Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 The topic is dead! Long live the topic! —Alorael, who will throw in The Ringmaster's Daughter, a relatively normal and therefore still quite unusual novel by Jostein Gaarder. Unlike Sophie's World and therefore like his other books, it's definitely a novel and not a textbook. Like much of what he's written, it's very much concerned with the fiction. Babonhot, SurraAgob and noniceKawsk84 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Micawber Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 It's sad to see the end of the old topic I just read Century Rain, most enjoyable. Also trying to get through a backlog of Accountancy Magazines (snooze...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 I recently read "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" by Jules Verne on a lark. Completely silly given what we know these days, but still a very enjoyable adventure tale. I also recently read the graphic novel version of "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman. I have to say, I actually preferred the movie version. --- You know, having read three works by Gaiman - "Neverwhere," "American Gods," and "Stardust," I'm finding myself a little underwhelmed by him, and not understanding what all the hype is about. He's okay at telling what happens, but not very good at describing it. "Tristram and Yvaine had many adventures on their way back to Wall." Great. A lot of that detail would have been nice to flesh out the story a bit further. I think this problem may come from the fact that he got his big start with "Sandman," which had great artwork to describe all the details he omits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Alorael at Large Posted February 11, 2008 Author Share Posted February 11, 2008 Gaiman's stories never seem to be about the stories he tells, really. It's the peripheral characters and the world or cosmology that make his writing interesting. That works well for world-building junkies (like me) and less for anyone who wants to read a novel. [Edit: The great niper makes no typos.] —Alorael, who thinks American Gods is just plain different enough to deserve hype, Good Omens is fantastic but heavily Pratchettized, and Neverwhere is a very mediocre story with a fantastic setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Jeran Korak Posted February 11, 2008 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Eggs don't belong on panels:Gaiman's stories never seem to be about the stories he tells, really. It's the peripheral characters and the world or cosmology that make his writing interesting. That works well for world-building junkies (like me) and less for anyone who wants to read a novel. —Alorael, who thinks i]American Gods[/i] is just plain different enough to deserve hype, Good Omens is fantastic but heavily Pratchettized, and Neverwhere is a very mediocre story with a fantastic setting. The great sniper makes a typo! This must be preserved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Sudanna Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 The Dune prequels, and after those, the sequels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Nija:The great sniper makes a typo! This must be preserved! Grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Diprosopus Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Currently, Pragmatism, Minima Moralia, and a thick but unintimidating summary of psychology of religion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Drakefyre Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Path to Power, by Robert Caro - the first part of the story of LBJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Emperor Tullegolar Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Drakefyre: Path to Power, by Robert Caro - the first part of the story of LBJ Ever since his crappy presidency, people don't give the man the credit he deserves for being the brilliant politician that he really was. Let me know if it's an interesting read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Drakefyre Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 It was *great*. I'm moving on to Means of Ascent soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Jeran Korak Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 The Legend of Drizzt Parts 1 and 2. Looking for number three. Best darn fiction I've ever read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Fyora Toast With Roamer Butter Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I have arisen from the toaster freshly buttered on a clean white china plate. Behold I am reading The Wood Wife by Terri windling. It is a Mythopoeic award winning book. I have Neil Gaiman's Stardust waiting to read, I intend to read the book, then immediately watch the film afterward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 The book and the movie were definitely pretty different. I actually think that I prefer the film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt Frozen Feet Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I recently finished Ian McDonald's Scissors cut paper wrap stone. Now I'm browsing through random "how to create your character" threads on Ninja RPG forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast The Mystic Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I'm in the process of rereading "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Swimmin' Salmon Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I read Stardust, not realizing there was a graphic novel. My opinion was "meh," especially since I had thought American Gods was the standard. He is not an author I spend a lot of time looking for now. Recently I read 1632. That would make a good movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Randomizer Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 Trying to find time to read Mr. Baggins and Return to Bag-End by John D. Rateliff. It's quite hobbit forming. The annotated version of the original manuscripts ofThe Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien before it got published. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Ephesos Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I'm finally reading for enjoyment again (a bit), and just finished Ray Bradbury's Farewell Summer. Now, I'm back on one of my favorite authors, reading Jack McDevitt's Odyssey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Sullust Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Naruto (vols 1 - 19) Dragon Ball (vols 1 - 3) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Goldengirl Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Animal Farm and Brave New World simultaneously. I'll through Nineteen Eighty-Four in the mix eventually. If only our societies were like that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Ah, high school reading. Next stop for you: discovering the fascinating world of Ayn Rand, and then hopefully getting over it before college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Diprosopus Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Hipsters read Rand nowadays? Well, I suppose it's preferable to Coulter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Callie Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I don't think Drew is a hipster. He was in law school last time I heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easygoing Eyebeast Goldengirl Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Drew:Ah, high school reading. Next stop for you: discovering the fascinating world of Ayn Rand, and then hopefully getting over it before college. Nope. High school reading would be the great Latin classics. EDIT: The reason I'm reading the books now is simple, I'm planning. Using these books as a foundation for my One World State... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt aka Ravenwing Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I eagerly await the next Song of Ice and Fire book, A Dance With Dragons. Expected to come out in 2006. Amazing. Just amazing. And worth the wait, I'm sure. But until then, maybe I'll get with the times and read the Harry Potter books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Kelandon Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I just re-read the Lone Wolf books. They were my original introduction to fantasy literature at about age 5, and they're now free online at Project Aon . Freakin' awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchling Cockatrice Lilith Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Kelandon:I just re-read the Lone Wolf books. They were my original introduction to fantasy literature at about age 5, and they're now free online at Project Aon . Freakin' awesome. Yeah, they're pretty well-written and well-balanced as gamebooks go, at least most of the time. Just... don't think too hard about the racial undertones in some of them. (Undertones? Ha ha. More like overtones.) Joe Dever's probably a BNP voter now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan Nick Ringer Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I recently finished A History of the World in 10½ Chapters by some Briton named Julian Barnes. It's a fictional account of the earth's history - how things "actually" went down, from Noah to now, and why our history books tell us what they do. Relatively unknown, but terrific. I recommend it, but it won't be easy to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ineffable Wingbolt JadeWolf Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Just put down E. R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros. Amazing, and a quite new adventure for me, being one of the first books I;ve read written in that type of archaic English. Student of Trinity 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk The Loquacious Lord Grimm Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Rereading through my Chichton collection right now. Just finished Prey , hoping to grab Sphere and State of Fear while I'm home for spring break. -------------------- The Silent Assassin is reading your mind. Yes he is. No, this is not a stupid gimmick. Stop arguing. Believe it. No, he will never stoop that low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Kelandon Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Thuryl:Just... don't think too hard about the racial undertones in some of them. (Undertones? Ha ha. More like overtones.) Joe Dever's probably a BNP voter now. I took it as typical fantasy fare; Tolkien's just as bad or worse, and that's trickled down into lots of other authors as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Kelandon:I just re-read the Lone Wolf books. They were my original introduction to fantasy literature at about age 5, and they're now free online at Project Aon . Freakin' awesome. Kel - you are awesome for finding that link - thanks so much! I have many fond memories of feeling grateful for hanging on to the firesphere from Book 3(?) through the whole series... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Ouroboros is indeed great. I re-read it every few years. Eddison's other novels aren't as good; similar in style, but where Ouroboros is a rollicking yarn with a few spooky ideas for fun, the others are trying too hard to represent some obscure theme about dark-light symmetry or something, and too many characters are lifeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Kelandon Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Drew:the firesphere from Book 3(?) Given that it was the Kalte Firesphere, yes, it had to have been from Book 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hey man, given that I'm remembering those books from 21 years ago or so, I think I'm doing pretty well. Plus, having now gone through the first 6 books online today, I believe it was only ever referred to as a "firesphere" - no "Kalte" included. noniceKawsk84 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Callie Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 I just read a short book of political humor containing mostly pictures titled Bad President. It made my day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan Nick Ringer Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 Quote: Originally written by JadeWolf:Just put down E. R. Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros. Amazing, and a quite new adventure for me, being one of the first books I;ve read written in that type of archaic English. Was it about immortality, as the title suggests? Or alchemy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Ornk Student of Trinity Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 The title does refer to a somewhat peculiar form of immortality, but that isn't really what the story is about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Xelgion Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 I'm reading the Pellinor-Series, may seem clee-shay, but thats because 80% of it was stolen and put into Eragon, that bastard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Taliesin Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Drew:I recently read "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" by Jules Verne on a lark. Completely silly given what we know these days, but still a very enjoyable adventure tale. Journey to the Centre of Avernum, more like. It is an excellent book, and a surprisingly okay movie as well. Quote: by Goldenking:Animal Farm and Brave New World simultaneously. I'll through Nineteen Eighty-Four in the mix eventually. If only our societies were like that... I'm reading The Republic by Plato in class. You should check out his "ideal state" if you aren't familiar with it. So far it looks like Sparta being taken over by Big Brother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyshakk Koan Smoo Posted March 1, 2008 Share Posted March 1, 2008 Now lessee... Right now I'm rereading A Song of Ice and Fire. Right now I'm in A Storm of Swords. In the last few months I've read at least: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie (which was an okay first book of yet another fantasy trilogy with good characters and dark humor, but a weakish overall plot.) Domes of Fire by David Eddings (because I hadn't read anything by Eddings before. I was not impressed) A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan (I'm pleased to report that absolutely nothing happened in it!) Making Money by Terry Pratchett (It was okay, I guess.) I also might have finished rere(possibly-re)reading the Prince of Nothing trilogy by R Scott Bakker (Things still didn't turn out well for Drusas or Cnaiur.) That about covers what I've been reading (excluding school-related reading) since December. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Drew Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 Kel: actually, it was referred to as a Kalte firesphere in later books. Currently back from vacation; moving on to the ones I never read... 20,000 Leagues under the Sea - not as good as Journey to the Centre of the Earth, in my opinion. While the 19th century take on the science stuff was fun, I don't know if he ever quite succeeded in developing the enigma of Captain Nemo quite enough. Still though - a fun ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Fyora Toast With Roamer Butter Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I have been reading Ian Bank's Matter, it is part of the culture series. I am enjoying it a great deal. It just came out in February 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotghroth Rhapsody Locmaar Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 I've just read 'The Curious Incindent of the Dog in the Night-time' by Mark Haddon. I recommend this book to anybody who likes... uh... to read. Before that it was 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' by Jonathan Safran Foer, an equally heart-breaking and heart-warming story. Also by the same author, the wonderful 'Everything is Illuminated', made into a fine movie with Frodo Baggins. Lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Understated Ur-Drakon Callie Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 We recently finished Macbeth in English, which now replaces Romeo and Juliet in my mind as the worst story I've ever read. I think the only other literature I haven't liked is Fallen Dragon, which says a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Toby-Linn Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 I just finished re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, throughly enjoyed it. It's funny to get some adult perspective on books you read as a kid....I guess the same goes for movies too. Next up I'm going to read "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, I've heard it's good. I don't seem to have as much time as I used to for reading books, I guess I'm on the computer too much, playing spiderweb software games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrulous Glaahk Diprosopus Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Not to question an adult perspective, but by "adult perspective" I assume you mean "perspective of having the most rudimentary of religious indoctrination"? For clarity's sake, you understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Well-Actually War Trall Micawber Posted March 29, 2008 Share Posted March 29, 2008 Presumably she means that, as an adult, she is aware of the religious indoctrination, while as a child it was subliminal. Meanwhile I have finally got around to reading Dune. It's only taken me 14 years since deciding to read it, to actually open the thing. Ah the joys of procrastination... Edit: corrected. Apologies to TobyLinn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unflappable Drayk Toby-Linn Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Quote: Originally written by Micawber:Presumably he means that, as an adult, he is aware of the religious indoctrination, while as a child it was subliminal. Yes that is what I meant...and I'm a she by the way As an adult you are aware of the religious/christian aspects of the book, while when a child it sails right over your head. Actually I try not to pay attention to the religious aspect anyways, and just think of it a good fantasy story. By the way I hope you like Dune, I read it last about 10 years ago and have to re-read it one of these days....this time I have the other four books (I only want to read the ones by Frank Herbert) and can read the rest of the series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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