[T77]

Finished Wizard and Glass, the fourth book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I did not like it. While I liked the beginning and end, those parts where Roland was not flashing back, the rest was tedious and boring. It had its moments, but the flashback was too long and drawn out. I have mixed feelings about this series so far. I think it's a great concept blending sci-fi, fantasy and a post-apocalyptic setting. But the execution is just so so.

[QuickTidal]

T77, on 26 April 2012 - 01:52 PM, said:

Finished Wizard and Glass, the fourth book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I did not like it. While I liked the beginning and end, those parts where Roland was not flashing back, the rest was tedious and boring. It had its moments, but the flashback was too long and drawn out. I have mixed feelings about this series so far. I think it's a great concept blending sci-fi, fantasy and a post-apocalyptic setting. But the execution is just so so.

I've heard this about it. I've not yet reached that book in the series, but with King I can totally see parts of it boring me...but hopefully the end result is worth the wait. We shall see.

[worry]

In contrast, it was my favorite book in the series...like BY FAR the high point. It's probably where he most successfully interweaves the Western, Sci-Fi, Horror, and Fantasy elements of the story into a cohesive whole, and it feels like the most complete novel in the series as a result IMO.

[Salt-Man Z]

amphibian, on 26 April 2012 - 04:14 AM, said:

halfway through my re-read of Caine's Law. There are notes being taken for the Stover book and will be posted on the appropriate thread.

I was just going to post in there and ask if anyone'd done a reread yet.

[polishgenius]

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

I saw that omnibus in the store and wondered if it was worth picking up...let me know how you feel after you finish it.

It is AWESOME!

Although I do appreciate that mine and your definitions of that word don't always concur, it's definitely worth giving a try. Of the wave of fantasy authors that debuted around 2004-time (which includes Abercrombie, Rothfuss and Lynch) Abraham may well be my favourite; Long Price is like a little piece of perfection. Elegance in writing.

The second book in his new series is out next week...

Quote

So much so that his entire catalog is now loaded on my Nook to be read once I finish WoT...

I fear that you'll be disappointed by (fairly large) parts of Feist's catalogue, but there's definitely more brilliance for you to find. Especially if that includes the Empire trilogy he co-wrote with Janny Wurts.

[Hound]

Just finished Heroes Die by Stover. A good read, but I don't feel the need to immediately continue with the rest.... I first need to finish the Codex Alera (two and a half books to go)!

[Bozworth]

Barely into House of Chains... just finished the first Karsa chapter last night.

[McLovin]

Finished MAGICIAN: APPRENTICE, on to MAGICIAN: MASTER.

[T77]

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2012 - 02:19 PM, said:

T77, on 26 April 2012 - 01:52 PM, said:

Finished Wizard and Glass, the fourth book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. I did not like it. While I liked the beginning and end, those parts where Roland was not flashing back, the rest was tedious and boring. It had its moments, but the flashback was too long and drawn out. I have mixed feelings about this series so far. I think it's a great concept blending sci-fi, fantasy and a post-apocalyptic setting. But the execution is just so so.

I've heard this about it. I've not yet reached that book in the series, but with King I can totally see parts of it boring me...but hopefully the end result is worth the wait. We shall see.

Yeah, I'm hoping the end result is worth it too as I'm 4 books invested I'm going to finish it at some point.

[Chance]

Putting down some Clancy for a few hours of Red, White and Blood by Farnsworth hopefully as great entertainment as those before it.

[Mentalist]

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

amphibian, on 26 April 2012 - 04:14 AM, said:

Right now, working through Shadow & Betrayal, the Daniel Abraham omnibus

The Abraham book is excellent. Smart, well written, enthralling and I cannot anticipate a durned thing and I love that.

I saw that omnibus in the store and wondered if it was worth picking up...let me know how you feel after you finish it.

Shadow and Betrayal is good. Seasons of war is mixed. the first book is good, but not great. the second is mind-blowingly awesome, but makes you think that the other 3 (which were very solid in their own rights) were nothing more than a set-up for the awesomeness.

[End of Disc One]

Mentalist, on 27 April 2012 - 05:03 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

amphibian, on 26 April 2012 - 04:14 AM, said:

Right now, working through Shadow & Betrayal, the Daniel Abraham omnibus

The Abraham book is excellent. Smart, well written, enthralling and I cannot anticipate a durned thing and I love that.

I saw that omnibus in the store and wondered if it was worth picking up...let me know how you feel after you finish it.

Shadow and Betrayal is good. Seasons of war is mixed. the first book is good, but not great. the second is mind-blowingly awesome, but makes you think that the other 3 (which were very solid in their own rights) were nothing more than a set-up for the awesomeness.

Huh, most people say An Autumn War is the best. To me they were all fairly close in quality, though An Autumn War is the most epic. Pretty good books. My favorite is probably the first one, A Shadow in Summer, for personal reasons. It just struck the right chords with me.

[QuickTidal]

Chance, on 27 April 2012 - 04:52 PM, said:

Putting down some Clancy for a few hours of Red, White and Blood by Farnsworth hopefully as great entertainment as those before it.

I'm picking this one up tonight after work, to read after I finish my ToM re-read.

Cannot wait. Farnsworth writes a rip-roaring story. And Cade is simply badass.

[Mentalist]

End of Disc One, on 27 April 2012 - 05:13 PM, said:

Mentalist, on 27 April 2012 - 05:03 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

amphibian, on 26 April 2012 - 04:14 AM, said:

Right now, working through Shadow & Betrayal, the Daniel Abraham omnibus

The Abraham book is excellent. Smart, well written, enthralling and I cannot anticipate a durned thing and I love that.

I saw that omnibus in the store and wondered if it was worth picking up...let me know how you feel after you finish it.

Shadow and Betrayal is good. Seasons of war is mixed. the first book is good, but not great. the second is mind-blowingly awesome, but makes you think that the other 3 (which were very solid in their own rights) were nothing more than a set-up for the awesomeness.

Huh, most people say An Autumn War is the best. To me they were all fairly close in quality, though An Autumn War is the most epic. Pretty good books. My favorite is probably the first one, A Shadow in Summer, for personal reasons. It just struck the right chords with me.

Shadow was great, because it was novel-a brand new setting, not the kind we often get. Betrayal and Autumn War were filled with too many recognizable tropes. They were just incredibly predictable. Dream was too, but I found it to be so masterfully written so as to make me revel in the same tropes/cliches that irked me in the previous 2 books. I wrote about it about 5-7 pages back. Dream really struck me, whereas Betrayal and Autumn War not so much.

[Chance]

QuickTidal, on 27 April 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

Chance, on 27 April 2012 - 04:52 PM, said:

Putting down some Clancy for a few hours of Red, White and Blood by Farnsworth hopefully as great entertainment as those before it.

I'm picking this one up tonight after work, to read after I finish my ToM re-read.

Cannot wait. Farnsworth writes a rip-roaring story. And Cade is simply badass.

Farnsworth certainly write damn fine action, this one was slightly less impressive (less interesting bad guyes mostly) in my opinion but the last few pages or so made up for it.

Still this kind of books are like some form of action movie that unlike most hollywood makes these days ends far to soon...

This post has been edited by Chance: 27 April 2012 - 11:15 PM

[Use Of Weapons]

Re: Abraham -- if you read the omnibus editions (which I did) of the Long Price, you don't really get a sense of the books as existing separately, I think. So the distinctions being drawn between them don't ring as true as they might were you to read them as separate entities.

[amphibian]

QuickTidal, on 26 April 2012 - 01:07 PM, said:

I saw that [Shadow and Betrayal] omnibus in the store and wondered if it was worth picking up...let me know how you feel after you finish it.

Excellent stuff. I don't believe Abraham's writing can be anticipated - which is a terrific quality for an author to have. The world is quite nice, the characters vivid and the plots layered and multi-threaded without being a gigantic juggling act as Erikson or others of the ilk can evolve into.

I'd like to make one small note and point out that travel and events in Abraham's world takes up a realistic amount of time. It's a small thing, but the intervening time in between things allows for the characters to actually build believable attitudes, beliefs and skill sets.

I'll pick up the second omnibus soon.

[worry]

To be honest, I didn't fall in love with the first book (not omnibus-wise), as there's something seemingly low stakes about it...but when I got into the second book, something clicked in an "Ohhhhh, that's what he's doing. Wow." kind of way. And then it went on to impress me in an escalating fashion with every subsequent book and chapter, and I even love the first book now retroactively (in that way, I suppose, you can compare it to Malazan/GotM, though amph is right that there's not nearly as much to juggle). Either way, if you're hooked even by the first book, I can't help but think this will be one of your favorite series ever.

[QuickTidal]

Evidently I like my classic fantasy with farmboy setting and secrets the parents won't tell...

Cause so far I'm enjoying THE MAGIC OF RECLUCE by Modesitt Jr., some interesting paths in the genre and I actually find Lerris to be a typical teenager...arrogant, impatient and kind of an ass...but I'm convinced that's the point of him...and he's not nearly as annoying as Briony is in Tad Williams Shadowmarch series.

[Wanderer]

The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson

Halfway through and it's quite enjoyable. His dialogue really needs some work though. There have been moments where I had to put the book down because of how cheesy it is.

Best Served Cold - Joe Abercrombie

Halfway through this as well. I'll finish it eventually.