sleepy, I spent the first half of the book missing Murgen. In the long run, it was obviously the right choice to spend time in her head because it allowed him to explore both gender and religious themes in this book that he could not have done with any of the three previous annalists.

3- The single pov chapter from Murgen was a vicious tease.

4- An interesting exploration of the theme of redemption with Willow Swan. As well as facing the consequences of one's actions - the loss of Cordy Mather. I was hoping for a bit more from Swan acknowledging that his actions directly led to the horrible death of his best friend, though I understand it was lightly touched upon while they were all high one demon-shrooms.

5- Goblin and One-Eye broke my heart in this one. At least Goblin got to go out like a boss. The slow surrender of One-Eye hurt worse once I really got to thinking on it.

6- This is the BIG one. He pulled a Wolfe here and went way future with this series. The reference to Sleeping Beauty by Goblin while staring at Kina really gave it away. The Guardian Demon is totally AI, as well. I'm curious to the nature of the plain, because my first thought was space-station, butt the water is throwing me off on that one. It's also very interesting you me that the different worlds (so far) are all physical replicas of one another.

Yeah, this one left me with a LOT to think about.

[polishgenius]

Morgoth, on 05 May 2017 - 07:00 AM, said:

and Three Parts Dead, which I loved (thanks polishgenius!).

Good to see this getting love... me and Andorion have been pimping it for time.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

JPK, on 06 May 2017 - 05:40 PM, said:

Well, I just finished Water Sleeps. I understand why this book is very divisive because Cook makes some very interesting/odd choices on where to take the Company in this one.

Spoiler

1- that was a harsh time jump for this one. 14 years of lying low while waging guerilla warfare is rough. Poor Sahra.

2- While I'm ok with Sleepy, I spent the first half of the book missing Murgen. In the long run, it was obviously the right choice to spend time in her head because it allowed him to explore both gender and religious themes in this book that he could not have done with any of the three previous annalists.

3- The single pov chapter from Murgen was a vicious tease.

4- An interesting exploration of the theme of redemption with Willow Swan. As well as facing the consequences of one's actions - the loss of Cordy Mather. I was hoping for a bit more from Swan acknowledging that his actions directly led to the horrible death of his best friend, though I understand it was lightly touched upon while they were all high one demon-shrooms.

5- Goblin and One-Eye broke my heart in this one. At least Goblin got to go out like a boss. The slow surrender of One-Eye hurt worse once I really got to thinking on it.

6- This is the BIG one. He pulled a Wolfe here and went way future with this series. The reference to Sleeping Beauty by Goblin while staring at Kina really gave it away. The Guardian Demon is totally AI, as well. I'm curious to the nature of the plain, because my first thought was space-station, butt the water is throwing me off on that one. It's also very interesting you me that the different worlds (so far) are all physical replicas of one another.

Yeah, this one left me with a LOT to think about.

Can you quote or page number the

Spoiler

Sleeping Beauty

reference? I don't think that stuck out to me in any of my reads — or, if it did, I just assumed it was used in one of those "this is a universal story that will pop up in any world where there are people" ways.

[Macros]

Just about to start the Forgetting Moon.

This better not suck

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 06 May 2017 - 10:44 PM, said:

Opening of Tigana is ok. Ya know what it kinda reminds me of? Elantris.

Starting Tigana? I was wondering what to read - guess I will give this another shot.

[amphibian]

JPK, on 06 May 2017 - 05:40 PM, said:

Well, I just finished Water Sleeps. I understand why this book is very divisive because Cook makes some very interesting/odd choices on where to take the Company in this one.

Spoiler

1- that was a harsh time jump for this one. 14 years of lying low while waging guerilla warfare is rough. Poor Sahra.

2- While I'm ok with Sleepy, I spent the first half of the book missing Murgen. In the long run, it was obviously the right choice to spend time in her head because it allowed him to explore both gender and religious themes in this book that he could not have done with any of the three previous annalists.

3- The single pov chapter from Murgen was a vicious tease.

4- An interesting exploration of the theme of redemption with Willow Swan. As well as facing the consequences of one's actions - the loss of Cordy Mather. I was hoping for a bit more from Swan acknowledging that his actions directly led to the horrible death of his best friend, though I understand it was lightly touched upon while they were all high one demon-shrooms.

5- Goblin and One-Eye broke my heart in this one. At least Goblin got to go out like a boss. The slow surrender of One-Eye hurt worse once I really got to thinking on it.

6- This is the BIG one. He pulled a Wolfe here and went way future with this series. The reference to Sleeping Beauty by Goblin while staring at Kina really gave it away. The Guardian Demon is totally AI, as well. I'm curious to the nature of the plain, because my first thought was space-station, butt the water is throwing me off on that one. It's also very interesting you me that the different worlds (so far) are all physical replicas of one another.

Yeah, this one left me with a LOT to think about.

I thought it was fascinating how Cook could have continued with a march towards destiny, but choose to take this someplace more​ challenging and more stressful.

The next/last(?) one will upend things too, but in a different way.

[Andorion]

Briar King, on 07 May 2017 - 12:52 AM, said:

Andorion, on 07 May 2017 - 12:13 AM, said:

Briar King, on 06 May 2017 - 10:44 PM, said:

Opening of Tigana is ok. Ya know what it kinda reminds me of? Elantris.

Starting Tigana? I was wondering what to read - guess I will give this another shot.

Yep. Did you see my recos for you a pg or 2 back? Was just throwing some titles out for you.

Just saw them now. I haven't been online a lot lately.

I read the first two books of Greg Keyes Age of Unreason books. They were pretty good, so I might look up this series.

I have read a couple of other Stackpole books, so always worth a glance.

Are the Latro books like Book of the New Sun?

[JPK]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 06 May 2017 - 09:56 PM, said:

JPK, on 06 May 2017 - 05:40 PM, said:

Well, I just finished Water Sleeps. I understand why this book is very divisive because Cook makes some very interesting/odd choices on where to take the Company in this one.

Spoiler

1- that was a harsh time jump for this one. 14 years of lying low while waging guerilla warfare is rough. Poor Sahra.

2- While I'm ok with Sleepy, I spent the first half of the book missing Murgen. In the long run, it was obviously the right choice to spend time in her head because it allowed him to explore both gender and religious themes in this book that he could not have done with any of the three previous annalists.

3- The single pov chapter from Murgen was a vicious tease.

4- An interesting exploration of the theme of redemption with Willow Swan. As well as facing the consequences of one's actions - the loss of Cordy Mather. I was hoping for a bit more from Swan acknowledging that his actions directly led to the horrible death of his best friend, though I understand it was lightly touched upon while they were all high one demon-shrooms.

5- Goblin and One-Eye broke my heart in this one. At least Goblin got to go out like a boss. The slow surrender of One-Eye hurt worse once I really got to thinking on it.

6- This is the BIG one. He pulled a Wolfe here and went way future with this series. The reference to Sleeping Beauty by Goblin while staring at Kina really gave it away. The Guardian Demon is totally AI, as well. I'm curious to the nature of the plain, because my first thought was space-station, butt the water is throwing me off on that one. It's also very interesting you me that the different worlds (so far) are all physical replicas of one another.

Yeah, this one left me with a LOT to think about.

Can you quote or page number the

Spoiler

Sleeping Beauty

reference? I don't think that stuck out to me in any of my reads — or, if it did, I just assumed it was used in one of those "this is a universal story that will pop up in any world where there are people" ways.

Ok, so I have the "Many Deaths of the Black Company" omnibus version, but for this it's chapter 89, page 322.

Spoiler

Quote

"Where have we seen all this before?" Goblin asked, voice dripping sarcasm. "She must be awfully weak or she'd pluck somthing better from our minds than a replay of an old Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. There isn't a castle built like this anywhere south of the Sea of Torments."
"A castle? What? What castle?" The word for castle did not exist in Taglian or Jaicuri. I knew it meant a kind of fortress only because I had spent so much time exploring the Annals.
"We seem to be inside the keep of an abandoned castle. There're dormant rose creepers all over the place. There're tons of cobwebs. In the middle of everything is a beautiful blonde woman lying in an open casket. She just begs to be kissed and brought back to life. The part that always gets ignored, and that our ungracious hostess has overlooked here, is that the bitch in the story almost certainly was a vampire."

Now, I can see what you meant about the universal story potential here. I'm not sure that I agree with it though. Cook did such an amazing job at building his nations and cultures into their own unique thing even though the were obviously based on variations of Islam (I'm mostly thinking of the religious cultures heavily featured in the Glittering Stone books) without stopping and using the source material here. I really have a hard time thinking that he'd drop in a tale that is so obviously widespread as the Sleeping Beauty myth (down to the rose creepers) without it being absolutely intentional. There are any number of things that he could have dropped in as Goblin's vision of Kina, but I'm positive that he did that on purpose.

The other point that I've been arguing with myself all afternoon is if this went sci-fi an the plains and the shadowgates link up artificial worlds (thus the identical geography aspects) or if the shadowgates allow access to side dimensions.

At this point there is no question that I'm digging into Senlin Ascends and then jumping into Soldiers Live immediately afterward.