[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Used Fugazzotto's novella, The Witch Of The Sands, as a palate cleanser. It was okay, don't really see the hype.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 18 August 2019 - 02:10 AM

[Aptorian]

Read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

That was a slog of a book. It's only a hundred pages or so but it took me damn near seven hours to chew my way through it.

It's an interesting book, mostly because of the old timey nature of the setting and narrative. But it's heavy with unnecessarily complicated observations. It's also very frustrating because you barely get to see or hear the legendary Kurtz.

Better to just watch Apocalypse Now I think.

Also read Nick Clausen's Menneskekød (Human Flesh). It's a horror book for kids told via blog posts, police reports, text messages, etc. It was surprisingly good. Hope the author writes more books in this format.

Also it's about Wendigos which I've been fascinated by ever since I read a 70s/80s X-Men comic about it.

Think I'm gonna read Joseph Heller's Catch 22 next.

[Aptorian]

I'm 25 pages into Catch 22 and I'm now convinced that this book is the blueprint for the MASH TV-show.

Yossarian is like a mix of Clinger and Hawkeye and Orr is BJ Hunnycut. They're living in the same kind of overfurnished tent, they're constantly scheming and having insane arguments.

It's brilliant.

[Andorion]

I have decided to reread some of the Culture books. Currently reading Consider Phlebas and its great.

Also started Lois Bujold's Penric books

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Been reading a few short stories on the Humanity, Fuck Yeah! subreddit today. They're each like 10-minute reads. In particular, I really enjoyed We Knew Them.


Taking a peek into Le Guin's Hainish Novels & Stories: Vol 1, the first of two omnibuses by The Library Of America. Quite pretty (though the pages are thinner than paper). Vol 1 contains:
Rocannon's World
Planet Of Exile
City Of Illusions
The Left Hand Of Darkness (I've read this before, but may re-read)
The Dispossessed
Various Stories (Winter's King, Vaster Than Empires And More Slow, The Day Before The Revolution, and Coming Of Age In Karhide)

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 19 August 2019 - 01:59 AM

[Abyss]

Pierce Brown's DARK AGE.
About 2-3 chapters/1 hour to go.... no bull, this book is the Memories of Ice of this series. Or possibly the Deadhouse Gates, depends on how it ends. I'll let you know.
'Epic' doesn't even begin to describe it.
I am all kinds of blown away.
The action, the character arcs, the twists, the sheer level of successive 'i did NOT see that coming' hammerblows to the reader's emotions.

Wow.
Don't even get me started on the earbook cast of narrators, these people are insanely talented at what they do.

[Tiste Simeon]

Andorion, on 19 August 2019 - 12:49 AM, said:

I have decided to reread some of the Culture books. Currently reading Consider Phlebas and its great.

Also started Lois Bujold's Penric books

Yes! The Culture is immense!

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Step aside, Ursula, so I can step into Kirstein's The Lost Steersman.

[Maark Abbott]

Abyss, on 16 August 2019 - 02:34 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 16 August 2019 - 11:54 AM, said:

I started Lev Grossman's The Magicians. I've been a fan of the show, so it's time I started the series.

Opinions vary on this series but i really enjoyed it. The resemblance to the show is limited.

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 12:57 PM, said:

Tsundoku, on 16 August 2019 - 09:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 07:03 AM, said:

Or maybe I could just try to reread Bakker

Feeling a bit of self-loathing and/or constipated, are we?

Nah, but if the root cause of my reading despondency was throwaway, farcical, faux-comical fare, my logic is I go to the opposite end and read something well written and not bad to cure the issue.

Have you tried Celia Friedman's COLDFIRE trilo?
I ask because tho very different, it has Bakker'esque elements to the tone and some themes.

I have not read them, that is bullshit, I have not read them. I HAVE NAHT.

Sell them to me.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Maark Abbott, on 20 August 2019 - 11:43 AM, said:

Abyss, on 16 August 2019 - 02:34 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 16 August 2019 - 11:54 AM, said:

I started Lev Grossman's The Magicians. I've been a fan of the show, so it's time I started the series.

Opinions vary on this series but i really enjoyed it. The resemblance to the show is limited.

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 12:57 PM, said:

Tsundoku, on 16 August 2019 - 09:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 07:03 AM, said:

Or maybe I could just try to reread Bakker

Feeling a bit of self-loathing and/or constipated, are we?

Nah, but if the root cause of my reading despondency was throwaway, farcical, faux-comical fare, my logic is I go to the opposite end and read something well written and not bad to cure the issue.

Have you tried Celia Friedman's COLDFIRE trilo?
I ask because tho very different, it has Bakker'esque elements to the tone and some themes.

I have not read them, that is bullshit, I have not read them. I HAVE NAHT.

Sell them to me.

But, have you read C.S. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy?

[Abyss]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 20 August 2019 - 02:16 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 20 August 2019 - 11:43 AM, said:

Abyss, on 16 August 2019 - 02:34 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 16 August 2019 - 11:54 AM, said:

I started Lev Grossman's The Magicians. I've been a fan of the show, so it's time I started the series.

Opinions vary on this series but i really enjoyed it. The resemblance to the show is limited.

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 12:57 PM, said:

Tsundoku, on 16 August 2019 - 09:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 07:03 AM, said:

Or maybe I could just try to reread Bakker

Feeling a bit of self-loathing and/or constipated, are we?

Nah, but if the root cause of my reading despondency was throwaway, farcical, faux-comical fare, my logic is I go to the opposite end and read something well written and not bad to cure the issue.

Have you tried Celia Friedman's COLDFIRE trilo?
I ask because tho very different, it has Bakker'esque elements to the tone and some themes.

I have not read them, that is bullshit, I have not read them. I HAVE NAHT.

Sell them to me.

But, have you read C.S. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy?

I was wondering the same thing.


...in any event the first ebook is $2.99 on amazon so no great commitment required.
I should probably clarify: there is minimal sex, no rape, the violence is not graphic, and no black semen flies across the room at any point, but the 'dark' themes about belief, sacrifice, and redemption, and the general story echoes what Bakker does. One of the lead characters is utterly someone Bakker could have created, only he would have made him rapey'er.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Abyss, on 20 August 2019 - 04:08 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 20 August 2019 - 02:16 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 20 August 2019 - 11:43 AM, said:

Abyss, on 16 August 2019 - 02:34 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 16 August 2019 - 11:54 AM, said:

I started Lev Grossman's The Magicians. I've been a fan of the show, so it's time I started the series.

Opinions vary on this series but i really enjoyed it. The resemblance to the show is limited.

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 12:57 PM, said:

Tsundoku, on 16 August 2019 - 09:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 07:03 AM, said:

Or maybe I could just try to reread Bakker

Feeling a bit of self-loathing and/or constipated, are we?

Nah, but if the root cause of my reading despondency was throwaway, farcical, faux-comical fare, my logic is I go to the opposite end and read something well written and not bad to cure the issue.

Have you tried Celia Friedman's COLDFIRE trilo?
I ask because tho very different, it has Bakker'esque elements to the tone and some themes.

I have not read them, that is bullshit, I have not read them. I HAVE NAHT.

Sell them to me.

But, have you read C.S. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy?

I was wondering the same thing.


...in any event the first ebook is $2.99 on amazon so no great commitment required.
I should probably clarify: there is minimal sex, no rape, the violence is not graphic, and no black semen flies across the room at any point, but the 'dark' themes about belief, sacrifice, and redemption, and the general story echoes what Bakker does. One of the lead characters is utterly someone Bakker could have created, only he would have made him rapey'er.

Reminds me of a joke I just made up: What's the similarity between a rapist and Arya Stark?

[Abyss]

Both want to stick you with the pointy end?

[Maark Abbott]

Abyss, on 20 August 2019 - 04:08 PM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 20 August 2019 - 02:16 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 20 August 2019 - 11:43 AM, said:

Abyss, on 16 August 2019 - 02:34 PM, said:

acesn8s, on 16 August 2019 - 11:54 AM, said:

I started Lev Grossman's The Magicians. I've been a fan of the show, so it's time I started the series.

Opinions vary on this series but i really enjoyed it. The resemblance to the show is limited.

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 12:57 PM, said:

Tsundoku, on 16 August 2019 - 09:36 AM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 16 August 2019 - 07:03 AM, said:

Or maybe I could just try to reread Bakker

Feeling a bit of self-loathing and/or constipated, are we?

Nah, but if the root cause of my reading despondency was throwaway, farcical, faux-comical fare, my logic is I go to the opposite end and read something well written and not bad to cure the issue.

Have you tried Celia Friedman's COLDFIRE trilo?
I ask because tho very different, it has Bakker'esque elements to the tone and some themes.

I have not read them, that is bullshit, I have not read them. I HAVE NAHT.

Sell them to me.

But, have you read C.S. Friedman's Coldfire trilogy?

I was wondering the same thing.


...in any event the first ebook is $2.99 on amazon so no great commitment required.
I should probably clarify: there is minimal sex, no rape, the violence is not graphic, and no black semen flies across the room at any point, but the 'dark' themes about belief, sacrifice, and redemption, and the general story echoes what Bakker does. One of the lead characters is utterly someone Bakker could have created, only he would have made him rapey'er.

I mean none of those things are must-haves in a book, I'm more intrigued with the description of the main character. Looks like I can get a copy cheap enough so I'll see what I reckon.

[Mentalist]

Finished Asher's "Infinity Engine". Insane space opera fuelled by two insane AIs manipulating the crap out of the galaxy is good fun.

Working down my list of purchased books yet to be read, the next one will be "Crooked Little Vein", And then I'll try to read Blindsight.

[QuickTidal]

The hallmark of a good book is when I'm reading a big clunky-AF hardcover as I walk down the street to work from my transit stop because I didn't want to stop reading...

Now, I liked the first James Islington Licanius book (THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST) a lot. In fact, I liked it more than I'd ever expected to (I honestly had it pegged as a WoT clone, or similar and it's anything but). It had super compelling characters, a really interesting world with it's own crazy history, and was a pretty solid cracker of an opening volume for a trilogy.

I am nearing the halfway mark AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME, and it's knocking me on my ass with brilliance. A LOT of the chapters of this book (through a certain POV character who I won't name; spoiler for Book 1) are focused on memories of world history and you'd think such seemingly info dump chapters would be boring, but my gods they are AMAZING and flesh out what's happening so well...but Islington knows enough to still keep a lot of the larger world machinations vague to make it all still so interesting (enough that I voraciously read as I walk down the goddamned street, risking injury for not looking where I'm going). I've already gone back and re-read the prologue to Book 1 again with new eyes, and it's so much richer. It's that kind of book series.

This series is going to end up on my top reads of all time list, I'm certain.

THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT FALLS can't come out soon enough!

[Aptorian]

QuickTidal, on 22 August 2019 - 12:34 PM, said:

The hallmark of a good book is when I'm reading a big clunky-AF hardcover as I walk down the street to work from my transit stop because I didn't want to stop reading...

Now, I liked the first James Islington Licanius book (THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST) a lot. In fact, I liked it more than I'd ever expected to (I honestly had it pegged as a WoT clone, or similar and it's anything but). It had super compelling characters, a really interesting world with it's own crazy history, and was a pretty solid cracker of an opening volume for a trilogy.

I am nearing the halfway mark AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME, and it's knocking me on my ass with brilliance. A LOT of the chapters of this book (through a certain POV character who I won't name; spoiler for Book 1) are focused on memories of world history and you'd think such seemingly info dump chapters would be boring, but my gods they are AMAZING and flesh out what's happening so well...but Islington knows enough to still keep a lot of the larger world machinations vague to make it all still so interesting (enough that I voraciously read as I walk down the goddamned street, risking injury for not looking where I'm going). I've already gone back and re-read the prologue to Book 1 again with new eyes, and it's so much richer. It's that kind of book series.

This series is going to end up on my top reads of all time list, I'm certain.

THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT FALLS can't come out soon enough!

Added them to my kindle library. I'll tell you what I think when I read them some time within the next decade.

[QuickTidal]

Aptorian, on 22 August 2019 - 12:54 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 August 2019 - 12:34 PM, said:

The hallmark of a good book is when I'm reading a big clunky-AF hardcover as I walk down the street to work from my transit stop because I didn't want to stop reading...

Now, I liked the first James Islington Licanius book (THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST) a lot. In fact, I liked it more than I'd ever expected to (I honestly had it pegged as a WoT clone, or similar and it's anything but). It had super compelling characters, a really interesting world with it's own crazy history, and was a pretty solid cracker of an opening volume for a trilogy.

I am nearing the halfway mark AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME, and it's knocking me on my ass with brilliance. A LOT of the chapters of this book (through a certain POV character who I won't name; spoiler for Book 1) are focused on memories of world history and you'd think such seemingly info dump chapters would be boring, but my gods they are AMAZING and flesh out what's happening so well...but Islington knows enough to still keep a lot of the larger world machinations vague to make it all still so interesting (enough that I voraciously read as I walk down the goddamned street, risking injury for not looking where I'm going). I've already gone back and re-read the prologue to Book 1 again with new eyes, and it's so much richer. It's that kind of book series.

This series is going to end up on my top reads of all time list, I'm certain.

THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT FALLS can't come out soon enough!

Added them to my kindle library. I'll tell you what I think when I read them some time within the next decade.

Good stuff. Hope you digs it.

[Andorion]

Finished The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind.
If you are looking for a short, good superpowers read, this is a good option.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 22 August 2019 - 01:08 PM, said:

Aptorian, on 22 August 2019 - 12:54 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 22 August 2019 - 12:34 PM, said:

The hallmark of a good book is when I'm reading a big clunky-AF hardcover as I walk down the street to work from my transit stop because I didn't want to stop reading...

Now, I liked the first James Islington Licanius book (THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST) a lot. In fact, I liked it more than I'd ever expected to (I honestly had it pegged as a WoT clone, or similar and it's anything but). It had super compelling characters, a really interesting world with it's own crazy history, and was a pretty solid cracker of an opening volume for a trilogy.

I am nearing the halfway mark AN ECHO OF THINGS TO COME, and it's knocking me on my ass with brilliance. A LOT of the chapters of this book (through a certain POV character who I won't name; spoiler for Book 1) are focused on memories of world history and you'd think such seemingly info dump chapters would be boring, but my gods they are AMAZING and flesh out what's happening so well...but Islington knows enough to still keep a lot of the larger world machinations vague to make it all still so interesting (enough that I voraciously read as I walk down the goddamned street, risking injury for not looking where I'm going). I've already gone back and re-read the prologue to Book 1 again with new eyes, and it's so much richer. It's that kind of book series.

This series is going to end up on my top reads of all time list, I'm certain.

THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT FALLS can't come out soon enough!

Added them to my kindle library. I'll tell you what I think when I read them some time within the next decade.

Good stuff. Hope you digs it.

Will check it out when the trilo is complete.