I just finished the first of the books in the Dresden Files, and am looking forward to getting to the bookstore to pick up the others.
I just finished the first of the books in the Dresden Files, and am looking forward to getting to the bookstore to pick up the others.
They get better and better as they go on. I dislike the way he uses the city in the early books, all he does is name drop neighborhoods without getting any real kind of feel for them.
I just finished the first of the books in the Dresden Files, and am looking forward to getting to the bookstore to pick up the others.
The latest one is out, and I am 14th in the queue at the library. I am excited. You are going to love the series.
We just read Sharp Teeth in my Horror and Fantasy Lit class, and I really liked it a lot. It's written in free verse, and tells the "epic" tale of a werewolf dogcatcher in LA. The werewolves are actually the wild dogs that run in packs in the southwest. Probably my favorite book of the semester.
Don't let the poetry scare you off. It is an easy read, and the verse works to really give the story a rhythm.
We just read Sharp Teeth in my Horror and Fantasy Lit class, and I really liked it a lot. It's written in free verse, and tells the "epic" tale of a werewolf dogcatcher in LA. The werewolves are actually the wild dogs that run in packs in the southwest. Probably my favorite book of the semester.
Don't let the poetry scare you off. It is an easy read, and the verse works to really give the story a rhythm.
Gaiman has an amazing werewolf/Beowulf story told as a poem that I really enjoyed.
I want to read the latest one, but I don't like hardcovers. 
Also, a new PDF for the Dresden RPG is supposed to be out for those of us who pre-ordered.
I want to read the latest one, but I don't like hardcovers.
I love hardcover books. I like owning and reading them better.
Quintin_Stone wrote:I want to read the latest one, but I don't like hardcovers.
I love hardcover books. I like owning and reading them better.
I love hardcover books - I love having space in the apartment, and not being murdered in my sleep by Mrs. Tanglebones better 
I love hardcover books.
I love hardcover books
If there's a better definition of insanity, I don't know what it is! 
Speaking of poetry, I've been enjoying Here, Bullet by Brian Turner recently.
I'm on a bit a Greek mythology kick recently, so to all the fantasy readers who post here, I hugely recommend Christopher Logue's adaptations of the Iliad. These aren't straightforward translations of Homer, but adaptations using contemporary language and metaphor. They're fast-moving, vivid, and in Logue's version the Greek gods are terrifying. I'm also enjoying David Malouf's new novel Ransom, which is essentially the Iliad told from Achilles' perspective.
I'll second the Iliad adaptation ExitPursuedByBear is touting. It's good stuff. I should re-read it, actually. I'm actually reading The King Must Die — an adaptation of the Theseus myth, which I'm enjoying more and more as I go along.
I just finished Glen Cook's "The Black Company" and "The Name of the Wind" (yes I like fantasy books)
"The Black Company" was..ok.. for me. I really enjoyed "The Name of the Wind" and am looking forward to the next one.
Now I'm bereft of fantasy novels though....any suggestions?
Joe Abercrombie?
+1 for Abercrombie; if you're lukewarm on Glen Cook, you might not like Steven Erikson. Maybe Richard Morgan's The Steel Remains, if you're not squicked out by gay main characters?
I just finished the first of the books in the Dresden Files, and am looking forward to getting to the bookstore to pick up the others.
I did the first four audiobooks on the download service from the library (Overdrive). James Marster's narrates (Spike from Buffy/Angel, etc). Not sure he's the best narrator, but they've been fun if not overly deep. I read book 5 and am reading book 6 as they aren't available in audiobook format on Overdrive. They do seem to be improving a bit as they go along.
Not one of my favorite series, but not bad, either.
mudbunny wrote:I just finished the first of the books in the Dresden Files, and am looking forward to getting to the bookstore to pick up the others.
The latest one is out, and I am 14th in the queue at the library. I am excited. You are going to love the series.
I thought the latest one was great and the name is very accurate (Changes). The last 50 pages or so definitely have a lot happening that really take the series in a different direction. Really interested in seeing where the series goes next.
I just started reading Jim Butcher's other series The Codex Alera. Definitely very different and if I wasn't aware it was by the same writer I'd never have realised. I've really been enjoying them but I think it's mainly because I was in the mood for a new fantasy series.
I just finished Glen Cook's "The Black Company" and "The Name of the Wind" (yes I like fantasy books)
"The Black Company" was..ok.. for me. I really enjoyed "The Name of the Wind" and am looking forward to the next one.
Now I'm bereft of fantasy novels though....any suggestions?
My two go-to suggestions for recent fantasy are "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke, and "The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch. One is a dense and deep Jane Austen-ish story of magic and the eponymous and polar opposite practitioners in an alternate 18th-century England. It is utterly, utterly absorbing, strong, delightful, whimsical, and just plain good. The other is a gritty low fantasy caper adventure, with thieves and conmen, dirty cities, swearing, violence, swordfights, deception, all that stuff. Tonnes of fun that one.
I just finished Joe Abercrombie's "Best Served Cold", not having read any of his First Law (?) books. It was very Scott Lynch-ish, but I didn't think nearly as strong. The writing was very ham-fisted and unsubtle (ironic statements were immediately followed by an explanation of how they were ironic, instead of trusting the reader to figure out), too many characters with not enough development to go around, sophomoric musings on war from fictional philosophers, and every second page had a melodramatic one-sentence paragraph to beat home his heavy-handed storytelling. Lots of explicit sex and violence, which I can take or leave, but even that added up to my overall impression of a very immature writer. Or at least a very immature story.
Anyone have any experience with Abercrombie's other books? Better, worse, the same? Lynch's third Lamora novel keeps getting pushed back and back, so I need some other low fantasy to fill the wait.
Edit: Hey look what happened while I was writing.
Joe Abercrombie?
+1 fro Abercrombie
Please see my question above!
My two go-to suggestions for recent fantasy are "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke, and "The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch. One is a dense and deep Jane Austen-ish story of magic and the eponymous and polar opposite practitioners in an alternate 18th-century England. It is utterly, utterly absorbing, strong, delightful, whimsical, and just plain good. The other is a gritty low fantasy caper adventure, with thieves and conmen, dirty cities, swearing, violence, swordfights, deception, all that stuff. Tonnes of fun that one.
Good recommendations, especially the second one. Really liked that, and need to look up the sequel.
Anyone have any experience with Abercrombie's other books? Better, worse, the same? Lynch's third Lamora novel keeps getting pushed back and back, so I need some other low fantasy to fill the wait.
Edit: Hey look what happened while I was writing.
NathanialG wrote:Joe Abercrombie?
Tanglebones wrote:+1 fro Abercrombie
Please see my question above!
I haven't read Best Served Cold yet, but I have read the First Law trilogy. It's not worldshakingly good, but it's very entertaining, particularly for the first book. The second drags a bit, but the third picks steam up again.
I took multiple running starts at Jonathan Strange before I finally just sold it. I'm not surprised; I'm not a huge fan of that pre-Victorian style in general, so I'm not surprised.
I haven't read Best Served Cold yet, but I have read the First Law trilogy. It's not worldshakingly good, but it's very entertaining, particularly for the first book. The second drags a bit, but the third picks steam up again.
If you read "Best Served Cold", I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts. I might give the first First Law book a try and see if it's in a different vein.
I took multiple running starts at Jonathan Strange before I finally just sold it. I'm not surprised; I'm not a huge fan of that pre-Victorian style in general, so I'm not surprised.
I'm not surprised either, there are a few copies floating around my family and I'm the only one who finished it. In fact, I have two copies myself (softcover and hardcover) I loved it so much, I didn't want it to end. "Running start" is a good way to look at it: if you can't clear page-long footnotes of totally fictional history, it might not be your thing. Good on you for trying though!
I'm not surprised either, there are a few copies floating around my family and I'm the only one who finished it. In fact, I have two copies myself (softcover and hardcover) I loved it so much, I didn't want it to end. "Running start" is a good way to look at it: if you can't clear page-long footnotes of totally fictional history, it might not be your thing. Good on you for trying though!
I think I enjoyed it much more in audiobook than I would have in paper. The English narrator really fit the book.
Gravey wrote:I'm not surprised either, there are a few copies floating around my family and I'm the only one who finished it. In fact, I have two copies myself (softcover and hardcover) I loved it so much, I didn't want it to end. "Running start" is a good way to look at it: if you can't clear page-long footnotes of totally fictional history, it might not be your thing. Good on you for trying though!
I think I enjoyed it much more in audiobook than I would have in paper. The English narrator really fit the book.
I've never listened to an audiobook so I'd be curious to know, how were the footnotes handled?
ClockworkHouse wrote:I took multiple running starts at Jonathan Strange before I finally just sold it. I'm not surprised; I'm not a huge fan of that pre-Victorian style in general, so I'm not surprised.
I'm not surprised either, there are a few copies floating around my family and I'm the only one who finished it. In fact, I have two copies myself (softcover and hardcover) I loved it so much, I didn't want it to end. "Running start" is a good way to look at it: if you can't clear page-long footnotes of totally fictional history, it might not be your thing. Good on you for trying though!
The thing is, it sounded like it was right up my alley. My usual problem with fantasy literature is that it's too much pulp and not enough literature (there's a statement that'll start a fight). Jonathan Strange really seemed to be trying to mesh fantasy with a classical literary style (as opposed to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which only invited us to rubberneck past a work of vandalism), but the voice was almost too authentic; I've never been able to wade through much Jane Austen, either.
I just finished the first of the books in the Dresden Files, and am looking forward to getting to the bookstore to pick up the others.
These were some of my first purchases on the Kiindle. I started with a sample, and then started buying them 3-4 at a time. Wish I'd bought 12 before they pulled it back though 
The thing is, it sounded like it was right up my alley. My usual problem with fantasy literature is that it's too much pulp and not enough literature (there's a statement that'll start a fight). Jonathan Strange really seemed to be trying to mesh fantasy with a classical literary style (as opposed to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which only invited us to rubberneck past a work of vandalism), but the voice was almost too authentic; I've never been able to wade through much Jane Austen, either.
High five to your P&P&Z criticism, I couldn't be bothered to finish it. I've only read P&P, after Strange, and really enjoyed it. But Strange is even slower and denser than Austen; I see what you mean by "too authentic". Honestly, while I'm not deeply read in fantasy (I also think it's more pulp (or Tolkien retreads) than lit, though I like the really good pulp, with none better than Lieber) I think Strange is the best fantasy since The Lord of the Rings. Maybe even better, as it has the edge of coming after post-modernism so it's not tweedy like LOTR.
MannishBoy wrote:Gravey wrote:I'm not surprised either, there are a few copies floating around my family and I'm the only one who finished it. In fact, I have two copies myself (softcover and hardcover) I loved it so much, I didn't want it to end. "Running start" is a good way to look at it: if you can't clear page-long footnotes of totally fictional history, it might not be your thing. Good on you for trying though!
I think I enjoyed it much more in audiobook than I would have in paper. The English narrator really fit the book.
I've never listened to an audiobook so I'd be curious to know, how were the footnotes handled?
When the text comes to a footnote point in the story, the narrator just says "footnote: blah blah blah", then resumes the narrative when he's done with the footnote. Actually works pretty well in this case, as it does in the Terry Pratchett books which also use a lot of footnotes (and also have an excellent narrator).
I got hooked on audiobooks when my job used to have me on the road a lot. The drive from Nashville to Memphis is very boring, and books kept my mind engaged. Now I listen to them all the time and go through more audiobooks than "real" books. Free downloads from the library are cool, too.
In addition to while driving, I listen to them when I'm doing boring stuff like mowing the yard, cooking dinner, washing the car, etc.
High five to your P&P&Z criticism, I couldn't be bothered to finish it. I've only read P&P, after Strange, and really enjoyed it. But Strange is even slower and denser than Austen; I see what you mean by "too authentic". Honestly, while I'm not deeply read in fantasy (I also think it's more pulp (or Tolkien retreads) than lit, though I like the really good pulp, with none better than Lieber) I think Strange is the best fantasy since The Lord of the Rings. Maybe even better, as it has the edge of coming after post-modernism so it's not tweedy like LOTR.
Damn it. I just sold my copy, and now you're making me want to try it again.
"The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch sounds pretty cool to me. I'll check out Ambercrombie too.
Its not like I didn't like "The Black Company" I just feel it didn't really excel above the rest.
Gravey wrote:High five to your P&P&Z criticism, I couldn't be bothered to finish it. I've only read P&P, after Strange, and really enjoyed it. But Strange is even slower and denser than Austen; I see what you mean by "too authentic". Honestly, while I'm not deeply read in fantasy (I also think it's more pulp (or Tolkien retreads) than lit, though I like the really good pulp, with none better than Lieber) I think Strange is the best fantasy since The Lord of the Rings. Maybe even better, as it has the edge of coming after post-modernism so it's not tweedy like LOTR.
Damn it. I just sold my copy, and now you're making me want to try it again.
I've got two copies to lend.
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