[August] What are you reading?

[Olive]

He does seem to occasionally wander off in weirdness that serves no purpose whatsoever. The entire handlinger sequence in Perdido Street was just to show off "hey, look, here's a really weird, grotesque element of my aw3some 53tting, d00ds" kinda moment. It didn't further the storytelling at all; in fact, it interrupted the momentum of the story for no apparent reason. Which was unfortunate, as it took at least 200 pages to build up any momentum to begin with.

While I disagree about the first 200 pages, I do agree about the handlingers. But the scar had less of that in there, so I suspect as his writing matures the needless wierdness will get less and less.

On the politics thing, basically he's a very political person. I'd imagine that he would be unable to write these books without his politics.

Though to be honest, as a very political person with views not dissimilar to Meiville's, I don't find that he IS that political. But I guess that's just me. Ken MacLeod is a much more political writer, where as Iain M Banks, who is a very political person, is very rarely described as a political writer of fiction. But I have no doubt what Bank's politics are upon reading his work. Meiville's books remind me of Banks's in terms of their political-ness. Smilarly with Ursela LeGuin, with the notable exception of two books and a short story, she doesn't have much overt politics in her writing. But she is also a very political person whose politics informs her work. Moorcock as well.

This is probably a dangerous line of discussion tho. I'm pretty sure I'm sailing as close to the wind as I can without being specific and breaking the rules.

 

[mmu1]

The point I decided never to spend any more money on him was when I came across his "LotR is a festering boil on the ass of fantasy writing" interview. Politics and my opinion of his talent as a writer aside, the man is an insufferable pompous ass.

 

[barsoomcore]

My problem with Mieville is that I don't like his style (snip), and that he injects way too much of his own personal politics into his books, which I don't care for at all.

Huh. My problem with Mieville is that he writes dull books. On like, page 6700 of Perdido Street Station I asked myself, "Why am I reading this?"

Still wondering what the answer to that question would be.

I've finally started Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erickson.

Some people say it's the best of the series. I say it's the pitch that Memories of Ice knocks out of the frickin' park. The Chain of Dogs will haunt your dreams, but the Pannion Seer will keep you up at night.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

The King Of Torts by John Grisham

Took a break from reading any fantasy/sci-fi....

 

[Desdichado]

Huh. My problem with Mieville is that he writes dull books. On like, page 6700 of Perdido Street Station I asked myself, "Why am I reading this?"

Still wondering what the answer to that question would be.

That's what I said up 'til about page 200. Then, when the section called Metamorphosis started, I thought the book got quite a bit better. I'll probably give The Scar a chance based on the recovery he made for PSS finally. In fact, based on the pretty stupid books I'm reading right now, I might just drop them and try it this month...

 

[myrdden]

Some people say it's the best of the series. I say it's the pitch that Memories of Ice knocks out of the frickin' park. The Chain of Dogs will haunt your dreams, but the Pannion Seer will keep you up at night.

I hope that's a good thing!

 

[Pants]

That's what I said up 'til about page 200. Then, when the section called Metamorphosis started, I thought the book got quite a bit better. I'll probably give The Scar a chance based on the recovery he made for PSS finally. In fact, based on the pretty stupid books I'm reading right now, I might just drop them and try it this month...

The Scar picks up a lot quicker than PSS did and is, so far, much better, although the 'point' of the book has yet to be revealed yet (I'm 300 pages in). Still good though.

 

[Pielorinho]

Very interesting. I liked The Scar, but not nearly as much as PSS. The first book (PSS) was utterly engrossing for me, one of the least boring books I've read in years; it felt like someone was transcribing my nightmares and giving them to me awake. The Scar didn't have that effect on me; nor did Iron Council. Tey both very good IMO, but not as raw as PSS was.

He does wait awhile in all the books before developing the "main" plot, inasmuch as there is a main plot.

Daniel

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
Yeah, I'm behind the times a little bit. Just started it today, so I'm not really into it yet.

 

[Uzumaki]

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz. First Koontz novel I've read. I'm not a big fan of Stephen King, so someone suggested I try Koontz. I sorta like it sofar, Odd's narrative is entertaining if somewhat unlike that of a 20-year-old.