[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 18 October 2017 - 05:09 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 18 October 2017 - 04:17 PM, said:

Now I am excited because tomorrow is the release of Fall of Dragons, the fifth and final book in Miles Cameron's Red Knight series.

Still have the first one waiting on my Kindle...hoping to get to it soon!

I'm just saying, the series is finished now, good time to start...

[T77]

Abyss, on 16 October 2017 - 05:28 PM, said:

Abyss, on 12 October 2017 - 02:14 PM, said:

...

Am getting to the end of HELL DIVERS... this was a book (earbook) i had grabbed at serious discount a while ago on the strength of various reviews that put it as solid popcorn reading. Author is Nicholas Sansbury Smith... had never heard of him but apparently he has a bunch of more or less mil sf stuff published or self-pub'd.


It isn't bad at all. It's popcorn, way more action/thriller in an sf setting - post nuclear war apocalypse, shred of humanity survives in large airboats, commandos raid the surface for supplies - than actual sf, but he writes good Hollywood action, keeps things moving, and if his characters are easily familiar archetypes, it just means less time on development and more time running and shooting. It works. Its practically a videogame in book form, but in a good way. If he sticks the landing i'll probably go straight into the second book. Generally really strong earbook narration.

Nailed the landing... Smith writes some really solid action. Cinematic but plausible and knows how to ratchet up the tension nicely.
I went straight into bk 2 HELL DIVERS: GHOSTS and he's already thrown some crazy stuff into the mix. Building on the world's backstory a bit but still lots of running/shooting/stabbing.

Fun series. If you're looking for some popcorn reading post-apocalyptic shootemup, i think it's worth the look. Not sure of the timing of bk 3 but the author seems fairly productive.

I read his Extinction cycle and thought it was OK. And I read the first book in the Hell Diver's series and while I liked the premise more than Extinction - I love air-ships - I felt this was weaker. I know you think this is popcorn reading and I agree, it's just that his characters, plot and dialogue are laughably bad. It just barely passes the bar for me to keep going, but if my library didn't have it I wouldn't read it. And I can't believe the high scores on Amazon.

This post has been edited by T77: 18 October 2017 - 06:48 PM

[Abyss]

T77, on 18 October 2017 - 06:45 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 October 2017 - 05:28 PM, said:

Abyss, on 12 October 2017 - 02:14 PM, said:

...

Am getting to the end of HELL DIVERS... this was a book (earbook) i had grabbed at serious discount a while ago on the strength of various reviews that put it as solid popcorn reading. Author is Nicholas Sansbury Smith... had never heard of him but apparently he has a bunch of more or less mil sf stuff published or self-pub'd.


It isn't bad at all. It's popcorn, way more action/thriller in an sf setting - post nuclear war apocalypse, shred of humanity survives in large airboats, commandos raid the surface for supplies - than actual sf, but he writes good Hollywood action, keeps things moving, and if his characters are easily familiar archetypes, it just means less time on development and more time running and shooting. It works. Its practically a videogame in book form, but in a good way. If he sticks the landing i'll probably go straight into the second book. Generally really strong earbook narration.

Nailed the landing... Smith writes some really solid action. Cinematic but plausible and knows how to ratchet up the tension nicely.
I went straight into bk 2 HELL DIVERS: GHOSTS and he's already thrown some crazy stuff into the mix. Building on the world's backstory a bit but still lots of running/shooting/stabbing.

Fun series. If you're looking for some popcorn reading post-apocalyptic shootemup, i think it's worth the look. Not sure of the timing of bk 3 but the author seems fairly productive.

I read his Extinction cycle and thought it was OK. And I read the first book in the Hell Diver's series and while I liked the premise more than Extinction - I love air-ships - I felt this was weaker. I know you think this is popcorn reading and I agree, it's just that his characters, plot and dialogue are laughably bad. It just barely passes the bar for me to keep going, but if my library didn't have it I wouldn't read it. And I can't believe the high scores on Amazon.

Just finished book 2 GHOSTS, the last 100 pages or so are basically one long insane action sequence right out of a videogame, only better.

It's very very basic - large chunks of the plot in bk 2 make no sense if you given it any thought, and at one point even the characters comment on it - but the action storytelling is flat out great. Add a talented earbook narrator and yeah, it's popcorn, but good popcorn. Not gourmet popcorn... we're talking chain theater oversalted doused in butter-like liquid popcorn you can't stop eating even when it's somewhat gross... ok the analogy is a stretch but even so, i could overlook the shortcomings because damn that was nuts and i'm going to have to read/ear the last book when it shows up because bk 2 topped bk1 for action and i need to see what he does next to top that.


Next up, in ebook Ketty Jay bk 4 ACE OF SKULLS at long last. Nice to be back with that crew.

In earbook something called HOPE AND RED (Empire of Storms #1) by Jon Skovron. I grabbed this free from an audible promo based on some good reviews, the fun of something completely unknown, and the very basic blurb that sounded like some classic fantasy fun, hints of Gemmell and Lawrence and Lynch (when i still liked his writing). Just a bit into it, and while one plotline is so trope-heavy as to verge on predictable, the other is damn funny. Also, pirates. Incompetent, fantasy world pirates. The author is also the narrator, which is usually a warning sign if it isn't Neil Gaiman, but he does well enough.

[QuickTidal]

polishgenius, on 18 October 2017 - 06:22 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 18 October 2017 - 05:09 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 18 October 2017 - 04:17 PM, said:

Now I am excited because tomorrow is the release of Fall of Dragons, the fifth and final book in Miles Cameron's Red Knight series.

Still have the first one waiting on my Kindle...hoping to get to it soon!

I'm just saying, the series is finished now, good time to start...

Started it last night, and continued this morning. I'm already impressed. REALLY great beginning!

[Macros]

QuickTidal, on 18 October 2017 - 05:09 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 18 October 2017 - 04:17 PM, said:

Now I am excited because tomorrow is the release of Fall of Dragons, the fifth and final book in Miles Cameron's Red Knight series.

Still have the first one waiting on my Kindle...hoping to get to it soon!

How did I miss this release date??

To Amazon!

[End of Disc One]

I enjoyed The Red Knight and still need to read book 2. Unfortunately it will probably have to wait for next year. Mario Odyssey, Oathbringer, Xenoblade 2...too much top priority media to consume my time.

I don't see myself finishing Perdido Street Station before then either. This deserves my full attention so I'll need to figure something out...

[Andorion]

So I finished Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Spoiler

Firstly I absolutely loved this book and its strange emphasis on the Council living community. I am getting to know so much about London

Secondly, we finally get to see Nightingale cut loose. And it was seriously impressive. I felt like cheering when he shot his cuffs. I didn't as I was on the bus.

Thirdly, that ending.....I simply did not expect it at all. At all. Just blew me out of the water.

[Aptorian]

Yeah, Aaronovitch deserves props for pulling a fast one on us.

Spoiler

I was legitimately angry with what's her name when she betrayed Grant. That Bitch! Still haven't read the newest book - books?

[Abyss]

Andorion, on 19 October 2017 - 02:36 PM, said:

So I finished Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch

Spoiler

Firstly I absolutely loved this book and its strange emphasis on the Council living community. I am getting to know so much about London

Secondly, we finally get to see Nightingale cut loose. And it was seriously impressive. I felt like cheering when he shot his cuffs. I didn't as I was on the bus.

Thirdly, that ending.....I simply did not expect it at all. At all. Just blew me out of the water.

Alternative Goose, on 19 October 2017 - 03:18 PM, said:

Yeah, Aaronovitch deserves props for pulling a fast one on us.

Spoiler

I was legitimately angry with what's her name when she betrayed Grant. That Bitch! Still haven't read the newest book - books?

Keep reading. It gets even better.

[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 19 October 2017 - 12:24 PM, said:

Started it last night, and continued this morning. I'm already impressed. REALLY great beginning!

Considering I didn't love the beginning of the first one, it actually took me two goes to get through, that's a positive sign...

I'm so glad I picked it up again.


I'm 20% into book 5 and it's gone ape-shit already. This book is gonna be intense.

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 19 October 2017 - 05:26 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 19 October 2017 - 12:24 PM, said:

Started it last night, and continued this morning. I'm already impressed. REALLY great beginning!

Considering I didn't love the beginning of the first one, it actually took me two goes to get through, that's a positive sign...

I'm so glad I picked it up again.


I'm 20% into book 5 and it's gone ape-shit already. This book is gonna be intense.

I am so divided over this series. I really like most of it, but the foreign knight really put me off for some reason. I really admire what the author has done, but for some reason I can't bring myself to love it.

[polishgenius]

Andorion, on 19 October 2017 - 05:44 PM, said:

I am so divided over this series. I really like most of it, but the foreign knight really put me off for some reason. I really admire what the author has done, but for some reason I can't bring myself to love it.

Which one,

Spoiler

Jean de Vrailly, AKA Evil Lancelot? To be fair, you're kinda supposed to hate him, he's an arsehole.

How far did you get?

This post has been edited by polishgenius: 19 October 2017 - 05:55 PM

[Andorion]

polishgenius, on 19 October 2017 - 05:54 PM, said:

Andorion, on 19 October 2017 - 05:44 PM, said:

I am so divided over this series. I really like most of it, but the foreign knight really put me off for some reason. I really admire what the author has done, but for some reason I can't bring myself to love it.

Which one,

Spoiler

Jean de Vrailly, AKA Evil Lancelot? To be fair, you're kinda supposed to hate him, he's an arsehole.

How far did you get?

Yep, that one. I finished the first book.

Spoiler

It just seemed so out of place. Like I would have been perfectly satisfied with a Wild vs Red Knight book, he seemed so... irritating. Though I think he is supposed to have a much bigger role, given the "angel" and the vision and all.

I may continue the series, only its dropped down a bit in the priority list.

[polishgenius]

Yeah, although Cameron takes pains to give each book a self-contained arc, there is in all of them some stuff that is more setup for later than directly relevant to the given book. It does pay off, imo.

[End of Disc One]

polishgenius, on 19 October 2017 - 05:54 PM, said:

Andorion, on 19 October 2017 - 05:44 PM, said:

I am so divided over this series. I really like most of it, but the foreign knight really put me off for some reason. I really admire what the author has done, but for some reason I can't bring myself to love it.

Which one,

Spoiler

Jean de Vrailly, AKA Evil Lancelot? To be fair, you're kinda supposed to hate him, he's an arsehole.

How far did you get?

I remember reading his intro chapter with Gawin, and it really made me feel for Gawin. It had been a while since a book made me hate a character so much, so quickly. But I ended up looking forward to all de Vrailly sections because I found them to be interesting.

[Chance]

Finished up the Core and it had an action sequence late that nearly redeemed the book for me, not a perfect book, not a really bad one but more of an average one.

Starting the Infinity Engine, Dark Transformation book 3 found the second one less awesome then the first but Neal Asher pretty much always delivers.

This post has been edited by Chance: 19 October 2017 - 06:21 PM

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

I'm about halfway through Catling's The Vorrh. I can't decide if I like it or not. There are a lot of little segments, ideas, and sentences that I love. The overarching plot? Not sure yet. Most of the characters? I could leave 'em.

At this stage, I can confidently write that I don't understand the praise heaped upon this book by Moore, Pullman, etc.

But, it's still keeping me reading. There are few things in literature that pull me in like a mysterious, ancient, possibly sentient forest. I love them.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 19 October 2017 - 07:52 PM

[polishgenius]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 19 October 2017 - 07:32 PM, said:

But, it's still keeping me reading. There are few things in literature that pull me in like a mysterious, ancient, possibly sentient forest. I love them.

Hope you've read Naomi Novik's Uprooted.


I liked the Vorrh, but my thoughts on it are gonna be in large part contingent on the sequels being good. And I didn't even realise the first one's been out since March- that seems to have been some terrible marketing.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

polishgenius, on 19 October 2017 - 07:36 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 19 October 2017 - 07:32 PM, said:

But, it's still keeping me reading. There are few things in literature that pull me in like a mysterious, ancient, possibly sentient forest. I love them.

Hope you've read Naomi Novik's Uprooted.


I liked the Vorrh, but my thoughts on it are gonna be in large part contingent on the sequels being good. And I didn't even realise the first one's been out since March- that seems to have been some terrible marketing.

Yeah, the forest in that was exactly what I'm talking about! See quote:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 09 June 2016 - 01:38 PM, said:

I've finished Uprooted - highly recommend it! I'm not sure why, as nothing in it resembled anything in this book, but it sort of reminded me of Wicked. No idea why.

Looks like I read it in June 2016.

I had assumed The Vorrh was a standalone. At this point, I'm not sure I'd read the sequels. But, we'll see...quel.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 19 October 2017 - 08:03 PM

[polishgenius]

The other thing Uprooted reminded me of was Mythago Wood. Man, I need to get back into that series. Only ever read the first book and I don't know why.





It's weird about how The Vorrh got marketed. I read it ages ago, and I think there was some weird situation where it was republished or something coz I remember a fairly big push for it after I read it, and references to the trilogy vanished, and then all of a sudden just when I'd given up on it happening coz I'd seen no word whatsoever, bang there's a sequel.

It's a fairly standalone story iirc but there are questions that don't get answered.

I assume you know (it was in the intro of my copy, but not sure if that's still the case) that Raymond Roussell was a real author who wrote a novel about the Vorrh, so this is a bit of a meta-fictional thing.