Ammanas

@hoiditthroughthegrapevine Does it have a good ending? Depends on what you're looking for. Is it conclusive or end in a cliff hanger? I think it ends fairly conclusive although there are some tantalizing hints on where the author could go with the sequel which picks up a decade or so later. The ending definitely wasn't happy. It was a pyrrhic victory in a lot of respects.

Isn't Merlin's reasoning to have technology so widespread so that if/when the angels return the genie can't be put back into the bottle? They have been mentioning that the angels can return anytime now back in book 5. You are further along, of course, are they still worried about that? I agree it sounds dumb, but if they are worried about that possible threat, as they were when it was first introduced, I can see the logic behind it. You dont want these powerful angels to focus all their attention on Charis, wipe that nation of the face of the earth, and have the entire war be for nothing. What would make the most sense is for Merlin to work on disabling the bombardment platform, but from what I understand thats not a priority. I personally would want to disable the giant guillotine hanging over my head, but that's just me.

The way I feel about David Weber is similar to how I feel about Robert Jordan. I think his editor needed to have a difficult conversation with him and say something like, "Listen, you're are a immense talent with many wonderful ideas but you are out of control right now. You spend countless pages on unnecessary details and plots that go nowhere. I am taking out 2/3 of your book that you submitted. Trust me it's for the best." Should finish Midst Toil and Tribulation tomorrow and then its onwards to Like a Mighty Army. Prince Nahrmahn is back! It's a little wierd and also a little cheap that a mainish character died but gets brought back but hey....I'm rolling with it and happy that the good guys have there best strategist back! Also really weird story about the audiobooks I found out. The new narrator is getting a lot of complaints about his performance. I looked it up and their best narrator Oliver Wyman (there are several) got fired by Weber and told he would never narrate his books again. Evidently he changed a key word in a sentence in book 9 (a prank gone wrong?) The author was very upset and him and Tor was on the phone immediately after he found out to get it fixed.

I feel like in Midst Toil and Tribulation they have spent most of the book talking about how to make their new iron clad riverboats work haha. Do you think there is more bloat than normal or have you forgotten what your getting into with a Weber novel?

Are you reading the hard cover or kindle? I ask because I read a review that said there were quite a few mistakes on the ecopy and was wondering if it was the same with the printed one.

So far my library doesn't have the downloadable audiobook of Through Fiery Trials and I am number 12 in line for the print book so you will probably still be able to read it before me unless they receive the audio copy. It's been my experience that there is a lot of repeating in the Weber books and I'm sure your memory will be refreshed as you read it. Hope you enjoy the latest book. It's release day! Edit: Just listened to the audio book sample and there is, surprising, a handy timeline of events that summarizes a lot of stuff.

Just barely started Midst Toil and Tribulation and that Siddarmark civil war looks like it got really ugly incredibly fast. Thought of this Malazan quote as I was hearing the atrocities on both sides being unleashed, "Discipline is the greatest weapon against the self-righteous. We must measure the virtue of our own controlled response when answering the atrocities of fanatics. And yet, let it not be claimed, in our own oratory of piety, that we are without our own fanatics; for the self-righteous breed wherever tradition holds, and most often when there exists the perception that tradition is under assault. Fanatics can be created as easily in an environment of moral decay (whether real or imagined) as in an environment of legitimate inequity or under the banner of a common cause. Discipline is as much facing the enemy within as the enemy before you; for without critical judgment, the weapon you wield delivers- and let us not be coy here- naught but murder. And its first victim is the moral probity of your cause.” Also, as a side note, can someone please curb stomp Zhaspahr Clyntahn? He is completely out of control and I get angry every time he opens his mouth. The last book was tough to read regarding the concentration camps and the suicide bombers. The good guys got their nose bloodied pretty good.

I think Glen Cook would make a great partner for Sanderson. Even though Cook's most recent book was meandering the vast majority of his books have really good plot advancement. I also think Paul Kearney is a excellent writer that could help make the Sanderson battle scenes more realistic and gritty. I will probably get some flak from fans rushing to his defence but, I think at times Sanderson shies away a bit from the horrors of war. Also Paul Kearney has by far the worst luck of any author I know in regards to publishers/rights and not getting the fame he deserves. It would be good for him to get some publicity for a Sanderson team up.

@hoiditthroughthegrapevine If you, or anyone else, is confused about the timeline or how the books all fit it with one another perhaps this will help: Edit- it doesn't include the new Esslemont trilogy, but its still helpful I think.

Don't know for how long but you can get Dancers Lament for $2.99 kindle and if you buy that you can add audible for $7.50. Also just thought of something. Perhaps Topper started out watching the imperial warren but after living by himself for so long in that horrible place he went Colonel Kurtz on everyone. Just a thought.

@hoiditthroughthegrapevine I have tried to read B and K, but it is the only malazan that I couldn't get into. One of the things I enjoy about malazan books is how it balances humor, horror, and action. The B and K (too me) is just too humor and feels off balanced. I'm glad you like them though :). Also if you like B and K you are in for a treat with Orb, Sceptre, Throne because they make a small appearance there. I believe you have the best three Esslemont books before you (of his original 6). Really enjoyed Stonewielder, Orb and Blood and Bone. If you like B and K novellas you would probably like his Willful Child books. From what I read of the beginning its the same type of humor except a little less dark.

@hoiditthroughthegrapevine I may have it all wrong, but perhaps Topper was thinking it was worth it to sacrifice a few pawns to capture lure in Cowl. Perhaps he didnt want to take a chance of people using the warren against the empire so he just killed everyone so that less and less would come; so there wouldn't be a chance of someone slipping through when he was engaged elsewhere. Perhaps someone has another answer. Also regarding Vorcans daughter. Its kind of confusing, but evidently she is half demonic. It is kind of explained in Orb, but I will copy and paste what another fan said: All of the T’orrud Cabal are demons, and were the servants of the Tyrant. The reason that they had worked to erase the Tyrant from history, and why they were instantly controlled by him as soon as he was released was because of this fact – while he was sealed, they could be free, but if he was released, they could not. In the well, there were a number of other sealed graves which were all broken from the inside – the number of graves matches that of the T’orrud Cabal. So it wasn’t just that they were powerful mages. Yes, going with this theory does make for some GotMisms, but the whole “what was the Tyrant in GotM when compared to the Tyrant in OST, and what explains the differences in their controlling ability” is a giant one already. Taya being half demon would mean that she has a human parent, while Vorcan is the demon half.

Do we ever find out the backstory for Kyle's companions The Lost, Staulker, Coots, and Badlands? Yes, but not in depth. They are all from the same place: Assail. I will let you read the books to figure out whats going on there he death scene where Laseen was killed was bit anticlimatic, was the assassin that got her Vorcan's daughter? Also, is it ever explained why she was only be partially human (there's the mention of here puddling into something vaguely inhuman after she is shot back into her warren after she was killed)? Yes it is Vorcans daughter and you will see her again in Orb, Sceptre, Throne. Dont remember anything about Laseen being inhuman. I will have to keep a eye out for that. Was it explained (and I just missed it) why Topper was off his nut, and decided to wander the Imperial Warren as Ragman? I thought he was hunting Cowl and was hoping that he would come that way. Perhaps he was hoping he would hear of the dissappearances and investigate Does anyone else hear Superintendent Chalmers from the Simpsons when they read the name Skinner? That was a first for me Is it ever explained why Osseric was being manipulated/controlled by the magus of the Spire? Cant remember, but I think the mage was more of a figurehead. Perhaps another fan could give a better answer. And also, he jumped into Kyle's sword when the flash of lightning took out his arm right? Yes Also, who was the figure that came down to the top of the hill redoubt after Heuk had called down Kurald Galain (the one Nait saw standing over the curled up form of Heuk (seems to be implied that it's a Tiste Andii, but don't know who))? Most people think Nait was mistaken and what he really saw was parts of Draconusses Soul emanating through Dragnipur, as foreboding his inevitable escape later on in Eriksons series.

@Briar King I think its official...I have a sickness because I can't stop listening to this series. I loved it when Charis brought out the exploding artillery shells (for the first time in that world) at the end of A Mighty Fortess. The wooden ships never had a chance! Just started How Firm a Foundation and the High Inquisitor just mentioned the spy with the code name of Harrison. Do we get to know the real name of that spy by the end of the book or will it be a while before we learn the true identity. My first thought was its really Merlin sending out real information in order to pull the rug out from under the group of four when it really matters and the stakes are high enough. Probably wrong about that though. It will be interesting with the new book that comes out Tuesday. Evidently it deals with the events over a 15 year span. All the books so far take place over a few months for each novel.

I liked it well enough, but still feel that City of Stairs and City of Blades was better. It's funny that Brandon criticized the opening to City of Stairs and praised the one to Foundryside because I felt the opposite. Foundryside opened with a thief on a "job" but personally I felt I had no reason to cheer for her because I didn't know her or the background of the situation. City of Stairs opened with a court proceeding and did a great job introducing the political climate and problems/tensions in the city. Perhaps I had too expectations because I will definitely read the next book and appreciated many of the directions he took with this book. The author has written several other books as well, but the description of them don't interest me despite my regard for him as a author.

Either Kindle has changed their file conversion or I have just recently figured out the best way to read White Sand and Aether on Kindle. Just send the docx file, that was given to you, it to your individual Kindle email account and it will automatically convert for you. Much better formatting results than the previous way. Recently sent a pdf file and it also turned out well. Not perfect, but still pretty good and a vast improvement on my earlier method. Here is the link https://www.amazon.com/gp/sendtokindle/email

Just received a advance reader copy of what might be my favorite ongoing series! After reading and loving the first book of the series I follow the author on Facebook. The author (Brian Durfee) which seems to be a nice chap, offered me a adavance copy in exchange for a honest review. I still am keeping my preorder on it because I want to support authors. Here is a picture of it (e-copy was sent):

I would keep a eye on the series and wait for it to be completed before starting it. Like another person said not much is resolved in this first season and its more of a long prologue than anything else. There are characters, humor and situations that come up that will remind you of Avatar only a lesser version of it. All in all I'm interested to see where it goes and don't feel that I wasted my time and yet I was hoping for a little more out of the show.

You probably already knew this, but according to the 2015 postscript to Elantris Hrathen's character grew out of his experience as a Mormon missionary. It is debatable what he means by this, but I think I know what he means and can say (from my own personal experience) that he really nails some aspects from that. Everyone's world views and experience may differ though. Elantris and Warbreaker feel like Sanderson's most unique books. Sure it doesn't have the glitz, glam and polish of other series, but I still love it despite the flaws.

@Briar King Since I am doing the audiobooks the info dumps, while annoying, aren't nearly has bad if I was reading it. I am listening on 1.6 speed too which really makes it fly by the slow parts. You were right about when it moves it really moves. Reading this series is kind of like the experience of a prospector mining for gold on a river a lot of sifting through sand, but every once in a while you find a gold nugget and makes it worth it. I loved the battle scenes in book 3 where the break out not only their advanced muskets and artillery, but also their tactics with two man sniper teams that target officers. Also loved Merlin traveling at Mach 5 to rescue the Empress. Also when they break out the new socket/ring bayonets that can still fire into the cavalry charge; it completely took the commander by surprise...I just started pumping my fist in the air. Take that group of 4!

@Briar King Just started A Mighty Fortress. Mixed feelings about the series, but overall there's just something that keeps pulling me back in. I saw that the plan for Weber is 5 more books in the series of building up technology and three that deal with the Gbaba. That means 9 published at the moment and (assuming everything goes well) 8 more books to go. Just to echo your thoughts B.K this will probably be my only Weber series that I will read.

The Dragon Prince created by the people who did Avatar the Last Airbender. It's pretty fun so far, but has some definite flaws. A far cry from The Last Airbender, but at least it has more direction than most of Korra; even if the direction is simple (get the last dragon egg where it needs to be). I'm two episodes from the finale of what they've got out at the moment.

This article was the only time I've seen it mentioned. The source you provided was new to me.

@SoranaI found what I was looking for! I was also wrong about it being cowritten by a mom but you can see the part I didn't remember correctly Other than that? Harry’s daughter Maggie might end up with her own series of YA novels, a sort of Dresden Hogwarts. The premise is simple, “What if there really are monsters under the bed that we forget about when we grow up? And they’re all at this school, and the kids have to fight them?” It will be loosely based off of the experience of Butcher’s sister … mostly her six kids who all go to Catholic school. Basically, this place would be a boarding school, where Maggie would spend summer with her dad, and be “away at school, where they think it’s safer.” As Maggie suffers from a lot of social anxieties, “Mouse would act as her service dog. Though Maggie is perfectly fine when everything’s on fire and people are screaming. It’s her superpower.” https://thecatholicgeeks.com/2016/09/13/6492/

I gave it some thought and I believe what I was thinking about is a series that he mentioned in the past, but haven't heard about for awhile. He has said he wants to write a series of books where Harry's daughter goes to some magical school and has adventures there with Mouse. He also said that he doesn't know much about little girls so he wants to either cowrite or consult with some mom that he knows. I think I read about it during a Butcher Q and A outside of his official site, but can't remember where exactly.