[Serenity]

Abyss, on 19 July 2012 - 02:09 PM, said:

Serenity, on 19 July 2012 - 08:55 AM, said:

Abyss, on 18 July 2012 - 02:49 PM, said:

Serenity, on 18 July 2012 - 11:00 AM, said:

Abyss, on 17 July 2012 - 04:53 PM, said:

A mindfuck and a half, that Patrick Lee trilo. All of you must needs to go read them immediately.

The Breach - purchased. Thanks!

Mwa ha ha hah!

You might as well just acquire GHOST COUNTRY and DEEP SKY now and spare yourself the agonizing moment when you finish BREACH and don't have them immediately at hand.

LOL, well I got it for Kindle, so in theory I could have the next one within a minute

But it will be an AGONIZING minute!

LMAO



Well I'll be starting it soon, so we'll see! Finished Under Heaven, very disappointed by it. The first GGK book I haven't really enjoyed.

[amphibian]

When I have more time, I'll explain the appeal of Catcher In The Rye.

I ultimately like it, but think that most people misunderstand it. It isn't that being a critic of everything is cool - it's that eventually you have to step away from the discontent and go after what you want and work to build the things you wish to see. That's hard and some people stay in the patterns of being an angsty emo/hipster teen who hates everything.

[McLovin]

amphibian, on 21 July 2012 - 05:30 PM, said:

it's that eventually you have to step away from the discontent and go after what you want and work to build the things you wish to see. That's hard and some people stay in the patterns of being an angsty emo/hipster teen who hates everything.

HOW DARE YOU SIR! I AM ENTITLED TO MY HATE!

[Nocturnal]

Finally continuing with Malazan Book of the Fallen - now onto Midnight Tides. I don't want to rush with the series and end up not remembering anything. I hope this one will be more exciting, because the end of House of Chains of a bit disappointing.

Also Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy... why didn't anyone tell me this was full of witty British humor? I would've read it earlier!

[amphibian]

Read a couple of the Anita Blake books by Laurell Hamilton. These books are terrible. They're not even "hints of some really fun stuff to come like Butcher's Storm Front" good.

I looked up some comments on here and Abyss says that Hamilton slides into this Anne Rice-like hodgepodge of Betty Sue-ism, sex and lunacy - and the wiki summaries of her books reflect exactly that.

I bailed after two nights and 2.2 books. Never again for me.

[JPK]

Briar King, on 22 July 2012 - 06:16 AM, said:

Almost on pg 200 of Leviathan Wakes and it is blowing my way. I don't really read SF anymore just mostly Fantasy. I will def go buy bk2 soon.

Yeah, LW had some very VERY strong reviews up here towards the end of last year. Caliban's is very nearly as good. As much as you seem to be liking these, you may want to check out some of Daniel Abraham's other work as I've found everything else that I've touched by him to be JUST as addictive (he's half of the duo involved in the Expanse novels).

I myself have had to put Revelation Space down for later. It's not that I'm not enjoying it. Not at all. It's just not Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I guess it's a damn good thing that I made it to the store to get The Angel's Game and The Prisoner of Heaven then, huh?

Edit: It's now 8am for me. I've stayed up all night reading The Angel's Game. I'm not sure if I want to hug you or curse you QT.

This post has been edited by The Incredible Kitsu: 22 July 2012 - 02:44 PM

[yuna_anomander25]

just finished The Name of the Wind, will immediately follow up The Wise Man's Fear, idk, its good but it left me wanting more, the end was a little anti-climactic for me, so i would better read on, to sate my appetite for this, and while he may be telling himself like that for his audience, i would still like for Kvothe to atleast have a better if not a very happy ending, 'cause i think he deserves it, even if things seems to be mostly against his desires, hope for him to end up with Fela actually rather that Denna, but that's just me, really don't much like Denna,

[worry]

I'm finally taking on the Soldier Son trilogy...will probably read books in between each one, but I'm about 200 pages into the first one and it's got Hobb's usual attention to detail and that very rich, complex first person narration she's so good at.

[Bozworth]

Probably will wrap up Der Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse tomorrow. I almost put it down after the first half, since the whole thing started to seem masturbatory. It's kind of gotten interesting in Act 2 though.

Next up is Midnight Tides... I pretty much make myself read something (shorter) between installments when I'm on a series. Very much looking forward to getting back on the Malazan books...Thought House of Chains was tits.

This post has been edited by Bozworth: 23 July 2012 - 05:24 AM

[drinksinbars]

currently half way through patrick lee's ghost country. enjoyed the breach and enjoying this. need to get the third soon. also finished kushiels scion the other day, not as good as the original trilogy but still worth reading.

[QuickTidal]

Finished DUNE, and enjoyed it...though I WILL say that the ending is a little too neat in the things it wrapped up and yet at the same time leaves the story hanging enough to warrant the second book...which I suppose is ok. I had a really good time with the book, but I think I'd have been more impressed if it had ended more like a standalone. Still, great characters, and really good prose made for a winning combo. I'll be reading the rest of the books.

I spent most of Saturday afternoon and Sunday re-reading BATMAN: NO MAN'S LAND series. A great read (600 pages of comic total), and the only stuff that REALLY shows its age are the Azrael comics scattered amongst the arc...in which the art is strange and 90's digital-looking (as if they were scanned from an online source and reprinted...which is probably what happened), and beyond that I kept thinking how all the stuff that Azrael does...could have been more poignantly achieved by Nightwing. At any rate, all in all a solid read...if slightly below both KNIGHTFALL and THE LONG HALLOWEEN in my list of fave Bats Arcs.

This morning on my way out the door I grabbed Gemmell's TROY: SHIELD OF THUNDER out of the ToRead pile (which I'd been saving as a treat), since I enjoyed the first book in the trilogy so much...and of course on the way to work I already got 50 pages into it and love it, especially with the switch in main narratives from Helikaon (Aeneas), and Andromache to...the two Mykene warriors (who revered Argurios) who had showed up in the last battle in the first book. Kalliades, and Banokles...both of which are already pretty kickass characters. Man I love this series! After I finish the third I think it may finally be time to read the rest of Gemmell's work (of which I've only read LEGEND).

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 23 July 2012 - 01:40 PM

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 22 July 2012 - 01:22 AM, said:

Read a couple of the Anita Blake books ...I bailed after two nights and 2.2 books. Never again for me.

Which ones?
The first nine are pretty good if read in order and would probably be less enjoyable (if not incoherent) out of order. Everything after Obsidian Butterfly is pure unmitigated awful imnsho.

drinksinbars, on 23 July 2012 - 09:23 AM, said:

currently half way through patrick lee's ghost country. enjoyed the breach and enjoying this. need to get the third NOW.

Fixed.
Just wait.

[amphibian]

Abyss, on 23 July 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:

Which ones?
The first nine are pretty good if read in order and would probably be less enjoyable (if not incoherent) out of order. Everything after Obsidian Butterfly is pure unmitigated awful imnsho.

The first two and then I skipped ahead to a little bit of #4 to see if the writing picked up. All were terrible. Hamilton really isn't on a high technical level as a writer and her story's not particularly unique or compelling. Anita Blake = Mary Sue and the rest of it is just Twilight level wish fulfillment.

[D'rek]

Re-reading Lynch's Red Seas Under Red Skies, which I only read once before when it first came out. As awesome as it was the first time, and the timing of reading it now should work well for me remembering important things when Republic of Thieves finally comes out (*fingers crossed*) within the next year.

Also bought The Devil Delivered and Other Tales, an omnibook version of Erikson's The Devil Delivered, Revolvo and Fishin' with Grandma Matchie, but after reading the first couple pages I've decided to wait to dive into those once RSURS is done as while short, they don't necessarily seem to be as light reading as the length would make you assume.

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 23 July 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

Abyss, on 23 July 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:

Which ones?
The first nine are pretty good if read in order and would probably be less enjoyable (if not incoherent) out of order. Everything after Obsidian Butterfly is pure unmitigated awful imnsho.

The first two and then I skipped ahead to a little bit of #4 to see if the writing picked up. All were terrible. Hamilton really isn't on a high technical level as a writer and her story's not particularly unique or compelling. Anita Blake = Mary Sue and the rest of it is just Twilight level wish fulfillment.

All your critiques are valid but there was enough to hold my interest up until the implosion in #10.
I read the first three as part of a collected edition. I suspect the grand finale of #3 probably carried me fwd. Without that, #4 sure wouldn't have kept me around.

There may also be an element of my having read them before urban fantasy became as widespread as it is now. Had i read Butcher and Mike Carey first, i suspect Hamilton would have suffered by comparison (and yes i'm aware of the irony in that statement re Hamilton being the one who gave Butcher his big break).

[amphibian]

Abyss, on 23 July 2012 - 03:52 PM, said:

There may also be an element of my having read them before urban fantasy became as widespread as it is now. Had i read Butcher and Mike Carey first, i suspect Hamilton would have suffered by comparison (and yes i'm aware of the irony in that statement re Hamilton being the one who gave Butcher his big break).

Yeah, it's kind of a case of the new generation eating the old alive. Tolkien's still readable, but his stuff's been far surpassed in the generations of writers since. Might be a similar thing with Hamilton and urban fantasy - although her starting point wasn't anywhere near the level of Tolkien's.

And I thought it was Ricia Mainhardt, who was Hamilton's agent, that gave Butcher the break? And they're no longer together?

[Abyss]

amphibian, on 23 July 2012 - 04:03 PM, said:

... I thought it was Ricia Mainhardt, who was Hamilton's agent, that gave Butcher the break? And they're no longer together?

If i recall the story correctly, Hamilton met Butcher and made the intro.

[acesn8s]

Abyss, on 23 July 2012 - 03:52 PM, said:

amphibian, on 23 July 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

Abyss, on 23 July 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:

Which ones?
The first nine are pretty good if read in order and would probably be less enjoyable (if not incoherent) out of order. Everything after Obsidian Butterfly is pure unmitigated awful imnsho.

The first two and then I skipped ahead to a little bit of #4 to see if the writing picked up. All were terrible. Hamilton really isn't on a high technical level as a writer and her story's not particularly unique or compelling. Anita Blake = Mary Sue and the rest of it is just Twilight level wish fulfillment.

All your critiques are valid but there was enough to hold my interest up until the implosion in #10.
I read the first three as part of a collected edition. I suspect the grand finale of #3 probably carried me fwd. Without that, #4 sure wouldn't have kept me around.

There may also be an element of my having read them before urban fantasy became as widespread as it is now. Had i read Butcher and Mike Carey first, i suspect Hamilton would have suffered by comparison (and yes i'm aware of the irony in that statement re Hamilton being the one who gave Butcher his big break).

She lost me after book 10 as well. I reread some GGK to cleanse my palate and now . . . Caine's MF'ing Law.

[QuickTidal]

amphibian, on 23 July 2012 - 04:03 PM, said:

Yeah, it's kind of a case of the new generation eating the old alive. Tolkien's still readable, but his stuff's been far surpassed in the generations of writers since.

Wow. Disagree. It's like talking about Dickens and saying writers after him "ate him"...which is not true simply by the nature of the distance and time between the authors of which you are speaking. So you can't really make the statement that "his stuff's been far surpassed in the generations of writers since" by simple nature of the fact that those writer's after him cannot be compared to him era-wise, skill-wise, or the like. It's like attempting to compare the original telephone to a modern cell phone...just because the modern cell phone is more convenient, wireless, and easy to use for us TODAY doesn't mean that we can compare it to the original telephone....because that invention was the cutting edge of technology for its time. To compare it to a modern cell phone robs it of it's uniqueness and attempts to steal it out of the era it existed in for the purposes of comparison which shouldn't be made. Improvement of an original premise or genre only exists because of the person who came up with it...Evolution should not negate what came before, but ought to revere it.

If you wish to compare Tolkien to his contemporaries and say that "others did it better", then that's quite fine. But to remove him from his era and compare him to the people who followed him much more recently is not the most accurate thing to say.

As to the man himself and his writing: In the grand scheme of things NO ONE has been able to touch Tolkien in the Language department. No one. I cannot think of a fantasy book or series in which attention to the smallest accent, or the roots of bigger words (in more than one dialect even! Ex. Sindarin and Quendi) fleshes out a world history better than Tolkien.

[amphibian]

QuickTidal, on 23 July 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

Wow. Disagree. It's like talking about Dickens and saying writers after him "ate him"...which is not true simply by the nature of the distance and time between the authors of which you are speaking. So you can't really make the statement that "his stuff's been far surpassed in the generations of writers since" by simple nature of the fact that those writer's after him cannot be compared to him era-wise, skill-wise, or the like. It's like attempting to compare the original telephone to a modern cell phone...just because the modern cell phone is more convenient, wireless, and easy to use for us TODAY doesn't mean that we can compare it to the original telephone....because that invention was the cutting edge of technology for its time. To compare it to a modern cell phone robs it of it's uniqueness and attempts to steal it out of the era it existed in for the purposes of comparison which shouldn't be made. Improvement of an original premise or genre only exists because of the person who came up with it...Evolution should not negate what came before, but ought to revere it.

If you wish to compare Tolkien to his contemporaries and say that "others did it better", then that's quite fine. But to remove him from his era and compare him to the people who followed him much more recently is not the most accurate thing to say.

As to the man himself and his writing: In the grand scheme of things NO ONE has been able to touch Tolkien in the Language department. No one. I cannot think of a fantasy book or series in which attention to the smallest accent, or the roots of bigger words (in more than one dialect even! Ex. Sindarin and Quendi) fleshes out a world history better than Tolkien.

Put Tolkien's story and characters next to those of others. His legend dims considerably there. Yes, some factoring in of time and place needs to be done, but much like the talks we had in the Racism in Literature thread from earlier, some things can be removed from within their context and objectively described as "bleh/racist".

I don't know enough about the language thing to talk authoritatively, but that doesn't seem all that important. Frank Herbert created perhaps the finest overview of fictional ecology-and-economics within a literary series ever, but it doesn't really get him that many bonus points. Certain authors are going to have areas of competence that bleed through into their books and some of them will last a very long time before being matched or surpassed. Herman Melville made Moby Dick halfway a whaling documentary (which is awesome), but the story he constructed around it is what made the book forever.