The Deryni stuff holds up pretty well for fantasy written 30+ years ago actually. A bit dry at parts but overall well thought out and entertaining.
I would agree. I still re-read the series every so often when I feel like it.
About the only thing I didn't like about it was:
I've finished Swords of Eveningstar, wherein it appears the Knights of Myth Drannor (our heroes) danced quite well to the tunes of something like four separate scheming wizards. It picked up a great deal in the last half, though a lot of that was them blundering from misadventure to misadventure. It was fun but a little odd when one is used to gaming fiction being about the adventurers as prime actors rather than desperate flies caught in several webs.
I think I like the reversal but hopefully they do wise up at some point. I don't know how well I'd like it as a player but it did make for good reading.
Being so satisfied, I've hopped into the sequel (Swords of Dragonfire) and immediately hit a new layer of scheming wizard to presumably replace that one who made an emergency transition to undeath during the big finale.
There are people who don't enjoy the first several Jn Carter of Mars books? Did they mamma drop them on they head?Yeah, for a long time now, I've been wanting to speak badly of A Princess of Mars, but didn't, because so many people speak so highly of the John Carter series on these forums. I was relieved last night to find others speak badly of it as well. In fact, one of the major reasons I picked up some of the Planet Stories volumes was that I hoped that some imitator could write a similar story, but in a different style.
Hey, Aaron, so I'm halfway through the third book now, and I think they've really gotten better.
I mean, they're still terribly silly and, so far, he hasn't even addressed how JC moves from planet to planet, but I've definitely taken myself out of the ERB Hater club.
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Dan Simmons' novel of Antarctic suspense, The Terror.
I bought this book in hard cover when it came out, but never got round to it. I received the paperback from a coworker for Christmas two years ago, and still never started it.
Finally, I stumble across the ebook for a reasonable $2.99, and just started it last night. I can't believe what I've been missing; absolutely phenomenal writing.
As an aside, $3 is the absolute right price for an ebook, regardless of the author. Publishers believe they'll lose too much money--part of the tension between them and Amazon back in the days of no ebooks over $10--, but if more ebooks were literally cheaper than a latte, I'd buy them in droves. You can sell me two for $20, or you can trick me into buying 20 for $60 because $3 is such a steal...
Hey Independent Citizen Anklebiter. I was cleaning my library today and saw >this< on my shelves. I immediately thought of you. I figured I'd send the recommendation along, in the spirit of Solidarity. It is an interesting alternate reality thought piece. =P
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Just started Drawing of the Three in King's Dark Tower series. Loved the grit of the first one, and am digging this one, too. BTW, anyone notice a similarity in the opening scene and the opening of Smuggler's Shiv - lobstrocities indeed! Also, for us fantasy types, this is a heck of a month - Dance With Dragons (Song of Ice and Fire), Ghost Story (Dresden Files), and Monster Hunter International - Alpha to name a few. Glad my birthday is in July - plenty to spend my gift cards on.
Finished Johannes Cabal the Necromancer recently. It was pretty good but I'm not sure I'm convinced to read the second book. Trying to figure out what to read on the subway next.
Currently reading A Storm of Swords, my third re-read of ASOIAF to prepare for A Dance With Dragons. :)
Hey Independent Citizen Anklebiter. I was cleaning my library today and saw >this< on my shelves. I immediately thought of you. I figured I'd send the recommendation along, in the spirit of Solidarity. It is an interesting alternate reality thought piece. =P
Spasibo, tovarisch.
Dan Simmons' novel of Antarctic suspense, The Terror.
I give this book a +1.
A Dance With Dragons, naturally.
I really like Dan Simmon's "Hardcase" series of noir fiction set in Buffalo. Extremely detailed descriptions of Buffalo.
I just finished "The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack" by Mark Hodder, and just started "The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man" by Mark Hodder, both set in an alternate history where Queen Victoria was assassinated and steampunk technology abounds.
Currently reading Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss, which is fantastic. I really like the unique style of the book and find it hard to put down.
Following that book I'll be reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Sanderson instantly became my favorite author after reading all three of the Mistborn novels back to back for the first time. If The Way of Kings is any where near as good as Mistborn is, it'll probably be in my top 10.
Finished:
The Shadow Rising - I'm starting to slow down some with my WOT re-read and hungering for alternatives where men and women treat each other with civility and respect... That said, I'm a big fan of this book. The Aiel Waste and Rand's walk through the ages in Rhuidean are fantastic. On to the next one!
In the hopper:
Thinkertoys
The Fires of Heaven - The WOT re-re-re-re-re-read continues.
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Loving Bradbury's prose so far.
I just reread the John Carter of Mars trilogy (first three books) and I've got to say I just keep loving these books more and more. Sure the plot is silly, the gender issues are painful, but man, they just pull me in and hold me. It makes me want to run a campaign based on it.
Currently I'm waiting to receive my copy of "A Dance with Dragons" in the mail. I'm beginning to lose it.
Just polished off:
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Bradbury has great prose that's always enjoyable to read. I can see why this book had such an impact on modern horror and why Stephen King likes it so much.
Hunter's Run by George R. R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham - I'm not sure how these guys split up the writing duties, but it worked well for me. I won't spoil the plot except to say the book is about a manhunt on an alien planet. This is good, solid sci-fi that engages your brain, conscience, morals, etc. There are good questions embedded in this book, "Do I like who I am?" "How much of me is just reaction to my surroundings, and would I be the same person if circumstances were different?" "What does it take to change a man?" Recommended.
Still churning:
The Fires of Heaven - Leaving the Aiel waste now.
Zen in the Art of Writing - More Bradbury.
Interesting notes on how Hunter's Run came about:
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2008/01/hunters-run-by-george-r-r-mar tin.html
Just finished Liane Merciel's River Kings' Road. Highly recommend it to anyone who likes fairly low-magic, gritty fantasy with a streak of bright idealism to light things up.
Next I'm choosing between a book on Bronze Age Warfare or the one Rebus-novel I've not read yet.
I'm about 30 pages from the end of E.E. 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series. My review in a nutshell: Yeesh. I know it's a classic, and I'm glad I'll be able to say I read it, and to catch the references to it that show up in other works, but after six books full of them, I'm really bored with the big, muscular Kinnison men, the blatant gender stereotyping, and the apparently uncritical acceptance of eugenics.
More pleasantly, I've also been dipping into Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. I'd read one or two of them long, long ago, but just discovered Granny Weatherwax for the first time. Good fun, those are.
I'm about 30 pages from the end of E.E. 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series. My review in a nutshell: Yeesh. I know it's a classic, and I'm glad I'll be able to say I read it, and to catch the references to it that show up in other works, but after six books full of them, I'm really bored with the big, muscular Kinnison men, the blatant gender stereotyping, and the apparently uncritical acceptance of eugenics.
More pleasantly, I've also been dipping into Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. I'd read one or two of them long, long ago, but just discovered Granny Weatherwax for the first time. Good fun, those are.
The only Lensman I'm familiar with is the anime from the VERY early 80s. Hmm. May have to check this out.
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The only Lensman I'm familiar with is the anime from the VERY early 80s. Hmm. May have to check this out.I'm about 30 pages from the end of E.E. 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series. My review in a nutshell: Yeesh. I know it's a classic, and I'm glad I'll be able to say I read it, and to catch the references to it that show up in other works, but after six books full of them, I'm really bored with the big, muscular Kinnison men, the blatant gender stereotyping, and the apparently uncritical acceptance of eugenics.
<...>
I've heard of the anime, and AIUI it's...I hesitate to say "based on," because that implies a level of similarity between the books and the anime that is apparently lacking...better to say "inspired by" the Doc Smith series.
WRT Lindisty's comments: Yeah, they were much easier to take when I read them for the first time as a teenager. For all his undeniable storytelling skill, Smith was definitely a man of his time (b. 1890).
Re-reading Worlds of H. Beam Piper and wondering why modern sci-fi still hasn't come close to having Piper's blend of science, human drama and historical relevance.
Also starting Ghost Story by Jim Butcher tomorrow - if I can pry it from my wife's hands!!
edit - oh I also just finished Blood Moon by Sharmin DiVono. Avoid at all costs! What a terrible piece of pseudo-sci-fi covering up a Mormon lecture series. Complete garbage.
Also - do you know there a literally dozens of books called Blood Moon??! I had to click through 5 pages of them on the amazon site before I found the author of the one I read.
Wilbur Smith - The Quest (book 4 in a so-far AMAZING series: River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll)
Wildfire - Sarah Micklem (I just finished it!! It is the epic sequel beyond the original first book, Firethorn)
Servant of the Bones - Anne Rice (Fascinating. So well-written)
I've cried in all these books so far haha. Emotional epics that really pull at you.
I finished The Warlords of Mars by ERB, and, somewhat like Lindisty above, I'm getting a little tired of JC's perfect awesomeness. I swear, that man never has an ignoble thought, never mind action.
Nevertheless, I would heartily recommend the first 3 John Carter books as a fun, not terribly weighty, sci-fi/fantasy romp. I'll probably keep my eyes open for the next couple of books in the used bookstores.
Am currently blasting through The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery by Eric Foner, which basically just traces Abe's thinking on the peculiar institution.
To be honest, I've read so many books on the American Civil War, that this one is a little boring to me. I've read enough Foner and McPherson that there isn't much new here for me. But I always enjoy reading about that era so I'll finish it.
Last few books I read after A Dance With Dragons
Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (it's been downhill since Turncoat imo)
Majestrum A Tale Of Henghis Hapthorn by Matthew Hughes (another detective, but the Dying Earth setting)
Finch by Jeff Vandermeer (also detective, but weird)
Avilion by Robert Holdstock
The Last Light of the Sun by Kay
Just finished Ship Breaker and Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (thumbs up to both, though I enjoyed the former more). Also tried but gave up on Retribution Falls (too literally Firefly-inspired, unable to suspend disbelief in the plot's progression, and up to the point where I quit, at least, every female character was either somehow inhuman or a prostitute).
Next up: finally getting around to World War Z.
Ghost Story - Jim Butcher
Currently reading "Brain Cheese Buffet". It's rather off-the-wall and entertaining!
Next up is probably going to be Best Served Cold.
+1
That was the first one I read by Abercrombie, and I thought it was great. All the characters are vicious little gems, but I think I like Nicomo Cosca best.
Probably the evilest fantasy novel I've ever read.
Taking a break from Dumas. Knocked off most of Twain's Life on the Mississippi in honor of a recent trip to St. Louis, and am now re-reading Jack Chalker's "Rings of the Master" series.
Oh yeah, score!
So, on a whim I stopped by the friendly local used bookstore. I didn't have much hope but then I saw a copy of Moorcock's The Vanishing Tower poking out at me. Now I've got individual copies of each of the original Elric books, yay me!
(Unfortunately, they're heterogenously DAW and Berkeley, but, hey, sometimes you've gotta compromise.)
"Tithe" by Holly Black. It's a faeriepunk based on the Tam Lin tale of Faerie paying a tithe to Hell every 7 years.
Holly Black teamed up with a certain Tony DiTerlizzi for the Spiderwick Chronicles.
"Tithe" by Holly Black. It's a faeriepunk based on the Tam Lin tale of Faerie paying a tithe to Hell every 7 years.
Holly Black teamed up with a certain Tony DiTerlizzi for the Spiderwick Chronicles.
Musical interlude brought to you by Tam Lin.
Still slogging through A Dance of Dragons. I did travel to the nearest Borders left to us and purchased a few sale offerings for post-Martin:
- Michael Moorcock: The Stealer of Souls
- Michael Moorcock: To Rescue Tanelorn
- Michael Moorcock: In the Dream Realms
- Mike Resnick: The Buntline Special
- Diane Duane: Omnitopia Dawn
- Ann&Jeff Vandermeer (eds.): The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities
- George R.R. Martin & Gardiner Dozois (eds.): Songs of the Dying Earth
Wow, just finished A dance with dragons- it took me two days, which is a long time for me.
Thoughts: I only started reading The Song of Ice and Fire books this year, so I haven't been waiting seven years for this one, making my point of view a little different than someone who has.
I liked it a lot. It's not perfect, it's clearly a middle book, in that not a whole lot gets resolved. The Author mention some problems with the timeline he had to fix in this book, so some of the plots... meander a bit.
But it's still very good, it has some of my favorite moments in it. My only real frustration is that one of the main protagonists plots ends in a gut-wrenching cliffhanger. Which makes sense because this is George R. R. Martin we're dealing with.
Finished recently:
Virtual Light by William Gibson
Just finished:
The atrocity archives by Charles Stross
Currently reading:
Halting State by Charles Stross
Venice: Pure City by Peter Ackroyd (slow ongoing)
Invisible cities by Italo Calvino (slow ongoing)
Next on the list:
The Jennifer Morgue by Charles Stross
The Fuller Memorandum by Charles Stross
Idoru by William Gibson
All Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson
Just finished off The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan. It's been so long since I read these that I tend to forget which books contain which events. I kept waiting for Elaida's folks to show up and
In the hopper:
I'll be taking a break from the WOT re-read for a while. I'm trying to ramp up on a novel that I want to make serious progress on this coming NANOWRIMO season, and I need to do some research. To that end, I’m enjoying:
The Guns of August – the story I’m working on is set in WWI, and I need to revisit some of the historical events. I started this years ago, and always meant to come back to it. Now I will!
The Sun also Rises – more novel research.
A Brief History of Time – because this story is not just history but also Science Fiction, and Hawking discusses a few concepts that will be making appearances.
Also, I would appreciate any recommendations for books along the lines of "Physics for someone who never took physics; for whom Quark is a character on DS9, and for whom a boson is a person who works on a ship." I'm far more artist than I am scientist, and need something that helps me to test the feasibility of my ideas. Thanks!
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I just recently finished:
The Diamond Throne by David Eddings
The Hole Behind Midnight by Clinton J. Boomer
I am currently reading:
A Dance with Dragons by George Martin
The Complete Fiction by H.P. Lovecraft (compilation of all the short stories)
Finished recently:
Virtual Light by William Gibson
+1 for The Bridge Trilogy
Read the first third of Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island and was very disappointed to discover that this book is NOT the continuation of the adventures of Captain Nemo and the Nautilius.
Boo hoo!
Instead, it's a Robinson Crusoe/Swiss Family Robinson type tale about being castaways on a deserted island and all the new and different type of animals to butcher.
Amusingly, the five characters are Union POWs who escape from Richmond in 1865 by commandeering a hot-air balloon! (I just finished reading a newish book on Lincoln and watching the episodes of Lost with "Henry Gale from Minnesota" so the synergistic weirdiosity is blowing my mind!)
Cyrus Smith--19th-century MacGuyver? Am going to finish the book, but, as I said, am a little disappointed.
To make up for my disappointment, picked up The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling again under the influence of Comrade Curtin and the Steampunk thread. Don't know why I didn't care much for it the first time I read it (maybe I had a headache when I read it--I tend to ridiculously hold that against books!), so far this time around it's awesome.
Read the first third of Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island and was very disappointed to discover that this book is NOT the continuation of the adventures of Captain Nemo and the Nautilius.
Boo hoo!
Instead, it's a Robinson Crusoe/Swiss Family Robinson type tale about being castaways on a deserted island and all the new and different type of animals to butcher.
Amusingly, the five characters are Union POWs who escape from Richmond in 1865 by commandeering a hot-air balloon! (I just finished reading a newish book on Lincoln and watching the episodes of Lost with "Henry Gale from Minnesota" so the synergistic weirdiosity is blowing my mind!)
Cyrus Smith--19th-century MacGuyver? Am going to finish the book, but, as I said, am a little disappointed.
To make up for my disappointment, picked up The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling again under the influence of Comrade Curtin and the Steampunk thread. Don't know why I didn't care much for it the first time I read it (maybe I had a headache when I read it--I tend to ridiculously hold that against books!), so far this time around it's awesome.
Your in for a treat. While it isn't as good as neuromancer (few things are in my oppinion) it has moments of pure gibson brilliance.
And yeah, virtual light was great. Just hope the rest of the bridge is as good. the sprawl struggled to keep up with neuromancer.
Read the first third of Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island and was very disappointed to discover that this book is NOT the continuation of the adventures of Captain Nemo and the Nautilius.
Umm.... keep reading. You'll see.
And be sure to see the Harryhousen movie -- claymation terror birds for the win!
Your in for a treat. While it isn't as good as neuromancer (few things are in my oppinion) it has moments of pure gibson brilliance.And yeah, virtual light was great. Just hope the rest of the bridge is as good. the sprawl struggled to keep up with neuromancer.
I'm just glad that poor Keats got past 26 in this world!
The Byron and the Industrial Radicals thing is pretty funny--there's a quote from Marx (I think) somewhere about revolutionaries consider it a tragedy that Shelley died so young but that Byron died at just the right time before he could backslide!
Read the first third of Jules Verne's The Mysterious Island and was very disappointed to discover that this book is NOT the continuation of the adventures of Captain Nemo and the Nautilius.Umm.... keep reading. You'll see.
And be sure to see the Harryhousen movie -- claymation terror birds for the win!
Finally finished Swords of Dragonfire. I was constantly interrupted during a very long climax, so what could have been great reading turned into picking the book up every now and then to find that yep, they're still running through hallways and wait, who are these other people again?
Started The Sword Never Sleeps to finish off the trilogy, but also tucked in heavily to Birds of Prey and burned through about seventy-five issues so far that went from good but a bit cold (Chuck Dixon), to WTF is this?, to this reads like an obnoxious Barbie comic, before hitting Gail Simone who lends the characters just the right sort of family dynamic while still being strong ass-kicking ladies.
I'm currently reading 'Hitler's Holy Relics' The true story of the US army intel officer who was given 3 weeks to find the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire.
"Betrayer" by CJ Cherryh. Volume 12 of her Foreigner series.