What Are You Reading?

Dades · 19-02-2019 3:09pm

nhur wrote: »

OK.. The Culture novels... I'm reading them in order and am about a third rhe way through Excession... I don't get the appeal... Player of Games was entertaining if a bit one dimensional... Am I missing something? Do I need to stick with them to see what everyone else appears to see in them?

A friend who's mad for the Culture read the Alistair Reynolds books at my behest and thought them inferior to the Culture! Am _I_ the crazy one here?

Of all the Banks' Culture (or Culture universe) novels, Excession was the only one I couldn't finish. I hated it.

Did you not read Use of Weapons, or Against a Dark Background (not officially Culture)? They come before Excession and, for me, are the two best of the lot. No "shipspeak" just cracking sci fi adventure. Unlike Player of Games, too, there is a serious about of action.

Don't give up on Banks (just on Excession)! :P

Thargor · 19-02-2019 8:39pm

I think if there was one sci-fi series I could have wiped from memory just so I could read it all again it would be The Culture tbh, they're on another level.

nhur · 20-02-2019 8:08am

Dades wrote: »

Of all the Banks' Culture (or Culture universe) novels, Excession was the only one I couldn't finish. I hated it.

Did you not read Use of Weapons, or Against a Dark Background (not officially Culture)? They come before Excession and, for me, are the two best of the lot. No "shipspeak" just cracking sci fi adventure. Unlike Player of Games, too, there is a serious about of action.

Don't give up on Banks (just on Excession)! :P

UoW was a fun read.. Havent read the other... And good news re excession cos I'm struggling with it!

Thargor wrote: »

I think if there was one sci-fi series I could have wiped from memory just so I could read it all again it would be The Culture tbh, they're on another level.

This is what most people say about thr culture... And what I'm trying to see but can't and feel like I'm missing something

Nody · 24-02-2019 9:09pm

Nody wrote: »

Finished book 2 (more of the same; if you like book 1 you'll like book 2 basically) and started on Heresy by Anselm Audley, book 1 in the Aquasilva trilogy.

Finished Aquasilva book 1 but instead of continuing the series (which book 1 I found rather boring esp. the main character) I instead returned to "Theirs not to reason why" series to finish of the last 3 books. Honestly I hardly could put them down; not the most in depth series out there but highly enjoyable and a wonderful universe with some interesting time travel aspects etc. involved as well.

Now going back to Anthony Ryan and finishing the Draconis Memoria trilogy with The Empire of Ashes.

shrapnel222 · 07-03-2019 6:38pm

just finished "the monster Baru Cormorant" book 2 of the masquerade.

I'm so impressed with this series. book 1 was amazing, and in book 2 they've carried on this amazing world building with fantastic political systems, great vocabulary and interconnecting relationships, and just set up for a phenomenal finish to the trilogy. really hope book 3 delivers, and in a way i have no doubt it will. best books for me of 2018 with the Jemesin broken earth trilogy.

nhur · 08-03-2019 10:10pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

just finished "the monster Baru Cormorant" book 2 of the masquerade.

I'm so impressed with this series.

Ringing endorsement. I'll add them to my list.
Is the Broken Earth Trilogy better than the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms? The first book of BE didn't spark anything for me.

I've gotten sick of Excession and have pressed pause on the Culture and reading Whirlwind by Clavell

shrapnel222 · 08-03-2019 10:40pm

nhur wrote: »

Ringing endorsement. I'll add them to my list.
Is the Broken Earth Trilogy better than the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms? The first book of BE didn't spark anything for me.

I've gotten sick of Excession and have pressed pause on the Culture and reading Whirlwind by Clavell

As a whole, broken earth is much stronger imo and keeps delivering as the series goes on, but book 1 of the 100k kingdoms is pretty special it has to be said.

09-03-2019 3:38pm

Just read senlin ascends book 1.
It was a great read but irritatingly full of spelling mistakes and typos. Still, I might read the next one.
New jeff wheeler book out now and lined up next

smacl · 10-03-2019 1:59pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

As a whole, broken earth is much stronger imo and keeps delivering as the series goes on, but book 1 of the 100k kingdoms is pretty special it has to be said.

Broken earth is also very different, more heart felt and far bleaker. I'd agree it is a stronger trilogy that the hundred thousand kingdoms but loved both and the few side novellas.

Igotadose · 10-03-2019 3:07pm

Finished "The First Law" series by Joe Abercrombie, as well as the companion short-story collection "Sharp Ends." Now working on "Best Served Cold", a companion novel set a few years after these.

The series is entertaining, not too deep a thought. My complaint with the trilogy is too many characters and not a lot of development, plus a lot of very similar writing (main characters seem to spend some time spitting in every chapter they're in. I suppose that's realistic.)
The short story compendium was entertaining and light.

"Best Served Cold" has fewer characters so hopefully I'll see what the author can do for character development.

Recommended as light reading, maybe 4 on a 1-5 scale.

ixoy · 10-03-2019 3:13pm

69% into "The Red Knight" by Miles Cameron, the first book in "The Traitor Son" cycle. I'm enjoying it - it's quite grounded, despite the interesting magic system. Cameron's big into re-enactments, and it's evident from his description not only of weaponry but in the fighting - I find his descriptions of battles, especially one-on-one to be very clear. However, sometimes he gets too deep and uses words and terms that my Kindle dictionary doesn't recognise and sometimes not even Google easily!

On the slightly negative side, I find the use of "real world" elements distracting - mentioning Christ, having a London, "Galle" for "Gaul" and so on. Yes, it's somewhat like an alternate earth but I'm not sure of the reason behind it. And on a professional level, the book has a bit too many typos!

Enough here though to keep my interest to investigate the remainder of the series.

lordgoat · 10-03-2019 10:17pm

Malazan - Book 3.

There's a lot of eating in these books!

18-03-2019 10:00pm

Well, i have been watching the shannara on Netflix. It's a terrible show but made me decide to try giving the books a go again. I never liked them originally.
On the first one now - certainly well written and I'm enjoying it. I've read so much mediocre modern writing (full of typos and unedited) lately, i forgot what a pleasure it was to read something like this.
Only downside is the complete lack of women anywhere yet

Thargor · 18-03-2019 10:42pm

Just saw Xeelee: Redemption newly released in Dubrays earlier, the 17th book in the Xeelee sequence. Great series.

homosapien91 · 19-03-2019 10:34am

Finished The Wheel of Time over the weekend, not sure how I feel about the ending to be honest, O have a lot of unanswered questions but that's for another thread I suppose!

Started the Magicians be Lev Grossman yesterday and could not put it down, really enjoying it even now thinking I can't wait to get home from work so I can read it

Xofpod · 19-03-2019 10:43am

Finally got around to starting the Hod King. Only 60 pages in but this series always immediately conjures up a very strong and unique sense of place, straight off the bat...

Lady Haywire · 19-03-2019 11:37am

Daughter of Smoke & Bone, (Laini Taylor) #1 & 2, must find the third one now to see what happens. Very good book, totally different concept to books I'd read before. Angels & chimera are underused in fantasy!

The Keys to the kingdom 1-7. (Garth Nix) These were ok, thought it started off very good & lulled a bit in the middle. Surprising end though, bit of a curve ball at the end & didn't expect it would end so abruptly.

Now onto The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. Again more young adult than anything else but I'm just going with Goodreads suggestions at the moment as i've not been to a bookstore in a long time. Easy reading & enjoyable so far. Don't know how she's going to stretch seven books out of it though.

Dades · 21-03-2019 3:38pm

Just started Revenger (Alastair Reynolds) last night.

Had taken a break from SF and read a couple of newer Stephen Kings (Elevation and The Outsider). Made me remember why I lapped up all his early stuff when i was younger - he can still tell a yarn.

Anyway, back to space ships and laser beams.

Paddy Samurai · 21-03-2019 4:54pm

'This series promises to be the standout epic fantasy for the ages' Fantasy Book Critic

Took me a while to get into this one but really not sure why.Once I got stuck in, it flew and ended up been a real winner for me.This series overall IMO is a step up on Traitor Son Cycle and that's saying something.
Roll on part 3

Only fools think war is simple.
Or glorious.

Some are warriors, some captains; others tend to the fallen or feed the living.
But on the magic-drenched battlefield, information is the lifeblood of victory, and Aranthur is about to discover that carrying messages, scouting the enemy, keeping his nerve, and passing on orders is more dangerous, and more essential, then an inexperienced soldier could imagine . . . especially when everything starts to go wrong.
Battle has been joined - on the field, in the magical sphere, and in the ever-shifting political arena . . .

Paddy Samurai · 21-03-2019 4:58pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

that's just mean!

pretty sure almost everyone in this thread has read it and is still waiting for the 3rd instalment 10 years on.

thanks for reminding us! :pac::(

Sry Duplicate

Paddy Samurai · 21-03-2019 5:01pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

that's just mean!

pretty sure almost everyone in this thread has read it and is still waiting for the 3rd instalment 10 years on.

thanks for reminding us! :pac::(

Just like Game of Thrones you will probably see the Film series before you read the final book.

lordgoat · 21-03-2019 7:41pm

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

Just like Game of Thrones you will probably see the Film series before you read the final book.

Fully ok with this as like GRRM I have no confidence in his ability to write a good ending to it.

Thargor · 21-03-2019 8:48pm

I wonder what the story is with Doors of Stone or whatever the final Name of the Wind will be called though? Surely he must have had an idea for an ending when he started and he hadnt written himself into a corner like GRRM. If he genuinely is writers-blocked theres about 50 good theories a week over on the Reddit for him to look through...

lordgoat · 21-03-2019 9:06pm

Thargor wrote: »

I wonder what the story is with Doors of Stone or whatever the final Name of the Wind will be called though? Surely he must have had an idea for an ending when he started and he hadnt written himself into a corner like GRRM. If he genuinely is writers-blocked theres about 50 good theories a week over on the Reddit for him to look through...

I think it's to do with time lines. Been ages since I read book 2 but I think he has made it difficult to reconcile the plot line. I should point out I love the these books. Great story.

Trojan · 21-03-2019 11:27pm

Thargor wrote: »

I wonder what the story is with Doors of Stone or whatever the final Name of the Wind will be called though? Surely he must have had an idea for an ending when he started and he hadnt written himself into a corner like GRRM. If he genuinely is writers-blocked theres about 50 good theories a week over on the Reddit for him to look through...

I expect a fanfiction author to publish a full and complete book 3 before Rothfuss ever will.

Trojan · 21-03-2019 11:35pm

Just finished "Dangerous To Know: The Chronicles of Breed: Book One".

I read this by accident as I mistook the author, K.T. Davies, as Miles Cameron, because they both have a book called "The Red Knight". This got suggested to me as "by the author of...", and given the 99 pence price I went for it.

Breed is a murderous, likeable son of a bitch. Certainly an interesting character. This reminded me a bit of the grittiness of Joe Abercrombie, and I see that some of the Amazon reviews are calling it grimdark - that's on point.

I was fine with the first book at the entry level pricepoint, but 50-50 on getting into books 2 & 3 at a fiver each. I recommend you check out some of those reviews before getting into it. I'll call this one a 3/5.

pixelburp · 22-03-2019 10:12am

Started Senlin Ascends the other day: it has some really rich, enjoyable prose that evokes a great sense of place. Great writing that puts all the sights and sounds of the Tower in your minds eye. That protagonist though, ooof. Senlin himself is a bit of an insufferable gít & and almost tragically inept - it's a long book so a bit concerned about following his dithering through the Tower itself

22-03-2019 10:48am

pixelburp wrote: »

Started Senlin Ascends the other day: it has some really rich, enjoyable prose that evokes a great sense of place. Great writing that puts all the sights and sounds of the Tower in your minds eye. That protagonist though, ooof. Senlin himself is a bit of an insufferable g& and almost tragically inept - it's a long book so a bit concerned about following his dithering through the Tower itself

It actually gets better

shrapnel222 · 22-03-2019 11:06am

Paddy Samurai wrote: »

Just like Game of Thrones you will probably see the Film series before you read the final book.

speaking of TV series, anyone given The passage a go? it seems to be getting mixed reviews, and i have to say the books kind of grew on me, so there is definitely potential there for a pretty cool show if done well.

Jayd0g · 22-03-2019 12:31pm

pixelburp wrote: »

Started Senlin Ascends the other day: it has some really rich, enjoyable prose that evokes a great sense of place. Great writing that puts all the sights and sounds of the Tower in your minds eye. That protagonist though, ooof. Senlin himself is a bit of an insufferable gít & and almost tragically inept - it's a long book so a bit concerned about following his dithering through the Tower itself

I've added this to the reading list on basis of a recommendation in this thread, will be keen to know how you get on as it progresses, for a second opinion ....

pixelburp · 22-03-2019 6:50pm

bluewolf wrote: »

It actually gets better

It, as in the book, or the character? Cos like I said, the actual writing so far is really rich and evocative. Just the titular Senlin is a bit of a knob.

lordgoat · 23-03-2019 10:34pm

shrapnel222 wrote: »

speaking of TV series, anyone given The passage a go? it seems to be getting mixed reviews, and i have to say the books kind of grew on me, so there is definitely potential there for a pretty cool show if done well.

This is watched in the house. I do not enjoy it. The characters are idiots and do things that make zero sense all the time. I can normally give this kind of stuff a pass as let's face it we watch these shows for entertainment, but this was so so bad. 2/10 for me.

Smegging hell · 28-03-2019 8:59pm

Dogs of War by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the first book of his I've read. Really enjoyed it, short strong read. Looking forward to reading Children of Time by the same author which I've heard good things about

28-03-2019 9:18pm

tiamat's wrath ahhhh

Thargor · 28-03-2019 10:37pm

7 books in the Wheel of Time done and dusted, Im going to read it straight through I think, sometimes it annoys me but overall I love it, the repetition of certain things is way over the top especially concerning the 3 main female characters, not just the braid-tugging, its the blushing, adjusting skirts, sighing etc, it veers into parody territory sometimes how often that stuff is copied and pasted into every paragraph. Im tearing through them though, it is a really good tale. For something that was written so long ago its not cliched or predictable at all, feels a lot fresher than a lot of the trash being released nowadays, theres a lot of surprises and decent plotlines.

mcgovern · 29-03-2019 9:40am

It's been awhile since I updated here, since then I finished The Soldier by Neal Asher. This looks like being the start of another strong series by Asher.
A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans, it's fairly generic Fantasy which isn't to say it was bad, it's just not anything special.
I finished listening to Redemption's Blade by Adrian Tchaikovsky, normally I love all his work but this was his weakest yet I think. The concept was interesting, it's set after the great battle between good and evil is over and people try to come to terms with their role in it, but the story was fairly predictable.
Then Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee, the third and final book in his Machineries of Empire series. Like the others before it, it was super confusing at times but once you start to get your head around everything it's very good and satisfying conclusion.
Then read Orconomics by Zachary J Pike. This is kind of a satire of the genre, heroes must level up in the heroes guild by killing monsters etc, and all blends in ecomomics. I really enjoyed this one and the sequel is definitely high up my To Be Read list.
I'm now listening to Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson, I read the first two rather than Audible and I think I prefer that. It suffers from the usual issues with Sanderson where not much happens for most of the book, but hoping the eventual payoff will be worth it.
And finally I've started reading Permafrost by Alastair Reynolds, it's only a novella but seems good so far.

Dades · 29-03-2019 11:27am

mcgovern wrote: »

And finally I've started reading Permafrost by Alastair Reynolds, it's only a novella but seems good so far.

I started that last night!

RMDrive · 29-03-2019 5:28pm

Thargor wrote: »

7 books in the Wheel of Time done and dusted, Im going to read it straight through I think, sometimes it annoys me but overall I love it, the repetition of certain things is way over the top especially concerning the 3 main female characters, not just the braid-tugging, its the blushing, adjusting skirts, sighing etc, it veers into parody territory sometimes how often that stuff is copied and pasted into every paragraph. Im tearing through them though, it is a really good tale. For something that was written so long ago its not cliched or predictable at all, feels a lot fresher than a lot of the trash being released nowadays, theres a lot of surprises and decent plotlines.

*mumbles* it wasn't that long ago .... feeling old

pixelburp · 31-03-2019 10:23pm

Finished Empire Games by Charles Stross, and felt a little cheated; a book whose structure came across almost entirely like preamble and table setting, the big teased character meet happening in the last couple of pages as a by-the-by.

I get that these days a lot of novels are sold to publishers as multi book deals, but this was the most nakedly open about this method. I could almost feel Stross' attention drifting to book 2 halfway through this first book, content to kick the narrative can down the road instead of giving the reader something to latch onto in the here and now.

Manach · 01-04-2019 12:58am

Doing a nostalgia re-read of some books. Finished "The Mote in God's eye", an old-school First Contact novel and now starting off a re-read of the Harry Dresden series in the vain hope that by the time I'm finished the author will have a released a new book.

Thargor · 01-04-2019 9:22am

Manach wrote: »

Doing a nostalgia re-read of some books. Finished "The Mote in God's eye", an old-school First Contact novel and now starting off a re-read of the Harry Dresden series in the vain hope that by the time I'm finished the author will have a released a new book.

Mote in Gods Eye really stayed with me, I can remember it perfectly 20 years after reading it, great sci-fi

Fian · 01-04-2019 9:43am

I'm doing something similar, reading the "daughter of empire" series, which i read previously about 25 years ago. I remember it being good, but it has really stood the test of time and since i read it so long ago I don't really remember most of the intrigue/machinations. Really enjoying it and encouraging my daughter to read it too.

Fian · 01-04-2019 9:45am

Thargor wrote: »

Mote in Gods Eye really stayed with me, I can remember it perfectly 20 years after reading it, great sci-fi

That and "a fire upon the deep/a deepness in the sky" are perhaps my favorite sci-fi.

Igotadose · 01-04-2019 9:47am

Fian wrote: »

I'm doing something similar, reading the "daughter of empire" series, which i read previously about 25 years ago. I remember it being good, but it has really stood the test of time and since i read it so long ago I don't really remember most of the intrigue/machinations. Really enjoying it and encouraging my daughter to read it too.

IMNSHO, good writing holds up over the years. As a curmudgeon soon to enjoy his 60th birthday, I grumble that most of the modern SF and fantasy writers are mediocre. No different than Niven was writing about Moties. There were plenty of bad writers then, too, but Niven holds up.

One good writer I enjoyed back in the day was Stephen Donaldson and his chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Though, a lot like Frank Herbert, he kind of dragged it out too far and the more recent sequels I just couldn't get through. The first 6 books though, were great. Beyond great storytelling and "the gift of names," good writing is just that. Good. Mark Twain and Hemingway are great reads, too.

Glebee · 01-04-2019 10:04am

The Long Walk - Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
Im amazed I had not heard of this King book until recently. Would make a good movie im sure...

Dades · 01-04-2019 12:04pm

Glebee wrote: »

The Long Walk - Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
Im amazed I had not heard of this King book until recently. Would make a good movie im sure...

I still think of this book every time I buy a pair of shoes. :pac:
Shoe choice is crucial!

Thargor · 01-04-2019 10:00pm

Fian wrote: »

That and "a fire upon the deep/a deepness in the sky" are perhaps my favorite sci-fi.

Yeah they're very similar, to the point where I cant remember which are the moties and which are the errr.... gerbil colony things from Deepness sometimes. Maybe what makes them so good is that they're proper alien species with alien biology instead of just brow ridges like Star Trek, or maybe it was just cute seeing little gerbil creatures using tools and weapons

Theres a third book after Deepness/Fire btw:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Children_of_the_Sky

Still haven't read it yet.

Thargor · 01-04-2019 10:07pm

Glebee wrote: »

The Long Walk - Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
Im amazed I had not heard of this King book until recently. Would make a good movie im sure...

I think about it all the time aswell even though its probably 20 years since I read it, on long hikes I always wonder how long I could go before I got shot, Ive said it before but Kings stories stick in your head like nothing else.

ixoy · 02-04-2019 12:18am

57% into Tad William's "The Dirty Streets of Heaven", the first book in his Bobby Dollar series about an angel who gets caught up in some very large events during his standard day job of guiding souls for judgement. It's been sitting on my "to read" list for ages (bought it in a deal years ago) and I fancied some urban fantasy. It's grand so far - nothing special but pretty easy to read through. Not sure I'll rush for the sequel yet but there's time for it to grab my attention - certainly it hasn't unlike his "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" and "Otherland" series.

Before that I read "Kellanved's Reach (Path to Ascendancy, #3)" by Ian C. Esslemont, the next (last?) in his prequel series. Very enjoyable - sure it's a huge amount of fan service as you see the early careers of major Malazan characters but Esslemont is great at portraying Kellanved and Dancer - they're a lot of fun. Nice nods elsewhere too. This series is Esslemont at his strongest.

As a side book I read Patrick Rothuss's "The Slow Regard of Silent Things" and found it a lot of self indulgent crap. Ugh, best avoided.
Little bit disappointed in Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Ironclads" which I also read. It's nowhere as strong as his novella "Dogs of War" or "The Expert System's Brother". It's good to see him branching into different themes but it didn't really work for me.

Fian · 02-04-2019 9:59am

Glebee wrote: »

The Long Walk - Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
Im amazed I had not heard of this King book until recently. Would make a good movie im sure...

I finished daughter of empire yesterday and when i saw this post i remembered i had this on my kindle waiting to be read. 68% in already, it is an easy read and not very long. Thanks for the recommendation.

I thin there is actually a movie in the works. Though so much of the book is inner monologues/thoughts, after all there is nothing much happening but kids plodding along a road as long as they can, that i am not too sure how well it would translate to a film tbh. They walk until they can't anymore and then they get shot.

Then again that is how my wife describes the lord of the rings movies, just endlessly walking along.

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