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Thread: Is anybody reading anything?

  1. #11
    Senior Member slgrieb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by northbayteky View Post
    You know, like a good book?

    I haven't read anything in ages and I'm really missing Lord Rahl and the Confessor. I also miss Juan Cabrillo and Clive just hasn't turned out another Oregon story that holds my interest.
    Let's get back to the fantasy fix. I just haven't read anything in a long time that I thought was a good, classic Sword & Sorcery novel. Most of the talent seems to have to moved to Urban Fantasy. I have mixed feelings about that. Still, if you haven't tried any of the Dresden Files novels, you should. And they are pretty much chapters in a really long novel, so read them in order. Otherwise, I would suggest Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid books (also gotta do them in order) or perhaps Steve McHugh's Hellequin Chronicles. I would also suggest J.C. Daniel's (a.k.a Shiloh Walker) Colbana series. Gotta do them in order too.
    Last edited by slgrieb; 05-17-2015 at 05:22 PM.
    Yes, Mr. Death... I'll play you a game! But not CHESS !!! BAH... FOOEY! My game is...
    WIFFLEBALL!

  2. #12
    Senior Member Tekboy's Avatar
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    I am currently reading Outlaw by Michael Streissguth, a fascinating account of how Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson ended up recording in Texas after becoming disenchanted with the music publishing and recording scene in Nashville. Cletus might like this one as well. They paved the way for the movement that happened in Austin, which permanently changed the country music paradigm.

    I am a fan of the Austin "indie or progressive country" music scene, and back in my wasted youth, was known to play with some of those guys, but I developed a reputation for being "unreliable". Go figure.

  3. #13
    Senior Member slgrieb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tekboy View Post
    I am currently reading Outlaw by Michael Streissguth, a fascinating account of how Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson ended up recording in Texas after becoming disenchanted with the music publishing and recording scene in Nashville. Cletus might like this one as well. They paved the way for the movement that happened in Austin, which permanently changed the country music paradigm.

    I am a fan of the Austin "indie or progressive country" music scene, and back in my wasted youth, was known to play with some of those guys, but I developed a reputation for being "unreliable". Go figure.
    Hell, I always thought that being considered "unreliable" in Austin was like a major benchmark on your resume!
    Yes, Mr. Death... I'll play you a game! But not CHESS !!! BAH... FOOEY! My game is...
    WIFFLEBALL!

  4. #14
    Senior Member Tekboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slgrieb View Post
    Hell, I always thought that being considered "unreliable" in Austin was like a major benchmark on your resume!
    Well those guys would show up with a buzz. I would show up too incapacitated to play.

  5. #15
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    The Three-Body Problem
    Novel by Liu Cixin

    fantastic book

  6. #16
    Senior Member slgrieb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tekboy View Post
    Well those guys would show up with a buzz. I would show up too incapacitated to play.
    Like most of the audience would know the difference.
    Yes, Mr. Death... I'll play you a game! But not CHESS !!! BAH... FOOEY! My game is...
    WIFFLEBALL!

  7. #17
    Senior Member slgrieb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Overdrv View Post
    The Three-Body Problem
    Novel by Liu Cixin

    fantastic book
    OK, that looks really interesting. Never read any Chinese SF, so that might be fun. I watch a bunch of Chinese cinema, so I think I could get into it.
    Yes, Mr. Death... I'll play you a game! But not CHESS !!! BAH... FOOEY! My game is...
    WIFFLEBALL!

  8. #18
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    Dresden Files for the win!!!1

  9. #19
    Senior Member slgrieb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cleetus View Post
    Dresden Files for the win!!!1
    Yeah, Butcher does kinda kick ass.
    Yes, Mr. Death... I'll play you a game! But not CHESS !!! BAH... FOOEY! My game is...
    WIFFLEBALL!

  10. #20
    Senior Member slgrieb's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slgrieb View Post
    Don't recall I ever met a Dan Simmons book I didn't like.
    Well, now I have. Actually, there isn't much wrong with this 663 page novel that couldn't be fixed by cutting about 300 pages and having a totally different plot. I guess Simmons has now joined the ranks of Stephen King and J.K. Rowling as one of Those Who May Not Be Edited.

    What I liked about the book: 1. Well drawn, believable characters (with one critical exception). 2. Most of the climbing scenes, and particularly the descriptions of the dangers of high altitude climbing in 1925) are very dramatic and vivid.

    What I disliked about the book: Everything else. All through the book, there are just too many long, incredibly tedious expository scenes going on. Page after page of discussion about the differences, relative merits and deficiencies of early models of breathing equipment for climbers. I mean, it is about 200 pages into the book before the expedition to climb Everest even leaves England. But, no worries, there are still 423 pages to go. And the pace doesn't pick up at all during those last 423 pages. To call the novel "ridiculously and offensively slow paced" is an understatement.

    And then there is the plot: Sorry for the spoilers, but on the first level, it purports to be a tale of a small expedition trying to reach the summit of Everest with a lean, fast expedition, unencumbered with the style of the time which operated like a major military campaign; think trench warfare. Of course, that isn't really the purpose of the expedition. I'll refrain from going through all the red herrings and misdirections presented, but in the end, the real mission is to recover pornographic photos of a young Hitler having sex with you Jewish boys before the Nazis can get to them. Why are these photos atop Mt. Everest? What do the British plan to do with them if they are recovered? Gotta read the book to find out. Or, I'll spill the beans if I get enough reactions to justify another rant
    Yes, Mr. Death... I'll play you a game! But not CHESS !!! BAH... FOOEY! My game is...
    WIFFLEBALL!

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