Karsa Orlong
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Posts posted by Karsa Orlong
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Had a nice delivery from Amazon yesterday: my paperback copy (already had the hardback) of Dust of Dreams, the ninth tale of 'The Malazan Book of The Fallen'. Had to get a Canadian edition, seeing as - with the 8th book - the size of the UK editions changed from regular to HUGE. Really annoys me when they change these things part way through a series. Still, happy now
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'I was set up,' Miz said incredulously. He flapped his arms as he turned back to look at the others. 'Some 'person of dubious parentage' had me steal the ****ing necklace and let Lebmellin think he was going to double-cross me, but they had it all worked out; ****ing Mind Bomb sh!t and the guns it switched off.'
Against A Dark Background - Iain M. Banks
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Oh, but both "The Pillars of The Earth" and "Neverwhere" are excellent books! First books, and then (if something is left over) comes food and rent and other unnecessary things!
Very true! I'll also need more shelf space soon, which has to be more important as well ...
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Damn Waterstones and their '3 for 2' deals
Bought:
The Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follett
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
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Rush - Beyond The Lighted Stage
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Over the weekend I read Tau Zero by Poul Anderson. It felt like reading a physics textbook
Then, last night, I read the first 100 pages or so of Iain M. Banks's Against A Dark Background. It was getting late and I couldn't put it down. You know that feeling you get when you start reading a book and you think to yourself "By 'eck, this is going to be good". After such a stonkingly good beginning it had better not let me down
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Last night I finished The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. Has anyone else read it?
It's set in 22nd century Bangkok, when the world has succumbed to all the environmental perils we know about - and then some more. The face of the world has been changed by rising sea levels. Conventional fuels are a thing of the past. Calories are now a form of currency. GM crops mutate on a regular basis and spread plagues, while American GM corporations try to stay one step ahead, dominating the global economy by selling their disease-free products. Only Thailand has remained independent, with its closely guarded seedbank - uninfected genetic material which the corporations covet.
Into this world the author throws a commendably small group of main characters: Anderson Lake, around whom the story pivots, is the undercover agent of one of the huge corporations; Hock Seng is a Malayan Chinese, a 'Yellow Card', who fled his country's ethnic cleansing, leaving behind his wealth and his family business; Jaidee and Kanya are soldiers for the Thai environment ministry; and then there's Emiko, the titular 'Windup Girl' - manufactured by the Japanese to be the perfect servant, she has been left behind in Bangkok and has fallen into a life of hatred and abuse from which she strives to escape.
From these various threads springs an action-packed story of industrial espionage, political strife and civil war. But, through it all, it's the characters that take centre stage.
The one warning I'd give about this novel is that there are a couple of horrific and disturbing scenes of sexual violence towards Emiko. I'm not sure I'd call them gratuitous, because - without spoiling anything - they do serve both the character and the story, but they make for uncomfortable reading.
Apart from that, the book is written in present tense and moves at a cracking pace which makes you want to see what happens next. When the revelations start to come thick and fast in its second half I found it almost hypnotic. Paolo's writing style is marvellous. And it has what will probably become one of my favourite covers of all time - it's so evocative.
With the aforementioned caveat aside, this book is utterly, utterly (utterly) brilliant. I've only just discovered that it won 2009's Nebula Award, and is up for a Hugo as well. Thoroughly deserved, imo.
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I read the first book last week. I enjoyed it, overall. I was worried, because the first hundred pages or so was quite pedestrian, then it really picked up and I thought the next 300 or more pages was brilliant. Then it sagged quite alarmingly towards the end.
But I have bought the next couple and will read them with interest
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Yeah I definitely think it was worth buying. You could be waiting for some time though; apparently its taken, or will have taken, 5 years for the second book to be released after the first one. Cannot begin to fathom how long it will take the third and final one to be released.
See, I'm already in this position with George R. R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice & Fire' series. It's five years since the last one of those was released, and there's supposedly another two to come after the next one - so I don't particularly want another series like it on my hands at the moment.
I know I'll eventually give in to temptation, though
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I've picked this book up a few times and considered buying it but have been put off by the lack of further books in the series. I made a decision a while ago not to buy into a series unless it's complete or at least nearly complete, so it's a no go for me at the moment, but I'm intrigued by the idea that it's written like a biography. It's definitely one I'll consider in the future.
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The Dying Earth series are also very good, and doesn't matter what order you read them in.
I got the Fantasy Masterworks edition of this. If I enjoy it and have to go and buy the other books you mentioned above I will blame you
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Anybody else here read Jack Vance? I know I am biased but both his sci-fi and fantasy stuff are incredible, and his use of language is beautiful.
I bought Tales of the Dying Earth today. Looking forward to reading it
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Just finished Empire In Black And Gold, the first in the 'Shadows of The Apt' series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Slightly confused by this one. I thought the first hundred pages was very pedstrian then, for the next three hundred or so, I thought it was brilliant, and then it kind of lost its way towards the end. Bit of a problem with the pacing. Still, it's understandable, being his debut novel. I shall still read the next one with interest.
Also bought a load more books today:
Tau Zero by Poul Anderson
Non-Stop by Brian Aldiss
Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance
Elric by Michael Moorcock
The Killing Floor by Lee Child
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Three of them were planned, two of them were impulse buys
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I'm not against reading a long saga per-say, but it would have to be split up into parts that I could read in stages (like the Shanara books, for example).
Raven, have you considered Glen Cook's 'Black Company' books? They seem to fit a lot of the criteria you mention. They're of reasonable length, are composed of shorter story arcs (each arc is currently available in its own omnibus edition), contain none of the cliches mentioned, and - wait for it - there are NO maps!!
They're different and quite gritty. To me, they always come across as what fantasy would be like if written by James Ellroy.
You can read the start of the first book here: http://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Black-Company-Glen-Cook/dp/0765319233/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277152770&sr=8-4#reader_0765319233
Highly recommended
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That's a shame. Most of the top-notch fantasy novels I've read are fairly huge - and parts of larger series, as well - so they do require something of a commitment, fortunately/unfortunately (depending upon personal tastes).
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Ha ha don't think any of the options have those in them.
*cough* Hermione Granger *cough*
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Oh, and how could I forget Guy Gavriel Kay. Brilliant!
I've been trying to get hold of Tigana (didn't he play for France??) but it seems to be difficult to get hold of at the moment in the UK. Apparently it's being re-released next year, though ...
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And maps, god I hate maps in fantasy books.
You've got no hope, then
:DIt's not so much the orcs and elves part of fantasy that I find clich -
In the Song of Fire and Ice series, what is the name of the first book?
In order, they're:
A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast For Crows
There are three more books due in the series, but he's taking his time about it! It's currently five years since the last one, so that might be a bit offputting.
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Going by your list, you should definitely seek out:
David Edding's series called 'The Belgariad', starting with Pawn of Prophecy
Tad Williams' 'Memory, Sorrow & Thorn' series, starting with The Dragonbone Chair
Raymond E. Feist's 'Riftwar Saga', starting with Magician.
If you want a book that stands on its own, I can't recommend David Gemmell's Legend highly enough - it's fantastic.
You could also try Robin Hobb, although she's not my personal favourite.
At the risk of sounding like a scratched record (anyone remember those??), if you want something more challenging you should try George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice & Fire' series, or Steven Erikson's 'Malazan Book of The Fallen'. These are definitely aimed at older readers, though, so you might want to check out the extracts available on Amazon.com before diving in.
I'll also go out on a limb - as I'm only half way through the first book - but I am thoroughly enjoying Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the first novel in his 'Shadows of the Apt' series.
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My Empty Room by Queensryche
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I read a lot of both. It's hard to pick between them, to be honest, although I think there's more variety and a lot more fresh and exciting ideas in sf.
When fantasy's done well, like with Steven Erikson or George RR Martin, very little can beat it, imo. It has to bring something new and inventive to the genre to really grab me, and both of those have done that in spades.
With sf it's easier to find a book you can read, enjoy, and then not have to go out and buy another ten books in order to see the end of the story, which is a bonus
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The Spirit of Radio - Rush
That's my favourite song
Buying New Soul by Porcupine Tree
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Out On A Limb by Lunatic Soul
Where to start with China Mieville?
in Book Search and Reading Recommendations
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I started with Perdido Street Station, which was excellent, highly recommended. Both The Scar and Iron Council are set in the same universe but aren't direct sequels.