Machiavelli's "The Prince"
In Wizard's First Rule; I am up to page 604; has been a good read so far; with only 200 more pages to go; am hoping the next book is as good or better.
one thing:
have you guys ever noticed that most books with maps in them have the good guys on the left of the map and bad guys on the right?
Sure the Dark Tide, and I think the Shanarra series had them at the top; but it seems the far majority has the good guys on the left and bad guys on the right. hehe has all kinds of connotations; if and when I right a book; I think I will try to avoid that; come to think of it; in my pbp game; the first major bad guys came from the right and the best of the good guys are on the left; argh!
In Wizard's First Rule; I am up to page 604; has been a good read so far; with only 200 more pages to go; am hoping the next book is as good or better.
one thing:
have you guys ever noticed that most books with maps in them have the good guys on the left of the map and bad guys on the right?
Sure the Dark Tide, and I think the Shanarra series had them at the top; but it seems the far majority has the good guys on the left and bad guys on the right. hehe has all kinds of connotations; if and when I right a book; I think I will try to avoid that; come to think of it; in my pbp game; the first major bad guys came from the right and the best of the good guys are on the left; argh!
Yep, now that you mention it :)
I can't think of anything before Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit though (so maybe it's not surprising that everything after that followed suit?).
Although the Silmarillion also has the bad guys at the top mostly.
The fountainhead by ayn rand
Easily one of the best books of all time. It's about an architect and there are no magic or swords, but man the ideas are enough to make your head swim.
My personal D&D podcast
I just finished Zeus, King of the Gods by George O'Connor. Pretty good read.
Finally got around to reading Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon. Great read, just started the second book.
Cthulhu 2000 by various and sundry. An anthology of Cthulhu-related stories, some great, most mediocre.
Finished the First Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen, was pretty impressed. Although a little cliche, it maintained my interest and I might go back looking for the second one. Tried to read Acacia by David Anthony Durham and was totally disappointed. After hearing so much good stuff about it, it was totally flat and devoid of emotion. Like reading a lab report of a fantasy world. Whereas Martin breathes life into his characters, Durham flatlines his. Next, Kushiel's Dart by Jaqueline Carey.
I kind of started and stopped Mistborn; I like the setting, I like the magic system, I think it's well-written but I just couldn't get into it for some reason. So I stopped halfway with the intention of picking it up again later.
Finished the Steampunk anthology edited by Ann and Jeff Vandermeer; fairly decent throughout, though I feel the most conflicted about Joe Lansdale's short story. The premise was awesome and I liked it for the most part. But he sure packed a lot of torture into such a short story and I almost didn't finish for just how grossed out it made me feel. And it's not like I can't handle things like that: I read Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy without a problem. I guess I'll just chalk it up to taste.
Continuing with the Steampunk vein, I picked up Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. Only a few chapters in, but I'm enjoying it so far.
I kind of started and stopped Mistborn; I like the setting, I like the magic system, I think it's well-written but I just couldn't get into it for some reason. So I stopped halfway with the intention of picking it up again later.
I felt the same way about Mistborn, James. The action scene with the coin spinning, when they first infiltrate the castle was very well written, but it felt like the story as a whole wasn't going anywhere. Not enough exciting elements to maintain your interest. I put it down about midway too.
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A Coffin for Dimitrios (a.k.a. The Mask of Dimitrios) by Eric Ambler. After I finish it I intend to see the 1944 movie version with Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. I'm betting Greenstreet plays Mr. Peters, so when I read Ambler's dialogue, I try to hear Mr. Peters' having Greenstreet's voice.
I hope the movie is faithful to the book, because the dialogue is really really good.
World War Z by Max Brooks. I just finished it.
The Best of Gene Wolfe
Druids, by Morgan Llywelyn.
Finished Sword and Sorceress IV. Anybody else a fan of these? Four seemed weaker than the previous three to me.
Finished The Tombs of Atuan. Thank you, haters of Ursula LeGuin for getting me to finally read her. Number two is down!
Started Charles Saunders' Imaro. This author is HOT. Alternative Africa fantasy. Pulpy, yet sophisticated prose. Only read first story, but there seems to be lot of pain underneath, which gives it a sense of profundity.
Rangers Apprentice series of books - my 11 year old enjoyed them.
"Gone" by Mo Hayder, no. 4 in a crime series that is getting less about the crime than the police-officers private lives.:/
Just started Tad Williams "Shadowrise" - Supposed to be the last in a trilogy, it has been "cleft in twain" and the last volume is coming out in a couple of months...
Red Seas under Red Skies by Lynch, it starts excellent, the second part with the pirates is not what I wanted
before that
Best Served Cold by Abercrombie, interesting characters, funny dialogues, GRRM-like twists of the story about war and revenge, didn't find it that believable
The Night Wish by Sapkowski, humorous, D&D inspired
Currently reading The Warded Man (The Painted Man in the UK) by Peter V Brett. He's a natural storyteller and although I am not big on his world, I can't deny his readability. Very good novel so far. About a world where demons come out and night and kill and terrorize townsfolk and are only held off by wards placed in various locations.
Just finished revisting Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson, my last reading almost 5 years ago. Although that sucker isn't an easy read by any means, got to give it up to the guy for imagination and worldbuilding. Not many authors I can read almost 700+ pages for and really not like his writing style. Something keeps you hanging in there though.
Reading Who Fears the Devil?, but making it last by reading The Faery Reel at the same time.
just started "to green angel tower, part 2," the last book of "memory, sorrow, and thorn" by tad williams. yes, i read slow.
I just finished Heir of Sea and Fire by Patricia McKillip, and now am pondering what to read while I wait for my next batch of library requests to come in.
River of the Gods by Ian Mcdonald. Great near future spec. fiction.
Just finished Changes, the newest Dresden Files book by Jim Butcher. Agh! Now I have to wait another year to find out what happens.
Blood Angels: Black Tide by James Swallow
May I add that I have never seen Radavel without a book in hand.
just finished 'the girl with the dragon tattoo', 'the girl who played with fire' & 'the girl who kicked the hornets nest' by stieg larsson.
great crime/thriller series
About half way through Fall of Thanes, the final book in The Godless World trilogy by Brian Ruckley. It's been a pretty good read.
Purple and Black by KJ Parker. Then New Model Army by Adam Roberts, I think.
Which one?
Currently reading The Passage by Justin Cronin, a massive (800 pages in tradeback) novel about the end of the world. Very well-written with a real epic feeling to events. It reminds me very much (in a non-derivative way) of The Stand, although hopefully without the sucky ending.
Looking at the proposed media blitz from Orion in the UK and the US publishers, including much being made of the fact that Ridely Scott has bought the film rights already, I am anticipating this being one of the higher-profile releases of the year.
It's a good one.