Guest joen00b Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Jordan is after the almighty dollar. How long has the Wheel of Time series been going on? I've known of it for a good 10 years now, and it has no perceptible end to it unless a meteor hits the planet (which I'm praying for). I quit reading after book 7, my hardcore friends that continue to read them can do nothing but bad mouth the books and how after 1400 pages nothing happened. Literally nothing. Lots of deep thinking, dinner with friends, and nothing. I don't think any of them have read the last one though. Martin has a great start so far. Sometimes my head swims with the sheer number of characters, but he does good to keep them down by offing them alot. I fear he may try to follow Jordan's footsteps and carry the series on as long as the fans continue to buy the books. I'd be tempted to buy all the stories as they are very good, but would be disappointed to a small degree. Let's not split hairs here. Both writers do this for cash. The difference is keeping the fans interest in mind when writing. Jordan writes for only money, thinking he's setting up for something, Martin keeps the fans interested in plot twists and debauchery. I'll tell ya what, I had to read the end of Sea Of Swords 3 times for it to sink in. I've not had to re-read anything Jordan wrote, blech! Bozimus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Soulcatcher Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... On direct topic, I have been re-reading the Gap series by Stephen R Donaldson. Oh man, I had forgotten how good these things are. The politics in the Martin books seem almost kindergardenish compared to the backstabbing and manuevering going on in this series. The books can be brutal, but they are amazing. I've started rereading all the Donaldson stuff leading up to the new Covenant book due out middle october. One of the things I love about Donaldson, is that his charcters go from helplessness into power. And the helplessness is usually some form of being broken (Leprosy, being abused, having no self image). So every main character is a story of self discory and discovery of power and growth- and he doesn't use the "innocent just starting out in the world" cliche to do it. Given that means some pretty horrible things happen to those characters in the beginning (or just before the story starts) but, oh man where they end up is great. From someone broken to world striding hero. And as counterpoint most of his books have a character that falls into the "so noble it makes you eyes hurt to look at them" kind of character. My namesake is one, Min Donner is another. So we know that SRD isn's just about brutality and nastiness, he has the noble people there as well, just never the heroes (well until the end of the books). And yeah, I love the internal monologues and psychodrama too. You are correct. I have read almost everything by Donaldson and he is an excellant writer though he has one problem. When he sets up the anti-hero, it is typically very brutal and/or depressing and you have to have the stomach to get through that part to start to really enjoy his stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... You are correct. I have read almost everything by Donaldson and he is an excellant writer though he has one problem. When he sets up the anti-hero' date=' it is typically very brutal and/or depressing and you have to have the stomach to get through that part to start to really enjoy his stories.[/quote'] Too true. But it makes the payoff when they come into thier own that much better- Teresa with Eremis was one of my favorite moments in all of fiction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Soulcatcher Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Too true. But it makes the payoff when they come into thier own that much better- Teresa with Eremis was one of my favorite moments in all of fiction. Although the start of that story was not nearly as harsh as his others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted August 3, 2004 Report Share Posted August 3, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Although the start of that story was not nearly as harsh as his others. True, although Teresa was possibly more broken than any of his other protagonists. Totall passivity to the point you don't believe you really exist. Plus I just like the love story in those books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted August 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Soulcatcher and Lord Mhoram, I have the Gap into Conflict, but have yet to start. Your conversation has me considering reading this book. One question, I hate love stories. In your opinion, if one were to magically delete the love story, would enough remain to be interesting to one who is less romantic than your average rock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Mhoram Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Soulcatcher and Lord Mhoram, I have the Gap into Conflict, but have yet to start. Your conversation has me considering reading this book. One question, I hate love stories. In your opinion, if one were to magically delete the love story, would enough remain to be interesting to one who is less romantic than your average rock? Actually the refernces to Teresa and the love story had been from a drift to Donaldson in general. Those are reference to Mordant's Need. The Gap doesn't really have a love story. There is a lot of umm... shall I say sweaty people, but not much love- lots of hate and anger tied up in the previously mentioned act, but no love. Be warned the first book - The Real Story - is one of the most brutal books I have ever read, and is actually just an expanded novella that leads into the rest of the series. Things pick up after that, and get very intense and really really cool. Bozimus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted August 4, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Actually the refernces to Teresa and the love story had been from a drift to Donaldson in general. Those are reference to Mordant's Need. The Gap doesn't really have a love story. There is a lot of umm... shall I say sweaty people' date=' but not much love- lots of hate and anger tied up in the previously mentioned act, but no love. Be warned the first book - The Real Story - is one of the most brutal books I have ever read, and is actually just an expanded novella that leads into the rest of the series. Things pick up after that, and get very intense and really really cool.[/quote'] Doh! My mistake for assuming. I think I will start this series in the near future! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Soulcatcher Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Actually the refernces to Teresa and the love story had been from a drift to Donaldson in general. Those are reference to Mordant's Need. The Gap doesn't really have a love story. There is a lot of umm... shall I say sweaty people' date=' but not much love- lots of hate and anger tied up in the previously mentioned act, but no love. Be warned the first book - The Real Story - is one of the most brutal books I have ever read, and is actually just an expanded novella that leads into the rest of the series. Things pick up after that, and get very intense and really really cool.[/quote'] Yes, Mordants Need is a totally different type of story from the usual Donaldson, much more a love story but very effective in its own way plus an interesting magic system. Could be an interesting approach for a Hero character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beetle Posted August 4, 2004 Report Share Posted August 4, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Let's not split hairs here. Both writers do this for cash. Here's Lawrence Watt-Evans' reply to why he wasn't going to collect his Ethshar short stories in one limited volume: "[T]he book would be relatively hard to find and wouldn't exactly make me rich. (You do understand, of course, that the underlying purpose of Ethshar is to make me rich.)" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gewing Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... I just finished "Where Evil Dwells" by SImak. INteresting, alternative world where "Faerie/ EVIL" exists, the Roman empire never split nor fell. not perfect, but had some interesting bits. The Suicidal Troll who lost his bridge.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentor Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Jordan has become such a great disappointment after such a great start. Somehow he must think that a cast of thousands will make the story better and what is it with all the endless descriptions of clothes and furniture? Is he writing a work of fiction or a fantasy version of the Sears catalogue. Soon I expect that we will get detailed descriptions of toilets and peoples activities therein. Then again' date=' maybe Jordan has run out of ideas and is just trying to create filler. I do not expact to ever read another one of his books unless he gets an exceptional review. [/quote'] I totally agree. I cannot imagine how he felt any justification for dragging out a decent series of what should have been no more than six books to, what is it now...ten overly verbose volumes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enforcer84 Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... I totally agree. I cannot imagine how he felt any justification for dragging out a decent series of what should have been no more than six books to' date=' what is it now...ten overly verbose volumes?[/quote'] Never read it myself, but one of my gaming groups are big fans. They have come to the conclusion he's trapped himself. He set up such a large cast and series of subplots he no longer has any idea how to end it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanguard00 Posted August 5, 2004 Report Share Posted August 5, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Never read it myself' date=' but one of my gaming groups are big fans. They have come to the conclusion he's trapped himself. He set up such a large cast and series of subplots he no longer has any idea how to end it.[/quote'] I'm thinking it's like "Friends" that last season or two. Just end it already! But I'm curious as to what happened to that one guy's cousin's wife, who said that she was stuck somewhere because her horse up and died or ran off or something. I think it was Chapter 7 of Book 5, but I'm not sure. I'm sure Jordan will wrap up that loose end eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
death tribble Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Just finished Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind. Spoiler Alert. Have to say a 4 out of 5 or 8 out of 10 for the book. Although there were some good things in it there were cliches some obvious some not. It was obvious at the beginning who the traitor was. Maybe I spotted it because I have read a lot of fiction. But it was obvious. So what was good ? The idea of the Mord-Sith and how they do what they do. And some of the plot devices including the Master Villain getting what he wants. And Chase. He was good. Some of it though was a bit too Dungeons and Dragons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackSword Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Well, the comments on Jordan are why I lost all interest in the Wheel of Time series. Anyway, finished up a few books while on my last trip: Jennifer Government - Not strictly sci fi/fantasy, but that's where it was displayed in Borders so, I'll put it here. It was a very good read. Hilarious with lots of overt and subtle satire. As much as it criticized pure capitalizm it also made some strikes at communism and socialism. Easy read, well paced, 9/10. Sidhe Devil - Since I didn't read Doc Sidhe, it took me a while to get into the book. However, about a third of the way I was hooked at the last third of the book I was hard pressed to stop reading and sleep. Nice story, fun characters. 8/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted August 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Sidhe Devil by Aaron Allston Sidhe Devil - Since I didn't read Doc Sidhe' date=' it took me a while to get into the book. However, about a third of the way I was hooked at the last third of the book I was hard pressed to stop reading and sleep. Nice story, fun characters. 8/10[/quote'] I finished this one last night! Not much time spent reading lately... Sidhe Devil Blacksword, you must read Doc Sidhe! You have spoiled parts of the book having read the sequel, but I feel that you will enjoy it very much! I give Sidhe Devil a "7" out of "10". I would have ranked it higher, but I feel that the book meandered at times and lost focus in the middle. The start was strong and the weak middle was balanced by a decent ending. I liked "Doc Sidhe" better, but that is typical. (On the off chance he reads this thread) Aaron, I like the two books of yours I have read! Please stop writing Star Wars books and re-visit the Grim/Fair worlds of Doc Sidhe! Oh, and thanks for the enjoyment you have provided me thus far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrakazog Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... I just finished Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke. I give it an eight out of ten. It's a solid plot with good twists and likeable characters. It's also short enough to be enjoyed over a weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutant for Hire Posted August 19, 2004 Report Share Posted August 19, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Just finished rereading the Green Lion trilogy by Teresa Edgerton. The three books are the Child of Saturn, the Moon in Hiding, and the Work of the Sun. I highly recommend it with a caveat: Yes, it is to some extent Celtic fantasy, but Edgerton, unlike many, clearly has a better familiarity with the original source material than simply looking at the New Age conception of what "celtic" means. In some ways it bears a marked similarity to the legends of King Arthur, in that it has characters that are clearly derived from the characters of Arthurian legend. However it is in no way a retelling of the Arthur story. The knight who is clearly Lancelot is not having an affair with the Queen, and neither did the old wizard's female apprentice have anything to do with the wizard's disappearance. The basic plot is that the king's half-sister wishes to make her son the next king of the realm and is quite willing to use black magic to do so. The half-trained apprentice of the mysteriously vanished King's Wizard and the Queen's favorite knight must make an alliance to thwart her plots to destroy the evil sorceress son's rivals for the throne. Edgerton has clearly studied English history and folklore, as well as Welsh, Scottish and Irish folklore. Chapter headings are bits and pieces of folklore that read very much like medieval tales and myths. Edgerton is also quite familiar with the medieval view of alchemy as well. Indeed, the whole dynamic between the two protagonists is set around the alchemal view of how sulphur and mercury interact. The titles of the books have alchemal meanings to them. And yes, there is a Christian versus Pagan subtext, but unlike many authors, she makes no effort to portray the Christians as totally evil oppressors and the old faith as sweetness and light. Given what the Dark Mother tries to do to two of the characters in the series, it is clearly not a faith of sweetness and light. Highly recommended for people who want to read medieval/celtic fantasy done *right*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 The Hero King (Varayan Memoir part 3) by Rick Shelley This one will turn you off sequels. Rick Shelley, you wrote a decent, not great, but fun book in "The Hero of Varay". I liked that book and eagerly read the second. At the time, I did not know you were trying to milk three books out of material that would make only one good book. Neither did I know that all the good material would be in the first book and the next two would experience a drop off in quantity similar to the equation used to compute terminal velocity. Shame on you!!!!!! I give your putrid example of a literary train wreck a 1 out of 10!!!!! It was not the worst I have ever read, but it was one of the most disappointing. Rick Shelley, hang up your quill!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuraiko Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Started re-reading, in no particular order and often simultaneously, most of the DOCTOR WHO New Adventures novels... including... Set Piece, by Kate Orman Timewyrm: Revelation, by Paul Cornell Blood Harvest, by Terrance Dicks The Also People, by Ben Aaronovitch Timewyrm: Exodus, by Terrance Dicks Return of the Living Dad, by Kate Orman Then there's also Laura Joh Rowland's The Concubine's Tattoo, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance: Legends, among others. Cheers, Michelle aka Samuraiko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Beggars In Spain, by Nancy Kress. I'm glad I read it. I'm not sure I liked it. I thought the villain of the piece was rather cardboard, but the protagonist wasn't that much better herself. Still, it presented some interesting notions and carried them through to logical conclusions without flinching, which was nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gewing Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Re: The Hero King (Varayan Memoir part 3) by Rick Shelley I knew there was a reason I haven't finished them. This one will turn you off sequels. Rick Shelley, you wrote a decent, not great, but fun book in "The Hero of Varay". I liked that book and eagerly read the second. At the time, I did not know you were trying to milk three books out of material that would make only one good book. Neither did I know that all the good material would be in the first book and the next two would experience a drop off in quantity similar to the equation used to compute terminal velocity. Shame on you!!!!!! I give your putrid example of a literary train wreck a 1 out of 10!!!!! It was not the worst I have ever read, but it was one of the most disappointing. Rick Shelley, hang up your quill!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozimus Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... Gewing, This proves that people in Eastern Washington are smarter than people in NW Louisiana. Actually, I didn't finish it. I threw that piece of sh*t down within 30 pages of the end. I just couldn't take it anymore! I was skimming by that time, but alas, the mediocrity got the best of me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gewing Posted August 23, 2004 Report Share Posted August 23, 2004 Re: What Fantasy/Sci-Fi book have you just finished? Please rate it... I had COMPLETELY forgotten you are in Shreveport!!! My aunt lives there, and one cousin... Haven't been there for a bout 10 years, myself. Gewing, This proves that people in Eastern Washington are smarter than people in NW Louisiana. Actually, I didn't finish it. I threw that piece of sh*t down within 30 pages of the end. I just couldn't take it anymore! I was skimming by that time, but alas, the mediocrity got the best of me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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