[amphibian]

Briar King, on 08 October 2020 - 02:46 AM, said:

Why pub order? Does he not do a good job weaving them together?

The second book (Streets of Laredo) in publication order is the fourth book for internal chronology. It follows on with Call from the first book (Lonesome Dove) and is a more natural transition from Lonesome Dove.

The third book (Dead Man's Walk) loops us back to young Call and Gus days and the fourth (Comanche Moon) follows that to lead somewhat into Lonesome Dove.

I think starting with Lonesome Dove is the right move as it's the one that gives the best connection to the characters and provides the launchpad for the other stories to deepen the story lines and strengthen reader connection.

[Aptorian]

I bought a tablet in some optimistic attempt at getting into reading newspapers again. Oh and comics.

Just read volume one of The Boys. This is a fucked up comic. Surprisingly much darker than the Amazon show.

[Chance]

Finished up the Last Emperox and A Deadly Education over the last few days and found them both highly entertaining. The Last Emperox was frequently laugh out loud hillarious in its depiction of crazy people doing crazy things and regular people reacting to the apocalypse. A Deadly Education just the right side of not quite entirely YA and with a very playful style, looking forward for the next one.

Going for a re-read of the Laundry don't think I've ever re-read anything but the first book, at least not for as long as I've keep notes on read books.

This post has been edited by Chance: 09 October 2020 - 11:40 AM

[Tsundoku]

Aptorian, on 08 October 2020 - 04:48 PM, said:

I bought a tablet in some optimistic attempt at getting into reading newspapers again. Oh and comics.

Just read volume one of The Boys. This is a fucked up comic. Surprisingly much darker than the Amazon show.

Wait til you read the sidebook "Herogasm".

[QuickTidal]

Chance, on 09 October 2020 - 11:37 AM, said:

A Deadly Education just the right side of not quite entirely YA and with a very playful style, looking forward for the next one.

I've heard mostly good things about this. Glad to hear its solid. I will be getting it eventually.

[polishgenius]

Imperial Historian, on 02 October 2020 - 04:27 PM, said:

A deadly education by naomi novacs was very fun, if a little on the YA side. If you want Harry Potter where a) hogwarts is actively trying to kill you and it's narrated by hermione who is sick and tired of harry being a heroic moron, you will like this book. Would recommend.

Sounds like Novik's got into a little trouble over this, with a general complaint of cultural insensitivity when talking about the non-white people and their cultures including the main character's own, and a more specific issue with an outrageously bad passage about bug-infested locs (which she has no apologised for but I have no idea how anyone thought it was a good idea).

The second part surprises me but if the first part about general cloth-eared insensitivty is true it doesn't because I loved Uprooted but that included some not-quite-there depictions of Polish culture and mythic makeup including mispronunciation of the MC's name and getting her diminutive wrong, and that was her own family's culture. Never got quite as far as offense, but apply the same issues to a minority culture she's even less familiar with and I can see why it would bother people if that's what's happened.

[Abyss]

Tsundoku, on 09 October 2020 - 11:46 AM, said:

Aptorian, on 08 October 2020 - 04:48 PM, said:

I bought a tablet in some optimistic attempt at getting into reading newspapers again. Oh and comics.

Just read volume one of The Boys. This is a fucked up comic. Surprisingly much darker than the Amazon show.

Wait til you read the sidebook "Herogasm".

That one shot was just plain wrong.

[Abyss]

Ok, bit of backlog to cover...

HORUS RISING, just finished the earbook. This was my first incursion into WH40k, courtesy of the Black Library humble bundle of earbooks from a while back... I liked. The action was solid, but I expected that. I did not expect the depth of character or moderate philosophizing. Will read more.

BATTLE GROUND... will hit the dedthread shortly, but yeah, that was some gooooOOOoood Dresdencrack.


....and now, Victoria Schwab's THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. About 25% in and very enjoying this. It's urban fantasy to an extent, but subtle, the protagonist is cursed to live forever but be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets. The reader learns the ins and outside of the curse w her, and it's very well done. So far, so good. I can see why the media rights were swooped up fast, tho not sure a screen can do it justice.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 12 October 2020 - 02:26 AM, said:

Ok, bit of backlog to cover...

HORUS RISING, just finished the earbook. This was my first incursion into WH40k, courtesy of the Black Library humble bundle of earbooks from a while back... I liked. The action was solid, but I expected that. I did not expect the depth of character or moderate philosophizing. Will read more.

BATTLE GROUND... will hit the dedthread shortly, but yeah, that was some gooooOOOoood Dresdencrack.


....and now, Victoria Schwab's THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. About 25% in and very enjoying this. It's urban fantasy to an extent, but subtle, the protagonist is cursed to live forever but be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets. The reader learns the ins and outside of the curse w her, and it's very well done. So far, so good. I can see why the media rights were swooped up fast, tho not sure a screen can do it justice.

That last one sounds very much like THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE by Clare North.

[amphibian]

That similarity is exactly why I avoided reading it. I tend to think North is a better writer by a wide margin (they aren't in competition, I just want more success for North and especially the Matthew Swift books).

[Imperial Historian]

polishgenius, on 11 October 2020 - 11:06 AM, said:

Imperial Historian, on 02 October 2020 - 04:27 PM, said:

A deadly education by naomi novacs was very fun, if a little on the YA side. If you want Harry Potter where a) hogwarts is actively trying to kill you and it's narrated by hermione who is sick and tired of harry being a heroic moron, you will like this book. Would recommend.

Sounds like Novik's got into a little trouble over this, with a general complaint of cultural insensitivity when talking about the non-white people and their cultures including the main character's own, and a more specific issue with an outrageously bad passage about bug-infested locs (which she has no apologised for but I have no idea how anyone thought it was a good idea).

The second part surprises me but if the first part about general cloth-eared insensitivty is true it doesn't because I loved Uprooted but that included some not-quite-there depictions of Polish culture and mythic makeup including mispronunciation of the MC's name and getting her diminutive wrong, and that was her own family's culture. Never got quite as far as offense, but apply the same issues to a minority culture she's even less familiar with and I can see why it would bother people if that's what's happened.

People writing about other cultures are going to make mistakes, and I'd rather have authors writing diverse fiction and making mistakes, than writing entirely within their white western comfort zone.

Personally as a biracial person of similar ethnic heritage to the MC it was very refreshing to see, whilst certainly not a perfect depiction of all the cultures involved it worked for me.

That said the dreadlock comment was foolish. In context it kind of makes sense where it comes from, but I can see why people might be offended.

[Cyphon]

HORUS RISING was ace. I listened through that humble bundle and found that after the proper trilogy the offerings were quite variable in quality.

Still reading Grass by Sheri Tapper. You can clearly see why its an SF masterworks, the tension of the plot and mystery is building at a really good pace.

Hopefully I'll finish in time to read Toll the Hounds this month.

[QuickTidal]

Imperial Historian, on 12 October 2020 - 05:28 PM, said:

polishgenius, on 11 October 2020 - 11:06 AM, said:

Imperial Historian, on 02 October 2020 - 04:27 PM, said:

A deadly education by naomi novacs was very fun, if a little on the YA side. If you want Harry Potter where a) hogwarts is actively trying to kill you and it's narrated by hermione who is sick and tired of harry being a heroic moron, you will like this book. Would recommend.

Sounds like Novik's got into a little trouble over this, with a general complaint of cultural insensitivity when talking about the non-white people and their cultures including the main character's own, and a more specific issue with an outrageously bad passage about bug-infested locs (which she has no apologised for but I have no idea how anyone thought it was a good idea).

The second part surprises me but if the first part about general cloth-eared insensitivty is true it doesn't because I loved Uprooted but that included some not-quite-there depictions of Polish culture and mythic makeup including mispronunciation of the MC's name and getting her diminutive wrong, and that was her own family's culture. Never got quite as far as offense, but apply the same issues to a minority culture she's even less familiar with and I can see why it would bother people if that's what's happened.

People writing about other cultures are going to make mistakes, and I'd rather have authors writing diverse fiction and making mistakes, than writing entirely within their white western comfort zone.

Personally as a biracial person of similar ethnic heritage to the MC it was very refreshing to see, whilst certainly not a perfect depiction of all the cultures involved it worked for me.

That said the dreadlock comment was foolish. In context it kind of makes sense where it comes from, but I can see why people might be offended.

This seemed to be the general consensus about this on Reddit too. You’re damned I’d you do and you’re damned if you don’t...but at least Novik made the effort, and she will keep learning. No one is going to ever be perfect. The twitter idiots who tried to cancel her for it were extremists who were just looking for shit to be annoyed about.

And AFAIK she made an apology too.

So for me, she’s come out of well.

[amphibian]

Cyphon, on 12 October 2020 - 05:39 PM, said:

HORUS RISING was ace. I listened through that humble bundle and found that after the proper trilogy the offerings were quite variable in quality.

Still reading Grass by Sheri Tapper. You can clearly see why its an SF masterworks, the tension of the plot and mystery is building at a really good pace.

Hopefully I'll finish in time to read Toll the Hounds this month.

The Horus Heresy books can be rather easily divided into "very much worth your time" and "only if you want pulp" based on authors.

My list of "definitely read" 40k authors in the Heresy series is Abnett, McNeill, Kymes, Scanlon, Dembski-Bowden, Thorpe.

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 12 October 2020 - 04:38 AM, said:

Abyss, on 12 October 2020 - 02:26 AM, said:

...


....and now, Victoria Schwab's THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. About 25% in and very enjoying this. It's urban fantasy to an extent, but subtle, the protagonist is cursed to live forever but be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets. The reader learns the ins and outside of the curse w her, and it's very well done. So far, so good. I can see why the media rights were swooped up fast, tho not sure a screen can do it justice.

That last one sounds very much like THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE by Clare North.

amphibian, on 12 October 2020 - 02:04 PM, said:

That similarity is exactly why I avoided reading it. I tend to think North is a better writer by a wide margin (they aren't in competition, I just want more success for North and especially the Matthew Swift books).

Haven't read HOPE. From the reviews I've seen from people who have read both it seems the similarity is superficial at premise level at most.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss, on 13 October 2020 - 05:57 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 12 October 2020 - 04:38 AM, said:

Abyss, on 12 October 2020 - 02:26 AM, said:

...


....and now, Victoria Schwab's THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE. About 25% in and very enjoying this. It's urban fantasy to an extent, but subtle, the protagonist is cursed to live forever but be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets. The reader learns the ins and outside of the curse w her, and it's very well done. So far, so good. I can see why the media rights were swooped up fast, tho not sure a screen can do it justice.

That last one sounds very much like THE SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF HOPE by Clare North.

amphibian, on 12 October 2020 - 02:04 PM, said:

That similarity is exactly why I avoided reading it. I tend to think North is a better writer by a wide margin (they aren't in competition, I just want more success for North and especially the Matthew Swift books).

Haven't read HOPE. From the reviews I've seen from people who have read both it seems the similarity is superficial at premise level at most.

Hmm I love it as a concept (all North's books have concepts that I utterly love which is why she's one of my favourite authors) so I'd be willing to check this one out to see how it compares.

Edit: incidentally what do you call this kind of book? Speculative fiction? It's definitely SFF of a kind but doesn't easily define. Matt Haig writes similarly. I really dig it anyway.

This post has been edited by Tiste Simeon: 13 October 2020 - 06:41 PM

[Salt-Man Z]

Tiste Simeon, on 13 October 2020 - 06:39 PM, said:

incidentally what do you call this kind of book? Speculative fiction? It's definitely SFF of a kind but doesn't easily define.

The thing with Claire North's books is that she takes a character with unexplained SFF "powers" and drops them into another genre--though when I think about it, they're all "thriller" offshoots: Harry August is a spy thriller, Hope is a corporate-tech thriller, Touch is a more straightforward thriller/revenge thriller.

[Abyss]

Salt-Man Z, on 13 October 2020 - 08:02 PM, said:

Tiste Simeon, on 13 October 2020 - 06:39 PM, said:

incidentally what do you call this kind of book? Speculative fiction? It's definitely SFF of a kind but doesn't easily define.

The thing with Claire North's books is that she takes a character with unexplained SFF "powers" and drops them into another genre--though when I think about it, they're all "thriller" offshoots: Harry August is a spy thriller, Hope is a corporate-tech thriller, Touch is a more straightforward thriller/revenge thriller.

And ADDIE is none of that, so far. It's very much a human story of ordinary (ish) people experiencing extraordinary things. I think it falls closest to a urban fantasy / historical fantasy hybrid if we need a category. The world isn't at stake, there's no invasion, no evil agents. Just a poor French girl who cut a really bad deal with a clever devil in 1700, getting by in 2014 NYC. Til stuff happens, but I don't spoil.

[Tiste Simeon]

Huh well I'm intrigued.

[Traveller]

Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds.

Nice cross between an Iain Banks and Richard Morgan. Without the humour of the former and the.. weird creepy parts of the latter.