dennilfloss
Past Lifer 1957-2014 In Memoriam
HumblePie
Lifer
- Oct 30, 2000
- 14,665
- 440
- 126
Wasn't a fan of any of the Dresden Files books. Too pulpish in flavor for me. I read about 6 of them and interested waned considerably with each book. I hate giving up on a series, which is why I trudged through 6 of them hoping something would get better, but there reaches a point I give up. Laura K Hamilton Anita Blake was a bit like that for me except it started off pretty good, went a bit more meh and pulpy, and then turned into weird dark fantasy porn trash.
The Way of Kings I loved, but Words of Radiance I hated. First book was awesome and the second was gawd awful.
I've been reading a few pulpy books lately and getting about halfway through and then quitting before I finish. Bad dialog, over used concepts, horrible character development, deus ex machina all over the place, improbable character decisions, overly "preaching" of the author's political/religious views, and just too much reliance on reader "insight" of expectancy of the knowledge of the world in the book versus taking time to carefully craft the environment of the book just seems far to par for the course lately in recent books. Most of the fantasy/sci fi books lately seem like someone's bad recap of their Pen & Paper session with their friends. The twists are predictable, stupid, and usually unbelievable due to the overuse of deus ex machina. Haven't read any good books lately, and nothing that was recently released.
The Way of Kings I loved, but Words of Radiance I hated. First book was awesome and the second was gawd awful.
I've been reading a few pulpy books lately and getting about halfway through and then quitting before I finish. Bad dialog, over used concepts, horrible character development, deus ex machina all over the place, improbable character decisions, overly "preaching" of the author's political/religious views, and just too much reliance on reader "insight" of expectancy of the knowledge of the world in the book versus taking time to carefully craft the environment of the book just seems far to par for the course lately in recent books. Most of the fantasy/sci fi books lately seem like someone's bad recap of their Pen & Paper session with their friends. The twists are predictable, stupid, and usually unbelievable due to the overuse of deus ex machina. Haven't read any good books lately, and nothing that was recently released.
Uppsala9496
Diamond Member
- Nov 2, 2001
- 5,272
- 19
- 81
Blood and Bone by Ian C Esslemont. Wish there were more Malazan books in the future. Always a nice read (even when they drag on and on).
SMOGZINN
Lifer
- Jun 17, 2005
- 14,359
- 4,640
- 136
I recently got on a kick of reading some of the better reviewed self published books on Amazon Kindle that were on sale for 0.99 cents.
So far I've read:
The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit Series) - 5.7/10
The writing is a bit simple, but the story is interesting, if in a somewhat immature way. It was worth the read. The only caveat is that the story is unfinished, the book simply ends at some point, and is continued in the next recently published book which I have not read yet (and is $2.99 not $0.99). I'll eventually get the sequel, but it will wait until I have read my current batch of books.
Slave-Girls and Amazons - 3/10
This is promoted as a humorous fantasy novel. It might have garnered a few chuckles here and there, but overall it was pretty dry. I don't think it lived up to it's name. There is a sequel to it, that I think is also 0.99 cents, but I have no intention of wasting more time on this.
So far I've read:
The (sort of) Dark Mage (Waldo Rabbit Series) - 5.7/10
The writing is a bit simple, but the story is interesting, if in a somewhat immature way. It was worth the read. The only caveat is that the story is unfinished, the book simply ends at some point, and is continued in the next recently published book which I have not read yet (and is $2.99 not $0.99). I'll eventually get the sequel, but it will wait until I have read my current batch of books.
Slave-Girls and Amazons - 3/10
This is promoted as a humorous fantasy novel. It might have garnered a few chuckles here and there, but overall it was pretty dry. I don't think it lived up to it's name. There is a sequel to it, that I think is also 0.99 cents, but I have no intention of wasting more time on this.
I read a lot of those self published books through Amazon prime's lending library. They run around 80% crap. Just finished one call "Melder" which falls into the 80%. A lot of them have a neat story idea but can't execute it very well. Last decent ones I read were Extinction Point series the third of which I"m about to start.
- Jun 19, 2003
- 23,454
- 41
- 91
Lol...just saw this thread. Hadn't seen it since about 14 replies....now there are 14 pages.
So yeah, to update my list:
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B. J Novak
Limited War by Robert Osgood
Berlin Game by Len Deighton
LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay by Warren Kovak
Novak cracks me up, Osgood's heavy reading, but loving it, LeMay was a heck of a controversial figure. But, he makes me wonder what I would have done in his shoes.
So yeah, to update my list:
One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B. J Novak
Limited War by Robert Osgood
Berlin Game by Len Deighton
LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay by Warren Kovak
Novak cracks me up, Osgood's heavy reading, but loving it, LeMay was a heck of a controversial figure. But, he makes me wonder what I would have done in his shoes.
dennilfloss
Past Lifer 1957-2014 In Memoriam
JManInPhoenix
Golden Member
- Sep 25, 2013
- 1,500
- 1
- 81
BurnItDwn
Lifer
- Oct 10, 1999
- 26,355
- 1,867
- 126
Finished Endymion.
Now reading Rise of Endymion.
I agree, Endymion is not comparable to Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Simmons writing is just so fvcking awesome to read. I'm only about 40 or so pages into Rise of Endymion, but looking forward to reading through the rest of it.
Now reading Rise of Endymion.
I agree, Endymion is not comparable to Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Simmons writing is just so fvcking awesome to read. I'm only about 40 or so pages into Rise of Endymion, but looking forward to reading through the rest of it.
The Son by Jo Nesbo - a Norwegian book translated into English.
I am quite liking it. Have also previously read Nemesis by the same author which was also quite interesting.
Even though the writing is a translation, it is still much better than that of most books these days in this genre.
I am quite liking it. Have also previously read Nemesis by the same author which was also quite interesting.
Even though the writing is a translation, it is still much better than that of most books these days in this genre.
dr150
Diamond Member
- Sep 18, 2003
- 6,570
- 24
- 81
Brandon Sanderson's epic The Way of Kings is currently on sale at Amazon for $2.99...
http://slickdeals.net/f/6977320-brandon-sanderson-s-the-way-of-kings-2-99-kindle-book
http://slickdeals.net/f/6977320-brandon-sanderson-s-the-way-of-kings-2-99-kindle-book
Pheran
Diamond Member
- Apr 26, 2001
- 5,740
- 35
- 91
Still reading Christopher Moore books
A Dirty Job
Really good book about a dude that becomes a Death
Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story
and the other two in the series, currently reading the third. These are set in the same location and world as A Dirty Job and have some overlap. Also really good and damn funny.
A Dirty Job
Really good book about a dude that becomes a Death
Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story
and the other two in the series, currently reading the third. These are set in the same location and world as A Dirty Job and have some overlap. Also really good and damn funny.
Arcadio
Diamond Member
- Jun 5, 2007
- 5,637
- 24
- 81
JamesV
Platinum Member
- Jul 9, 2011
- 2,002
- 2
- 76
Picked up a new R.A. Salvatore book (Drizzt)... didn't get close to finishing it.
Talk about an author just putting out the same stuff again and again. Loved his books when he first started writing, but now doubt I'll ever pick one up again.
Now reading Star Flight by Andre Norton.
Talk about an author just putting out the same stuff again and again. Loved his books when he first started writing, but now doubt I'll ever pick one up again.
Now reading Star Flight by Andre Norton.
IronWing
No Lifer
- Jul 20, 2001
- 73,312
- 34,766
- 136
The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar: Solving the Oak Island Mystery by Steven Sora
It's good, stupid Summer reading. It makes The Davinci Code look like a peer reviewed journal article but it is very readable.
It's good, stupid Summer reading. It makes The Davinci Code look like a peer reviewed journal article but it is very readable.
Carson Dyle
Diamond Member
- Jul 2, 2012
- 8,173
- 524
- 126
OBLAMA2009
Diamond Member
- Apr 17, 2008
- 6,574
- 3
- 0
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