https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tavPnYeFrV4
And I haven’t been this excited about a fantasy CRPG since Pillars of Eternity. So what is BG3, if you’re a curious outsider – or indeed a gaming enthusiast who has somehow missed all the hype, 2+ years of Early Access, and that bear scene? It’s a sprawling turn-based role-playing game based on D&D5e that lets you play either as a completely custom character or a pre-made Origin companion – one of those you’d otherwise meet and recruit during the game. You start off in the depths of the Abyss on an interdimensional mind flayer ship with a parasitic tadpole stuffed inside your brain, and things generally go downhill from there (ceremorphosis is not a joke, Jim). The ship eventually crashes somewhere around the city of Baldur’s Gate, and your ragtag band of infected misfits sets off on an adventure of a lifetime brimming with exploration, memorable encounters, dubious wizardry, goblin debauchery and pesky …
Especially books where magic is a big thing, where a lot of action happens, fantastical things happen, animation seems like the format that would allow you to do all of those things. Think of the avatar animated series. Now imagine if it was changed to live action series and the tv series had to copy and reproduce all that was seen on the animated series. No cutting things out. Some single episodes would require more cgi and special effects or perhaps stunts than many other fantasy tv series have budgeted for the entire seasion.
Disney/pixar is already doing their own fantasy movies/series but instead of adapting from classic fantasy books they choose to go with their own stories. I would love to have an animated series with something like Artemis Fowl for example. Its for a younger audience so it would fit pixar/disney. They did this with star wars, but thats it pretty much.
What fantasy book or series would you want to have adapted into an animated show?
While I’ve played many games that focus on dwarfs (dwarf fortress, deep rock galactic, etc), I’ve never read or even seen a book with a dwarf main character other than The Hobbit and LotR (although I dont think Gimli really qualifies for what I mean by ‘the main character’). I’m sure some must exist, but they seem much more rare than stories centred around elves, humans, or other races. Do dwarfs keep getting relegated to side or background characters or have I just not read enough books?
I know it’s all subjective, just curious to see what you all think.
Been listening to Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay and man can this guy write a sentence. Fantastic audiobook narrator too.
I was listening to The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams a few days ago and I found his prose a little bloated for my taste, but I could see how he’d be a contender too for a lot of people. His writing style reminded me of Mervyn Peake, who would definitely be up there for me.
She didn’t write a ton of fantasy, but Ursula Le Guin had incredible clear, sharp prose. Kind of the opposite of my other favorites because she cuts down a lot of thoughts into short sentences. Almost like poetry. I think if I had to name a favorite just based on prose it would be her.
I’m not super familiar with modern authors, so I’m sure I’m leaving dozens of incredible writers out.
Whose prose do you like the best?
“True art was more than beauty; it was more than technique. It was not just imitation. It was boldness, it was contrast, it was subtlety.”
The human soul is not a mere wisp that grants us life. An object is not something that can be casually molded into whatever you please. Art is not simply painting on a blank canvas. No person is of one emotion or desire; no art is of one thought; no object is of one process. These are dense thickets with branches and twisting masses of vegetation. Shai is no different. Gaotona isn’t. Ashravan isn’t.
I am blown away by the degree of depth and beautiful storytelling in a book that’s only 100 pages long. Everything in Shai’s story captivated me at every point. The prose was spectacular in describing the soul, passion, the deep intricacies of art and emotions. Forgery is easily one of the best magic systems I’ve seen. Not just because of the magic itself, but due to its Connections to the novella’s themes …
While reading what is by far the most wholesome chapter in this book, this sentence comes out of no where and immediately made me feel physically funny in my stomach. Such an impactful book, one of my favourites.
And Gage who now only had less than two months to live, laughed shrilly and joyously ‘kite flyne! kite flyne, Daddy!’
Gabriel Garcia Marquez pulls an insane finesse in writing to show the passage of time so beautifully and it makes the book feel so special and unique
The plot of the book might not be the best but the way it’s written and everything is described is just otherworldly. Makes you feel like a hundred years has gone by in 300 pages
I first read Neuromancer back in 2007. I was running a yard sale that day. By the time the sale was over I’d read half the book. To this day I find myself stopping and thinking about Gibson’s masterpiece. There isn’t anything else like it in SF. There are imitators. But they all feel stock in comparison. Both in ideas and prose. Gibson is one of the best prose stylists in the genre. This isn’t a beach read. It rewards you for taking your time. Taking in each passage sentence by sentence.
Hidden are little moments scattered through the book. Making each read a new experience. If you try to rush? Most will find themselves lost. I’ve seen plenty complain online that Gibson’s writing is tough. Neuromancer is a true third mind reading experience. Two minds coming together and bridging for ideas both large and small.
This read I took the time to savor the book. I’m 35. The weird spot where I’m not old or young. It’s sunk in how often …
I read this book as it’s often recommended. Honestly, I don’t understand why it’s so popular!
I’m not ranting or looking for an argument. Clearly many people really enjoyed it.
I’m just curious - what made you enjoy it so much if you did?
For Peter: Take a shot every time you stumble upon the words “Enzyme Bonded Concrete” or “Polyp”
For Alastair: Take a shot every time you stumble upon the words “Piston” or “Spindle”
Enjoy getting wasted. :D
EDIT: Comments are pure gold, I haven’t laughed this much in a long time. Thanks everyone for amazing contributions <3
And I want all that time back. It’s nothing but one repetitive and predictable set piece after another. It starts out dumb, and it just keeps getting dumber and dumber, and by the time I quit it was practically drooling. I do not care how it ends. I hate everybody who ever recommended this stupid metastasized mass of mediocrity. I curse the author and wish nothing but ill on their editor, in the unlikely event that there ever was one. I envy illiterates now. My copy is going into the trash, not into the neighborhood’s little library.
It would take another 900 pages to describe everything wrong with this literal ream of junk writing, so I’ll only mention some of the worst points:
The sex scenes are among the cringiest ever put on paper.
Aliens communicate via scents, and this somehow works through pressure suits or in vacuum.
The protagonist gets infected as a result of bad decision-making and protocol violation, yet never had remorse over her own initial responsibility in …
I’m an archaeologist and alien-themed archaeology is a bit of a guilty pleasure. I’ve just finished revelation space which did a pretty good job of exploring this early on, but quickly abandoned it as a theme. There was also some interesting stuff in absolution gap, but the archaeological elements were only ever superficial, so I’m looking for books that capture that cool science fiction sense of discovery with a focus on excavating and studying extinct ancient alien cultures.
Very exciting news: it’s incredibly rare that science fiction gets the nod from the UK’s most prestigious literary award.
It’s especially good because this is a work of experimental, avant garde sci fi, the sort of which doesn’t really get that much attention, even within the SF fandom.
It’s a really wonderful book: I read it earlier this year. Highly recommend it.
Edit: Someone asked about the book, soo….
It’s similar in style to his other novels: it’s a very slow, lyrical, character-driven book shot through with weird science fiction elements. It gets stranger and stranger as it progresses, and the end is just…. very unique.
It’s about a marine biologist who, throughout the course of the novel, travels from the deepest trenches of earth to the very edge of the solar system. It’s about the smallest things - cells and DNA and family life - and the biggest of things - galaxies and evolution and deep time.
The …
A couple of years ago I saw Hugh Jackman at a Cafe. Everyone else was just leaving him alone and I did the same. He sat down at the table next to me and I couldn’t help it and nicely said Hi to him and told him that I was a big fan of his work. He replied thanks and asked me what my favourite film of his was. I said The Prestige and he said that was one of his favourites as well. And then for about 15 minutes we talked in depth about The Prestige, the ending, what it was like to be directed by Nolan, what pre-production was like and his rehearsals with Nolan/Bale, what reading the script was like and how mesmerised he was in Bale’s process during the filming of the movie.
It was awesome to just talk about one of my favourites movies with Hugh Jackman. Have any of you had a similar experience with an actor about one of their movies?
Here are some I know
Harry Potter not casting a spell in The Sorcerer’s Stone
A World Away stars Rowan Blanchard and her sister Carmen Blanchard, who don’t play siblings in the movie
The actor who plays Wedge Antilles is Ewan McGregor’s (Obi Wan Kenobi) uncle
The Scorpion King uses real killer ants
At the 46 minute mark of Hercules, Hades says “It’s only halftime” referencing the halfway point of the movie which is 92 minutes long