Reading in January 2012

[Kazz Wylde]

a fine rule, and one to which i adhere. which means i won't be reading steven erikson or scott lynch anytime soon...

I thought Malazon was finished on that tenth book. Its been out for quite awhile.

 

[messy]

I thought Malazon was finished on that tenth book. Its been out for quite awhile.

the main series, yes, but there's also esslemont's series and (iirc) two other trilogies that are part of the same world.

 

[Kazz Wylde]

the main series, yes, but there's also esslemont's series and (iirc) two other trilogies that are part of the same world.

Oh yeah I forgot about ICE, two more trilogies?

 

[messy]

Oh yeah I forgot about ICE, two more trilogies?

hmmm... i thought i'd heard mention of two other trilogies, but maybe i'm confusing them with the novellas.

anyway, apologies for unintentional threadjack.

 

[DarthV]

About halfway through NK Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and really enjoying it. For a first full length novel, it's really well done!

 

[Kazz Wylde]

hmmm... i thought i'd heard mention of two other trilogies, but maybe i'm confusing them with the novellas.

anyway, apologies for unintentional threadjack.

Yeah, you must be thinking of the novellas....

Anyway, hey Rob is there a spoiler thread for Among Thieves? I have a couple spoilerish questions I need answered.

 

[Rob B]

Yeah, you must be thinking of the novellas....

Anyway, hey Rob is there a spoiler thread for Among Thieves? I have a couple spoilerish questions I need answered.

This might be the thread you want:
Among Thieves (Tales of the Kin) by Douglas Hulick

In answer to the Malazan confusion, I knacked this from Wert's blog:

Orb, Sceptre, Throne is the fourth book in Ian Cameron Esslemont's Novels of the Malazan Empire sequence and will take place primarily in the iconic city of Darujhistan. It will serve as a sequel to Steven Erikson's Toll the Hounds. The book is currently scheduled for publication on 8 December 2011.

Esslemont will be following the book up with City in the Jungle (set on Jacuruku) and Assail, whilst Steven Erikson's Forge of Darkness, the first book in the Kharkanas Trilogy, is tentatively due in late 2012.

Adam or Pat would know more details, I'm sure.

 

[Danogzilla]

About halfway through NK Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and really enjoying it. For a first full length novel, it's really well done!

I just couldn't finish that book. There was nothing about it that bothered me, but it didn't grab me and reading it felt like a chore. An Amazon reviewer may have gotten it right (in a review for the sequel) saying it read the product of a writing workshop.

 

[Kazz Wylde]

Thanks for the link, Rob, that should do it.

 

[Westy]

Finished Murakami's 1Q84, what a fantastic journey. I loved many aspects about this book; the characters, the fantastical elements that reminded you things are not as they seem, Murakami's simple and flowing writing style.

Many reviews tend to be either very positive or very negative - it seems most of the negative reviews are at least in part due to the length of the book and the speed with which the plot unfolds. I guess the author's style is fairly unique but for me that's what made the book - it allows the reader to become immersed in 1Q84, savour all the subtle changes and become one with the characters. It was also the kind of book that got me hooked from the first page.

Would have put this as my favourite book published last year.

 

[Eventine]

I finished up Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb. Either she's lost her mojo or I have. There were things to like here, but when you're finding yourself more interested in the short messages between pidgeon keepers between chapters than the main plot line it's not a good sign.
Worse thing? I thought these books were a duopoly, but now it looks like they're being stretched out.

 

[Seak]

I guess Control Point it is. Thanks Rob, Mark, and Justin. Too lazy to actually quote.

 

[Erfael]

I finished up Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb. Either she's lost her mojo or I have. There were things to like here, but when you're finding yourself more interested in the short messages between pidgeon keepers between chapters than the main plot line it's not a good sign.
Worse thing? I thought these books were a duopoly, but now it looks like they're being stretched out.

They were written as a "duopoly", but the publisher is indeed stretching them out by doing the old split.

And, no, you haven't lost your mojo. They're definitely not up to the quality of her other works in that world. I enjoyed them enough, but they're no Fitz/Mad Ships books.

 

[Eventine]

They were written as a "duopoly", but the publisher is indeed stretching them out by doing the old split.

Yet another reason for my disenchantment with epic fantasy...sigh

 

[Erfael]

Yet another reason for my disenchantment with epic fantasy...sigh

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be a disease unique to epic fantasy. Seems to be publishing in general.

Actually, there seems to be less of it in epic fantasy where bigger, fatter books are more the norm.

Though I'm not sure I'd stick Hobb into the Epic Fantasy category, at least as most people seem to be using it now...not enough fireballs to the face, eh?

 

[T77]

Finished Murakami's 1Q84, what a fantastic journey. I loved many aspects about this book; the characters, the fantastical elements that reminded you things are not as they seem, Murakami's simple and flowing writing style.

Many reviews tend to be either very positive or very negative - it seems most of the negative reviews are at least in part due to the length of the book and the speed with which the plot unfolds. I guess the author's style is fairly unique but for me that's what made the book - it allows the reader to become immersed in 1Q84, savour all the subtle changes and become one with the characters. It was also the kind of book that got me hooked from the first page.

Would have put this as my favourite book published last year.

I'm about 10% into it and am really enjoying it. About the length, this was three books in Japan that were combined for a huge book in the US.

This is my third Murakami book, I read Hard Boiled Wonderland and Norwegian Wood, both written in the 80s, and I can see the improvement in his prose, which makes him that much better.

 

[Seak]

I guess Control Point it is. Thanks Rob, Mark, and Justin. Too lazy to actually quote.

Okay, good rec. guys. I can't put it down. What a cool concept.

 

[Rob B]

And, no, you haven't lost your mojo. They're definitely not up to the quality of her other works in that world. I enjoyed them enough, but they're no Fitz/Mad Ships books.

Neither is her Soldier Son trilogy...at least the first two books. But that's a horse I've kicked before.

 

[PeterWilliam]

After a brief dip in the sci-fi pool, I'm back here. Now reading The Burning Bridge by Flanagan.

Finished The Burning Bridge and then read and finished The Icebound Land by Flanagan. There's a plenty to like about this series, if not necessarily challenging - which should be perfectly fine. Unfortunately, I think that the fact that it isn't necessarily challenging, and is YA (man, I hate the stupid labels that marketing categories attach to books), will keep the series from being seriously considered (i.e. the widespread perception that YA = crap).

Moving on into The Battle for Skandia of the same series/author.

 

[Bob Gray]

Just finished The Name of the Wind. A wonderful start to this trilogy. I am now going to restart Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell for the third time, why, because it's bugging me and everyone says how great it is.