Some new books

[Desdichado]

So, I was popping into Waldenbooks today and they had Wizard's First Rule for $2.99. I know it's bait to get me to buy the rest of the massive series, but I figgered what the heck. I've also recently checked out Perdido Street Station from the library; I've been meaning to read that for a long time. And finally, I've just been informed that book 11 of the Wheel of Time comes out in January, and book 12 is supposed to be the end. Since I haven't read books 9 or 10 yet, I'm considerably behind. [sigh] I have no hope of catching up.

Anybody have any experience with the books listed above?

 

[Dimwhit]

Wizard's First Rule is a good book, but the author gets a little twisted at times. Definitely a book for adults. But very good.

I haven't read Robert Jordan since Book 5. I was going to wait for the whole series, then if I felt brave, read the whole thing straight through. I kept forgetting what happened in one book by the time the next one came out. But I've enjoyed what I've read so far.

Haven't heard of Perdido Street Station. Is it fantasy or scifi?

 

[Desdichado]

Wizard's First Rule is a good book, but the author gets a little twisted at times. Definitely a book for adults. But very good.

Yeah, I've heard that. In fact, I've been turned off for some time based on reports of that, but I figger for $2.99 it's gotta be really bad to not be a good deal. And I do have friends who have quite enjoyed it.

I haven't read Robert Jordan since Book 5. I was going to wait for the whole series, then if I felt brave, read the whole thing straight through. I kept forgetting what happened in one book by the time the next one came out. But I've enjoyed what I've read so far.

That was my plan too after reading all the way through book 6 right before book seven was released. I waited on Book 8 and then decided that it just wasn't worth it anymore, especially given the decaying quality of the books as they advanced. If they really do only go to 12 books (only!) and book 11 is imminent, I may be about ready to go through the entire thing again.

Haven't heard of Perdido Street Station. Is it fantasy or scifi?

That's the big question. I haven't read it yet either, but it seems to be mostly fantasy, albeit extremely non-traditional.

 

[Pielorinho]

You may have heard me raving about Perdido Street Station. I'll say this: get through the somewhat-slow prologue, and if the book hasn't grabbed you by the end of the first chapter, you're unlikely to ever get into it. I very much enjoyed it.

Daniel

 

[wortworm]

Wow... you chose two books on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Wizard's First Rule is inventive in a very non-literary standard fantasy way, while Perdido Street Station is equally or more inventive in a highly stylistic, atypical fantasy way.

You can have fun with both books, though.

--Mark

 

[Pielorinho]

On the note of whether PSS is fantasy or sci-fi: that is a difficult question. It's got elements of both in it, but not in a manner you'd expect; instead, Mieville proposes a weird, alternate science with strong thaumaturgical elements.

 

[Dimwhit]

You may have heard me raving about Perdido Street Station. I'll say this: get through the somewhat-slow prologue, and if the book hasn't grabbed you by the end of the first chapter, you're unlikely to ever get into it. I very much enjoyed it.

Daniel

Who's the author on this one? I need to come up with a book to review. Sounds like it could be intriguing. Is it very long?

 

[Pielorinho]

Huh -- I'd thought you were ragging on Mieville specifically in the other thread, Dimwhit, not talking about authors in general. China Mieville is the author of Perdido Street Station. It's relatively long, but I found it completely gripping, and wished it'd been longer.

Daniel

 

[Dimwhit]

Huh -- I'd thought you were ragging on Mieville specifically in the other thread, Dimwhit, not talking about authors in general. China Mieville is the author of Perdido Street Station. It's relatively long, but I found it completely gripping, and wished it'd been longer.

Daniel

Nah, I wasn't really ragging against him, but just authors in general. I didn't agree with him that fantasy and scifi were fundamentally different, but that's ok. Toward the end of the thread, I was just talking about the genres and authors in general, not him specifically.

 

[Pielorinho]

I don't want to hijack this thread, Dimwhit, so just check out that thread for a comment.

Daniel