Underfoot

Finally finished He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan, and it was a big step down for me vs. She Who Became The Sun. It seemed to wallow too much in the feelings and decisions of truly awful people, and was a little too "told not shown" when it came to certain themes along gender lines, trauma lines, etc. 

I went back and forth on if Zhu Yuanzhang's portions were engaging or not, as major plot points were really hit or miss for me on the believability and execution scale, but any time spent with Wang Biaoxang or Madame Zhang were just a really bad time. 

There was also too much disturbing sexual scenes, that weren't quite like sexual violence but were distinctly uncomfortable nontheless. 

Just very little about it was enjoyable, and the characters and plot didn't grip me the way SWBtS did. Disappointing. 

Next up: Parable of the Sower I think. 

20 hours ago, House Cambodia said:

So does "dystopian" fit the description, or is there a subgenre I could use (maybe I invented it)? Can you suggest a book or movie that this scenario reminds you of?

 

Thanks for any feedback.

 

You can set the genre as Underfoot's Waking Nightmares because I dread this exact scenario every single day. 

What was Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower categorized as? I haven't read it (yet, it's sitting on the bookshelf next to me as we speak waiting for me to finish He Who Drowned the World), but it sounds quite similar premise-wise. 

The premise of Elsbeth is getting a pretty stale. Who thought this was a sustainable structure for a crime show? Or is it supposed to be more of a comedy? 

Minor spoilers on episode structure in the spoiler box

Don't worry everyone, last night I dreamed Biden beat Trump in November. It was close but he pulled it off. I think we're gonna be okay. 

Watched the first episode of Elsbeth and yes this world is maybe overworked a bit but she was always my favorite guest. It worked tbh. The initial set up was interestingly done, there were good dynamics between all the characters, and the serial aspect of introduced at the end is a solid hook. Definitely on my weekly watch list. 

I read the Kings of Paradise trilogy by Richard Nell and it mostly worked for me. The first book was really difficult as you have to learn that yeah, there's not really anyone to root for precisely, and the world building took a bit to click for me. Ultimately I enjoyed the bulk of it; a very different type of fantasy world with a very different type of magic and some interesting character work. The end was little weird and some of the character fates felt a little loosely tied up - with so much attention given to Ruka in the final book, there wasn't much room for much else. 

I also read She Who Became the Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan in less than 24 hours this weekend. SO engrossing. I had read (or thought I read) that it was really bleak/depressing, but I didn't find it too bad (Maybe mixed that up with The Poppy Wars). Mostly historical fiction with the just-right about of fantasy elements to lend it an air of myth, with some interesting gender identity / sexuality themes sprinkled in. Looking forward to He Who Drowned the World.

35 minutes ago, ljkeane said:

So I found Locklands a bit of a strange read. It's a very imaginative and well thought out setting and the story's good but elements of it didn't really click with me.

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Basically the Givan society (a hive mind essentially) that's presented as the way forward for humanity and is ultimately victorious at the end of the book sounds fucking awful to me. That's personal preference though rather than any issue with how good the book is.

 

Agreed on the ending, I just didn't get it. It was strange how much it mirrored the final book / problem of The Expanse, and how the authors chose such different endings 

Listen there's no way that video is Kate. I'd put money on it. Apparently she had an official lookalike and this looks very much like her. Also apparently the Windsor farms have their Christmas decorations up in the video, which wouldn't be the case currently. 

(Yes I am too deep into waterkate for a rational human but WHAT is going on! Feels like an elaborate troll because I can't understand how the royal family propaganda machine is this bad!)

I'd argue video games are a much more "valid*" way to spend free time than TV as it is active (requires full attention for the most part), engages problem solving skills and motor function, and can get you into a "flow state." For multiplayer games there's also a social element, even if in many cases it's quite toxic. 

TV is often super passive and easy to get distracted during and look at your phone while you half watch. 

*Not that there should be any judgment of what's valid/isn't valid.

Man this show is good

1 hour ago, Mr. Chatywin et al. said:

Leap years always sneak up on me.

I'm personally absolutely pissed about this extra work day

16 hours ago, Ser Rodrigo Belmonte II said:

All Disney needs to do is adapt kotor, they will print money and make everyone happy. But no,instead we get frozen meets kill bill lol 

Feels like they're likely to ruin it if they try to do a live action version, unfortunately. Unless the Andor creators are tapped 

3 minutes ago, Maithanet said:

I'm actually pretty happy with the uncommitted vote movement in Michigan.  It demonstrates opposition to Biden on one key stance, and is done in such a way that doesn't hand power to Trump.  If I were in Michigan, I would have voted uncommitted and I'm sure my wife would have too (and we certainly would vote for him in November).  Primaries are meant to show the differences of opinion within the party, and they managed to do that in spite of an uncompetitive race.

Agreed. As someone who voted uncommitted yesterday, I do have every intention of voting for Biden over Trump in November. I'm sure I'm not alone (just like I'm sure there are some who voted uncommitted and actually are/actually won't vote for biden).

But what better way to get a message across right now? Self immolation?

There is a chance Biden takes this seriously and does something to rein in Netanyahu's actions. 

Just got back from voting in the Michigan primary, where there's been a big effort to get Democrats to vote "uncommitted" (an option on the ballot) to send Biden a message on supporting a ceasefire and to stop sending weapons to Israel. 

This has been all over the news lately and I even got a call asking if I'd commit to voting uncommitted. I think they're hoping to get 10% set to uncommitted for the Democratic ballot.

I'm going to be very curious how this plays out tonight; Michigan is still a swing state and if enough people show they're unhappy with Biden here, it's possible (possible (possible)) that he might change his actions. At least, that's the hope. 

I voted uncommitted 

2 hours ago, SeanF said:

I’ve begun Tasha Suri’s, The Jasmine Throne, set in a fantasy version of medieval India.  It’s very good, reminiscent of Guy Gavriel Kay’s mix of poetry and realism.

I laughed at the blurb describing Suri as Imperial librarian, which makes her sound like a character in Dune.

I really liked the first book. Curious to hear how you like the second

4 hours ago, DaveSumm said:

I might check out Slow Horses, I have ATV+ for free right now and I was toying between that, Constellation, Invasion or Shining Girls. Apple TV seems to be a bit stuck on 7/10ish series, they have the money to throw at these things but haven’t quite found their groove in my opinion. Severance is the only truly exceptional thing I’ve seen so far.

Definitely try Silo

I didn't go to prison. There's some quest you can do (the murder mystery one? The explosive toys one?) where you can get a letter saying you're good to cross. There are probably other ways, eg sneaking or arcane gate or something. 

I did sneak into the prison and ended up freeing someone, that's the only way I interacted with it. 

2 hours ago, Peadar said:

Yes! These are great. I tried to engage the author on Twitter last year, but got no response about book 3. I hope it's on its way.

I found this interview from last year:

Quote

I am rushing to finish Siege, the final volume in The Fire Sacraments epic fantasy trilogy. I’ve reached a point of great momentum and great satisfaction. I wake up each morning, and lie awake many nights, thinking about the next pages, the next chapter. Still a lot of work to be done, but I can see the destination now. I’m really hopeful now that readers of Master Assassins and Sidewinders are going to have their expectations met in this final volume. 

No info on the third book on the skyhorse/talos publishing website, Goodreads, or Amazon. Hopefully 2025??

At the recommendation of one or more people on this board quite awhile ago, I read Master Assassins and Sidewinders by Robert V.S. Redick, book 1 and 2 of the Fire Sacraments trilogy. Absolutely stellar. Well realized characters, one of the most interesting and imaginative but fully realized worlds I've read for a long time, and a plot that pulls you along and grows and grows in import over time. Run, don't walk to read these!

Unfortunately Sidewinders ended on more of a cliffhanger than I'd like - does anyone know when book 3 (Siege) is coming out?

I've also read Witch King by Martha Wells and Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree. The former was quite disappointing - too much happened without any proper world building or background. It was essentially a political mystery but you didn't know any of the players or their motivations, so it was impossible to "solve," the world building was too much of a sketch, and I didn't care about or for any of the characters. It was all really flat. The latter was fine, but not as cozy/satisfying as Legends and Lattes, and felt a little unnecessary. 

13 hours ago, joanellis said:

I read City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky and I really like this book. It's the first one by A. Tchaikovsky and I really want to read more.

He has another book out in that world, it's on my list for sure: House of Open Wounds. I've also read Guns of the Dawn and the Tiger and the Wolf trilogy, all excellent. 

I'm actually pretty sure the Critical Role cast rolls their character stats. I think they have shared some videos doing so, at least for some one shots. They also roll for hit points on leveling up, but Matt (the DM) let's them reroll 1s. 

Finally was in the mood to watch this and feel a bit let down. Maybe I would've enjoyed it more if I'd watched it soon after finishing season 5 (but it wasn't out yet!). It all felt so rushed and none of the big deaths or other character moments really landed for me - even the ending, sad to say. 

Could they not have put some grey streaks in Uhtred's hair and beard  Didn't the first episode take place in like 860 or something, and that last battle was 935-ish?

Still kind of makes me want to do a rewatch of the whole show, but I have too many other things on the list

Great topic! Looking through my Goodreads I'm surprised at how many I must not have liked much (most 2 stars I've ever seen) and how many just weren't particularly memorable. 

In reading order:

- A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. If fantasy were a cup of warm cinnamon and honey tea this is it. 

- The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher. A retelling of a classic fairytale, but with LGBTQ+ representation and plant dreams and talking animals. 

- City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky. An interesting plot in an interesting world that pulled me along the ride so fast I barely came up for air. 

- Blade of Dreams by Daniel Abraham. Abraham can do no wrong and this was no different. I am immensely enjoying the puzzles and unfurling plot in this trilogy. 

- The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. Once you get used to the sardonic tone and iffy likeability of the main character, the world building and increasingly important plot pulls you in to this DnD-inspired escapade. 

- The Xenogenesis trilogy by Octavia Butler. I could talk and think about this series for ages. The first (Dawn) was my favorite but man the whole thing so satisfying and so discomfiting at the same time. 

I'm likely to finish Starling House by Alix E. Harrow today and it will probably be on this list unless it falls apart in the final quarter. 

That's out of 36 read this year (including some re-reads). Kind of sad nothing else worth mentioning. 

My sister tested positive for covid last night ,first time she's gotten it. I was planning to stay with her while visiting family and now I won't even get to see her Rearing it's ugly head everywhere this year. 

On 11/25/2023 at 12:12 AM, Kalbear said:

What is a pirate's favorite letter? 

(They usually respond with "R")

You would think that, but a pirates first love is the love of the 'C'

And everyone always forgets it's actually "i." Aye!!!