Kevin's Watch

Alvin Journeyman by Orson Scott Card

Avatar wrote:

Loremaster wrote:

Avatar wrote:The Shadow Rising WoT 4

--A

I didn't quite catch that? Could you speak louder?

Actually, on Bk 5 now. *looks down, shuffles feet*.

So what did you think Encryptic?

--A

Golden Witchbreed? 'Twas pretty good, but not amazing, IMHO. I have the followup Ancient Light from the library as well but can't say I'm overly compelled to read it. It wasn't terrible but I just didn't get into it as much as I could have. Admittedly, I'm not much of a sci-fi person but I liked the other book I've read by Gentle so I figured I'd give this one a try.

Not to mention, the constant habit of referring to various characters by different names/titles got annoying as I sometimes lost track of who was who. Maybe it was just me....

Didn't lose track much, but it was an annoyance having to wonder if she was talking about the queen, or somebody else sometimes.

Only book of hers I've ever read...didn't motivate me to seek out others. Like I said though, I did manage to get into it. But only towards the end. *shrug*

--A

I have just started reading J. V. Jones' "A Cavern of Black Ice". Don't know enough to say if it is good or not.

I finished reading "With a Tangled Skein", the third installment of the "Incarnations of Immortality" series by Piers Anthony, and now I'm waiting for the last four books to be delivered... I decided to read the series because it sounded interesting, but it is actually far more interesting than I expected... I especially liked "On a Pale Horse", the first one, focusing on the Incarnation of Death.

Ryzel wrote:I have just started reading J. V. Jones' "A Cavern of Black Ice". Don't know enough to say if it is good or not.

Great start to another epic fantasy trilogy. Really liked this one for a lot of reasons, in particular the world-building. The followup A Fortress of Grey Ice isn't nearly as good, but still worth the read.

Now if Jones could just finish A Sword From Red Ice, I'd be happy.

Xar wrote:I finished reading "With a Tangled Skein", the third installment of the "Incarnations of Immortality" series by Piers Anthony, and now I'm waiting for the last four books to be delivered... I decided to read the series because it sounded interesting, but it is actually far more interesting than I expected... I especially liked "On a Pale Horse", the first one, focusing on the Incarnation of Death.

One of Anthony's better series. I gave up on the Xanth books a long time ago, but like you, I really enjoyed On A Pale Horse. Bearing An Hourglass was also rather good. Been a while since I read them, though....

I liked Incarnations, too, and Split Infinity and Mute and Macroscope and Chthon, and Bio of a Space Tyrant. Then Piers Anthony started his self-imitation routine. Then he started slapping his name on incompetent writer's works as a collaborator to help them sell.

It would take a very impressive looking book by him for me to fit him into my reading now.

Encryptic wrote:

Ryzel wrote:I have just started reading J. V. Jones' "A Cavern of Black Ice". Don't know enough to say if it is good or not.

Great start to another epic fantasy trilogy. Really liked this one for a lot of reasons, in particular the world-building. The followup A Fortress of Grey Ice isn't nearly as good, but still worth the read.

Now if Jones could just finish A Sword From Red Ice, I'd be happy.

She has. It is off to edit and then re-write. If Tor and Orbit are eager enough, it could be out by the end of this year.

gyrehead wrote:

Encryptic wrote:

Ryzel wrote:I have just started reading J. V. Jones' "A Cavern of Black Ice". Don't know enough to say if it is good or not.

Great start to another epic fantasy trilogy. Really liked this one for a lot of reasons, in particular the world-building. The followup A Fortress of Grey Ice isn't nearly as good, but still worth the read.

Now if Jones could just finish A Sword From Red Ice, I'd be happy.

She has. It is off to edit and then re-write. If Tor and Orbit are eager enough, it could be out by the end of this year.

Will miracles never end? Glad to hear it....

Roland of Gilead wrote:I liked Incarnations, too, and Split Infinity and Mute and Macroscope and Chthon, and Bio of a Space Tyrant. Then Piers Anthony started his self-imitation routine. Then he started slapping his name on incompetent writer's works as a collaborator to help them sell.

It would take a very impressive looking book by him for me to fit him into my reading now.

Yup, the Bio of a Space Tyrant series was good as well (at least the books I managed to read). I managed to read up to Book 4 then I lost my copy of the 4th book and never did find it again so I could finish reading the series.

The Adept books were also pretty good, from what I recall.

Seems like Anthony's better work was when he actually focused on writing stuff that had more of an adult theme and took itself seriously for the most part (Incarnations, Bio, the early Xanth books, etc.).

I just finished Steve Perry's The Musashi Flex.

It's sort of a prequel to his Matador series, which focuses on martial arts and intrigue in a galaxy dominated by a corrupt human government called the Confederation.

Nothing special, but not bad, either.

Next up - Stephen King's Cell.

Now that we're back on topic again....

I finished Jonathan Carroll's The Wooden Sea the day before yesterday. Great book and I picked up a couple more Carroll books at the library along with other stuff.

At the moment, I'm working on Light by M. John Harrison. Almost 100 pages in, but I still couldn't tell you what's going on. It's interesting, but not easy to follow.

dANdeLION wrote:Alvin Journeyman by Orson Scott Card

That's one of my favorites in the Alvin Maker series. Enjoy!

I just finished the forthcoming David Forbes book, THE AMBER WIZARD.

The author offers us a solid effort. Like Brandon Sanderson last year, David Forbes shows a lot of potential, and could well become one of the bright new voices in the fantasy genre. Which is why I'm happy to have the opportunity to help generate some interest for his upcoming fantasy novel. There's a copy of the book up for grabs on the blog, if anyone is interested! And there are also 4 copies of Paul Kearney's THE MARK OF RAN to be add!

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Haven't had much time as of late but finishing up Jeff VanderMeer's wonderful Shriek: an afterword, and recently put up my review of R. Scott Bakker's The Thousandfold Thought, the concluding chapter of the his Prince of Nothing sequence.

Was reading Gardens of the Moon; but I don't have the time unfortunatly to emerse myself in some of that magnitude right now. So I've just started Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson-it's seems like a lighter read--also reading a Horse ad his Boy to my six year old.

Lord Of Chaos Wheel of Time Bk 6. (See what I mean about the world being more interesting than the story?

--A

Crystal City. I'm beginning to think the Alvin Maker series is gonna go longer than 6 books.....

dANdeLION wrote:Crystal City. I'm beginning to think the Alvin Maker series is gonna go longer than 6 books.....

I think it will, too. How many more, I am not sure. But after reading Crystal City, it seems like there must be at least one more book. There seemed to be quite a bit of foreshadowing in that book... maybe Card can wrap it up in just one more?

I have started reading Children of God by Mary Doria Russell, sequel to her devastatingly and stunningly good novel, The Sparrow.

My dad has loaned me Mick Farren's DNA Cowboys trilogy which I am viewing with apprehension lol. I pick it up every now and again then put it straight back down again!

Also re-read 'House of the Scorpion' which is an interesting read.