[MTS]

Had to read the whole thing for uni about a month ago. Brilliant, but an effort to read. Seriously cannot believe he dictated the whole thing while blind.

@Brood, cheers man, I'll check it out. Generally don't read these sort of books, so I'm pleasantly surprised.

[teholbeddict]

Nearly finished with Cornwell's Enemy of God. I've gotten over my initial dislike of his writing and am now really enjoying his stuff. They're simple, straightforward and easy reads, but still really good. Not necessarily what I would consider traditional historical fiction(or not the kind I normally like to read), but once I let go of that and realized what he was about, I really started to like the books. It get's the thumbs up from me though and I'll be moving on to the third book in the trilogy once I'm done with this one.

[Abyss]

 MTS, on 29 April 2010 - 12:01 PM, said:

Reading Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding. It's fantastic so far. Got a bit of a Firefly-esque vibe, which is cool.

 caladanbrood, on 29 April 2010 - 12:57 PM, said:

MTS, try "The Fade" too. Completely different, but just as awesome

I totally enjoyed his BRAIDED PATH tril.

[lobo the wolfman]

Well finally finished Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan, and still wasn't that impressed. I preferred 13 and the Steel Remains, but l will keep a lazy eye out to pick up the other Kovacs books .

Still no Changes damnmit so an going on the read The Lost by Dan Abnett, which is part of the Gaunts Ghosts series.

[Abyss]

 lobo the wolfman, on 30 April 2010 - 08:54 AM, said:

Well finally finished Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan, and still wasn't that impressed. I preferred 13 and the Steel Remains, but l will keep a lazy eye out to pick up the other Kovacs books .

Still no Changes damnmit so an going on the read The Lost by Dan Abnett, which is part of the Gaunts Ghosts series.

For what it's worth, the sequel BROKEN ANGELS is very different in scope. Similar tone, but more mil sf, less murder mystery. I enjoyed CARBON, for a fun read, even intelligent at times, but ANGELS is a bit more far out both in action and story. WOKEN FURIES is somewhere in between.

THIRTEEN remains one of my favourite RM works (notwithstanding the screaming hordes whining over how it wasn't a Kovacs book), tho TSR is a close second.

[acesn8s]

 teholbeddict, on 29 April 2010 - 03:33 PM, said:

Nearly finished with Cornwell's Enemy of God. I've gotten over my initial dislike of his writing and am now really enjoying his stuff. They're simple, straightforward and easy reads, but still really good. Not necessarily what I would consider traditional historical fiction(or not the kind I normally like to read), but once I let go of that and realized what he was about, I really started to like the books. It get's the thumbs up from me though and I'll be moving on to the third book in the trilogy once I'm done with this one.

While I love reading Cornwell's stuff, he really is writing historical romances for men.

I prefer the Saxon Stories to the warlord Chronicles. I found the main character Uhtred to be a nastier version of Derfel.

[Grief]

Just finished Changes.

Absolutely brilliant. Bloody cliffhanger ending though...

[Yellow]

 Darkwatch, on 29 April 2010 - 01:19 PM, said:

Paradise Lost by Milton.

I got about 50 pages into that before giving up. It's still sitting on my shelf, with an old Gratis Point as a bookmarker

[teholbeddict]

Just started Excalibur, the last of Cornwell's Arthur trilogy and I'm loving it! I've gone from not liking his work to not being able to get enough. It'll be straight on to his Sharpe stuff after this.

@Acesn I can agree with that to some extent, as I said it's not what I tend to think of as historical fiction. He did say as much in the author's notes of Enemy of God. He admitted that other than using character names, there was no historical accuracy, and it was completely fictional. I tend to think of historical fiction, as bringing characters and events to life but still being as historically accurate as possible. Or at least that's the type of historical fiction I prefer reading. So I'm not sure I would even call his stuff historical fiction. Once I realized and accepted it though, I just enjoyed the books for what they were, and they're definitely a really good read. He's a fantastic writer, and I can zip though the books quickly, so they're great for when I'm wanting a lighter read. I plan on reading all of his stuff, so I'll let you know what I think of Uhtred.

[Obdigore]

I just finished Dragonfly Falling and am about 10 pages into the next one... which I don't remember the name of.

Book 3 of the 'Shadows of the Apt' by Adrian Tchaswdgfokhdfklghawouighdf;klghaswoughfas.

[Salt-Man Z]

Currently reading Gene Wolfe's The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories, which is excellent. I've especially enjoyed some of his shorter stories, like "La Befana" and "Feather Tigers".

Also reluctantly trudging through Bryan M. Litfin's The Sword, which has turned into a terrible, disappointing read.

This post has been edited by Salt-Man Z: 04 May 2010 - 03:16 AM

[Skywalker]

Hola all... been MIA for a while (I tend to do that)

Now reading Consider Phlebas by Iain Banks. Good going so far. Also reading Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis; not SFF, but still quite good.

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Finished Q by the Wu Ming. It was a fast-paced, gripping novel and thaught me lots of new things which is one of the reason I read. historical fiction. All in all a good read and would reccomand it.

[Eye Flys]

A collection of Nikolai Gogol's short stories, Deadhouse Gates and a collection of writings/essays by Adorno on the Culture Industry.

[teholbeddict]

 Obdigore, on 03 May 2010 - 03:21 PM, said:

I just finished Dragonfly Falling and am about 10 pages into the next one... which I don't remember the name of.

Book 3 of the 'Shadows of the Apt' by Adrian Tchaswdgfokhdfklghawouighdf;klghaswoughfas.

I tried to read Dragon Fly Falling and had to finally give up about 100 pages in, which is saying alot because I try to make it my policy to finish every book I start. I thought the book was god awful, and painful to read. I have no idea what happened between Empire in Black and Gold and this one. At first I though it was possible my tastes had changed since the first book, but there's no way they changed that much. It's a shame because I after reading the first book I was really looking forward to the other two.

[Obdigore]

I was thinking the same thing and went a little further, it picks up and gets back to how the first book flowed part of the way through Dragonfly Falling.

[teholbeddict]

 Obdigore, on 04 May 2010 - 05:38 PM, said:

I was thinking the same thing and went a little further, it picks up and gets back to how the first book flowed part of the way through Dragonfly Falling.

Oh really? Good to know, I guess I gave up on it too early then. It was just so bad though. I'll put it back on the to read pile and give it another go then.

[Use Of Weapons]

Up to _Heretics of Dune_ in my Dune reread. Heretics is my favourite, I think. I love the Honoured Matres!

[masan's saddle]

 teholbeddict, on 04 May 2010 - 05:40 PM, said:

 Obdigore, on 04 May 2010 - 05:38 PM, said:

I was thinking the same thing and went a little further, it picks up and gets back to how the first book flowed part of the way through Dragonfly Falling.

Oh really? Good to know, I guess I gave up on it too early then. It was just so bad though. I'll put it back on the to read pile and give it another go then.

Whilst I enjoy this series for wasting half hour commutes back and forth to work on the train, I think the initial success of the first book led to him stretching out the story a bit as Dragonfly Falling and particularly Blood of the Mantis have quite a bit of "filler" in them. He can still write a good battle scene though and the whole species/ character trait thing is done very well. The 4th book is currently out (can't remember what it's called) and i'll probably get it at some point.

Finished Red Seas Under Red Skies and enjoyed it, although I have to side with those who thought it was inferior to TLOLL. It seemed a bit disjointed and rushed to me but like I said, still an enjoyable read.

I've got about 50 pages of China Mieville's The City and the City left to read and whilst it may not be to everyone's taste, I would recommend it anyway. I thought I had it worked out but as with most existential novels I think this one may do a U- turn on me ! Fantastic book.

When TCATC is finished I am a bit spoilt for choice. I have Alistair Reynold's Chasm City, Woken Furies by Richard Morgan or Bakker's The Darkness that Comes Before to start. Any suggestions ?

I've read a Kovacs book so i'm pretty sure I know what i'm going to get. I've read a lot of good things about Reynolds and as he is from my home town (originally) I thought i'd give him a shot. I've not read anything by Bakker but again have read a lot of good things ( although from what I can gather he divides opinion?)

Your comments particularly on Reynolds and Bakker would be appreciated.

Ta

[Bauchelain the Evil]

I've only read Bakker and I would reccomend it definetly. However he sure is a "either you love him or you hate him" author. Also his books are sort of slow to begin with(especially the first one who also lacks the more fastpaced parts present in the other books) and is full of philosophical musings that can turn someone down.

This post has been edited by Bauchelain the Evil: 06 May 2010 - 05:19 PM