Mangler's awesome book thread.

[Mangler]

Finally read 'Half a King' the first of the new trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. I have to say I thought some of his more recent stuff had been a bit patchy, but this I thoroughly enjoyed again. Good ripping fantasy-ness.

I also finally bought 'Unfettered', a short story anthology that contains a Wheel of Time short story. I've not read the whole book yet, but the WoT story was actually pretty enjoyable, albeit rather short.

[Jomin]

I'm with you on the Joe Abercrombie (he's local to me, I believe) and have recently finished the third "half a" book in the Shattered Sea series: Half a War - I look forward to more in the future.

In the absence of any more Adult aimed Jasper Fforde books (particularly from the Thursday Next series, an alternate fantasy world series, with an ongoing Crimean War and Cheese Smuggling into the Socialist Republic of Wales {see more about this at the Cheese Enforcement Agency site} as incidental themes) I have started on his Teen books, beginning with The Last Dragonslayer...

I also enjoyed all the books in the Steampunk Ketty Jay series that Kordin mentioned!

[Mangler]

Well since we've got time on ours hands...!

I read 'Half a World', book 2 of Joe Abercrombie's 'Shattered Sea' series. Again a rip-roaring fantasy yarn that was a very enjoyable page turner. I'd recommend it if you want a light, enjoyable fantasy book.

I also read 'The Machine' by James Smythe, a really intruiging book which explores memory and loss with a near-future setting.

Oh and I finally let myself read book 3 of 'The Expanse' series - Abbadon's Gate. I think probably better than book 2, an enjoyable space opera series. Looking forward to the TV show now!

[Alayla]

Oh and I finally let myself read book 3 of 'The Expanse' series - Abbadon's Gate

. Yay!

[chavaon]

Another 'Dresden'-type series! Mark Del Franco's Connor Grey books, I've just started the second book, pretty good so far, perhaps not greatly original (a fair bit seems familiar from similiar series) but quite well-written and enjoyable

[Mangler]

Just finished "The Emperor's Blade," by Brian Staveley. Heard a lot of noise about this one when it first came out, glad to say it lived up to the noise. Great debut fantasy novel and great start to a new series. Worth reading if you're looking for some great world-building and engaging writing.

[Mithos]

I'd highly recommend Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C Clarke, as well as Hyperion Chronicles and Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons.

Rendezvous is about a team exploring an alien space station that enters the solar system and their findings and theories, as well as the System reaction to it. Good, quick read and classic sci fi. When i got into it, I honestly couldn't put it down. Haven't breached the sequels, but they weren't written by Clarke like the first one was.

Hyperion I have a love/hate relationship with. It's about an oncoming event between two sects of Human civilization and all the stuff at play in the greater Galaxy. I love the setup, the story and character backstories but the climax in the 2nd book left me a bit..."eh'ed" for lack of a proper descriptor. Still highly recommended.

Lastly, for just a read that is sheer fun without a horrendous amount of thought needed to process it; the Reckoners series by Brandon Sanderson. It's about a world with supervillains and no superheroes to stop them. It's up to the average Joe to figure out how to take em down. Steelheart, Mitosis, and Firefight are all just really, really fun to read and hard as all hell to put down. The final book is coming out in a few months (Calamity).

[Razhak]

Hyperion is great, however, one should forget about the Endymion sequels.

Am reading the Black Company now, and like it enough to keep reading.

Read the newer Brandon Sanderson novel Steelheart: liked it enough to keep reading, but I wonder if it keeps up or if it will stutter down like mistborn did after 2-3 novels.

I really liked the Way of Kings novels, although the ending of the second novel made me afraid about deus-ex-machina solutions popping up

[Mangler]

Finished 'Bloodsong', the first of the Anthony Ryan books. Was underwhelmed I have to say sadly! It was ok, but nothing that makes me badly want book 2.

I also read Cormac McCarthy's 'Outer Dark' which was good, his prose is awesome, but it's pretty weird and dark (for a change).

Finally read 'Ready Player One', which is all the geeky awesome I hoped it could be. It's basically an ode to geekiness, highly recommended!

Now I'm off to work out my Christmas book list...

[Mantorok]

Hyperion is great, however, one should forget about the Endymion sequels.

Am reading the Black Company now, and like it enough to keep reading.

Read the newer Brandon Sanderson novel Steelheart: liked it enough to keep reading, but I wonder if it keeps up or if it will stutter down like mistborn did after 2-3 novels.

I really liked the Way of Kings novels, although the ending of the second novel made me afraid about deus-ex-machina solutions popping up

The Steelheart minisequel (Mitosis) was a good but short read that starts to lay out the foundation of figuring out the Weaknesses. And the full sequel, Firefight, was pretty good. Not quite as good as Steelheart, since it adds in a bit of teenage romance plot, but also had a lot more char development for David.

A few years ago I would have shanked you over words against Mistborn, but after rereading it a few times I kinda agree. First book was outstanding, others were good but felt like they dragged on a lot at time.