Reading in January 2012

[beniowa]

I have header some recommendation on it and tried. Read about 1/3 but generally didn't like it. It get some of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser feel to it, but character development was bland, worldbuilding sketchy and plot wasn't quite gripping. Abercrombie it is not.

I had the same problems with it. Plus, the author felt the need to explain everything which made for a boring read.

 

[Winter]

I am reading Dead Harvest by Chris F. Holm, which comes out from Angry Robot at some point over the next few months. A decent enough book, but it reminds me of something that I cannot quite put my finger on. More than halfway through and still haven't figured out how it will end, which doesn't happen often. Here's to hoping that it is a decent surprise instead of a halfhearted twist.

 

[sullivan_riyria]

I was just messin with ya, Mr Sullivan. Not sure who the publisher was though. The deal with that library is they borrowed it from a library out in Amarillo or Waco or something, I forget, but the fines are higher....I havent payed them yet. lol Its no big deal, I just had to mess with you. lol
Keep up the good work, man.

Thanks for the info Kazz, and I promise not to turn you into the library police for the ample reward money.

 

[sullivan_riyria]

I finished Percepliquis by M. Sullivan the last Ryria novel and I liked it but not as much as Emerald storm and Wintertide especially which is still a huge favorite.

Percepliquis is "true traditional fantasy' (ancient evil, heroes that gotta save the world etc) and me and that are moving a bit on separate ways so this book came a year too late in many ways. The other main issue I had is that the novel truly wraps up everything and life is messier than that. I prefer more open ended finales and this one is just the quintessential "everything covered".

Well at least I know that I accomplished part of what I was shooting for because "wrapping up everything" was indeed the entire goal of the book. I agree that life is messy, but this is fiction...and fantasy at that so from day one I had a number of threads and since this was going to be the last book I wanted to make sure that everything was indeed covered. I can understand that you've moved on to other types of books...and I'm sorry that it came a bit to late for you. In a previous time I think you would have enjoyed it more.

 

[sullivan_riyria]

My library has the new editions of your books, Sullivan. I didn't quite get hooked by the first book (which I bought some time ago) but just saw the second at the library and thought I'd give your series another try.

Thanks for giving it a second peak Lurker ... the first is really light and very stand alone - it's actually the second one where bigger story line comes into play. I've heard a lot of people saying that they are glad that the two are put together as the second has more "heft" to it. - I'm anxious to hear what you think - either way.

 

[sullivan_riyria]

I've probably been following the Wurts series for about 15 years now, and sometimes I despair of it ever ending, although I do understand the series is set to end in two books. As usual, it took me a while to get into the rhythm of her prose, but once I did I could focus on the plot, which seemed to be pretty similar to that of the umpteen previous books. Lots of fleeing, lots of evasion thanks to the disgustingly over-talented main character and and yet I still find it oddly captivating. Perhaps it's an active tie to teenage nostalgia, perhaps despite the repetition and the uber-mensch main character there's something to these books. Does anyone else still read (and enjoy) Wurts?

I've talked to Jany on a number of occassions and she has been very gratious about my work. I know a ton of people who love "the rhythm of her prose" but alas for me, I found I really had to struggle when reading it so it felt too much like work for me. I know that it's a pure "personal preference" thing and I'm glad there are so many other people who enjoy her writing.

Side Jobs was a bit of a let down as I mentioned in the Dresden Files thread.

Sorry to hear this. I've only read a few of the Dresden books but enjoyed them and heard good things about the series as a whole. I don't want to go look at the thread, because I hate spoilers...and will continue reading in the series irregardless...but I am sorry you didn't enjoy it.

 

[sullivan_riyria]

I have header some recommendation on it and tried. Read about 1/3 but generally didn't like it. It get some of Fafhrd and Gray Mouser feel to it, but character development was bland, worldbuilding sketchy and plot wasn't quite gripping. Abercrombie it is not.

Well sorry to hear that on one had...but also glad on another...I'll look for a few more opinions before making a final decision one way or another.

In other news...I'm still enjoying Prince of Thorns even though I'm not generally a fan for dark or gritty.

 

[Jop]

I started reading a book recommended on i09.com - The Liminal People by Ayize Jama-Everett. So far, I'm enjoying it, although the author tends to jump around initially. As described by i09, it is what the TV show "Heroes" could have been if it hadn't thrown all of those plot holes and darn confusion into the mix (I liked that show when it was good ) - people with super human abilities living in the shadows of society, looking upon "norms" from a position of benevolence or malevolence. It is about a man with the ability to manipulate the body at a molecular level (his and others) who sets out to help an old friend find her missing daughter. He has a boss who has a hidden agenda, and the man is not sure if he is out to get him or not.

Thus far, i am really enjoying it. Although, I am not sure if it would be fantasy or science fiction - It runs in the same vein as Wild Cards, I guess....

 

[Seak]

I'm finally back into the swing of things. Finished a couple lately:

The Great Bazaar - Peter Brett (Awesome, better than Brayan's Gold)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (Good, but not as good as I expected, and hated the ending)

The World House - Guy Adams (Good, although some of the characters were a bit too much of a caricature of their generation and/or they didn't take their dangerous situation seriously enough which dampened the tension, still looking forward to Restoration though)

Perfect Shadow - Brent Weeks (Good, tries to be like The Name of the Wind, but that makes it kind of confusing. Still a great assassin story and great for Night Angel fans since we learn more about Durzo Blint and the world origins)

...and finally a horror novel I picked up that was amazing:

Draculas by Blake Crouch, Jack Kilborn, F. Paul Wilson, and Jeff Strand - Even though it was by four authors, it was seamless. The authors describe that their goal with this was to get back to scary vampires where you won't find any heartthrobs. It's great. Do read. It had me up late, not only reading, but terrified.

 

[molybdenum]

Finished The Dragon's Path a while back. Really an intriguing story and the characters are simply all fantastic and intriguing.

There was a moment that was really shocking in the middle there, and being able to shock in the first book of a series is an achievement. As it turns out, half a book is not enough to truly know a character and what he'll do.

On the to-read pile:
Return of the Crimson Guard (re-read) leading into Stonewielder (1st time read)
Blade of Tyshalle
Prince of Thorns
Long Price Quartet (I read the first one, liked it a lot, and then promptly never bothered to continue the series. With how good The Dragon's Path was, methinks it is time to revisit Abraham's previous work.)

 

[Danogzilla]

Currently reading Lies of Locke Lamora and enjoying it.

Have about 40 books in my TBR pile.

 

[Seak]

Blade of Tyshalle

First thing I bought on my Kindle. It's the only reasonable price.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post what I'm reading now, The Thirteen Hallows by Michael Scott and Collette Something-or-other. It's not bad so far, but not great either. I'm only remotely interested in it.

Also reading At the Gates by Tim Marquitz, third in the Demon Squad series. It's the usual greatness.

Oh, and there's the audiobook I'm listening to, Wizard's First Rule. Anyone heard of it? I thought I finally need to get with the program instead of being the only one who can't make fun of him.

 

[PeterWilliam]

Oh, and there's the audiobook I'm listening to, Wizard's First Rule. Anyone heard of it? I thought I finally need to get with the program instead of being the only one who can't make fun of him.

Arrgghhhh, you're going to beat me to it. Wait a minute........

I have read that book. How was it that I forgot reading it?

 

[molybdenum]

First thing I bought on my Kindle. It's the only reasonable price.

Haha, third thing I bought on my Kobo. Yeah, E-book, used, or library is basically the only real place to get this book. Which is a shame because it means that Stover's going to have a heck of a hard time with selling new readers onto the series with that new book coming out this year when they can't even get their hands on the second book.

 

[Seak]

Arrgghhhh, you're going to beat me to it. Wait a minute........

I have read that book. How was it that I forgot reading it?

What with the BDSM I keep hearing about, I don't know how you forgot either.

 

[Seak]

Haha, third thing I bought on my Kobo. Yeah, E-book, used, or library is basically the only real place to get this book. Which is a shame because it means that Stover's going to have a heck of a hard time with selling new readers onto the series with that new book coming out this year when they can't even get their hands on the second book.

It really is a shame. Luckily ebooks are getting bigger and bigger. I debated just buying a .pdf version or something to read on my computer for a while.

 

[JustaStaffer]

Just Finished:

Warded Man by PV Brett
Hitchers by Will McIntosh
Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper

Started:

The Troupe by Robert Jackson Bennett which is pretty awesome and all kinds of weird so far.

 

[Chrysippus]

Currently reading An Evil Guest by Gene Wolfe. I've been having a hard time getting into it, although I was pretty tired when I started reading last night. Hopefully it picks up.

Putting this one down. More than a hundred pages in, and the book is borderline incoherent. I don't care about the characters, and I care less about the plot (such as it is).

I'll probably pick it up again over the summer. It was just such a let-down after the awesomeness that was Leviathan Wakes (and, truth be told, the awesomeness that was the last Wolfe book I read, The Sorcerer's House).

 

[pat5150]

Just finished Saladin Ahmed's Throne of the Crescent Moon. It's good and entertaining sword and sorcery fare.

Cheers from Belize!

Patrick

 

[Rob B]

I finished the second Riyria Omnibus, Rise of Empire last night. Very fun stuff, but damn that cliffhanger!