Kevin's Watch

Finished 'The Sacred Band'... it was a blast! The 'Acacia' trilogy comes highly recommended!!!

wayfriend wrote:After admiring some of Bank's later works, I have gone back and read some earlier ones, like Phlebas and Player. I have to say there's a big difference from the early Culture books to the later ones in terms of his writing skills.

You prefer the later ones?

Unfortunately the only others I've got apart from Phlebas and Surface Detail are Player of Games (which I love) and Use of Weapons.

I've read a few of the others, should really increase my collection of them. Two of my favourites aren't Culture books...Against A Dark Background and Feersum Endjinn.

--A

Rereading Red Mars, which I believe a number of users on this site expressed distaste for.

Avatar wrote:

wayfriend wrote:After admiring some of Bank's later works, I have gone back and read some earlier ones, like Phlebas and Player. I have to say there's a big difference from the early Culture books to the later ones in terms of his writing skills.

You prefer the later ones?

I really loved Excession. Its my favorite in the series so far. I think Banks has improved greatly as he has gone along. I would recommend to anyone to keep going in the series if you like the beginning.

Reading Mockingjay, third in The Hunger Games series.

Previously had started reading Old Man's War; I've put it down for a bit though.

Cambo wrote:Chaos and Order.

I'd like to just note that I'd forgotten how much I love Hashi Lebwohl. Not as a person; a little amoral to really like him; but as a character. He is mesmerising.

I sometimes pick This Day All Gods Die off the shelf and just read the first few Hashi chapters.

...

Bah I feel a Gap reread coming. And I've so much other stuff yet to read!

Holsety wrote:Rereading Red Mars, which I believe a number of users on this site expressed distaste for.

Yeah, I didn't like it much. Many years since I read it though.

Finished my Banks, (must say I remember not liking Excession that much when I read it first...will see if I can find it again).

Decided to reread the last 3 WoT books, starting with Knife of Dreams.

--A

Steven Erikson (Reapers Gale)

BOOM!!! Go, Cleburne!!

And, about a third of the way through The Bone Hunters.

must say, this re-read is great. Got a few funny looks on train yesterday, giggling to myself.

Just finishing, The Claw of the Conciliator, book 2 in The Book of the New Sun. Wondering whether to take a break before the next two and read China Mieville's The City & The City. But worried if I do, I'll do a Danlo!...

Danlo wrote:I've never read the last two...need to get on it...

I enjoyed it a lot, especially some of the writing, but it didn't dig its claws (pardon the pun) into me and I got that feeling towards the end I get sometimes with nutritional low-sugar/low-fat foods, that I was reading because it was good for me and not because I couldn't put it down!

And as for Mieville, I've never read any of his stuff. Actually, that phrase - 'I've never read any of <insert-SF/Fantasy Author here>'s stuff' is going to be coming up a bit from me as I took a rather long detour (two-decades long!) away from this area and am just coming back now.

Ah, it's worth it. Dunno how good it is for you though. Bloody Wolfe...

I'm onto The Gathering Storm now.

--A

I did try WoT, but I don't think I made it through the first one, let alone the 12th! Go you! You deserve a commitment medal

I started Against All Things Ending, but I don't think I have the energy for the whole guilt and desperation vibe I got from the first tens of pages. I may opt for something a little lighter.

Stick with it SJ, AATE is the best of the Last Chrons yet.

Shaun das Schaf wrote:I did try WoT, but I don't think I made it through the first one, let alone the 12th! Go you! You deserve a commitment medal

Hahaha, if you knew how many times I'd read them, you'd be arguing for committal, not praising commitment.

1-6 were good, they got worse up 'til 10. 10 was the worst ever. 11-13 have been huge improvements...the series has found its way again. Looking forward to the last one.

--A

I'm back reading fantasy again after a long break. Although my hardcover copy of AATE keeps staring at me from the bookshelf, I've started Robin Hobb's "Fool's Errand". Only two chapters in, but I'm really enjoying it so far. For me Hobb is an easy read, and I'm excited by returning to characters I know and love.

Hey duke! Long time!

Finally done with A Dance With Dragons and now off two brush up on AATE for my dissection of the 1st chapter of PART TWO, Those Who Endure!!! Join us in Dissecting the Land!!!

Is Fool's Errand the first of the 3d trilogy? It gets off to a slow-ass start, but those are definitely good books.

Just figured out how to convert barnes&noble epub books to mobipocket books, and am about a chapter and a half into A Dance With Dragons. Yee-hah!

Thanks danlo! Farm ur Ted - yeah Fool's Errand is the first book in the 3rd series ('Tawny Man' from what I hear) from Hobb.

Finishing off WoT 13, Towers of Midnight.

--A