PigLick on 16/7/2011 at 13:49
been reading through my own book of rules
its good, my rules allow for lots of shit
henke on 25/7/2011 at 15:02
I just got finished listening to the audiobook version of The Lost Symbol, by dethtoll's favourite author: Dan Brown! Exciting! :D But pretty grim. :eek: But mostly exciting! :D
june gloom on 25/7/2011 at 16:51
Meanwhile, I'm reading a (surprisingly) good book- the Bioshock novel.
It's pretty good!
catbarf on 25/7/2011 at 17:01
I finished Metro 2033 about a week ago. Reading the book gives me a much better appreciation for how the game preserved its atmosphere, while changing the story to better fit an FPS. I was disappointed that Khan never shows up again, he was my favorite character.
For those who have read it, what did you think of the ending? I thought it was good and perfectly in the theme of the book, turning what seems like a total victory into utter, hopeless defeat in an instant, although I can see how it would seem like an asspull.
Pyrian on 26/7/2011 at 22:29
Just read Surrender to the Will of the Night by Glen Cook, right after finishing Shadowrise by Tad Williams. Interesting experience. Both books are 3/4 in a series involving a highborn family fighting both political powers and dark supernatural forces in a tangled web of intrigue in a medieval-fantasy-esque setting. And yet they could hardly be more different in tone and style.
Tad Williams work is rather more conventional, though it's nice to see him allowing central characters to take a more active role in their fate instead of the usual leaf-in-the-wind narrative style so typical to both him and frankly too much of the genre. I was particularly surprised to see palace intrigue as the battlefield it should be rather than the deus ex machina it's almost always written as.
Glen Cook's work is always a pleasure to me because, while much is foreshadowed and followed through on, much more is not. World changing events come more or less out of the blue, monarchs and even gods have no plot armor (and if the 4th book is anything like Soldier's Live - one of the most deceptively named books I've ever read - then most main characters aren't wearing much plot armor, either). This is book is very dense with plot and quite light on description, yet he gets across the important glints of motivation, feeling, and setting with efficiency. It's almost never boring to me, and when it is, those sections are brief.
Dia on 27/7/2011 at 14:06
I'm reading the Song of Fire and Ice series by George R. R. Martin; watched Game of Thrones' first season on HBO & was hooked. Currently I'm on the third book, A Storm of Swords, and find myself becoming more and more depressed with each chapter. Mr. Martin is such an excellent storyteller with the ability to totally immerse the reader in splendid (and sometimes gory) detail, to the point that he's able to elicit strong feelings from the reader (moi included). One of my only two complaints is the fact that most of his characters are despicable (or frustratingly self-absorbed) and I'm rapidly running out of characters to root for. I kind of get the feeling that there aren't going to be any real heroes in this saga; as I read I feel I'm watching that shining armor tarnish right before my eyes. I could also do without some of the graphic details that sometimes cross the border of being gratuitous.
The realism of his narrative is astounding, though at times I feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think, 'Oh .... well, if that happens it's definitely going to change things for the better!', Mr. Martin throws a curve ball of a plot twist and suddenly you're left scratching your head wondering where that one came from and thinking, 'Omg! Can things get any worse now?'. However, I do enjoy the fact that Mr. Martin's writing is anything but predictable and/or formulaic.
I have a nasty feeling things are going to get considerably worse before they get better for my favorite characters in this story.
Pyrian on 27/7/2011 at 18:07
Quote Posted by Dia
One of my only two complaints is the fact that most of his characters are despicable (or frustratingly self-absorbed) and I'm rapidly running out of characters to root for.
Yeah. And I stopped after the first book.
Quote Posted by Dia
I have a nasty feeling things are going to get considerably worse before they get better for my favorite characters in this story.
I'm rooting for the cold things. :cool:
Mr.Duck on 27/7/2011 at 18:15
Currently on the 5th book of A Song Of Ice And Fire. Loving it, but I do have also my two or three complaints, the biggest one probably being the fact that Martin's introducing new characters left and right and sometimes I feel it takes space and loses focus of the, what I would consider, main characters.
Still, I'm hooked and hope he doesn't take years and years to finish the last two books.
:)
Dia on 28/7/2011 at 13:48
I agree, Duckeh: I've had to start checking the cast of characters listing in the back of the book to keep up.
Last night after I read the end of Catelyn's chapter (in Storm of Swords) where Robb and Catelyn are murdered in Freys' great hall after her brother Edmure's marriage I threw the book across the room while swearing like a truck driver. I mean, wtf??!!!
At this point I'm rooting for the wildlings and Dany.
I hate George R. R. Martin.
Matthew on 28/7/2011 at 15:12
Ghost Story, the most recent release in the Dresden Files series.
