The Second Apocalypse

Miscellaneous Chatter => Literature => Topic started by: Cüréthañ on May 04, 2013, 06:57:07 am

Title: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on May 04, 2013, 06:57:07 am
I imagine that many forumers manage to read other stuff in between obsessive reads of TSA.

Just picked up Planesrunner by Ian McDonald.  Looks fun.  Interdimensional airships!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on May 04, 2013, 12:01:29 pm
I'm still on the Malazan slog; I'm nearly finished with House of Chains now.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Baztek on May 04, 2013, 03:00:58 pm
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Depression, weed, tennis, wheelchair assassins, the human condition, beauty, dysfunctional families, life and death, meaning and meaningless, the value of entertainment, AA, suicide, Metro Boston, and more drugs. This book's got it all.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: What Came Before on May 04, 2013, 05:30:55 pm
In my backpack at the moment:

Louder Than Words - Benjamin K. Bergen
Reading in the Brain - Stanislas Dehaene (second reading)

And a textbook for spring semester:

Drugs, Brain, & Behaviour
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: sologdin on May 04, 2013, 08:49:15 pm
third volume of delbruck's history of the art of war at the moment.  i imagine its principles will be useful in reading RSB's battles, incidentally, and generating inferences from them.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on May 04, 2013, 11:09:01 pm
The City and the City, China Mieville. Not normally a fan of the genere but I rather enjoyed Perdido Street Station, so I'm giving this one a whirl.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus on May 13, 2013, 03:30:16 am
I've been meaning to read some Mieville, but haven't gotten around to it.

The Kingkiller books by Patrick Rothfuss have been recent re-reads, and a re-read of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind, and The Angel's Game.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on May 13, 2013, 05:20:25 pm
I just finished Warrior Prophet.

For whatever reason, reading the What has Come Before in TTT killed most of my interest in reading TTT right away.  dunno why.

So I started reading The Republic last night, I'm completely shocked it's so easy to read, and that it's sort of narrative-esque.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: What Came Before on May 13, 2013, 07:41:52 pm
LOL - I find most philosophy easy-reads. It's the goddamn thicket of proper interpretation, even of dissent, that confounds most.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus on May 13, 2013, 11:04:27 pm
I found out about Bakker when looking for more writers who have dark without being dark for the sake of it, and avoid alot of the tropes and crappy dialogue in alot of novels I've read.

I do love me some flighty quick reads, but I'd like to find more meaty novels like The Aspect-Emperor series.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Srancy on May 14, 2013, 03:12:02 am
I got a bad habit of multiple book reading...

An American Dilemma: The Negro Problem and Modern Democracy by Gunnar Myrdal

Crucible of War by Fred Anderson

Civil War and Reconstruction by James Randall

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on May 14, 2013, 11:57:25 am
I'm on Midnight Tides now. Ugggh, too much Edur.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: What Came Before on May 14, 2013, 12:01:14 pm
That's where I stopped, Meyna. Never made it past Midnight Tides. Despite Deadhouse Gates being one of my favorite books ever... Duiker really got to me.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on May 14, 2013, 12:39:35 pm
I'll make it through; I'm too invested in the awesomeness of certain characters to stop. Tattersail, Quick Ben, and Cotillion, for example.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on May 14, 2013, 04:48:49 pm
Socrates is the original troll.  which illustrates that forum behavior hasn't changed an iota in online forums from what it was in ancient greece physical forums.

What a dick.  The worst kind of troll, the kind that keeps backsliding and protesting he's not actually trolling, and who never contributes an original thought.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on May 16, 2013, 01:28:09 am
Finished Chapter 1, Socrates 'wins' because of a deus ex machina appeal to authority that is completely dependent on a Just World Fallacy?

Considering the whole bit was about Justice, now I know another reason why it's called the Just World Fallacy.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on May 17, 2013, 05:07:40 am
Abandon your convictions, Locke.
Its a debate from a different world, remember.  ;)  That said, I barely remember any of it its been so long...

Finished Planesrunner.  Didn't realise it was YA until I was two chapters in when it became very aparent from the predictable characterisation and plotting.
Doubt I will bother with the sequel, but not too bad if you're into that kind of thing.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on May 17, 2013, 12:13:52 pm
The chapter ends with socrates saying all people of wealth and power are just people because the gods are just and would never bless an unjust person.  Therefore someones wealth and power is proof that they are inherently good.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on May 17, 2013, 02:38:18 pm
Yep, damn patricians. 
Only rich folk had the right to vote in ancient Athens, for them it was one of those 'self evident' truths...  seems silly now but...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: What Came Before on May 17, 2013, 04:00:50 pm
You know, I'm sure we could start a Republic thread. There are certainly members I can think of who would join us in commenting, if they are engaged and not wandering, looking for trauma... to remember.

A couple thoughts though:

Firstly, +1 Curethan. Time and place - while society hasn't progressed a whole lot since Plato, as Whitehead's quote goes the mass of European philosophy during his time was "a series of footnotes to Plato."

Secondly, there is a much debate between philosophers, first, obviously, to the historical existence of Socrates and, secondly, moreso, to what extent the historical Socrates was actually portrayed as the character of Socrates.

Most academic philosophers I've encountered who deign to have an opinion seem to agree that The Republic represents the first serious break between a consistent individual (Socrates) beforehand and an oratory puppet (Plato) afterwards.

Do not judge my mentor Socrates on Plato's need for him to... posit things.

Lol.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Davias on May 24, 2013, 08:21:45 pm
While I'm waiting for the Unholy Consult, I have read only one good fantasy book this year. Joe Abercrombie's "Red Country". Gritty and action-packed. It is a nice and fast read, just the right thing for a lazy friday evening ( and one of the fantasy books in german language with a halfway decent translation :-\ ).

Apart from this, I have expanded my bookshelf with books about the Punic Wars.  I have most of the german books about this special topic and now it is time for some good english books.

Since I have encountered a well written Hannibal biography a few years ago, I collect all things about this ancient era. Right now I'm reading "The Blackwell Companion about the Punic Wars". It was an expensive purchase, but inside there are many good essays about the three wars between carthage and rome.

And after that I have to read "Carthage must be destroyed" by Richard Miles.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on May 24, 2013, 11:49:52 pm
Finally, Midnight Tides is picking up the pace a bit (I'm about a third of the way through).

And after that I have to read "Carthage must be destroyed" by Richard Miles.

Cato and his perennial "Carthago delenda est." statement as almost an afterthought at the end of every senate session is one of the most humorous snapshots of ancient Rome that I have come across. I hope that book does it justice!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on May 25, 2013, 03:31:16 am
I recently read another of Abercrombie's books, Best Served Cold. I liked it, not quite as much as his First Law trillogy, but it was good. I'll probably pick up Heroes  next since it is set at some point after Best Served Cold.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Callan S. on May 25, 2013, 05:16:40 am
The chapter ends with socrates saying all people of wealth and power are just people because the gods are just and would never bless an unjust person.  Therefore someones wealth and power is proof that they are inherently good.
Like all trolls, they ultimately are ferverent supporters of the status quo.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: sologdin on June 29, 2013, 09:16:37 pm
best way to do this thread is really everyone get a goodreads account.  there, i started:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5610133-sologdin (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5610133-sologdin).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on June 29, 2013, 09:22:18 pm
o.O

The fact that you have 1.6k books in your "read" section is intimidating lol. Makes me nervous to make an account and appear silly and dimwitted :P though I'm sure there are plenty who think that about me already.

Edit:

Earlier in this thread I mentioned I'd start The City and the City and see how it went. Got bored and quite half way but it was more entertaining than a lot of the mystery genre that I've tried to read in the past.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on June 30, 2013, 06:39:25 pm
I finished Midnight Tides a week or two ago, and now I am nearly half-way through the Bonehunters.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on July 02, 2013, 03:37:59 pm
Midnight Tides was actually where I stopped.

best way to do this thread is really everyone get a goodreads account.  there, i started:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5610133-sologdin (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5610133-sologdin).

I have one, solo, but I've never actually took the time to chronicle my physical library to it. I'll second Wilshire's awe: I've only had two major book purges in my life, at 12 and 21, and in both cases I documented all my book titles to a list. Even then, I wouldn't have owned 1.6k books (though again, even if I included all the books I've ever read, I doubt I'd hit a thousand).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Baztek on July 02, 2013, 06:38:41 pm
Re-reading WP at the moment. Really taking my time with it, letting all the details sink in and trying to imagine all the descriptions as vividly as possible. I've been on a big history kick lately so I'm really appreciating Bakker's attention to detail and little nation-specific idioms. Makes the prospect of the upcoming Consult scenes even more horrifying because of how grounded and authentic the rest of the world is.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on July 02, 2013, 08:09:23 pm
What it takes, the Road to the Whitehouse.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 02, 2013, 09:09:48 pm
Game of Thrones.

We'll see how it goes.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on July 03, 2013, 12:35:01 pm
I made it through up to the first half of Storm of Swords... and never even tried to pick up the series again.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 03, 2013, 07:02:16 pm
I'm nearing the end of book 1. Its alright. Entertaining at times, others not so much. I think it could develop into an interesting series so  I'll probably read on.

I also decided to read every book in Orson Scott Card's Ender's saga. After the first 2 it was a waste.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Morrigan on July 03, 2013, 08:04:56 pm
A lot on my plate, currently.

I'm about 600 pages into Samuel Delany's Dhalgren, which is turning out to be an incredibly complex and moving work.

I'm also working through:

Deleuze and Guattari's Anti-Oedipus and Manuel DeLanda's Philosophy and Simulation.  And on the side, I'm really enjoying the Saga and East of West comic series.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on July 04, 2013, 01:53:04 pm
Welcome to the Second Apocalypse, Morrigan.

Just started a Philosophy & Gender credit... 'lo and behold the textbook is simply called Feminism. *Face-Palm*

Can't wait to start arguing with this professor over that one (I walk a real tricky line where I constantly demand that professor's actually engage their positions - especially in online credits).

Since I've been on vacation and couch surfing for almost a month and a half and having just moved back to my place up north, the only books I really have on me are the ones that came with me and my textbooks.

So after a trip to the campus library - I rarely frequent libraries now in adulthood as I like owning my books - here is what I'll be mostly reading for the next three weeks (aside textbooks):

Soterion prompted these first few choices based on reading I did in our New Wave SF (http://second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=766.15) thread.

In Defense of Fantasy - Ann Swinfen
Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion - Rosemary Jackson
Metamorphoses of Science Fiction - Darko Suvin

And then truly for the fuck of it:

Platform Oratory and Debate - John Rigg (I'm on an oratory kick right now after reading Rhetoric for Radicals whilst surfing around - memorizing a bunch of historical speeches for the fun of it; might even join me a Toastmasters' club)
Women Philosophers - Ethel M. Kersey (I had picked this up over a month ago and renewed it while on vacation - though I didn't read it as it was in storage. It will certainly help me in my Philosophy & Gender course - like prof's actually advocate extracurricular reading - but I had originally grabbed it based on the one Women & Bakker thread I engaged in).

Should be fun ;). Can't wait to get my books out of storage as I have a couple choice titles I bought recently that I haven't had a chance to read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 10, 2013, 08:09:00 pm
Anyone read anything from Andrzej Sapkowski? Most famous for his series The Witcher, which the video game series was based off of.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Davias on July 10, 2013, 09:39:47 pm
I have read a few samples from Sapkowski's books, because I like the setting of the world in the computer game. But I wasn't very impressed by the writing and gave it up. I think, the story has potential. The world, characters and story are somehow gritty and unique, but also kind of generic and boring.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on July 11, 2013, 07:41:16 pm
Jitterbug perfume by Tom Robbins.Its weird in a very good way so far :D  If anyone have read him,I would love to hear what you recommend or not ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 11, 2013, 10:09:27 pm
I have read a few samples from Sapkowski's books, because I like the setting of the world in the computer game. But I wasn't very impressed by the writing and gave it up. I think, the story has potential. The world, characters and story are somehow gritty and unique, but also kind of generic and boring.

I knew someone around here had. Thanks for the discouragement. I was mostly looking for a reason not to look into it :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Somnambulist on July 12, 2013, 09:49:59 am
Peter F. Hamilton's Dreaming Void.  I've always enjoyed his work, simply for the epic scale of his stories.  Not so much the Greg Mandel series, but pretty much all the rest of it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Morrigan on July 12, 2013, 02:04:44 pm
Welcome to the Second Apocalypse, Morrigan.

[...]

Soterion prompted these first few choices based on reading I did in our New Wave SF (http://second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=766.15) thread.

In Defense of Fantasy - Ann Swinfen
Fantasy: The Literature of Subversion - Rosemary Jackson
Metamorphoses of Science Fiction - Darko Suvin

Hey Madness,

I actually am Soterion.  For some reason, the forum couldn't locate my previous username.  But I figured it's a new forum, so it might be time for a name change anyway.  :)  Glad you're finding the fantasy/SF reading enjoyable!  I actually just recently picked up a book by Carl Freedman titled Critical Theory and Science Fiction.  I've only read about 30 pages, but so far it's really good.  More of a historicist approach concerned with analyzing SF's relationship to genre and the literary canon.

Finished Delany's Dhalgren, so now I'm on to David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Somnambulist on July 12, 2013, 09:26:39 pm
Cloud Atlas was excellent!  Shame about the movie, though.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 13, 2013, 12:41:29 am
The move wasnt THAT bad. I enjoyed it, though I'm sure nothing could ever live up to the kind of standard that people would expect from a book like that.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on July 15, 2013, 01:46:27 pm
Hey Madness,

I actually am Soterion.  For some reason, the forum couldn't locate my previous username.  But I figured it's a new forum, so it might be time for a name change anyway.

Lol - Glad you found your way back. The switch between forums providers was mostly patchwork and personal grinding. All our posts exist here but sadly, because of the inability to backup the Forumer SA, no profiles were transcribed. A necessary evil. 

Carl Freedman titled Critical Theory and Science Fiction.  I've only read about 30 pages, but so far it's really good.  More of a historicist approach concerned with analyzing SF's relationship to genre and the literary canon.

I saw this on campus when I was at the library. For my money, thus far, (out of the three you've gotten me onto), I think Suvin's the most compelling communicator in exhibiting his thinking.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Davias on July 19, 2013, 04:08:24 pm
So, after a little bit of sinking into my books of Roman and Carthaginian History, I will read something a little bit different:
The Dice Man - by Luke Rhinehart
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 22, 2013, 01:02:08 am
Read the synopsis of Hyperion and an thinking about picking it up. I do believe I'm in the mood for a bit of syfi. Though I'm torn between that and or one of China Mieville's other novels.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on July 22, 2013, 02:58:14 pm
Don't be torn. Read Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion. They will make you happy in the brain :D.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Morrigan on July 22, 2013, 03:22:57 pm
The first two Hyperion novels are incredible.  I've never gotten around to finishing the series, but I'm told it's good if you can push through it.

The first book is nearly immaculate; well-written and a great story.  The second book drags a bit, in my opinion; but oh man, that conclusion makes the whole thing totally worth it.  ;)

Has anyone else tried to read Miéville's Railsea?  I attempted and didn't get very far at all; really disappointing.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 23, 2013, 04:24:20 am
Search Railsea in the search bar, its come up a few times here and there, that should get you to the posts. I think most people would probably agree with you, at least around here.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on July 23, 2013, 05:09:33 am
I picked up my signed copies of PON and Neuropath from storage the other day. Reunited at last :D.

Just gloating ;).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 23, 2013, 03:05:12 pm
Everyone needs to gloat sometimes. I just packed away all my books yesterday :(
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on August 07, 2013, 05:40:38 pm
Just started Toll the Hounds.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on August 10, 2013, 06:01:10 pm
Anyone know the store Half Price Books? Its a used book store, sells everything for cheap. The important part is, they now have a website, which a friend of mine recently discovered and showed me. I was pretty sure that 5 years ago I tried to find their site and it didn't exist, but it seems the store has joined the rest of civilization now. If you've got a long list of books you want to read, check out hpb.com and get them cheap.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Garet Jax on August 11, 2013, 01:06:56 am
Olympos by Dan Simmons.  Good shit.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on August 11, 2013, 02:00:32 am
Olympos by Dan Simmons.  Good shit.
Currently reading Hyperion, so for its pretty great.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Morrigan on August 12, 2013, 09:50:02 pm
Currently on Peter Watts's Maelstrom, second book in the Rifters trilogy.  I freakin' love this dude.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on August 18, 2013, 03:15:09 pm
What I've been reading for the past week:

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth - Reza Aslan (at the behest of my Mom.)
What A Plant Knows - Daniel Chamovitz (An quick, interesting read, comparing our sensory experience with that which seems mediated in biochemistry. Cites a generous amount - for the size of the book - of Darwin's work as a biologist.)
Abaddon's Gate - James S.A. Corey (I've been sitting on this one for the better part of two months so needless to say I read a fair amount on the initial sitdown.)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Garet Jax on August 18, 2013, 08:33:43 pm
Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee - Dee Brown

Really good stuff.

Also reading Where Men Win Glory - Jon Krakauer.

Don't know why I am on this kick when I have Dan Simmons on deck while doing my re read...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on August 18, 2013, 09:21:01 pm
Had a hard time deciding between a few sci fi books,but ended up with "the golden age" by John C Wright.
I also read"the brotherhood of the screaming abyss" by Dennis Mckenna,a biography on his brother Terence Mckenna.
Also just finished Sean Patricks book on Nicola Tesla.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on August 19, 2013, 01:28:11 am
Was D. McKenna's book good, Royce? I loved experiencing T. McKenna's writings during some of my more formative years.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on August 19, 2013, 06:40:27 am
I have just started on that one,sorry if semantic issues mislead you:) I have heard from others who have read it,and they say there are some things that are revealed about him that are quite shocking to his cult of "true believers". Maybe the most surprising one was that he stopped doing psychedelics in 1989,because of a severe "bad tripp" on mushrooms.So he had a lot of issues with promoting the "heroic dose" which he became famous for.I have listened to many of his lectures over the years and it always struck me that he had a unique way with language,like a great poet or bard.I read "food of the gods" many years ago,and found it interesting on many levels
I will come back to you with a verdict on the book when I finish it:) Might take awhile though,since I tend to read to many books at the same time
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on August 21, 2013, 04:42:05 pm
Let me know, Royce. Probably try and find it on your recommendation - I also really like Food of the Gods as an academic attempt.

Evolutionaries - Carter Phipps
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on August 28, 2013, 01:54:02 pm
Just finished the first of three books in "the golden age" by John C Wright,and that was something special indeed.
Very heavy on the science stuff,took me almost a week to get through the first 60 pages,but after that it flows beautifully.
It has to be said that English is my second language,so most likely I struggle more than you guys will.
Strongly recommend this to sci-fi fans,or maybe sci-fi fanatics,because it is VERY sci-fi:)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on September 01, 2013, 12:53:01 pm
Recently read:
Gardens of the Sun by Paul McCauley which was some nice imaginative hard scifi,
Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence; grim fantasy ranging from ordinary to fantastic - great talent but somewhat uneven for my tastes.
Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks which was so much better than the first volume, I can't even...  Not necassarily classic but a very enjoyable read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on September 04, 2013, 12:58:45 pm
A Skeptic's Guide to the Mind - Robert A. Burton

Also, for those interested: Brain Science and Books & Ideas Podcasts (http://www.virginiacampbellmd.com/)

In which, she reviews or interviews the M.D. above. But it's also fairly informative for a poppy interview podcast. Definitely, doesn't get into the hard science.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on September 08, 2013, 09:39:29 am
Finished "the golden age" by John C Wright.Great trilogy.
Also finished "god is not great" by Christopher Hitchens,a full frontal attack on organized religion by a rather grumpy but great man :D
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Kellais on September 08, 2013, 10:33:09 am
Wow, you guys read a lot of intellectual stuff ... i feel intimidated  ;)

I can't read educational and/or scientific stuff in my free time, i have enough of those in my line of work (at least from the field of mathematics).

So for relaxation and fun, i only read fantasy. At the moment i am reading:

- Reread of The Judging Eye
- Mark T. Barnes' The Garden of Stones
- Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on September 09, 2013, 12:39:36 pm
Quote
Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks which was so much better than the first volume, I can't even...  Not necassarily classic but a very enjoyable read.

I read "the night angel" series awhile ago and was not very impressed.Is this series worth picking up?

Quote
I can't read educational and/or scientific stuff in my free time, i have enough of those in my line of work (at least from the field of mathematics).

Not all of us have intellectually challenging careers yet,so you should be happy you don`t have to  :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on September 10, 2013, 01:19:13 pm
Quote
Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks which was so much better than the first volume, I can't even...  Not necassarily classic but a very enjoyable read.

I read "the night angel" series awhile ago and was not very impressed.Is this series worth picking up?

Haven't read "night angel" - looked pretty lame from the blurb et al, so I can't compare sorry.
Wasn't impressed by the first one (The Black Prism), fairly cool magic system but the writing was so very, erm, 'contemporary' it kept jarring me out of the story.  Also the character were blase and the plot fairly straightforward. 

I only bought the second volume because I had some time to kill at lunch on my work placement and had already invested the effort in the first one.  Characterisation, plotting and writing all much improved, with some boring characters sidelined or developing more interestingly, a couple of surprising twists and pseudo-science anachronisms kept to a minimum.  So book one scored about 5/10 and book two probably 7.5/10 by my subjective scale.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Kellais on September 10, 2013, 01:27:19 pm

Quote
I can't read educational and/or scientific stuff in my free time, i have enough of those in my line of work (at least from the field of mathematics).

Not all of us have intellectually challenging careers yet,so you should be happy you don`t have to  :)

Never seen it that way...  ;D
But i still feel kind of lazy that i never "challenge" myself with something a bit more....real....in my freetime...as you guys seem to do on a regular basis.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on September 29, 2013, 05:05:56 pm
The siren call of hungry ghosts by Joe Fisher.Anecdotal overdose from the paranormal world.
The lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.Kind of straightforward heist novel,with pretty interesting characters.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 30, 2013, 01:43:26 pm

Quote
I can't read educational and/or scientific stuff in my free time, i have enough of those in my line of work (at least from the field of mathematics).

Not all of us have intellectually challenging careers yet,so you should be happy you don`t have to  :)

Never seen it that way...  ;D
But i still feel kind of lazy that i never "challenge" myself with something a bit more....real....in my freetime...as you guys seem to do on a regular basis.

To each his own. I'm going to stick with SFF for my freetime reading. Let my brain rot.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Somnambulist on September 30, 2013, 03:18:54 pm
For my so-called 'intellectual' reading, I enjoy subject matter that allows my imagination to come along for the ride.  Michio Kaku's Parallel Worlds, Neal DeGrasse Tyson's Death by Black Hole, and Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time are among the most memorable.  I also enjoy going down the rabbit hole with speculative authors such as Graham Hancock and Zecharia Sitchin (while keeping my bucket of salt nearby for hearty pinches, or even scoops, as needed).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 30, 2013, 04:28:11 pm
I watch the science channel almost continuously when I'm at home. Or discovery, or national geographic, or history... you get the point. I know its not even close to intellectual reading, but I can't help but listen to the sultry base tones of Morgan Freeman's voice explaining to me the vast wonders of the universe (he hosts a show called Through the Wormhole). Thats enough "science" for me.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on September 30, 2013, 07:59:58 pm
I have finished Toll the Hounds and am now reading Dust of Dreams.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on September 30, 2013, 08:40:05 pm
Quote
  I also enjoy going down the rabbit hole with speculative authors such as Graham Hancock and Zecharia Sitchin (while keeping my bucket of salt nearby for hearty pinches, or even scoops, as needed).

Lol,I am also guilty of reading these speculative but interesting authors :D Have you read Hancocks novels?,have been wondering if I should read them or not.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on September 30, 2013, 09:33:45 pm
Let my brain rot.

Lol - If that is your intent, perhaps, you should frequent a forum less expansive than this ;).

I have finished Toll the Hounds and am now reading Dust of Dreams.

How has that slog been, Meyna?

I also enjoy going down the rabbit hole with speculative authors such as Graham Hancock and Zecharia Sitchin (while keeping my bucket of salt nearby for hearty pinches, or even scoops, as needed).

Lol,I am also guilty of reading these speculative but interesting authors :D Have you read Hancocks novels?,have been wondering if I should read them or not.

Lmao - oh, you guys. You're all over my teenage love of conspiracy and mystery right now (Sitchin requires a Sorcerer's weight in salt). Read Hancock, Royce. Then read Robert Bauval. And, of course, von Daniken to round it out.

As for me, there are a couple I'm working on (as per usg) but Why Teach? - Mark Edmundson is the one I am reading quickest at the moment.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on September 30, 2013, 10:48:34 pm
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Lmao - oh, you guys. You're all over my teenage love of conspiracy and mystery right now (Sitchin requires a Sorcerer's weight in salt). Read Hancock, Royce. Then read Robert Bauval. And, of course, von Daniken to round it out.

Lol,a friend of mine is literally throwing this stuff at me ;D Manley P Hall,Aleister Crowley,Michael Tsarion.....the list goes on and on :) I do not think words can describe the amount of salt needed reading these guys,but it is fun though.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on September 30, 2013, 11:11:07 pm
Lol - Tsarion is right there with Sheldrake ;). David Wilcock. David Icke. This stuff is taking me back. All inspiring fodder for writing fiction, if nothing else.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on September 30, 2013, 11:11:32 pm

I have finished Toll the Hounds and am now reading Dust of Dreams.

How has that slog been, Meyna?


It picks back up towards the end of Midnight Tides, though, beware; it heads back to Letheras for most of Reaper's Gale. I regret nothing, though. I am surprisingly sensitive to the many times the characters wax poetic about history. That he is very good at crafting such exposition is not surprising, given that Erikson is an archaeologist/anthropologist in addition to being a writer.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Somnambulist on October 01, 2013, 12:00:44 am
Quote
  I also enjoy going down the rabbit hole with speculative authors such as Graham Hancock and Zecharia Sitchin (while keeping my bucket of salt nearby for hearty pinches, or even scoops, as needed).

Lol,I am also guilty of reading these speculative but interesting authors :D Have you read Hancocks novels?,have been wondering if I should read them or not.

Definitely read some (if you have a friend that can lend you the books, even better, so you don't have to buy them).  I personally preferred Fingerprints of the Gods and Underworld, but I guess it depends on your particular taste for conspiracy.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on October 01, 2013, 08:22:09 am
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Tsarion is right there with Sheldrake

Well I am not so sure about that though.I guess you are referring to his rather crazy talks? I know he was in that bunch of "this is what will happen in 2012" group along with Icke,Wilcock,Pinchbeck and so on,but if you read "disciples of the mysterium" he explores different and more interesting topics(IMO).He attacks collectivism(and every other ism) and tries to show you that they are all cul de sacs.He clearly favors tao and the philosophies of Ayn Rand etc.I would actually recommend this to everyone interested in collectivism vs individualism.

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Definitely read some (if you have a friend that can lend you the books, even better, so you don't have to buy them).  I personally preferred Fingerprints of the Gods and Underworld, but I guess it depends on your particular taste for conspiracy.

Yeah,I have been wondering about those two,and I will read FOG soon :) Do you know he has written fiction? I wonder if they are any good(Entangled,War God) He is a very creative and inspiring guy :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on October 13, 2013, 03:18:48 pm
The Republic of Thieves - Scott Lynch

Finally!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on October 13, 2013, 05:31:28 pm
Red seas under red skies,Scott Lynch.
The shadow of the torturer,Gene Wolfe.
Wisdom of insecurity,Alan Watts.
Grendel,John Gardner.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Davias on October 13, 2013, 06:51:19 pm
After so many books about the punic wars and roman history, I finally read "The Grim Company" by Luke Scull.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on October 17, 2013, 05:25:15 pm
Lots and lots of Niccolo Machiavelli... heaps, if you will.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Davias on October 18, 2013, 01:38:36 pm
Niccolo Machiavelli... interesting, Madness.
I've only read a few passages in "The Prince" some years ago.
Can you recommend some of his works? Has it a little insight about the timeframe, in which he lived?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on October 18, 2013, 01:55:30 pm
He is a prolific writer, Davias. And yes, he offers plenty of commentary on his times and ancient Rome, which he held in the highest regard (often unfairly over his contemporaries). I'm doing a seminar course on him right now that requires a 3h presentation ???.

The Art of War (I'm not sure he'd have known of Sun Tzu's title)
The Discourses

And while everyone should read the The Tercets on Fortune, his plays were pretty awesome.

The Prince the go-to suggestion, obviously.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Davias on October 18, 2013, 02:01:01 pm
Thanks, Madness. I have added him to my reading list, which is already too long  ::)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on October 29, 2013, 08:20:32 pm
The tell tale brain, Ramachandran. Simply stunning.

The dragons path, Daniel Abraham. So far so good.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on October 30, 2013, 07:10:42 pm
How'd you like Ramachandran, Royce?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on October 31, 2013, 05:49:09 pm
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How'd you like Ramachandran, Royce?

I love that guy :) His curiosity, smartness, and humble techniques were simply amazing. The fact that I can understand what he is talking about(not a neuroscientist) says something about his skills as a writer as well. I am actually re- reading it now :). Had many "Neuropath is actually not fiction" moments, which is kind of disturbing.

He has propelled himself into my top 20 favorite people of all time :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on November 04, 2013, 01:36:32 pm
I have finished Dust of Dreams and am making good time on The Crippled God.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on November 05, 2013, 03:35:15 pm
Quote
How'd you like Ramachandran, Royce?

I love that guy :) His curiosity, smartness, and humble techniques were simply amazing. The fact that I can understand what he is talking about(not a neuroscientist) says something about his skills as a writer as well. I am actually re- reading it now :). Had many "Neuropath is actually not fiction" moments, which is kind of disturbing.

He has propelled himself into my top 20 favorite people of all time :)


Yeah, I enjoy his thought process immensely.

EDIT: And because school is killing me inside - The Aspect-Emperor: The White-Luck Warrior - R. Scott Bakker ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Francis Buck on November 14, 2013, 03:06:45 am
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, just finished it a few days ago. It may be one of my favorite books of all time, seriously. Mantel's a phenomenal writer. Not I'm starting The Winter King by Bernard Cornwell, which I've been meaning to get around to for some time.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on November 18, 2013, 02:27:48 pm
The kings blood, Daniel Abraham. Book 2 of 4 in a series that just gets better and better.
John Marco Allegro:The maverick of the dead sea scrolls, Judith Anne Brown. Word of god vs psychedelics.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 18, 2013, 04:58:56 pm
About to finish up The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (Book 1 of this series The Book of the New Sun).

Its kind of a slow burn but it feels like a setup for things to come. I like the writing so I'll probably read the next book in the series and see where it takes me.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on November 28, 2013, 03:55:34 am
I have finished The Crippled God. What a trip this has been! Madness, I know you are stuck on Midnight Tides, but I'll just say that it's at the end of The Bonehunters that one can really get a sense of the direction that the story is going.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on November 28, 2013, 12:56:21 pm
Damnit, Meyna...

Your testimonial compels me. And, I mean, one just has to read an epic like Erikson's twice, you know, to truly appreciate the seeding, foreshadowing, etc :P.

EDIT: Also, for the thread, I'm going to not read Machiavelli, or any of his thrice-damned critics, for a long while.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on November 28, 2013, 12:59:11 pm
I think that after I recover I'm going to read all of the supplementary material and then reread the main series again (an action unprecedented for me), yeah 8)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on November 28, 2013, 01:17:51 pm
Seems like it would be worthwhile (especially, as I thought GOTM and DG were two of the strongest books of the first five).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on November 28, 2013, 11:32:26 pm
One reading of MBOTF was plenty for me.  DG was the only book that really moved me, I read it first.  GOTM was very reminiscent of someone's Monty Hall D&D campaign.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on November 29, 2013, 02:24:57 pm
Duiker fan, Curethan :D? I also really appreciated Coltaine.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on November 30, 2013, 07:28:37 am
Just finished Viriconium by M John Harrison. A slow descent into madness,seen from the perspective of a city. I know it sounds weird, and it was.

Started on Gardens of the moon, by Steven Erikson. Wish me luck on the slog of slogs :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Borque on November 30, 2013, 10:34:35 am
Started on Gardens of the moon, by Steven Erikson. Wish me luck on the slog of slogs :)
Good luck!

The only slog rule is to go on until you have finished #2, Deadhouse Gates.
GotM is much weaker.

I read the Malazan books up until Bonehunters I think. Then lost interest. The first few books I found ok/entertaining in general, with a few really great parts. But the series was just too haphazard and unfocused for me.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on November 30, 2013, 02:18:36 pm
The only slog rule is to go on until you have finished #2, Deadhouse Gates.
GotM is much weaker.

I really liked the Paran (the man) in the first book. And I support this rule.

Good luck, Royce!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on December 15, 2013, 11:29:30 pm
Finished Gardens of the moon, 9 laps to go.

Mavericks of the mind. I love roundtable discussions, especially with Tim Leary. He is such a dickhead:)

About to start on The Illuminatus! trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on December 16, 2013, 11:16:23 am
About to start on The Illuminatus! trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson.

Lol - have fun with the red pill down the rabbit hole :).

(This in no way reflects the (in)validity of the arguments presented in the books - to be clear on opinion.)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on December 19, 2013, 08:19:06 pm
Quote
Lol - have fun with the red pill down the rabbit hole :).

Once you have swallowed the red pill, there is no turning back ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Francis Buck on December 20, 2013, 05:03:23 am
I've been struggling through Perdido Street Station. It's maybe the...third? Mieville book I've started (never finished one). I don't know what it is, but something about his stuff just doesn't grab me. It's weird because I actually quite like PSS; it's imaginative as fuck, the writing's good if not just plain great, and it's utterly stuffed with creativity (even though I think it almost suffers under the weight of the sheer insanity of it all). I mean hell, the guy managed to make a crimson-skinned woman with the head of an insect into something bizarrely erotic. It's brilliant, honestly. But it's just one of those types of books that I have to force myself through. It's like, once I'm actually reading it, I'm pretty engaged. But picking the damn thing up is tough for me almost every time.

Regardless, I'm determined to finish this one, if only to say that I've actually finished a CM book, but also because I am genuinely curious how this jumble of seemingly unrelated plots pan out with each other.

Also, I've watched/read several interviews with CM, and he seems like a pretty cool dude with some very interesting ideas, and genuinely important thoughts on the genre of SFF. Maybe a little pretentious, but shit, he's a writer, and more than that, a writer with a message. Gotta give the guy a little leeway.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Somnambulist on December 20, 2013, 03:29:19 pm
I found PSS a little tough to get through, too, FB.  Granted, I read The Scar first, which I enjoyed much more, though still struggled a bit with (may be over-long).  Iron Council came last, and I slogged through that one, even though I think it was the shortest of the trilogy.  I agree with you about his writing, it's deep and imaginative, but something never quite sat right with me and I couldn't tell you what.  I also haven't been able to finish any of the other 3 CM books I've tried since then.  Haven't been able to bring myself to try any time recently.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on December 22, 2013, 04:43:50 pm
I can't say I struggled too mightily with it, though I did listen to it on audio. Something about driving for 8 hours can make even the most dull book exciting.

All I can say is, its worth the read. Truly. Eventually you begin to grasp all the chaos, and while things might not "settle", they do start to make sense, for the most part anyway. The book gets better as you go, and the ending is great. Read on!

From what I've seen, CM thinks he's a rule breaker. He likes to write complex books that challenge the set rules of SFF or whatever genre he is writing. I think he's a brilliant writer and wildly imaginative. This can make his stuff somewhat frustrating/difficult to read, but PSS is worth it.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on December 23, 2013, 01:56:34 pm
I'm surrounded by books and, of course, am not reading as much as I should be over the holidays (fucking Skewl).

But... motored through Contagious - Jonah Berger over the last three days.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Galbrod on December 30, 2013, 02:31:47 pm
I've spent the last few weeks reading the Acts of Caine series by Matthew Stover. Marvellous books :-)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on December 30, 2013, 04:38:52 pm
I've been told to read those a number of times now. They were good, eh, Galbrod?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Galbrod on December 30, 2013, 08:31:54 pm
Four book in the Acts of Caine series, each and every one written in their own style, each and every one a treat! Not the epic large-scale fantasy of Bakker, but very interesting world-building none the less... I would gladly recommend his books to anyone interested in a combination of clever plot-twists, hard-hitting action and SF/fantasy mashup.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on December 31, 2013, 12:42:09 am
Another one for the "when I'm not too broke to buy" pile then, I guess. Cheers, Galbrod.

I'm thinking of starting either EXHeroes by Peter Clines or The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi...

Any thoughts, readers?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on January 06, 2014, 01:24:20 pm
I read EXHeroes. It was a decent pulpy read. Nothing too crazy. I liked his focus and treatment of gender issues and the lack of action heroes, in a sense (many the major players being educated doctors).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on January 10, 2014, 01:06:47 pm
I am currently reading Return of the Crimson Guard by Ian Cameron Esslemont. The Malazan world persists.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on January 18, 2014, 03:35:31 pm
"Peace" by Gene Wolfe. It's his first full-scale novel, there aren't many strictly fantastic elements, but the atmosphere he creates is fascinating. Loved it.
On the other hand, I couldn't finish Catherynne Valente's "Deathless". Which is something that rarely happens to me, I always try to finish what I start. I tried twice, got to the middle of the novel, decided I still don't care about the main character and the setting is not interesting enought to keep me reading.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on January 21, 2014, 08:43:54 pm
I am literally stuck on the slog. I am in the middle of Deadhouse Gates, and I need a break. This is worldbuilding running amok. Might pick it up again later on. Although it is definitely worth reading, I feel something is missing, but I don`t know exactly what.

About to finish "The brotherhood of the screaming abyss" by Dennis Mckenna. Also started on "The curse of Chalion" by Lois Mcmaster Bujold.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on January 22, 2014, 12:21:59 pm
I am literally stuck on the slog. I am in the middle of Deadhouse Gates, and I need a break. This is worldbuilding running amok. Might pick it up again later on. Although it is definitely worth reading, I feel something is missing, but I don`t know exactly what.

About to finish "The brotherhood of the screaming abyss" by Dennis Mckenna. Also started on "The curse of Chalion" by Lois Mcmaster Bujold.

It was kind of jarring when I read Deadhouse Gates and realized that there were only new plot-lines being introduced and that none of the lines started in Gardens of the Moon were even going to be mentioned. All I can say is get used to that ;D
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on January 22, 2014, 12:40:01 pm
Quote
It was kind of jarring when I read Deadhouse Gates and realized that there were only new plot-lines being introduced and that none of the lines started in Gardens of the Moon were even going to be mentioned. All I can say is get used to that ;D

I thought GOTM was great, a bit confusing, but overall very good. If Eriksen keeps on introducing new characters and plot-lines over 10 books and I presume they are 800+ pages, then I am not sure I will bother.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on January 22, 2014, 01:43:14 pm
I'd say that after book 4 you've met 90% of the major players. Though, as Madness can tell you, book 5 drops you blind into new territory once again. Things start converging after that.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on January 22, 2014, 01:51:19 pm
I haven't started that particular series yet, so forgive my ignorance, but is it finished... or does it have some semblance of an end? You said after book 5 it starts converging, so does that mean it takes another 5 to close everything up or rather that some stories are simply never finished?

I started re-read #3 of TSA, currently about 1/3 of the way through TDTCB, but after I finish the first book I might segue into something else (maybe this?).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Garet Jax on January 22, 2014, 06:56:01 pm

I started re-read #3 of TSA, currently about 1/3 of the way through TDTCB, but after I finish the first book I might segue into something else (maybe this?).

First things first...  TWP.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on January 22, 2014, 07:27:37 pm
I'd say that after book 4 you've met 90% of the major players. Though, as Madness can tell you, book 5 drops you blind into new territory once again. Things start converging after that.

Indeed. It broke me wee heart. I really liked Duiker, Gruntle, among many other characters and Erikson's concepts. I think I should try from the beginning again, though.

I haven't started that particular series yet, so forgive my ignorance, but is it finished

As far as I know it, The Crippled God (Book 10) was the final book of Erikson's part of that series, though there are a number of non-essential books that fill out the Book of the Fallen sequence (Esslemont and Erikson's prequels, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach). Erikson, apparently, didn't wrap everything up and Esslemont has a trilogy to actually finish the main sequence.


I started re-read #3 of TSA, currently about 1/3 of the way through TDTCB, but after I finish the first book I might segue into something else (maybe this?).

First things first...  TWP.

+1 ;D.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on January 22, 2014, 07:51:44 pm

I started re-read #3 of TSA, currently about 1/3 of the way through TDTCB, but after I finish the first book I might segue into something else (maybe this?).

First things first...  TWP.

I'll get to it.

I am considering purchasing the audio books this time around. Cant decide if its worth the money. I'm so very interested in hearing the books, mostly to hear another's pronunciation, as I still fumble around with some words. Its not an issue whilst reading, but when trying to verbally discuss the book its kind of inhibitory.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on January 22, 2014, 11:25:31 pm
I haven't started that particular series yet, so forgive my ignorance, but is it finished... or does it have some semblance of an end? You said after book 5 it starts converging, so does that mean it takes another 5 to close everything up or rather that some stories are simply never finished?

I started re-read #3 of TSA, currently about 1/3 of the way through TDTCB, but after I finish the first book I might segue into something else (maybe this?).

You start to get a sense of what the main conflict is going to be during book three (combined with "spoilers" compliments of the titles of the later books). Without giving anything away, I will say that the main series absolutely does resolve the main story. Due to the scope, there are many secondary conflicts that arise and get resolved, as well; some connect to the main conflict, some are more for character development.

There are, of course, other interesting plot lines that arise that don't get resolved, but they aren't integral to the main story. Off the top of my head, one such plot line pops up in the third book, and a potential deus ex machina for the main conflict gets pulled into that situation never to be heard from again (until Ian C. Esselmont's next book, that is).

The magic system actually gets fleshed out really well, but leaves enough mystery behind to prevent disillusionment. Some might disagree, however.

Anyway, in addition to the main series, you have the Ian C. Esselmont novels which fill in stories alluded to in the main series. For example, his first novel deals with the transition from Emperor Kellanved to Empress Laseen. His sixth novel will deal with a plot introduced in the third book, like I said above.

Erikson is about to release the second book of a trilogy dealing with the elder races, the elder gods, and the origins of the houses of magic. His next trilogy will deal with a character who made it to the end of the main series. This character has a goal in mind that didn't get fully developed in the main series (again, it was auxiliary to the main conflict in retrospect), so it looks like that will get resolved after all.

Like you said, an immense world has been created, with endless potential for storytelling. The Malazan Book of the Fallen is only one of these stories, and the end of that book does indeed conclude the story about the title Fallen.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on January 23, 2014, 12:40:09 am
Well I'm intrigued more than dissuaded by that response. Thanks Meyna :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on January 23, 2014, 01:19:46 am
Well I'm intrigued more than dissuaded by that response. Thanks Meyna :)

Sure thing! It's a slog, for sure. Trust your instincts!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on January 23, 2014, 06:07:18 am
Well, I heard an interview with Erikson once and he claimed that he had everything thought through, so that when he started writing GoTM, he already knew what was going to happen in Book 10. And as for extensive worldbuilding - he said he started writing in part because he got mad with all those RPG settings and fantasy book where you have a huge city in the middle of nothing, no fields, no farmers, no possibility of existence really.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on January 23, 2014, 01:40:56 pm
Yes, some of the world-building surely stems from Erikson's education and experience as an archaeologist. A lot of fantasy tropes of plot and setting are subverted, and it makes for an interesting experience.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on January 23, 2014, 01:44:04 pm
I always appreciated that connection. It's like scientists writing good science fiction.

Anthropologists of any given strip might craft a more thorough fantasy world.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on February 18, 2014, 12:49:30 pm
Been a bit slow lately, but I have started David Zindells "Neverness", and Consider the lobster and other essays by David Foster Wallace.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on February 27, 2014, 12:06:30 am
Finished Chapter 1, Socrates 'wins' because of a deus ex machina appeal to authority that is completely dependent on a Just World Fallacy?

Considering the whole bit was about Justice, now I know another reason why it's called the Just World Fallacy.

I don't know, but I thought book 1 was all about Socrates answering a sophist as a sophist.  When Glaucon repeats the same concerns in book 2, Socrates has the courtesy to spend the rest of the book answering. 

BTW, got to do a presentation in my daughter's class.  There are now at least a few kids who know the parts of their own souls.  :)

I am reading Adolf in Wonderland.  Everything you need to know is in the title: nazis + Lewis Carroll.  So far...it is fun.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Raizen on March 13, 2014, 05:34:33 pm
I'm wondering if anyone else has read Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun series?  I plodded through the first two: The Shadow of the Torturer and Claw of the Conciliator.  So far I'm a bit upset with the overall progress of the series.  The main character Severian isn't a bad subject of interest, but the books lack a certain main direction.  It's chocked full of literary allusions to greater schemes and philosophical points on the human condition, but the plot is just so...lacking.

I understand that philosophy makes for great literature and Bakker seems to have perfected the art of instilling his work with concepts that make one ponder humanity, but Wolfe's series is just a bit dull to me.  Maybe I'm reading it wrong lol

If anyone has read the entire series, I'd appreciate any input on if its worth continuing!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on March 13, 2014, 05:38:03 pm
A small discuss has taken here:
http://second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=1027.0

I felt pretty much the same. Based on reviews and descriptions about the novel I was expect something much different than what I got. I'm not sure if this tainted my overall perspective of the novel (probably), or if I would have otherwise have felt the same way if I hadn't heard anything beforehand.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Meyna on March 13, 2014, 05:56:12 pm
I wasn't crazy about Book of the New Sun as I was reading it, but it grew on me well after I had finished.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on March 13, 2014, 07:21:55 pm
I read the first book by Wolfe and there was nothing there that kept me reading on. Unfortunately, since this is supposed to be one of the big "to read" series. Well, cant win them all :)

I am into book two in the Neverness series by David Zindell, and to me this is something very special. Science fiction with a touch of eastern philosophy(and lots of other philosophy stuff) and little action so far. Never been near reading something like this. Even though the first book is first person POV(which I hate), in book two that changes.

I am also starting on Morris Bermans The Twilight of American Culture.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Somnambulist on March 13, 2014, 09:25:11 pm
Anyone read The Gap series by Steven R. Donaldson?  No, it's not about the clothing store!  Really dark, f*ked up sci-fi.  It's been a few years since I read the series, but have considered a re-read.  I liked the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, was meh about the Second, and sorta disliked the Third.  But I remember really being drawn into his sci-fi universe. 
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on March 13, 2014, 09:59:07 pm
Have not read it myself, but a small discussion from a while ago:
Quote from: dietl
Quote from: mikethegrouch
Hopefully something dark, gritty, epic, and well-written.

!!!
Stephen Donaldson - The Gap Cycle
!!!
It continues for 2 or 3 posts after that if you follow the link.

Hopefully someone else has discovered the series since then :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on March 31, 2014, 11:36:22 am
Finished The Broken God by David Zindell and I am wholeheartedly impressed by this series so far. It contains everything I need in literature. Fascinating world building, embraces almost every philosophical idea ever mentioned and builds on them. At the same time being deeply scientific and ascetic. Characters are very rich and deep. What made it perfect was that only the first book was written in first person POV, and how it went from first person to other was very cleverly done.

Also read The Only Dance There Is by Ram Dass.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on April 03, 2014, 03:28:53 pm
I just finished the Nonexistant Knight by Italo Calvino.  Highly recommended for Bakker fans.  It's a light and fast read.  The premise is that Agilulf is a knight with a suit of armor but not a body, yeah it's got a subtle (compared to Bakker) philosophic bent, but delights in the absurd/comical while aping the characteristics of older stories, such as the Orlando Furioso.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on April 03, 2014, 04:01:03 pm
I liked that story too!  My copy is bound with the Cloven Viscount, also wonderful.  I don't know a lot of Calvino, but I know that some of this stuff is more fantastic than others--I would like the more fantastic stuff--recommendations?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 03, 2014, 06:24:38 pm
I recently got a bookshelf... and its somewhat empty. Maybe I'll just buy cheap used copies of the titles listed on this bored and just see if I ever get through them all :P.

Better a bookshelf with books left unread than a bookshelf with empty spaces.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on April 04, 2014, 06:33:00 am
Well you could read the original Orlando Furioso, but it's a beast, or Ovid's Metamorphises, also a beast but what Ariosto was riffing on with Orlando Furioso, and Calvino was riffing on Ariosto. I just started Cloven Viscount tonight, the heaps of corpses on the first page might be more egregious than anything Bakker has written (though such a wry and sardonic tone to the horrors inscribed upon the page!).

The only other Calvino I've read is Invisible Cities, which you should utterly and absolutely read, it's marvelous.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 09, 2014, 09:32:34 am
I recently got a bookshelf... and its somewhat empty. Maybe I'll just buy cheap used copies of the titles listed on this bored and just see if I ever get through them all :P.

Better a bookshelf with books left unread than a bookshelf with empty spaces.

Lol - if it wasn't an obscene amount of money I would send you my library. It is in desperate need of shelves and they're going to sit around in boxes all summer.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 11, 2014, 06:20:50 pm
Then I'd have to send them all back at some point, and that would just be sad (and, yeah, expensive. I'd be cheaper to drive them myself lol)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 11, 2014, 06:27:01 pm
LMAO! Road trip with Wilshire?! Come pick me (and my books up) in two weeks and you can drop me off in South Western Ontario on your way back ;).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 12, 2014, 12:41:47 pm
Topically, I have to select some of those books to read over the summer, read and unread.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Raizen on April 17, 2014, 01:05:36 pm
You guys should really just set up a secret library somewhere (preferably away from any warring factions of Gnosis wielding maniacs) and send your extra books there  :P
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on April 17, 2014, 02:43:30 pm
I give my spare books to a local pub/cafe that caters to s-f/fantasy/gaming fans. They have loads of s-f and fantasy books and magazines on the shelves, maps of Middle Earth, Warhammer world and Westeros on the walls, that kind of stuff.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Raizen on April 17, 2014, 03:33:59 pm
....that place sounds like paradise lol I'm jealous
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 17, 2014, 03:49:03 pm
LMAO! Road trip with Wilshire?! Come pick me (and my books up) in two weeks and you can drop me off in South Western Ontario on your way back ;).

Well if you are state-side sometime let me know

I give my spare books to a local pub/cafe that caters to s-f/fantasy/gaming fans. They have loads of s-f and fantasy books and magazines on the shelves, maps of Middle Earth, Warhammer world and Westeros on the walls, that kind of stuff.

Amazing

You guys should really just set up a secret library somewhere (preferably away from any warring factions of Gnosis wielding maniacs) and send your extra books there  :P
Then neither of us would have the books lol.
But a TSA forum member stocked library would be entertaining.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 17, 2014, 04:34:25 pm
You guys should really just set up a secret library somewhere (preferably away from any warring factions of Gnosis wielding maniacs) and send your extra books there  :P

Is it possible to make a group Goodreads library?

I give my spare books to a local pub/cafe that caters to s-f/fantasy/gaming fans. They have loads of s-f and fantasy books and magazines on the shelves, maps of Middle Earth, Warhammer world and Westeros on the walls, that kind of stuff.

That is awesome... I would, however, like to retain my minimal library in the future.

LMAO! Road trip with Wilshire?! Come pick me (and my books up) in two weeks and you can drop me off in South Western Ontario on your way back ;).

Well if you are state-side sometime let me know

Mayhaps, one day.

You guys should really just set up a secret library somewhere (preferably away from any warring factions of Gnosis wielding maniacs) and send your extra books there  :P
Then neither of us would have the books lol.
But a TSA forum member stocked library would be entertaining.

+1 the bold.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on April 17, 2014, 06:02:58 pm
I give my spare books to a local pub/cafe that caters to s-f/fantasy/gaming fans. They have loads of s-f and fantasy books and magazines on the shelves, maps of Middle Earth, Warhammer world and Westeros on the walls, that kind of stuff.

Amazing

No wonder that it's the place where I meet my nerdy friends almost every Thursday evening. Not to mention that they also have a great range of original beers from small breweries.

Madness - I have, like, 40 big thrash bags of books on my shelves (that was 2 years ago, when we decided to have our walls painted and had to take the books off the shelves and put them into bags). But for example, when I got married, it turned out I have similar literary taste to my husband (well, no wonder), so we had a lot of duplicates. And these we took to the pub.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 17, 2014, 06:26:56 pm
Microbrews as well?! Thats really not even fair. I've never even heard of a place that is anything close to that.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on April 17, 2014, 10:50:22 pm
All the pubs here are covered in football. :-( (Rugby and AFL - not even the type of football I can enjoy from a tactical perspective...)

Well, there is a Mana Bar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana_Bar) in town but that's for Gamer kids imo.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Srancy on April 17, 2014, 11:05:34 pm
Annals by Baron Pyotr Wrangel, White Army General during the Russian Civil War (He is the Black Baron in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd-oorFc-Oo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd-oorFc-Oo))
Fighting for the Confederacy by E.P. Alexander, Chief of Artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia (famous for Pickett's Charge)

Rarely do I read anything past 1930
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 21, 2014, 01:42:40 pm
I give my spare books to a local pub/cafe that caters to s-f/fantasy/gaming fans. They have loads of s-f and fantasy books and magazines on the shelves, maps of Middle Earth, Warhammer world and Westeros on the walls, that kind of stuff.

Amazing

No wonder that it's the place where I meet my nerdy friends almost every Thursday evening. Not to mention that they also have a great range of original beers from small breweries.

:o! What is this magical place? That sounds amazing!

Madness - I have, like, 40 big thrash bags of books on my shelves (that was 2 years ago, when we decided to have our walls painted and had to take the books off the shelves and put them into bags). But for example, when I got married, it turned out I have similar literary taste to my husband (well, no wonder), so we had a lot of duplicates. And these we took to the pub.

That's cool. There is a take one/leave one shelf a coffee shop I like to frequent and I leave Bakker books there - I only have four copies of TWP left to leave ;) (though, I've never take a book).

I should have taken a picture of the pile before I put it in storage. Oh well... It's been a busy weekend of socializing and getting prepared to head back to the part of Canada that is firmly stuck in 'Merica.

Also, Wilshire, I learned that it actually would have been feasible to stick a box on a greyhound - after my books were locked away in my friend's storage :(. I wish you could have enjoyed them for the summer.

Microbrews as well?! Thats really not even fair. I've never even heard of a place that is anything close to that.

+1 - Most of my nerd-type friends (I never get the distinction right) aren't big drinkers either :(.

Well, there is a Mana Bar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana_Bar) in town but that's for Gamer kids imo.

What the fuck, Canada... That's it. I'm opening something like this... a boozy coffee shop with lots of book shelves and board games. It's going on the To-Do List. If I have it my way, there will a smoking patio ;).

EDIT: K, sorry, real off-topic.

For the record, the first non-school book I'm reading is a recently released textbook on sociology.

Global Sociology - Cohen & Kennedy
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 26, 2014, 12:12:44 am
What the fuck, Canada... That's it. I'm opening something like this... a boozy coffee shop with lots of book shelves and board games. It's going on the To-Do List. If I have it my way, there will a smoking patio ;).

iight well if you need a wealthy investor let me know.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 29, 2014, 01:38:59 pm
Thanks, Wilshire. Yay :)!

Rereading: The Darkness That Comes Before, The Mind and The Brain.

Looking to find and read: Getting to Maybe
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on April 29, 2014, 07:01:06 pm
Finished book 3 in the Neverness Series by Zindell. Need a little break now:)
Dark Ages of America, Morris Berman
Also started on Lights by M John Harrison(The Kefahuchi tract series)
Bhagavad Gita. I will try and plow through some "holy texts" in the future, just to see whats up.

Forgot to mention VALIS by PKD.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on May 06, 2014, 12:36:34 am
started Piketty's Capital in the 21st century
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on May 27, 2014, 09:22:15 am
Finished Blood Song by Anthony Ryan, and I am not sure why I liked it as much as I did.

The Divine Invasion by PKD. All hail Philip K Dick!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on May 27, 2014, 06:07:53 pm
Finished Carlton Mellick III's Adolf in Wonderland--it was pretty fun.  Kind of Lewis Carroll + Kafka + Nazis.  I found it a satisfying read even though the main character seemed to be static throughout, which was weird for me.  Now I'm half way through Mellick's I Knocked Up Satan's Daughter.  Pretty fun.  Romcom with demons n shit.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on July 01, 2014, 04:02:06 am
I Knocked Up Satan's Daughter was great fun!!!  It was a formula hollywood romcom with demons and shit.  Also finished the Prince of Thorns, I think Bakker fans would enjoy.  OOOHHH, also finised Person by Sam Pink.  Highly recommended to Chuck Palahniuk fans!!!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on July 04, 2014, 05:10:58 pm
Rereading Before They Are Hanged and Angelmaker.  Sentence by sentence, Angelmaker is a joy.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 04, 2014, 05:30:43 pm
Love Abercrombie's First Law. Great stuff.

Most recently finished Gardens of the Moon (Erickson) and TDTCB, slowly working my way through TWP and started Deadhouse Gates (Erickson).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: SilentRoamer on July 10, 2014, 08:38:45 am
Started Hyperion two days ago. About 25% through as finding it hard to get reading time. Have all of the series bought and ready to read.

Very intrigued so far - concepts are taking time to come to the fore but this is allowing good development of the characters.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 19, 2014, 10:34:45 pm
Hyperion is a book like no other.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: klarakos on August 01, 2014, 07:42:27 am
A lot on my plate, currently.

I'm about 600 pages into Samuel Delany's Dhalgren, which is turning out to be an incredibly complex and moving work.

I'm also working through:

Deleuze and Guattari's Anti-Oedipus and Manuel DeLanda's Philosophy and Simulation.  And on the side, I'm really enjoying the Saga and East of West comic series.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: SilentRoamer on August 01, 2014, 09:36:54 am
Started Fall of Hyperion a few days ago. Struggling with reading time at the moment due to work commitments.

I really like the switch of PoV with the Pilgrims taking a bit of a back seat (at least in the first 10%) and expanding upon the Hegemony through M Severn. Loving Simmons writing style and slow reveal of the major players.

Also made me aware of just how many SciFi stores have a government called The Hegemony! Maybe too much SF on my part.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on August 04, 2014, 07:16:10 pm
Have been busy staying indoors since it is summer(only reptiles enjoy this kind of heat), reading plenty.

Food of the gods by Terence Mckenna
Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmonds
The Tyrants Law(book 3 of Dagger and the Coin series) by Daniel Abraham
Monopolizing Knowledge by Ian Hutchinson
 
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on August 20, 2014, 12:19:43 pm
Robin Hobb has just started on a new series with Fitz and the Fool, so I will read the Tawny Man trilogy first. You got to love Fitz and the Fool!

Also reading Robert Sapolskys collection of essays called The trouble with testosterone.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Bolivar on August 21, 2014, 03:45:36 pm
I'm reading The Widow's House, recently released book 4 in Daniel Abraham's The Dagger and the Coin quintet.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Garet Jax on August 21, 2014, 04:28:16 pm
It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy by D. Michael Abrashoff.

"Mandatory" reading for all project managers in my company...

I am also reading Ilium by Dan Simmons with Olympos, Hyperion and the Fall next up.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: kellykellhus on August 24, 2014, 04:00:38 am
I'm reading Tiberius by Alan Massie. It's basically Tiberius narrating his memoirs and is very good. I finished Massie's Augustus before this one and he also has a Caligula novel that I plan on reading in the future. Anyone that's a fan of I, Claudius should check these out, they're just as well written imo.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: SilentRoamer on August 25, 2014, 07:04:40 pm
Just finished the Fall of Hyperion.

Spoiler free review: Really satisfyingly complex and interwoven ending with a few nice mysteries left. Not as well structured as Hyperion and an odd change in Pov characters. Completes the series as a whole even though I know there is the Endymion duology all major plot points are pretty much resolved if this duology were the only.

Now onto either Patrick Rothfuss The Name of The Wind which I bought today or Adrian Tchaikovsky Heirs of the Blade continuation read.


Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: kellykellhus on September 14, 2014, 05:13:31 am
I liked it too but I remember having a bad head cold when I read Fall of Hyperion and it was made so much worse by it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: SilentRoamer on September 14, 2014, 11:10:31 am
Just finished the Fall of Hyperion.

Spoiler free review: Really satisfyingly complex and interwoven ending with a few nice mysteries left. Not as well structured as Hyperion and an odd change in Pov characters. Completes the series as a whole even though I know there is the Endymion duology all major plot points are pretty much resolved if this duology were the only.

Now onto either Patrick Rothfuss The Name of The Wind which I bought today or Adrian Tchaikovsky Heirs of the Blade continuation read.


Well my Adrian Tchaikovsky Heirs of the Blade read was going slow. So I picked up Roger Zelazny Nine Princes in Amber and tore through it in 5 days discounting the two I left it at work over the weekend - really enjoyed this book and definetely plan to read the rest when I get hold of them. So now back onto reading Heirs of the Blade which I am enjoying but far too little is taking far too long to happen and the worldbuilding at the moment is not the world I am most interested in. Good solid read though and once the plot is less Tynisa focused and more the Apt/Inap conflict I think it will pick up for me.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: locke on September 15, 2014, 06:13:17 am
One day I will rewatch pasolinis Canterbury tales and the reread hyperion, and maybe the rest of the series.

You know when you're drinking allagash at 11 on a Sunday night thinking about chaucer,  adaptations thereof, and about to finish watching a kurosawa film but first you've got to finish typing a post into a Web forum app. Yeah that's right now.

All typ0s courtesy of Samsung.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: SilentRoamer on October 22, 2014, 02:11:37 pm
Finished Ann Leckie Ancillary Justice (Still slogging through Heirs of the Blade just seem to be going ten pages a time.

Goodreads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1086458074 Decided to start reviewing all the books I read on Goodreads and also going to add in my library at home to have a digital "version" of my library.

Now i'm going to read something scary - keeping with the flavour of the month. World War Z and War of the Worlds are the forerunners at the moment.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Garet Jax on October 22, 2014, 03:25:03 pm
For really the first time ever I am reading more than one book at once, and loving it.


Second Foundation


Olympos


Gardens of the Moon


Once I finish all three of them, I will post my "reviews".
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on October 22, 2014, 07:15:04 pm
Don't know how you can read GOTM and anything else....
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: kellykellhus on October 23, 2014, 10:17:10 pm

Now i'm going to read something scary - keeping with the flavour of the month. World War Z and War of the Worlds are the forerunners at the moment.

I'm reading The Troop by Nick Cutter to get in the spirit myself. Goddamn this is some nasty and unsettling body horror.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on November 26, 2014, 02:42:34 pm
I have been reading Melissa Mcphail recently. Her "A pattern of shadow and light" series is just stunning so far. I am in the middle of book 3 at the moment, and it just gets better and better. You get them almost for free if you have a kindle, like 3 dollars.

I am also reading Oswald Spenglers "Decline of the west".
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: SilentRoamer on November 27, 2014, 12:12:42 pm
My Goodreads review of World War Z is up:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1116579063

Reading through War of the Worlds and now things have slowed down at work I can get back on target with reading and hopefully finish that over the weekend. Not sure what I fancy reading after that - I have quite a lot of to be read. :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on November 29, 2014, 07:32:49 pm
I'm halfway through Richard Morgan's "The Dark Defiles", book three of "A Land Fit for Heroes" series. And I am so sorry that nobody really seems to be reading it (apart from one friend of mine, whom I last met a month ago), because there's just so much to discuss about what's going on in the book. There are so many little hints dropped that might or might not pan out, and then I also realised how wicked the titles are (each of them can be interpreted in two different ways and both make absolute sense within the novel). Anyway, I hope to finish it soon and see whether my suspicions turn out to be right. All in all, a fascinating read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on December 01, 2014, 05:20:51 pm
That is a rather enticing review Alia. Makes me want to pick it up.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on December 01, 2014, 05:29:57 pm
A lot of people I know had a big problem with this series. First of all, Morgan was formerly known for hard s-f/cyberpunk (Altered Carbon or Black Man). And here he gives his readers what is on the surface a classic fantasy novel with a brutal sword-wielding protagonist. But it's only the surface and I still wonder where the plot is really going. And then, some people were really put off by rather graphic gay sex scenes - but I guess for any Bakker fan this won't be really a problem.
However, if you haven't read Morgan's Takeshi Kovacs trilogy (starting with Altered Carbon), you might miss some fun.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on December 01, 2014, 06:36:13 pm
I'll add them to the list. The list, though, is quickly becoming a black hole. So many I'll never get to. I should read more :P
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on May 15, 2015, 06:18:12 pm
hey folks!  if you like nonmen, you might like A Short Stay in Hell!  i think it is a novella--i listened to it and it was a good listen.  it is written by Steven Peck.

the story is, a guy dies and goes to hell and hell is Borges' Library of Babel and what follows stretches into nonman-like proportions

it starts slow but ends really well, totally ERRATIC
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on May 15, 2015, 07:31:31 pm
Well, that just reminded me that I have Labyrinths by Borges still sitting, unread, on my bookshelf after probably 5 years or so.

Perhaps this might be the one book I can read  this year?  I'm going to take it with me to Dallas this weekend, maybe read some on the ride there.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on May 16, 2015, 09:44:24 am
Just about halfway through The Dark Defiles, a really great series. Morgan is one of my favorite authors now, and was wondering if anyone has read any of his other books, and your thoughts on them.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on May 16, 2015, 07:06:10 pm
I am a huge fan of Morgan, read all of his books so far, the Takeshi Kovacs series, the standalones and Land Fit for Heroes. Having read the first two books, I simply couldn't wait for The Dark Defiles. And soon as I started it, I noticed some things that I missed in the first tomes, so I regularly went back to them (easier when you have them on a Kindle). And then I realized, how wicked a writer Morgan is, leaving all those subtle hints. Another thing that I came to realize is that all three titles can be interpreted in two different ways - and both make sense in the context of the novels themselves.
Having said that - the ending was a bit of let-down for me, but on the whole I was satisfied as a reader.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on May 18, 2015, 05:31:41 pm
Thanks Alia, yea, I've read them pretty much straight through. I love Morgan's writing, he reminds me a lot of Bakker. Maybe not in prose, but, he has plenty of mysteries and leaves a lot for you to dig through on your own. I've never done any SF before, Morgan seems a good place to start as any. Thanks again!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Alia on June 23, 2015, 07:14:40 pm
So, I started re-reading Zelazny's Amber, which I last read about 15 years ago. Unfortunately in translation, as I was suprised to find out that original Amber is not available in an ebook version, although a lot of other Zelazny's works are. Anyway, it's as much fun to read as it was when I was a student, the story is fast paced (after all, Zelazny packed 5 full novels in the space of many modern writers' one), there are a lot of great quotes. The only problem I have is with the characters - they are supposed to be power-hungry, greedy, manipulative bastards with no regard for anything apart from what they want, but they are a bit too likeable for that. (OK, perhaps with the exception of Brand.) But then, I suppose that in the meantime I just read a bit too much Bakker, Morgan, etc.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: The Great Scald on June 25, 2015, 10:59:15 pm
Started reading Peter Watts' Behemoth a couple days ago.

Next up...I don't know yet, but Yukio Mishima's The Golden Pavilion has been gathering dust on my bookshelf for a while, so probably that.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on July 08, 2015, 04:52:01 pm
So, I don't remember who had recomended it, but I read Light, by John M. Harrison.

It was ok, I found myself sometimes intrigued but often not really.  I feel I must have missed the point somehow.  I do recall some odd sexuality that I just could not figure out how it related to the plot in any meaningful way.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Raizen on July 08, 2015, 04:53:44 pm
I'm about a quarter of the way through Peter Newman's debut novel The Vagrant.  It's something quite new to me, post apocalyptic world filled with Cthulhu-esque demons, told from a 3rd person present tense.  To top it off, the main character is a mute.  It's very strange, but definitely reveals the talent of a writer who can make that work and entrance you to keep reading into the wee hours of the night.  Just in case you needed some extra incentive to read, here's the cover art:
(http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419775822l/23559647.jpg)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on July 22, 2015, 12:39:25 pm
Right now I am reading The Mechanical, by Ian Tregillis.  It's what I guess I would call lite, the best I could equate it would be a style reminiscent of Lynch's Lies of Locke Lemora.  I'm enjoying it so far, at least.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Bolivar on July 24, 2015, 11:49:48 pm
(https://tionitroblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/midnight-tides-cover.jpg)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Raizen on July 28, 2015, 02:35:41 pm
I just finished Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan and I'm moving onto The King of Thorns by Mark Lawrence.  Promise of Blood was so much better than I expected it to be.  It was reminiscent of Abercrombie's First Law series.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cüréthañ on July 29, 2015, 09:18:16 am
Picked up Half a War today.  The type is so huge I fear this will be a very short read.

My non-fiction read is Schopenhauer's Essays and Aphorisms, which I expect will take considerably longer.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on July 29, 2015, 02:27:46 pm
hey guys--just finished reading Lexicon by Max Barry, it is definitely something that interested me as a Bakker fan

it's set in the present and dominated by people who have made an art out of the science of persuasion, especially in the sense that they are adept at reading what personality type you have and then using the specific sounds that your particular brain is most responsive to--it's a sort explanation for old legends and myths around different cultures for sorcerers who go do magic with words

it's fun, starts with a bang, right at the beginning a guy gets a needle shoved into his eye and is told to stay very still and answer the question "are you more of a dog person or a cat person?"

also recently listened to A Short Stay In Hell--a man is condemned to hell which is Borges' library and the situation descends into a nonman-like melancholy and madness

working on The Summer Is Ended And We Are Not Yet Saved, an expanded version of Bible Camp Bloodbath, very fun so far, hoping to get around to The Haunted Vagina by Carlton Mellick soon!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on August 08, 2015, 06:19:02 pm
if you like Chuck Palahniuk, you might like his short story, Phoenix.  i found it on Amazon for .99 and it's in his new volume of short stories that i'm going to get soon.  vintage Chuck, good like the old stuff
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 08, 2015, 08:40:27 pm
Just finished Half a War last night by Abercrombie. Great twist to the end of the book, usual JA fashion. I've been on my TSA reread for over a month, just digging in here and there, taking my time. I think I'll finish up this Shattered Sea Trilogy, since its really good and he's just so enjoyable to read, love his humor. Then, I'll try and give Tigana by Kavriel another go.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Cynical Cat on August 13, 2016, 05:28:56 am
Picked up Half a War today.  The type is so huge I fear this will be a very short read.

It is as long as it needs to be to service the story, which is on the short side but it is good so rejoice. 

I'm happy to see this thread and props to everyone working on expanding their reading list.  I'm a voracious reader myself so reading targets aren't really something I do, so no list for me. 
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on August 13, 2016, 02:23:52 pm
Lol - this isn't even the target thread. It's proportionately more fallen behind than this thread, considering the passing of year and the infrequency that SR and I update the thread.

What have I been reading... not much because I'm going through TGO for errata and getting settled after a move.

Oh, well, Siddhartha's Brain and The Secret War - both very slowly though because SB is simply old information reorganized around a new narrative for me and TSW is as dense as its sibling All Hell Let Loose, which was really difficult reading emotionally.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Parsh on August 14, 2016, 08:25:13 pm
Just finished Half a War last night by Abercrombie. Great twist to the end of the book, usual JA fashion. I've been on my TSA reread for over a month, just digging in here and there, taking my time. I think I'll finish up this Shattered Sea Trilogy, since its really good and he's just so enjoyable to read, love his humor. Then, I'll try and give Tigana by Kavriel another go.

I read the Shattered Sea trilogy this summer and quite enjoyed it. It was my first exposure to Abercrombie. I also read Best Served Cold this summer and plan to read all the rest of it when I get a chance.

Right now, I'm reading Emperor of Thorns (finishing up another trilogy that I started this summer). As it happens, though, I am an educator and school is starting, so my reading time is rapidly drying up. It's a shame, because I still have an awful lot of books on my TBR pile, some of them physically sitting in my house, others taking up space on my iPod in the Kindle app.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on August 16, 2016, 11:32:06 am
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin should be arriving today.  I'm going to try to read it as quick as I can and let you guys know what I think.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 16, 2016, 02:53:14 pm
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin should be arriving today.  I'm going to try to read it as quick as I can and let you guys know what I think.
Going to buy on kindle right this moment if its possible. Loved the first book.

ETA:Got it. $9.99.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on August 23, 2016, 07:59:55 pm
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin should be arriving today.  I'm going to try to read it as quick as I can and let you guys know what I think.
Going to buy on kindle right this moment if its possible. Loved the first book.

ETA:Got it. $9.99.

Did you finish yet?  I did just yesterday.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on August 23, 2016, 08:25:21 pm
How was that book and the series. Good? You should make a new thread if you want to discuss it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 23, 2016, 08:58:39 pm
The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin should be arriving today.  I'm going to try to read it as quick as I can and let you guys know what I think.
Going to buy on kindle right this moment if its possible. Loved the first book.

ETA:Got it. $9.99.

Did you finish yet?  I did just yesterday.

Nope. I'm going to start it tonight. I was on a different book at that moment. Im so ready to dive in though.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on August 23, 2016, 09:03:02 pm
Nope. I'm going to start it tonight. I was on a different book at that moment. Im so ready to dive in though.

OK, made a thread here for the whole series with spoilers, so avoid it until you are done.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 24, 2016, 01:00:12 am
Nope. I'm going to start it tonight. I was on a different book at that moment. Im so ready to dive in though.

OK, made a thread here for the whole series with spoilers, so avoid it until you are done.

Lol. I read this then scrolled down a lil and seen the new thread and scrolled really, really hard. I will, it won't be long til we can discuss. Its a great story, with so many ways it could play out. Starting it in about T-35 mins.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 11, 2016, 12:43:39 pm
Just finished Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft, it was pretty good, worth the read for sure.

You can find Wert's Review here (http://thewertzone.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/senlin-ascends-by-josiah-bancroft.html).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 16, 2016, 07:36:43 pm
I couldn't find the right fiction I really wanted to read, (i.e. TUC, haha) so time to switch gears and cleanse the pallet with non-fiction.  Starting with The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt, which is pretty good so far.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on February 23, 2017, 07:50:18 pm
I recently finished the Three Body trilogy by Cixin Liu. I'm wondering if anyone else is reading it. I found the books unusually interesting for SF.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on March 08, 2017, 03:48:53 am
PERSEPOLIS

THE AUTHORITATIVE CALVIN AND HOBBES

THE UNHOLY CONSULT

DARTH PLAGUEIS
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on April 29, 2017, 03:32:11 am
The pain finally diminished enough that I felt comfortable to read a whole book - rather than pieces of - for the first time in a month. I needed something fiction to get the gears grinding good again so I picked up the copy of James S.A. Corey's Cibola Burn I'd bought last Christmas, a book I'd avoided reading for years because of a review at Pat's Fantasy Hotlist.

I regret avoiding it for so long. Read it in a little less than six hours over last night and tonight and it was great, just as the series has been so far - though I understand Pat's complaint about the narrative tightness now. Looking forward to picking up Nemesis Games and Abaddon's Gate when I have expendable income again.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Fenris777 on May 03, 2017, 12:41:05 am
I'm currently re-reading the Sandman Slim series by Richard Kadrey. They're marvelous.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on July 21, 2017, 01:55:08 pm
Reading The Black Company while I wait for The Stone Sky to come out.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TheCulminatingApe on July 29, 2017, 08:52:17 pm
Moby Dick, and The Great Sea (a history of the Mediterranean).  In both cases re-reads
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Woden on July 30, 2017, 10:24:18 am
The Autumn of The Middle Ages, the classic essay of Huizinga.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Woden on August 11, 2017, 08:54:50 pm
Has somebody read the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: solipsisticurge on August 11, 2017, 08:58:35 pm
Homo Deus by  Yuval Noah Harari. Diving into Sapiens once I finish.

For fiction... nothing at the moment. My fiction reading hinged on TUC coming out, and in its wake, it's hard to contemplate anything but a complete SA re-read, though I'm loath to promise that amount of time toward anything at the moment.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on August 14, 2017, 05:47:25 pm
Has somebody read the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake?

I listened to the first one.  I think I missed a few things, but I thought it was pretty good.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Hiro on August 14, 2017, 05:54:22 pm
Has somebody read the Gormenghast series by Mervyn Peake?

I listened to the first one.  I think I missed a few things, but I thought it was pretty good.

Yah! Gormenghast,  --- Hiro jumping up and down, waving his arms ---, it's absolutely brilliant!!

Know what you're getting into, though. The buildup is very, very slow, but the writing is never less than impressive, creative, funny, poetic, incisive etc. You should be ready to slow down and concentrate on the scene or even sentence at hand, instead of wishing to rush to see where things are going. And all this buildup gets terrific, I say fabulous payoffs later on. Peake can write ANYTHING. Great characters, decor, humor, atmosphere, action, set pieces (oh boy!)...go for it!

To warm you up, I have put several quotes here:

http://www.second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=768.0 (http://www.second-apocalypse.com/index.php?topic=768.0)


Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Woden on August 14, 2017, 06:05:56 pm
must read
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Knee that Bends on September 26, 2017, 01:00:38 am
Has anyone read Mark Lawrence's "Prince of Thorns"? It got recommended to me the other day and wanted to know any thoughts on it before I add it to my list  ;D
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on September 26, 2017, 06:20:05 am
@KTB, I've read it awoke ago and I liked it. Your standard fair fantasy, a little above par. I like his second series The Red Queens War better. But, you should read the series in order as the overlap sort of, and take place in the same world. Definitely worth the read.

If your wanting something close to Banker, imo, try A Land Fit for Heroes trilogy by Richard Morgan. On my list, it ranks right below TSA. I don't know why I haven't tried his sci-do series, but I will.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Knee that Bends on September 26, 2017, 06:39:58 am
Thanks MSJ, I'll check it out!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Hand of Yawgmoth on October 06, 2017, 04:25:30 am
Just about done with Mark Lawrence's Wheel of Osheim.

Recently started rereading Heroes Die.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 06, 2017, 05:00:48 am
Will be starting Malazan(Gardens of the Moon) once I'm on my way to New Orleans.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on October 06, 2017, 05:29:33 am
Quote from:  Dora Bee
Will be starting Malazan(Gardens of the Moon) once I'm on my way to New Orleans.

I am a huge Malazan fan, I've read most of Esselmont too. His new series is great, tells the take of how the Malazan Empire came to be. The story of how Dancer and Kellavand came to meet, you'll meet them soon. Also, just finished both books so far in the Kharkanas Trilogy by Erikson, which tells the take of how Magic and the Tiste came to be. I know, gin bed grabber to you now, but you'll soon understand...somewhat.

Advice. GotM is a lot like PoN that you just have to read it. Don't worry about try I g to remember all the names, places, races and such. It'll come. Just focus on the story, which take a little bit to get going and understand exactly what's going on. Its the same advice I would give anyone reading TDTCB, just stick it out, it's worth it. Good Luck. I read the entire 10 books of The Malazan Book of the Fallen, one after the other a couple years back. I've just now returned to the world, and loved every bit of it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on October 06, 2017, 10:35:20 am
Will be starting Malazan(Gardens of the Moon) once I'm on my way to New Orleans.
IMO, nothing is better than Malazan except TSA.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 06, 2017, 11:10:07 am
Will be starting Malazan(Gardens of the Moon) once I'm on my way to New Orleans.

One, I found that book less than readable unfortunately, so hopefully you'll like it better.

Second, New Orleans does not seem like an ideal place to be for the next few days considering the storm's current track.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 06, 2017, 12:40:22 pm

Second, New Orleans does not seem like an ideal place to be for the next few days considering the storm's current track.

I've been planning on going to that show for months and haven't seen the band in years, so I don't have much of a choice. I'd most likely have to leave earlier than anticipated though.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 06, 2017, 12:49:46 pm
I'd most likely have to leave earlier than anticipated though.

I'd advise greatly in favor of getting out ASAP.  I live on the other side of the state, so I am not sure if they actually fixed the sump pumps that were is disrepair a month or so ago, but I wouldn't risk it.  The show is tonight?  I'd advise leaving right after if possible, things might get bad after noon tomorrow.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 06, 2017, 01:00:25 pm
TBH, that may be what I'll end up doing. :( I really wanted to go to the afterparty, but the show ends at like 11 and party is AFTER that. Maybe 30 min tops.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 06, 2017, 01:19:44 pm
TBH, that may be what I'll end up doing. :( I really wanted to go to the afterparty, but the show ends at like 11 and party is AFTER that. Maybe 30 min tops.

Well, by what I am seeing from most storm tracks, I think as long as you get out before, say, late afternoon tomorrow you should be fine.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 06, 2017, 01:34:10 pm

Well, by what I am seeing from most storm tracks, I think as long as you get out before, say, late afternoon tomorrow you should be fine.

Oh yea. Looks like it. I was planning on leaving earlier than that. :)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 06, 2017, 02:05:14 pm

Well, by what I am seeing from most storm tracks, I think as long as you get out before, say, late afternoon tomorrow you should be fine.

Oh yea. Looks like it. I was planning on leaving earlier than that. :)

Good life-choice,  ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on October 06, 2017, 03:01:03 pm
Hope you make it out alright, Dora Vee.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 09, 2017, 05:47:02 am
I did and enjoyed the show a great deal. Glad I went.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 10, 2017, 10:40:35 am
Reading Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer.  Since the movie will come out next year, I decided to read the books first.  My wife already finished this one, so it's my turn.  Second and third books are in the mail...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 10, 2017, 03:41:58 pm
Started Gardens of the Moon. Very interesting and it looks like the author makes it very clear to NOT get attached with characters. Yikes.

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on October 10, 2017, 04:32:56 pm
Started Gardens of the Moon. Very interesting and it looks like the author makes it very clear to NOT get attached with characters. Yikes.

I saw an internet-meme on the Malazan facebook group the other day (avoid for sake of spoilers) regarding Erikson putting Martin to shame in the character-killing category.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on October 10, 2017, 06:21:45 pm
Started Gardens of the Moon. Very interesting and it looks like the author makes it very clear to NOT get attached with characters. Yikes.

I saw an internet-meme on the Malazan facebook group the other day (avoid for sake of spoilers) regarding Erikson putting Martin to shame in the character-killing category.
Didn't you read Deadhouse Gates?  You should know that by personal experience ;)  .
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Woden on October 14, 2017, 10:35:17 pm
Started Follett's "A Column of Fire", after the first chapter I can confirm this is literally the same book Follett always writes. The Pillars of the Earth or The Century books are the same book, only the scenario and the names of the characters are different, the rest is the same bullshit.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on October 20, 2017, 11:54:43 am
Got a bit of a late start, but onto Authority, second book of Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach trilogy.  First was good, not great though.  I expect this book will probably be the same.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Hand of Yawgmoth on October 21, 2017, 07:12:05 am
Has anyone else read "Heroes Die"? Because Bayrne [sorry if I misspelled it, I listened to it and google fails me] is an amazing man who knows what life is all about. He wants to do everything there is and enjoy every fragment of existence. He's probably my favorite villain behind the Inchoroi!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on October 21, 2017, 02:50:12 pm
Quote from:  Hands of Yawgmoth
Has anyone else read "Heroes Die"? Because Bayrne [sorry if I misspelled it, I listened to it and google fails me] is an amazing man who knows what life is all about. He wants to do everything there is and enjoy every fragment of existence. He's probably my favorite villain behind the Inchoroi!

He's a great villain. Its been a few years since I read that series, but he gets even better in the second book, if you could believe it. That's a great series, until the 3rd or 4th book, I can't remember, but it started to get a forced in my opinion.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on October 21, 2017, 02:53:14 pm
Also, I am currently reading The Red Knight, by Myles Cameron. I'm really enjoying it and have heard a lot of good stuff about the series as a whole. The last book just came out. So I'm gonna read a few of these the go back to the Gap Cycle by Donaldson.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Hand of Yawgmoth on October 22, 2017, 09:11:58 am
I just bought Red Knight on audible. I've heard good things, and I'll get around to it by the end of the month.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 22, 2017, 03:37:33 pm
35% complete with Gardens of the Moon. I really like it. Picks up big time in Darujistahn. :D
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on October 23, 2017, 07:56:13 pm
Quote from:  Hands of Yawgmoth
Has anyone else read "Heroes Die"? Because Bayrne [sorry if I misspelled it, I listened to it and google fails me] is an amazing man who knows what life is all about. He wants to do everything there is and enjoy every fragment of existence. He's probably my favorite villain behind the Inchoroi!

He's a great villain. Its been a few years since I read that series, but he gets even better in the second book, if you could believe it. That's a great series, until the 3rd or 4th book, I can't remember, but it started to get a forced in my opinion.

I also listened, but found the name for you. Berne.
Quite entertaining book, though I've only read the first so far. Recommended.

35% complete with Gardens of the Moon. I really like it. Picks up big time in Darujistahn. :D
Enjoyed the series, if it did go on a bit. Lots of love/hate for it around here :) .
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 02, 2017, 05:54:39 pm
Over 40% done with Gardens of the Moon. Here are my reaction posts: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/tagged/Malazan

Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 02, 2017, 06:39:50 pm
Over 40% done with Gardens of the Moon. Here are my reaction posts: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/tagged/Malazan



Haha, I strongly recommend waiting until the end of each book before giving your review, or keep this in mind: Erikson likes to use the first 50%-75% of the book as buildup, like the start of a rollercoaster up the first big hill. Then you hit the crest, and it becomes a wild and crazy ride to the end.

Also, its a good thing you like Kruppe. Some people really are bothered by him, but he tends to be good comic relief throughout
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on November 03, 2017, 12:20:53 am
Agree 100% with Wilshire. I think its why you hear a lot of complaints about Malazan. But, every book is seemingly the same. All whole lot of set up throughout for a huge pay off at the end. Toll the Hounds was imho, the best action packed book of them all. But, you've got a long road ahead til then. A fun road, albeit.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 03, 2017, 12:48:57 am
Well, I'm still interested, but I'm going a bit slower now. Can't wait for the "pay off" in Darujhistan.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on November 03, 2017, 01:13:33 am
Quote
Well, I'm still interested, but I'm going a bit slower now. Can't wait for the "pay off" in Darujhistan.

Its worth it. I was glad I stuck with it. But, the usual complaints like keeping track of names and such has never hindered me. I just keep reading til I get "who's who". I've seen people complain about having to check the glossary because of who they are and where there at and why its all so confusing. I just plough through. Never understood those kinda complaints. Now pacing and such I can understand. But, as Wilshire says, its how all the Malazan books are set up.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 03, 2017, 02:18:43 pm
Toll the Hounds
Though most of the books are great in their own right, Book 8, Toll the Hounds, was probably the best in the series. He really nailed it with that, coupled with plenty of big reveals to make the preceding 7 novels entirely worth the journey. Each book has its goods and bads, but every book uses the first half as build up - if you stop before the end of any book, you'll have done yourself a disservice imo (partly because half a Malazan book is at least 1-2 books of normal size lol)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on November 03, 2017, 05:13:15 pm
Well, I'm still interested, but I'm going a bit slower now. Can't wait for the "pay off" in Darujhistan.
Weird. I remember GotM being pretty fast paced. Anyway, Deadhouse Gates is the real deal. Just wait for it.  :( :( :'( :'(    ( Emojis are relevant. ) .
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on November 03, 2017, 09:05:50 pm
Dora Bed, when you're done I highly recommend ICE's new trilogy, starti g with Dancer's Lament. Which tells how the Malazn Empire came into being and how Shadowthrone and Cotillion met. The 1st book was great and I was never a huge fan of ICE. But, his writing is so much better in this series than anything else I've read of his. I loved the 1st book as much or more than any of his Malazan books. Who h there was I few I really enjoyed, but others I read just because I rarely quit on a book. Look into them after your done.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 03, 2017, 09:42:54 pm
I intend to. I intend to read all the other Malazan books once I'm done with the main series.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on November 03, 2017, 11:38:54 pm
Dora Bed, when you're done I highly recommend ICE's new trilogy, starti g with Dancer's Lament. Which tells how the Malazn Empire came into being and how Shadowthrone and Cotillion met. The 1st book was great and I was never a huge fan of ICE. But, his writing is so much better in this series than anything else I've read of his. I loved the 1st book as much or more than any of his Malazan books. Who h there was I few I really enjoyed, but others I read just because I rarely quit on a book. Look into them after your done.
MSJ's autocorrection strikes back.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on November 03, 2017, 11:40:56 pm
Quote from:  Redeagl
MSJ's autocorrection strikes back.

Of.course. I really don't care anymore. I write a post. Its messed up and the u can't edit. I've apologized 22 times.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 06, 2017, 11:58:31 am
Onto the last book of Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach trilogy, Annihilation.  Series is decent, last book isn't too long but hopefully it provides some answers.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TaoHorror on November 17, 2017, 11:02:54 pm
God ... DAMMIT! They're making Kingkiller Chronicles into a tv show - wasted my time reading that Wind book, fuck.

Ok, too much damn talk about this Erickson guy, I'll dive into the first one ( Gardens of the Moon ). Anyone know if the Audio CD Book is any good?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on November 17, 2017, 11:08:27 pm
Wouldn't recommend audio for Malazan....
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 17, 2017, 11:38:15 pm
Speaking of Malazan. I'm 82 % complete with Gardens of the Moon. Paran reminds me of Proyas, except the latter is more potent a character, imo.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TaoHorror on November 18, 2017, 12:40:49 am
Speaking of Malazan. I'm 82 % complete with Gardens of the Moon. Paran reminds me of Proyas, except the latter is more potent a character, imo.

Any good or is it bullshit?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on November 18, 2017, 12:52:26 am
Speaking of Malazan. I'm 82 % complete with Gardens of the Moon. Paran reminds me of Proyas, except the latter is more potent a character, imo.

Any good or is it bullshit?
Don't say bullshit and Malazan in the same sentence again,  Tao :P
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TaoHorror on November 18, 2017, 02:07:13 am
Speaking of Malazan. I'm 82 % complete with Gardens of the Moon. Paran reminds me of Proyas, except the latter is more potent a character, imo.

Any good or is it bullshit?
Don't say bullshit and Malazan in the same sentence again,  Tao :P

Aaaaah, you like it, don't you? Well, ok then, I'll see what all the fuss is about.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 18, 2017, 02:35:53 am
Quote
Any good or is it bullshit?

Well, I personally like it as it's very interesting, but I think it takes patience to read it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on November 18, 2017, 03:03:51 pm
Quote from:  Dora Vee
Well, I personally like it as it's very interesting, but I think it takes patience to read it.

Right. Gardens of the Moon is very slow with a lot of info dumped on you very quickly. But, as Wilshire and I said, all of Malazan novels are set up as the first 70-80% used as a set up for a great finale. Tao, just read it and plough through all the names and such, it all comes together and you'll understand what's going on.

GotM has a different feel than the rest of Malazan. I believe it was originally written to be a movie, don't quote me on that, but I believe I heard that before.

Memories of Ice, the 2nd novel in the series, is probably my favorite novel outside of anything TSA. Great Book.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on November 18, 2017, 04:53:37 pm
GotM has a different feel than the rest of Malazan. I believe it was originally written to be a movie, don't quote me on that, but I believe I heard that before.

Originally E&E had crafted it as a screenplay, yes.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 29, 2017, 09:30:07 pm
Finished Gardens of the Moon and will now be moving on to the Deadhouse Gates.

Here are my Tumblr reactions:
https://divinesong.tumblr.com/tagged/gardens-of-the-moon
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on January 10, 2018, 08:13:10 pm
Finished Gardens of the Moon and will now be moving on to the Deadhouse Gates.

Here are my Tumblr reactions:
https://divinesong.tumblr.com/tagged/gardens-of-the-moon

These are fun, thanks for posting :) .
All I'll say is its a good think you like Kruppe as he's a divisive character and doesn't go away lol.
I hope you make it to the end of your journey.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on January 10, 2018, 10:50:26 pm
30% through DeadHouse Gates now. Should post a reaction bit soon. Been going slow though.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on January 10, 2018, 10:52:50 pm
I stalled at 70% on the e-reader, Dora...

I just am not comfortable screen reading so much - I blame it on my personal reading history. I'm a tactile reader, I suppose - not like braille, though I've always wanted to do that too.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on January 10, 2018, 11:18:03 pm
70% through Furies of Calderon, by Jim Butcher.

One thing I like in my fantasy is magic, and a food plausible system that make sense. This has that. I'm it one of those GoT is low magic and adult Fantasy. What? Its got so much magic its funny to hear people say that. If you don't want magic read Non-fiction or romance or some other genre. Magic is a essential staple of fantasy. Good Magic=Good Fantasy.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on January 11, 2018, 02:04:35 pm
One thing I like in my fantasy is magic, and a food plausible system that make sense. This has that. I'm it one of those GoT is low magic and adult Fantasy. What? Its got so much magic its funny to hear people say that. If you don't want magic read Non-fiction or romance or some other genre. Magic is a essential staple of fantasy. Good Magic=Good Fantasy.
100%. I feel exactly the same way.
I'm going to start taking your fantasy suggestions more seriously now :).

Also, currently reading a scifi that basically has magic, but nooo its 'technologically enhanced psychological powers'. No, its not - its magic. As much as I like magic in my Fantasy, I have a distaste for it in scifi. The book isn't great in any other way either, so its kind of a lost cause all around.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on January 11, 2018, 02:41:05 pm
Quote from:  Wilshire
100%. I feel exactly the same way.
I'm going to start taking your fantasy suggestions more seriously now :).

Traitor Son Cycle, by Miles Cameron. Great plot, good worldbuilding, a lot of good characters over 5 books and one hell of good Magic Systems. One of my favorites to be honest. I think you'd really enjoy it. That's a series that we could discuss for pages and wish I had someone to discuss it with. BECAUSE I HAVE QUESTIONS!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on January 11, 2018, 03:42:26 pm
About halfway through Light, Time, and Gravity.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on January 12, 2018, 03:19:58 am
Deadhouse Gates Reaction: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/post/169602562768/malazan-deadhouse-gates

Still at 30%
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on January 12, 2018, 03:24:23 am
Deadhouse Gates Reaction: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/post/169602562768/malazan-deadhouse-gates

Still at 30%
Oh man, that book....  :'(
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on January 30, 2018, 10:11:58 pm
Deadhouse Gates 59%: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/post/170318664043/malazan-deadhouse-gates
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on January 31, 2018, 12:36:00 pm
What a great book.
I think the first three books combined are 'my favorite'. Though many of Erikson's are phenomenal, its difficult to pick out one among all that is the best.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 01, 2018, 08:57:02 pm
Quote from:  Dora Vee
Deadhouse Gates 59%: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/post/170318664043/malazan-deadhouse-gates
Report to

Loved Deadhouse Gates. A great follow up to Memories of Ice. Totally, agree with Wilshire. I liked all. Of the Malazan books. And, its because they are all set up the same. A bunch of info and set up the first 75% then the rest of the book is a great, wild ride.

One book I really loved, and a lot of people seem to think it a weaker book of the series is House of Chains. Karsa Orlong is introduced, the Tiste Edur are fascinating to me, and even more so after reading Erikson's 1st two books of the Tisste Andii origin story, or for that matter all the Tiste. You see why the Edur are the way the are, for very good reason.

I'll tell you, when you read Toll the Hounds, it makes all that prior reading so worth it. One huge difference between Bakker and Erickson, you get answers. Not all the answers, which I wouldn't like anyway, but you get some huge reveals. Its very satisfying. Keep slogging Dora Vee.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on February 02, 2018, 12:23:29 am
Quote from:  Dora Vee
Deadhouse Gates 59%: https://divinesong.tumblr.com/post/170318664043/malazan-deadhouse-gates
Report to

Loved Deadhouse Gates. A great follow up to Memories of Ice. Totally, agree with Wilshire. I liked all. Of the Malazan books. And, its because they are all set up the same. A bunch of info and set up the first 75% then the rest of the book is a great, wild ride.

One book I really loved, and a lot of people seem to think it a weaker book of the series is House of Chains. Karsa Orlong is introduced, the Tiste Edur are fascinating to me, and even more so after reading Erikson's 1st two books of the Tisste Andii origin story, or for that matter all the Tiste. You see why the Edur are the way the are, for very good reason.

I'll tell you, when you read Toll the Hounds, it makes all that prior reading so worth it. One huge difference between Bakker and Erickson, you get answers. Not all the answers, which I wouldn't like anyway, but you get some huge reveals. Its very satisfying. Keep slogging Dora Vee.
Disagree. TTH wasn't THAT much better than the rest, which IMO, are better than what you think. You can't say that Bonehunters or Midnight Tides weren't amazing. Reaper's Gale and House of Chains are debatable ( I personally liked them, especially the former. ) but TBH and MT were just masterpieces.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 02, 2018, 12:46:29 am
Redeagl, I won't disagree. That wasn't my point, though. I just the TTH was a great book in terms of convergence and reveals. Its the payoff for the first 7-8? books. There wasn't a Malazan book I've read and didn't like. Even his follow up series (shame the last book seems to be shelved. :( )
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Redeagl on February 02, 2018, 12:58:58 pm
Redeagl, I won't disagree. That wasn't my point, though. I just the TTH was a great book in terms of convergence and reveals. Its the payoff for the first 7-8? books. There wasn't a Malazan book I've read and didn't like. Even his follow up series (shame the last book seems to be shelved. :( )
Ah. Looks like I just misunderstood your comment, MSJ.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on February 02, 2018, 01:54:43 pm
House of Chains was by far the weakest in the series. Karsa specifically is one of the least interesting characters.
Dust of Dreams is probably #2 worst book in the series.
The rest are all very good, though I'd put Reaper's Gale and Bonehunters down in the bottom half compared to the others. Still head and shoulders about HoC and DoD though.
I really enjoyed Midnight Tides :) .

Toll The Hounds is definitely one of the best for me because of the reveals and the converging stories.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 02, 2018, 03:31:35 pm
DoD, must've been one of the worse ones, because frankly, I don't remember much about it, lol.

HoC, Reaper's Gale and Midnight Tides were all very good imo. Anything Karsa, and the Edur and you had my attention. Just a preference thing I guess, but I enjoyed them all.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 02, 2018, 03:52:59 pm
Quote from:  Redeagl
Ah. Looks like I just misunderstood your comment, MSJ.

You know I'm a Malazan fan, come on brother!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 02, 2018, 05:30:22 pm
Been reading Jim Butcher's Cursor's Fury. 3rd book in the series. This one is better than the 2nd, and has potential to be as good or better than the first. Interesting magic system, great characters, plot and prose.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Woden on February 03, 2018, 12:26:24 pm
Rereading Don Quijote.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on February 05, 2018, 07:37:07 pm
Been reading Jim Butcher's Cursor's Fury. 3rd book in the series. This one is better than the 2nd, and has potential to be as good or better than the first. Interesting magic system, great characters, plot and prose.

Do you like Butcher? I see his name a lot for some reason, never picked up anything by him though.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 06, 2018, 12:48:41 am
Quote from:  Wilshire
Do you like Butcher? I see his name a lot for some reason, never picked up anything by him though.

Yes. I'm on the forth book now. I will say, that it does get a bit predictable. Follows roughly the same pattern. But, it interesting and overall it could go a ton of different ways. I just don't know how much imagination the guy has. Everyone can't be Bakker, that's for sure. Entertaining enough.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on February 06, 2018, 12:46:08 pm
Good to know.

One of the interesting consequences of only reading one book per author is that I haven't encountered the problem of formulaic writing in a long time. At least not for a single author, as obviously genre tropes are a thing.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 06, 2018, 10:34:54 pm
Quote from:  Wilshire
Good to know.

One of the interesting consequences of only reading one book per author is that I haven't encountered the problem of formulaic writing in a long time. At least not for a single author, as obviously genre tropes are a thing.

I am the type that starts a series and 1-3 plotlines really have me interested. They can gain momentum, or obviously lose it. But, no matter how often Ill say that I'll read multiple series at a time. Once finishing a book.....straight on to the next one.

Keep me updated on Altered Carbon. Loved his fantasy series, and sci-cu is growing on me. Like to hear you're thoughts. ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on February 07, 2018, 04:12:05 am
Read through some of "Blindsight" by Peter Watts over the weekend. Not my cuppa tea: Neuroscience Victorious.  But it's well-executed modern SF. Good plot; interesting First-Contact premise.

Reread "Perelandra" by C. S. Lewis tonight as, I suppose, a corrective. Modern science......it really does me in. Makes me glad I turn 60 this year.

I'll return to "The Worm Ouroboros" soon. I'm accustomed to the archaic, Elizabethan style now. Absolutely no science....
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 07, 2018, 01:39:53 pm
A lot of people around here really enjoyed Blindsight. I think I give it a try. BFK, ive never gotten back to the 2nd book of Three Body Problem. I started it, but the first chapter was really.....weird? I dunno, need to push through it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on February 07, 2018, 02:38:42 pm
A lot of people around here really enjoyed Blindsight. I think I give it a try. BFK, ive never gotten back to the 2nd book of Three Body Problem. I started it, but the first chapter was really.....weird? I dunno, need to push through it.
Well, TBP just gets weirder and weirder, imho. But I recommend continuing, if only to get to the "dark forest" strategy. It's a cool scene that finds Da Shi as the pupil getting schooled. I love Da Shi, also, and he appears frequently in  "Dark Forest".
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TLEILAXU on February 07, 2018, 07:30:43 pm
Read through some of "Blindsight" by Peter Watts over the weekend. Not my cuppa tea: Neuroscience Victorious.  But it's well-executed modern SF. Good plot; interesting First-Contact premise.

Reread "Perelandra" by C. S. Lewis tonight as, I suppose, a corrective. Modern science......it really does me in. Makes me glad I turn 60 this year.

I'll return to "The Worm Ouroboros" soon. I'm accustomed to the archaic, Elizabethan style now. Absolutely no science....
I knew that would bother you. Have you rejected it entirely or will you finish it? Blindsight is one of my favorite books but Echopraxia (the sequel) is even crazier, even going into faith-based science territory.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on February 07, 2018, 09:02:43 pm
I need to stop reading when I am tired, because I have almost no recollection at all of both Blidsight and Echopraxia at all...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on February 08, 2018, 03:15:49 am
Read through some of "Blindsight" by Peter Watts over the weekend. Not my cuppa tea: Neuroscience Victorious.  But it's well-executed modern SF. Good plot; interesting First-Contact premise.

Reread "Perelandra" by C. S. Lewis tonight as, I suppose, a corrective. Modern science......it really does me in. Makes me glad I turn 60 this year.

I'll return to "The Worm Ouroboros" soon. I'm accustomed to the archaic, Elizabethan style now. Absolutely no science....
I knew that would bother you. Have you rejected it entirely or will you finish it? Blindsight is one of my favorite books but Echopraxia (the sequel) is even crazier, even going into faith-based science territory.
Thanks for asking, Tleilaxu!

Well, I did one of my typical skims....I read backwards from the ending, after maybe reading most of the first 100 pages, so I've got the plot. So in a trivial sense, I've "finished" it. I may revisit it, but the generally fatalistic and post-human tone really don't appeal to me. There's no doubt that it's very well done, but.....put it this way: I'll reread Andy Weir's "The Martian" maybe every other year for the rest of my life. I might look at a section or two of "Blindsight" on occasion.....and on those occasions, I'll probably wish that I had read something else.

I must say, though, that I'm willing to give "Echopraxia" a chance.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on February 08, 2018, 06:24:44 pm
Blindsight is simply fantastic. MSJ, well worth the read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 15, 2018, 12:14:57 am
On Princep's Fury, by Jim Butcher. Per my last post I was having some worries about how this story was going to go. But, things are converging nicely and keeps getting more and more interesting. Have the time, definitely worth the read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TheCulminatingApe on March 30, 2018, 07:38:09 pm
Reading The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben, and The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry.  Re-reading The Conversion of Europe by Richard Fletcher (a superb book).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 03, 2018, 12:43:03 pm
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton

Wow. This is a great book so far. Strong scifi/space-opera with (probably) overly technical explanations of this and that super tech (which I appreciate), well imagined futuristic space-faring civilization (humans mostly, but some great aliens too), clever technological developments, great pacing with interspersed action and informational sections. Really just great world building and story telling.

The biggest problem with this book is that it feels like there is erotica spliced into it. I mean there's a lot of sex scenes that are highly detailed, and they pop up what seems like every 50ish pages. For a book that's 900+pages ... it starts to add up. Its not as if I skip over it - its done well - its just to a point where I might call it gratuitous.

I know Hamilton has a fair number of books (wiki says 10) and I look forward to getting around to them some day.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TLEILAXU on April 03, 2018, 02:17:30 pm
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton

Wow. This is a great book so far. Strong scifi/space-opera with (probably) overly technical explanations of this and that super tech (which I appreciate), well imagined futuristic space-faring civilization (humans mostly, but some great aliens too), clever technological developments, great pacing with interspersed action and informational sections. Really just great world building and story telling.

The biggest problem with this book is that it feels like there is erotica spliced into it. I mean there's a lot of sex scenes that are highly detailed, and they pop up what seems like every 50ish pages. For a book that's 900+pages ... it starts to add up. Its not as if I skip over it - its done well - its just to a point where I might call it gratuitous.

I know Hamilton has a fair number of books (wiki says 10) and I look forward to getting around to them some day.
Are they better than Bakker's sex scenes?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 03, 2018, 02:40:47 pm
Less rape-y and more sexy (most of the time), if that's your question.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on April 03, 2018, 06:00:13 pm
The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F Hamilton

Wow. This is a great book so far. Strong scifi/space-opera with (probably) overly technical explanations of this and that super tech (which I appreciate), well imagined futuristic space-faring civilization (humans mostly, but some great aliens too), clever technological developments, great pacing with interspersed action and informational sections. Really just great world building and story telling.

The biggest problem with this book is that it feels like there is erotica spliced into it. I mean there's a lot of sex scenes that are highly detailed, and they pop up what seems like every 50ish pages. For a book that's 900+pages ... it starts to add up. Its not as if I skip over it - its done well - its just to a point where I might call it gratuitous.

I know Hamilton has a fair number of books (wiki says 10) and I look forward to getting around to them some day.

Nice! I think I got the audiobook of that on sale--glad it's good. 

I'm reading The Black Prism by Brent Weeks and re-listening to The Forever War
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 04, 2018, 04:48:55 pm
I read forever war last year. Definitely an interesting book.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TLEILAXU on June 18, 2018, 07:23:24 pm
Just finished Hotshot, one of Peter Watts short stories set in the Sunflower Cycle universe.
Fucking amazing, somewhat of a twist near the ending too http://rifters.com/real/shorts/PeterWatts_Hotshot.pdf
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on June 23, 2018, 03:59:54 am
Finished Deadhouse Gates(Duiker is my lord and savior) and am now on Memories of Ice(6%).

The latter has quite the strong start and it's pretty clear early on just who the primary antagonist is going to be.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on June 25, 2018, 02:50:40 pm
The first three books, for me, where probably the best when considered together.

There were other great books in the series, but those three stick out. The rest of the series becomes very meandering and a lot of story lines don't feel like they go anywhere. GOTM, DG, and MOI have tighert story arcs and there isn't quite so much going on, which to me makes it easier to focus on what's important.

Last few scenes in DG with the chain of dogs & Coltain... Amazing.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on June 25, 2018, 10:15:37 pm
Quote from:  Wilshire
The first three books, for me, where probably the best when considered together.

There were other great books in the series, but those three stick out. The rest of the series becomes very meandering and a lot of story lines don't feel like they go anywhere. GOTM, DG, and MOI have tighert story arcs and there isn't quite so much going on, which to me makes it easier to focus on what's important.

Last few scenes in DG with the chain of dogs & Coltain... Amazing

Agreed, especially on the bold. MoI was one of my favorite, also. Then as ive said countless times, Toll the Hounds is jam packed with good stuff, so you have that to look forward to.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on July 13, 2018, 01:21:23 pm
Ajokli fans may enjoy It Devours.  I strongly suggest getting the audiobook--the reader is off the charts.  This is scifi/action/dark comedy with philosophical shavings.  Think X-Files knocks up Douglas Adams and baby turns out to be a fan of the Twilight Zone and Sartre.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on July 16, 2018, 08:13:11 pm
I decided to pick up The Poppy War after seeing someone had read it in the other thread. Two chapters in and I'm enjoying it so far.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 24, 2018, 11:44:02 am
I think the series is promising. Some interesting concepts that don't get fully fleshed out until the first book starts wraping up.

Kuang did an AMA a few months back, and glibly said that "they" call her "grimdark's darkest daughter". Its not TSA dark imo, but there's definitely some heavy subjects brought up.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on July 24, 2018, 03:45:52 pm
Almost finished last night, didn't want to put down. Nowhere as dark as a lot of stuff I've read in the genre....

But, it's good and has a lot of cool concepts and directions the series can go in. At least looking at it from the perspective of having no finished it yet, but I think I see where it's going.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 24, 2018, 05:41:18 pm
Yeah the first half is all world building and setup, the next quarter stuff starts happening and the fantasy aspects start to come into play, this is also where it starts to get darker. Last quarter its something of a bloodbath and you really see what's going on.

There's definitely a lot of places the series could go, and I hope the writer continues down the path. I think this is her first publication, so hopefully the writing gets better as the story progresses beyond the first book.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on July 26, 2018, 11:40:56 am
Quote from:  Wilshire
the first half is all world building and setup, the next quarter stuff starts happening and the fantasy aspects start to come into play, this is also where it starts to get darker. Last quarter its something of a bloodbath and you really see what's going on.

There's definitely a lot of places the series could go, and I hope the writer continues down the path. I think this is her first publication, so hopefully the writing gets better as the story progresses beyond the first book.

Yea, just started Part III, a freaking bloodbath is the only thing you'll call it.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on July 26, 2018, 12:58:39 pm
Yeah, it gets real dark. Not necessarily rape-aliens dark, but the abuse side of things (physical/emotional) between people in a relationship is pretty grinding. The Real Story dark rather than Bakker dark, though Kuang does throw in both.

I'm glad you're reading it. Maybe you and I should start a book club, books are better when you can talk about them. Unfortunately then we'd have to come up with a list of books that we both haven't read and are interested in ... And I'm still avoiding sequels so our reading habits are way different. Maybe by the time next year rolls around I'll feel like I've sampled a large enough cross section.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on July 27, 2018, 02:21:20 am
I would do it....I will read whatever you throw in front of me. I don't have many biases when it comes to reading. Sure I have favorites and tend to finish a series once started, but it's hardly written in stone. I feel so bad I haven't been participating in reread section, but books keep getting my attention and I forget to get to the relevant chapter.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on July 28, 2018, 07:09:24 pm
Finished The Poppy War, just now. I thought it was a great book and am very surprised that this is the authors debut novel. Sure there is room for improvement, but she is a talented writer and has good vision. There is still a lot to explore and ways that this series could go. Can't wait for the sequel.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on July 28, 2018, 08:41:43 pm
31% in Memories of Ice and I can only say..."JESUS CHRIST." I don't think I've ever read anything like the Pannion Domin. I don't count something like Warhammer 40k. I haven't even read them in action yet and they still sound horrifying. The criminal rulers in Saltoan aren't really looking into WHY their people would turn to the Domin. I don't think the info war will help if people are desperate for an escape and they seen an opportunity. The Domin clearly preys on the vulnerable and cities like Saltoan will have plenty such people. The Crippled God does the same.

Speaking of which, I actually adore the Crippled God. So unabashedly wicked and given what happened to him, I can't say I blame him.

Quick Ben had an interesting question about survival. Personally, I think it's both a right and privileged.  The former has to be enforced, the latter is either earned or given.

ADORE the Grey Swords. The leaders seem like wonderful leaders, especially the Mortal Sword. He actually reminds me of the Kurgan. That is, if the Kurgan wasn't a violent sociopath.

Kruppe <3
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on July 29, 2018, 06:42:59 pm
Quote from:  Dora Vee
ADORE the Grey Swords. The leaders seem like wonderful leaders, especially the Mortal Sword. He actually reminds me of the Kurgan. That is, if the Kurgan wasn't a violent sociopath.

You will ADORE the finale of this book for sure!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on August 04, 2018, 03:25:15 pm
54% in. Right now, all I have to say is: https://youtu.be/-bOKsOveYD0
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on August 06, 2018, 12:43:08 pm
Its a good thing you like Kruppe. I found him hilarious as well, but he keeps showing up so if you don't appreciate him I imagine it'd be pretty irritating.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on August 06, 2018, 10:23:18 pm
I LOVE Kruppe! Kruppe is my man! He's a delight to me! Itkovian is also someone I adore. I'm 65% complete. One of the most powerful scenes in series so far involved Itkovian.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on August 09, 2018, 03:26:24 pm
I'm finding American Gods extremely interesting.
Its a nice intersection of history, american folklore,  fantasy, mystery, and a discussion about modernity. Great prose, Gaiman is a hell of a writer imo.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 09, 2018, 07:07:17 pm
Quote from: Wilshire
I'm finding American Gods extremely interesting.
Its a nice intersection of history, american folklore,  fantasy, mystery, and a discussion about modernity. Great prose, Gaiman is a hell of a writer imo.

Great book, it is. I loved the writing also. Though at times the prose was a bit...jarring? Not a huge complaint, all things considered to be honest. But, as you said, the combination of history and it being a fiction, fit really well. The coming to America scenes really hit the spot.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TheCulminatingApe on August 12, 2018, 06:32:02 pm
Re-reading The Etched City (KJ Bishop), and The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart (Jesse Bullington).

So far, both great
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on August 22, 2018, 12:12:56 am
87% Complete. TBH, it did feel slow at times after Capustan, but it's all roller coaster like. I remember being told that about ALL of Malazan, but it's certainly true here. Only this time, there are multiple highs. Loved what happened to those necromancers. BAAAAHA! "More wine?"

Itkovian is letting down his hair a bit with Stonny and Gruntle. So precious. <3 I wish someone would succeed in talking sense to him, but he's STUBBORN. Caladan Brood couldn't even get to him. Well, he wasn't Shield Anvil for nothing.

Ganeos needs to be told that he is in a WAR. I don't know what the hell he's expecting. Does he think the Pannion Domin feel bad about their actions? There's no Geneva Convention on the Malazan War. I don't think there are rules of engagement on that world.

Kallor, can you be any more obvious? Please? And quite frankly, now that I know about the three Elder Gods, Draconis and Nightchill didn't sound much better than him anyway. Some "liberation". K'rul is the only one who sounded decent.

Despite being so close, I suspect that there are like 200 pages left. Things are picking up for sure.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on August 25, 2018, 12:05:34 am
Done with Memories of Ice. Comments here:  https://divinesong.tumblr.com/post/177357661913/memories-of-ice-malazan-book-of-the-fallen-book
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 25, 2018, 02:36:57 pm
Good post, Dora Vee!

I knew when you said the Grey Swords were your favorite that you would live the end. MoI is easily one of my favorite fantasy novels I've ever read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on August 25, 2018, 11:11:12 pm
What happened with Itkovian reminded me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxvPjuREDpE

I don't know if the song fits, but the ending scene sure does. It's like The Rose meetings the ending of Conan the Barbarian, only they're giving gifts and not putting out candles.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on August 28, 2018, 02:28:53 pm
About half way through The Emperor's Blades by Brian Stavely. MSJ the Golden Recommender has done it again. Such a good book!

Quote from:  Wilshire
I'm going to seriously have to go through your post history and see your 'book reviews' (or whatever we can call you're one line recommendations like this one) and see if I can rule them out or not.

Is be the worse reviewer ever. I would spoil the books. I don't know how to go into it without telling it. Here's a few must read series.

The Unhewn Throne (low magic)
Tower of Babel (low magic}
Traitor Son Cycle (high magic)

In that order. Seriously, TUT is full of mystery and intrigue. I'm on book 3 (the last) and I have no clue how this is gonna go. I have no complaints, from character, plot, prose or any other thing someone might bitch about. Just excellent.
Who is the author of Tower of Babel? Is it Adam Elliott? Getting several search results and dont want to grab the wrong one.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Lonnie Slidell on September 11, 2018, 05:34:12 pm
I'm still on the Malazan slog; I'm nearly finished with House of Chains now.
I just finished a reread of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.  Have you read any of the Esslemont books?  If so what did you think?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 11, 2018, 06:02:29 pm
I'm still on the Malazan slog; I'm nearly finished with House of Chains now.
I just finished a reread of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.  Have you read any of the Esslemont books?  If so what did you think?

Just FYI the timestamp on that quoted post was 2013, and Meyna's last login was on January 28, 2015 ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on September 11, 2018, 06:03:42 pm
I'm 11% through House of Chains. Yea...witness Karsa Orloong tea...Sheesh.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 11, 2018, 06:54:34 pm
A lot of people seem to really, really love Karsa.

He, to me, was the most bland, one dimensional, and uninteresting character in the entire series, which made House of Chains the worst book in the series. Maybe tied for worst with book 9, Dust of Dreams.

That said, still good. Erikson is a great writer, but I think he sometimes lost track of the narrative.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on September 13, 2018, 01:27:23 am
I actually like Karsa. He's a "problmatic fave" sure, but I can't help but find him interesting. He's weird, but when it's fun when he interacts with others. And boy, can he dance. I don't think he'll ever be a cinnamon roll though. As of now, Itkovian is the only one.

I like Torvald Nom too.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 13, 2018, 11:51:40 am
I thought HOC had a really great opening. Once Karsa goes out into the world my opinion of him soured as he, imo, became really archetypal and less of an actual character.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on September 17, 2018, 03:16:52 pm
52% complete. House of Chains is a quicker read, but I don't think it has the same emotional impact MOI did. Like, I don't care as much.

Tavore makes me smile though. She is impressive. However, she is a little too remote which would explain why people have doubts, but it's clear to me that she has to have a "queenly mask" and she does show her humanity in private.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 17, 2018, 04:19:14 pm
My favorite for badass is Kalam Mekhar. The sequences of him ... doing a variety of totally badass infiltrations and dazzling escapes ... are some of the best in the series for raw 'coolness' factor.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on September 29, 2018, 12:02:58 am
Here's my "review" of House of Chains. Watch out for spoilers! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2508371352

Now on to Midnight Tides.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on September 30, 2018, 05:06:03 pm
Midnight Tides is a great novel. Could almost be a standalone Malazan, or a starting book, due to its new setting and cast within the series. Some of the best characters in the series show up here.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on September 30, 2018, 10:48:19 pm
I'm 11% complete in Midnight Tides. And yea, it certainly looks like it and Lether is a shithole.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 12, 2018, 12:48:48 am
Finished Midnight Tides: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2545558839

And now, The Bonehunters. 7% in.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on October 12, 2018, 12:11:23 pm
That was quick! You must have enjoyed it. Quite a nice little rebuke of capitalism, and the Bugg/Tehole banter is top notch.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 12, 2018, 06:12:37 pm
Oh, I did. And yea, he's obviously critical of capitalism, which is perfect for me, but he could have stated it in fewer words.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on October 12, 2018, 06:20:08 pm
but he could have stated it in fewer words.

lmao. Yeah the whole series would be summed up in this manner I think. You're getting to the point where this really starts becoming apparent. Getting lost in the weeds as every minor character getting 50 pages of exposition, and novel-length side stories that don't progress the story. 1000 pages+ in each book, and half of it is relevant.

Still great, but if like most people you want your story to be ... well a story, with a start, middle, and ending, among other things (like a central cast of characters) ... it can get tedious.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 12, 2018, 11:09:49 pm
I think it's done on purpose because Malazan is ultimately about the world itself and the ideas/history within it. However, this means that most characters are going to just be there and quite a few are rather boring tbh.

But, I'm glad I got into it. I would have never met my cinnamon roll, Itkovian, if I haven't.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on October 13, 2018, 06:40:19 pm
Yeah I have conflicted feelings. It appears to ultimately be about the individuals and their stories. There isn't really a cohesive story arc that gets told in any real way - at least not in a typical way. The world is crushingly deep, the wold-building on a scale beyond anything I've seen. I think Malazan comes in at #2 as my all time favorite, second only to TSA, which is high praise, but it has its short comings. I think it'll probably dethroned from its #2 slot in the future as it was just too much to absorb, too much to reread, and so doesn't have the staying power as some of the shorter books/series that I can pick up and reread.

3.5 million words in Malazan's 10 book, compared to Bakker's what, 1million or TSA as is, maybe 1.25m if he ever finishes TSA.

That kind of scale is great if its the only book series you're ever going to read, and read it over and over, but for someone with a shit memory that likes to read a lot of different authors, its just not going to be my favorite.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on October 26, 2018, 12:10:14 am
32% in the Bonehunters. I can only say: JESUS CHRIST...

Didn't think that would happen so soon.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 13, 2018, 08:31:51 pm
46% Bonehunters. TBH, this one's a bit of a slower read.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 16, 2018, 06:35:49 pm
Random question, but are any of the Star Wars books worth reading?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 16, 2018, 07:04:39 pm
Random question, but are any of the Star Wars books worth reading?

Heir To the Empire (first book of the Thrawn Trilogy) which is not canonical anymore, is far and away the best.  Everything else is pretty poorly done and not at all worth the time.  The other two in the trilogy are also similarly good, but I would advise reading one and not the rest.  Honestly, they are probably better Star Wars stories than any of the actual Star Wars stories.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 22, 2018, 04:10:29 pm
63% into the Bonehunters. Finally picking up again. Ah, Karsa, so right and so wrong.

Also peaked a bit more into Toll the Hounds...my, that was an oopsie.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 26, 2018, 07:33:06 pm
Well, I finished up all 39 current volumes of the Berserk manga...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 26, 2018, 08:34:00 pm
Random question, but are any of the Star Wars books worth reading?

Heir To the Empire (first book of the Thrawn Trilogy) which is not canonical anymore, is far and away the best.  Everything else is pretty poorly done and not at all worth the time.  The other two in the trilogy are also similarly good, but I would advise reading one and not the rest.  Honestly, they are probably better Star Wars stories than any of the actual Star Wars stories.

I have only watched the first 6 movies and one of the more recent sequels. I've always felt that the star wars universe seemed pretty built on a pretty thin premise with loose rules that are quasi followed and largely just exploited in the end by the good guys because good guys win. Aside from the 'cool' factor of lightsabers, the Force seemed to be tacky application of magic in an otherwise generic scifi world.

Granted, movies tend to make bad renditions of books, and I can imagine something similar being said about Dune had they not read the books, which is why I asked. Now, nostalgia is a legit reason for reading and/or liking a book or series, but since I don't have any I think I'll possibly just skip it - but in a pinch maybe I'll pick up Heir to the Empire :P .

Thanks H!

63% into the Bonehunters. Finally picking up again. Ah, Karsa, so right and so wrong.

Also peaked a bit more into Toll the Hounds...my, that was an oopsie.

C'mon. You should know that pretty much the first rule of Malazan is don't look at any guides, wikis, or future books, as after about book 2, everything is a spoiler lol.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 27, 2018, 12:02:16 am
Well, I finished up all 39 current volumes of the Berserk manga...

And what do you think?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 27, 2018, 02:28:31 pm
And what do you think?

I liked it, but it did bother me a bit how "comic" it became at times and how "sprawling" it got near the end.

Just seems like there were more "side quests" than there really needed to be, but I realize the man's gotta eat, you know?
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 28, 2018, 01:27:34 pm
And what do you think?

I liked it, but it did bother me a bit how "comic" it became at times and how "sprawling" it got near the end.

Just seems like there were more "side quests" than there really needed to be, but I realize the man's gotta eat, you know?

Wait, are you talking about Berserk, or Malazan? ;)
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 28, 2018, 02:23:10 pm
Wait, are you talking about Berserk, or Malazan? ;)

Maybe there isn't a difference?

Saved me reading a whole 'nother series there.  Not really, wasn't going to read it anyway...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 28, 2018, 07:19:30 pm
Quote from: H
may be there isn't a difference?

Saved me reading a whole 'nother series there.  Not really, wasn't going to read it anyway...

There's a huge difference. 1. Malazan (well, the main series) is finished. 2. Berserk is nowhere near so long winded. 3. The God Hand, including Griffith, would be eaten alive by other powers.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 29, 2018, 04:39:02 pm
There's a huge difference. 1. Malazan (well, the main series) is finished. 2. Berserk is nowhere near so long winded. 3. The God Hand, including Griffith, would be eaten alive by other powers.

I wasn't really being serious.  I realize there is a huge difference.  I honestly just have no real desire to read Malazan.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 29, 2018, 08:41:30 pm
There's a huge difference. 1. Malazan (well, the main series) is finished. 2. Berserk is nowhere near so long winded. 3. The God Hand, including Griffith, would be eaten alive by other powers.

I wasn't really being serious.  I realize there is a huge difference.  I honestly just have no real desire to read Malazan.

Yes all in good fun DV.

Malazan is definitely not a series to read if you're on the fence. Way to long to go through with it, though honestly Gardens of the Moon is worth a shot if you ever had a huge amount of time to invest in a single novel - like if you decide TSA sucks and are looking for something else to do.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 29, 2018, 08:44:40 pm
Yes all in good fun DV.

Malazan is definitely not a series to read if you're on the fence. Way to long to go through with it, though honestly Gardens of the Moon is worth a shot if you ever had a huge amount of time to invest in a single novel - like if you decide TSA sucks and are looking for something else to do.

I'be tried reading Garden of the Moon 3 times.  The only book in my life I have ever tried to read multiple times and the only book have given up reading multiple times.  I consider it somewhat fated: it's just not for me.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on November 29, 2018, 08:48:00 pm
Oh, yeah. I didn't realize you had tried GOTM already. Defiantly not worth trying twice imo.

I've got plenty of recs for you if you're running out of books to read though lol
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 29, 2018, 08:59:56 pm
Oh, yeah. I didn't realize you had tried GOTM already. Defiantly not worth trying twice imo.

I've got plenty of recs for you if you're running out of books to read though lol

Out of books?  Never out of books.

Out of time?  Always out of time.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on November 29, 2018, 09:26:18 pm
Well, you can try starting Deadhouse Gates. Some people have done that, but it's not a good idea.  If you tried to get through GOTM THREE times, then yikes...it's not for you. However, once I got to Memories of Ice, it was all worth it. It's STILL my favorite and I'm 89% in the Bonehunters.

What got me into Malazan was being told that it was the reason Bakker got published. That, and the fact that I was already aware of how the story was being told. Oh, and some spoilers...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on November 29, 2018, 09:51:54 pm
Well, you can try starting Deadhouse Gates. Some people have done that, but it's not a good idea.  If you tried to get through GOTM THREE times, then yikes...it's not for you. However, once I got to Memories of Ice, it was all worth it. It's STILL my favorite and I'm 89% in the Bonehunters.

What got me into Malazan was being told that it was the reason Bakker got published. That, and the fact that I was already aware of how the story was being told. Oh, and some spoilers...

I have metric tons of stuff to read, so yeah, it's not really worth it to keep trying to hammer a square peg in a round hole.  It's odd, because I've read plenty of things that really aren't my forte, from Jane Austen books to Dickens and so on.  While I couldn't say I really liked those much, none of them had me question if it was even worth reading them?  Perhaps that is why those are actual classics?  Or perhaps it's because those were stand-alone books?  Who knows...

In any case, I read Bakker long, long before I ever head of Erikson.  I had only read Martin at that point, really (some time in late 2004).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: sciborg2 on November 30, 2018, 09:53:12 pm
Bersek re-read, but not in chronological order...
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on December 02, 2018, 09:13:28 pm
Bonehunters finally complete. Now on to Reaper's Gale.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on December 03, 2018, 01:09:13 pm
Bonehunters finally complete. Now on to Reaper's Gale.
On the home stretch!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Madness on December 03, 2018, 01:51:50 pm
Yeah, I'm impressed.

Burning through it now, DV.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on December 05, 2018, 08:16:44 pm
Here's my impression of the Bonehunters: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2559327478
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on December 05, 2018, 08:30:50 pm
Thanks for posting. Yeah BH goes into the weeds a lot describing backgrounds for every other character, regardless of their importance to the plot. This seems like a good idea at first, but ends up making things tedious. Unfortunately its a trend that continues (not that it started in this book).

Ultimately I think this is one of the major things that separates Erikson from Bakker. Erikson seems to have no notion of Chekov's gun, whereas Bakker appears to be obsessed with it. Malazan is filled with details that just don't matter, where TSA seems to be stuffed to bursting.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on December 07, 2018, 01:29:50 am
I forgot to mention that I will actually miss Pearl. :/

Erikson is also pretty weak with romance.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on December 07, 2018, 01:00:25 pm
Some of my favorite scenes are with Kalam, and his final disagreement with Pearl is a lot of fun (IIRC ... I have trouble remembering the whole cast). Can't say I'd miss Pearl though.

Reaper's Gale is good, but takes a strange turn. It seems black semen is something other authors feel important to include in there books as well lol. Toll The Hounds might be my favorite of the set, with Dust of Dreams tied for worst with House of Chains. Crippled God ends fine enough to make it worth while. So ... You're almost there! Some great books ahead of you, and one that's disappointing (don't let it stop you!).
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on January 03, 2019, 06:02:44 pm
The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft is expected out on 1/22. 3rd book in the Tower of Babel series. Can't wait for this.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on January 04, 2019, 12:39:27 am
23% in Reaper's Gale.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on February 08, 2019, 11:02:01 pm
Finished The Hod King and started Black Leopard, Red Wolf.

I didn't know anything of Marlon James coming in.  And the blurb of "an African Game of Thrones" is a bit nonsensical.  But the book is good so far, just absolutely not at all what I'd have thought it was.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on February 08, 2019, 11:08:57 pm
Quote from:  H
Finished The Hod King and started Black Leopard, Red Wolf.

I have a little under 100 pages left of The Hod King. Coincidentally, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is what I'm going to read next. I think the premise is neat. But, from all the reviews I've read, I don't see where it would be anything like ASOIAF, either. Let us know what you think of it, H.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on February 11, 2019, 12:45:12 pm
Quote from:  H
Finished The Hod King and started Black Leopard, Red Wolf.

I have a little under 100 pages left of The Hod King. Coincidentally, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is what I'm going to read next. I think the premise is neat. But, from all the reviews I've read, I don't see where it would be anything like ASOIAF, either. Let us know what you think of it, H.

It has absolutely no similarity to Game of Thrones in even the slightest way, as far as I can tell.

It does have an interesting structure and the setting is interesting in it's own way, narratively.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: H on February 15, 2019, 05:06:33 pm
Let us know what you think of it, H.

It's a pretty fantastic book.  It has a great deal of sex in it, it deals with sexuality itself a lot, the plot is complicated and purposely not straight forward.  However, it is a really good book.  I'd highly recommended it, but I think I'd say this is not a book for "everyone" by any means.  In fact, I think in it's own ways, it will be less palatable than Bakker for most people.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on February 18, 2019, 03:05:39 pm
  In fact, I think in it's own ways, it will be less palatable than Bakker for most people.
Guess I'll add another book to the list then. Can't pass up something with an endorsement like this.

Edit: This might sound sarcastic, its not lol.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on March 05, 2019, 10:13:36 pm
About half way through Dark Forge, by Miles Cameron. Excellent book and gets back to what Cameron is good at. Battle scenes and the life of living during war.  Probably finish in a night or two.

Then, I WILL go into Black Leopard, Red Wolf. I just seen where the 2nd book in Cameron's series just came out and had to get it. He is definitely in my top 5 of fantasy authors and just cant past it up.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on March 15, 2019, 01:50:30 pm
67% Reaper's Gale: https://www.goodreads.com/user_status/show/214620017
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on April 17, 2019, 05:42:02 am
Oh...Beak. :( I might have said it this before, but I'll say it for the people in the back: I think Beak and Itkovian should get together and go bowling.

As for Natarka or whatever your name is, this is for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZJUuDLqjzU&t=51s
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on April 17, 2019, 03:08:18 pm
Started "The War Within", Book 2 of "The Great God's War" from the pen of the venerable Stephen Donaldson. Two chapters so far. I'm deliberately reading no more than one chapter per sitting.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on April 22, 2019, 12:29:48 am
85% Reaper's Gale. Honestly, the death of
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bothered me more than I thought. Just sad. I mean, they could have killed him sooner if they considered him a failure or leave him to the Letherii. If he escapes, so what? He can live with knowing what happened. He can develop more/differently. But, nah. Just sad.

I guess it's safe to say that he ended up an emergent favorite. Didn't see that coming.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on April 22, 2019, 01:10:15 pm
Yeah plenty of pages for sad death in the last few books of Malazan.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on May 06, 2019, 04:16:07 am
Finished Reaper's Gale. Thoughts right here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2617570175
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Srancy on May 20, 2019, 02:49:37 am
It took a bit but I really enjoyed The Three-Body Problem.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on May 20, 2019, 03:10:25 am
It took a bit but I really enjoyed The Three-Body Problem.

Very glad to hear it, Srancy! Keep reading; "The Dark Forest" is really good, also.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on May 20, 2019, 03:46:56 pm
Three Body Problem is really a good book imo. I'll hopefully be getting around to Dark Forest later this year.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Dora Vee on May 20, 2019, 11:56:15 pm
Really Toll The Hounds. Started strong, but then almost immediately hit a little snag.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on May 21, 2019, 11:45:04 am
Really Toll The Hounds. Started strong, but then almost immediately hit a little snag.

I think TTH is the best of all of them! If I stopped reading at the end of TTH, I think I would have been happier lol. DOD is the worst in the series, and TCG was good but not great.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Srancy on June 08, 2019, 05:33:45 pm
It took a bit but I really enjoyed The Three-Body Problem.

Very glad to hear it, Srancy! Keep reading; "The Dark Forest" is really good, also.
Dark Forest broke into my top 10 most enjoyable books so I'd say I liked it a bit!
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on June 10, 2019, 03:18:42 pm
It took a bit but I really enjoyed The Three-Body Problem.

Very glad to hear it, Srancy! Keep reading; "The Dark Forest" is really good, also.
Dark Forest broke into my top 10 most enjoyable books so I'd say I liked it a bit!

Excellent! I loved the conversation between Da Shi and the protagonist at the end where the protagonist explains dark forest strategy. Chilling and eye-opening.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: MSJ on August 16, 2019, 09:31:44 pm
Long time, no see...miss ya guys. Ive actually picked up a book for the first time in many months. Dark Age, by Pierce Brown is the choice. About halfway through and loving it, so far. A continuation of the previous books, but this one picks up the pace quite a bit. A definite rec.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: BeardFisher-King on October 28, 2019, 07:16:28 pm
I'm reading "Supernova Era" by Liu Cixin (Cixin Liu in English style). It was written in 2004, and the English translation was just published. Looks to be another great read from the Chinese master of high-stakes civilizational survival.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Royce on November 05, 2019, 09:26:26 am
"The philosopher stone" by Colin Wilson
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: mrganondorf on March 04, 2021, 01:41:05 am
Just finished listening to The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster ready by Rainn Wilson (Dwight from the Office).  It was fucking delightful.  Had a very Alice in Wonderland feel but with an overt didactic slant that didn't drain away the fun.  Recommended.
Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: TaoHorror on April 29, 2021, 09:45:55 pm
Gardens of the Moon ( Malazan )

Took me 3 years to read it, just couldn't get into it. Getting it on Audible allowed me to finish it. I'm glad I did, the second half of the book gets much better. I enjoyed it, some very cool characters, some nice twists and turns in the end that I liked. Not sure I'll read the 2nd book unless someone can tell me if it takes up where the last one ends or if it's a time jump into the future and essentially a different story. Not that I wouldn't still read it, just too much on my reading list to commit to more at this time. Anyways, I like R and Abercrombie more, but I would still give it an A, well written and it got fun to read. I'll steal a few ideas for my D&D campaign ( loved the Jaghut Tyrant - I want to be him and using him in my campaign kinda would make me, hee hee! - not sure if I spelled the correctly as I was listening to the book ).

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EDIT
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Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: The P on April 30, 2021, 01:56:37 pm
Congratulations.  Many people put GotM in the lower half of the series, while book 2 and 3 are usually on the higher end of people's favorites.  Book two is largely a new cast of characters and a new setting.  It takes place in Seven Cities.  The returning characters from what I remember are Fiddler, Kalam, Crokus, and Apsalar.  Book three is more or less concurrent with the events of book two, so it wouldn't hurt to skip to three if you want.  In fact, Erikson initially had them swapped before losing the draft of what became book three to a computer crash.  Book three continues on with the campaign on Genabackis.  There are a lot of returning characters from GotM. 

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Title: Re: YOU MUST TELL ME ... What else are you reading?
Post by: Wilshire on June 10, 2021, 04:51:54 pm
Gardens of the Moon ( Malazan )

Took me 3 years to read it, just couldn't get into it. Getting it on Audible allowed me to finish it. I'm glad I did, the second half of the book gets much better. I enjoyed it, some very cool characters, some nice twists and turns in the end that I liked.

I'm glad you liked it!

Yeah... So that's pretty much the Malazan/Erickson pattern. Every book is about 500 pages of buildup and 500 pages of crazy action. If they were normal length books closer to 200-500 pages total this wouldn't seem so strange, but since most of the books are 1000 pages it makes for a really long intro.

Also Erikson likes to introduce new characters ever few pages, and this continues throughout the series, which magnifies this effect.

Not sure I'll read the 2nd book unless someone can tell me if it takes up where the last one ends or if it's a time jump into the future and essentially a different story.

Book 2, Deadhouse Gates, could very nearly be a different series entirely. Its obviously not in the sense that Erikson is still writing it, its still within the Malazan universe, and IIRC its still on the same timeline. That said, its a whole new book. New characters, different military campaign entirely, and in fact the writing is much improved  as well. Deadhouse Gates is an incredible book.

Not that I wouldn't still read it, just too much on my reading list to commit to more at this time.

Even though I loved DG, every book is a major time commitment. Its not a series that is worth "pushing through to the end". If you dont have the time, or dont enjoy it enough to spend the time on it, there is absolutely no reason to continue. The payoff at the end of book 10 is in no way "worth it", considering you have to read nearly 10,000 pages to get there. Yes, nearly every book is great in its own right, and yes there is a lot of lore and story that you may want to see through... But at what cost? There are just way to many words to read if you aren't enjoying it.

I recommend you read it only as long as you are enjoying it. If you find yourself bored, its probably time to just put it down and move on - even if that's in the middle of a book.

It took me nearly 2 years to read Malazan, since it takes so long to read each on individually, plus I read at least 1 or 2 books (by other authors) in between each book of Malazan.

Anyways, I like R and Abercrombie more, but I would still give it an A, well written and it got fun to read. I'll steal a few ideas for my D&D campaign ( loved the Jaghut Tyrant - I want to be him and using him in my campaign kinda would make me, hee hee! - not sure if I spelled the correctly as I was listening to the book ).

In case you haven't started it yet, I'd have to say I'm mildly disappointed with Abercrombie's most recent series. I had high hopes after First Law, so its a shame. Still worth a go though, probably.

Also, if you stop reading it at some point, it is worth reading through the Malazan wiki. There's a lot of good idea fodder in there, especially for the Jaghut if you liked them in GOTM.

As for your spoilers... Its mostly explained later. Either read and find out, or search for it on the wiki.