Return of the Book Thread

[Arthur_Parker]

I like Abercrombie (the first 3)

Just finished those, I liked how the first one built slowly until near the end and then went nuts.

Of the eighty-three million Feist books, I liked the ones he did with Wurst -- the ones on Kelewan -- more than the others, simply because the world was novel and well done.

I reread those three every year or so.

[LK]

"Influencer: The Power to Change Anything"

I'm only 20% of the way through it and it is riveting in how knowledgeable it is on human behavior and psychology. I've been reading these books as a way to help deal with my own issues and psychoanalyze the self. The last year has seen significant gains in personal happiness, confidence, and knowledge as a result.

[Sand]

Finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen a week or so ago - ten fat novels, all great in their own way.

I to was perusing that series in the book store the other day. Does it have an ending or is it another Wheel of Time thing? I couldnt tell from what I saw on the shelf.

What was your over all impression?

[proudft]

I am UP TO DATE on Wheel of Time for the first time since probably 1996 or so.  The last two books were really pretty good.  Robert Jordan writes better from the grave, who knew?   Guess I should check out Brandon Sanderson's other books.

[tgr]

Brandon does write rather well, I have to admit. I'm waiting for the last book in the WoT series to be released before I slog through the entire series again, but from what I've read of Brandon earlier, I'm hopeful. I think the series was left in good hands.

[Ironwood]

Anyone read Heroes yet ?

[RhyssaFireheart]

Finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen a week or so ago - ten fat novels, all great in their own way.

I to was perusing that series in the book store the other day. Does it have an ending or is it another Wheel of Time thing? I couldnt tell from what I saw on the shelf.

What was your over all impression?

Malazan series is complete at 10 novels, last one just released a few months ago now.  I still need to get it, but I personally love the series.  Not sure if Erikson or Esslemont are going to write more books in the universe though.

[Arrrgh]

Finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen a week or so ago - ten fat novels, all great in their own way.

I to was perusing that series in the book store the other day. Does it have an ending or is it another Wheel of Time thing? I couldnt tell from what I saw on the shelf.

What was your over all impression?

It has a great ending with book 10.  A few people even lived.

The series as a whole has a few slow patches when it's the POV of someone you don't care for vs half the series being crap like WoT.

And he actually finished the series vs Martin who won't finish his at the rate he's going.

In terms of greatest fantasy series ever written I'd go LOTR, Malazan, and I'd have to think about 3rd place for a while.

[Arrrgh]

Finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen a week or so ago - ten fat novels, all great in their own way.

I to was perusing that series in the book store the other day. Does it have an ending or is it another Wheel of Time thing? I couldnt tell from what I saw on the shelf.

What was your over all impression?

Malazan series is complete at 10 novels, last one just released a few months ago now.  I still need to get it, but I personally love the series.  Not sure if Erikson or Esslemont are going to write more books in the universe though.

Erikson said he was doing two more trilogies in that universe. One was an early life of Anomander Rake sounding thing, and I forget what the other was about.

Esslemount still doesn't write well enough for me to get worked up about his plans.

[AcidCat]

Finished the Malazan Book of the Fallen a week or so ago - ten fat novels, all great in their own way.

I to was perusing that series in the book store the other day. Does it have an ending or is it another Wheel of Time thing? I couldnt tell from what I saw on the shelf.

What was your over all impression?

Not all loose ends are tied up, not everything is explained, but there is an actual ending to the main conflict. It's not a typical Big Bad vs. The World story so even that main conflict is not easily understood and doesn't start really coming together until the last few books. There are a lot of side and ancillary plotlines and characters, most of which are quite satisfying on their own. It's a complex story in a complex world, and the reader is kinda dropped in the middle of it and asked to just hang on for the ride. Erikson manages to combine a whole spectrum of characters from lowly footsoldiers to epic centuries-old magical badasses and somehow it all works without feeling cheesy or contrived. It has an overall grim, serious tone, but there are moments of levity.

[JWIV]

I don't mind the tone of the series, but the first two books so far have been a bit muddled.  There's a lot going on with the series, but I think it requires a lot more willingness to commit than I have.  When entire casts of characters are going to be sidelined for a book or two, it's a bit much to ask when the books are in the 500+ page count range.   

Another 4500+ pages of bouncing around between multiple casts of characters, complete with multiple continents, cities, and plotlines isn't exactly appealing to me right now.   

[AcidCat]

I can definitely see that kind of response to the books. They are dense and there is a huge cast, you may like a character and he won't show up again for two or three thousand pages of reading. But somehow they just clicked with me, I'd start each book and suddenly I'd be done and eager for the next.

[Paelos]

Make sure you like potsherds and ruins. There's a lot of them. Also, I think he fell in love with the word "sussuration" around Book 5.

[Sky]

I think f13 is geekspeek for "Saharan Vagina".

[proudft]

I did not like the first Malazan book at all.  I even read it twice since it got such high praise from various corners.  But it just did not float my boat, and I haven't gone on with the rest.   Something about the prose style is the best I can come up with.   Sussuration is an awesome word, though.  Maybe book one needs more sussuration.

[Ingmar]

Make sure you like potsherds and ruins. There's a lot of them. Also, I think he fell in love with the word "sussuration" around Book 5.

I might have to read these just to see if they out-sperge the blacksmithing stuff in the 2nd book in KJ Parker's Scavenger trilogy.

[Rasix]

I think f13 is geekspeek for "Saharan Vagina".

You're allowed to like books with glaring flaws. It's OK.  We all do.  

The sand is squarely in your mangina, friend.

I did not like the first Malazan book at all.  I even read it twice since it got such high praise from various corners.  But it just did not float my boat, and I haven't gone on with the rest.   Something about the prose style is the best I can come up with.   Sussuration is an awesome word, though.  Maybe book one needs more sussuration.

The first book is not as good as the rest.  He's still really finding his way as a writer.   I read book 2 first and went back to 1.  The difference was noticeable.  He also changes some characters around after book 1 going forward.  It seems like he noticed the weaknesses as well.

[Sky]

The sand is squarely in your mangina, friend.

I was hoping for a more rounded beach sand.

No fiction is doing anything for me right now, I've tried to get into four different books. I think reading textbooks for a month solid broke something.

[Morat20]

I did not like the first Malazan book at all.  I even read it twice since it got such high praise from various corners.  But it just did not float my boat, and I haven't gone on with the rest.   Something about the prose style is the best I can come up with.   Sussuration is an awesome word, though.  Maybe book one needs more sussuration.

Tiffany Aching is fond of 'susruss' herself.

As is, IIRC, Barbara Hambly.

[murdoc]

Just started  The Crippled God.

Dust of Dreams was good, but the last 6% of the book everything kinda goes 

I'm very curious what he's going to wrap up and how he's going to do it.

[Sand]

Okay so with like 4 thumbs up (and a huge recommendation putting it second to LOTR), one so-so and one did not like; I will clearly have to buy and read the Malazan series.

Right now sitting in the to be read box I have Martin's first in the Game of Thrones, and a boxed collection by Stephen Lawhead which looks to be a retelling of the Robinhood series.
I guess I will grab the Malazan and move them to the front of the line.

No fiction is doing anything for me right now, I've tried to get into four different books.

What do you normally like to read? What books have you really liked in the past?

[Paelos]

Malazan is in no way better than Game of Thrones. It's just longer and deeper.

Giggity.

[Murgos]

Okay so with like 4 thumbs up (and a huge recommendation putting it second to LOTR), one so-so and one did not like; I will clearly have to buy and read the Malazan series.

I'll just leave the comment I usually leave with someone considering the Malazan series.  If arch-mage, sword armed (swords instead of arms), plate-mailed, undead Tyrannosaurs are something your brain can process without kicking you in the stem and causing instant blindness and paralysis then, enjoy.

Me?  I couldn't make the leap.

[Rendakor]

Malazan is in no way better than Game of Thrones. It's just longer and deeper. completed.

Giggity.

FIFY.

[Sky]

What do you normally like to read? What books have you really liked in the past?

I work at a library and I'm engaged to marry the fiction librarian. Thanks anyway!

arch-mage, sword armed (swords instead of arms), plate-mailed, undead Tyrannosaurs

They were more like velociraptors.

[Murgos]

arch-mage, sword armed (swords instead of arms), plate-mailed, undead Tyrannosaurs

They were more like velociraptors.

The first ones were.  Later on as they got near the mother thingie they were described as being nearly 20' tall.

[Rasix]

This is all just begging for some really bad photoshopping.

[Arrrgh]

Malazan is in no way better than Game of Thrones. It's just longer and deeper. completed.

Giggity.

FIFY.

That's the point. The Malazan series is finished. If GRRM keels over tomorrow would you still think ASOIAF is better? Or what if GRRM says screw it and rushes out an ending to get all the fans off his back?

[Morat20]

arch-mage, sword armed (swords instead of arms), plate-mailed, undead Tyrannosaurs

They were more like velociraptors.

The first ones were.  Later on as they got near the mother thingie they were described as being nearly 20' tall.

This sounds suspiciously like what happens in a D&D game if you're plowing through the GM's pet creations too easily.

Did rocks fall and everyone die at the end?

[Paelos]

That's the point. The Malazan series is finished. If GRRM keels over tomorrow would you still think ASOIAF is better? Or what if GRRM says screw it and rushes out an ending to get all the fans off his back?

Yes, because his characters are distinct.

[Khaldun]

Halfway through Kameron Hurley's God's War. Kind of tough to get into at first but it gets rolling pretty well. Reminds me of Mieville in some ways, without the huge world-building. Interesting, intensely flawed protagonist.

[Johny Cee]

arch-mage, sword armed (swords instead of arms), plate-mailed, undead Tyrannosaurs

They were more like velociraptors.

The first ones were.  Later on as they got near the mother thingie they were described as being nearly 20' tall.

This sounds suspiciously like what happens in a D&D game if you're plowing through the GM's pet creations too easily.

Did rocks fall and everyone die at the end?

No, the insane-brood-mother thought that the character was one of her kids, so she ended up breaking most of his bones by hugging him.  Unfortunately for the Bad Guy, stealing that character pissed off the vain demi-god sorceress (with masked ninja/samurai butlers) and the undead neanderthal sword-master, who start taking apart one section of said bad guy's empire to get to the capital.

What?

[Sky]

Still better than invisible ninjas.

Invisible fucking ninjas. In a tournament campaign. Set in Greyhawk.

[Sand]

If arch-mage, sword armed (swords instead of arms), plate-mailed, undead Tyrannosaurs are something your brain can process without kicking you in the stem and causing instant blindness and paralysis then, enjoy.

Fuuuuuuuuck. You're kidding right? 

[Murgos]

I'll be fair and say that I think that was book 5 or 6, and that up to then I thought the series was really very good.