Kevin's Watch

Finally got to the end of Kushiel's Dart. It was an okay book, but the ending wasn't handled in a way I liked. The author had wrapped up everything and it seemed clear that this was the end, then she (forgivably) continued for a couple of chapters to show some little bits and pieces that might be considered necessary (my thought: not so much): reunions, a wedding, the lead character getting her reward and fulfilling some promises.
And then the worst thing possible: The villain escapes, and at the very end sends a message to the main character just when she was beginning to settle down.... Blatantly begging for a sequel. Carey may have just wanted to continue using these characters, and I'm sure she'll have done a good job with the three other "Kushiel" books (so far), but I couldn't myself see much reason for the story to continue. The story had wrapped up pretty damn well, before that.

Trying to get into Zelazny's The Dream Master, but just bought A Feast For Crows 5 pages in and DM is quickly falling by the wayside.

I'm reading Stephen King's Lisey's Story, and yes, it has enough fantasy elements in it to qualify for this thread. You may have heard it's King's version of a romance, but trust me, no typical romance reader has read a love story quite like this one!!

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. On recommendation by Waddley.

What dreams may come by Richard Matheson...... very challenging, requires you readjust your thinking about the afterlife.

still on Terry Goodkind. *yawn*

Finally started Latro in the Mist, which I bought around a year ago.

Hi guys!

I just finished Melanie Rawn's SPELLBINDER. And for my money, without the shadow of a doubt it's her best novel to date.

For the full review, check out the blog!

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

It's been several months, but I'm still trying to get into the Malazan Book of the Fallen. I had read about 50 pages or so of the first book, but never got hooked (I have seen good tings written about it on the Watch, and I bought the paperback when SRD's praise-blurb caught my eye.)

DW

Just finshed the Bartemaus trilogy, (very good)
and I just started The His dark materials series. (Frkn sweet!)

Reading through the Sparhawk series by David and Leigh Eddings.....really cool read, especially Aphrael!!! LOL!!!

I've been trying to read some of this year's Hugo nominees for best novel. I read the Martin book when it firts came out, so thought I'd give the other four a try.

I really enjoyed Ken MacLeod's Learning the World, a first contact story told from both the human and alien points of view. I really liked the aliens.

Then I tried Charles Stross's Accelerando and I had to put it down after about three chapters.

Spoiler

This guy is raped by a woman he knows who rapes him because she wants a baby. Then he is so messed up he turns around and marries the woman. <vomits>. The woman is crazy - she not only rapes this guy, but she mutilates and kills little kittens. <vomits> About the point in time that I found out that the woman has a baby girl, I had to put the book down. I just couldn't bring myself to read what that little girl would go through with messed up parents like that. <vomits>.

I'm sure the book has to get better - it was nominated for a major award. And I did not have any problem with the writing itself - it was well written. I just couldn't deal with the characters...

In reaction to the Stross book, I started reading a book I knew I would probably love - Gene Wolfe's Soldier of Sidon. So far, so good. I love Latro.

duchess of malfi wrote: Then I tried Charles Stross's Accelerando and I had to put it down after about three chapters.

Spoiler

This guy is raped by a woman he knows who rapes him because she wants a baby. Then he is so messed up he turns around and marries the woman. <vomits>. The woman is crazy - she not only rapes this guy, but she mutilates and kills little kittens. <vomits> About the point in time that I found out that the woman has a baby girl, I had to put the book down. I just couldn't bring myself to read what that little girl would go through with messed up parents like that. <vomits>.

I'm sure the book has to get better - it was nominated for a major award. And I did not have any problem with the writing itself - it was well written. I just couldn't deal with the characters...

Spoiler

Barf. I first tried reading the Gap books (Real Story and Forbidden Knowledge) when they came out 15 years or so ago, and had a similar reaction. But I decided recently that I'd give them another go, so I just bought all five and am going to start reading them in a few months.

Right now, I'm reading Startide Rising (thanks to Danlo's top 60 list). I read Sundiver first. I liked Sundiver a lot, but this is even better. I just wish the Dolphins didn't have such complicated names. What's wrong with Flipper?

I'm a ways into Feast now and really digging being back in Westeros--gods I love George's style! I read the first chapter about 2 years ago and have seen Martin read the Doran (notice the subtle SRD references) & Cersie chapters--he's an absolutely incredible reader. Back on the Wall now and looking forward to meeting up with the Davos chapter--which was, hands down, the best read I've ever witnessed!

I'm on Midnight Tides right now.....I loved Feast; when is Dances with Dragons coming out?

danlo wrote:I read the first chapter about 2 years ago and have seen Martin read the Doran (notice the subtle SRD references) & Cersie chapters--he's an absolutely incredible reader. Back on the Wall now and looking forward to meeting up with the Davos chapter--which was, hands down, the best read I've ever witnessed!

Yo danlo, I'm gonna have to spoiler this, so this may be a useless reply (but I think you might want to read it),

Spoiler

But, I'm not sure what you're expecting in the Davos chapter. I just finished Feast, and Davos is mentioned a time or two, but he isn't in the book. I think that we have to wait for Dance to get more of his story.

Regardless, have fun with Feast. I liked it a lot, although I was frustrated with parts of it.

OMG, you're right he did say it was from

Spoiler

Dances with Dragons!

The Gap Into Conflict: the Real Story

--A

I'm working my way through (the Dutch translation of) HP and the Order of the Phoenix, have almost reached page 500 and am wondering when the hell something's actually going to happen.

Farm Ur-Ted wrote:

duchess of malfi wrote: Then I tried Charles Stross's Accelerando and I had to put it down after about three chapters.

Spoiler

This guy is raped by a woman he knows who rapes him because she wants a baby. Then he is so messed up he turns around and marries the woman. <vomits>. The woman is crazy - she not only rapes this guy, but she mutilates and kills little kittens. <vomits> About the point in time that I found out that the woman has a baby girl, I had to put the book down. I just couldn't bring myself to read what that little girl would go through with messed up parents like that. <vomits>.

I'm sure the book has to get better - it was nominated for a major award. And I did not have any problem with the writing itself - it was well written. I just couldn't deal with the characters...

Spoiler

Barf. I first tried reading the Gap books (Real Story and Forbidden Knowledge) when they came out 15 years or so ago, and had a similar reaction. But I decided recently that I'd give them another go, so I just bought all five and am going to start reading them in a few months.

Right now, I'm reading Startide Rising (thanks to Danlo's top 60 list). I read Sundiver first. I liked Sundiver a lot, but this is even better. I just wish the Dolphins didn't have such complicated names. What's wrong with Flipper?

I LOVE Startide Rising. I LOVE the dolphins!

Back up to your spoiler, I made it through the Gap, even though the first two books really bothered me, because I trusted the author to make things better for at least some of the characters by the end. And SRD delivered.

But this Stross guy is new to me and I do not know if I can trust him as an author.

Spoiler

I tried reading it some more. Thank God he did not get into too much detail on the little girl's childhood. But when she finally gets her hands on a cell phone to call her father (at this point the parents are divorced, no surprise there) to get her out of there and to help her - his way of helping her is to send her the paperwork so that she can sell herself off as a slave. It's like -- WTF??????????