[Chance]

Finished the Qalea Drop and I think Spiral Wars is rapidly becoming my favorite ongoing military SF series. Not really all that complicated a concept but very nicely crafted space opera and military action.

Now what to do next, been thinking about a second attempt at the Horus Heresy series, Aptorian is making Rage of Dragons sound very appealing and I've had it for a while, also yet to re-read a single book this year and I've had the impulse for several old favorites.

[Macros]

QuickTidal, on 03 February 2021 - 02:56 PM, said:

Macros, on 02 February 2021 - 08:43 PM, said:

Starting

The Gates of Athens (Athenian book 1) Conn Iggulden as my home read

I'm a fan so looking forward to it

ACK! Let me know how it is. Super excited to get to it myself. I'm using some Bday money to grab it, but won't get to it for a while.

Not sure if you recall I was disappointed by Falcon of Sparta. I maintain that it was such a missed opportunity for a duology split before retreat and the retreat.

Athenian book one really hammers that home Iggulden (for me) just makes characters you want to follow, I'd say the problems some have here with what he did with the Roman books history wise (is historical FICTION buddy deal with it) aren't as stark here. A few timelines altered but the major beats are (let face it as far as we know) reasonably accurate. But he's done it right, I mean sure it hits Marathon and Thermoplyae, but it grazes over the latter, a chapter be very well done. This gives us characters, it builds the story well and damnit I want to read book 2 already. Iggulden has stretched himself into such a polished author this book was excellent, just annoys me again at how short Falcon was!

TLDR - if you liked the Khan series or remotely engaged with the Rome, you'll eat this up

[Macros]

Starting Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart backed off the back of Apty reco

[Aptorian]

Can't wait to hear what you think. The story definitely wasn't what I expected.

[QuickTidal]

Macros, on 15 February 2021 - 09:28 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 03 February 2021 - 02:56 PM, said:

Macros, on 02 February 2021 - 08:43 PM, said:

Starting

The Gates of Athens (Athenian book 1) Conn Iggulden as my home read

I'm a fan so looking forward to it

ACK! Let me know how it is. Super excited to get to it myself. I'm using some Bday money to grab it, but won't get to it for a while.

Not sure if you recall I was disappointed by Falcon of Sparta. I maintain that it was such a missed opportunity for a duology split before retreat and the retreat.

Athenian book one really hammers that home Iggulden (for me) just makes characters you want to follow, I'd say the problems some have here with what he did with the Roman books history wise (is historical FICTION buddy deal with it) aren't as stark here. A few timelines altered but the major beats are (let face it as far as we know) reasonably accurate. But he's done it right, I mean sure it hits Marathon and Thermoplyae, but it grazes over the latter, a chapter be very well done. This gives us characters, it builds the story well and damnit I want to read book 2 already. Iggulden has stretched himself into such a polished author this book was excellent, just annoys me again at how short Falcon was!

TLDR - if you liked the Khan series or remotely engaged with the Rome, you'll eat this up

That sounds like exactly me. Thanks for the mini review, I’ll move it up my reading list.

[Macros]

Aptorian, on 15 February 2021 - 09:40 PM, said:

Can't wait to hear what you think. The story definitely wasn't what I expected.

Loving it so far.

But then I hate what humanity is and can't wait for the aliens to arrive


Edit for typo

This post has been edited by Macros: 16 February 2021 - 08:47 AM

[Maark Abbott]

Rejoice is great as long as you aren't politically right wing.

I thought it was excellent personally.

[Aptorian]

Finished The Burning book 2, Fires of Vengeance.

Not as happy with this one as Rage of Dragons. Mostly because of a ridiculous time constraint set in the first book that seems incredible in book 2, that and the amount of punishment Tau goes through in the first 200 pages. The pacing in general is fast, maybe too fast to be believable in terms of the logistics of warfare. Still, a good read and a real page turner like the last one.

Winter writes in a language that's easily digestible, that just flows. Unfortunately I think he's a bit too focused on progressing the story in this one, without giving the characters and reader time to breath. I am a bit disappointed by the attention to detail and lore for the same reason. The author too easily skirts over things that logically should have more importance for the culture in which the story takes place. Just as their religion and myths would surely be more pronounced and common knowledge that we're lead to believe through Tau's perspective. Maybe that's just because Tau is dumb as a very murderous rock but I feel like if you stop and think too much about the world building and attention to detail, the book has a poverty of creativity and flavor. The series is too stuck in the familiar formula of bad people in power, good people trying to change things and very specific magic system but with little nuance. And that's okay because the story is fun but it's the difference between writing average, run of the mill YA fantasy and writing something people will be talking about a decade from now.

Also, I've gotta say, the Nobels of the Omehi people Tau is fighting for, they really are just the scum of the earth. Sure the peasants and lesser are probably okay but from the start of the series, I really have found very little urge to root for the Omehi people. You root for Tau and his buddies but the rest can burn. You could write these books from the perspective of one of the savages, change literally nothing about the story and you'd believe the savages are the good guys fighting a brutal and treacherous nation of butchers.

Still excited for the third and final book.

On to the third Sprawl book, Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson.

[Maark Abbott]

Rooting for Tau?

PREPARE THE EXTERMINATUS

[Aptorian]

Stop resisting, human, and embrace the greater good.

[Aptorian]

Still reading Mona Lisa Overdrive and it just occurred to me that Molly from these books is the character I once heard referred to as Molly Millions. I'd never made that connection but for that time I heard of her in the Suvudo online fan contests.

[Chance]

Aptorian, on 16 February 2021 - 09:58 AM, said:

Also, I've gotta say, the Nobels of the Omehi people Tau is fighting for, they really are just the scum of the earth. Sure the peasants and lesser are probably okay but from the start of the series, I really have found very little urge to root for the Omehi people. You root for Tau and his buddies but the rest can burn. You could write these books from the perspective of one of the savages, change literally nothing about the story and you'd believe the savages are the good guys fighting a brutal and treacherous nation of butchers.

Only a third into the first book and I've already had these ideas and well, was hoping for a bit of nuance later on. Well at least it should make it satisfactory when a few of those nobles get the sharp end of a spear.

If it is going anywhere in the direction I think however this is one very predictable book.

[Aptorian]

There is nuance. And explanations for the caste system. But the Nobles still suck and boy does that make it all the more satisfying when Tau starts paying them back.

[Maark Abbott]

Aptorian, on 16 February 2021 - 02:56 PM, said:

Stop resisting, human, and embrace the greater good.

Wots dis rubbish? It ent killy. Zog off.

[Tiste Simeon]

Finished the audiobook of BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED and have started THE LAST ARGUMENT OF KINGS. I must say that Steven Pacey is a superb narrator and Abercrombie knows how to write humour and bleakness in equal measure...

[Aptorian]

Finished Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson.

I think this was a disappointing ending to the trilogy. Most of the characters have no real influence or interest to the reader other than acting as vehicles to show stuff happening through a third party perspective, so Gibson doesn't have to explain all the cyber religious mumbo jumbo he got himself into by the end.

Not enough action. Not enough info. Disappointing for a trilogy ending.

Thinking I'll postpone the next Gaunt's Ghosts Omnibus another week or two and try out Mark Lawrence's Red Queen's War series, since you people seem so fond of his books. I sort of fell off, after that first Thorns trilogy left me frustrated.

Might read Steven Erikson's Willful Child books in between.

[Abyss]

Gah, my backlog in this thead is embarassing. I'm sorry forumites, i blame the pandemic, and this weird thing that happened with micro-shoggoths and a cyborgized mcdonalds milkshake machine, and i think there may have been carnivorous werellamas but my memory is hazy after the time melt.

ANYways... once i was done with THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE, i proceeded to Just Finish(ed)...


FALSE GODS, GALAXY IN FLAMES (both from THE HORUS HERESIES)... these became progressively darker and less subtle as they advanced, but the combat was entertaining and some (but far from all) of the characters retained their charm. I have the rest of the series in earbook, so no rush but i'm pretty sure i will revisit.

THE TYRANT BARU CORMORANT - was just ok. Missing a lot of the humour i so enjoyed in Monster, and the characters spend entirely too much time talking about their plans instead of executing them, but not bad. I'm still in for the fourth book finale. I did pause this halfway for...

RHYTHM OF WAR... which has it's own thread i'll get to shortly, but overall a solid read i enjoyed.

ALEX VERUS: FORGED. Great GREAT book in that series. SO MUCH payoff to so many running plots. Enjoyed the hell out of this, so looking fwd to the next/finale book.

BATTLEGROUND... also has its own thread which i swear i will totally get to any week now, but loved it.

READY PLAYER TWO... was... ok. Ok enough. It was better than ARMADA. I loved the John Hughes world, laughed myself stupid at Princeworld, but overall the book just left me remembering how much i enjoyed RP1.

AHSOKA... started this on a whim, finished it out of mild curiosity. I adore this charater, but this was too YA for my tastes, with glaring plot holes if one spends even a moment thinking about it.

AUTOMATIC RELOAD... the tagline was "He has PTSD, she's OCD, they can both kick your ass'. It was A LOT of fun. The action sequences are just bugnuts, the logistics of the mech suits and tech are well thought out, and the author does a very solid job of incorporating the protagonists mental health issues into the story without belaboring it. There are some clunky moments between characters, but overall i really enjoyed this. Great earbook narrator.

100 FATHOMS BELOW It's vampires on a submarine. It reads like a Hollywood script turned into a novel, and i mean that in a good way. Great fun. Fast read.


...and now i find myself relistening to BATTLEGROUND....

[Abyss]

Aptorian, on 11 February 2021 - 08:50 AM, said:

Read a couple of chapters of Neuromancer. Man, this is some 80s-ass Cyberpunk. It reads like a feberdream of commercialism and consumerism vs anti-establishment, drug culture and tech-worship. Somehow, it feels as vibrant and visionary in 2021 as it did back then. Feels like diving into the worst and best parts of the 80s.

Makes me want to watch Johnny Mnemonic. I'm half-certain that the chick that helps Keaunu Reeves in the Johnny Mnemonic film is the same character as Molly who teams up with Case in this book.

Aptorian, on 12 February 2021 - 03:51 PM, said:

Two thirds through Neuromancer.

This is a cool story but I find my brain having a hard time following along when the book gets heavy on slang mixed with technical jargon and implied meanings.

Seems Molly is the Muscle Johnny Mnemonic shacks up with in the movie/story. Johnny does not live happily ever after it would seem.

Gotta say one of my least favourite litterary things is stories with Jamaican dialogue. How are you supposed to understand that pidgin English? Why did the 80s have such a fascination with Jamaica?

Aptorian, on 13 February 2021 - 09:03 AM, said:

Finished Neuromancer by William Gibson. It was pretty damn good though I remained confused at the plot for most of the book.
...

Aptorian, on 14 February 2021 - 11:36 AM, said:

...Next up the second Sprawl book, Count Zero by William Gibson.

Aptorian, on 15 February 2021 - 05:48 AM, said:

Finished Count Zero by William Gibson.

It was cool. More straightforward than Neuromancer but like the last one I'm still a bit iffy on the logic of the plot/goal of the story.

I enjoyed that this one splits into three POVs and flesh out the idease behind the Cyberpunk setting. Actual corporate warfare, AI evolving into gods, gangs working for corporations, mercenaries and runners double crossing one another. It's just great.

...

Aptorian, on 16 February 2021 - 06:23 PM, said:

Still reading Mona Lisa Overdrive and it just occurred to me that Molly from these books is the character I once heard referred to as Molly Millions. I'd never made that connection but for that time I heard of her in the Suvudo online fan contests.

Aptorian, on 17 February 2021 - 05:31 PM, said:

Finished Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson.

I think this was a disappointing ending to the trilogy. Most of the characters have no real influence or interest to the reader other than acting as vehicles to show stuff happening through a third party perspective, so Gibson doesn't have to explain all the cyber religious mumbo jumbo he got himself into by the end.

Not enough action. Not enough info. Disappointing for a trilogy ending.
...

I have read this trilo thrice... once when i was young and it blew my thinkymeatz all over the wallzez.

Maybe mid/late teens later, where my reaction was
NEUROMANCER: WHOA!
COUNT ZERO: so cool i LOVE this author/world/setting
MONA: ...well, ok, it had some interesting ideas i guess...

And a few years ago, after becoming completely disenchatnted with Gibson because everything else of his i read (other than the BURNING CHROME collection which is like 12 mini Neuromancer stories) just progressively left me less and less wowed and I wanted to remember why i liked his stuff. NEUROMANCER remains a timeliness classic for me, but COUNT and MONA are now just ok. I still love the Sprawl trilo but it's lost its shine w time.

Molly was a great character tho, and i do love how she provided an epilogue to Johnny Mnemonic even if it was a dark one. She appears in a few stories iirc.

[Tiste Simeon]

Abyss I never saw final thoughts from you on Addie la Rue - I have that on my TRP, I take it you enjoyed it?

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 17 February 2021 - 08:41 PM, said:

Abyss I never saw final thoughts from you on Addie la Rue - I have that on my TRP, I take it you enjoyed it?

et voila....

Abyss, on 26 October 2020 - 06:17 PM, said:

Abyss, on 16 October 2020 - 05:32 PM, said:

Abyss, on 15 October 2020 - 03:03 AM, said:

..Victoria Schwab's THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE.

..cannot promise any of you will love or even like this... i went in on the strength of the author's DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC trilo that I very enjoyed and her sheer level of social media joy at having written it. It is not like Patrick Lee's series that swept the forum with its absurd fun, it's not Dresden or even Castor, its sure as fnck a far far throw from Malazan, but... but but but... it's really worth a look or a listen.

So far.
But it's looking good.

Tiste Simeon, on 15 October 2020 - 03:31 AM, said:

...

Abyss - I think I'd enjoy that. I'll keep an eye out on the Kindle version.

That moment when you think 'the author wouldn't... oh crap they absolutely would....' ..won't spoil but if i had this in text i would be reading it rtf now. I actually hope i get stuck in traffic later.

Just Finished... ok, in fact i finished like a week ago but my online time is rather scattered these days and i have less time in front of a screen, awake and coherent... praising this book is worth a few minutes of that time...

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by Victoria Schwab... it's worth your money and your time. It is clever, engaging, intelligent, urban/hist fantasy, written very well. The pace is steady, never slow, almost never breakneck, the author grabs the reader's attention almost gently and then it's very very hard to turn away.

Short summary: 1700s, French countryside, young Adeline makes a deal with a supernatural force, her soul in exchange for freedom and immortality. As a result, no one remembers her. The moment she is out of sight, she is forgotten, her impact on the world erased. One plotline follows her forward over the centuries, figuring out how to live with her curse. The other follows her in 2014 NYC, where... stuff happens. I cannot possibly spoil this, it's too good... predictable at the start, but the 'predictability' is the trap and twist after twist follow. It's very well done.

Addie is a superbly realized character. Every step of her story flows logically from events, even if the connections are not immediately apparent. The other characters are very well done as well... some are so ordinary as to seem boring at the outset and then the author digs a little deeper with each and gives them something special, usually by their interaction with Addie, which ties back to how she deals with her curse.

No splosions, no stabby, no battles, but no overbearing philosophy either. Yes, characters spend some time ruminating on memory and mortality and love but never to the point of navel-gazing and generally only to advance the plot.

It's a great book. Worthwhile.