Karsa Orlong

I've only just read Hyperion. I don't know why it took me so long to get around to it, as it's been on my radar for ages, and I've read several other of Simmons's novels (Carrion Comfort, Illium, The Terror). Haven't read the whole thread in case of spoilers for the following books, but I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed all of the tales within the tale, but especially Sol's story, which I found quite heartbreaking.

My TBR 'pile' has just grown a bit ... Fallen Idols by Neil White The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter The Infidel by Bob Shepherd The Strain by Chuck Hogan and Guillermo del Toro The Bones of Avalon by Phil Rickman Damn Amazon and their Kindle sale Add The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons to that list, although that one wasn't in the sale

Sounds like I chose a good one to start with

Apparently the bear and her three cubs have been shot dead since then: http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/08/14/54636174.html

Yikes, nature seems to be striking back this week (there aren't any pictures but it's quite a harrowing read): http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/265455/Bear-s-eating-me-girl-told-mum-in-call http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/seychelles/8705832/Shark-kills-British-honeymooner-in-Seychelles.html

When I saw Opeth at Shepherd's Bush Empire a couple of years back, Mikael decided to ask the audience who was the best band from Sweden. Everyone shouted 'Abba!' I've only got Clayman by In Flames - shall have to check out some more I've pre-ordered the cd/dvd from their website but am now being very tempted by the super-deluxe collector's edition ... Damn. Okay, I succumbed and got The Devil's Orchard off iTunes. I love it already.

The Kindle edition of The Leopard is currently going for £2.79. The first three books translated to English (The Redbreast, Nemesis, Devil's Star) are available for the Kindle in one bundle for £8 (as opposed to £3.19 each individually - bargain!) Also, just noticed that the English translation of his standalone thriller called Headhunters is coming out in September.

I've only read A Maiden's Grave of his, but I thought it was really good. Must read some more at some point.

I'm just over halfway through Hyperion - absolutely loving it I've really enjoyed all three of the books I've read in the series. If you like historical fiction and murder mysteries I can't recommend them highly enough

I listened to the first minute or two of it then turned it off - not because I didn't like it but because I am determined to wait until I've got the cd in my grubby mitts to listen to it properly Not long to go now ... Having another Pineapple Thief morning, Tightly Unwound this time

Seems likely, doesn't it? And maybe touchscreen? Although I believe Amazon are working on a tablet to compete with the iPad, so maybe that'll delay Kindle 4?

Grrrrrrrr You might like their forthcoming album, though - no growly bits at all, apparently Try

I think the Kindle is fantastic - I really wouldn't be without it, now. It's really easy to use (scarily easy to go online with it and start buying books), and it saves a lot of shelf space

Ironclad - not brilliant but not bad either

How about Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury? I haven't read it, but have it in my TBR list. It sounds like it might fit the bill.

You're quite right. And I like Devin Townsend, too!

Yep, I don't think Strauss and Flower will let it slip without a fight. I've been following test cricket for the best part of 40 years and this is easily the best England team I've seen. Six series wins on the trot, including two Ashes series, and 20 wins for Strauss as captain, in two and a half years. I'm almost as disbelieving as Kylie is I'm off to do some ice skating

I finished Steven Saylor's Catalina's Riddle, which was brilliant, and have started on Dan Simmons' Hyperion, which took me a few pages to get into the mind-set for, but then I couldn't put it down

Catalina's Riddle by Steven Saylor This is the third in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series, the mystery/crime novels set in ancient Rome, featuring Gordianus the Finder. This one is set some nine years after the previous book, and Gordianus has moved to a farm north of Rome that was bequeathed to him by an old friend. Unfortunately, that old friend's family are not too happy that an outsider has been given the property, or that that outsider enlisted the help of Cicero to fight his legal battles. Into this mix, Cicero then asks Gordianus to spy on his enemy, Catalina, by allowing the man to stay at the farm during his frequent travels to the north, where he is allegedly conspiring to overthrow the senate and bring Rome to its knees. When Gordianus seems reluctant to participate in Cicero's plan, he finds he headless body on his property. I thought this was another great read from Saylor. It's not as deep or exciting a mystery as the previous two books, but Saylor weaves real history throughout the novel with a lot of skill. It's maybe not as subtle as in the previous books. Several of Cicero's speeches are repeated here, and one particular event needs a huge pinch of salt to swallow, but the writing and characters are so good that it's easy to forgive. Saylor says that his main mission with this book was to provide a fictional account of Catalina where he was neither villified nor deified, and I think he's succeeded. Catalina comes across as a magnetic presence, but flawed in many ways, and the way in which Gordianus is drawn to him and yet dislikes him is really well handled. Many of the events in this book were also in Robert Harris's Lustrum, which I read last year. That book used Cicero as its protagonist, so it was interesting to see it all presented in a subtly different light here. I can highly recommend both books. 8/10

And thoroughly deserved, too! :yahoo:

You're the only person I know who thinks that

The Wire and The Shield are my two favourites.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more disappointed I am with ADWD. Five pages of excitement. A thousand pages of nothing much happening. Ho hum. Review

Legend of the Guardians. Stunning animation, absolutely stunning ( ). The story was a bit meh, though.

Great band!