I’m only 8 chapters in, and I’m completely hooked. This is some excellent character work. I’ve heard that this book is much more about setting up characters than plot progression, and if that’s the case I’m just delighted! The three POV characters are so distinct and I can feel them breathing already.
Listening to the audiobook, btw, and the narrator is great.
I finished the final empire a week ago and gave it three stars. The story was good I just didn’t feel attached to any of the characters. At points they just felt like robots moving through the plot. This is my first time reading Sanderson and he’s got all this hype and so many recommendations from not only the internet but my friends as well. Fast forward a week later and I am trudging through the well of ascension. I have finished Part 1 and just am not pulled into this book.
For some additional context. At the end of last year I read the Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee and I loved it. I was crying all the way through felt super attached to these characters in this incredible world. I feel like I have been chasing this high ever since which is what led me to Brandon Sanderson. He has such a good reputation that I figured this would be a great transition.
I feel like I’m doing something wrong with this series since it is so beloved. Is there something I am missing? Should I try a …
So I’m sure most people on this sub are familiar with Kingkiller Chronicle and the disappointment about the series (probably) never getting finished. It’s a particular shame because those novels had so many unresolved plot threads and intriguing clues that now lead… nowhere.
But I’m here to tell you there is another book series that delivers everything that Kingkiller Chronicle promised, and wraps it all up satisfyingly in two books, and it was finished several years before The Name of the Wind was first published.
It’s The Wizard Knight duology by Gene Wolfe!
Just like Name of the Wind, The Wizard Knight is about a poor hero wandering around the world and gradually becoming a legend. It has the protagonist looking back in his middle age and telling the story. And it has lots of clues hidden in the frame narrative that gradually reveal the lore behind the world. It has dragons, wizards and kings.
It even has a magical fairy who teaches the protagonist …
EDIT: Please add your reasoning for why you would choose your authors, and if you like, add a good book to start with from that author or your favorite book by them.
For me it’s Patricia McKillip currently, and Clive Barker. But I’m looking for more!
If so, I wanna know! And if you’ve now read the first and next volumes, what did you think? Did they live up to your initial excitement? Library loans count too!
(Last night I got to about the fourth chapter in Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire and immediately preordered the next book. I’ve also done this with Leo Carew’s The Wolf—probably my second fave fantasy trilogy ever, so that one went above my expectations.)
ETA I should not have asked this before work bc now I just want to read all your answers instead of do my job!
I recently came across a twitter thread (I refuse to say X) where someone went on and on about a how brilliant a book Atlas Shrugged is. As an avid book reader, I’d definitely heard of this book but knew little about it. I would officially like to say eff you to the person who suggested it and eff you to Ayn Rand who I seriously believe is a sociopath.
And it gives me a good deal of satisfaction knowing this person ended up relying on social security. Her writing is not good and she seems like she was a horrible person… I mean, no character in this book shows any emotion - it’s disturbing and to me shows a reflection of the writer, I truly think she experienced little emotion or empathy and was a sociopath….
ETA: Maybe it was a blessing reading this, as any politician who quotes her as an inspiration will immediately be met with skepticism by myself… This person is effed up… I don’t know what happened to her as a child but I …
What innocuous and unimportant detail have you read in an otherwise decent book that just immediately turned you off from it, despite it having no real effect on the plot or characters? Mine is when I was reading The Assassin’s Blade and the main character makes note (more than once) of how a black asp is dangerous because it might be “poisonous”. Girl are you planning on eating it? It’s a stupid pet peeve I know and I wouldn’t shit on the book over something so small, but for me personally that one little word pretty much instantly changed how much I was enjoying the book. What are more inconsequential tidbits from books that just bothered people for no good reason?
Was reading this romance book, “ The one with the kiss cam” and actually was enjoying it. FMC was having a failed date with a dud she wasnt vibing with. Said dud then wraps his hand around her shoulders and the fmc feels creeped out and has her flight or fight response triggered. As someone who doesnt like to be touched either by strangers, it kinda melted me, especially with the main lead saving her. Oh also disclosure, this was in a packed stadium and the fmc’s monologue does say she felt the failed date wasnt really creepy but more touchy and not her type. but let’s scrap that, point is boundaries here right??
well anyway they crash a wedding party and blah blah blah and the male lead is taken away by mother of the groom for a dance. And she’s touching his butt, repeatedly. so much so the guy has to shift the lady’s hands up north again and again. it’s also established she’s drunk BUT has been dancing with any single or married young …
The other day, I ate a (legal where I live) THC gummy and decided to start reading The Lord of the Rings while I waited for it to kick in. I guess I hadn’t had much to eat that day because the effects started rather quickly, and I was pretty much stoned before getting to the end of Tolkien’s forward.
My original intent wasn’t to read while high, but I guess it kind of snuck up on me. And what a strange difference it made- I was so engrossed in the story that I felt like I was there at the birthday party. I think I read a lot more closely, and slowly, than I would normally. There were a couple of times I had to re-read a passage after getting distracted, but in the main I paid more attention than I have in the past. Things like word choice and phrasing really stood out to me.
The book seemed even more epic than it normally does too. I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve read the LOTR so many times that I miss most of the detail nowadays or …
Hello! Have you ever read a book you disliked so immensely, you do not plan to ever read another book by the same author? Even if it is widely loved, recommended lots and/or critically acclaimed?
For me, that book was The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. Most people I know absolutely love this and it is one of their all time favourites. Personally, I strongly disliked it and could not find anything positive about it except for the general idea for the plot (execution was terrible though). It was neither plot nor character driven, because simply there was no character or plot. And don‘t get me started on the need for an editor, as absolutely nothing happened except for the very beginning and end (and the book was far too long for that). I am happy so many people love this book (although I am unsure whether we read the same book?) but personally do not plan the read any of the author‘s other books.
I’ve been on reddit since 2010, and to be honest, I only subscribe to maybe 3 active subs the last few years: this one, tomclancy (books), and Xboxseriesx. There’s not an active techno thriller sub or I’d probably be in there too.
The sub is made up of humans and humans are imperfect, but as for reddit, this is one of the least hostile and most welcoming places I can think of. It’s always filled with relaxed mods, good content, friendly folks willing to give suggestions, and the occasional famous author shows up to shitpost a bit.
I really like this sub and appreciate the recommendations over the years. Sure, there’s a little bit of drama now and then over a hot take on Hyperion or something (I’m guilt as charged for that one), but even then, the drama is so tame compared to idk, Instagram, Facebook, the default subs on reddit, etc.
Currently reading the Murderbot book 1. Hope y’all have a good night and I know there’s a ton of euros, so I’m sure I’ll wake up to a handful of …
Hand it over! Top 5 overall. Top 5 hard SF. Top 5 first contact. Top 5 in the last 10 years. Top 5 Golden Age. Top 5 from a particular series, Top 5 featuring a sassy sidekick name Steven.
No particular oorder necessary. One or all of the above, or whatever Top 5 you feel like making.
Overall for myself and I: 1. Player of Games 2. A Fire Upon the Deep 3. Judas Unchained 4. House of Suns 5. Cosmonaught Keep
Special mentions to The Algebraist, 3 Body Series, Cowl, Sun Eater Series, and the Interdependency Series.
I’m a sucker for bleak and depressing stories. Melancholia is one of my favorite moves and The Thing is a masterpiece. Are there any good books out there that capture this feeling. The good guys don’t win and all hope is lost. I’m looking a space opera or military sci fi rather than post apocalypse.
Lonesome Dove is a one of a kind book With incredible depth of character, tragedy, and adventure. With that out of the way, what sci fi book would you recommend that most closely resembles LD?