Ireth
Myth Weaver
Yes, yes I do. Unfortunately I have no idea if the library in my small town would have it, since the one near my old house in the big city didn't. :/ And I can't afford to buy it.
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What are you Reading Now?
- Thread starter Mythopoet
- Start date
Yes, yes I do. Unfortunately I have no idea if the library in my small town would have it, since the one near my old house in the big city didn't. :/ And I can't afford to buy it.
BronzeOracle
Sage
Its definitely worth finishing Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, though the last book is long.
Do any second hand book stores have it in your town or a nearby city? I bought the series from my local second hand store and it was very cheap.
Do any second hand book stores have it in your town or a nearby city? I bought the series from my local second hand store and it was very cheap.
BronzeOracle
Sage
Also is your library part of a larger library network? Can they bring in the book from another library? I've managed to get books from other libraries in the state here that I couldn't get locally.
After hearing so many great things from the members here, I'm finally reading:
The Lies of Locke Lamora
The Lies of Locke Lamora
- Thread starter
- #225
Mythopoet
Auror
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what I had to do to get that book. Most libraries can also temporarily borrow books from other library networks through an inter-library loan. I used to do that a lot.
Ireth
Myth Weaver
I tried that in the city, but the book wasn't even in the system. Kinda doubt my small-town library is part of a larger network. Though I guess it wouldn't hurt to at least ask.
Incanus
Auror
Absolutely. Knowing that JRRT has read this stuff, I think I can now see that he got his ideas for 'The Music of the Ainur' and possibly the concept of the 'straight road' from Dunsany. I've long loved those Tolkien elements and thought he had invented them whole-cloth. Still, he elaborated and expanded on them quite a bit.
Funny thing is, I read 'The King of Elfland's Daughter' around twenty years ago and thought it was just so-so at the time. I think these little compiled works about gods is where its at. But, I'm going to have to check out tKoED again. Maybe I'll appreciate it more this time.
- Thread starter
- #228
Mythopoet
Auror
I really enjoyed The King of Elfland's Daughter. But it's definitely different from his other stuff. I strongly recommend reading all of his short story collections. A Dreamer's Tales was one of my favorites. And if you haven't yet, seek out Lovecraft's Dream Cycle stories, which were heavily inspired by Dunsany. They're less horror and more fantasy than the Cthulhu Mythos stories. The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath was amazing.
droiditbook303
Acolyte
I'm currently about halfway through with N. K. Jeminsin's "The Killing Moon". It's a really interesting read as she generally writes very atypical fantasy stories. I really loved her first major book, "Hundred Thousand Kingdoms", too. "The Killing Moon" is set in an ancient Egyptian inspired world and is almost a mystery/political thriller novel. It's a bit of a hard read because the names aren't Western-inspired and the culture is very different from what you normally read about. That's probably why I like it do much. Plus it's only about 400ish pages which is a reversing relief from the 1000+ pages of "Words of Radiance" I read before this one.
Incanus
Auror
Aside from the three I mentioned, I've read The Book of Wonder as well. I'll have to get to A Dreamer's Tales for sure. And I think Book of Wonder has a sequel.
As far as Lovecraft goes, I'm already a huge fan. In fact the novella I just completed this last weekend was influenced more by Unknown Kadath than anything--mixed with some 'Vance-ian' mechanisms as well. Instead of a dream world, though, its an alternate dimension.
And then there is my other fairly recent discovery: Clark Ashton Smith. It's nothing short of a crime he's not more well known.
- Thread starter
- #231
Mythopoet
Auror
I actually don't like Clark Ashton Smith much. His stories, in my opinion, are vastly inferior to his contemporaries. I've read more than a few and tried to read the Zothique stories in particular, but I only enjoyed maybe 2 or 3. I just don't think he explores his subject matter very effectively and his writing is far more tedious to slog through than others writing in a similar vein.
I am just starting to get into Jack Vance. I've only read "The Dying Earth" so far, but I loved it. Can't wait to dig into more of his work.
Incanus
Auror
Ah, yes. You certainly should read the other three Dying Earth books. They are:
Eyes of the Overworld
Cugel's Saga
Rhialto the Marvelous
I love them all, but I think 2 and 3 are my favs (Eyes, and Cugel). So entertaining.
I suppose I should mention my non-fiction book I'm currently on as well: The Hundred Years War by Desmond Seward. Not very far into this yet, but I like the writing style so far.
Eyes of the Overworld
Cugel's Saga
Rhialto the Marvelous
I love them all, but I think 2 and 3 are my favs (Eyes, and Cugel). So entertaining.
I suppose I should mention my non-fiction book I'm currently on as well: The Hundred Years War by Desmond Seward. Not very far into this yet, but I like the writing style so far.
- Thread starter
- #233
Mythopoet
Auror
Yeah, I actually have an omnibus of the Dying Earth stories. I just have so many books I want to read I haven't gotten to the others yet.
Incanus
Auror
I think I have the same one. Mine has an inappropriate 'sci-fi'-looking city on the cover. And goodness, I can relate to having a lot to read. I'm sure I have about 40-50 books on my shelves that I haven't yet gotten to. And yet I still add to them!
- Thread starter
- #235
Mythopoet
Auror
Yep, same one. Now I'm getting the urge to dive back into it once I'm finished with my current read.
- Thread starter
- #236
Mythopoet
Auror
Well, last night I finished book 2 (Dark Currents) in Lindsey Buroker's Emperor's Edge fantasy series. She offers book one (The Emperor's Edge) for free in ebook form and I had downloaded it maybe a year ago with the intention of trying it out eventually since I love her blog. I finally got around to starting it about a week ago and was immediately hooked. I moved onto book 2 right away and loved it even more. I've already started book 3. This series is just fantastic. She calls the books "High fantasy set in a world of steam". Apparently at the time of writing them she didn't really know about the steampunk genre, and I wouldn't technically call these steampunk, but the setting is very similar. But it's more like if the roman empire when through the industrial revolution. (Neat, right?) But while the setting and the action are great, I'd say Lindsey's greatest strength is her characterization. The books feature an amazing female lead. I don't think I've ever come across a more effective female lead before in western storytelling. (I say it that way because I watch a lot of anime, where good female leads are more common.) But all the characters are unique and compelling, especially the assassin Sicarius. I don't think I've ever liked an assassin character so much. Anyway, I strongly recommend these books. And I also recommend Lindsey Buroker as a great example of how to make a viable career out of indie publishing by building a devoted fanbase. I was already a fan of her blog, but now I'm also an enthusiastic fan of her work.
skrite
Scribe
I'm reading "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"
I am really enjoying it. It is written for about the same age range as my target audience.
I am really enjoying it. It is written for about the same age range as my target audience.
Incanus
Auror
Well, I have just ended my strict diet of short stories (and novelettes, and novellas). Since that was what I had been writing, it was appropriate fare, but I'll be moving into preparation for my first novel (after some editing) soon.
So, for reading my first novel in a long time, I wanted: A) something not too huge; B) something I hadn't yet read; C) something that had a really good chance of my enjoying it.
I think I made a good choice: Tehanu by Ursula K. LeGuin
I already love the Earthsea Trilogy, but just hadn't gotten around to this one yet. I'm only just starting, but so far, so good. I really enjoy reading her. Her writing has an efficiency, and an ineffable earthy quality to it, that I just love.
So, for reading my first novel in a long time, I wanted: A) something not too huge; B) something I hadn't yet read; C) something that had a really good chance of my enjoying it.
I think I made a good choice: Tehanu by Ursula K. LeGuin
I already love the Earthsea Trilogy, but just hadn't gotten around to this one yet. I'm only just starting, but so far, so good. I really enjoy reading her. Her writing has an efficiency, and an ineffable earthy quality to it, that I just love.
Tom
Istar
I just borrowed Patrick Rothfuss' Name of the Wind from the library. I'm kind of apprehensive about starting it, as it clocks in at an intimidating 662 pages. Not sure I'll be able to read it during Camp NaNo!
Hey, what do you guys think of The Name of the Wind, or Patrick Rothfuss' writing in general?
Hey, what do you guys think of The Name of the Wind, or Patrick Rothfuss' writing in general?
Incanus
Auror
I tackled that one (^^^) about a year ago, or so. [No spoilers here]. In my opinion, The Name of the Wind started off pretty well, but eventually got to be rather tedious. The most curious feature I noticed was the use of both third-person and first-person POV (thought mostly first-person). It's strange--although I think he successfully pulled this off, it didn't really seem ultimately necessary. And while I don't dislike first-person at all, I don't think long, or epic, stories are the right place for it. The prose itself was pretty good for the most part, but the thing was far too long--if it were my story, I'd cut it down to about half its length. I probably won't read the next books in the series, unless I get really hard up for something to read (which is not likely).
