Reading in February 2011

[Hobbit]

This is where you talk to us about your monthly Fantasy and Horror Reads: whether good or bad, we want to discuss with you what you thought.

Our Fantasy Book of the Month is Wild Cards Book 1 edited by George RR Martin. Discuss here.

Our SF Book of the Month is another classic: Robert A Heinlein's Stranger in A Strange Land. Discuss here.

Mark

 

[newfiesailor]

New on this board; just want to say hello to you guys and girls.

I been doing most of my book posting on the Paizo messageboards for a while (ex. Dungeon Magazine buyer) but things have kind of slowed down there, wanted to check this board out. Read some of the topics, everything seems cool and some good suggestions.

Recently read the new Pathfinder books by Paizo. Elaine Cunningham's Winter Witch was better than Dave Gross's The Prince of Wolves. I would hardly recommend either.

Recently finished Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. Never enjoyed it half as much as The First Law Trilogy. Seems to me, all the characters were the same and no real plot development. Bit disappointed. That still didn't stop me from purchasing The Heroes.

I see that we have a few historical fiction readers as well. Anyone looking for anything in the mold of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series or Conn Iggulden, I highly recommend Tim Severin's Viking: Odinn's Child. Some great bits on Norse mythology and magic. But be warned: the series rapidly goes downhill after the first book.

Currently reading Peter V Brett's The Desert Spear. I enjoyed The Warded Man and this one seems to be off to a good start, although appears to be much longer than the first in the series. Hope it maintains it's pace.

I read an excerpt from Daniel Abraham's new book, The Dragon's Path over on A Dribble of Ink. Get ready guys, I think we have a new Martin, Rothfuss, Abercrombie or Lynch on the way. Here's the link:

http://aidanmoher.com/blog/2011/01/asides/excerpt-the-dragons-path-by-daniel-abraham/#more-5452

Look forward to hearing from you all.

 

[Hobbit]

Apologies Newfie: you caught me whilst setting up for tomorrow.

Thread closed until Feb 1, UK time: but at least that gives us chance to think about what you've said!

[LATER EDIT: Now open: apologies again, Newfie!]

Mark

 

[spaziocain]

I just finished another short story by N.K. Jemisin called "On the Banks of the River Lex" from Issue 50 of Clarkesworld Magazine (November 2010). I was struck by the similarities between this and the previous story I had read by her, "Non-Zero Probabilities". Both stories are very well written and feature a protagonist who is trying to adapt to changes taking place around them over which they have no control. In both stories the setting is New York City and I definitely think that Jemisin, who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, is tapping into a post-9/11 zeitgeist. This story was more mythic and fantastical than "Non-Zero Probabilities" and brought to mind the work of Neil Gaiman without coming off as derivative.

I've read an excerpt from The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms on her website. I'm still uncertain about whether to give The Inheritance Trilogy a try. I have a rule about secondary world fantasy trilogies or series – I don't read them. But Jemisin seems to be doing something different with her trilogy and her obvious skills as a writer and the reviews I have read are convincing me I need to break that rule in her case.

 

[metalprof]

Just finished: Last Argument of Kings, by Joe Abercrombie.

Now Reading: the last third of Reaper's Gale, by Steven Erikson.

Next up: I'm not sure! Maybe The Well of Ascension (Sanderson) or Under the Dome (Stephen King).

Ken

 

[Oubliette]

Welcome Newfiesailor!

I'm on a Gene Wolfe spree after reading his awesome Book of the New Sun and Urth of the New Sun last month. I just finished his new epistolary novel, The Sorcerer's House , and loved it almost as much as the New Sun books. It was a very quick read and loads of fun. I began Free Live Free last night, and so far it seems it very good, too.
I have Peace and There Are Doors waiting in my library pile. I may not get to both before I have to return them, though - any advice on which one I should pick first?

I'm also reading The Goblin Market and Other Poems by Christina Rosetti. Later this month I have to read Cormac McCarthy's The Road for an optional course in natural disasters and "anti-landscapes". Looking forward to that.

 

[DarthV]

About half way through Toll of the Hounds and should be finished Dust of Dreams by the time The Crippled God is released.

Wait, online stores are now showing feb 21 as the release date? Gah!

 

[Roland 85]

Welcome Newfiesailor!

I'm on a Gene Wolfe spree after reading his awesome Book of the New Sun and Urth of the New Sun last month. I just finished his new epistolary novel, The Sorcerer's House , and loved it almost as much as the New Sun books. It was a very quick read and loads of fun. I began Free Live Free last night, and so far it seems it very good, too.
I have Peace and There Are Doors waiting in my library pile. I may not get to both before I have to return them, though - any advice on which one I should pick first?

I'm also reading The Goblin Market and Other Poems by Christina Rosetti. Later this month I have to read Cormac McCarthy's The Road for an optional course in natural disasters and "anti-landscapes". Looking forward to that.

I am currently at the last 80 pages or so of Home Fires, Wolfe's newest. Pretty good read so far, I'm still waiting to see how all the inconsistencies add up.

 

[Dirvani]

Finished up The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch a few days ago for my first read of 2011. Should have been done with it back in December though. With that said, it was about my favorite read since Abercrombie back in January of last year. I was somewhat surprised how well the book stands on its own considering it is going to be part of a seven book series, but it was a pleasant surprise.

I'm reading Red Seas Under Red Skies now and will follow that up with Best Served Cold. February should be a good month of reading.

 

[Hobbit]

About half way through Toll of the Hounds and should be finished Dust of Dreams by the time The Crippled God is released.

Wait, online stores are now showing feb 21 as the release date? Gah!

Yeah: SFFWorld review of Crippled God any day now, but we've been asked to hold back a little.

I'm on a Gene Wolfe spree after reading his awesome Book of the New Sun and Urth of the New Sun last month.

Been feeling the need to reread these in the last couple of weeks. Haven't managed it yet.

Mark

 

[Daddy Darth]

Nearing the end of Towers of Midnight - just read a couple of great action sequences involving Perrin and Egwene. It is really starting to get down to the Last Battle. Cant wait.

 

[bearcatmark]

I am finally reading The Blade Itself. I'm about halfway through and have really enjoyed it so far though the plot has not quite emerged yet (you can sense it is on the cusp). I have really enjoyed all the points of view though. Very good stuff so far.

 

[Evil Agent]

I am finally reading The Blade Itself. I'm about halfway through and have really enjoyed it so far though the plot has not quite emerged yet (you can sense it is on the cusp). I have really enjoyed all the points of view though. Very good stuff so far.

I'm halfway through the second book, and it's much better in my opinion. The first book was okay but, as you've already suggested, the plot is a little... thin? There is great character development, but overall it seems mostly like a set up for the next one.

 

[MattNY]

I disagree on the first one just being 'okay', it is one of most enjoyable reads in fantasy today. However, I am glad you are enjoying the second one more.

I am down to about the last hundred pages of Last Argument of Kings, which is shaping up to finish off the trilogy nicely.

 

[Evil Agent]

I disagree on the first one just being 'okay', it is one of most enjoyable reads in fantasy today. However, I am glad you are enjoying the second one more.

You're right, it was better than okay... but I found myself struggling through the first half, because nothing much happened. Eventually I had become interested enough in the characters that I eagerly picked up the second book. But while I liked the first book, it just didn't blow me away.

 

[Loerwyn]

I read the prologue of Sanderson's Mistborn last night.

So far, so good.

 

[TheEvilKing]

Half way through Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes. Enjoying it tremendously thus far. It's classic Joe.

 

[Rob B]

I am slowly trudging my way through The Black Prism by Brent Weeks. It just isn't hooking me the same way The Night Angel Trilogy did. It feels like a chore to read and after almost two weeks, I'm not even at the halfway point. I may have to set this one aside, which saddens me.

 

[Haliax]

I am slowly trudging my way through The Black Prism by Brent Weeks. It just isn't hooking me the same way The Night Angel Trilogy did. It feels like a chore to read and after almost two weeks, I'm not even at the halfway point. I may have to set this one aside, which saddens me.

I had that at the beginning of the book too, but ended up really enjoying it. I'm pretty sure that it had caught me well before the mid point though. I'm a little surprised to hear that you aren't enjoying it.

Currently re-reading The Name of the Wind. All of the discussion around it lately made me want to go back to it, and Wise Man's Fear is out soon anyways. What a wonderful book. It really makes me look forward to March and WMF, especially since early reviews indicate that if you enjoyed the first one, this one is much of the same. I still don't really see people's complaints about Kvothe as a main character though. He doesn't seem especially whiny to me, when you consider the age he is.

After, I'm going to be diving into The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie. Excited for that one, too.

 

[Rob B]

That's the frustrating thing Darksbane, I don't find The Black Prism to be bad at all. Just one of those bad timing things. At this point, I'll be cutting my losses and jump into an SF novel later today. After that, I'll be re-reading The Name of the Wind just like you, in preparation for Wise Man's Fear.