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re: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Recommendation & Discussion Thread
Posted on 9/3/20 at 10:03 pm to CottonWasKing
Posted on 9/3/20 at 10:03 pm to CottonWasKing
quote:
more militaristic Name of The Wind. I guess it’s just the storyteller vibe because nothing else really lines up between the two series but that is the vibe I’ve been getting
Hah, yeah definitely not a comparison I would make there. The high adventure of the three musketeers mixed with the grit of Joe Abercrombie would be my comparison.
1
Posted on 9/4/20 at 3:07 pm to auyushu
But the banter between the characters gives a lot of humor like in gentleman bastards.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 5:02 pm to Sneaky__Sally
Yeah, also a good comparison.
This post was edited on 9/4/20 at 5:03 pm
Posted on 9/4/20 at 6:02 pm to auyushu
I ended up starting Going Postal last night or two nights ago and Moist van Ludwig has that same kind of banter tilted more to the absurd. I guess that is kind of just pratchett's style though cause Good Omens had a similar feel.
Posted on 9/4/20 at 6:33 pm to Sneaky__Sally
quote:
guess that is kind of just pratchett's style though
Yeah, that's just Pratchett's style, though the different storylines all have slightly different styles. Moist is a little more banterish, though all of them have the same general overall style of humor.
This post was edited on 9/4/20 at 6:34 pm
Posted on 9/11/20 at 1:45 pm to auyushu
Ya going postal was awesome, finished last night.
Started listening to elantris audiobook this morning on my work trip. About 1/4 of the way through and liking it a lot so far - you can tell it is an early book for sanderson though, something about the dialogue or the characters voices isnt quite as refined.
Started listening to elantris audiobook this morning on my work trip. About 1/4 of the way through and liking it a lot so far - you can tell it is an early book for sanderson though, something about the dialogue or the characters voices isnt quite as refined.
Posted on 9/13/20 at 8:38 pm to Sneaky__Sally
I’ve got to find another series to get into and I’m drawing blanks right now. Guess it’s time to dig through this thread for awhile.
But if y’all have any suggestions hit me with them.
But if y’all have any suggestions hit me with them.
Posted on 9/13/20 at 10:05 pm to CottonWasKing
Its hard to remember who has read what - but if you haven't read Greatcoats go with that. Probably the best thing I've read this year and that has been my go to recommendation the last few months.
I just started the last book of the Gap Cycle, going to get through this one and then go to Riyaria. Also ordered the other two Moist books from Discworld to complete that trilogy - definitely enjoyed my first foray into Pratchett's world.
I was looking forward to lightbringer but have seen the last few books called a disappointment by just about everyone so that dropped down my list.
Brandon Sanderson mentioned A Fire Upon The Deep several times in the writing excuses podcasts so I've got that lined up somewhere down the line.
Oh and if you haven't read Shadow Campaigns, I liked it even more than Powdermage - same kind of gunpowder era fantasy - but Shadow Campaigns ranks up their with Greatcoats for the best new (to me) reads this year
I just started the last book of the Gap Cycle, going to get through this one and then go to Riyaria. Also ordered the other two Moist books from Discworld to complete that trilogy - definitely enjoyed my first foray into Pratchett's world.
I was looking forward to lightbringer but have seen the last few books called a disappointment by just about everyone so that dropped down my list.
Brandon Sanderson mentioned A Fire Upon The Deep several times in the writing excuses podcasts so I've got that lined up somewhere down the line.
Oh and if you haven't read Shadow Campaigns, I liked it even more than Powdermage - same kind of gunpowder era fantasy - but Shadow Campaigns ranks up their with Greatcoats for the best new (to me) reads this year
This post was edited on 9/13/20 at 10:12 pm
Posted on 9/14/20 at 12:55 am to CottonWasKing
Most my suggestions are either on the first page of this thread or in another post I made for Sally ranking folks a few pages back.
Given that you are well read in fantasy a few that maybe you haven't got around to yet:
Will Wight is under the radar and a personal favorite, Jon Gwynne, faithful and fallen is very good, Miles Cameron traitor son cycle, alec hutson's raveling trilogy, as Sally said Shadow campaigns by Wexler is very good too. All of Mark Lawrence's series have been good. Sally mentioned Greatcoats, I think you said you had read that series, but his spellslinger series is very good too.
Given that you are well read in fantasy a few that maybe you haven't got around to yet:
Will Wight is under the radar and a personal favorite, Jon Gwynne, faithful and fallen is very good, Miles Cameron traitor son cycle, alec hutson's raveling trilogy, as Sally said Shadow campaigns by Wexler is very good too. All of Mark Lawrence's series have been good. Sally mentioned Greatcoats, I think you said you had read that series, but his spellslinger series is very good too.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 6:49 pm to auyushu
Yea I just finished Greatcoats. Loved it. One of my favorites I’ve read in awhile. I think I’m going to give shadow campaigns a try next. Thanks guys.
Posted on 9/14/20 at 7:23 pm to CottonWasKing
Nice, some series sort of come out with their best and fizzle, definitely not the case with Shadow Campaigns. I liked Book 1, but the series really builds
Posted on 9/15/20 at 3:52 pm to Sneaky__Sally
Just got around to finishing the latest Anthony Ryan book, I thought it was really good.
Quick question if anyone knows: is Ryan continuing the series or will he be launching something else next? I could see it going either way based on the ending.
Quick question if anyone knows: is Ryan continuing the series or will he be launching something else next? I could see it going either way based on the ending.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 5:55 pm to Raistlins Apprentice
I hadn't seen those before - they have great reviews on goodreads. Including on by Mark Lawrence that is definitely making me add this to my list.
quote:
Aug 06, 2014Mark Lawrence rated it it was amazing
I won't lie, some small but undeniable part of me came to this book hoping to find fault. It would take a better man than me to watch Anthony Ryan's barnstorming success without a twinge of envy.
Sadly I have to report that this is a very good book and deserves the five stars I've given it.
Ryan writes well, he brings his world and characters to life with good description. It's as a story-teller he shines though, and a good story is always the keystone of a bestseller.
Schools in fantasy books are like crack cocaine to readers. The Wizard of Earthsea, Magician, Harry Potter, The Magicians, Name of the Wind (I think), it goes on, and if not a school per se then an extended training period apprenticed to some master (The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Way of Shadows etc). Blood Song has a battle school as its central focus and we watch our protagonist progress from small boy to large young man through arduous training and a series of very dangerous tests, acquiring a group of firm friends with various talents as he goes.
This is all set in a skillfully executed flashback which our protagonist narrates to a historian on his way to a duel. The tale he tells moves past the school to national and then international conspiracy, politicking, and war. Finally it brings us full circle to the historian and the duel.
It's all good stuff. Don't come looking for great literature or deep themes, do come looking for a great story and a good time.
I don't want to damn the book with faint praise - it deserves 5* and (& this is very high praise from me) it has heart, reminding me in many ways of David Gemmell's work.
The story is very morish, I read this rather fat book in just a couple of weeks, which for me is incredibly fast. Let Vaelin's tale sink its teeth into you and you'll be cheering his victories, growling at his set-backs, and having all the feels in between in appropriate measure.
I begrudgingly affirm that Ryan deserves his success and commend Blood Song to your attention.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 7:13 pm to Raistlins Apprentice
Apparently looking around a bit it is just a two book series, I was thinking it was a trilogy when I bought the first one. Guess I'll go ahead and buy it soon then.
Surprised you haven't at least heard of Ryan Sally. The main reason you don't hear most of us talking about him though is his first trilogy was kinda the opposite of the shadow campaigns, each book was progressively worse by a fair bit. Blood Song was one of the best fantasy books of the last decade or so, but the second was pretty average, and the last was a big pile of meh. Blood Song is worth reading just by itself if nothing else though.
On the flip side I thought his draconis trilogy was really solid all the way through, definitely worth reading.
The first book if his new duology I found interesting enough that I'll probably buy the current one.
Surprised you haven't at least heard of Ryan Sally. The main reason you don't hear most of us talking about him though is his first trilogy was kinda the opposite of the shadow campaigns, each book was progressively worse by a fair bit. Blood Song was one of the best fantasy books of the last decade or so, but the second was pretty average, and the last was a big pile of meh. Blood Song is worth reading just by itself if nothing else though.
On the flip side I thought his draconis trilogy was really solid all the way through, definitely worth reading.
The first book if his new duology I found interesting enough that I'll probably buy the current one.
This post was edited on 9/15/20 at 7:19 pm
Posted on 9/15/20 at 8:11 pm to auyushu
oh, in that case I probably did hear about him and then just kind of moved on to other things after seeing people say the series faceplanted.
Posted on 9/15/20 at 8:33 pm to Sneaky__Sally
Blood Song is kinda like Lies of Locke lamora in that, while technically it's part of a larger story, it works pretty well as a stand alone story.
You could read that one as a one off book.
You could read that one as a one off book.
Posted on 9/16/20 at 3:01 pm to auyushu
I feel like Blood Song should almost be required reading for any fantasy fan. Its that good. And the second book isnt terrible, its just kind of the typical middle book lull. The third book is an outright disaster, no avoiding that. But I think the decent fourth book and the really good fifth book bring the series as a whole up to the point of a solid read.
And now it really could go a bunch of different places if he wants to continue it. He has setup some interesting world politics and some other things that cant really be mentioned without spoiling.
And now it really could go a bunch of different places if he wants to continue it. He has setup some interesting world politics and some other things that cant really be mentioned without spoiling.
Posted on 9/16/20 at 5:32 pm to Raistlins Apprentice
quote:
feel like Blood Song should almost be required reading for any fantasy fan. Its that good. And the second book isnt terrible, its just kind of the typical middle book lull. The third book is an outright disaster, no avoiding that. But I think the decent fourth book
I agree with you on all 4 books I've read so far. If I find the 5th book as good as you I'd agree with the series overall as well. I didn't dislike the second book, I just thought it was very average. Though I know many people hated it.
Posted on 9/16/20 at 7:11 pm to Raistlins Apprentice
so is the series at like a major stopping point or is it still kind of in the middle of something?
Posted on 9/16/20 at 10:18 pm to Sneaky__Sally
quote:
so is the series at like a major stopping point or is it still kind of in the middle of something?
The first three amount to a trilogy of their own. Or an independent arc. Having read them before book 4 though is probably not optional. I think the series is great. Book One is one of the best fantasy novels I’ve read from a contemporary fantasy novelist. Book Two is good, too. The world expands. The characters become richer. Book Three is tough because it feels rushed. Lots of good ideas and things that felt really unexplored because he had already started writing Draconis Memoria and it feels like he is more interested in that while writing Book Three and he’s simply trying to get through it. Or to meet a publishing deadline. It’s still better than half the shite out there.
Book Four is the start of a new arc in a time after the end of Book Three. It opens other areas of the world and Vaelin continues to be an intriguing and engaging character on his trek to find his former love interest. I’m halfway through and enjoying it immensely.
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