Kevin's Watch

Orlion wrote:Just finished Endymion. Will read Rise of Endymion.... eventually.

Now reading The Black Company by Glenn Cook.

Why can't I like the "black company" books? I've only read a couple [one, couldn't stand it, peeps I trust here said "no!they're good!" read another couldn't stand it]. Really, tell me what I'm missing!

Vraith wrote:

Orlion wrote:Just finished Endymion. Will read Rise of Endymion.... eventually.

Now reading The Black Company by Glenn Cook.

Why can't I like the "black company" books? I've only read a couple [one, couldn't stand it, peeps I trust here said "no!they're good!" read another couldn't stand it]. Really, tell me what I'm missing!

Simmer down, dude, I haven't read it yet

Thus far, it's fine, but I can see a huge difference between the exposition that other authors I've enjoyed and the complete lack of it in The Black Company. This will be good practice for when I tackle Ernest Hemingway.

Vraith wrote: Why can't I like the "black company" books? I've only read a couple [one, couldn't stand it, peeps I trust here said "no!they're good!" read another couldn't stand it]. Really, tell me what I'm missing!

Ok, am halfway through the first book and I can say what you're missing: a soul!

In all seriousness, it could be just the style of the whole thing. Most of the action is implied, and I'm not sure Cook had/has a concept of what battle casualties entail (i.e. there was a riot and thousands and thousands died like the past ten times.... W....T.....F, mate?) at the same time, this style holds something for me after I got use to it...

Until chapter 3 broke the stride. You can tell it was written separate from the book... specifically, you can tell it was written for a pulp. It got better, and I was able to get back into the groove of things.

What I think also really helps is seeing that The Black Company has influenced a lot of writers. I hear crap all the time that Jack Vance influenced everyone, but I don't see his hand in anything. You see Cook's influence on other authors.

It also does my soul good to see Sanderson's arrogant claims smacked down over and over and over again (I'm talking about how he said his Mistborn novel was the first to deal with a world/part of one that was dominated by a dark lord empire thingy.)

finished the first, starting the 2nd.

Oooh, we have that first one lying around our house... haven't ever read it...

just finished Stonewielder, now onto Emerald Witch, an 'epic Irish urban fairytale'

Linna Heartlistener wrote:Oooh, we have that first one lying around our house... haven't ever read it...

do so now - thank me later - go buy the rest...

sgt.null wrote:

finished the first, starting the 2nd.

Loved that series.

and me

Finished The Black Company. Instead of shifting to another book in another series, I'm continuing with Shadows Linger.

I've got a copy of Alexander's the Book of Three, perhaps I should get 1 & 2 first?

Just finished John Scalzi's Old Man's War. It is excellent.

Halfway through The Bonehunters. Haven't had a negative moment in the Malazan series so far, and this one is no exception.

The Lions of Al Rassan. G.G. Kay

MagickMaker brought home the newest Patricia Briggs novel and said I could read it first. She's okay.

danlo wrote:I've got a copy of Alexander's the Book of Three, perhaps I should get 1 & 2 first?

i highly recommend it.

Cambo wrote:Halfway through The Bonehunters. Haven't had a negative moment in the Malazan series so far, and this one is no exception.

You are very wise.

Finished my reread of Chaos and Order. That asteroid battle at the end is so intense. I knew it was coming, but the moment when

Spoiler

Sorus turns the tables

is such a great "Hell yeah!" moment.

Started listening to Path of Daggers (Wheel of Time #8 ) today in the bus.

Been forced to rest more than usual during the past 1-2 months, so needed a slow-paced, long audio book series that wouldn't require constant attention. Had planned to give WOT another shot anyhow, what with never having been able to footslog past the middle of Brick #5 during my first attempt some years back. Furthermore, since I greatly enjoyed Mistborn, I'm rather curious about Sanderson's treatment of the last few tomes.

Now, however, Jordan's tedious, torpid particularization of every fragging thread of lace sewn into the swooping neckline of some insignificant Faux-Oriental-Sounding-Town wench is beginning to pluck at my nerves. I kinda like Mat alongside with a soupcon of supporting characters (Verin, for the most part), but most of the fifteen bzillion people bumbling about I can scarcely identify with. I believe I've gotten so far only because I like Michael Kramer's execution and voice in general. Many boardmembers complain about Linden, but I find the forever-PMS'ing Nynaeve far more irritating than the previous on her 'whiniest' moments.

So those who have read the series: does it get any better past book 10 or so? Would I miss much if I skipped a few volumes entirely and maybe jumped straight to Knife of Dreams?


Or might it be a better idea just to shelf the whole set and restart Malazan...

Pretty sure Malazan is the proper course of action here.