Moderator: I'm Murrin
Yeah, I read these once before - maybe 10 years ago. I enjoyed them, but didn't think they were fantastic. I'm enjoying them much more this time around though. They apparently get better as I age....Ha, I remember reading that back when I was in college...a million years ago.
Mortice Root wrote:Just getting into The Crystal Cave - the first book in Mary Stewart's Arthurian saga. Very good so far.
I think this is probably the case with me too--the world building is phenomenal. I do wonder whether his mate gets a cut of the profits of the books. I used to hang out with RPGers who did the whole world creation thing (obsessed they were) but there were always bitter fights when ever one or the other suggested they would do something (like try writing a story and get it published) based on the world and characters they'd created.Stonemaybe wrote:*shrug* I think I remember enjoying GotM more than the rest. Maybe I was wowed by the world.
That's the feeling I'm getting. And I also wonder whether this series will do it for me on the level I like books to: with so many characters it's hard to really get into the heart and mind of specific characters. And that's the type of book I particularly like (that's why I like SRD's books). Then again, maybe when I get to book 8 I'll think differently; and I'm not saying I'm not enjoying it because I am. It's great reading so far!Ryzel wrote: IMO the biggest problem with the series is that is has such a wide scope that it is impossible to follow all of it closely without using a lot more effort than I have put into it. This is especially noticeable in some of the later books (Reapers Gale), fortunately by that time you can usually manage to keep most of the major players straight in your head.
Interesting. I just reread that novel a couple weeks ago. It's entertaining, and the world is flushed out nicely. It approaches but does not match the goodness of Snow Crash. On the other hand, you can see the roots of the Baroque Cycle in this work.Farm Ur-Ted wrote:I'm just getting into The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. It's kind of weird, and not what I expected. I was thinking it was going to be cyber-punk, but instead it's neo-Victorian sci-fi (maybe more steam-punkish), which I'm not sure that I'm into.
That's sort of what I was thinking; I haven't read the Baroque Cycle (or Cryptonomicon), but I can see how it leads into historical sci-fi. I like The Diamond Age, but it's just not as exciting as Snow Crash, and it lacks the humor that woven throughout Snow Crash. (Edit: Now that I think of it, there are some subtle jokes, like about KFC, but it's still not as funny as Snow Crash.)wayfriend wrote:Interesting. I just reread that novel a couple weeks ago. It's entertaining, and the world is flushed out nicely. It approaches but does not match the goodness of Snow Crash. On the other hand, you can see the roots of the Baroque Cycle in this work.Farm Ur-Ted wrote:I'm just getting into The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. It's kind of weird, and not what I expected. I was thinking it was going to be cyber-punk, but instead it's neo-Victorian sci-fi (maybe more steam-punkish), which I'm not sure that I'm into.
If you like Stephenson's sense of humor, you will really enjoy Cryptonomicon (which isn't really part of the Baroque cycle, and is IMO one of the best damned books ever written by anyone anywhen). But I would also highly recommend Interface, which he penned as Stephen Bury.Farm Ur-Ted wrote:That's sort of what I was thinking; I haven't read the Baroque Cycle (or Cryptonomicon), but I can see how it leads into historical sci-fi. I like The Diamond Age, but it's just not as exciting as Snow Crash, and it lacks the humor that woven throughout Snow Crash.
) -- so I'll either read "Angel Station" in a hurry or set it aside in a hurry for Martin. 
The airbase scene made me laugh out loud. For, like, minutes.Stonemaybe wrote:^ I've just got to the airbase scene at the end. I'm enjoying it, but it's not grabbing me.
And Sea, you have *such* good taste! 
And I was going to try jordan soon!
