Ammanas

I would love to go to Australia! Unfortunately I am not in a financial position to do so and I have seen a few nature shows about the various spiders that live there...frankly they terrify me. Some of them look as big as Shelob!

Every time I want to reread a malazan book I think about it being over 800 pgs and the commitment that takes. I balance that with the list of books I have never read before, along with some awesome books I have read over five years ago and deserve another reread. Also there are continuing series that need to have the previous book reread in order to prepare for the new release. *Sigh* The trials of a Malazan fan...the third full reread will happen one of these days! At the very least I will reread Deadhouse Landing to prepare for Kellaved's reach in the early part of 2019.

Finished the Otherland series by Williams. It takes him a while to get to his series endings, but I think he writes some of the best that the fantasy genre can offer. He strikes a really good balance...so much happiness and some sadness as well. Very bittersweet. But I think it gives meaning to the happy endings knowing the price that was payed to achieve it. I think Tad Williams writes in such a way that you will either love or hate and to be honest I don't think I would be able to appreciate his books ten years ago. I've now read his Shadowmarch and his original three Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and have enjoyed all three series. I will probably read the new Osten Ard books in the early part of next year.

I just hope The Lost Metal will not join the Rithmatist sequel (The Azlatian? I think) as a book that is consistently being put on the back burner for more "important" books and series. That he will not jump to era 2 (I guess its era 3 right now since people couldn't wrap their minds around era 1.5) and say I will get to Lost Metal someday. I keep telling myself at least Brandon isn't a Rothfuss (approaching a decade and still not even able to write one book) but I digress...

There are some incredible aspects to this series and moments. This series really needs some serious editing though to eliminate the problems you mentioned and some plot lines. Really I think the entire series, if done how I envision it, could be six books. Never marry your editor! Or if you do find a new editor! It has always been denied, but I think that part of the problem with this series goes with his wife allowing a lot of the fluff in the series to remain. I also think Tor milking this series was also a factor. Still, I feel this time I will finally finish this series. Currently halfway through Crown of Swords.

High Hopes by Panic at the Disco

How can you not feel a little happier after hearing this song? I love it! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IPXIgEAGe4U

I just finished reading all three and thought they were light, breezy, and fun. It was a really unique idea and glad I read it. I think I enjoyed Snapshot a little more though. On a side note (I assume it was the publisher that made this decision) but I thought it was a real slimeball move to have the original two books come out as ebooks and instead of having the third one come out release day in the same format, they then force people to pay for the previous two stories all over again by purchasing the omnibus if they want to read the new story right away. I just came to the series a few days ago so if I have any information wrong about that than please correct me. Also I'm surprised there isn't more discussion about these stories. I would of thought more people would be on this thread. I thought the first story was the best.

Someone made a Malazan globe based on all the information we have. You have to click on the "there are pictures" comment a few down on the reddit page to see them all. https://www.tor.com/2018/09/24/malazan-book-of-the-fallen-world-map-globe-fan/

Maybe in the Elantris sequels!

I've been making my way through the Otherland series (currently on the last one). I've been taking some occasional breaks reading Port of Shadows (Glen Cook) and Bloody Rose (Eames); they were both good, but not as good as their predecessor(s). Currently reading the library book The Traitor God (Johnston) its ok; not the best, but not the worst book I've read. I also recently reread one of my favorite CAS short stories (The Colossus of Ylourgne) that anyone can read, legally, for free. http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/27/the-colossus-of-ylourgne I've been meaning to give the Stonewielder audiobook another listen, but am currently on a Wheel of Time audio read. This is seriously my third attempt and this time I started with the fourth book. I feel like Tad Williams has finally prepared me for Robert Jordan by focusing on Worldbuilding and characters rather than anything happening. There are still a ton of things that annoy me about WoT but I am listening at a blistering 1.8 speed so I can get through the annoying stuff rather quickly.

Have you read everything by Daniel Abraham (one of the writers of that series)? I especially liked his Dagger and Coin five book series. If you like Science Fiction I recommend The Culture Series by Banks. I would recommend reading the second book in the series (The Player of Games) first. I should of included these in my original post, but they just occurred to me.

Malazan, First Law Series, Gentleman Bastard Series, Black Company series, Expanse series, Dresden Files, Kings of the Wyld, Dandelion Dynasty trilogy, Five Warrior Angel Series, Riftwar Series (especially the original four)

We have a U.S. narrator for Skyward! Suzy Jackson...never heard of her, but she sounded ok from what I heard of her other books (based on a brief audible search).

Your poor Saints @Briar King! Perhaps they just had a off week, but I couldn't believe a Fitzpatrick lead offence was able to put 48 points on your defense.

I'm just curious; does he instantly regret saying something that is perhaps too spoilerish or is there other reasons why he doesn't want his responses transcribed verbatim?

That certainly takes a bit of getting used to! A lot of people prefer manuel, once they get the hang of it, because it makes driving more of a interactive experience (and less boring) but I always hated it. I have enough things to worry about, while driving, without having to preform a balancing act with my feet and trying to match the correct gear to the speed I wish to obtain. Best of luck learning something new!

One of my favorite up and coming authors (Brian Lee Durfee) is on a panel and posted a picture with him, others authors, and Brandon. I would be interested if anyone else has any news from the event. Anyways here's the picture from the previously mentioned authors Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/1651277654/posts/10211093230120588/

Were you learning to drive a manual transmission @Silverblade5?

According to Erikson, Ruthan Gudd will be addressed in Kharkanus but either he has forgotten about him or it will happen in the third Kharkanus book (if it ever gets published). Perhaps it will know be addressed in the Karsa books? I agree ths KoK is the weakest thing Esslemont has written. I just did a reread of RotCG and thought while it was a vast improvement, and had some great scenes, it still suffered from some pacing problems. I think Stonewielder is when he really finds his stride. Orb, Sceptre, Throne is all about the Segulah and will answer just about every question about them (including why some are pickled). Even if the original six Esslemont books are not for you still give Dancers Lament, Deadhouse Landing, and the upcoming Kellaveds Reach a chance. The author completely changed his prose and I have found them to be a real delight!

I've got a real first world problem on my hands right now...all of the library books I put a hold on became available at once and I don't believe I can finish them before due date; perhaps I can recheck them out.

@Slowswift I would of fine if they went two separate routes. 1. A history of the saints told in their own words such as journal entries etc. that were all primary sources that were compiled together. 2. A real history of the church, not the pale imitation they went for. I will list my personal problems for you. First of all the reading level. I get they want to make it accessible, but it has such simple grammer it is distracting; its basically at the point of, "See spot run. Spot runs fast". Also they went more for paraphrasing primary sources rather than including them which is frustrating. It says also that the purpose of the history was to "increase testimony" so while it briefly touches on some of the contriversal issues it doesn't really go into depth about it. I really like Bushman's Rough Stone Rolling and Turner's Pioneer Prophet. These were biographies that take a "warts and all approach" but I find ultimately helpful and helps me as a believer. These were complicated men that had many positive attributes, but had many flaws. One person approached Bushman after a lecture and told him, "thank you for giving me a Joseph Smith I can believe in". These fluff pieces that come out paint them in a unrealistic light that I find unbelievable and unsatisfying. I was also hoping for more explanations and commentary on events that really digs deep on certain issues, but that seems sparse as well. I am sure that a lot of people will be happy with this book, and it will find its audience, but it wasn't for me. I suppose, since that the volume at least acknowledges, some of the main tougher issues instead of covering it up it is a tiny, tiny step in the right direction. I have seen more encouraging signs with the publication of The Joseph Smith Papers and everything the Church had on The Mountain Meadows Massacre.

After taking a quick break to read Bloody Rose by Eames I am back to reading Mountain of Black Glass by Williams. I tried to read the new LDS history that the church produced called Saints: The Standard of Truth (the first of a planned four volumes). I found it to be highly disappointing on many levels and will be unable to finish it...what a missed opportunity. On next Tuesday everything will be dropped when a new Black Company book is released (Port of Shadows) by Glen Cook. Very excited!

How about both? Or another approach is that a gift is something that people should be grateful for no matter what it is. It's really more of the thought and rememberance that counts. As I try to teach my four year old, "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit."

If you continue to check the foreign audible sites be careful that you don't assume that the narrators will be the same. Often times they will have a different British narrator than the American release. I haven't checked on what seems to be the norm for Brandon though.