Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[Scepticalscribe]

In fairness the main editor was Jordan’s wife and probably a bit too taken by the material and author. The Sanderson books are heavily based on Jordan’s notes and are equally very long. I do hope that the material and story gets thicker by then.

Agreed.

However, I think that Sanderson (who - unfortunately, and increasingly - also suffers from the vice of crafting and creating interminable books and worse, the sort of mega meta series that forgets that a good story is supposed to come to an end) is a better writer than Jordan was.

 

[960design]

Reading book 9 of the Wheel of Time. Trying to finish the series this year but also toying with the idea of having a break and reading the latest trilogy of Joe Abercrombie for a change.

Awesome!
I just finished book 9 as well and went to Ancillary Justice for vacation. Will start back with book 10 in the next day or two.

 

[cdcastillo]

"The pre-hispanic world for people in a hurry".

 

[JohnR]

just finished this. Though I knew a lot about Eddie due to being a huge fan, this did have some stuff I did not know about. I enjoyed this book. RIP Eddie!

 

[JohnR]

Now I started this...so far a VERY good book.

 

[pachyderm]

just finished this. Though I knew a lot about Eddie due to being a huge fan, this did have some stuff I did not know about. I enjoyed this book. RIP Eddie!

Nice.

I find myself wanting to read up on Brian Jones. Anyone got a good rec on a bio for him?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Now I started this...so far a VERY good book.

They made way too much money off of the suffering and death they created. Money sure does talk loudly, don't it...

 

[pachyderm]

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I know someone who is reading it. I really try to not get reviews from friends before reading a book. (It's just me) But am surprised that there are a LOT of surprisingly good potential books to wallow in. Some seem better than others. Can't wait.

 

[pachyderm]

View attachment 1939480

@PinkyMacGodess - Well this was fantastic.

I actually ordered Mastodonia first but it took longer to ship.

 

[scubachap]

@PinkyMacGodess - Well this was fantastic.

I actually ordered Mastodonia first but it took longer to ship.

Looks interesting - what's these two about? No need to be specific - looks SciFi?

 

[pachyderm]

Looks interesting - what's these two about? No need to be specific - looks SciFi?

The Werewolf Principle - Lost astronaut from 200 years past is found and studied.

Mastodonia - Aliens, time travel.

 

[scubachap]

The Werewolf Principle - Lost astronaut from 200 years past is found and studied.

Mastodonia - Aliens, time travel.

Thanks - I might give them a go…

 

[pachyderm]

Thanks - I might give them a go…

I think they are worth it. Quick reads as well.

 

[Huntn]

Interested to get your thoughts on this when finished. Two unrelated friends put the series (in one case also other books of his) down as both depressing and just far too stretched out.

Ah.

I look forward to reading your thoughts.


Actually, I really liked the series, although it did become darker as it progressed.

And, I agree, some of his other work is far too stretched out, something that is the perennial curse of some fantasy writers.

However, I must say that I absolutely loved the first Mistborn book. I thought it brilliant.

By itself, it stands alone, - one narrative arc has been completed - and is a genuinely gripping, well-paced tale, with terrific world-building, some great ideas, an amazing (and entirely original) system of magic, some wonderful characters, evil but elegant aristocrats, an appalling and powerful pseudo-divinity as the (primary) antagonist, and a fantastic female protagonist.

What is there not to like?

I await your thoughts with interest.

Regarding Mistborn: The Final Empire this fantasy story is the first book in a long time where I was having trouble putting it down.

It’s in a medieval setting not unlike Game of Thrones, no advanced technology, but there is magic. The author as far as I can tell, defined several disciplines of magic involving metal. One allomancy, is the ingestion of metals which give physical powers to push and pull, strength and resilience, enhanced senses, mental powers to effect others emotions, and mystic abilities to see into the future and past.

There are interesting characters, a flamboyant male, a subdued female heroine who discovers her strength, nobles and peasants, palace intrigue, some romance, and a rebellion fueled by an oppressive magic endued ruler. There are a couple of magic duels that are riveting which I read through twice especially the story’s climax.

Onto the second book to see if it as depressing as some reports indicate!

 

[Huntn]

View attachment 1920686

Reading this classic Sci-Fi novel, written in 1963, Hugo Award winner in 1964. I had not read it previously, in fact I haven't read many of Simak's novels but I have another one just purchased that I'll be reading next ("The Werewolf Principle").

After I finish with the Mistborn Trilogy, I’ll be looking in this direction.

 

[Phil77354]

After I finish with the Mistborn Trilogy, I’ll be looking in this direction.

I hope you like it! I've read both The Werewolf Principle and Mastodonia recently (it looks like @pachyderm has as well), enjoyed both very much. I also have City by Simak, but first I decided to go back and re-read a book that I read many years ago:

 

[wonderings]

Going through the audio book for The Every by David Eggers. It is a follow up to The Circle. The Circle was not a good book in terms of characters but it was pretty prophetic in its views of tech and the dangers. The Every seems to be following that but not as far out there on the tech and how people will use it. Not sold on any of the characters but I think he has some great insight on the dangers of tech and where it can lead, especially in the realm of social media.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Regarding Mistborn: The Final Empire this fantasy story is the first book in a long time where I was having trouble putting it down.

It’s in a medieval setting not unlike Game of Thrones, no advanced technology, but there is magic. The author as far as I can tell, defined several disciplines of magic involving metal. One allomancy, is the ingestion of metals which give physical powers to push and pull, strength and resilience, enhanced senses, mental powers to effect others emotions, and mystic abilities to see into the future and past.

There are interesting characters, a flamboyant male, a subdued female heroine who discovers her strength, nobles and peasants, palace intrigue, some romance, and a rebellion fueled by an oppressive magic endued ruler. There are a couple of magic duels that are riveting which I read through twice especially the story’s climax.

Onto the second book to see if it as depressing as some reports indicate!

The second book is very good, (and yes, it does get depressing - Sanderson loves putting his characters through some serious if not traumatic punishment) but - to be honest, - I preferred the first book (The Final Empire), which I think genuinely excellent; the third book is - to my mind - the most depressing.

However, Elend's growth and development in the second book are exceedingly well done, (in any case, I like Elend, and I also very much like his relationship with Vin), and I'm always appreciative of any scene that features Sazad.

Besides, I really liked the crew, especially Vin, (and I especially loved her training in all of the various disciplines, spy craft as much as magical warfare), the setting, the magic duels (brilliantly written), the balls in the various Great Houses, and the culture, economics, religion and politics of this world.

 

[Madonepro]

The Thursday Murder Club

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?

 

[Crowbot]

Growing Up with MANOS the Hands of Fate

I'm reading it now. Fascinating look behind the scenes. With a forward by Joel Hodgson.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Having finished the TV series, I am re-reading Discovery of Witches.
The first chapter reminds me of my youth, many hours spent in the NSW State Library, calling up books from the stack, climbing up stairs to find special books I needed for assignments.
Not that I bumped into any vampires or witches there, but who knows?

Is this the sign of a well-written book, that you can find parts that reflect your life exactly?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Having finished the TV series, I am re-reading Discovery of Witches.
The first chapter reminds me of my youth, many hours spent in the NSW State Library, calling up books from the stack, climbing up stairs to find special books I needed for assignments.
Not that I bumped into any vampires or witches there, but who knows?

Is this the sign of a well-written book, that you can find parts that reflect your life exactly?

I had to stop reading Dilbert (a comic strip) because far too many of their strips were matching up too closely with my job at the time. Like way too closely...

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I had to stop reading Dilbert (a comic strip) because far too many of their strips were matching up too closely with my job at the time. Like way too closely...

Okay, the one strip that really pushed me nearly over the edge was the one where Dilbert is moved to a new office setting, and is told that he doesn't 'rate a window' but because there aren't enough windowless offices available, they had to put a partition wall up to block his view. I KID YOU NOT! And 'the view'? It was the parking lot! Prime view there.

Then, a 'co-worker' was put in that office, and the partition was put between us, because she was approved for 'the view', and I still wasn't. But there's more... They redid the offices, and I still didn't rate a window, but got the largest desk in the entire building. People joked about it being where the last supper was held, and people were pissed that I had the 'big desk', and said that was better then 'the view'. Eventually, there was a 'reorg', and I was put into a seriously small cubie, and, as some put it 'put in my place' because apparently I found a way to use all of that huge desk and couldn't figure out a way to share it. I was left just stunned at the immaturity of those co-workers, and the way that some of the division heads deliberately PLAYED the angst to whip up emotions and ridiculousness...

So, I did not find that strip funny, although I did post it on the office door. The main instigator for the animus said it 'was in poor taste', that it 'was funny' and he 'should start reading Dilbert' probably for more ideas on employee torture. I was the most productive programmer they had, and when I quit, I'm sure they felt the pain but I *had* to quit. It was too insane working there.

A partition to block the view of the parking lot because I didn't rate such a lush view? Good grief... People were obviously under utilized...

 

[bradl]

Okay, the one strip that really pushed me nearly over the edge was the one where Dilbert is moved to a new office setting, and is told that he doesn't 'rate a window' but because there aren't enough windowless offices available, they had to put a partition wall up to block his view. I KID YOU NOT! And 'the view'? It was the parking lot! Prime view there.

Then, a 'co-worker' was put in that office, and the partition was put between us, because she was approved for 'the view', and I still wasn't. But there's more... They redid the offices, and I still didn't rate a window, but got the largest desk in the entire building. People joked about it being where the last supper was held, and people were pissed that I had the 'big desk', and said that was better then 'the view'. Eventually, there was a 'reorg', and I was put into a seriously small cubie, and, as some put it 'put in my place' because apparently I found a way to use all of that huge desk and couldn't figure out a way to share it. I was left just stunned at the immaturity of those co-workers, and the way that some of the division heads deliberately PLAYED the angst to whip up emotions and ridiculousness...

So, I did not find that strip funny, although I did post it on the office door. The main instigator for the animus said it 'was in poor taste', that it 'was funny' and he 'should start reading Dilbert' probably for more ideas on employee torture. I was the most productive programmer they had, and when I quit, I'm sure they felt the pain but I *had* to quit. It was too insane working there.

A partition to block the view of the parking lot because I didn't rate such a lush view? Good grief... People were obviously under utilized...

Not for nothing, but if they were saying this to you and saying it aloud, that would have definitely met the definition of a hostile work environment. A word with HR would have shut that up and put them in the sun bin.. and if more were said, a lawsuit could have come into play.

BL.