The Book thread... [Archive] - Colony of Gamers

rein

07-26-2010, 05:01 PM

I'm currently reading Already Dead: A Novel (http://www.amazon.com/Already-Dead-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B000XUBCZO) by Charlie Huston. I picked it up a while back when the Kindle edition was available for free. It's not the best book so far but pretty decent for the price. I'm thinking about reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B0015DROBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1280185200&sr=1-1-spell) next. I'm curious what all of the hub bub is about these books.

pomeroy

07-26-2010, 05:06 PM

. I'm thinking about reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Dragon-Tattoo-ebook/dp/B0015DROBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1280185200&sr=1-1-spell) next. I'm curious what all of the hub bub is about these books.

I'm curious as well. Especially since Fincher is going to make (remake) the movie.

Vandabo

07-26-2010, 05:17 PM

I snagged Altered Carbon at the library today. Will pour through that this week as I'm a bachelor for the week.

Man, I envy you. I loved those books. I wish Morgan would have stuck to the futuristic stuff instead of going fantasy with his latest books.

If you like his style, I'd check out Market Forces as well, it's very unique, kind of Wall Street meets Mad Max. Good times.

Abednigo

07-26-2010, 05:37 PM

I'm in the middle of a few books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (3rd read) - J.K. Rowling
The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
What Jesus Demands of the World - John Piper
The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis
The Zombie Survival Guide - Max Brooks
Death by Love - Mark Driscoll

And a few others. I have a hard time focusing on just one book.

Kelegacy

07-26-2010, 05:39 PM

Reading the Complete Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen. Currently on the First book out of three. Almost done though, about 30 pages in this hardcover omnibus. Found it for 50 cents last summer at a yard sale.

Anyway, it's pretty good. It's fairly standard fantasy but written well by a genre vet. Characters are just okay at this point, with only a few standouts. However, the first book is apparently a really big setup for the rest of the series, and this setup is really fast paced. Almost too fast actually.

Basically the Gods had 12 swords forged, each with a different power. Then they scattered them across the continent so that they could play "a game", being bored as they were. Basically war and strife and greed and all that stuff is being played out as people fight for the swords and their power.

The twist is that this is super far into the future, past the events of Empire of the East, Saberhagen's masterpiece, after the world war and a "change" that pretty much created magic and made nuclear bombs null. Demons are actually incarnations of nuclear blasts apparently, Gods are...I don't know what really, but they CAN be destroyed, and magic relies on old technology and is actually hard to describe...when swords are drawn magic works not so well. Dragons also exist and their lifecycles are described in depth.

The writing is what keeps me going, but mostly this came along at the right time. I was craving some fantasy and I didn't want anything written by today's hacks. It's not on the level of Martin, but it's good and just good so far. Or rather, satisfying.

Next I might try to restart The Dragonbone Chair and go through that series if possible. I never finished it but I loved the world Williams created.

muddi900

07-27-2010, 04:46 AM

How do you like In Cold Blood? I've been meaning to read that since I saw Capote with Philip Seymour Hoffman, which rekindled my interest. The only other work I've read by Capote is Breakfast at Tiffany's, I think.

Hm, currently reading Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf and The Red and the Black by Stendhal. (In translation! I wish I had the French skillz for the original.)

I just finished after posting this thread. It is very good for a non-fiction book. I don't how 'accurate' it was, and I don't really care. Capote wanted to tell a story and he did brilliantly.

Next up is Drought by JG Ballard.

nnanji

07-27-2010, 05:20 AM

Just finished Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks, and started Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams.

I just read Use of Weapons too. I was pretty pleased with it. Player of Games is the next book of his that I will read.

I just finished after posting this thread. It is very good for a non-fiction book. I don't how 'accurate' it was, and I don't really care. Capote wanted to tell a story and he did brilliantly.

Next up is Drought by JG Ballard.

I thought Cold Blood was fantastic, and my understanding was that the facts of the book were very accurate. Even if it wasn't the book is too good to pass up.

There wasn't much at the library that caught my eye when I was there, so I am currently reading:

The Protector's War, by S. M. Stirling
Snuff, by Chuck Palahniuk
The Blackest Night collected hardback
The Fuller Memorandum, by Charles Stross (this series is very fun for me. I recommend it for anyone who likes the Dirk Gently books.)

Wilkz07

07-27-2010, 05:29 AM

a few on the go...

Burn Notice: The Giveaway
The Girl Who Played with Fire
A Game of Thrones
Into The Storm - destroyermen book 1
Driven to Distraction - Jeremy Clarkson - just got it

muddi900

07-27-2010, 05:39 AM

The Blackest Night collected hardback

I hope it reads better as a collection. Be on the lookout for the BN:Tales of the Corps collection. The stories are mostly good, but the Saint Walker origin gave me goosebumps.

bstiff

07-27-2010, 06:02 AM

Just finished Alastair Reynolds Terminal City and am starting on House of Suns. I still have the first two books of Hamilton's void trilogy to start, got them on sale a while back and the third book is due out next month.

I also have been meaning to get into saberhagen's berserker series but after looking it up on wikipedia, I'd have a long way to go, he wrote those short stories/novels for 40 years.

Jason

07-27-2010, 06:27 AM

Just started Shanghai Dream (http://www.amazon.com/Shanghai-Dream-ebook/dp/B003552TUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1280233428&sr=1-1). The description from Amazon:

Burnt out hacker Cad Caldwell is on the verge of committing nanobot-induced suicide in a cramped Union capsule hotel when a mysterious package arrives from Tokyo. Inside, a sleek black computer console unlike anything he has ever seen before. The console is a lifeline from someone high up in the Yakuza food chain and the sender wants Caldwell to do a job. The devil, however, is in the details.

Before long, Caldwell finds out that his Japanese client is dead and that he has become a moving target running from the long arm of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan's largest Yakuza faction. But help is at hand, in the form of a Faustian bargain from the surgically-enhanced head of a secret Union electronic warfare unit who claims to hold the key to Caldwell's blocked memories. To get his memories back, Caldwell must use the console to hack into the core of a secretive new network deep in the heart of New China.

There are forces at play that nobody fully understands. An artificial intelligence is at large in cyberspace and is prepping to up the stakes in ways that will send shockwaves through the world's computerized systems. Caldwell must stay one step ahead of other interested parties as each cuts their own path towards the same final objective, a virtual reality addendum to Shanghai that is primed to be the testing ground for the AI and its wicked master plan.

I'm only about 3-4 chapters in and the book starts sorta slow, but it is interesting so far.

Crittias

07-27-2010, 06:54 AM

Just finished Alastair Reynolds Terminal City and am starting on House of Suns.How was Terminal City? I finished House of Suns a month or two ago, and I liked it quite a bit. Great ideas.

bstiff

07-27-2010, 07:21 AM

How was Terminal City? I finished House of Suns a month or two ago, and I liked it quite a bit. Great ideas.

I liked it. The reviews describe it at "steampunk" but to me that always assumes a victorian era setting similar to The Affinity Bridge. In Terminal CIty, the earth is divided into zone where only certain levels of technology work similar to well of souls if I remember right. It was the first book Ive finished in a while and the ending leaves it open for a sequel so it will be interesting to see what he does with the setting.

I also have a signed copy of Thousandth Night coming soon which sets up some of the back story for House of Suns so Ill be checking that out soon.

Crittias

07-27-2010, 07:56 AM

I liked it. The reviews describe it at "steampunk" but to me that always assumes a victorian era setting similar to The Affinity Bridge. In Terminal CIty, the earth is divided into zone where only certain levels of technology work similar to well of souls if I remember right. It was the first book Ive finished in a while and the ending leaves it open for a sequel so it will be interesting to see what he does with the setting.Cool, thanks for the feedback. BTW, I found Terminal World, not Terminal City. Was it published under a different title earlier, or are you mishmashing this book with Chasm City?

bstiff

07-27-2010, 08:24 AM

Cool, thanks for the feedback. BTW, I found Terminal World, not Terminal City. Was it published under a different title earlier, or are you mishmashing this book with Chasm City?

No me just being dumb again it was Terminal World.

biosc1

07-27-2010, 09:01 AM

I'm currently rereading "A Game of Thrones" on the nook. This book has the most errors out of all the ebooks I've tried, but it's not unreadable or anything.

That's interesting. I'm reading the series on the Kindle and haven't noticed any errors (maybe I'm just not seeing them)? I am on book 3 and still enjoying it, even if it slows down in some areas where it follows characters I don't like. Of course, that's the great thing about a book that focuses each chapter on a character, if you dislike one part at one moment, it'll change soon.

Here's a helpful link I found, with maps. I know the map is hard to read on my Kindle, so I just found this today because I was thinking about it for a while:

http://wightsvsdragons.tripod.com/id6.html

Spectre-7

07-27-2010, 09:41 AM

I just read Use of Weapons too. I was pretty pleased with it. Player of Games is the next book of his that I will read.

I dunno... It's definitely not one of my favorite Banks novels. I dig the themes, there were scenes I really enjoyed, and I thought the structure was wonderfully inventive. On the other hand, that structure led to a constant feeling of, "Wait, what the hell's going on now?"

I was annoyed at the pronoun game (chapters routinely start with he as the subject, only revealing the character's identity several pages later). There were also portions I had to re-read after I realized my eyes had glazed over and I hadn't retained anything, which is a problem I don't usually have with Banks.

I also found the twist ending a bit of a let-down. I don't know if I can adequately explain why... I mean, I knew there was going to be some kind of twist or revelation; the count-down and foreshadowing made sure of that. Still, I couldn't help but feel betrayed when Zakalwe turned out to be Elethiomel trying to make amends. Although I suppose feeling betrayed was sort of the point.

Not sure what my next Banks book is going to be. I've had this copy of A Song of Stone sitting around forever, and I should probably read it one of these days.

The Fuller Memorandum, by Charles Stross (this series is very fun for me. I recommend it for anyone who likes the Dirk Gently books.)

Ahhh... I've been meaning to try Stross out, and I'm enjoying Dirk Gently, so that may just be a good place to hop on.

Bone

07-27-2010, 09:49 AM

A Clash of Kings (http://www.amazon.com/Clash-Kings-Song-Fire-Book/dp/0553381695/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280245710&sr=1-1) by George R. R. Martin
Book two in the brilliant A Song of Ice and Fire series (coming soon to HBO). A must-read for people who like fantasy books.

Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art (http://www.amazon.com/Free-Play-Improvisation-Life-Art/dp/0874776317) by Stephen Nachmanovitch
An inspiring guide to unlocking your creativity and trusting your artistic instincts in any endeavor. The author is a musician, but the lessons apply to life in general and can really help get you over blocks of creativity and confidence.

More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride (http://www.amazon.com/More-Proficient-Motorcycling-Mastering-Ride/dp/1931993033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280245739&sr=1-1) by David Hough
Considered one of the most informative (if quirky) authors of motorcycling knowledge, Mr. Hough shares anecdotes and technical lessons in an effort to broaden the motorcyclist's awareness in this more advanced sequel to his bestselling Proficient Motorcycling. His stories are a little cheesy, like a well-meaning grandfather, but contain invaluable wisdom. Like a well-meaning grandfather.

muddi900

07-27-2010, 09:58 AM

I also started "Hacking the Xbox".

nnanji

07-27-2010, 10:17 AM

I dunno... It's definitely not one of my favorite Banks novels. I dig the themes, there were scenes I really enjoyed, and I thought the structure was wonderfully inventive. On the other hand, that structure led to a constant feeling of, "Wait, what the hell's going on now?"

I was annoyed at the pronoun game (chapters routinely start with he as the subject, only revealing the character's identity several pages later). There were also portions I had to re-read after I realized my eyes had glazed over and I hadn't retained anything, which is a problem I don't usually have with Banks.

I also found the twist ending a bit of a let-down. I don't know if I can adequately explain why... I mean, I knew there was going to be some kind of twist or revelation; the count-down and foreshadowing made sure of that. Still, I couldn't help but feel betrayed when Zakalwe turned out to be Elethiomel trying to make amends. Although I suppose feeling betrayed was sort of the point.

Not sure what my next Banks book is going to be. I've had this copy of A Song of Stone sitting around forever, and I should probably read it one of these days.

Ahhh... I've been meaning to try Stross out, and I'm enjoying Dirk Gently, so that may just be a good place to hop on.

I liked the ending, but that is a matter of taste, I suppose. I liked The Algebraist, if you are willing to try one of his non-Culture books.

I really like Charles Stross. Be aware that the Fuller Memorandum is not the first book in the series though. Start with the Atrocity Archives. His more overt sci-fi is very good. Accelerando is very good, although it is quite obvious that the novel started out as a series of short stories that got bridged together. Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise are a good series as well.

Spectre-7

07-27-2010, 10:36 AM

I liked the ending, but that is a matter of taste, I suppose. I liked The Algebraist, if you are willing to try one of his non-Culture books.

Oddly enough, I came to his Culture books late, so I'm totally willing to read outside of that universe. My first Banks novels were The Wasp Factory and The Bridge, and I only moved onto his science-fiction after. I didn't finish the last non-Culture book I was reading, though. Feersum Endjinn was just boring the snot out of me.

I really like Charles Stross. Be aware that the Fuller Memorandum is not the first book in the series though. Start with the Atrocity Archives. His more overt sci-fi is very good. Accelerando is very good, although it is quite obvious that the novel started out as a series of short stories that got bridged together. Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise are a good series as well.

Gotcha. I'd been slow to pick up Stross because I understood the Singularity to be his big theme, and that stuff doesn't pique my interest so much. I'll add him to my to-read list, though.

KSmitty

07-27-2010, 10:48 AM

I just finished The Phoenix Guard by Brust, basically the Three Musketeers with a fantasy twist.

I just started Ilium by Simmons, interesting so far and I enjoyed Hyperion. And I also just read Blackest Night and Blackest Night: Green Lantern so...

I hope it reads better as a collection. Be on the lookout for the BN:Tales of the Corps collection. The stories are mostly good, but the Saint Walker origin gave me goosebumps.

No it did not read well. I understand making the Black Corp books separate, but the main title, Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corp books should have been integrated into a 3 volume set that told the stories in published order, as breaking them up really weakened the story. It was very disjointed.

muddi900

07-27-2010, 10:56 AM

No it did not read well. I understand making the Black Corp books separate, but the main title, Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corp books should have been integrated into a 3 volume set that told the stories in published order, as breaking them up really weakened the story. It was very disjointed.

Which is what I suspected. Half the story takes place in Green Lantern and I assumed it would be in the collection. Still, Tales of the corps was great nonetheless.

AntonThaGreat

07-27-2010, 12:11 PM

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
His Majesty's Dragon - Naomi Novik
The World According to CLarkson - Jeremy Clarkson
A Crown of Swords - Robert Jordan
SuperFreakonomics - Steve D. Levitt
The Valley of the Moon - Jack London

I also bounce around between books. Just finished Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions the other day in one go. Fantasy series really spoiled me, I find 200-300 page books to be really short now.

Vandabo

07-27-2010, 03:16 PM

I just started Ilium by Simmons, interesting so far and I enjoyed Hyperion.

Oh man, if you haven't read the rest of the Hyperion and Endymion books you really need to. Combined they are my favorite work of science fiction.

Illium and Olympos are good too, but just not in the same league in my opinion.

Vyzov

07-27-2010, 06:18 PM

I'm always reading multiple books, thinking about grabbing a Kobo soon actually. For that price point... tempting. Especially since I'm still not totally sold on the E-Reader experience.

Anyways, the books at the moment are:

Fragile Things (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7061309-fragile-things) - Neil Gaiman
Cryptonomicon (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/816.Cryptonomicon) - Neal Stephenson
The New Dead (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6721385-the-new-dead) - Christopher Golden

Xerxes

07-27-2010, 06:20 PM

Boneshaker (http://www.amazon.com/Boneshaker-ebook/dp/B002SKDGT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1280180129&sr=1-1), by Cherie Priest. Steampunk and zombies.

I watched that movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490181/)... It started Thomas Jane.

Vyzov

07-27-2010, 06:24 PM

I liked the ending, but that is a matter of taste, I suppose. I liked The Algebraist, if you are willing to try one of his non-Culture books.

I really like Charles Stross. Be aware that the Fuller Memorandum is not the first book in the series though. Start with the Atrocity Archives. His more overt sci-fi is very good. Accelerando is very good, although it is quite obvious that the novel started out as a series of short stories that got bridged together. Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise are a good series as well.

I've read a few books by Stross now, Halting State (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222472.Halting_State), The Atrocity Archives (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/101869.The_Atrocity_Archives) and The Jennifer Morgue (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14150.The_Jennifer_Morgue). I've enjoyed them all so far, I'm picking up Wireless (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5226027-wireless) and Saturn's Children (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2278387.Saturn_s_Children) sometime soon as well.

AntonThaGreat

07-29-2010, 05:00 PM

Just finished Book 7 of the Wheel of Time (Crown of Swords.) Started reading The Name of the Wind.

Also, finished reading Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man (http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Stand-Too-Close-Naked/dp/0786889020/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280444279&sr=8-1)by Tim Allen of Home Improvement fame (Tool Time!). Great short read, very entertaining and often very funny. It's sort of an auto-biographical outlook on life, I suppose.

So, Now were here: (In Orderr of what I'm likely to finish first)

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
SuperFreakonomics - Steve D. Levitt
The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfus
The World According to CLarkson - Jeremy Clarkson
His Majesty's Dragon - Naomi Novik
The Valley of the Moon - Jack London

pomeroy

07-29-2010, 05:07 PM

I used to have multiple books going at once, but now I only read one at a time.

Ultima Thulian

07-30-2010, 12:35 PM

I usually only read two at a time or just one. Any more than two and I fuck things up.

I recently finished George Carlin's "Last Words", very excellent and funny. Currently reading Christopher Hitchens' "God is not Great" and so far it's excellent. It is certainly a much better critique of religion than that overrated "God Delusion" tripe. Dawkins might be a great biologist, but he can't write worth shit.

SilentScreams

08-01-2010, 10:17 AM

I'm strictly a one book at a time guy. I tend to read big series of books in one go, so it makes sense to just read the one.

I'm currently going through the Gaunt's Ghosts WH40k books. I love Dan Abnetts writing. I'm on the 4th book at the moment.
A quick question to anyone here into the 40k books, what other good writers are there? I've only really read Abnetts stuff (Eisenhorn, Ravenor and now Gaunt).

I've also got a hardcover copy of George R.R. Martins Dreamsongs waiting to be read.

Kelegacy

08-01-2010, 01:42 PM

Finished First Book of Swords finally. It was a pretty satisfying book. I'm curious to find out what happens in the series quite a bit now.

Zecon

08-03-2010, 09:56 PM

Right now I'm mostly through "Under the Dome" by Stephen King.

Even though I swore him off after the ending to the Dark Tower series.
I eventually got over myself and accepted it, though I still don't like it.

All I can really say so far is that he has once again created a monster that will haunt my dreams in the form of "Big Jim" Rennie.

evilgoodwin

08-03-2010, 10:39 PM

I read a lot for school. Depending on what I have to read determines if I have time to read something for myself (can I finish this book before the next assigned book?).

Just finished:
Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge

Currently picking through at my leisure:
Why We Suck by Denis Leary
Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern.

Starting:
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke.

The funny thing is, the one I just finished and the one I'm starting are both for a SciFi literature class.

I'm going on vacation on the 14th and plan on screaming my way through as many books on my "To Read" list as possible.

Crittias

08-03-2010, 10:46 PM

Just finished: Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
What did you think of Rainbows End? It wasn't my favorite Vinge novel (A Fire Upon the Deep is almost impossible to beat, really), but I liked it.

Rune_74

08-03-2010, 11:15 PM

Rune_74

08-03-2010, 11:17 PM

Finished First Book of Swords finally. It was a pretty satisfying book. I'm curious to find out what happens in the series quite a bit now.

I read these boks back in high school, they were pretty good, I did find the writing just ok though if that makes sense.

muddi900

08-04-2010, 12:11 AM

The only way I read deadtree books is at night with a singular lamp. That lamp is broken, so I read Cory Doctrow's I, Robot, which is available for free where ever free texts are available. It was REALLY good fan fiction. Not as good as, say, Alan Moore, but still really good.

evilgoodwin

08-04-2010, 12:33 AM

What did you think of Rainbows End? It wasn't my favorite Vinge novel (A Fire Upon the Deep is almost impossible to beat, really), but I liked it.

It was amusing. I'd never read a science-fiction book that was written just a few years before, so it was kind of odd recognizing modern elements. But all in all, it was a fun read. Definitely going to pick up more Vinge in the future.

Vyzov

08-04-2010, 05:41 PM

I'm currently going through the Gaunt's Ghosts WH40k books. I love Dan Abnetts writing. I'm on the 4th book at the moment.
A quick question to anyone here into the 40k books, what other good writers are there? I've only really read Abnetts stuff (Eisenhorn, Ravenor and now Gaunt).

I've only read the first three books of the Horus Heresy as well as Eisenhorn, Ravenor and The Grey Knights Omnibus so I've only been exposed to Abnett, McNeil and Counter. Counter did the third book in the Horus Heresy as well as the Grey Knights omnibus and I have enjoyed both of those.

Ghostbob is probably the resident expert, I've asked his advice on Warhammer books in the past.

Vandabo

08-05-2010, 11:06 AM

Man, I just finished Blue Mars, the last of the Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson... God DAMN was it long and mostly boring. I would recommend the first book, but after that the series just gets amazingly slow paced. By the end I was skimming through it just looking for verbs, because 80% of the book is descriptions of martian geology/biology. If that's your thing you will really get your rocks off to these books, but it was hard for me to stay awake through most of it.

AntonThaGreat

08-05-2010, 06:47 PM

Just finished The Name of The Wind today, great book. Very simple on the surface, an incredibly easy read--but god damn does it pull you in. One of my favorites now. On to The Warded Man.

evilgoodwin

08-09-2010, 01:35 AM

Polished off Childhood's End a short while ago. I've described books before as awesome, great read, fun, a real page-turner.

I've never once thought of a story as incredible. For something only 212 pages long, I never expected anything-- I've never ENCOUNTERED anything-- like the last 30 pages of this story. Maybe I'm just really new to science fiction books, but it really got me.

I need a mental break from reading for a while, but I think I'm going to pick up The Name of the Wind next. I'm going to the beach for a week, and I love ignoring the internet and TV and catching up on my reading, especially if I haven't had a chance to read something that wasn't for a literature class. It'll be nice to have something new to read amidst the list I plan on hitting.

JRR006

08-09-2010, 01:53 AM

KSmitty

08-09-2010, 10:25 AM

Finished Ilium, I'll get Olympos sooner than later. I started reading Warbreaker (Sanderson). I picked up a few book over the weekend. I planned on getting The Name of the Wind, but they only had oversized paperback copies. Since they didn't have the book I was looking for I used my extra money to buy a couple more volumes of Runaways. The tpb I am currently on is War of Kings (Marvel). I'm not too up on my Marvel 'Universe' storylines, but the premise sounded interesting and I have always liked Blackbolt and the Inhumans.

Ultima Thulian

08-09-2010, 10:45 AM

Finished "God is Not Great" and it was quite good, though some arguments are not fully fleshed out and I'd like it if he sourced his book better. Still, as far as critiques against religion go, it's quite good. Sucks to hear Hitchens has cancer.

I dunno what my next book is going to be. I might decide to finally read the "The Stand" by King or maybe I'll read some Rousseau. Who knows?

muddi900

08-09-2010, 01:19 PM

So after watching the new BBC mini-series Sherlock, I have decided I will first read the Return of Sherlock Holmes, the only collection I haven't read.

Scaryfaced

08-09-2010, 01:45 PM

I've only read the first three books of the Horus Heresy as well as Eisenhorn, Ravenor and The Grey Knights Omnibus so I've only been exposed to Abnett, McNeil and Counter. Counter did the third book in the Horus Heresy as well as the Grey Knights omnibus and I have enjoyed both of those.

Ghostbob is probably the resident expert, I've asked his advice on Warhammer books in the past.

As far as I know, Abnett and McNeil are largely considered the two best authors who write for the Black Library, and I'd have to agree. Abnett's definitely my favorite. I made the "mistake" of reading the last omnibus of the Gaunt's Ghosts series first, but it was so damn good, I really don't mind knowing the ending. I've since picked up The Founding and Eisenhorn, which I'll try to make my way through soon. So I'd start the Gaunt's Ghosts series if I were you.

As for other authors, Ben Counter's books are entertaining, and I particularly enjoyed The Flight of the Eisenstein by James Swallow. But if you're going to read anything, I'd recommend Soul Hunter by Aaron Dembski-Bowden. It was a damn entertaining story and I'm really looking forward to more books from him. You actually end up routing for Chaos Space marines, which I find pretty rare in other books. Oh, and stay far, far away from William King. The first story in the Space Wolves omnibus was so poorly written, I could hardly finish it.

I'm currently in the middle of reading four different 40k novels. I'm seriously addicted to these things. I'm about half way through Brothers of the Snake by Abnett, 100 pages into Eisenhorn, a few stories in to Legends of the Space Marines, and just starting the last Horus Heresy book, Nemesis.

So far, I feel McNeil has a better grip on Space Marines than Abnett, but that isn't saying much. They're both amazing.

SilentScreams

08-09-2010, 03:27 PM

pomeroy

08-09-2010, 03:34 PM

On a whim, I spent like a dollar and got the entire Wizard of Oz collection. And it is not very good. I figured that my whole "pre-k teacher" vibe would get me through it, but I've read two books and, first book aside, L. Frank Baum is sort of a terrible author.

I think it's time to continue my reread of Song of Ice and Fire books. I'll pick up book 2 on the nook in a couple minutes.

diablopath

08-12-2010, 07:32 PM

Vandabo

08-12-2010, 07:37 PM

I just started Geosynchron the third book of the Infoquake series by David Louis Edelman. The first two were pretty good, they are very fast paced, which I really needed after Robinson's Mars trilogy. The level of technology in the books is such that it's sometimes hard to suspend disbelief, but they are still entertaining and have some interesting ideas.

Wilkz07

08-12-2010, 07:59 PM

Scaryfaced

08-12-2010, 08:31 PM

I'm thinking about entering the Warhammer 40k universe and getting into The Horus Heresy books. I'm also thinking about getting into the Mass Effect novels.

I wonder which is a better way to spend my time and money.

I'd highly recommend the Horus Heresy books, though it's turned into a money sink hole for me, so be warned. But if you're curious, read the first of the series. If that doesnt grab you, you're probably not going to like anything else you'll pick up.

Vyzov

08-13-2010, 06:56 AM

I just finished reading Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman and have just started on Good Omens by him and Terry Pratchett.

Fragile Things contained some awesome short stories and poems and is actually my introduction to Gaiman, someone I've been meaning to read for years. Good Omens so far has also been fantastic, so funny.

My grandpa sells condoms to sailors, He punctures the tips with a pin,
My grandma does back-street abortions, My God how the money rolls in.

rein

08-13-2010, 11:58 AM

Book:
Driven To Distraction - Jeremy Clarkson

eBook:
Into the Storm - Taylor Anderson

When those are done I have:

Pirate Latitudes - Michael Crichton
Girl who played with fire - Stieg Larsson
Footfall - Larry Niven
Dreampark - Larry Niven

ebook
Maurader - Taylor Anderson
Game of thrones - george martin
3rd Destroyermen book by Taylor Anderson
I have The Girl Who Played With Fire along with the other two books in the millenium trilogy on my short list of books to read soon. Included on that list is Under the Dome by Stephen King, and Stories: All New Tales by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio. I have a few other books on the list too but I'm not going to bother mentioning them.

I just finished reading Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman and have just started on Good Omens by him and Terry Pratchett.

Fragile Things contained some awesome short stories and poems and is actually my introduction to Gaiman, someone I've been meaning to read for years. Good Omens so far has also been fantastic, so funny.

My grandpa sells condoms to sailors, He punctures the tips with a pin,
My grandma does back-street abortions, My God how the money rolls in.
I adore Neil Gaiaman's short stories. His novels aren't too bad either. What little reading I have done over the past few years Gaiman is responsible for about 90% of it. I guess it's pretty easy to guess I am a fan of his work if you notice my avatar is taken from one of the illustrations in The Graveyard Book.

Wilkz07

08-15-2010, 11:14 AM

I started Under the Dome when I finished Clive Cussler's The Wrecker but I didn't get too far into Dome. Will eventually get to finish it.

I have been holding off buying Clive Cussler's The Spy until I finish a few books I have already.

If you like the show Burn Notice the books by Tod Goldberg are good, basically episodes. The new one is called The Giveaway.

KSmitty

08-16-2010, 01:30 PM

Finished Warbreaker, and have moved on to The Name of the Wind - Rothfuss. I am really digging it so far.

I started Under the Dome when I finished Clive Cussler's The Wrecker but I didn't get too far into Dome. Will eventually get to finish it.
I planned on getting this when it went to paperback. Then it did go to paperback... which is the EXACT SAME SIZE as the giant hardcover. Guess I'll have to wait for the second paperback release.

Stoke

08-16-2010, 06:34 PM

Finished Warbreaker, and have moved on to The Name of the Wind - Rothfuss. I am really digging it so far.

I planned on getting this when it went to paperback. Then it did go to paperback... which is the EXACT SAME SIZE as the giant hardcover. Guess I'll have to wait for the second paperback release.

How did you like Warbreaker? I personally love most of Sanderson's books but I know a lot of people don't care for him.

Right now I'm in the middle of The Magicians for my second read through. I'm not sure if I'm going to read it all the way through before I jump to something else though. When I started I didn't have any other books laying around but now I have The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on my Kindle and it's getting hard to ignore. It's not my usual genre but the hype drew me in.

Xerxes

08-16-2010, 06:36 PM

Is there anything out there about a pack of female werewolves. Borderline erotica? O_o

Vandabo

08-16-2010, 06:39 PM

Is there anything out there about a pack of female werewolves. Borderline erotica? O_o

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/305936513_5VhCK-L-2.jpg

muddi900

08-17-2010, 01:31 AM

I was going to post the penny arcade strip, but then I scrolled down.

KSmitty

08-17-2010, 10:01 AM

How did you like Warbreaker? I personally love most of Sanderson's books but I know a lot of people don't care for him.

He creates a new system of magic that is very interesting, if not fully fleshed out. If you enjoyed Elantris, then you'll like Warbreaker.

Stoke

08-17-2010, 10:29 AM

He creates a new system of magic that is very interesting, if not fully fleshed out. If you enjoyed Elantris, then you'll like Warbreaker.

Have you tried the Mistborn trilogy? Allomancy is a much more fleshed out system than that in Warbreaker. If you liked the book I also recommend his annotations (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/annotation/) for the books. He's on Warbreaker now and usually posts another chapter every week but the complete annotations for Elantris are already posted. They're a quick read usually and give a little more back story and why he wrote things the way he did.

diablopath

08-17-2010, 03:14 PM

I'd highly recommend the Horus Heresy books, though it's turned into a money sink hole for me, so be warned. But if you're curious, read the first of the series. If that doesnt grab you, you're probably not going to like anything else you'll pick up.

I picked up Horus Rising. I'm only a dozen or so pages in, but since it opened so nicely, I'm already intrigued. I hope to finish it in a day or two so I can give a complete opinion.

Vyzov

08-18-2010, 09:04 AM

I adore Neil Gaiaman's short stories. His novels aren't too bad either. What little reading I have done over the past few years Gaiman is responsible for about 90% of it. I guess it's pretty easy to guess I am a fan of his work if you notice my avatar is taken from one of the illustrations in The Graveyard Book.

I have avatars disabled so I can't tell. I just picked up Smoke and Mirrors as well, I'm really loving these collections of short stories and such more so then a full novel. Anyone have any other good suggestions of short story anthologies or such?

Vandabo

08-18-2010, 12:22 PM

I just finished David Louis Edelman's "Jump 255" Trilogy, consisting of Infoquake, Multireal and Geosynchron. They were pretty enjoyable, and had some interesting concepts. There were a few too many unexplained miracle technologies for my taste, but I enjoyed them overall.

KSmitty

08-18-2010, 03:51 PM

Have you tried the Mistborn trilogy? Allomancy is a much more fleshed out system than that in Warbreaker. If you liked the book I also recommend his annotations (http://www.brandonsanderson.com/annotation/) for the books. He's on Warbreaker now and usually posts another chapter every week but the complete annotations for Elantris are already posted. They're a quick read usually and give a little more back story and why he wrote things the way he did.

Yes I read the Mistborn trilogy, I really liked the first book and the magic system and the culture around it were very interesting. I know that Sanderson post to his blog often, but for some reason I never visit his site.

Sandman

08-18-2010, 03:57 PM

Anyone here read Peter F. Hamilton? I ordered Pandora's Star from the library today...seems to be a good starting point for The Commonwealth Universe.

Jason

08-18-2010, 04:21 PM

Anyone here read Peter F. Hamilton? I ordered Pandora's Star from the library today...seems to be a good starting point for The Commonwealth Universe.

I've read one of his books. Can't remember much about it. I think it was decent though.

Crittias

08-18-2010, 04:42 PM

Anyone here read Peter F. Hamilton? I ordered Pandora's Star from the library today...seems to be a good starting point for The Commonwealth Universe.Good books. Just finished The Dreaming Void & The Temporal Void while on vacation. The last of the Void books comes out next week, I think.

Stoke

08-18-2010, 05:30 PM

Anyone here read Peter F. Hamilton? I ordered Pandora's Star from the library today...seems to be a good starting point for The Commonwealth Universe.

I've read part of Pandora's Star. It was good, and I enjoyed what I read but for some reason I never felt compelled to read more. So it sits on my shelf unfinished.

Vandabo

08-18-2010, 06:47 PM

Hamilton is awesome, but for my money I like The Night's Dawn Trilogy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night%27s_Dawn_Trilogy) better. The first chapter in The Reality Disfunction totally drew me in and is some of the best action action Sci-fi that I've read. If you have a kindle, the whole trilogy is available as one ebook, for only 8 bucks or so. Considering that's a few thousand pages of awesome sci-fi for that price, it's hard to beat.

SilentScreams

08-18-2010, 07:58 PM

Just started to re-read the Orcs: First Blood trilogy by Stan Nicholls. It's a book I picked up on a whim while browsing at the book store one day having never heard of it, and I was surprised at how good it was. It's a story told completely from the perspective of the Orcs and it does a good job of making you care about a race usually depicted as the bad guys. I'd definitely recommend picking it up.

KSmitty

08-20-2010, 02:45 PM

Finished The Name of the Wind, really liked it. So much so, that I may actually buy the hardcover of book 2 instead of waiting for the paperback. Started Catch-22 - Heller.

muddi900

08-20-2010, 03:03 PM

Yossarian Lives!

Sandman

08-20-2010, 03:44 PM

Any readers of Ken Follett here? Where do I start with him? Kinda interested in Pillars of the Earth but what really interests me is the Century Trilogy he's starting this year with Fall of Giants. That looks awesome.

Vandabo

08-20-2010, 03:53 PM

Scaryfaced

08-21-2010, 04:51 PM

Just finished Brothers of the Snake by Dan Abnett.

I'm kind of embarrassed to say it took me quite a while to figure out the historical parallel the Iron Snakes were based on. It seems to be the set way of characterization in 40k novels, basing the different Chapters and larger than life figures on various ancient cultures and heroes. While that sounds a little like cheating, the world they've created takes to it very well. It's History in space and I love it.

Superman's Dead

08-21-2010, 04:59 PM

I love Catch-22, and the movie was entertaining as well. It's amazing how many soon-to-be famous actors are in it (and already famous too). I think it would have been much harder to take without having read the book though.

Fun fact: Paul Simon wrote "The Only Living Boy In New York" when Garfunkel was away in Mexico filming Catch-22. Sad and sweet.

Also, a little gay.

evilgoodwin

09-13-2010, 01:53 AM

muddi900

09-13-2010, 03:48 AM

Cant you guys just adjust margins on ereaders?

KSmitty

09-13-2010, 08:52 AM

Knocked out the first Mistborn book, picked up the second one and am making my way through it.

Wanted to pick up The Name of the Wind, but the nook preview for it was bullshit. 12 of the 19 pages of "sample" were contents, dedications, copyright, etc. The last 7 pages had huge margins, so the text was only an inch wide.

I feel like I've already said this... But I'm annoyed enough to repeat this again. But I'm going to flip through it at a store this week to see if I like it.

Do you like fantasy? Then buy The Name of the Wind. Great story with a very likeable protagonist.

I am still on Catch-22, work caught up to me and VCII is taking up my free time at home. But this weekend I did read Walking Dead vol 12, and Invincible vol 13. Both were slower paced (read: not as crazy as the previous vol) but both were decent reads, although Invincible included a re-cap issue and I HATE re-cap issues.

AntonThaGreat

09-13-2010, 08:03 PM

IIntrude

09-16-2010, 09:59 AM

I am starting on the sample chapters of "The Passage" on my Nook. Its a Post-Apoc story that seems to intertwine with vampires or something. Anyone know anything about this one?

Ultima Thulian

09-17-2010, 08:50 AM

Finished Bram Stroker's "Dracula." Reading a lot of historical texts now, in particular Saga of the Volsungs. But I'm hoping to grab another novel to read for more recreational purposes.

bstiff

09-18-2010, 11:10 AM

nnanji

09-18-2010, 11:39 AM

I hope I am not the only fan of Gene Wolfe around here. I just started his new book, The Sorcerer's House. (http://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-House-Gene-Wolfe/dp/076532458X) So far it is an excellent book, and the presentation (a series of letters written by the protagonist) is a very refreshing change of pace.

KSmitty

09-20-2010, 08:47 AM

I think I'm going to give up on Catch-22. I'm about half-way through, and just aren't interested in what else happens. Yea, some parts were funny... but I just don't give a shit about the characters.

"An Anthropologist on Mars" is very interesting. Finished the first Discworld book a week or two ago.

I had a bit of a struggle too. The storytelling is very circular when the book first starts, and the tone swings wildly from realistic to completely absurd at times. Once it gets past that though and starts telling a single threaded story about Yossarian (more or less) it gets better.

I am starting on the sample chapters of "The Passage" on my Nook. Its a Post-Apoc story that seems to intertwine with vampires or something. Anyone know anything about this one?
Basically a virus broke out that changed people to vampires in modern society. A siginicant amount of time has gone by and human society has changed to the point where only a few people are still living from the pre-virus era. They hear about a 'cure' for the virus and go looking for it. The book got decent reviews, although there were some complaints about the story being bloated at times. Although carrying around a big book isn't a problem with your Nook. I am waiting on the paperback.

I finished Catch-22. As I said above it was abit of rough start for me, but overall I still enjoyed the book. I would be very particular about who I would recommend the book to, although PBS named it one 'X Books To Read' on one of their lists.

I am starting The Silmarillion. Not the encyclopedia version, but the abridged one (about 1/3 as long). After that I was going to stay on the Tolkein kick and read The Children of Hurin.

I also read Irredeemable vol 1-2 this weekend. Basically a what if Superman snapped and turned into a crazed villain. Except unlike Superman no knows of any magic bullet that can put the Plutonian down, no can really rival his power and he kills millions on a whim. I like it so far, it will be interesting to see where Waid takes the story. And there is a companion book, Incorruptible which is this world's 'Lex Luthor' turning into a good guy to fight the now crazy Plutonian.

muddi900

09-20-2010, 09:01 AM

I also read Irredeemable vol 1-2 this weekend. Basically a what if Superman snapped and turned into a crazed villain. Except unlike Superman no knows of any magic bullet that can put the Plutonian down, no can really rival his power and he kills millions on a whim. I like it so far, it will be interesting to see where Waid takes the story. And there is a companion book, Incorruptible which is this world's 'Lex Luthor' turning into a good guy to fight the now crazy Plutonian.

I really liked Irredeemable. Incorruptible, not so much. It seems waid only had the idea and no real plot for it.

Vandabo

09-20-2010, 05:42 PM

Unfortunately the trilogy collection is not available in the US. It was a shame, Ive been thinking about rereading it without lugging the books around.

That's interesting. I bought it more than a year ago on the kindle, but I go to find it on amazon now and it isn't there. I guess they figured out that they can make more money if people buy them separately instead of together for the same price.

Abyssion

09-20-2010, 05:45 PM

The second book of The Strain Trilogy is out tomorrow and Amazon shipped my copy, so I'm anxiously awaiting that. I really liked the first one.

09-20-2010, 09:17 PM

Crittias

09-20-2010, 09:19 PM

It's better if you assume voidhawks make the same screaming noise TIE fighters do.You, my friend, are a genius.

I'm reading the last of the Void trilogy from Hamilton right now, The Evolutionary Void. Hamilton is never one to shy from going big with his stories, which always makes them a fun read.

Joshkdmw

09-20-2010, 11:21 PM

I'm currently reading Already Dead: A Novel (http://www.amazon.com/Already-Dead-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B000XUBCZO) by Charlie Huston. I picked it up a while back when the Kindle edition was available for free. It's not the best book so far but pretty decent for the price.

Dude, I LOVE the Joe Pitt Casebooks. Keep reading, they get pretty badass.

Currently reading:

The Harry Bosch Series
Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (just starting)
Royal Assassin
Various Dashiell Hammett works
The Fishermen's son saga
The Dresden Files
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

All recreationally. And many many more academically. So many brainy texts for class, it's nice to let loose with a quick and dirty fantasy series now and again.

Scaryfaced

09-20-2010, 11:43 PM

I finally finished Herodotus's Histories on my summer vacation after letting it sit on the shelf for a ridiculously long time. Still, it made better beach reading than last year's choice: Kafka's The Trial. Existential horror does not mix well with suntanning.

What did you think of Histories? I bought it and A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court on a lark and only got a few pages in before switching over to Twain, but I've been thinking of picking it back up again. I'm a History buff, but I haven't really delved into a good second hand historical text since college. I'm mostly curious if it's the type of book you can just absorb, or if you have to read a few pages and ruminate on it.

As for something completely different, I just finished the Eisenhorn omnibus. It ended a little abruptly for my tastes, but a fun ride throughout. A slow decent into hereticisim has never been so enjoyable. But god damn is that last book sad.

Now it's time to chose my next read. So far, I have Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Freidman, Trinity by Leon Uris and Why Christianity Must Change or Die by John Shelby Spong on the table. I hate making decisions.

09-21-2010, 12:34 AM

Histories is a book everyone ought to read. You certainly can't call yourself much of a history buff if you haven't had your Herodotus, Thucydides, and Plutarch at an absolute minimum. Can't really call yourself an educated man, frankly (and I say that as someone who has only read one of those three so far).

How did I like it? You really need to go with the flow, because Herodotus has nothing even resembling the outline of a modern history book. Dude basically tells you a little history of the Persian Wars, describes (or makes up) the customs of every culture in the known world, tells you a little more history, speculates about the customs of every culture in the unknown world, and then tells you a little more history. I read the Landmark edition, which is pretty good with maps and actually too good with footnotes -- I quickly learned I needed to ignore most of the footnotes (which were often repeats anyway) and just let the text wash over me.

The Landmark edition is clearly written on the assumption that you aren't going to sit down and read it cover-to-cover -- some common concepts have the same footnote dozens of times throughout the text, every time they appear. This edition also has good marginalia summarizing what Herodotus is talking about in each paragraph and (where relevant, which is less common than you might think) our best guess as to the year the events occurred. Most of it is stuff is more like ethnography than what we'd think of history, and you don't really need to ruminate on it unless you care about exactly what ancient Greeks thought of the sexual practices of the peoples of modern-day Georgia. I mostly read it in very short chunks immediately before bed, and I don't think I lost the plot any more than I would have under any other circumstances.

Vandabo

09-21-2010, 12:37 AM

It's better if you assume voidhawks make the same screaming noise TIE fighters do.

That's a great idea, but I can't shake my ingrained concept of thinking of the voidhawks like the ship from Flight of the Navigator. It's not even like they are described anything close to that in the book, but whenever I think of a ship with a personality that's what pops into my head.

I just picked up Evolutionary Void on the kindle today, after I noticed it had dropped in price from $15 to $10. I really wanted to read that, but I'll be goddamned if I was going to buy a $15 ebook.

JRR006

09-21-2010, 01:24 AM

I only made it to book five or six of The Histories. It's on my shelf of shame. :(

Light on, well, rigorous historiography, but I'll forgive him because he basically invented the idea of writing history as a narrative, but it is rather fun when he reports hearsay. "Some people say there's another sea... over that way. I've not seen it myself." Or his description of phoenixes and giant ants chasing people. Ancient times were a lot more exciting. What was over the next hill? Nobody fucking knew.

Urizen

09-21-2010, 01:52 AM

Finished How Soccer Explains the World and Soccernomics. Book are enjoyable, but the first two-thirds of Soccernomics is really good. Both are accessible, and the latter makes no bones about borrowing its tone and style from Freakanomics.

That just means they managed to squeeze out three opportunities to make fun how the subprime meltdown kicked Iceland's economy into South America.

These two books have put Fever Pitch and The Fix on my reading list. I realize I enjoy reading about sports a lot more than I anticipated.

Right now, I'm finishing up my Oddities Trilogy. I've read Against the Odds, and Outliers]/b], and am now a third of the way through [b]The Drunkard's Walk. I'm enjoying each book progressively less, even though they all have their moments. I enjoyed Mlodinow's discussion of the $64,000 Question.

It goes like this:

If you've three doors in front of you. You're told behind one door is a Ferrari, and behind each of the other two is a set of steak knives. Let's say the knives are of dubious quality and you prefer the Italian sports car to them. You choose Door #1.

To spice things up and create some drama, the host then opens Door #2 to reveal one of the set of steak knives. He then gives you the opportunity to switch your preferred to Door #3, if you so desire.

Do you take the offer, or do you hold steadfastly to Door #1?

Also working through Alladin's Lamp by John Freely and Bambi Vs. Godzilla by David Mamet.

Joshkdmw

09-21-2010, 02:46 AM

It goes like this:

If you've three doors in front of you. You're told behind one door is a Ferrari, and behind each of the other two is a set of steak knives. Let's say the knives are of dubious quality and you prefer the Italian sports car to them. You choose Door #1.

To spice things up and create some drama, the host then opens Door #2 to reveal one of the set of steak knives. He then gives you the opportunity to switch your preferred to Door #3, if you so desire.

Do you take the offer, or do you hold steadfastly to Door #1?

Somebody once explained to me the reason why, but I forget. Either way, you change your guess.

Why is that, exactly? I never understood that rule too well.

nnanji

09-21-2010, 05:50 AM

Somebody once explained to me the reason why, but I forget. Either way, you change your guess.

Why is that, exactly? I never understood that rule too well.

When you make your first guess, there is a 1/3 chance that you are correct. Then they reveal what is behind door number 2. If you keep the same answer, then there is still only a 1/3 chance that you are correct, but, if you change your guess to door number 3, then you have improved your odds to 1/2, because you are picking from 2 options at that point.

Urizen

09-21-2010, 12:25 PM

When you make your first guess, there is a 1/3 chance that you are correct. Then they reveal what is behind door number 2. If you keep the same answer, then there is still only a 1/3 chance that you are correct, but, if you change your guess to door number 3, then you have improved your odds to 1/2, because you are picking from 2 options at that point.

Not exactly.

What's most significant is that the host has intervened in the problem precisely to reveal which door does NOT hide a Ferrari. The intervention is NOT random.

There are two possible guesses a player could have made at the start of the game: a 1 in 3 chance of making a Correct Guess, and a 2 in 3 chance of making a Wrong Guess.

You pick Door #1 and have a 1 in 3 chance of winning. The other two doors combine to represent a 2 in 3 chance to win. The host's intervention gives you information about that 2 in 3 possibility. By eliminating one of them for you, the host gives you a 2 in 3 chance to win when there are only 2 doors in play.

You should switch your guess.

JRR006

09-21-2010, 01:56 PM

Thanks for that, Urizen! I played some flash game model of the Monty Hall problem a few weeks ago, and they tried to explain at the end why one should switch their guess, but I didn't get much out of it. Since I find math utterly counter-intuitive and I'm rubbish at using it to model the world, I was just like ... "Nnh?" Your write-up actually makes it clear.

Scaryfaced

09-21-2010, 07:23 PM

09-22-2010, 06:27 PM

Fair enough! I guess I'll be adding the book to my next batch of thing's I need mailed to me. While he might be a little off the wall, Herodotus is largely considered the father of modern history. Construe to mean whatever you'd like about modern history :D
I think the simplest explanation is just that he was the first person to use the word ἱστορία (which is the root for "history" in almost every European language) to refer to inquiries into the verifiable events of the past (as opposed to "inquiry" more generally, and as opposed to reciting the epic poets (who were generally understood to have been happy to change facts to make the story work). Thucydides is generally considered the first good historian, however.

JRR006, you've already gotten through the tough part. Things start to pick up in Book 7, and Books 8 and 9 fly by. He actually tells a story in those books with very little digression.

Scaryfaced

09-22-2010, 08:42 PM

It's more about his actual practice of studying history. While he obviously got quite a bit wrong, Heroditus's life style provided him with the luxury of talking to people who had seen events first hand or had heard about them second hand(if I'm remembering correctly from my various early History courses). Most "history" up until that point was hear say and embellished accounts with little to no content. His tended to be more straight forward and at least attempted to give a truthful account of the actual events. Whether he actually exceeded in that persuit is up to you to judge, as I can't say for myself. But I think it's really more of an "At least he tried" sort of idea.

AntonThaGreat

09-23-2010, 10:27 PM

Since I am getting near the Brandon Sanderson's first Wheel of Time novel, I decided to see what I was headed for by reading Elantris. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and I think I might just read Mistborn before I finish with the current WoT novels. I want to let as much time elapse as possible between the books, since I rarely reread anything.

That has me thinking, does anyone else tend to avoid rereading books? I feel like there's so much out there for me to read, that it would be a waste to reread something again. Of course, sparing the few favorites that are just a joy to read once memory fades a bit.

I think the simplest explanation is just that he was the first person to use the word ἱστορία (which is the root for "history" in almost every European language) to refer to inquiries into the verifiable events of the past (as opposed to "inquiry" more generally, and as opposed to reciting the epic poets (who were generally understood to have been happy to change facts to make the story work). Thucydides is generally considered the first good historian, however.

Awesome, ἱστορία is pronounced exactly the same in Russian: istoria or история.
I have both Thucydides' History of Peloponnesian War and Plutarch's Rise and Fall of Athens sitting on my shelf, beckoning me to read them again now. Thanks.

Stoke

09-28-2010, 10:10 PM

SilentScreams

09-29-2010, 06:24 AM

I just bought The Painted Man, which is the first book in a trilogy. It was recommended to me by a friend who usually has pretty good taste, so here's hoping.

evilgoodwin

09-29-2010, 02:20 PM

I constantly reread Discworld books.

AntonThaGreat

09-29-2010, 04:34 PM

I just bought The Painted Man, which is the first book in a trilogy. It was recommended to me by a friend who usually has pretty good taste, so here's hoping.

I loved it and so did a friend of mine, and apparently the rest of this forum did too. So, I think you're in for a treat.

I'm almost finished with Mistborn: Final Empire, and I'm enjoying it even more than Elantris. I have high hopes for his effort with WoT.

I constantly reread Discworld books.

I read the first one so far, it was fun, though I hope his writing improves in the later books.

evilgoodwin

09-29-2010, 05:08 PM

I loved it and so did a friend of mine, and apparently the rest of this forum did too. So, I think you're in for a treat.

I'm almost finished with Mistborn: Final Empire, and I'm enjoying it even more than Elantris. I have high hopes for his effort with WoT.

I read the first one so far, it was fun, though I hope his writing improves in the later books.

Oh, does it ever!

While I enjoy all of them, I enjoy the later ones so much more, especially anything involving Vimes.

But when I think back, it takes a while for them to really build up steam.

Vandabo

09-30-2010, 12:33 PM

I've been reading the Ian Cormac series by Neal Asher (starting with Gridlinked). If you like harder (as in, well described and thought out future science) sci-fi, with a lot of gritty action, this is great stuff. The universe is in many ways similar to the Culture books by Iain M. Banks (lots of AI, hugely advanced technology and an utopian civilization dealing with more backwards cultures), but with a bunch of cyberpunk type stuff thrown in, making them a lot darker. I just finished the 3rd in the series and I'm looking forward to the next two.

Spectre-7

09-30-2010, 12:43 PM

The universe is in many ways similar to the Culture books by Iain M. Banks...

You said the magic words. This is now on my "to read" list.

Crittias

09-30-2010, 01:26 PM

I've been reading the Ian Cormac series by Neal Asher (starting with Gridlinked).Very good series. And the writing improves dramatically as you progress.

Narradisall

10-01-2010, 06:44 AM

I loved it and so did a friend of mine, and apparently the rest of this forum did too. So, I think you're in for a treat.

I enjoyed The Painted Man, heck, I even enjoyed the Desert Spear, although a lot of people hated that the first half of the book moved away from the main story to cover a lot of background.

AntonThaGreat

10-01-2010, 11:46 AM

I enjoyed The Painted Man, heck, I even enjoyed the Desert Spear, although a lot of people hated that the first half of the book moved away from the main story to cover a lot of background.

As I said in my review on Good Reads, the damn first half of desert spear should have been mixed into the first book. Either Painted Man was rushed, or the editing was very shoddy. It damn near ruined the experience for me.

muddi900

10-05-2010, 01:36 PM

So I am finished with Return of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock Holmes in general. All stories finally finished. One chapter through Chuck Palahnuik's Rant. It doesn't suck like the last one I read, but he really...sucks.

muddi900

10-17-2010, 01:26 PM

This thread needs a kick in the pants. So name some of your favorite books.

Here are some of mine;

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Crime and Punishment
1984
Slaughterhouse-5
Hound of the Baskervilles
True history of the Kelly gang(By Peter Carey)
Bag of Bones(By Stephen King)
American Gods

A rather cliched list , so feel free to ridicule me. :)

Also I missed this before:

That has me thinking, does anyone else tend to avoid rereading books? I feel like there's so much out there for me to read, that it would be a waste to reread something again. Of course, sparing the few favorites that are just a joy to read once memory fades a bit.

Well logically speaking, rereading makes more sense. Yes there are infinitely more books/movies/games/songs out there, but those are something you might enjoy. Entertainment is not guaranteed.

What would you rather do, something that might be fun, or something that is definitely fun?

evilgoodwin

10-17-2010, 01:36 PM

Bram Stoker's Dracula (Bram Stoker)
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (HP Lovecraft)
Night Watch (Terry Pratchett)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (JK Rowling)

Those are just my top 4 without repeating the same author.

----

I just finished Cormac McCarthy's The Road. I must have missed something, because I didn't really like it as much as everyone claims. I guess it was overhyped for me or something. It's not a bad book... I just didn't like it.

Sandman

10-17-2010, 01:39 PM

Anyone pick up Ken Follett's Fall of Giants? I've got it but I probably won't get around to it till December. It helps that I'm taking a European History class on the same time period right now.

Also....my favorite books: Bram Stoker's Dracula and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Crittias

10-17-2010, 01:47 PM

Permutation City (http://www.amazon.com/Permutation-City-Greg-Egan/dp/006105481X), by Greg Egan
A Fire Upon the Deep (http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Upon-Deep-ebook/dp/B000FBJAGO), by Vernor Vinge
Altered Carbon (http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Carbon-ebook/dp/B000FBFMZ2), by Richard K. Morgan
Perdido Street Station (http://www.amazon.com/Perdido-Street-Station-ebook/dp/B000FBFO8C), by China Mieville

Just for starters.

muddi900

10-17-2010, 01:51 PM

Oh, I also picked up Anathema tonight. Its next up after Rant.

Stoke

10-17-2010, 04:09 PM

Well logically speaking, rereading makes more sense. Yes there are infinitely more books/movies/games/songs out there, but those are something you might enjoy. Entertainment is not guaranteed.

What would you rather do, something that might be fun, or something that is definitely fun?

Unless you're like me and rereading gives you no enjoyment if you remember the story too well.

I finally got around to reading Sanderson's The Way of Kings. I'm a big Sanderson fan but this is my favorite of his books so far. I really think this is going end up being one of my favorite series if the rest of it is as good as the first entry. It's just to bad the next one won't be out for more than a year.

KSmitty

10-18-2010, 10:48 AM

That has me thinking, does anyone else tend to avoid rereading books? I feel like there's so much out there for me to read, that it would be a waste to reread something again. Of course, sparing the few favorites that are just a joy to read once memory fades a bit.

If enough time has passed I can re-read a book, but it has to be a significant amount of time and even then I remember the overall story and the gist of the ending.

I finished The Silmarillion, and decided not to read The Children of Hurin and be further depressed by the tragedy of the Eldar.

I started reading Eon - Bear, a hard sci fi title that started great but is faltering a bit towards the latter half. We'll see how it ends. After this I may stay on a scifi kick, but I may just go with fiction. I still want to read A Lion Among Men and my lady has been pushing me to read The Girl Who Played with Fire series

I finally got around to reading Sanderson's The Way of Kings. I'm a big Sanderson fan but this is my favorite of his books so far. I really think this is going end up being one of my favorite series if the rest of it is as good as the first entry. It's just to bad the next one won't be out for more than a year.

I saw that and I like Sanderson, but I am put off by a 10 volume epic series. Those tend to really be a 5 book epic series, but you have to read the other five books to for character/story continuity. I think Zelazney and Brust did it well, shorter novels that combine to tell an overarching story, not 10 500+ page novels that are inevitably going to suffer from filler not to mention delays.

muddi900

10-18-2010, 12:13 PM

Unless you're like me and rereading gives you no enjoyment if you remember the story too well.

Fair enough, but I have found that books are not like films. There are a lot of details you might not catch the first time around. At least, in the good ones. :p

Stoke

10-18-2010, 01:13 PM

I saw that and I like Sanderson, but I am put off by a 10 volume epic series. Those tend to really be a 5 book epic series, but you have to read the other five books to for character/story continuity. I think Zelazney and Brust did it well, shorter novels that combine to tell an overarching story, not 10 500+ page novels that are inevitably going to suffer from filler not to mention delays.

After Martin and Jordan I am a little wary as well, but Sanderson supposedly already has the series outlined and has more that 350K words detailing what happens in what book. Plus his relatively quick writing speed gives me hope that I'll see the end in my lifetime. Still, I enjoy what I've read so far and if the next book is a pile of trash 30 years late it won't take that away.

Abednigo

11-10-2010, 05:09 AM

SilentScreams

11-10-2010, 05:17 AM

I'm slowly but surely working my way through Wheel of Time. About halfway through the second book at the moment. The series so far as been very slow paced, but I'm enjoying it.

hunterx280

11-10-2010, 08:28 AM

Sandman

11-10-2010, 09:48 AM

I just ordered books 2 - 4 of Song of Ice and Fire...only 1/3 into the first and I'm hooked. Also got the new Stephen King book in. Lately, I've enjoyed his short story collections better than his novels.

Generation ABXY

11-10-2010, 10:10 AM

Since the sequel of one of my favorites is coming out in a few weeks, I'll recommend them both.

The Fiddler's Gun and Fiddler's Green by A.S. Peterson.

They're sort of historical fiction. Fiddler's Gun was his first book and is incredible. Can't wait to get Fiddler's Green in a few weeks to finish out the story.

Wow, now that's something of an obscure book to come across (through a church group, or his music, perhaps?).

I haven't even taken the plunge on the first one, yet, but I'll be interested to hear what you think of the sequel, as well.

Crittias

11-10-2010, 10:12 AM

I'm currently reading a book of short stories called Stories of Your Life: and Others (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8130318-stories-of-your-life) by Ted Chiang. Really enjoying it. He's got some fun ideas in his short stories.Good choice. Haven't ready it yet, but Chiang is brilliant.

I'm reading Iain M. Bank's newest Culture novel, Surface Detail (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7937744-surface-detail). Barely started, so no comments yet.

nnanji

11-10-2010, 10:39 AM

I just finished book 8 of the Wheel of Time series and am going to keep plugging through until the end I hope. I say that having gotten this far before. Books 9 and 10 are the hardest for me to get through, but I'm hoping the end makes it all worth it.

I am also reading Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail and I am about to start Sandman Slim (http://www.amazon.com/Sandman-Slim-Novel-Richard-Kadrey/dp/0061714305) on my friend's recommendation.

Hopefully I will finish up the month with the new Iain Bank book and Hamilton's new Void book.

Joshkdmw

11-10-2010, 10:56 AM

I just finished book 8 of the Wheel of Time series and am going to keep plugging through until the end I hope. I say that having gotten this far before. Books 9 and 10 are the hardest for me to get through, but I'm hoping the end makes it all worth it.

9 is not worth the read, but you kind of have to. I got stuck on 10 on a wall of apathy, but I've had numerous sources tell me that the tenth book, Crossroads of Twilight, can be easily skipped. They say it's mostly inconsequential filler and you'll pick it all up in the next book.

Myself, I'm reading HP Lovecraft's works. How did I go so long without them? Just...beautiful. Call of Cthulhu makes me feel all warm and snuggly inside.

SilentScreams

11-10-2010, 11:32 AM

I've just had a hardcover copy of Dreamsongs fall into my lap. It's a collection of short stories written by George R.R. Martin. I bought it for my grandad last Christmas because I knew it'd be awesome. He really enjoyed it and has lent it to me to read now. Might take a break from the Wheel of Time for it.

Vandabo

11-10-2010, 12:41 PM

I just started Surface Detail, the new Culture novel by Iain M. Banks. It's pretty trippy so far, but that's kind of what is interesting about the Culture books; they are all so different even though they take place in the same universe.

Spectre-7

11-10-2010, 01:08 PM

Started Neal Asher's Gridlinked the other day. Generally enjoying it so far, even if there are a few rough-ish edges.

evilgoodwin

11-10-2010, 01:25 PM

Slaughterhouse 5 and American Gods were finished a few weeks ago.

Currently reading: Snow Crash, by Stephenson.

Next on the list: Towers of Midnight.

Crittias

11-10-2010, 02:08 PM

Started Neal Asher's Gridlinked the other day. Generally enjoying it so far, even if there are a few rough-ish edges.Asher's writing isn't all that great. His stories, however, are. Get past the writing, and you'll enjoy yourself.

KSmitty

11-10-2010, 02:46 PM

I read The Screwtape Letters, I didn't enjoy it as much as The Great Divorce, but it wasn't bad. I did really like Screwtape's toast at the end of the book.

I read Death Troopers which was pretty forgettable, even on the Star Wars book scale. I read book 1 of the final Sword of Truth Trilogy: Chainfire. If you skip the 5 page long speeches and the multiple parts where he tells you something you already know for the fifteenth time; it reads pretty fast. I moved on to book 2: Phantom, I won't be purchasing the last book for full price, so if I never come across it at Half-Price/library I'll have to look up the 'ending' online somewhere.

roboninja

11-10-2010, 02:47 PM

Vengar the Barbarian by Chris Randolph was a great short story. I am looking forward to reading Stars Rain Down by him soon.

I am currently reading Under the Dome by Stephen King. Good so far, but I am only around page 150 so, being King, it is barely even started yet.

Last night I tore through Incognito, a graphic novel (a comic, just for muddi). It was pretty damned good.

Joshkdmw

11-10-2010, 08:51 PM

Asher's writing isn't all that great. His stories, however, are. Get past the writing, and you'll enjoy yourself.

Ah, the Dean Koontz syndrome. Also known as the Rowling Curse, or the King hex.

Vandabo

11-10-2010, 09:02 PM

I didn't have any problem with Asher's prose. I thought it got better throughout the series as well. The stories are very good with some great characters that are very imperfect and sometimes morally ambiguous. You never know who you are going to end up rooting for.

Crittias

11-11-2010, 08:30 AM

Ah, the Dean Koontz syndrome. Also known as the Rowling Curse, or the King hex.Asher's writing style is nowhere near as well-constructed as Rowling or King.

I thought [the prose] got better throughout the series as well.Absolutely. You can see Asher's writing getting better with each book.

He does one particular thing that really jars me. The use of "then." For instance: "John ran up the hill to look for the aliens then ran back down again to tell everyone what he saw." No comma, no break, just two separate clauses tacked together with "then." I don't know why, but it drives me up a tree.

But yeah, Vandabo, his stories and characters more than make up for prose. I've read all his books.

Spectre-7

11-11-2010, 08:51 AM

I find Asher's writing generally acceptable with a few flashes of pretty good here and there. I find myself rereading passages a bit more often than I do in most books, though. Not sure what's causing that, but I'll occasionally make it to the end of a paragraph only to realize I absorbed nothing from it, and have to backtrack.

Something that's annoying me a little are the quotes from in-world texts at the start of chapters. That's an alright method for filling out universe detail, and I've certainly seen it used before, but Asher's are all written in the same snarky voice despite being from different fictional books and authors. Breaks my suspension of disbelief a bit.

muddi900

11-11-2010, 11:22 AM

I finished Rant. Halfway through the book, I assumed it was suppose to be a satire. That made this book a lot more tolerable. Still, it wasn't completely devoid of entertainment like Haunted and if you aren't squeamish(and since you are here, you probably aren't :D), its an easy read. But the guy needs to figure out the difference between exposition and narrative.

I am also 10 chapters into If chins could kill..., the Bruce Campbell autobio. It probably has the best introduction I have ever read 'written by' Ivan & Sam Raimi. The rest of the book has been ok, because Mr. Campbell's childhood/adolescence wasn't an exciting one. But I am getting to the point of 'Evil Dead', so I am hopeful.

I am also

Last night I tore through Incognito, a graphic novel (a comic, just for muddi). It was pretty damned good.

Thank you.

You should also check out Criminal by the same team of Brubaker/Philips/Staples. I would recommend getting the Deluxe edition hardcover of the former. Its expensive, but it contains all the brilliant back-matter from the issues of essays on the crime genre and interviews with authors, that is missing from the trade paperbacks. Also try Sleeper, also by the same team.

I've caught up on a few comics too. Red by Warren Ellis & Cully Hamner. Pretty much "Taken: The comic". It was short and simple, not all that engaging, but being a Warren Ellis 'widescreen' comic, there is not a single superfluous panel to be found. One thing that bothered me was the lack of sound effects. They may look cheesy(damn you Adam West), but they do have a place in comic-book story telling.

And Battlefields: Dear Billy by Garth Enis and Peter Snejberg. I carry a severe dislike Enis' work. He self-admittedly takes the piss in all his super-hero work and yet regarded as a genius. It was baffling, until I read this. The series itself is an anthology of self-contained WWII stories and this one is about a British nurse who survives a massacre by the Japanese soldiers. Its the most unromantic look at war I have ever seen. I had goosebumps.

And the first issue of Underground by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber. Its available for free on the website:
http://www.undergroundthecomic.com/
So its definitely worth checking out.

Ah, the Dean Koontz syndrome. Also known as the Rowling Curse, or the King hex.

Dean Koontz is a HACK. He wrote the second worst book I have ever read.

Jason

11-11-2010, 12:22 PM

I'm currently reading The Half-Orcs. (http://www.amazon.com/Half-Orcs-Omnibus-One-ebook/dp/B003UN7110/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1289503114&sr=1-1)

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD – At his brother’s insistence, Harruq Tun pledges loyalty to the death prophet Velixar, dooming their lives to murder and bloodshed. Only an elf named Aurelia provides hope for escape…an elf on the side of the enemy. An elf Harruq is ordered to kill.

THE COST OF BETRAYAL – The battle of Woodhaven behind them, Harruq hopes for a better life with Aurelia. Qurrah, however, continues his practice of the dark arts. When he falls for a girl lost to madness, he will do anything to save her – even if it means harming those his brother loves most.

THE DEATH OF PROMISES - After a bloody conflict with his brother, Qurrah Tun flees west with his lover, the strange and powerful Tessanna. He seeks an ancient tome known as Darakken’s spellbook, its pages containing the secrets of the world's very creation. Only Harruq and his friends can stand against the darkness his brother might unleash.

The descriptions really doesn't do the books justice. They're very good. Added bonus: Karak is an evil god in them.

SilentScreams

11-11-2010, 12:33 PM

They sound interesting.

On the subject of Orcs, I recommend the Stan Nicholls books (Bodyguard of Lightning, Legion of Thunder and Warriors of the Tempest). There is an omnibus out there just called 'Orcs'. I really enjoyed it.

The blurb on the back sold it to me when I picked it up in the book store.

"Look at me. Look at the Orc.

There is fear and hatred in your eyes. To you I am a monster, a skulker in the shadows, a fiend to scare your children with. A creature to be hunted down and slaughtered like a beast in the fields.

It is time you pay heed to the beast. And see the beast in yourself. I have your fear. But I have earned your respect.

Hear my story. Feel the flow of blood and be thankful. Thankful that it was me, not you, who bore the sword. Thankful to the orcs; born to fight, destined to win peace for all."

It's also available on the Kindle if you have one.

Jason

11-11-2010, 02:36 PM

Might have to check that out when I finish The Half-Orcs SilentScreams. Might also have to read In Her Name (http://www.amazon.com/Her-Name-Omnibus-ebook/dp/B001A7X0BI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1289511270&sr=1-2) again. I read it for the first time a month or so before watching Avatar. Several parts of Avatar remind me of In Her Name.

roboninja

11-11-2010, 03:45 PM

Dean Koontz is a HACK. He wrote the second worst book I have ever read.

Hey! I loved Koontz...when I was 15.

I'll be checking out some of those other comics too, muddi. I recently also bought The Best American Comics 2010 (http://www.amazon.ca/Best-American-Comics-2010/dp/0547241771/). Have not had the time to read it yet, but it looks good.

SilentScreams

11-11-2010, 03:51 PM

Koontz isn't the best, but he's far from the worst.

His books are usually enjoyable if nothing spectacular.

Bone

11-11-2010, 05:33 PM

Did you guys see the TV movie for Intensity? I couldn't shake the image of him as Dr. Cox and just giggled when he would say "It's the.... INTENSITY... of any given situation that I'm interested in". I have to hope the book wouldn't make me laugh as much... would it?

Joshkdmw

11-12-2010, 12:21 AM

Asher's writing style is nowhere near as well-constructed as Rowling or King.

Oh, snap!

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w4/joshkdmw/burn-notice-logo.jpg

Dean Koontz is a HACK. He wrote the second worst book I have ever read.

Pray, tell - which book?

muddi900

11-12-2010, 02:23 AM

From the corner of his eye.

He writes villains who have the superpower of talking people to death.

Joshkdmw

11-12-2010, 10:31 AM

From the corner of his eye.

He writes villains who have the superpower of talking people to death.

Never heard of it. But then, he writes like twelve books a week.

I really like the Odd Thomas series he has going. It's starting to jump the shark now with odd Hours, but the first few were pretty good. The very first was awesome.

KSmitty

11-12-2010, 02:21 PM

Never heard of it. But then, he writes like twelve books a week.

I really like the Odd Thomas series he has going. It's starting to jump the shark now with odd Hours, but the first few were pretty good. The very first was awesome.

That is what happened with the Frankenstain series he started. The first book was good, the second book was okay and then he took 5 years to write book 3, which I've heard is worse than book 2.

Joshkdmw

11-13-2010, 12:41 AM

That is what happened with the Frankenstain series he started. The first book was good, the second book was okay and then he took 5 years to write book 3, which I've heard is worse than book 2.

Dude! Your avatar is the drill instructor guy from Valkyria Chronicles II! I'm playing that game RIGHT NOW. We should be bros.

Stoke

11-13-2010, 01:42 AM

Dude! Your avatar is the drill instructor guy from Valkyria Chronicles II! I'm playing that game RIGHT NOW. We should be bros.

Dude! Your avatar is that Joshkdmw guy from Colony of Gamers! I'm reading a post by that guy RIGHT NOW. We should be bros.

Spectre-7

11-13-2010, 01:52 AM

And so, by the powers vested in me by the state of dementia and the almighty Cog, I now pronounce you Dude Bro and Bro Dude. You may now bump knucks.

Vandabo

11-14-2010, 02:39 AM

Just finished Surface Detail, the latest Culture novel by Iain M. Banks. It was definitely entertaining, but didn't seem as deep or thought provoking as some of the others in the series.

One thing of note is that the book essentially featured Dickwolves, or at least demons who rape people to death, using gigantic phalluses and boiling, acidic semen.

Wilkz07

11-14-2010, 03:38 AM

Nineteen Seventy Four - David Peace. book 1 of the Red Riding quartet. it was made into a bbc mini series called Red Riding Trilogy.

Stoke

11-14-2010, 01:39 PM

One thing of note is that the book essentially featured Dickwolves, or at least demons who rape people to death, using gigantic phalluses and boiling, acidic semen.

This is the very definition of though provoking literature. :p

Joshkdmw

11-15-2010, 09:34 AM

One thing of note is that the book essentially featured Dickwolves, or at least demons who rape people to death, using gigantic phalluses and boiling, acidic semen.

Boiling, and acidic? Yikes. I mean, ouch. You'd think one or the other, but...

how would one know if the acid was also boiling? Wouldn't it feel enough like painful heat if it were acid that differentiating between the two (especially when felt within the deep recesses of your ass) would be a bit tricky?

wsuhoey

11-15-2010, 11:27 AM

I finally just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

I thought that Chapter 33: The Prince's Tale is the single most enlightening chapter of all Harry Potter books.

evilgoodwin

11-15-2010, 01:36 PM

Finished Snow Crash. I did like it, but I admit that I got annoyed at the Library scenes. Just so many of them...

Vandabo

11-15-2010, 02:44 PM

Boiling, and acidic? Yikes. I mean, ouch. You'd think one or the other, but...

how would one know if the acid was also boiling? Wouldn't it feel enough like painful heat if it were acid that differentiating between the two (especially when felt within the deep recesses of your ass) would be a bit tricky?

That's why you've got to read and find out!

Seriously though, the book is essentially about a war between people/societies who want to have virtual "Hells" for punishment and those who want to abolish them because they are cruel. Much of the book depicts what happens in one of the Hells from the point of view of an alien who has her mind trapped in one. It's pretty gruesome.

Joshkdmw

11-15-2010, 02:53 PM

That's why you've got to read and find out!

Seriously though, the book is essentially about a war between people/societies who want to have virtual "Hells" for punishment and those who want to abolish them because they are cruel. Much of the book depicts what happens in one of the Hells from the point of view of an alien who has her mind trapped in one. It's pretty gruesome.

So this is graphic violnce with a sort of PURPOSE, then. Like American Psycho. Sounds interesting!

KSmitty

11-16-2010, 08:17 AM

So I'm on a 'classics' kick. Right now I'm reading Treasure Island, and then next is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

11-16-2010, 03:47 PM

One thing of note is that the book essentially featured Dickwolves, or at least demons who rape people to death, using gigantic phalluses and boiling, acidic semen.
I thought I saw Iain hiding in my closet.

So I'm on a 'classics' kick. Right now I'm reading Treasure Island, and then next is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
OMGOMGOMG. Please tell me you're reading a copy with the Wyeth plates. I have a framed print of the Billy Bones plate in my study; it's one of my most prized possessions. I was once asked my favorite book in a job interview (it was a dumb interview), and I rhapsodized about Treasure Island.

evilgoodwin

11-16-2010, 07:47 PM

I thought I saw Iain hiding in my closet.

OMGOMGOMG. Please tell me you're reading a copy with the Wyeth plates. I have a framed print of the Billy Bones plate in my study; it's one of my most prized possessions. I was once asked my favorite book in a job interview (it was a dumb interview), and I rhapsodized about Treasure Island.

That's the closest I'll ever get to hearing a lawyer go "Squeeee!" :D

I put off "Towers of Midnight" and started "The Name of the Wind" instead.

I'm on chapter 36. I love this book.

Zecon

11-17-2010, 08:19 PM

That's the closest I'll ever get to hearing a lawyer go "Squeeee!" :D

I put off "Towers of Midnight" and started "The Name of the Wind" instead.

I'm on chapter 36. I love this book.

It is a good book, makes Harry Potter's life look posh and luxurious.

I'm on chapter 4 of Towers of midnight, but I just can't tear myself away from the Dresden Files to get back to it.

Thanasimos

11-17-2010, 08:37 PM

Reading Jonathan Franzen's "The Corrections" right now. Like Lolita, it's doing a good job of making me hate all the characters. But I don't have to think as much to read it, and it isn't nearly as good.

evilgoodwin

11-18-2010, 03:44 AM

I finished it. My life feels so empty now...

Vandabo

11-18-2010, 03:39 PM

About halfway through Skinner the first book in Neal Asher's Spatterjay series. It's a lot different from the Ian Cormac stuff, even though it still takes place in the same universe.

The thing that always strikes me about Asher's writing is how much he loves coming up with bizarre lifeforms and then describing in great detail.

muddi900

11-22-2010, 01:38 PM

I ended If chins could kill. Its a great book, if you are a fan or interested in the unglamorous side of Hollywood. Frankly, as per my original assessment, his life not all that extraordinary. But his work is, and the great detail he goes into describing the low-budget behind-the-scenes adventures of his schlock epic Evil Dead and its sequels is well worth the read.

I am now onto this The Name of the Wind book you guys keep raving on about. I just started it and like all fantasy novels, it has huge amounts of exposition. I guess he has to make it accessible.

I also started Anansi Boys, because I loved American Gods.

Joshkdmw

11-23-2010, 02:20 AM

I want to take a moment and gush about House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski. Aside from being a fantastic piece of work overall, it's a great narrative-within-narrative work, and does alot of creative things with pagination and font that changes the image of the traditional codex book.

He has a second book in the series (non-sequential, just similarly experimental) called Only Revolutions which I'm still working through, but that one's very dense and unwieldy. A lot of readers might not take a lot from that one except confusion. But House of leaves is awesome.

Superman's Dead

11-23-2010, 02:51 AM

Crittias

11-23-2010, 08:09 AM

I agree, House of Leaves is a great book. Hell, it's a great experience, which is something really special. Everyone, not just book readers, should check it out.

Abednigo

11-23-2010, 12:08 PM

I'm looking for some good books. I've recently been pretty taken with what they call "teen fiction", which may seem odd since I just turned 36. :) But I find that they're easy to read and I can easily read them in small sessions with a 19 month old running around.

I just read the Hunger Games trilogy (pretty darn good!) and started the newest Rick Riordan book Heroes of Olympus. It's a light, fun read so far, like most of his books. I enjoyed the Percy Jackson series and The Red Pyramid, another series he started.

A part of me likes the Harry Potter-esque stuff. But I'm not beyond something more serious. Any suggestions?

Superman's Dead

11-23-2010, 12:14 PM

Lev Grossman's 'The Magicians'. It's very Harry Potter/Chronicles of Narnia, but it's also very grown up and has some interesting ideas and commentaries on those themes.

And as far as teen fiction goes, I love the books 'Ironman' and 'Stotan!' by Chris Crutcher. They're short, fun, and you feel good after reading them. Stotan! is about a high school swimming team who goes through some trials and tribulations, and Ironman is about the student of one of those swimmers who grew up to become a coach. The kid's training for an Ironman competition, but gets put in an Anger Management class and meets a bunch of people that he never would have talked to otherwise.

Exodus

11-23-2010, 12:39 PM

I'm looking for a long read, can anyone throw stuff out there for me? I have no real preference so long as it's got great writing.

evilgoodwin

11-23-2010, 01:43 PM

I'm looking for a long read, can anyone throw stuff out there for me? I have no real preference so long as it's got great writing.

Count of Monte Cristo.

muddi900

11-23-2010, 01:44 PM

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Long read.

Also, Abedingo, try the writings of Cory Doctorow. He writes great young-adult fiction, if you can stand slightly long, boring interjections about maker culture and hacking. And, if you are not averse to comics, Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn.

Spectre-7

11-23-2010, 02:12 PM

Finished Gridlinked a few days back. Wasn't entirely pleased with that book. The writing seemed to get worse as it went, and the plot was rather meandering. Ian Cormac's final actions (while pretty clearly telegraphed) went almost entirely unexplained, and I was left scratching my head at the whole affair. Don't know if I'll be reading anymore Asher books after that.

Just started David Brin's The Uplift War, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit more.

Exodus

11-23-2010, 02:15 PM

Count of Monte Cristo.

Read it, loved it.

I'll give War and Peace a go. Looking for a copy of Neuromancer a friend of mine swears by it.

KSmitty

11-23-2010, 02:34 PM

Just started David Brin's The Uplift War, and I'm enjoying it quite a bit more.

I really liked The Postman, and I never looked into anything else Brin wrote. That universe sounds interesting, I'll keep an out for the series.

Crittias

11-23-2010, 02:38 PM

Don't know if I'll be reading anymore Asher books after that.Don't let Gridlinked be the deciding factor. Some of the other books are quite good.

Vandabo

11-23-2010, 03:18 PM

I just finished The Voyage of the Sable Keech, book two of Asher's Spatterjay series. The first book was The Skinner and it was enjoyable, with a lot of interesting characters and a very bizarre setting. The second one was longer but it read faster, as it didn't have to go through the origin stories of everyone involved. Overall it wasn't as interesting as the first book, but still fun.
Overall I haven't been liking these as much as the Ian Cormac series, mainly because I like epic space opera more than the relatively narrow focus of these books. Dealing with what happens to a few thousand people on a backwards planet just doesn't compare to the galaxy spanning conflicts that the Cormac books deal with.

Oh and I agree with Crittas, at least try the next Cormac book before you give up on Asher. The books just kept getting better I thought, and they really ramp up quickly after the first.

Joshkdmw

11-23-2010, 07:17 PM

House Of Leaves scared the shit out of me.

I read the last 2/3 of it as a camp counselor, the only person awake in a room of concrete full of sleeping children, or outside amongst the trees and overcast sky.

FUCKED ME UP.

Man that book is good.

I used to just stay in my tiny apartment for a couple days straight when I had time off from work. Since reading that book, I make it a point to leave the apartment once a day and so something - even if it's just having a coffee.

Nuff. Fucking. Said.

Exodus

11-23-2010, 10:09 PM

I used to just stay in my tiny apartment for a couple days straight when I had time off from work. Since reading that book, I make it a point to leave the apartment once a day and so something - even if it's just having a coffee.

Nuff. Fucking. Said.

Holy shit I gotta read this book!

KSmitty

11-24-2010, 10:39 AM

Abednigo

11-24-2010, 12:07 PM

Finished Treasure Island, and for the upcoming holiday I am going to start reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. And I decided to re-read Fables vol 10: The Good Prince, ie the story where Flycatcher creates his kingdom of Haven.

I started Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Pretty good so far. I need to move it to my Kindle though. I'll probably have an easier time reading such a big book when I can't see how far I have left to go. :)

Joshkdmw

11-24-2010, 01:30 PM

Holy shit I gotta read this book!

You really, REALLY do. The first third can be a bit slow, but I guarantee it picks up. Stick with it until the end and you'll be glad you did.

SilentScreams

11-24-2010, 05:36 PM

House of Leaves is now on my list too.

OUX

11-24-2010, 10:02 PM

House of Leaves is now on my list too.

When I read that book was during the week long power outage from a storm a few years ago. Read the whole thing by candlelight and highly recommend it; the book and the method.

MagGnome

11-25-2010, 08:23 AM

I started Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Pretty good so far. I need to move it to my Kindle though. I'll probably have an easier time reading such a big book when I can't see how far I have left to go. :)

That is a great book. I'm about 1/4 of the way through it. I really need to pick up the pace.

Exodus

11-25-2010, 10:05 PM

Hmm the chapters didn't have the book so I picked up tale of two cities, call of cthulu, and a couple others i can't quite remember at this moment but I'll know in the morning.

BigJonno

11-26-2010, 06:32 AM

I'm glad so many people are reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I'm looking forward to hearing what you thought of it.

Ultima Thulian

11-27-2010, 08:26 PM

Well...it's crunch time for college students, so I've mostly been reading text books. :D

But when I get on break I'm going to start reading Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" as well as broadening my poetry reading/writing. Hrmm...I haven't posted a poem here in a long time. Maybe I'll do that.

Exodus

11-27-2010, 10:21 PM

ahh also picked up Oliver Twist and Stir of Echoes to make up for house of leaves.

evilgoodwin

11-28-2010, 12:40 PM

Read all 4 of the Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett. I liked them. The last one was kind of dark, though...

11-28-2010, 04:14 PM

But when I get on break I'm going to start reading Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" as well as broadening my poetry reading/writing.
I recommend epics; I prefer a poem with a plot. Milton's Paradise Lost is a personal favorite.

EternalGamer

11-28-2010, 04:58 PM

I recommend epics; I prefer a poem with a plot. Milton's Paradise Lost is a personal favorite.

Ugh. I have suffered through Paradise Lost twice and have to read it again in the upcoming semester. Even after you overcome the language barrier--which, as someone whose particular area of study is Renaissance Literature, is something I think I have a pretty good handle on--Milton's descriptions still come off as pretentious and overly ornate. I love getting entangled in the deep structures of a complex sentence, but only when they allow for qualification and nuance that entails intimacy. Milton just strikes me as logorrheic in the exact way Shakespeare parodied in Loves Labor Lost. Whenever I read PL, I can't help but hear the voice of Don Armando from that play. It is without contention that Milton's Satan is a great figure, but that writing.... ugh again.

You want a great epic poem, I say go for Goethe's Faust. But make sure you read both parts. Many people skip part 2 unjustifiably; the opening to part 2 so beautiful it hurts to turn the page and leave the sentences behind. There is an amazing translation by Walter Ardnt with gorgeous lines like the part when Faust recounts his eternal worry about the ephemerality of life and love "with blows that never fall our falter" because "what we never lose we forever mourn." "Never fall our falter" is, to me, a particularly beautiful and laconic phrase to indicate the the inability to stop stumbling or hesitating to embrace life the fullest due to a concern over the profundity of loss. This translation is full of such phrasings.

JRR006

11-28-2010, 05:23 PM

Hm, I rather love Paradise Lost. I find it a little overwhelming, but so beautiful. I mean, re-read Areopagitica, it's the same deal. I don't think he was capable of anything else when he shifted into performance/persuasion mode. I guess it helps to think of it as passion instead of pretension. (Disclosure: haven't read anything else by him, could be wrong.)

Started The Aeneid the other night, the Fitzgerald translation. I usually rely on a quick Google search to pick good translations of things. I've heard that one is pretty okay? I'm enjoying it, certainly. If anyone is looking for recommendations.

EternalGamer

11-28-2010, 05:28 PM

Robert Fagles translation of the Aeneid is fantastic.

SilentScreams

11-28-2010, 05:30 PM

On book 3 of the Wheel of Time series. The series as a whole is not really grabbing me, I've gotta say. I can't see myself making it to the last book.

11-28-2010, 05:51 PM

Robert Fagles translation of the Aeneid is fantastic.
I picked up the Iliad and Odyssey Fagles box set for one of my sisters for her birthday. I haven't read them in decades, and of course I've long since forgotten what translations I read (I didn't like them much anyway). I flipped through the Iliad, I was pleased with what little I saw of the meter and that Fagles spells people's names in the standard English manner. I get that various other spellings are more orthographically correct, but she's no scholar and I'd rather she misspell Achilles but connect him to her biology classes.

Blue

11-28-2010, 05:52 PM

I definitely recommend House of Leaves along with everyone else.

Been on a fantasy kick lately. Read the first two novels in the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn, and Well of Ascension) - I think it was EvilGoodTwin who recommended them somewhere. Quite enjoyable.

Just finished Blood Rites, book 6 of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Reminds me a bit of something Joss Whedon would do (or, rather, something I would have watched on television growing up). Really fun characters, world, and easy reads.

Currently reading Dread Empire's Fall, Book 1 of the Praxis by Walter Jon Williams. I typically don't do much as far as sci-fi goes but I'm enjoying this so far. About half-way through currently.

I'll have to pick up Jonathan Strange when I finish Dread. Seems right up my alley. I think when I finish up Mistborn (just have Hero of Ages to go) and maybe the Praxis series, I'm going to give Wheel of Time another go. Made it a bit into the third book and stopped and I'd like to fix that.

Ultima Thulian

11-28-2010, 07:02 PM

I recommend epics; I prefer a poem with a plot. Milton's Paradise Lost is a personal favorite.

Epics can be fun, and historically insightful (important to me since I'm a history major). But they are hit and miss with me.

However, I've always wanted to read Faust, but I don't know which translation is considered the best. I guess I'll go with EG's reccomendation.

But first I wish to dive into Hunchback and T. Harry William's biography on Huey Long. Both of those books have been on my shelf for far too long. I'll stick with shorter poems until those two are read. :)

Thanasimos

11-28-2010, 07:44 PM

I spent most of the last few days in a recliner reading, entirely foregoing internet and computers and responsibilities (Thanksgiving break, ahoy!). At the start, I went on an eighty dollar bookstore binge and came away with around ten or so books. So far I've read The Wheel of Time 11 and 12 by Sorenson/Jordan (under the false impression that the twelfth was the last; I'd sworn not to touch it again until it was done, and so was my time wasted), Memories of my Melancholy Whores and Love in the Time of Cholera by Marquez, and most of The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen.

I have remaining three books on Vietnam which will be much of my next semester's reading, a Mao biography/character assassination, and some cheap high fantasy novel to dip into for relief when I need a break from serious thought. I don't even remember the name of it, but I suppose I'll enjoy it well enough when I do read it. I'm nearly through with everything Murakami and Marquez have written, so I need to set to picking some other fancy author to get way into. I don't think I'll continue pursuing Franzen's work after The Corrections, so I think I'll return to Nabokov. After Lolita I would certainly trust that man with my enjoyment. I'm also tempted to dig up more by Ralph Ellison.

EternalGamer

11-28-2010, 08:21 PM

After Lolita I would certainly trust that man with my enjoyment. I'm also tempted to dig up more by Ralph Ellison.

Lolita has what I consider to be some of the most beautiful prose in the English language. If someone asked me at a bar during a drunken conversation what my favorite novel of all time was, it would probably be the first one I spat out. That or Brothers Karamazov depending upon my particular demeanor at the time.

Ralph Ellison knows how to craft a sentence, but The Invisible Man's plot struck me as pretty formulaic and trite. In many ways, especially in the last third, it mirrored the plot of Black Boy, only real difference between them being that Ellison can write and Wright can't. Wright's idea of linguistic flourish is to beat you over the head with the same phrases over and over again. I guess if you are writing propaganda, as he was, it gets the job done. But it is pretty annoying to read seventy years afterward.

Spectre-7

11-28-2010, 08:37 PM

...and most of The Corrections by Brandon Sorensen.

By who now?

Thanasimos

11-28-2010, 09:17 PM

By who now?

Well, sometimes I get confused.

Lolita has what I consider to be some of the most beautiful prose in the English language. If someone asked me at a bar during a drunken conversation what my favorite novel of all time was, it would probably be the first one I spat out. That or Brothers Karamazov depending upon my particular demeanor at the time.

Ralph Ellison knows how to craft a sentence, but The Invisible Man's plot struck me as pretty formulaic and trite. In many ways, especially in the last third, it mirrored the plot of Black Boy, only real difference between them being that Ellison can write and Wright can't. Wright's idea of linguistic flourish is to beat you over the head with the same phrases over and over again. I guess if you are writing propaganda, as he was, it gets the job done. But it is pretty annoying to read seventy years afterward.

I do tend to prefer authors with nice wording over authors with nice plotting. Of course, the combination thereof is my real weakness, but I rarely get everything I want. That can almost certainly be traced to my primary intent in reading, which is to educate myself enough that I can write my own pretty things.

EternalGamer

11-28-2010, 09:17 PM

I picked up the Iliad and Odyssey Fagles box set for one of my sisters for her birthday. I haven't read them in decades, and of course I've long since forgotten what translations I read (I didn't like them much anyway). I flipped through the Iliad, I was pleased with what little I saw of the meter and that Fagles spells people's names in the standard English manner. I get that various other spellings are more orthographically correct, but she's no scholar and I'd rather she misspell Achilles but connect him to her biology classes.

I particularly like his translation of some of the epic similes and metaphors. "The Rosy red finger tips of dawn" from his version of The Odyssey was such a great description that I still remember it nearly a decade after I originally read it.

evilgoodwin

11-28-2010, 09:23 PM

Been on a fantasy kick lately. Read the first two novels in the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn, and Well of Ascension) - I think it was EvilGoodTwin who recommended them somewhere. Quite enjoyable.

Close...

And I was recommended the series by someone ELSE on this board :)

Shrinn

11-29-2010, 07:40 AM

Does anyone have any comments on Jim Butcher's (Dresden Files) other series The Codex Alera?

Exodus

11-29-2010, 08:16 AM

Does anyone have any comments on Jim Butcher's (Dresden Files) other series The Codex Alera?

I'd call it light entertainment. Like buffy the vampire slayer in book form.

Blue

11-29-2010, 05:28 PM

Close...

And I was recommended the series by someone ELSE on this board :)

Bah! Well, you're who I saw mention it so I'm sticking with you as my excuse if the third book tanks.

Does anyone have any comments on Jim Butcher's (Dresden Files) other series The Codex Alera?

The first three books are pretty good (Fool Moon being the best of that bunch, IMO) but they get particularly better the further on you get. Mind you I'm only through book 6 so perhaps they don't hold up beyond that, but when I was grabbing books 7 and 8 the other day, the guy at the check-out asked if I had read the latest and was going on about how great it was. So my assumption is the trend continues.

Like Ex said, very Buffy-like world with a core group of "Scoobies" that help save the day. Each book references things that happened before so there is a distinct through-line with the series that I really enjoy and I feel at home with some of the characters now that when they're not in that book, I'm a bit let-down.

The writing isn't stellar but it's certainly not terrible. I normally don't go for books written in the first-person but Dresden is an exception. I haven't read the Codex books yet so I can't compare but I highly recommend the Dresden series. Genuinely some laugh-out-loud lines/moments and the fact that Butcher throws some of those funnier moments from the past in as asides or throw-away lines in later books just peppers the world for me.

Zecon

11-29-2010, 07:21 PM

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1248964599329.jpg

Stoke

11-30-2010, 11:26 AM

Does anyone have any comments on Jim Butcher's (Dresden Files) other series The Codex Alera?

I finished the series up earlier this year and enjoyed it quite a bit. It's not high art, but then again, neither is The Dresden Files. If you like Dresden and fantasy, you should check it out. The books do get better as the series progresses as well.

KSmitty

12-09-2010, 01:23 PM

Trade paperbacks!

Been on a tpb kick. I've re-read Supreme Power vol 1-3, re-read Fables vol 1-12, The Walking Dead vol 13. I also read Icognito. It wasn't bad, but I was not as blown away as I expected to be from the reviews/recommendations I'd heard.

I am still reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrel, and I am still waiting for it to turn into the "thrilling page turner, that you can't put down!".

muddi900

12-09-2010, 02:09 PM

I also read Icognito. It wasn't bad, but I was not as blown away as I expected to be from the reviews/recommendations I'd heard.

Because you should have been reading Criminal!

Speaking of which, I couldn't get into The Name of The wind, so I jumped in The Hunter by Donald E. Westlake. First in the Parker series and basis for one of my favorite crime/revenge films, Payback. For a cheap trashy crime novel, it is very well written. Very fast paced, almost like a screenplay.

evilgoodwin

12-12-2010, 04:43 AM

Because you should have been reading Criminal!

Speaking of which, I couldn't get into The Name of The wind, so I jumped in The Hunter by Donald E. Westlake. First in the Parker series and basis for one of my favorite crime/revenge films, Payback. For a cheap trashy crime novel, it is very well written. Very fast paced, almost like a screenplay.

Sorry you couldn't get into Name of the Wind. I found it very rewarding to read. The sequel is probably my most anticipated books of all time.

Just finished rereading Clash of Kings. I hope the HBO show makes it, because I want to see the battle for King's Landing acted out.

I was going to pick up Towers of Midnight, but decided I wanted to reread Gathering Storm first. While waiting for WoW: Cataclysm last week (or was it this week? I can't even remember anymore from all the papers I've been writing for school...) I wandered into the nearby Barnes and Noble to grab a magazine and a Caramel Macchiato (or whatever. I don't drink coffee, but I was cold). Forgot my Nook, so I wasn't going to pick up anything, but I saw a copy of Anansi Boys by Gaiman and bought it before I knew what happened.

I'm barely into it, but it has me laughing already (Now that I say that, something horribly depressing will probably happen, but oh well...). Has me putting Good Omens back on my "To Read Again" list.

I'll be done with school in two days. One way or another. It will be nice to get away from huge anthologies and back to reading for enjoyment. Reading for school sucks. Even if I like what I'm reading, I still hate it out of principle :P

evilgoodwin

12-12-2010, 04:50 PM

And done. Anansi Boys was fun.

Vyzov

12-12-2010, 05:30 PM

. Has me putting Good Omens back on my "To Read Again" list.

Good Omens was a fantastic read. I really got a Hitchikers Guide vibe from reading that book which is a fantastic thing. Currently I'm reading though Neverwhere by Gaiman. I had no idea that the book is actually adapted from a TV series he did. I'll have to give that a watch.

If any of you use Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com) and haven't already added me, I'm right here (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/719111).
(http://www.goodreads.com)

evilgoodwin

12-12-2010, 06:20 PM

Good Omens was a fantastic read. I really got a Hitchikers Guide vibe from reading that book which is a fantastic thing. Currently I'm reading though Neverwhere by Gaiman. I had no idea that the book is actually adapted from a TV series he did. I'll have to give that a watch.

If any of you use Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com) and haven't already added me, I'm right here (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/719111).
(http://www.goodreads.com)

The Hitchhiker's vibe probably comes from Terry Pratchett, who many consider to be a fantasy version of Adams. I will, once again, recommend the Discworld series, specifically the City Watch books.

I think Neverwhere is on Netflix instant... but it may have vanished.

BigJonno

12-12-2010, 06:39 PM

Good Omens was a fantastic read. I really got a Hitchikers Guide vibe from reading that book which is a fantastic thing. Currently I'm reading though Neverwhere by Gaiman. I had no idea that the book is actually adapted from a TV series he did. I'll have to give that a watch.

If any of you use Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com) and haven't already added me, I'm right here (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/719111).
(http://www.goodreads.com)

Neverwhere is fucking brilliant. See it. Gaiman has this odd tendency to be behind stuff and I won't realise until the credits roll. Stardust, for example.

Squidbot

12-12-2010, 07:12 PM

Seconding the Neverwhere love, both in print and film.

KSmitty

12-13-2010, 01:28 PM

OUX

12-13-2010, 01:33 PM

The Hitchhiker's vibe probably comes from Terry Pratchett, who many consider to be a fantasy version of Adams. I will, once again, recommend the Discworld series, specifically the City Watch books.

I think Neverwhere is on Netflix instant... but it may have vanished.

Pratchett is amazing.

I personally couldn't watch the Neverwhere series after reading the book, it was so low budget and awful I had to turn it off after 8 minutes.

Psykoboy2

12-13-2010, 05:52 PM

I've been reading The Road To Ubar (http://www.amazon.com/Road-Ubar-Finding-Atlantis-Sands/dp/0395957869/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292287758&sr=8-1).

http://www.literatureview.com/moxie/moxiepix/a19.jpg

You may or may not know why.

KSmitty

12-14-2010, 07:55 AM

American Vampires vol 1. I liked the story, I think the premise of an 'evolution' of the vampire disease is cool., but I did not like the way the tpb was set up. There are two main characters and the issues flipped back and forth every other issue telling more of one character's story, then the other and so on.

I also read Batman: Life After Death. I don't know if its because the run only collects certain issues, but it felt like some of the story was missing. Like 10 issues of story was crammed into a 6 issue book.

Zecon

12-14-2010, 07:13 PM

Pratchett is amazing.

I personally couldn't watch the Neverwhere series after reading the book, it was so low budget and awful I had to turn it off after 8 minutes.

Funny thing, I feel the same ways about the dresden files season on netflix.
I made it through the first episode grudgingly and had to turn off the second episode just minutes in. It was just painful to watch.

AntonThaGreat

12-15-2010, 03:57 AM

Good Omens so far is great, I'm really starting to get on this Neil Gaiman train! Neverwhere is definitely next and maybe the second Discworld novel.

Anyone read The Way of Kings?

Superman's Dead

12-15-2010, 04:09 AM

Pratchett is amazing.

I personally couldn't watch the Neverwhere series after reading the book, it was so low budget and awful I had to turn it off after 8 minutes.

Yeah, the book is wonderful and the series is...lacking. Seriously lacking. Gaiman has a real talent for characters that most actors can't live up to- same as Adams.

Wilkz07

12-15-2010, 05:18 AM

Paranormal State - Ryan Beull right now. After that its finishing up Book 1 of the Red Riding Quartet and then onto Game of Thrones.

Stoke

12-19-2010, 05:30 PM

Good Omens so far is great, I'm really starting to get on this Neil Gaiman train! Neverwhere is definitely next and maybe the second Discworld novel.

Anyone read The Way of Kings?

I have read The Way of Kings and enjoyed it immensely. It's also long, so if you're like me and read quickly it's nice to have to spend more than a day on a book.

SilentScreams

12-19-2010, 05:36 PM

Currently reading Mustaine: A Life in Metal after getting bored of The Wheel of Time. Big change of scenery, I know.

Pretty entertaining read, as you'd expect from somebody who's lived the life he has.

I went through a phase of reading autobiographies a few years ago but stopped for some reason. I think I ran out of people who I considered interesting enough (I'd highly recommend Jackie Chan's).

Ultima Thulian

12-19-2010, 11:47 PM

Finished up William Chafe's "Unfinished Journey: America Since World War II." Very disappointed. Overall it's not horrible, but for a historian of Chafe's supposed caliber, I was very unimpressed.

Yes, I read history books/textbooks for fun, don't judge me. :p

Right now going to read Stephen Ambrose's "Rise to Globalism." and still trying to read Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame." I forgot how much Romantic literature demands from its reader. I'll probably shelf it for now and come back to it when I'm in the right mindset.