>>7847157
>You guys aren't to be trusted, First Law is unreadable garbage edition
Recommendation Charts:
>Fantasy
Selected: http://i.imgur.com/3v2oXAY.jpg
General: http://i.imgur.com/igBYngL.jpg
Flowchart: http://i.imgur.com/uykqKJn.jpg
>Sci-Fi
Selected: http://i.imgur.com/A96mTQX.jpg
General: http://i.imgur.com/r55ODlL.jpg / http://i.imgur.com/gNTrDmc.jpg
>What are you reading right now?
>What did this general trick you into reading?
>Who do you blame?
>>7869333
>>What are you reading right now?
Just finished pic related.
>>What did this general trick you into reading?
Nothing. I do the tricking :3
>>Who do you blame?
Myself.
>>7869333
>>What are you reading right now?
City at the End of Time. I haven't read a Greg Bear title in a while.
>>What did this general trick you into reading?
Nothing. But seeing Blood music as a recommendation took me by surprise. I haven't read that book in a long while.
>>Who do you blame?
I blame the digital art cover of that edition on me picking up the book in the first place.
i want to try bakker but every time i get the same meme answers. i honestly dont believe theres anyone here who can spend 3 minutes and write a few coherent sentences...
>>7868585
Agree with your recs but you're the only one commonly giving some of those. Don't delude yourself into thinking Lieber always gets recommended.
Book of the New Sun is the most atmospheric fantasy I've read.
I know they get a lot of shit around here for other reasons, but Sanderson and Erikson are legitimately great at worldbuilding.
i think Im just gonna anyways
hers some OC kinda in a HFY style of writing
>suggestions appreciated.
When we met the Raffia there was a desperate and terrified outcry among the human colonies, we had long grown accustomed to the knowledge that the universe, as we perceived it, belonged to us as the sole intelligent beings. We alone had developed the capabilities for FTL, we alone had colonized over a thousand worlds without so much as a moss, a mouse, or a cricket found on any other planet we had encountered. We encountered the Raffia without warning and like most chance encounters it went almost as poorly as we could have imagined. A dreadnaught class ship designated 57713, christened the Magnesium by its crew fell out of FTL into orbit near a neutron star that showed up on the scanners as a potentially viable space for a refueling platform and space dock. Shortly after they had scanned the planet a ship of unknown origin fell into the system and opened fire upon the Magnesium. The Magnesium was completely obliterated, humanity as a whole had decided long ago that arming our ships was unnecessary besides small armaments for destroying debris in space or destroying orbital structures that were in need of replacement. No human ship was equipped with anything even resembling what this new species brought with it.
>>7870628
>cont
The prime minister, of the HFOP or Human Federation of Planets, called an immediate emergency meeting, and crafted an executive order locking down all human space travel that was not necessary until these beings could be properly investigated. Hindsight is twenty- twenty, you really couldn’t blame him, he was thinking of collateral damage to the people at the time, thinking of limiting casualties of civilians who would attempt to investigate a possible alien life form. Unfortunately the Raffia misinterpreted this, they assumed we were insulting their military prowess, for in our ignorance of their customs; they had issued to our race a war mandate, calling us to the battlefield of their choosing by destroying the Magnesium. They took our ignorance as insult and if there is only one thing we share with the Raffia it’s the tendency to react to insult, with injury.
They traveled deeper into our space; by this point every human satellite was tracking their ship as it flew towards the furthest outreaching colonies. By this time the Prime minister had put together a peace convoy to meet them, he sent three of humanity’s largest mining vessels loaded down with every conceivable amenity and material humanity could scrape together. The official mission statement was to “contact these aliens and make peace by any means necessary.” He had even authorized the trading of colonized worlds for peace if need be.
>>7870630
>cont
Until this point we had no idea how the Magnesium had been destroyed so quickly, there was no footage left on the black box, and no crew left alive. Now. With the entirety of human colonized space watching on the highest resolution satellites we had ever devised, we saw exactly how out classed we were.
They fell out of FTL a lot faster than our ships could, giving them the eerie appearance of a phantom materializing in space, as our ships fell out of the subspace channel we used to travel (we learned later they used a sodium ion drive to accelerate the materialization process and that they managed their travel in subspace which was much more efficient than our FTL at the time) as our ships were materializing they opened fire, and humanity got its first look at just how god like the power of these being was. They managed electricity like nothing we had ever seen before, giant whips of electrical energy cascaded out of their ship towards our three vessels, none of them survived, billions of watts of electrical power surged through each of them as they entered the system and what parts of them didn’t melt completely, were destroyed in the ensuing explosion of their reactor cores.
>>7870632
>cont
The entirety of humanity watched as our vessels were smote down by the hammer of a race technologically our superior in what seemed every way; one ship had destroyed three of our largest vessels, albeit those designed for peace and coming unarmored. But it didn’t do anything for morale.
The prime minister then ordered the fleet to gather around Jupiter, what had become humanities stronghold after the years we spent on earth, we had over the centuries built a massive infrastructure in orbit over the planet supporting us in our billions. Our mining and exploration fleet gathered and in the ensuing travel time we lost two worlds to the single ship we had encountered. The prime minster ordered the ships outfitted with the most advanced weaponry humanity could devise and started a crack pot group of scientists working on a deterrent for the alien species weaponry.
>>7870638
It was around this time we got our first message from the Raffia.
They had extrapolated our language from the cities of the humans they had slaughtered in our outer worlds and finally when they decided they were ready to contact us their message was abhorrent. It read simply.
“Surrender or we will allow you to die.”
This was read aloud in the council chambers of the HFOP, and credit to the Prime minister where it was due, he took it rather well. There was a cacophony of noise as every representative of every planet in the federation began shouting their lungs out or outright screaming in terror. He sat there with his back pressed straight against his chair and banged his gavel on the round table until he was given the floor.
I hadn’t known him personally but he seemed like a decent kind of guy from the vid screens, he was tall and kind of demure looking. This was not the case, he stepped out of that demureness like it was a suit, and straight into full blown war mode.
He started it right there, ordering planets with different resources to begin construction of ships, mining ships to focus solely on metal, all dreadnaughts and above class ships were to report for refitting on Jupiter immediately. All farming colonies were ordered to start growing war crops. Humanity on the whole shifted into war mode; sure there were those few planets here and there that wanted out. They cited different treaties or trade agreements that would exempt them from the war effort, he took all of that in stride and explained very courteously that if they pulled their support from the war effort they would be freely allowed to do so, but they would become non assets and as such would be considered until the end of the war unallocated territory and remain without military protection. They readily accepted whatever they had to, in order to remain under military protection.
>>7870628
This subject has been done to death
>>7870235
Just pick up the book and read it holy fuck, the worst that can happen is that you dont like it and drop it.
>>7870628
This is the essence of telling instead of showing.
Is there anything that's as much fun as Harry Potter?
seriously I'm not trying to bait or something
/sffg/ I need historical fantasy/magical realism with prose that isn't too stuffy or dry
I'm reading through 100 Years of Solitude but I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with it because I'm tragically bad at remembering names at the best of times
Anyone here read the chrysalides? It's been over 10 years for me -- gr 9 or 10. Where does the time go lads?
Anyway, it's good as far as YA/sci-fi goes, though a little heavy handed with the themes/symbolism.
>>7871079
You mean Wyndham's? Good shit. Probably about as long for me, too.
>>7871006
Try "Taming Riki" - was as much fun and as interesting to read for me
>>7871108
Is that like your version of boku no pico?
>>7871110
great recommendation anon, thanks
Anyone ever read Patricia McKillip? Song for the Basilisk sounds lovely, might read that next.
>>7871006
The Ranger's apprentice?
If your looking for magical and enthralling but maybe with a more adult theme. You could look into "A Madness of Angles" By kate griffen.
I have more suggestion if you'd like.
>>7869333
>What are you reading right now?
Gonna start rereading the Raistlin Dragonlance books. Read some of them like 10 years ago and I remember enjoying it. Can't remember anything else though.
>What did this general trick you into reading?
Malazan. I kinda feel like I wasted my time going up to book 7 or so, but it had some really amazing characters so I'm conflicted. After the fall ofBridgeburnersit all started to get really dull. Guess the lack of spoonfeeding made it dull to read, I usually like to know what the characters are thinking.
>Who do you blame?
(you)
>>7871207
Thanks anon I'm basically searching for that detective mystery + Fantasy combination that Harry Potter had, though it would be cool if it would be more adult oriented, so I'd love more recs.
>>7871245
dresden files might be what you're after
>>7871245
>>7871257
This. "Dresden Files" - Jim Butcher is one of the best combinations of fantasy & Detective.
"A Madness Of Angles" - Kate Griffion
that i listed before also has that kinda of feel.
There is also The man with a golden torc. Which is basically High Fantasy James bond and a really good read.
"The Man with Golden Torc" - Simon Green
There is also
"Grey Walker" - Kat Richardson It's also very PI with a magical Fantasy over tone.
I do know a few more series that fit into that category but after these 4 you start getting into Old lady type Detective novels with more romance plot then Mystery.
>>7871262
Please excuse my typos it's 3am and i have not slept.
>>7871262
Thanks a lot!
>>7871270
I almost forgot one of the best.
"Taming Riki" is sort of a fantasy mystery with ancient magics coming into play.
>>7870235
OK, here's my non meme answer about Bakker
>what I liked:
1) The worldbuilding is great. I liked Bakker's world a lot more than that of ASOIAF. The names, cultures, religions and languages are really far from your standard pseudo western european medieval setting. It feels more like Babylon/Assyria/Biblical Israel/Ancient Rome with aliens, demons and one really twisted inhuman race.
2) Different religions, magic systems and philosophy schools play a huge role. The main intrigue of the series is basically "How does this world really work?". The magic system is one the best in fantasy literature IMHO.
4) No medieval stasis where millenia go by, yet there are still knights and castles and shit.
3) The sense of epic epicness.
>What I didn't like:
1) Despite having a cool, original setting, Bakker decided to make the first trilogy a retelling of the story of the first crusade. If you're familiar with this story, don't expect a lot of surprises regarding the politics in the book. The second trilogy isn't this predictable though.
2) Keep away from this series if you can't stand purple prose.
3) The main character in the first trilogy is a superhuman genius manipulator. The way he binds other people to his will through some philosophical ramblings really strains the suspension of disbelief. This shit almost made me drop the book.
4) The series is really, really dark. Far more than say Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence. It's just cruel and depressing. Don`t expect funny quips or any lighthearted moments.
5) Every character is either a miserable wretch, a fanatic, a psychopath or a combination of those. Hated every single one of them.
All in all the books feel like Dune+Blood Meridian+Lord of the Rings. If it sounds cool to you and you won't be deterred by all the grimdark and the lack of likeable characters, then go for it.
>>7871280
Okay, I'v seen taming Riki on like every thread tonight. Give me the short description since "you" spam it on every thing?
>>7871280
please stop forcing this into a meme
>>7870235
>i want to try bakker
Read it then you fucking cuck.
>>7871026
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie
>Severian and Dorcas have a heart to heart after their reunion
>Severian proceeds tofuck Jolenta5 minutes later even though he said he doesn't like her
>Dorcas cries
What the actual fuck? Why? Why would you do that?
>>7871286
>5) Every character is either a miserable wretch, a fanatic, a psychopath or a combination of those. Hated every single one of them.
That's one of the best parts. All the insane characters are the best ones, like Cnaiur and the Conphases. The "good" characters like Akka, Esme and Mimara are boring as fuck. I also like how dark the series is. Other than that I agree with all your points, especially the "epic" feel.
>>7871341
>What the actual fuck? Why? Why would you do that?
Remember, Severian is an unreliable meme narrator.
PS: that is the answer to every question you have about BotNS.
>>7871347
That's not an answer.
Someone please give me Mr. Wolfe's email, I've got some dolphin porn to send the fucker.
>>7871341
He was lusting over Jolenta for a long time, I'm assuming it's the boat scene
>>7871373
First where the fuck does that come from? Second I was under the impression he and Dorcas were a couple, that's hardly a justification.
Here's a Polish/Russian scifi chart. Hope I didn't accidentally include a Russian American or something stupid like that.I also realize two titles are barely readable, but now it's too late.
>>7871425
why would anyone except slavs read that garbage lmao
>>7871286
what you liked)
1)agree, one of the biggest and in depth worlds out there.
2)True, seeing this, I don't understand how anyone could like Sanderson
3) There are few books more epic, it has "big " epic moments but also a lot of small ones
4)Yep
Whay you didn't like
1)meh, don't know. Most people aren't familiar, and even if you know the outline, it isn't like that's the most important part of the book. It's all about Kellhus and how the world reacts to him
2)I agree with this, he writes a certain way, it can be overdone and annoying but there are plenty of amazing quotes, almost each episode has a few.
3)I disagree. I suggest you look up NLP, hypnosis and the like. There are some amazing people out there who can control body language and communication to such an extent that they are essentially mind readers. It might seem extreme, however many people can do what Kellhus does, just at a "mortal" limit. It is still plausible, they had 2000 years to prepare for this shit.
4)Agree. There is humor, and it's done well, however it's very dark and subtle. The only jokes I can remember are by Kellhus.
5)true. This is a "realistic" series, in a sense there would be very few noble people in a fucked up world. Just go to any gypsy colony or hood(in the US) and you won't find many likeable characters. Take that and multiply it by 100( famine,wars,rape aliens, end of the world, damnation etc) and it's not wonder that even some of the most likeable characters like Akkamian are assholes.
All in all, great comment.
>>7871433
Being a slavaboo is in now, grandpa.
>>7871425
>lem&stugatsky.png
>>7871408
>First where the fuck does that come from?
The long, windy descriptions of men and women alike lusting over her almost inhuman beauty
>Second I was under the impression he and Dorcas were a couple, that's hardly a justification.
They aren't. They share a complex relationship which is part love part using one another for protection for Dorcas and company and pussy for Severian
>>7869333
>What are you reading right now?
Altered Carbon
>What did this general trick you into reading?
Nothing yet
>Who do you blame?
Nobody yet
>>7871444
>The long, windy descriptions of men and women alike lusting over her almost inhuman beauty
There was never such a thing. Jolenta herself describes how men and women can't resist her, not the narrator.
Severian calls her beauty unnatural, which in my book isn't exactly a compliment.
It wasn't "descriptions", it happened one time, on the boat.
>They aren't. They share a complex relationship which is part love part using one another for protection for Dorcas and company and pussy for Severian
Exactly. That's being a couple.
Anyway it felt really out of place.
>>7871474
Is dorcas a metaphor for virgin Mary and jolenta is magdalena? Aramini Aramini please come and spoonfeedme
>>7871474
>There was never such a thing. Jolenta herself describes how men and women can't resist her, not the narrator.
No, after one of the plays Severian explicitly describes the lust everyone feels for her
>Severian calls her beauty unnatural, which in my book isn't exactly a compliment.
It's a hint to something else, but it's certainly one. It's the hate fuck kind of lust as well as her being perfectly molded to inspire it.
>It wasn't "descriptions", it happened one time, on the boat.
Severian is real horny and the relationship with Dorcas develops into a real couple later on.
>Exactly. That's being a couple.
Not in the kind of way where Severian feels moral obligation for her
>Anyway it felt really out of place.
I don't think so anyway.
>>7871425
Good list, even though it's all Lem and the Strugatsky bros. What about Metro 2033?
>>7871518
>No, after one of the plays Severian explicitly describes the lust everyone feels for her
Yeah, like that. "everyone lusts after her". Stop.
>Severian is real horny
Didn't seem like that to me. He didn't even fuck Dorcas when they were alone after all that time.
>Not in the kind of way where Severian feels moral obligation for her
You don't stay with someone because of how you feel towards them. If that were the case we'd be polygamous. It's about what you decide.
>>7871522
Didn't think it was good enough to take something else off the list nor did I want to open another row for it and Nightwatch alone.
There were a couple other good ones not by Lem or the bros that simply aren't available in English.
>>7871556
>Nightwatch
I don't know why I said it. It's not scifi.
>>7871560
Neither is Pratchett polish or russian. Silly anon
>>7871543
>You don't stay with someone because of how you feel towards them. If that were the case we'd be polygamous. It's about what you decide.
That's often not true even in real life anon. People get in relationships with others because they like them, they feel good/romantic about them. Breakups happen a lot because feelings change. People don't tend to just autistically decide to latch themselves to someone because they decided to once.
Regardless, it's clear that Severian has a different value system than you do. He either didn't feel obligated to Dorcas in that way, or he just felt like getting his dick wet which happens more times throughout the books than with Jolenta. OR like the other anon was saying, Jolenta's extreme beauty was enough to persuade Severian, who wasn't exactly spending a lot of time to consider his actions, to have sex with her.
>>7871561
*Night Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
>>7871587
>People get in relationships with others because they like them, they feel good/romantic about them
Yeah but nothing stops you from feeling this for more people at the same time.
This doesn't make you a couple.
>People don't tend to just autistically decide to latch themselves to someone because they decided to once.
When marriages used to last to the grave people did that. It takes effort and it's mature, not "autistic".
>>7871598
Are you gonna keep complaining about your parents getting divorced or can we go back to talking about "literature"
>>7871598
Fucks sake Severian isn't a good Catholic on his way to a calm life and a peaceful death, he is a man from a fictional world with fictional values, or at least something you can easily imagine.
Not even that, you don't need to, his mindset towards women is that of your regular 21st century chad.
>>7871621
>I'm not catholic and this has nothing to do with values. Fictional characters are people, they're not beings we can't understand, that's the lamest excuse ever.
We can perfectly understand Severian. He's 18, horny and lusts after Jolenta while his feelings for Dorcas at that point were certainly not as strong as later on and were just an exchange of sex for protection and that contract was hardly broken by him sticking his dick in Jolenta. It's quite simple.
>>7871677
Only the actions you mentioned are correct. The actions don't reflect what we're told.
That's why I said it feels out of place.
Not every 18 years old fucks every hole, even if he's as horny as you say.
>>7871687
Severian is an asshole and shugarcoats it in that very scene for example because he rapes Jolenta
>>7871437
>replying to every point individually
Autism came swirling down.
>>7871543
Severian is a horny rapist dude.
>>7871694
Yeah but the whole scene seems strange. So you mean he already planned to rape her from the start?
For example, the scene starts with Severian and Jolenta making eye contact and agreeing to get away without speaking a single word. When the fuck did they develop this kind of relationship? It felt like they were going to do something, most certainly having intimacy.
Then it came the description of how he despises her. And now you're telling me he raped her.
I don't understand, everything seems illogic to me.
>>7871715
Severian's an unreliable narrator. You have to re-read at least 3 times to even begin to grasp Wofle's subtleties.
>>7871721
Nah, mate, there was never even the slightest hint at a relationship that deep between Severian and Jolenta before that. And even then, let's agree that they have a relationship we never have been told about, why the fuck would he rape her?
>unreliable narrator
That can't be the explanation for everything.
>>7871771
>Nah, mate, there was never even the slightest hint at a relationship that deep between Severian and Jolenta before that.
Well because it wasn't there.
>And even then, let's agree that they have a relationship we never have been told about, why the fuck would he rape her?
Because as I've said, she's really fucking hot.literally inhumanly so because her new body was engineered by Talos and Baldanders. She probably wouldn't have consented otherwise and it wouldn't be his first time anyway, he "forced himself upon" Docras earlier.
>>unreliable narrator
>That can't be the explanation for everything.
Well it isn't, but it is for this because he's ashamed about it and like defences of his city it's intentionally obscured.
>>7871826
>mfw explaining the police Gene Wolfe thaught you "forcing yourself upon" girls is ok
>it's ok, guys, chill out, she's just an unreliable narrator
>>7871884
*taught
>>7871201
No. Amazon can send you book samples if you want to try out the book.
>>7871425
What are the titles on the bottom left and the middle right?
>>7871826
Part of the quest of New Sun, beyond self-understanding, is an examination of different types of love and attraction, for the solar deity in frazer symbolically weds the fertility goddess. ... but of which class and type? The augmented commoner jolenta, the sexualized (grand)mother in dorcas, the conniving,predatory, and materialistic agia quite distinct from the supersexualized, victimized jolenta ... all leading up to a strange self-communion in thecla and an apotheosis through apheta, after valeria's breeding fails.
>>7871991
We and The Slynx.
>>7872016
>>7872013
Oh hi MarcOn phone, can't post an image of the room
>>7871286
>4) The series is really, really dark. Far more than say Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence. It's just cruel and depressing. Don`t expect funny quips or any lighthearted moments.
>Madman Conphas
>The Grand Cucking
There's more but the second Trilogy has more funny moments I agree
>5) Every character is either a miserable wretch, a fanatic, a psychopath or a combination of those. Hated every single one of them.
Its very realistic for the setting, Ikurei Conphas was my favorite character t b h
>>7872033
You found me out ... the sight of my face attracted me, of course.
>>7872333
The... means it's you, no one else here uses it.
Also you make for a quality meme.
>>7871515
Nope the cummean makes clear dorcas is no virgin at the stone town. She might represent a maternal love but it is still sexualized and fecund, not chaste. Note the cool move she makes in making the external world subjectively better by letting him grab her breasts ... debunking the formulation of his idea that pure thoughts lead to happiness ... carnality, too, has a place in the life cycle.
>>7872333
Is that actually you Marc? I've always wanted to ask you to expand on your theory (which I saw via Goodreads) that Eastwind is infertile and Marsch has not been replaced by VRT but by a different, complicated parasite?
Who is Aram?
>>7872406
Been lurking for a month and even I know who he is.
>>7872403
Your best bet is through this article http://ultan.org.uk/variance-reduction-techniques/
Basically i argue the life cycle of the abos and shadow children is metaphorically illustrated in that novella, and that castrated eastwind actually lives, as the wind blown parasites actually survive in marsch rather than the abo victor, who dies as written with a tree grasping for him, while the "marsh"men are ridden by shadow children. At least skim the article and let me know if you need any more elaboration.
>>7872406
The guy in the picture.
Published author actually.
>>7872348
In my academic writing (which alas is all of it lately) i find myself supersaturating my writing with parenthical asides rather than ellipses ( though those, too, have their place ...).
>>7872552
Wew lad that's some words I don't understand
>>7872036
Akka a good boy he dindu nuffin
>>7872552
Why does Wijzer in Short Sun talk so strange?
>>7872618
Wolfe had an increasingly prevalent fetish for unusual colloquial dialects, as in Pig. Was Wizjer at Dorp? I probably havent read short sun holistically in almost 12 years but will be doing so again in the next few weeks when I revise and alter my ancient essay on it. Maybe i will have a better reason for it then.
>>7872653
Yeah I know he likes them and he's from another town in the Whorl, but it's all done in inverted word order.... Couldn't help myself imagining a samurai sitting on his knees holding a katana in his right hand.
Wijzer was at the New Viron discussing how to get to the Whorl with Horn.
Also, the writing reads much better in Short Sun compared to the Long Sun. Or maybe reading on a kobo instead of a phone may be influencing my judgement.
How's Red Rising?
>>7872036
>cumming on the flag
>>7871707
getting triggered on r/lit, attacking those who actually write more than a sentence
> le meme arrows came swirling down
Listing to these Wolfe posts is like accidentally walking into some swallowing crystals with your butt to gain insight into the universe course while looking for the boxing course. It sounds like completely insane rambling and makes me never want to pick up any of his books.
>>7872540
Exactly what I was looking for, thank you!
>>7872815
Ok lad
>>7872815
Man maybe it's just personal preference but all those crazy rambling theories just make me want to read more Wolfe
Alright nerds, I finally began Foundation like you guys advised me. Around 1/5th through, enjoying it. Thanks faggots.
Is Severian being an unreliable narrator a spoiler? I feel like I wasn't supposed to know this
>>7871715
He admits he raped her in Urth of the New Sun fwiw
>>7872864
It's common knowledge desu especially around here. Like with Lolita.
How important do you think those maps at the start of some fantasy novels are? I usually read on my Kindle and they're small as fuck so I don't bother with them, am I missing out
>>7872653
I've noticed Wolfe put an emphasis on differentiating and characterization through dialogue in both Long and Short, but he does it different in each. I just started In Green's Jungles last night, and several characters have different dialects, whereas in Long Sun most characters were from Viron (aside from the the Trivigaunti) but in different social strata. In Short Sun, only a few characters are Vironese. Wijzer and Inclito have very distinct dialects, and Seawrack and Krait absolutely have unique voices.
I'm quite astonished by how subtle of an ear Wolfe has for dialogue. It was something not apparent to me when I read New Sun, as it seemed that everyone spoke in baroque language fitting of the byzantine society that is the Commonwealth(except for Loyal To The Group Of Seventeen, of course).
>>7872694
I think Short Sun is Wolfe at the top of his prose game, it's melancholic and beautiful, a quoteable passage almost every page.
>>7872989
Mostly, they're 100% useless
They usually detract from my suspension of disbelief because people in the book travel distances farm more quickly than the maps would imply
>>7871286
>5) Every character is either a miserable wretch, a fanatic, a psychopath or a combination of those. Hated every single one of them.
Don't forget cucks!
>It's just cruel and depressing.
That's the best part though.
>>7870235
Bakker's orcs are so constantly horny that they literally fuck holes in the ground wherever they go.
>>7873029
It's refreshing because it's written by an ordinary, honest man just writing a diary. I've read 50 pages today and it reads so nicely, flows and is beautiful without being overly taxing.
Also what kind of an animal is Babbie supposed to be? A pig of some sort?
>>7871884
underrated post. i kek'd
I'm halfway through First Law.
While the Inquisitor is mildly amusing, everything else is genuinely dreadful.
The prose is incredibly awful, he is either governed by cliches and you can basically predict the words he's going to write, the conversations seem to follow all the generic norms you'd expect form protagonist x and stereotype y. He also doesn't have fucking descriptions. I'm not even fucking joking. He literally doesn't stop his slow moving plot to create any sort of an atmosphere or mental image, it's almost as if this novel couldn't even be read by people who didn't play enough video games to already have a set of generic buildings, uniforms and faces to staple onto everything for the author.
The characters themselves are at times entertaining, but more often than not everyone is a fucking cliche. Government officials? Greedy bastards working for their own interests, all the way without any other traits except stupidity.
Luther chapters are a pain in the fucking ass to read having no redeeming qualities. The romantic interest and the whole I'll fence after all scene is again, played out in the most predictable fashion imaginable.
The 'world building' is non existent. The guy has literally no imagination whatsoever. If you wanted a generic fantasy setting for a video game, this is what you'd pick. A vaguely British empire, some invading barbarians, some third kingdom without any traits except being evil and a little bit of magic.
Overall, this novel is absolute shite, worst fantasy I've read since Name of the Wind. I'll be skipping on modern fantasy novels for a while and enjoy the good things, Short Sun and best of Vance in the upcoming month.
>>7873307
I liked it desu
>>7873319
It's kinda entertaining for some reason because it requires literally no mental investment. You can read 250 pages in 2 days on auto pilot because it's so vapid.
Also forgot to mention that anyone who calls this sword and sorcery is a fucking retard, saw is fast paced telling a story in 100, 200 pages, not 600 and contains much more content than this.
For example, first Elric novel starts with the action right away, introducing spirits, demons, magic and all sort of cool stuff alongside having a history to itself while all the characters have enough personality to be both recognizable and entertaining. Or better yet, Lankhmar which is the perfect adventure story.
How comical/over-the-top is Discworld on scale of Bilbo meeting the dwarves to le witty funnyordie/SNL parody skit.
>>7872737
Got a book cover for the book?
>>7873374
What the fuck kind of post is this? Explain yourself fucko.
>>7873378
I don't know which book you are referring to.
>>7873388
Don't pretend to be retarded fucko.
Just recently got into fantasy again. Read Mistborn and started Wheel of Time (currently on Fires of Heaven and loving it). I hated Mistborn. Vin was a Mary Sue cunt. Elend was a Gary Stu cuck. Kelsier was a tryhard. The villains were cartoons.
But WoT is good. I've been avoiding it for years because I'd heard it was dragged out and cliched. And to be fair, there are a good number of cliches. But at least the characters are interesting and the protags are all alpha as fuck, especially Mat. The villains could be a bit more intimidating though.
>>7873409
I hated Mistborn as well but Way of Kings is pretty good. Check that out maybe.
WoT gets really bad later on, I wouldn't invest time into it. So much better stuff to read.
>>7873395
Thanks Red farting.
>>7873259
I see him as mix between a boar and a dog that is very intelligent. He's described as having eight legs (so do many animals on Blue, apparently) and tusks.
>>7873458
The legs make it strange. Thought it was a crab at first.
>>7873307
The ending of trilogy was saved whenBayaz made everyone his bitch. The Valint and Balk tweest was obvious, though, I'm just surprised that they spent so long revealing it was him all along. Am still butthurt about West but I liked the fact that Glokta won the Ardee bowl. I hope he returns in subsequent books.
>>7873409
Its still worth it to read the first few books. I didn't finish it because it got way too deus ex machina with the one power as the books go on. But to be fair tons of other fantasy / scifi do the same shit with not nearly as cool worlds and characters.
Which Fafhfrd and the Grey Mouser compilation is the best?
>>7873823
I like Swords against death, but i haven't read all the books, just the first 3
>>7869333
Just finished Caves of Steel
>it's no Foundation Trilogy
Starting Brave New World again, after failing to get hooked the first 2 times
recently loved Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson and Neuromancer by William Gibson
Hey,
are there and good upcoming releases I or series so far that I have missed?
I have this constant little fear of not being aware of a great fantasy series and ending up missing out on it. The day will arrive when I have finished my backlog and that will be the day I start to lose the race against time when it comes to reading as much fantasy as I can.
Irrational, but I can't really help it.
So far, I've read:
Glen Cook, Black Company
David Gemmell, everything
Joe Abercrombie, everything
Daniel Abrahams, Dagger & Coin series
Scott Lynch, Locke Lamora series
GURRRM, ASOIAF series
Miles Cameron, Red Knight series
Brian Staveley, Empreror's Blade series (waiting for new book to arrive)
Tolkien, LOTR
I have just started the Mistborn series and am slowly getting into it.
Backlog:
>A Crown for Cold Silver
>The Folly of the World (since Empire of Death was so fucking shit)
>The Darkness That Comes Before
>The King Of Elfland's Daughter
What I don't want to read:
>Prince of Thorns (I find it to be edgy as shit with no real purpose)
>that one with the Kvothe guy, no Mary Sues please
I stopped reading Black Company during Shadow Games, when he goes on about having banged the Lady because I want to read military fantasy, not that shit.
In between every two medieval fantasy books, I read one William Gibson.
Are there any noteworth (medieval) fantasy series that have so far escaped my attentionIs Malazan as good as people make it out to be?
Would really appreciate some input here.
>>7874902
Farseer
>>7874902
>are there and good upcoming releases I or series so far that I have missed?
No.
>I have this constant little fear of not being aware of a great fantasy series and ending up missing out on it.
You certainly are, you skipped just about every good author in fantasy
>Are there any noteworth (medieval) fantasy series that have so far escaped my attentionIs Malazan as good as people make it out to be?
Malazan has a truly awful first novel, but considering you are reading just about only that kind of fantasy, you'll probably like it.
>Would really appreciate some input here.
The same shit I repeat in every thread over and over again.
Book of the New Sun, Fifth Head of Cerberus, The Wizard Knight
Amber Chronicle
Elric of Melbourne
Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser stories
Gormenghast trilogy
Dying Earth
Conan
Croatian Tales of Long Ago, most of it is even in the op charts
>>7874902
Check out Guy Gavriel Kays books, they're really really good. One of the only good modern authors. Also a new book of his is coming out soon too
>>7874917
>>7874923
>>7874927
Thanks, just checked them out and added most of them to my wishlist.
>>7874923
>The same shit I repeat in every thread over and over again.
And I hope you keep repeating it in every thread, because that's the only way people will learn about any author that is not in their amazon "You might also like..." list. I mean that in a non offensive way, for me it really is that case that I only find out about new books by either browsing amazon or checking this thread.
Also (I haven't checked the recommendation chart in this OP) why don't you just add those recommendations to the chart?
>>7874946
>because that's the only way people will learn about any author that is not in their amazon
Why generalize? Just because you're dumb doesn't mean everyone is.
>why don't you just add those recommendations to the chart?
They literally are there. Clicking on a link should be manageable even for you.
How's the golden age? Found an audiobook torrent, pretty slow, but it sounds like genuine fun.
>>7874946
All of the titles are in the chart in the selected fantasy, you just needed to click the link.
>>7869333
>>What are you reading right now?
Perdido Street Station
>>What did this general trick you into reading?
Nothing, I trust no one to recommend me Fantasy and SF. Not in times when Sanderson, Rothfuss and Weir are hailed as the best Writers ever.
>>Who do you blame?
Reddit and Nu-Geek Culture
>>7875014
There used to be a time in these generals when saying a good word about those three was a taboo, but the cross boarders have invaded.
Also how the fuck is the First Law in the selected fantasy recommendations? It's absolutely horrible and it is offensive in a way that it is on the same list with Wolfe or Peake.
>>7875026
>why do people like things I don't like
>>7875027
>why do guys from reddit and /v/ come to these threads
>>7869333
more like /trash general/
>>7874902
Malazan is a love or hate series, so it's worth a try in case you love it.
I'd go with the popular or influential works that most know and love and then work your way to the more obscure. There's usually a reason most of them are so highly regarded even if they're usually entry level. Just make sure to avoid Wheel of Time and anything by a Terry (except Pratchett if you want silly humour).
Book of the New Sun
Stormlight Archive
Earthsea
Farseer
Gormenghast
Lyonesse
Amber Chronicles
Lions of Al-Rassan
Tigana
Hobbit
If you want traditional sword and sorcery, Conan, Lankhmar and Elric are all you need.
>>7875118
Farseer is good? Not in line with First Law I hope?
>>7875123
First Law is good too, it just sounds like you hate everything that isn't le olde classic so you probably won't like Farseer either.
>>7875128
I can't stand the streamline newspeak. I don't have anything against new fantasy in principle, but I haven't encountered any good one so far.
>>7875130
Have you read Guy Gavriel Kay? I think someone like that might be more up your forte. Strong prose and all.
>>7875132
No, not yet. I'll look into it. I'll be reading some more Vance for next fantasy and maybe try him.
>>7872761
>getting triggered
>attacking
lol
Might wanna try not to get offended so easily if you want to stick around these parts sonny jim. I was merely memeing.
>>7873258
That's Cnaiur. He rapes the earth.
Is Powder Mage any good? What are its strong and weak points?
>>7871425
>The Star Diaries
Not really worth it imho. Filled with refferences to communism and how comically stupid it is.
>>7875397
Are you sure you're thinking of the same book? The stories deal with bigger issues like science, knowledge, sociology and ethics. Sure its a product of his time but it's not like cold war in space and the Russians suck.
>>7874923
>Elric of Melbourne
kek
>>7875485
No one noticed before
>>7869333
>mfw someone saved my OC and used it as an OP pic
>What are you reading right now?
The third Corum book by Michael Moorcock. Surprisingly competent sword and sorcery, I didn't have high expectations but i'm enjoying it.
>What did this general trick you into reading?
For A Breath I Tarry by Roger Zelazny. I never asked for those feels and to doubt my own humanity.
>Who do you blame?
Roger Zelazny.
>>7875506
Zelanzy is pretty great.
>>7875123
Farseer is completely different. It's a slow character driven story.
Hobb writes some of the most realistically flawed and likable characters in any literature I've read. A far cry from the edgy caricatures and twisted archetypes of First Law. Also has some of the best prose in the genre.
>>7874902
>>7874902
>What I don't want to read:
>Prince of Thorns (I find it to be edgy as shit with no real purpose)
Wise choice, and not just because of edginess. It's Deus Ex Machina: the trilogy. The whole series literally consists of the main character getting into trouble and then pulling some absolutely improbable trick/bullshit never-before-seen magic out of his ass to save the day. Shit was hilarious. I don`t regret that I read it though (after a while I began to treat it as a trilogy of comic novels), but I am not going to read Lawrence anymore.
Sell me on Amber /sffg/
I just recently read the Prince Roger/ Empire of Man series and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Anyone else read it?
Seems like most of you hate mistborn but what about Stormlight Archive?
>>7875799
Significantly better and recommended. Only one of Sandersons works you should read imo.
>>7875799
I'd recommend it if he killed off Shallan. But he hasn't.
Rolling for the name of my novel's character.
>>7875925
Big Papa
>>7876040
Still married, uh?
Zelazny's short work is great, especially early stuff. I actually liked the first Malazan novel.
Are these names randomly changed every time? One post experiment.
>>7876106
Yes.
>>7876102
>snow
Shut up, bastard.
>all girls except the main romantic interest are vapid whores with no personality or intelligence
Great job Joe, what a fucking fantastic author you are
>>7876124
>are vapid whores with no personality or intelligence
So just like real life, I think he's keeping it realistic.
>>7876127
Not quite, because there's one that isn't a vapid whore.
>>7876124
There is literally nothing wrong with this.
>>7876159
>Matthew Burch
Dodged a bullet, there.
>>7876159
there is if you're not an autist
back to r9k with you reprobate shits
i hope your drought never ends
Got the entire First Law trilogy in great condition for 12€
Feels good man
>>7876217
Wait until you start reading it
>>7876124
>protag hangs out with nonhuman girl
>she's more likeable than any other woman in the cast
>genuinely helpful and imbued with personal agency
>protag ends up with dumpy woman modeled after author's wifefuck's sake, can't a nigga just fuck some monster pussy?
>>7876251
I have yet to meet a character in First Law that is well written and I'm almost done with it. Amusing one notes don't count.
Find a flaw
>>7876337
I've seen it mentioned here plenty Dr. Jones, but no one likes Elizabeth.
Is the second half of Amber / the Merlin cycle worth reading? I see people only shitting on it 2bh
>>7876382
I stopped after the first part. It's a complete story and I felt satisfied enough to leave it be.
https://twitter.com/scalzi/status/715728589099048960
Serious question, is Scalzi autistic? is this why /lit/ drools over him?
Thoughts on Perdido Street Station?
Complaints I've heard about it that there is too much world building and too little plot. Agree?
>>7876637
There isn't anything wrong with "too much" world building, Mieville just can't do it entertainingly.
Its' a book written for and by a stereotypical college liberal to show the world his silver-spooned liberal arts degree wasn't a waste.
Then it proceeded to sell like shit and he resorted to plagiarizing fantasy authors.
>>7876661
There's such a thing as focusing too much on world-build exposition rather than being plot driven, which I believe is what Max meant.
>>7876661
It isn't like Bas-Lag was wholly original either, It heavily borrowed from Peake; even the writing style.
>>7876681
Aight, guess it's a pass. Got plenty of other stuff to read anyways, just was considering adding it to my backlog.
>>7876681
>Solid prose.
Is it though? It's stupidly simple prose, all he does is replace mundane words with arcane and obscure ones and then just adds in a bunch of near-random adjectives.
>Annoying marxist preaching.
I actually find his obsession with slum voyeurism immoral as fuck and completely uncharacteristic for a British author.
>>7876698
Well it read decently, I liked the descriptions and it certainly did have an atmosphere. It's not great, no Peake or Wolfe for sure, but much better than Abercrombiejust finished, it's shit
>British author
His progressive parents didn't want him to have a national identity so they named him China
Haven't been reading in a while, lads, been slowly watching tv shows/movies that I should have watched ages ago. Had a written list ages ago of books I was going to get.
Last series I read was Malazan, and before that I actually delved into ASOIAF for the first time. Finished them a couple months ago now. Any recommendations coming off of the back of those series?
Haven't read Abercrombie's stuff yet, but anything else?
>>7876718
You might like Traitor Son Cycle by Miles Cameron. First book is The Red Knight.
>>7876625
Who the fuck is that?
>>7876733
Redshirts
>>7876740
Which is?
Just finished The Hero Of Ages and I'm planning on taking a small break from the series before moving onto Alloy Of The law, but I have two books in mind that I'm considering. First is The Way of Kings, by the same author and I've heard good things about it so I'm definitely interested, second is The Name of The Wind, already have it lying around at my grandparents but at the same time I've read some pretty mixed things about it.
What is more worth it, starting The Name of the Wind tomorrow or ordering The Way Of Kings and starting it monday?
>>7876761
The best thing to do with Name of the Wind is to burn it.
>>7876736
guess i should read a little bit more carefully
on top of that, any entry-level sci-fi, for a later date? I've always been interested in it, but never really tried. Fantasy has always been my love.
>>7876761
>The Name of The Wind
In high-school Patrick Rothfuss was something of a class clown. His hobbies included giving relationship advice to all of his female friends despite the fact that he had never so much as kissed a girl. He also role-played and wrote terrible stories about elves. He was pretty much a geek.
Most of Pat's life has been spent at University. He started college in order to pursue a career in chemical engineering, then he considered clinical psychology. In 1993 he quit pretending he knew what he wanted to do with his life, changed his major to "undecided," and proceeded to study whatever amused him.
For the next seven years Pat studied eastern religions, alchemy and parapsychology. He studied six different martial arts, practiced improv comedy, learned how to pick locks, and became a skilled lover of women.
Now Pat teaches half-time at his old school as an assistant-sub-lecturer. He is advisor for the college feminists, the fencing club, and, oddly enough, a sorority. He still roll-plays occasionally, but now he does it in an extremely sophisticated, debonair way.
>>7876770
Check the selected sf chart in op
>>7876772
>>7876766
Yeah, I think I get the idea.
Looked up some interesting reviews and found this:
>Although the general consensus is that this book is amazing, I've come across a few people who don't like it because of the character of Kvothe. Personally, I couldn't disagree more.
Kvothe has wonderful character details. The author has shown what a young, talented boy with power will do. Every other novel shows the protagonist hating his fame & power, which is a major cliche. Kvothe may be a bit arrogant, he may be proud of his abilities, but he's not evil.
Another thing I loved was how legends have been shown in this book.How simple incidents exaggerate to become the legends and tales of Kvothe "the Bloodless". That was truly amazing.
Many people like to compare the Kingkiller Chronicles with the Harry Potter series. I admit it, nothing can ever be better than Harry Potter (except Naruto), but that doesn't mean this series is a failure. There's bound to be a difference between a 7-book & a 3-book series. But there are many things in NOTW which HP lacks, & vice-versa.
>I just don't think that people should criticise such a gemstone of a book without comparing it with the general stuff available in the fantasy genre.
I think I'm getting a better idea of the audience and why this book has so many great ratings.
>>7876797
Basically if you want to jerk off to your own perfect self you can just watch some porn or whatever
>>7875799
Seems highly regarded as one of the best modern epic fantasy sagas around.
>>7870961
>showing
>in a non-visual medium
What are some good books with magician/wizard/sorcerer protagonists that are not overpowered but at the same time use magic quite often, almost as a second nature, to perform menial tasks?
So tired of obnoxious Mary Sues, but at the same time I love the idea of magic or sorcery. Also a character that actually cares about others and uses what little they have to (try) doing good rather than be a common asshole.
>>7877113
The Face in the Frost
>>7877128
Thank you!
I want to read an urban fantasy, but I don't want YA garbage like pic related. Is there any urban fantasy with an interesting premise that doesn't read like an angsty Hellblazer comic?
>>7877171
Wizard of the Pigeons?
>>7877180
Looks interesting, will give it a try. Thanks.
>>7876341
Too edgy
>>7873341
It's pretty typical British humor. Some dry, some slapstick.That said, it's generally very good humor.
That being said, Pratchett is generally very funny. Well written and mostly great characters/stories.
>>7876661
Does everything have to be politics with you faggots? Anyway, Mieville is okay at his world-building. His problem is turgid prose.
>>7877303
>Does everything have to be politics with you faggots?
Yes? We're fucking talking about Mieville senpai, It's kinda his thing.
>>7877331
But is it not possible to read an author and enjoy him even if you don't agree with his politics? Well, I guess that would take a little bit of restraint and intellect, so it's beyond most of /lit/, but still.
What is the One Piece of fantasy series /sffg/? I'm talking about a big comfy action-adventure with a fleshed out world and fun magic system that you can just lose yourself in for a while.
>>7877439
Jack Vance?
>>7877439
What you mean is actually trash for 12 year olds. So look at any YA series.
>>7869333
why would anyone ever take part in this thread? You're willfully limiting your literary experience to a single (pretty terrible) aesthetic.
>>7877876
>why would anyone ever take part in this thread?
To discuss fantasy and science fiction novels
>You're willfully limiting your literary experience to a single (pretty terrible) aesthetic.
Are you just pretending to be retarded? Reading sff or posting in this thread doesn't limit you magically from reading other aesthetics.
>>7877439
A lot. Like that is so fucking vague mate.
>>7877439
Skulduggery pleasant
>>7877951
I fucking LOVED those books growing up. I haven't read the last three though, wonder if I should get into them again.
>>7873409
Matrim is the only reason I could continue reading that shitfest.
and then he married a bald midget nigger and I dropped it.
>>7877439
Deltora Quest was the shit when I was a kid.
>>7877171
Read pic related and read it NOW. It is the most imaginative piece of urban fantasy I've ever read, and doesn't take itself too seriously.
>>7877876
Just like all those people shitposting in DFW threads only ever read Infinite Jest over and over again, and nothing else, right?
Felisin is my favourite character
>>7875118
Malazan is more like a love or couldn't get through a nigh-unreadable first book and 2nd boring part before civil war.
>>7878149
>falling for the Mieville meme
What's up with Wolfe, beautiful young women coming out of the water and rape? For a reoccurring image it's certainly a strange one to have.
>>7878402
He writes what everybody thinks, unrestrained by politeness.
>>7878417
Which doesn't explain the particular fascination with the theme occurring in every sun series. I didn't encounter it in any other of his works and there's some reason behind it.
>>7878402
Part of it is no doubt the theme of the deluge, which purged the nephilim and their wickedness but still left a kind of evil related to carnality and human nature ... the baptism in Wolfe is accompanied by death and perhaps moral evil as well. Life by its very nature contains the possibility of evil or it is not free. It is perhaps of note that the flood is more related to the agency of the hierogrammates and their manupulation than the absolute will of the Increate, an omnipresent but parodoxically absentee landlord.
>>7878421
And it remains unclear that Ushas is actually "good," for all Severiam's rhetoric. This separates Wolfe from so many other religious writers ... the numinous experience that flirts with divine mystery corrupted, while sometimes selfish motives result in true glory and goodness.
>>7878593
Manipulation*
>All these namefags
Fucking disgusting
>>7878830
April fools days was pretty fun.
>>7878975
I don't need your memes
Finished Echopraxia.
Thought it was ... interesting...
Even though I had no interest in reading a sequel to Blindsight.
I really hope that there won't be more Firefall (the 'series' name?) books/stories bc I hate series
Steven Erikson should make a stand alone novel for Felisin.
Or a Malazan anime that only does the Felisin storyline
>>7879112
But they couldn't retain the impact ofseeing the previously innocent 14-year-old getting fuckedon TV.
>>7879157
Isn't that what anime is all about?
