What Are You Reading?

Carter P Fly · 01-01-2013 7:12pm

Just finished Feists 'magician' and have started silverthorn. I honestly and truly cannot see why 'magician' keeps popping up in peoples favorite fantasy books. It was kinda Meh with no believable magic system whatsoever. The whole magic armour of long dead gods thing was just silly and nonsensical. It was like reading a bad movie where you just have to turn the brain off and go along for the ride. In truth He could have called the book any job that would have meant that he would be able to interact on a certain social level and very little of the book would have changed.

OwaynOTT · 01-01-2013 8:18pm

Never even finished it. Terrible book.

ixoy · 01-01-2013 10:44pm

Carter P Fly wrote: »

Just finished Feists 'magician' and have started silverthorn. I honestly and truly cannot see why 'magician' keeps popping up in peoples favorite fantasy books.

Nostalgia probably. I really enjoyed it.. but I also read it when I was about 12. If I read it nowadays, against what's out there, I'd probably think very differently. I've kept up with Feist's works since the and objectively they're not all that good but there's something about them that keeps me coming back (especially with it all ending this year!).

mumo3 · 01-01-2013 10:49pm

Just finished "The Book Thief" very good found it a bit unsettling at times its based in Nazi Germany but a good read very warm hearted I recommend it.

gufnork · 02-01-2013 12:00am

Finally finished 'The Hero of Ages' by Brandon Sanderson. Very good ending to the trilogy which I've heard others say was a little rushed at the end, but if so I can't say I felt the same. I found the pace increased quite nicely and the story built to a wonderful little creshendo at the end. I really enjoyed this trilogy, if that's what it is of course, since it kind of continues at a later time with 'Alloy of Law' which I'd actually already read in between the 2nd and 3rd books.

Excellent stuff, and am now starting 'The Way of Kings', which I've had sitting next to my bed for a good while.

gufnork · 02-01-2013 12:07am

Oh, and I've just remembered, I've also read 'The Coming of Conan the Cimerian' which I can't remember if I've mentioned before. It wouldn't be going too far to say that I was a little shocked. I went into it expecting it to be outdated and cliche, but in fact I found it to be the exact opposite and feel that a lot of fantasy authors could learn from it. I dunno, maybe I'm just gushing because it surprised me so much, but I can't help thinking that there's something in that old-style fantasy that just hits the right spot, and kind of leaves me wishing more modern day authors could do the same.

Anyway, whatever... it was great. Will be moving onto 'The Bloody Crown of Conan' at the earliest opportunity.

Raif Severance · 02-01-2013 12:13am

Carter P Fly wrote: »

Just finished Feists 'magician' and have started silverthorn. I honestly and truly cannot see why 'magician' keeps popping up in peoples favorite fantasy books. It was kinda Meh with no believable magic system whatsoever. The whole magic armour of long dead gods thing was just silly and nonsensical. It was like reading a bad movie where you just have to turn the brain off and go along for the ride. In truth He could have called the book any job that would have meant that he would be able to interact on a certain social level and very little of the book would have changed.

The Empire Trilogy is where it's at. Just think of the Riftwar Saga as Background Material.

I do agree with Ixoy. Feist, like Eddings, is alot better when you read them during your childhood. Nostalgia does indeed play a major part.

Though I will say, unlike Eddings, Feist actually did improve during his later books. I really like his Serpentwar Saga, but it's also depressing.

Alot of my favorite character in his earlier books got killed there.

shaneor · 02-01-2013 11:41am

Got through a few bits over Christmas (its great to have some more time for reading!).

Finished Old Mans War and loved it so I went straight into the sequel The Ghost Brigades. Both great fun and fast paced.

I also read Wool Omnibus after some recommendations from friends and I'd definitely recommend it. Well written and a very interesting world.

Currrently 90% through The Way of Kings. Its been on my list for awhile but I was putting it off because 1) its huge! 2) its the first of 10 planned and the only one written. But I'm flying through it and very much enjoying it. Again an interesting world, well written and engaging characters. Lets hope he doesn't take too long to get the next one out!

shaneor · 02-01-2013 11:43am

Carter P Fly wrote: »

Just finished Feists 'magician' and have started silverthorn. I honestly and truly cannot see why 'magician' keeps popping up in peoples favorite fantasy books. It was kinda Meh with no believable magic system whatsoever. The whole magic armour of long dead gods thing was just silly and nonsensical. It was like reading a bad movie where you just have to turn the brain off and go along for the ride. In truth He could have called the book any job that would have meant that he would be able to interact on a certain social level and very little of the book would have changed.

Just to echo what a few other people have said. There's some definite nostalgia involved. It was probably the book that really got me into the fantasy genre so it'll always be a favorite of mine. I've stuck with the series through its ups and downs (and there's definitely been a good few downs!) so hopefully it'll end on a high with the last book.

Wabbit Ears · 02-01-2013 3:03pm

So, Is it worth sticking out silverthorn and the next one?

I have the new day by day armageddon and the twelve sitting on my kindle waiting their turn

Raif Severance · 02-01-2013 3:38pm

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

So, Is it worth sticking out silverthorn and the next one?

I have the new day by day armageddon and the twelve sitting on my kindle waiting their turn

Silverthorn is definitely much better than Magician. Most of the FANTASTIC that you didn't like in the First Book takes a Backseat there.

shaneor · 02-01-2013 4:15pm

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

So, Is it worth sticking out silverthorn and the next one?

I have the new day by day armageddon and the twelve sitting on my kindle waiting their turn

Definitely. Silverthorn is a much tighter story with less focus on the "big" magic and more on characters. The third book in the trilogy A Darkness at Sethanon is worth a read too.

AnCapaillMor · 02-01-2013 4:39pm

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

So, Is it worth sticking out silverthorn and the next one?

I have the new day by day armageddon and the twelve sitting on my kindle waiting their turn

The serpent wars is what you want. Still not as good as other fantasy out there but easily feists best series.

Dades · 03-01-2013 6:07pm

Finished The Hydrogen Sonata over Christmas (good, but not great). Re-reading Childhood's End at the moment.

Raif Severance wrote: »

Silverthorn is definitely much better than Magician.

Even the second half of Magician is better than the first. It's like the writer is learning to write during the book.

fenris · 04-01-2013 12:01am

I have had a rough couple of months so time to enlist the services an old familiar friend to see me through the long dark bits of the night when both concentration and sleep have gone AWOL

- Wheel of Time here we go again

constantg · 04-01-2013 9:58am

Cannot wait for a Memory of Light in the Wheel of Time series! Wonder if Rand will win?

ixoy · 04-01-2013 12:39pm

constantg wrote: »

Cannot wait for a Memory of Light in the Wheel of Time series! Wonder if Rand will win?

Thing is we know Rand wins and that the world doesn't end. There's no mystery there. What we don't know is the cost of it.

gufnork · 04-01-2013 1:31pm

fenris wrote: »

I have had a rough couple of months so time to enlist the services an old familiar friend to see me through the long dark bits of the night when both concentration and sleep have gone AWOL

- Wheel of Time here we go again

Definitely going to have to have to read this series. After 'The Way of Kings' I'm all over it!

Gulliver · 04-01-2013 1:53pm

Just finished the Rho Agenda (three books - The Second Ship, Immune and Wormhole) by Richard Phillips. It's a good series, with memorable characters and tech. It even leans toward "hard" Sci-Fi as he is a Physics major. It doesn't go as hard-fi as the Rifter trilogy, but it is enough to lend a bit of credibility to the scenarios.

gufnork · 06-01-2013 10:07pm

Am about 20% into 'The Way of Kings' now and I must say I'm a little underwhelmed. The first two parts, the prelude and the prologue were very good and I Was really getting into it, then we had a whole long boring part whereby all we witnessed was

a load of men running with a bridge.

What's that about? I Hope it improves from here.

shaneor · 07-01-2013 1:08am

gufnork wrote: »

Am about 20% into 'The Way of Kings' now and I must say I'm a little underwhelmed. The first two parts, the prelude and the prologue were very good and I Was really getting into it, then we had a whole long boring part whereby all we witnessed was
a load of men running with a bridge.
What's that about? I Hope it improves from here.

I really enjoyed it but it very much feels like a setup novel where he's mostly trying to introduce characters and the world for the future novels (there's 10 planned!!).

So there are a good few scenes which don't seem to go anywhere. It could probably have been 300 pages shorter and still covered everything it needed to but the world and some of the characters were interesting enough to keep me happy.

buyer95 · 07-01-2013 6:15pm

The Pillars of the Earth, took a while to get into it but I'm really enjoying it now!

5live · 07-01-2013 8:51pm

fenris wrote: »

I have had a rough couple of months so time to enlist the services an old familiar friend to see me through the long dark bits of the night when both concentration and sleep have gone AWOL

- Wheel of Time here we go again

Dear Santa,
Thank you for my Kindle:D

33% of the way through The Fires of Heaven. Forgotten loads but then its nearly 20 years since i started the series:pac:

Wetai · 08-01-2013 2:47pm

Book 2 of Mistborn.

bradyle · 08-01-2013 3:00pm

I recently decided to start reading Neil Gaiman's books. He's one of those authors I've always meant to read but the size of his back catalogue always scares me off... I'd read Coraline and Stardust previously and kinda decided to stick with some of his books aimed at kids and am currently reading The Graveyard Book...I would like to upgrade to a bit more of his adult stuff but am unsure where to begin, like you cant help but hear amazing things about American Gods or the Anasi Boys, but I dont want to jump straight in at his best and then be disappointed by his other work. Should i go chronologically? Maybe I should ask are there any books I really shouldnt read. Any advice or thoughts would be great!!

Sideshow Mark · 08-01-2013 6:56pm

bradyle wrote: »

I recently decided to start reading Neil Gaiman's books. He's one of those authors I've always meant to read but the size of his back catalogue always scares me off... I'd read Coraline and Stardust previously and kinda decided to stick with some of his books aimed at kids and am currently reading The Graveyard Book...I would like to upgrade to a bit more of his adult stuff but am unsure where to begin, like you cant help but hear amazing things about American Gods or the Anasi Boys, but I dont want to jump straight in at his best and then be disappointed by his other work. Should i go chronologically? Maybe I should ask are there any books I really shouldnt read. Any advice or thoughts would be great!!

Of his books I've always liked Neverwhere, which is as good an entry point as any.

For my money The Sandman is still his best work.

Bassboxxx · 08-01-2013 7:02pm

Reading Reapers Gale.(Malazan series)

I'm loving it even though I'm walking a fine line between understanding it and being lost!!!!:D

TwoShedsJackson · 09-01-2013 8:55am

The size of someon'e back catalogue can be a great thing, keep you in books for ages. I'm almost finished 'Consider Phlebas' by Iain M Banks which I am really enjoying, and he has a dozen other scifi books and some of his regular fiction looks good too - excellent

Never read a book of his until now.

bradyle · 09-01-2013 9:45am

I'll start Neverwhere so!! Finished The Graveyard Book yesterday...might have stayed on the bus past my stop just so that I could read the ending!!

I only found out over Christmas that Ian M Banks did sci fi kind of stuff...i associated him with books my mam reads cuz of his normal fiction...might give him a shot!

Sideshow Mark · 09-01-2013 8:21pm

Sideshow Mark wrote: »

Just started a second attempt at The Dark Tower, and am about halfway through The Gunslinger. Made it as far as the third book a few years ago, will keep going this time. Had forgotten how much I had enjoyed The Gunslinger, a great little book.

It's a great little book, but the writing is odd, not like Stephen King at all. Leaped straight into the next one, The Drawing Of The Three, which is very King like.

Playboy · 10-01-2013 11:15am

Reading Raven's Shadow - Book One: Blood Song by Anthony Ryan at the moment and really enjoying it. Very well written but more black and white rather than shades of grey in terms its approach to good and evil.

Recieved Red Knight by Miles Cameron as agift and looking forward to reading it.

Just purchased The Neutronium Alchemsist and Quantum Thief. Havent read good sci-fi in ages and these were both recommended. Anyone got any thoughts?

Bits_n_Bobs · 10-01-2013 11:56am

Playboy wrote: »

Just purchased The Neutronium Alchemsist and Quantum Thief. Havent read good sci-fi in ages and these were both recommended. Anyone got any thoughts?

Seruiously enjoyed Quantum Thief, absolute pleasure of a read.

Currently reading Peter Hamiltons The Great North Road. Got off to a flying start but from around 30-55% flagged. Currently around 60% and it seems to be (finally!) picking up the pace a bit. Can't help but think a decent editor would of made this a much better book, hoping it will end in a crescendo of goodness however so sticking with it.

Dades · 10-01-2013 12:39pm

Finished Childhood's End (again). Smashing stuff.

Have started on Roadside Picnic (Arkady and Boris Strugatsky). Worth the read?

gufnork · 10-01-2013 6:00pm

Really hated 'The Way of Kings'. Got to page 214 and simply couldn't force myself on any longer. A set-up novel it may be but that's no excuse for this level of tedium. Have moved onto 'Light' by 'M. John Harrison' now. I really liked Mistborn too, and Alloy of Law. Very disappointed.

Dan_Solo · 11-01-2013 12:23am

gufnork wrote: »

Finally finished 'The Hero of Ages' by Brandon Sanderson.

I thought that trilogy was some of the cleverest stuff I'd read in ages, even if there was a hint of YA about the whole thing. There's a movie in there bursting to get out you'd have to think.

Dan_Solo · 11-01-2013 12:30am

Working my way through the ISFDB Top 100 books from the bottom. Well the 2012 list as it keeps changing! On #97, Neuromancer, which has quite fantastically evaded me for all these years.

lucast2007us · 11-01-2013 12:32am

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

At the moment I am reading this forum!!!

Dan_Solo · 11-01-2013 12:36am

On the whole Feist thing, I read A Darkness At Sethanon first when I was a kid and didn't really know what trilogies were... wish I'd left it there. The first two are awful, as is everything else of his I have read. (and now given up on I might add)

AnCapaillMor · 11-01-2013 1:34am

gufnork wrote: »

Really hated 'The Way of Kings'. Got to page 214 and simply couldn't force myself on any longer. A set-up novel it may be but that's no excuse for this level of tedium. Have moved onto 'Light' by 'M. John Harrison' now. I really liked Mistborn too, and Alloy of Law. Very disappointed.

Very slow to start but it really kicks off later. Trust me stick with it.

mcgovern · 11-01-2013 5:36pm

Finished Evil for Evil, I know some people didn't think it was as good as the first one, but I really enjoyed it.
Started The Gathering Storm by Jordan/Sanderson. My thinking is that by the time I've finished this and Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light ebook will be out, and I want to finish a few series before getting stuck into any more.

OwaynOTT · 11-01-2013 5:41pm

mcgovern wrote: »

Finished Evil for Evil, I know some people didn't think it was as good as the first one, but I really enjoyed it.
Started The Gathering Storm by Jordan/Sanderson. My thinking is that by the time I've finished this and Towers of Midnight, A Memory of Light ebook will be out, and I want to finish a few series before getting stuck into any more.

Gathering Storm the pinnacle of Sanderson's WoT books. After reading all 3 I actually think Jordan could of got it done in one massive book.

gufnork · 11-01-2013 10:31pm

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I thought that trilogy was some of the cleverest stuff I'd read in ages, even if there was a hint of YA about the whole thing. There's a movie in there bursting to get out you'd have to think.

Yeah, was very good indeed. I Think that's one of the reasons I expected more of 'The Way of Kings'. I may very well go back and try again at some point, but I simply can't face it at the moment. A movie wouldn't surprise me in the least either, they've got the RPG so yeah, why not? I'd be right there, right at the front of the queue that's for sure. Now, who to play Vin?

AnCapaillMor wrote: »

Very slow to start but it really kicks off later. Trust me stick with it.

No, can't, don't make me please... later, later, I promise(but I don't really). Maybe I could skip the first one? Will I miss much? Still can't face it again just yet anyway though.

ixoy · 12-01-2013 3:24pm

Reading "A Memory of Light" by Robert Jordan / Brandon Sanderson. Finally I approach the end!

In interludes from that, I'm also reading "Wool 3" by Hugh Howey. At least I can read this one on the Kindle.

Necronomicon · 12-01-2013 7:15pm

Reading William Gibson's "Neuromancer" at the moment. I must confess, it hasn't been the easiest read. I've been finding myself stopping intermittently realising that I'm not entirely sure what's going on.

Playboy · 12-01-2013 10:44pm

gufnork wrote: »

Really hated 'The Way of Kings'. Got to page 214 and simply couldn't force myself on any longer. A set-up novel it may be but that's no excuse for this level of tedium. Have moved onto 'Light' by 'M. John Harrison' now. I really liked Mistborn too, and Alloy of Law. Very disappointed.

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I thought that trilogy was some of the cleverest stuff I'd read in ages, even if there was a hint of YA about the whole thing. There's a movie in there bursting to get out you'd have to think.

gufnork wrote: »

Yeah, was very good indeed. I Think that's one of the reasons I expected more of 'The Way of Kings'. I may very well go back and try again at some point, but I simply can't face it at the moment. A movie wouldn't surprise me in the least either, they've got the RPG so yeah, why not? I'd be right there, right at the front of the queue that's for sure. Now, who to play Vin?

No, can't, don't make me please... later, later, I promise(but I don't really). Maybe I could skip the first one? Will I miss much? Still can't face it again just yet anyway though.

Really bemused by these posts... Mistborn was poor. It has some good ideas and you could see there was a talented writer in there finding his feet. Its characters were terrible bar Sazed and a couple of others. Vin and Elend have to be two of the worst main characters in a series of fantasy novels ever! Sanderson really cant write women well but for some reason he seems to like writing from that perspective even though its a weakness of his.

I agree that there is a movie in there though but only because the stories lacked any real depth so would be easy to translate to screen.

The Way of Kings on the other hand was one of the better fantasy novels of the last 5 years. Wonderfully imaginative, far better pace and lots more depth. Characters were also on another level to Mistborn but again there were couple of poor female characters in there too. Sanderson really came into his own with this novel and it looks like he took far more time editing it (even though it could have done with a little more). WoK left me wanting more whereas I couldnt wait to finish Mistborn by the end. My missus is on the final Mistborn at the moment and she is struggling to get to the end.

All about opinions though.. different strokes for different folks and all.

Carter P Fly · 13-01-2013 8:59am

While i agree about elend being a poor character the mistborn series had one of the best and unique magic systems of any series i've read. I found the only thing that disappointed me was that it ended.

Back on topic, Really struggling to make progress with silverthorn.. ill persist though.

Dan_Solo · 13-01-2013 8:38pm

Playboy wrote: »

Really bemused by these posts...

I didn't say it was brilliant, I said it was clever. Vin was annoying, yes, and all that ballroom garbage annoyed me immensely.
Far far far from sucked though.

How flat and shallow is The Hobbit and that's worth 9 hours of film apparently!

DarkDusk · 13-01-2013 8:54pm

I'm currently reading The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. The Name of the Wind is the first book in the incomplete trilogy, The Kingkiller Chronicles. I'm really enjoying the book, I love the way the author writes - so fluid. The story is also so believable I actually feel I'm in the world 100% of the time. I'm finding it seriously hard to put it down at the moment! I really hope this author writes more after he as finished this trilogy! The Name of the Wind is well worth the read if you haven't done so yet.

Zapp Brannigan · 14-01-2013 3:35am

DarkDusk wrote: »

I'm currently reading The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. The Name of the Wind is the first book in the incomplete trilogy, The Kingkiller Chronicles. I'm really enjoying the book, I love the way the author writes - so fluid. The story is also so believable I actually feel I'm in the world 100% of the time. I'm finding it seriously hard to put it down at the moment! I really hope this author writes more after he as finished this trilogy! The Name of the Wind is well worth the read if you haven't done so yet.

That will change towards the end of the book...

Still love them though.

Bits_n_Bobs · 14-01-2013 11:54am

Playboy wrote: »

Really bemused by these posts... Mistborn was poor. It has some good ideas and you could see there was a talented writer in there finding his feet. Its characters were terrible bar Sazed and a couple of others. Vin and Elend have to be two of the worst main characters in a series of fantasy novels ever! Sanderson really cant write women well but for some reason he seems to like writing from that perspective even though its a weakness of his.

I agree that there is a movie in there though but only because the stories lacked any real depth so would be easy to translate to screen.

The Way of Kings on the other hand was one of the better fantasy novels of the last 5 years. Wonderfully imaginative, far better pace and lots more depth. Characters were also on another level to Mistborn but again there were couple of poor female characters in there too. Sanderson really came into his own with this novel and it looks like he took far more time editing it (even though it could have done with a little more). WoK left me wanting more whereas I couldnt wait to finish Mistborn by the end. My missus is on the final Mistborn at the moment and she is struggling to get to the end.

All about opinions though.. different strokes for different folks and all.

Have to agree with you re. Mistborn. The universe was interesting enough and I did enjoy the first one but totally lost interest around 20% into the second one and never bothered finishing it. WoK far superior.

What Are You Reading?

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