Malazan

[AngelEy3 he/him]

59 minutes ago, officiumdefunctorum said:

Wholeheartedly agree.

(Also, what are you reading next?)

Nice Supernatural gif, lol. 

I just started Forge of Darkness for the first time! 

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

7 hours ago, AngelEy3 said:

Nice Supernatural gif, lol. 

I just started Forge of Darkness for the first time! 

I hope you like it! A different feel than the rest of Malazan, and a little difficult to understand at first, because they are all just Tiste, without andii/edur/liosan distinction. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though.

[Ammanas]

Going through RotCG again. First of all John Banks is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. I am shocked when I read criticisms of his on audible because I believe he reads at a perfect speed, has a great neutral voice, and does a good job changing it up to fit characters of both genders. He also does a great job of Bancroft's Books of Babel series (a very different series from Malazan books, but is unique and a lot of fun). It's too bad Banks hasn't been chosen for Eriksons books.

It's amazing how much, in my opinion, both Erikson and Esslemont improve between their first two books. Although the publication date does not reflect it, both Night of Knives and Gardens were written ten year or so before the next installment. For all of Esslemont's strengths there is always something a little dissapointing with his endings (although he is improving with that in his early empire series) but I really like his beginnings and middle sections. His endings are not necessarily bad but I keep hoping for more from him. The worst ending of his was probably Blood and Bone which is a shame because I really liked the jungle setting and the Apocalypse Now/heart of Darkness vibe. Blood and Bone also includes some of the best horror scenes in the series imo.

 

Edited July 31, 2018 by Ammanas

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

17 minutes ago, Ammanas said:

Going through RotCG again. First of all John Banks is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. I am shocked when I read criticisms of his on audible because I believe he reads at a perfect speed, has a great neutral voice, and does a good job changing it up to fit characters of both genders. He also does a great job of Bancroft's Books of Babel series (a very different series from Malazan books, but is unique and a lot of fun). It's too bad Banks hasn't been chosen for Eriksons books.

It's amazing how much, in my opinion, both Erikson and Esslemont improve between their first two books. Although the publication date does not reflect it, both Night of Knives and Gardens were written ten year or so before the next installment. For all of Esslemont's strengths there is always something a little dissapointing with his endings (although he is improving with that in his early empire series) but I really like his beginnings and middle sections. His endings are not necessarily bad but I keep hoping for more from him. The worst ending of his was probably Blood and Bone which is a shame because I really liked the jungle setting and the Apocalypse Now/heart of Darkness vibe. Blood and Bone also includes some of the best horror scenes in the series imo.

 

Honestly, I don't remember a lot of the details from the ICE books, with the exception of Orb Sceptre Throne and the stuff with the Seguleh and the Moranth and Assail. I'll have to read them again eventually. I did enjoy John Banks, though, and having one narrator do the whole set was nice.

I'm not sure who I'd like to take over narrating Erikson's next books. The guy who does books 3-5 of the Red Knight series, Neil Dickson, is pretty great. Or maybe Simon Vance? He is fantastic with Lightbringer and the other things he's done. Honestly Michael Page took some getting used to after three books of Ralph Lister, but I think he did well, even if some of his vocal inflections and sound effects were a bit... Excessive. His Karsa Orlong is perfect.

[Ammanas]

12 minutes ago, officiumdefunctorum said:

with the exception of Orb Sceptre Throne and the stuff with the Seguleh and the Moranth

Don't forget about Dragnipur arrows! I got such a huge kick out of that! 

Simon Vance would be great! Nick Podehl has some great voices, but I wonder how he would do narrating so many grizzled veterans?

The Red Knight series...I have tried reading that about five times. It looks great, everyone tells me its great, but some reason or another I can't get past the first 150 pages. I tried the hoopla audiobook, but the app was having problems so that was probably a factor (I can't remember being particularly impressed with that Wolf narrator either, but cant recall any details). I will probably try again someday and will definitely be trying out the first in Miles Cameron's new series (Cold Iron) when it is released in the United States on October.

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

1 hour ago, Ammanas said:

Don't forget about Dragnipur arrows! I got such a huge kick out of that! 

Simon Vance would be great! Nick Podehl has some great voices, but I wonder how he would do narrating so many grizzled veterans?

The Red Knight series...I have tried reading that about five times. It looks great, everyone tells me its great, but some reason or another I can't get past the first 150 pages. I tried the hoopla audiobook, but the app was having problems so that was probably a factor (I can't remember being particularly impressed with that Wolf narrator either, but cant recall any details). I will probably try again someday and will definitely be trying out the first in Miles Cameron's new series (Cold Iron) when it is released in the United States on October.

I did enjoy having Barathol around again, but I'm not sure I was pleased with anything about Humble Measure, recalling the events of Toll the Hounds and whatnot. 

I think the Red Knight is one of those things you have to "get into". It's quite different, but once I started buying into what was going on it was really good. Not a predictable story. Coexistence of magic and religion. I enjoyed it, so take my opinion for what it is!

[Briar King]

Approaching the ending 200 pgs of Fitz 9 and I’m gonna have to fight my brain not to pick up Outlander 4 after but get done with Return instead. I have read a bit of Return everyday be it one word, sentence, page or chapter since starting Fitz books back in March and I’m only on pg 228.

[Ammanas]

54 minutes ago, Briar King said:

gonna have to fight my brain not to pick up Outlander 4

About 75% done with the first one and am liking it so far! Tad Williams always seem to have a very helpful synopsis in his books (after the first installment) so you could probably be able to figure it out. You have also got to read Shadowheart! I think the fourth book was the best in that series!

[Orlion Blight he/him]

1 hour ago, Briar King said:

Approaching the ending 200 pgs of Fitz 9 and I’m gonna have to fight my brain not to pick up Outlander 4 after but get done with Return instead. I have read a bit of Return everyday be it one word, sentence, page or chapter since starting Fitz books back in March and I’m only on pg 228.

In the Peanuts comic strip, there was an ongoing gag where a couple of Snoopy's cousins were forever traveling to try to visit their common relative, Spike.

They never made it, and I don't think you'll ever finish Return of the Crimson Guard 

 

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/peanuts/images/a/ab/19980217.gif/revision/latest?cb=20171025012829

Edited August 1, 2018 by TheOrlionThatComesBefore

[Who Sharded?]

10 hours ago, Ammanas said:

About 75% done with the first one and am liking it so far! Tad Williams always seem to have a very helpful synopsis in his books (after the first installment) so you could probably be able to figure it out. You have also got to read Shadowheart! I think the fourth book was the best in that series!

I think he's talking about the Diana Gabaldon series Outlander, not to be confused with Tad's Otherland

[Ammanas]

8 minutes ago, Who Sharded? said:

I think he's talking about the Diana Gabaldon series Outlander, not to be confused with Tad's Otherland

Read it wrong, Thanks! I just have Otherland on the brain!

[Briar King]

Yep Outlander. Season 4 is starting in November and I always read the book it covers   1st.

i hope I finish Return but yeah it hasn’t been a very successful 3rd attempt for sure.

[Briar King]

Help me keep the faith!!!

ride me if I say I pick up Outlander or Expanse 6 or Dresden 5 or My Teacher is an Alien!

[Ammanas]

B.k I say either finish RotCG or just admit defeat and say the book just isn't for you. I do love the Expanse, but that one (Babylons Ashes) is best read while events from the previous books are fresh on your mind...it draws on characters and past events from all five earlier books and really acts as a closing of a major arc in the series. Dresden is always light and a lot of fun as well!

Edited August 2, 2018 by Ammanas

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

@Briar King You can do it!

[Orlion Blight he/him]

@Briar King I'll believe it when I see it! 

[Briar King]

Hey atleast I read 30 pgs of Return last night which is wayyyyyy more progress I’d make each day reading Fitz.

i ll speed it up now

[Who Sharded?]

21 minutes ago, Briar King said:

Hey atleast I read 30 pgs of Return last night which is wayyyyyy more progress I’d make each day reading Fitz.

i ll speed it up now

Have you gotten past the princess stuff yet?  For me that was the weakest thread of the book, and I enjoyed the rest.  

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

1 hour ago, Who Sharded? said:

Have you gotten past the princess stuff yet?  For me that was the weakest thread of the book, and I enjoyed the rest.  

I may have actually erased that entire plot arc from my memory, so you are correct. Did it even have anything to do with... anything? I honestly can't recall.

[Briar King]

Ghelel? If that’s her then she just got to her “bodyguard” squad while she is undercover. Haven’t minded her yet.

Iron Bars just took out a Segulah.

[Who Sharded?]

29 minutes ago, officiumdefunctorum said:

I may have actually erased that entire plot arc from my memory, so you are correct. Did it even have anything to do with... anything? I honestly can't recall.

I don't recall the conclusion to the arc, but I think it wrapped up early and was basically forgotten about later in the book.

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

4 hours ago, Who Sharded? said:

I don't recall the conclusion to the arc, but I think it wrapped up early and was basically forgotten about later in the book.

It probably had some slight historical significance, and I think that party is involved during the 

Spoiler

siege at Li-Heng? At the battle where the empress bites it and Tayschrenn goes poof, in any case, I think. Maybe...

I honestly don't remember much of it at all. The later books where Shimmer and Co are actually doing stuff was much more interesting.

@Briar King Iron Bars is my favorite. <3

Edited August 2, 2018 by officiumdefunctorum

[Ammanas]

The Ghelel arc was alright for me. I think its kind of interesting how Esslemont gives us a macro and micro view of the rebellion. The audience can see a lot of the big effects of these actions, but perhaps the audience is asking, "how do they go about getting new rulers, in the various provinces and how do they adapt to having so much power thrust upon them?" 

The Ghelel arc answers both of these questions, but I feel like he has about thirty plot lines so its not a surprise that not every one works for everybody.

While we are on the topic of RotCG I though I would share a brief exerpt from the beginning in the attachment. I thought Esslemont did a really good job showing the loss of innocence of Kyle and what happens to every soldier. A nice bit of writing.

Edited August 2, 2018 by Ammanas

[Briar King]

See going smoothly now that it’s the only book I’m reading. Around pg 280.

[officiumdefunctorum she/her]

Stumbled across this link looking for good Ruin and Rake artwork (there isn't any). It is both funny and interesting to see how many tropes we manage to cover in this series.

https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Malazan_Book_of_the_Fallen