Timstar Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 I have had a short break from horror,sci-fi and fantasy. Read Gates of Fire and To Kill A Mockingbird, plus a holiday in their somewhere. But I did not have a break from buying more. Tim Powers - The Anubis Gates Roger Zelazny - The Amber Chronicles (the first half) (Two of which are signed by the author ) Vinge Vernor - A Fire Upon the Deep Isaac Asimov - Lots, including Foundation Jack Vance - Emphyrio Walter Miller Jr. - A Canticle for Leibowitz Going to start The Belgariad by David Eddings now. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 Going to start The Belgariad by David Eddings now. Hope you enjoy it - I loved that series when I was younger Did you enjoy Gates of Fire? Quote
Timstar Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 Yeah loved it, masterful prose and brilliant narrative. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 Glad you enjoyed it. I must give one or two of his other novels a go. Quote
Timstar Posted June 16, 2012 Author Posted June 16, 2012 Yeah his others seem interesting too! I've met Silk, a great character so far. Quote
vodkafan Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 . Tim Powers - The Anubis Gates Roger Zelazny - The Amber Chronicles (the first half) (Two of which are signed by the author ) Vinge Vernor - A Fire Upon the Deep Isaac Asimov - Lots, including Foundation Jack Vance - Emphyrio Walter Miller Jr. - A Canticle for Leibowitz s'funny how people seem to pick up Emphryrio - this is one of Vance's weakest books IMO Quote
Kylie Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 s'funny how people seem to pick up Emphryrio - this is one of Vance's weakest books IMO It's the one I have on my TBR pile too. I chose it because it was part of the SF Masterworks series. I'm not sure if Vance has any more books listed in the series, but I figured Emphyrio must be good if it was on the list. I've been using the series as a guide to help me choose SF books by authors I've heard of (such as Michael Moorcock and Jack Vance) but I might have no idea where to start. Quote
Timstar Posted June 16, 2012 Author Posted June 16, 2012 s'funny how people seem to pick up Emphryrio - this is one of Vance's weakest books IMO well given your views on Vance I guess that means it's a great novel! Quote
Devi Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 I'm eager more than ever to read I am Legend now, thanks to your review! It's on my shelf. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 (edited) s'funny how people seem to pick up Emphryrio - this is one of Vance's weakest books IMO Which is bizarre, because it's the only one I've really liked so far I think it's because it's part of the SF Masterworks series, as Kylie said, and is easier to get hold of than most. Same for the Dying Earth books, which are part of the Fantasy Masterworks series. Edited June 17, 2012 by Karsa Orlong Quote
vodkafan Posted June 17, 2012 Posted June 17, 2012 Which is bizarre, because it's the only one I've really liked so far We seem to be diametrically opposed. However after reading my first Michael Moorcock I have hopes that we can find some common ground in the middle ! Jewel In The Skull was brilliant! Quote
Timstar Posted June 18, 2012 Author Posted June 18, 2012 (edited) Pawn of Prophecy - David Eddings Synopsis Long ago, the evil God Torak fought a war to obtain an object of immense power - the Orb of Aldur. But Torak was defeated and the Orb reclaimed by Belgarath the sorcerer. Garion, a young farm lad, loves the story when he first hears it from the old storyteller. But it has nothing to do with him. Or does it? For the stories also tell of a prophecy that must be fulfilled - a destiny handed down through the generations. And Torak is stirring again . . . Review The start of a traditional fantasy series that I should have read in my childhood but never mind, I get to enjoy it now. It's an old story, a farm boy discovers there is more to world than he could imagine, and begins his quest to save the world. I really enjoyed this, nice to have a fantasy series with small instalments that move at a nice pace. The characterisation is splendid and we are slowly introduced to the magical world. It left me wanting to move straight onto the next book to discover more. I will force myself to have a short break before the next one though. Not sure what yet though. Edited June 18, 2012 by Timstar Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted June 18, 2012 Posted June 18, 2012 Has Silk's nose been twitching much yet? Quote
Timstar Posted June 25, 2012 Author Posted June 25, 2012 Has Silk's nose been twitching much yet? Hasn't started yet.. must be later. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings Synopsis The quest for the Orb of Aldur continues and the farm boy Garion discovers more of his origins and powers. Review The second book of the Belgariad continued right were the first one left off, but this time it is bigger and better. More characters, more adventures, more danger and more fun then the first. The structure is similar, previous questions are answered and new ones are asked. A thoroughly enjoyable read that just flew by. Fully engrossed into the series now, I only hope the quality remains high. Overall 9/10 Quote
Timstar Posted June 25, 2012 Author Posted June 25, 2012 Having a short break from these genres. Reading Of Mice and Men and then the next Sharpe book by Bernard Cornwell. Quote
Timstar Posted June 26, 2012 Author Posted June 26, 2012 Bought a few more books from the Charity shop today. Arthur C. Clarke - Profiles of the Future Ray Bradbury - Quicker Than the Eye Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game Steven Pressfield - The Afghan Campaign also got Adam Nevill's Banquet for the Damned from the Library. Quote
Timstar Posted July 1, 2012 Author Posted July 1, 2012 Magician's Gambit by David Eddings Review. not too much I can say about this that hasn't already been covered in the previous two reviews. The whole series feels like one book/story split into 5 parts as oppose to some series such as Mistborn where every book as an overall story arc. Every addition is another leg in the quest to reclaim the Orb of Aldur and this one does let down. The fastest pace of them so far, it kicks the action up a gear as well as expanding the magic, religions and races. The characters develop further and become even more lovable which I didn't think was possible at this point. Another brilliant addition to an already brilliant series. Overall 9/10 Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 You must've met Ce'Nedra by now, then I think it was Magician's Gambit where she turns up, or was it in Queen of Sorcery? Quote
Timstar Posted July 1, 2012 Author Posted July 1, 2012 It was Queen of Sorcery, but she didn't do much. Much more of her in MG, probably my favourite character, can't wait to see what happens with her. Silk was also brilliant in this book, lots of nose twitching Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted July 1, 2012 Posted July 1, 2012 Silk was also brilliant in this book, lots of nose twitching LOL, it's about time! I can see I'm going to have to read them again, so many memories of those books ... Quote
Timstar Posted July 1, 2012 Author Posted July 1, 2012 all good I hope I was wondering if you or VF know of a light-hearted non-continuous sci-fi series? Something along the lines of Sharpe (in space) or Firefly. Something like that would be great fun I reckon. Quote
Karsa Orlong Posted July 2, 2012 Posted July 2, 2012 None that I've read, unfortunately. There's a bit of a gap in the market there, I reckon. I'm interested in these: Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat books David Weber's Honor Harrington books E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman books ... but, as I haven't read any of them yet, I have no idea what they're like. Quote
Timstar Posted July 2, 2012 Author Posted July 2, 2012 OK thanks I will have a look. One I found is Weirdspace: The Devil's Nebula by Eric Brown. Only one out at the moment but looks like it will be a series. Quote
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