Steve's Bookshelf 2012

[Karsa Orlong]

That's the one i've got, I do recommend it, it's very nice

 

That's good to know, thanks Tim. Now I know what I want for Christmas - apart from Kate Beckett, that is

 

It would've been nice to have all the SF Masterworks hardback editions, though. Mind you, I suppose there's nothing to stop me getting those as well . . .

[Timstar]

That's good to know, thanks Tim. Now I know what I want for Christmas - apart from Kate Beckett, that is

 

It would've been nice to have all the SF Masterworks hardback editions, though. Mind you, I suppose there's nothing to stop me getting those as well . . .

 

That's the spirit!

[vodkafan]

Sorry I liked all of those covers. Nice art. Who is Kate Beckett?

[poppyshake]

Yes who is she?

[Karsa Orlong]

You guys can't have seen Castle

 

 

 

 

Of course, if she happened to be unavailable (although I can't imagine why that would be the case) I would settle for Kate Beckinsale

[Karsa Orlong]

Book #65: Stormrider by David Gemmell

 

 

 

Blurb:

 

One glorious spark, one moment of Rigante rebellion has ignited a revolution and forged a legend. In the mountains of the north, the outlaw leader known as Ravenheart waits, knowing the forces of the blackhearted Moidart will come, led by the brutal ruler’s only son, Stormrider. Unaware that the fate of the world lies in their hands, sworn enemies Ravenheart and Stormrider will be forced to unite—and face the vengeance of an ancient evil.

 

For immense armies of darkness are advancing on the highlanders, and it seems as if nothing will stop them. They crush their victims with ease, until only a few thousand men stand before them, with no help in sight. But these are not ordinary men they face. They are clansmen, and more than that, they are Rigante . . .

 

 

Thoughts:

 

For the first half to two thirds of this book I was thinking it was the best of Gemmell's work I have read to date. It has a truly epic quality to it, continuing a while after the previous book in his 'Rigante' series, Ravenheart, and reintroducing many of the surviving characters from that story. For once with Gemmell, I'd say reading the previous novel is essential to getting the most from this one. Kaelin Ring and Gaise Macon, whose soul names are the Ravenheart and Stormrider of the titles, have lives which have seemingly been destined to clash sooner or later. When an ancient magical artifact is unearthed by an inherently evil man, and used for his purposes, civil war looms, inexorably drawing the Varlish Gaise and the Rigante Kaelin together.

 

Much of the first half of the book concentrates on relationships and conflicts, and this is where the book is at its best. Gemmell was a master of characterisation, and had a marvellously subtle way of filling in backstory without resorting to page after page of exposition. He does that here with aplomb, and also introduces some new characters, such as the Cochland brothers, who bring a welcome bit of levity to proceedings.

 

However, in the latter stages of the book (and this is a long book by Gemmell's standards, at 600 pages), as the war commences, he seems to lose his way a little. There is very little in the way of the emotional punch that he usually weaved throughout his stories, and certainly nothing to match the ending of the previous book. In fact, I'm not sure I liked the ending of Stormrider, as it seems to rely on a somewhat deus ex machina conclusion which doesn't sit well with the rest of the tale, and certainly doesn't reflect the path the previous three books have taken to get here. Yes, fate has always been at the heart of them, but this ending seemed to me to be just a little bit too convenient, despite the tagged on epilogue. Even the last line of the novel is nowhere near his usual quality. Whereas his books usually leave me with a lump in my throat, or my jaw on the floor, this one did neither.

 

Perhaps this was down to a desire to bring a conclusion to the series within this fourth book, and there was a need to tie up all loose ends (bar one, which left me fairly annoyed). Yet, despite my misgivings about the ending, it is still an immensely enjoyable read, streets ahead of most other fantasy. It's just that the three previous books in the series are so good, this one feel a bit of a let down. Shame!

 

 

7/10

[Karsa Orlong]

So, seeing as I finally got my TBR pile below 70, I cunningly decided it was time to buy some books. This was aided when I found a branch of Waterstone's I'd never been in before, at Finchley Road, and it was a lot bigger and better than I was expecting. So I went through some of the sf/fantasy books on my wishlist (they had loads of them!) but then remembered something I'd promised about what the first book I bought would be when I reached the 70 mark. So, in the end, after much back and forth, deciding on this, changing my mind about that, I bought:

 

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters (I promised someone I'd get this . . . )

 

Master & Commander - Patrick O'Brian (one of the first books to make it onto my wishlist, finally purchased!)

 

The guy at the till decided to take issue with the first of those - what business it was of his I don't know!

 

 

So my TBR pile is no longer below 70

 

I'm now setting myself the target of getting it down to 60 by the end of the year - including buying some more new books

[Raven]

After the lovely SF Masterworks hardback editions of The Time Machine and The Island of Doctor Moreau, I'm quite disappointed with the cover art for the recently released hardback edition of The War of the Worlds and the upcoming The Invisible Man and The First Men in the Moon:

 

The War of the Worlds and The First Men in the Moon covers are old designs, from when they originally released them in paperback (probably the best part of a decade ago now).

Edited October 1, 2012 by Raven

[frankie]

So, seeing as I finally got my TBR pile below 70, I cunningly decided it was time to buy some books. This was aided when I found a branch of Waterstone's I'd never been in before, at Finchley Road, and it was a lot bigger and better than I was expecting. So I went through some of the sf/fantasy books on my wishlist (they had loads of them!) but then remembered something I'd promised about what the first book I bought would be when I reached the 70 mark. So, in the end, after much back and forth, deciding on this, changing my mind about that, I bought:

 

Fingersmith - Sarah Waters (I promised someone I'd get this . . . )

 

Wohoo!

 

Okay, I shall try another one of your sci-fi/fantasy recommendations in turn, in the near future

 

Edit: And what the hell, did the guy give you lip about Fingersmith??

[Karsa Orlong]

The War of the Worlds and The First Men in the Moon covers are old designs, from when they originally released them in paperback (probably the best part of a decade ago now).

 

Yep, same as for many of the other re-releases in the current run. I saw the WotW hardback today and, sadly for Gollancz, this garish yellow tint they're using on the current editions makes them look even uglier than they did originally

Edited October 1, 2012 by Karsa Orlong

[frankie]

I hate those garish yellow tinted hardbacks. Yuckity yuck!

[Karsa Orlong]

Edit: And what the hell, did the guy give you lip about Fingersmith??

 

I couldn't understand exactly what he said, cos he had quite a thick French accent, but he started off by saying something like "Oh, I see you're getting Sarah Waters so you decided to get this one [meaning Master & Commander] to cover it up", and then he said "I would've just gone for this one" pointing at Master & Commander. And he slipped the word 'salacious' in there somewhere, too. Or maybe it was 'salient', who can tell?

 

I felt like saying "Don't you want my money, then?" - but I didn't

 

I hate those garish yellow tinted hardbacks. Yuckity yuck!

 

The ones for The Time Machine and The Island of Doctor Moreau are decent, especially the former. These other ones aren't

[frankie]

I couldn't understand exactly what he said, cos he had quite a thick French accent, but he started off by saying something like "Oh, I see you're getting Sarah Waters so you decided to get this one [meaning Master & Commander] to cover it up", and then he said "I would've just gone for this one" pointing at Master & Commander. And he slipped the word 'salacious' in there somewhere, too. Or maybe it was 'salient', who can tell?

 

What a tosser!

 

The ones for The Time Machine and The Island of Doctor Moreau are decent, especially the former. These other ones aren't

 

I believe I have the ugly yellow copy of TTM, I'm not liking it one bit.

[Karsa Orlong]

What a tosser!

 

Nah, he was alright, really. At least he was chatty

 

 

I believe I have the ugly yellow copy of TTM, I'm not liking it one bit.

 

Aw, I like the one for TTM. The yellow works on that one, for me, cos the illustration's supposed to be on a faded piece of paper

[vodkafan]

Fingersmith is absolutely brilliant in my opinion. Dickens could not have wrote it better the plot is genius. Not going to tell you anything about it !! I envy you reading it for the first time.

I would not describe anything in it as "salacious" or "salient"

Edited October 1, 2012 by vodkafan

[Timstar]

I still like the penguin classics editions of the H.G. Wells Got a few somewhere.

[Karsa Orlong]

I still like the penguin classics editions of the H.G. Wells Got a few somewhere.

 

I've got the Penguin Classics edition of The War of the Worlds - it is rather nice (and it came free with, I think, Empire magazine, or was it SFX?)

[poppyshake]

What a tosser!

:D .. so well put frankie. Being chatty is one thing but he shouldn't have made remarks about the books you were buying Steve .. especially negative remarks .. so unprofessional. Who cares what HE would have bought ... tell him if he's paying then he can choose .. tosser!

[Kylie]

I couldn't understand exactly what he said, cos he had quite a thick French accent, but he started off by saying something like "Oh, I see you're getting Sarah Waters so you decided to get this one [meaning Master & Commander] to cover it up", and then he said "I would've just gone for this one" pointing at Master & Commander.

 

That is so rude!! It sounds like he's implying that you should be ashamed or embarrassed to be buying the Sarah Waters book!

 

I believe I have the ugly yellow copy of TTM, I'm not liking it one bit.

Aw, I like the one for TTM. The yellow works on that one, for me, cos the illustration's supposed to be on a faded piece of paper

 

Hmm, are you two talking about the same editions? I thought Frankie was talking about this one, which I believe you (Frankie) bought during a BD sale. You weren't sure about it but couldn't resist the sale. Is that the one?

 

I really like the Penguin Classics editions of HG Wells' books too. I have several of them.

 

.. so well put frankie. Being chatty is one thing but he shouldn't have made remarks about the books you were buying Steve .. especially negative remarks .. so unprofessional. Who cares what HE would have bought ... tell him if he's paying then he can choose .. tosser!

 

I third the 'tosser' remark.

[frankie]

Nah, he was alright, really. At least he was chatty

.. so well put frankie. Being chatty is one thing but he shouldn't have made remarks about the books you were buying Steve .. especially negative remarks .. so unprofessional. Who cares what HE would have bought ... tell him if he's paying then he can choose .. tosser!

 

I was just about to tell Steve what I think about the clerk's 'chattiness', but poppyshake beat me to it I wholeheartedly agree with you poppyshake, it's okay to be chatty but it's very unprofessional to say something negative about the book someone's buying. I wouldn't have bought anything from that tosser!

 

That is so rude!! It sounds like he's implying that you should be ashamed or embarrassed to be buying the Sarah Waters book!

 

Yes! He should read the book. I bet if he had any common sense and good taste, he would change his opinion about the book. Especially after having read one particular scene

 

Fingersmith is absolutely brilliant in my opinion. Dickens could not have wrote it better the plot is genius. Not going to tell you anything about it !! I envy you reading it for the first time.

 

Here here!

 

Hmm, are you two talking about the same editions? I thought Frankie was talking about this one, which I believe you (Frankie) bought during a BD sale. You weren't sure about it but couldn't resist the sale. Is that the one?

 

Yep Kylie, that's the one that I'm talking about. Is everyone else talking about some other edition altogether? Oooops!

 

I third the 'tosser' remark.

 

I knew you would

 

Steve, re: my talking about reading another book for our mutual 'out of our comfort zones' reading challenge: if I remember correctly there are no copies available at the library of any of the books on your official list, so I was thinking that if you have the time and inclination, maybe you could go through my TBR list and see all the scifi/fantasy titles on there, and you could come up with a list of five or so books from those? Pretty please?

 

Edit: Oh, I've just gone back and seen which editions you were talking about, Steve. I somehow missed that post! *blind frankie is blind*

[Karsa Orlong]

:D .. so well put frankie. Being chatty is one thing but he shouldn't have made remarks about the books you were buying Steve .. especially negative remarks .. so unprofessional. Who cares what HE would have bought ... tell him if he's paying then he can choose .. tosser!

 

Must be a French thing . . .

 

Usually when I go to the till in Waterstone's they just tell me my credit card is not accepted

 

But why would he even think to comment about Fingersmith though? Never having read any Sarah Waters, I have no idea

[Karsa Orlong]

Hmm, are you two talking about the same editions? I thought Frankie was talking about this one, which I believe you (Frankie) bought during a BD sale. You weren't sure about it but couldn't resist the sale. Is that the one?

 

Ah, right, no, mine is this edition:

 

 

That other one is awful! Those 50th anniversary covers are horrid. They did similar for some of my favourite books: Hyperion, I Am Legend and Dune

 

Talking of Hyperion, they had a pristine copy of the SF Masterworks edition of Fall of Hyperion in that shop. I may have to go back and get it on the way home tonight, even though I have read it before . . .

 

 

I really like the Penguin Classics editions of HG Wells' books too. I have several of them.

 

I'm starting to think I should get those instead of the SF Masterworks hardbacks

 

I was just about to tell Steve what I think about the clerk's 'chattiness', but poppyshake beat me to it I wholeheartedly agree with you poppyshake, it's okay to be chatty but it's very unprofessional to say something negative about the book someone's buying. I wouldn't have bought anything from that tosser!

 

Oh. Shall I take Fingersmith back, then?

 

 

Steve, re: my talking about reading another book for our mutual 'out of our comfort zones' reading challenge: if I remember correctly there are no copies available at the library of any of the books on your official list, so I was thinking that if you have the time and inclination, maybe you could go through my TBR list and see all the scifi/fantasy titles on there, and you could come up with a list of five or so books from those? Pretty please?

 

Okay, will do

[frankie]

But why would he even think to comment about Fingersmith though? Never having read any Sarah Waters, I have no idea

 

I have no idea, either. Must be he'd somehow landed a wise, intellectual, beautiful and awesome girlfriend who read the book and loved it, and then realised she was way too good for him and dumped his sorry big-ass ass!

 

 

Ah, right, no, mine is this edition:

 

 

That other one is awful! Those 50th anniversary covers are horrid. They did similar for some of my favourite books: Hyperion, I Am Legend and Dune

 

Now, I don't mind that cover at all. The 50th anniversary covers are truly vile. I also got I Am Legend in that ugly edition. Yuck!

 

Oh. Shall I take Fingersmith back, then?

 

Hell no! Don't be silly Just write a report on him

 

Okay, will do

 

Thanks, I appreciate it, and will look forward to the list!

 

Edit: Oh, and there's always Joe Abercrombie...

[Karsa Orlong]

Must be he'd somehow landed a wise, intellectual, beautiful and awesome girlfriend

 

I don't think so, somehow

 

 

Thanks, I appreciate it, and will look forward to the list!

 

Edit: Oh, and there's always Joe Abercrombie...

 

Well, there are only a couple in your TBR list that I'd pick I Am Legend is a must. Then there's The Time Machine and The Day of the Triffids. And the combined length of those three comes to less than Fingersmith on its own, so I think you should read them all

 

I think I should send you my spare copy of Dune, though. Or Hyperion.

 

Re: Abercrombie, as I've not read Best Served Cold yet I can't really recommend it

[frankie]

I don't think so, somehow

 

You are right! I think it's more likely that he stalked some poor girl who bought that same book from him, and then he got arrested for it and was given a restraining order!

 

Well, there are only a couple in your TBR list that I'd pick I Am Legend is a must. Then there's The Time Machine and The Day of the Triffids. And the combined length of those three comes to less than Fingersmith on its own, so I think you should read them all

 

Well at least I have some books on my list that you'd approve of, more than you would've imagined, I think, given how I've told you time after time I don't read sci-fi

 

Yes, I shall read all of those books because they are on my list, but not for one book you've read Besides, I'm pretty sure I read The Time Machine for a sci-fi course I did at the uni some years ago...

 

I think I should send you my spare copy of Dune, though. Or Hyperion.

 

But what if I shan't like the book. Then you would've sent it to me in vain. We do have English copies of those books at the library, I've checked.

 

Re: Abercrombie, as I've not read Best Served Cold yet I can't really recommend it

 

I know, but you liked some other series by Abercrombie and I believe you think Best Served Cold could make a great read.