unJon

Just finished Disquiet Gods by Christopher Ruocchio, book 6 (of a planned 7) of the Sun Eater series. I almost gave up on this series, which I thought was going to be a trilogy when I started. The series got very bogged down in the middle, and the main character / narrator annoys me. That said, this book was my favorite of the series and a really pick up after the last couple. Things finally started to happen again and a lot of plot points finally came together. It’s still not a perfect series but I am excited for book 7 and the series conclusion. The books are sort of a Dune and Star Wars influenced sci fi series. ETA: this Reddit poster is pretty close to me on these books. Reddit page

So I feel old. I’m on Amazon and I see a book by James SA Corey. I remember they have a new SiFi series coming out and I get excited and buy it. It turns out it was a 30 something page short story. It was good but I was surprised when I went to turn the virtual page and it was over! Fun story though. It’s called How it Unfolds. Apparently part of a collection called the Far Reaches, but I bought it standalone on kindle.

I’ve never read the KJA books. Read a wiki summary of the plot and it was awful.

Great to see you here!

Yes fair. I read as an adult (and never read Covenant). If you like Tchaikovsky try his space opera series starting with Shards of Earth. It does not have that bleakness. Have you read The Three Body Problem and its sequels? I found mind blowing (second book was my favorite). I also enjoyed the Neal Asher polity books, but he isn’t loved on this board because of his politics (which impact his books for sure). I thought the Dark Intelligence series was great, but hard to start there as there is a lot of history you need for context.

What you are looking for is The Gap Cycle by Stephen Donaldson.

A few items. Absolutely loved The City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky. That guy writes so many different types of books. These are two of my favs of his. Think fantasy not sci-fi. Thank you to those that recommended them in these threads. Also just finished Seth Dickenson’s Exordia. I thought I was going to love it. Ended up liking it. There are some really interesting ideas mixed up in the book, which I enjoyed. And some interesting Bakker-esque philosophy, but in a good way, not a grim dark navel gazing way. I thought it was a stand alone when I started it, but it seems to me to be the start of a series or at least in need of a sequel. Anyone know?

No weepers on the Slog!

It gets easier to follow. It also gets very much grimmer and darker. But mostly that’s the second trilogy.

I enjoyed the latest KJ Parker trilogy (Saevus Corvax). While it was more of the same with his protagonist (too clever by half sympathetic sociopath archetype) I thought the trilogy overall had emotional impact and depth that some of his recent works lacked. I still yearn for the high points of Folding Knife and Sharps, or the insane twists of Belly of the Bow or The Hammer, but this latest was a local high point for me. Recommended for fans of his work.

I just finished The Thursday Murder Club series. Really enjoyable. A group of elderly living in a retirement community solve murders. Some great characters and moving moments. Some of the plot is a little too cute, but overall I recommend to folk that enjoy this genre.

I recommend going to Noble House right after Tai Pan.

I thought he died before he could finish?

Put it in the 4th quarter thread

Just bought three of the books in here. Thanks!

I just finished House of Odysseus by Claire North, book 2 in her Songs of Penelope trilogy. I have found North to be very hit or miss since her amazing debut novel The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. That said I have really enjoyed these first two Penelope books. It tells the story of Penelope while Odysseus is lost at sea after the Trojan war, with a goddess narrating the book (Hera the first books and Aphrodite the second). Great focus on how a smart and strong woman Queen can get by and thrive in an island with very few adult men (since they all went off to Troy and haven’t come back). I would recommend for anyone that enjoys Greek myths or the characters from the Iliad/Odyssey.

I just finished Dogs of War, which I loved. And now I see there is a sequel, Bear Head, so I am diving into that.

Agreed but I can’t imagine it will matter. It is interesting he’s teasing a follow up MMA battle. I’m super skeptical that’s anything but building up the hype for the boxing match. Man tonight’s UFC card is one of the weaker PPVs I can remember.

No sobbers on the Slog!

That may be right. As a rule I stay out of the General Chatter subforum.

All good. I was just making a joke, not meaning to personally attack you. Bakker once before posted under an alias incognito here and he does have a history of bashing “toxic fandom”. I considered doubling down on your perceived persecution by me and post something about my schadenfreude in upsetting people that get schadenfreude from Rothfuss fans getting upset. But it felt too meta and mean spirited (if it was only one of those things I probably would have, but both together would have made it a cardinal sin). There are like 20 Bakker threads on this board. Almost always one “active.” You should feel free to dive in!

I was confused how you felt that being compared to an excellent author was a personal insult.

Are these questions meant to be mutually exclusive?

Why is R Scott Bakker posting in the Rothfuss thread?

I read these books so long ago but remember loving the series. BoT was my fav. Third book was jarring but worked in hindsight after reading book 4 (and I agree with whoever said book 4 was a mindf@ck).