Books Whats everyone reading atm?

[Bahumat]

Just started Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks. Have Use of Weapons and Player of Games

After that I will be trying The Blade Itself, Before they are hanged and finally Last Argument of Kings.

Anyone read the Abercrombie trilogy? What did you think?

 

[Exioce]

Anyone read the Abercrombie trilogy? What did you think?

Get it

 

[Helme]

It's some of the best fantasy written in my opinion. I think the best way to describe it is... very British. Dark, gritty but with a genuine sense of humour. It's probably one of the few fantasy books that has gotten me to actually laugh at the absurdity of some of the situations the characters are in - and then feel terrible about laughing afterwards because the characters are just plain awful people who you still somehow end up rooting for, I mean when was the last time you sympathised with a man who tortures innocents for confessions of crimes they didn't commit?

I can't recommend them highly enough, and I wouldn't stop at the trilogy - Best Served Cold & The Heroes which are his two latest book are more of the same, excellent writing. I'd honestly rate Abercrombie in my top 5 favourite authors and I can't wait to see what he'll come out with next.

--

As for what I'm reading? I'm currently a few chapters into Heroes Die by Matthew Stover and it's starting to become very interesting. The setting promises a few really cool possibilities but I don't know if it lives up to it yet.

 

[Embattle]

This forum.

 

[Bahumat]

Get it

It's some of the best fantasy written in my opinion. I think the best way to describe it is... very British. Dark, gritty but with a genuine sense of humour. It's probably one of the few fantasy books that has gotten me to actually laugh at the absurdity of some of the situations the characters are in - and then feel terrible about laughing afterwards because the characters are just plain awful people who you still somehow end up rooting for, I mean when was the last time you sympathised with a man who tortures innocents for confessions of crimes they didn't commit?

I can't recommend them highly enough, and I wouldn't stop at the trilogy - Best Served Cold & The Heroes which are his two latest book are more of the same, excellent writing. I'd honestly rate Abercrombie in my top 5 favourite authors and I can't wait to see what he'll come out with next.

--

As for what I'm reading? I'm currently a few chapters into Heroes Die by Matthew Stover and it's starting to become very interesting. The setting promises a few really cool possibilities but I don't know if it lives up to it yet.

Rep's inc! Thanks guys

 

[Calaen]

Just started Consider Phlebas by Iain M Banks. Have Use of Weapons and Player of Games

After that I will be trying The Blade Itself, Before they are hanged and finally Last Argument of Kings.

Anyone read the Abercrombie trilogy? What did you think?

One of the few times in my life I have finished books and not felt a twinge of sadness/excitement afterwards. I just didn't get it all. I Loved some of the characters, but I got tired with how stupid they were despite being led to believe they were infact really intelligent and sharp.

 

[Helme]

None of the characters featured are very smart tbh, they might appear to be(Logen for example) but in reality they are fairly thick, else they wouldn't be in the situations they are in. The few who actually have some brains, like the torturer don't get anywhere because he's stuck serving other men, men who are pretty much untouchable - and his story is pretty much how to deal with these men without ending up dead, and maintaining some sort of illusion of freedom.

 

[Calaen]

None of the characters featured are very smart tbh, they might appear to be(Logen for example) but in reality they are fairly thick, else they wouldn't be in the situations they are in. The few who actually have some brains, like the torturer don't get anywhere because he's stuck serving other men, men who are pretty much untouchable - and his story is pretty much how to deal with these men without ending up dead, and maintaining some sort of illusion of freedom.

Spoiler

My point exactly, the torturer is sold through the whole trilogy as being smart. Yet he does not believe in the magic side of things despite being witness to it on numerous occasions first hand. His was one of the few characters I enjoyed across the trilogy, and so much time was spent on him being smart I found it hard to swallow when he was blatantly being stupid.

I never viewed Logen as smart, he was just a stereo typical bad guys turns good for his own benefit.

 

[Helme]

Spoiler

I'd like to think that any rational human being would try to rationalize magic if they saw it for real, I mean how would Dawkins react if god actually appeared in front of him? I doubt he'd be instantly convinced - especially since he's pretty invested in it not being real. This isn't even mentioning that there are different types of intelligence, and Glokta's is very much grounded in what he considers the 'real' world, the world he understands and operates in.

 

[Calaen]

Spoiler

I'd like to think that any rational human being would try to rationalize magic if they saw it for real, I mean how would Dawkins react if god actually appeared in front of him? I doubt he'd be instantly convinced - especially since he's pretty invested in it not being real. This isn't even mentioning that there are different types of intelligence, and Glokta's is very much grounded in what he considers the 'real' world, the world he understands and operates in.

Spoiler

I didn't want him to be instantly convinced, but after the 34rd 4th time of him being witness to it... He still thought (I don't recall the name of the powerful Magician) of him as an actor/fake.

 

[Lazarus]

Been away on a business trip = lots of books read last week.

Medalon (Demon Child Trilogy): Amazon.co.uk: Jennifer Fallon: Books
Treason Keep (Demon Child Trilogy): Amazon.co.uk: Jennifer Fallon: Books
Harshini (Demon Child Trilogy): Amazon.co.uk: Jennifer Fallon: Books
Snare: Amazon.co.uk: Katharine Kerr: Books

Deverry 9: Red Wyvern: Amazon.co.uk: Katharine Kerr: Books
Royal Exile: Book One of the Valisar Trilogy Valisar Trilogy 1: Amazon.co.uk: Fiona McIntosh: Books
Tyrant's Blood: Book Two of the Valisar Trilogy Valisar Trilogy 2: Amazon.co.uk: Fiona McIntosh: Books

 

[Scouse]

This forum.

Me too. Whaddaya think?

I think most of the characters are far too religious and pro-nuclear but there's a few shining beacons of righeousness and sex

Oh, and Hawking's Grand Design. Just started tho so I'll tell ya if it's shite...

 

[chipper]

just started reading "why does E=mc²?" bit tired of reading fantasy so gone for a good solid dose of phyiscs instead

 

[MYstIC G]

Me too. Whaddaya think?

Some of the characters are very one dimensional (cookie?)

 

[Scouse]

Meg> < Me

Anyway, do comics count? I bought like, the first 30 Spawn when it came out whilst I was at university. Great artwork but 'meh' story. It's obviously still going so I just bought Spawn, Architects of Fear

I'll tell you how good it was in an hour or so

 

[MYstIC G]

Different character you spacker draw the relationship with the word "cookie?" and it's previous use... got it yet... ah, there we go

 

[Scouse]

Different character you spacker draw the relationship with the word "cookie?" and it's previous use... got it yet... ah, there we go

I reserve the right to read one-word-posts in any way I see fit

 

[Helme]

I finished Heroes Die, and I liked it. The writing is very creative, especially when it comes to insults. The fights are entertaining without becoming overly technical, and the setting itself offers some fairly cool opportunities and very few are wasted.

I'm moving on to the second book, Blades of Tyshalle according to reviews it isn't as good as the first one but we'll see.

 

[MYstIC G]

I reserve the right to read one-word-posts in any way I see fit

cookie?

 

[DaGaffer]

Just starting Jasper Fforde's latest; "One Of Our Thursdays Is Missing"

 

[Lamp]

Someone recommended One Day by David Nicholls. Anyone read it?

One Day: Amazon.co.uk: David Nicholls: Books

 

[Wazzerphuk]

Anyone got any recommendations for which book is best for Greek Mythologies? Mostly interested in the stories themselves although if they come with any kind of analysis that'd be a bonus.

 

[Roo Stercogburn]

I just finished Neuromancer. I'm now reading Snow Crash. It's a bit of a cyberpunk week

Interested to see what you think of Snow Crash, its been on my "Should get around to reading" list for like a million years.

 

[TdC]

I liked it. The "net" is much more oriented towards humans, if you follow me. In Neuromancer I imagined the 'net was visually a collection of very blocky Tron-esque pastels, whereas the Snow Crash version of it is much richer (if no less impressive). Think 16 bit side scroller versus modern 3d shooter so to speak.

Though I must say, in Snow Crash, there is a whole lot of stuff going on that you don't get to see, as the story revolves mostly around Hiro and YT. You can tell what happened through their responses to changes in their situation though.

 

[Lamp]

If you haven't read it before, and like thought provoking stuff, I definitely recommend God's Debris by Scott Adams. Here's the actual book:

http://nowscape.com/godsdebris.pdf

 

[SilverHood]

Interested to see what you think of Snow Crash, its been on my "Should get around to reading" list for like a million years.

Go get it, it's a very good book. Not as good as Diamond Age though

 

[Talyn]

I have no idea if it's been mentioned yet, cause I'm not trolling 19 odd pages of books, but if you watch Castle and like trashy 'bestsellers' -

Heat Wave: Amazon.co.uk: Richard Castle: Books

Naked Heat (Nikki Heat): Amazon.co.uk: Richard Castle: Books

The authors picture on the back covers is Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle. Who the actual author is, I've no idea. I'm currently reading Heat Wave, and it's basically an episode of the series, except Castle is Jameson Rook. (Castle, Rook, geddit?)

 

[Uara]

Well I've finally started The Crippled God so that'll keep me going for a little while.

 

[Rulke]

I read 'Return of the Crimson Guard' last week after people saying you needed to before Crippled God. Is it just me who doesnt think that much of Esslements books?

 

[Wazzerphuk]

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

Pretty dull tbh. Lots of potential, poorly executed.