What are you reading in 2025?

[Paul Farquhar]

It’s kind of worrying actually - Terry Pratchett became increasing repetitive as the Alzheimer’s set in, even with a good assistant.

 

[TheSword]

It’s kind of worrying actually - Terry Pratchett became increasing repetitive as the Alzheimer’s set in, even with a good assistant.

Are you worried about Alzheimer’s? Kinda feel being able to publish at least 6 novels after the diagnosis is amazing which just goes to show, never surrender.

 

[Entrught]

This year I'm hooked on The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, the eco theme is seriously intense. Also reading The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin, the worldbuilding is sick and the plot’s lit. Can’t wait to dig into more new stuff

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I think Sanderson have become too successful to edit. He either doesn't listen/trust his editors or they don't dare too much and/or are yes-men. Because these weaknesses are common critique of his books a lot of people seen this, every experienced editor has seen these weaknesses, I am 100% sure of that.

I am really curious how bad "Wind and Truth" will be, appereantly even many diehard fans critique this book as too long and having too much padding. But I will read the complete series anyway. Its on the one hand an sort of academic curiosity - he is one of the most successful fantasy writers at the moment. But I also still enjoy his books besides the glaring weaknesses. There is still a great plot, exciting action, nice character moments etc. There are just padded so much. I think what makes me most mad is the missed potential. With better editing these could've been so good.

What I'm seeing with my friends is that now 100% of us have been "taken out" by Book 3, 4 or 5 (Wind and Truth is 5) of Stormlight. No-one I know is continuing to read Stormlight. Whereas like, almost everyone I know who reads fantasy novels (which is surprisingly large number of people) read the books 1 & 2, and most of them made it to 3. 3 was where it really got obvious how much was just waffling on about nothing, and I genuinely felt like Sanderson was wasting my time, which is something I'm almost never experienced with an author.

It's sad because whilst his earlier books have some digressions, some repetition and some oddities, they're not just blather or waffle or meta-wank. It's a little horrifying to compare it to say Gene Wolfe's Book of The New Sun, which is also 1200-ish pages. I'm sure Sanderson would strongly agree that Wolfe is far better writer (he's weirdly humble for a man who can't be edited, which makes me think "Yes men" is the problem more than him), but even ignoring stuff like the quality of prose (incomparably higher with Wolfe), the sheer density of ideas, thoughts, and meaning in The Book of The New Sun is probably 50x (no joke) that of Stormlight 3.