Kevin's Watch

Posted: **Thu Feb 16, 2012 1:05 pm**

Orlion wrote:
wayfriend wrote:I think we need to spawn a new thread called "What Malazan book are you reading RIGHT NOW?".
(And it's Stonewielder right now. I slowed down once it looked like it won't be until another four months until I can get my chemically laced hands on a copy of Orb, Sceptre, Throne.)

I saw someone on train reading that this morning,as for me bought Toll of the hounds but Ian essel first 2 books I had to get ordered by local bookstore ,don't read to much of Toll in case I spoil story

Posted: **Thu Feb 16, 2012 6:19 pm**

The detective part of The City and the City is just okay. It just took an interesting turn, so we'll see. It's just that the book doesn't really have interesting characters, and it doesn't seem to have a mystery that I am fascinated to see solved, nor it seems the author. There's not even the usual grotesquery. I did like Perdido and Scar and Council and even Kraken.

Posted: **Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:00 pm**

I guess I was mostly intrigued by the concept of parallel universes that bleed over into one another -- and the taboo against noticing that the other universe existed. I agree that the characters weren't terribly compelling. But I'm not sure I read Mieville for compelling characters anyhow. (Hmm, interesting, must think about that...)

Posted: **Thu Feb 16, 2012 9:48 pm**

aliantha wrote:I guess I was mostly intrigued by the concept of parallel universes that bleed over into one another -- and the taboo against noticing that the other universe existed. I agree that the characters weren't terribly compelling. But I'm not sure I read Mieville for compelling characters anyhow. (Hmm, interesting, must think about that...)

Except ... it's not really clear if there is something metaphysical, or if it's all The Emperor's New Clothes -- and frustratingly Mieville doesn't seem to be exploring the issue. Why do people stay in these cities? And without an explanation for that ... the story falls apart, at least for me.

I thought the Bas-Lag books had characters that at least had characterization. That's all I really need is that much. But I think my favorite Mieville character is Goss [and Subby] from Kraken.

Posted: **Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:54 am**

Ok, well by the sounds of it I best go read Kraken and the others.
(When I finish the 3.3 million words that is Malazan

)

Posted: **Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:00 am**

Shaun das Schaf wrote:Ok, well by the sounds of it I best go read Kraken and the others.
(When I finish the 3.3 million words that is Malazan )

Are you including the Esslemont novels (a new one just came out and another one will be out this November) Bauchelin and Korbal Boch novellas and the first book in the Krakhanas trilogy that's slated fro release this August?

Posted: **Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:23 am**

Orlion wrote:
Shaun das Schaf wrote:Ok, well by the sounds of it I best go read Kraken and the others.
(When I finish the 3.3 million words that is Malazan )
Are you including the Esslemont novels (a new one just came out and another one will be out this November) Bauchelin and Korbal Boch novellas and the first book in the Krakhanas trilogy that's slated fro release this August?

Ah.... no.

But only because some kind soul hasn't compiled a handy wiki table as they have for TMBotF.
Either way, I'm thinking I'll have to break my journey as some stage, if only to take a breather from all the death (insert emoticon for 'exhausted soul').

Posted: **Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:30 am**

regarding the "mystery" in the city & the city...spoiler alert....only read this after you finish the book wayfriend and anyone else that hasn't read it...

Spoiler

to me the question of the nature of the cities and whether or not they are metaphysical or paralelle universes or whatever is the central mystery, not the murder. and the detective solves the mystery i think, in the end, for himself.
he sees both cities because they are not 2 cities. they are one city. the people train themselves and each other NOT to see the other. it's all about "not seeing" "the other" and what that does to cultures and societies and, indeed, individuals. i don't think it's any accident that you don't find any characters in that novel to relate to or "like", especially the main character, the detective. he, after all, is as guilty as everyone else of "not seeing" what is right in front of his nose.
how many times have you walked past a homeless person without seeing them? or faces in a crowd? or actually someone you know? we choose, don't we.

and this is what meiville does in his work that i find interesting, he explores societies in a way that i find very similar to ursula k leguin and her explorations. he's a thinkin feller, as ger would say.

Posted: **Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:24 am**

Well, finished The Crippled God, and with it my current reread of the Malazan books. Still waiting for the last Esselmont to arrive...gonna have to fight with the bookshop.

As I said in the Erikson forum, these books have to be reread multiple times. There's always stuff I missed or forgot because of the overload.

Anyway, reading Pratchett's Snuff now.

--A

Posted: **Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:06 am**

Currently reading Martin's 2nd Ice and Fire book, what is it? Clash of Kings, that's it! Cracking read!

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:28 pm**

Halfway through Stonewielder for the first time. Loving it.

Posted: **Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:42 pm**

Stonemaybe wrote:Halfway through Stonewielder for the first time. Loving it.

Ummm...when Stonewielder is done, what happens to you? Do you become Stonedefinitely? Or Unstoned?

Posted: **Tue Feb 21, 2012 4:37 am**

The Daemon Prism by Carol Berg.

Posted: **Wed Feb 22, 2012 7:25 am**

Unstoned?

no left turn....

Posted: **Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:51 am**

Been trying to finish The Master and Margarita since Saturday, but I'm not getting a lot of time spent on it and the climax and denoument just keep going and going... Not that I'm not enjoying them, it's just I felt much closer to the end than I actually was.

Posted: **Wed Feb 22, 2012 6:06 pm**

lucimay wrote:regarding the "mystery" in the city & the city...spoiler alert....only read this after you finish the book wayfriend and anyone else that hasn't read it...

Spoiler
to me the question of the nature of the cities and whether or not they are metaphysical or paralelle universes or whatever is the central mystery, not the murder. and the detective solves the mystery i think, in the end, for himself.
he sees both cities because they are not 2 cities. they are one city. the people train themselves and each other NOT to see the other. it's all about "not seeing" "the other" and what that does to cultures and societies and, indeed, individuals. i don't think it's any accident that you don't find any characters in that novel to relate to or "like", especially the main character, the detective. he, after all, is as guilty as everyone else of "not seeing" what is right in front of his nose.
how many times have you walked past a homeless person without seeing them? or faces in a crowd? or actually someone you know? we choose, don't we.

and this is what meiville does in his work that i find interesting, he explores societies in a way that i find very similar to ursula k leguin and her explorations. he's a thinkin feller, as ger would say.

How did I miss this before? Luci, your spoiler is spot-on.

Finished The Daemon Prism last night. It had a very satisfying ending.

Next up is a Patricia McKillip novel, The Bards of Bone Plain.

Posted: **Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:33 am**

Orb Sceptre Throne finally arrived yesterday, so that's what I'm reading.

--A

Posted: **Mon Feb 27, 2012 8:42 pm**

The Bards of Bone Plain was absolutely terrific. In fact, I thought it was so great that I was sort of shocked by all the "meh" responses on Goodreads. Whatever, people.

Now on to Hawkmistress! -- embarrassingly, the first Darkover novel I've ever picked up.

Posted: **Mon Feb 27, 2012 11:11 pm**

Finished The Master and Margarita a few days ago and have just finished reading Adam Roberts' Splinter (it's a short book - 250 pages).

Posted: **Tue Feb 28, 2012 2:06 am**

Just finished Endymion. Will read Rise of Endymion.... eventually.

Now reading The Black Company by Glenn Cook.

Kevin's Watch

What fantasy/science fiction book are you reading RIGHT NOW?