I hadn't realized we already had a copy - translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt - so a couple of years ago I picked up a two-volume set translated by Harry Carter.
Carter's take is fairly formal and, among other things, names the abductor of Helen as Alexander. Sélincourt is informal, a bit modern, and uses Paris.
not sure which I prefer. Might continue, as I did last night, reading a couple sections from the one and then re-reading it in the other.
Has anyone ever read Platonov? I've just read a description of him as "Russia's great prose poet of revolutionary entropy", which is an amazing phrase.
Same review contained this pretty wonderful story about Sats:
Yeah, the novels never really get into a groove. The pacing's all off, there are too many narrative devices that are repeated, too many POV shifts to random characters at just the wrong stages of the story. They're... not very good tbh. I feel the novels are at their peak when they're most like the short stories, i.e. when Geralt and his company are having their episodic encounters and adventures. That's mostly in the third book iirc.
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Shortytouching the meatIntergalactic Cool CourtRegistered Userregular
I think my main complaint is that Geralt doesn't do any fucking witching!
is basically never confronted with her actions as one of the Rats. They basically become martyrs for her with it never getting brought up again that they were murdering assholes who killed innocent people for fun.
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David_TA fashion yes-man is no good to me.Copenhagen, DenmarkRegistered Userregular
I have unwittingly been reading a couple of books that have been compared to Pratchett recently. I mean, I was aware that I was reading them, but I didn't seek them out because of the Pratchett comparisons.
"Darkwood" and "Such Big Teeth", part one and two of the Darkwood series, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch (also a guest on the podcast Desert Island Discworld), and "A Wizards Guide To Defensive Baking" by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon).
I liked them all and I can see why the Pratchett comparisons were made, but I kinda feel like the Darkwood series has some of the humour of Pratchett but not so much the rest of what makes a Pratchett book, while Defensive Baking has much of the rest (and just reads better) but not the same level of humour. Of course, that's holding them to a very high bar.
They also all involve Breadmancy, come to think of it.
I'm kind of scared yet excited to find out how much further Baru can escalate her incredible talent for being an absolute asshole, while still remaining theoretically the heroine, but yeah that's my holiday reading
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3cl1ps3I will build a labyrinth to house the cheeseRegistered Userregular
I have unwittingly been reading a couple of books that have been compared to Pratchett recently. I mean, I was aware that I was reading them, but I didn't seek them out because of the Pratchett comparisons.
"Darkwood" and "Such Big Teeth", part one and two of the Darkwood series, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch (also a guest on the podcast Desert Island Discworld), and "A Wizards Guide To Defensive Baking" by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon).
I liked them all and I can see why the Pratchett comparisons were made, but I kinda feel like the Darkwood series has some of the humour of Pratchett but not so much the rest of what makes a Pratchett book, while Defensive Baking has much of the rest (and just reads better) but not the same level of humour. Of course, that's holding them to a very high bar.
They also all involve Breadmancy, come to think of it.
It's really just a reminder that even though the Discworld books read pretty easy and breezy, Pratchett was a generational talent and working at a caliber that almost no other living author can match.
I snagged two more Antony Beevor WW2 histories (Arnhem and Battle of the Bulge) on the ole kindle because they were on sale so I figure I'm just gonna make my way through all of them. I'll grab the one on Crete and I think there's maybe one more later and if I get to feeling squirrely I may try and reread them all in chronological order. But also maybe not because that is a lot of books.
I snagged two more Antony Beevor WW2 histories (Arnhem and Battle of the Bulge) on the ole kindle because they were on sale so I figure I'm just gonna make my way through all of them. I'll grab the one on Crete and I think there's maybe one more later and if I get to feeling squirrely I may try and reread them all in chronological order. But also maybe not because that is a lot of books.
I just finished reading Empire of Gold, the conclusion to the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. Loved every page of it, and the story is pretty much designed to hook me. Can't get enough of Islamic Fantasy and romance.
...
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knitdanIn ur baseKillin ur guysRegistered Userregular
Each robe was embroidered with the Double Eye of the Almighty, and Shallan had a fleeting thought, wondering at the seamstress they’d hired to do all this work. What had they told her? “Yes, we want twenty identical, mysterious robes, sewn with ancient arcane symbols. They’re for… parties.”
Antony Beevor is a bit fucking fantastic, you rarely read history so compellingly written and so exhaustively sourced
The last one I read he made a point that "King Tiger" as in the tank is a sloppy translation and ought be "Royal Tiger" and never has a persnickety pedant point warmed my heart more
Hobnail on
Broke as fuck in the style of the times. Gratitude is all that can return on your generosity.
Each robe was embroidered with the Double Eye of the Almighty, and Shallan had a fleeting thought, wondering at the seamstress they’d hired to do all this work. What had they told her? “Yes, we want twenty identical, mysterious robes, sewn with ancient arcane symbols. They’re for… parties.”
Chapter 5 spoilers
The subtle drop of "found in Aimia" is pretty entertaining.
JedocIn the scupperswith the staggers and jagsRegistered Userregular
edited August 2020
Just finished another re-read of Cryptonomicon, since it was brought up in the thread. It's still a thoroughly entertaining book, but every year it gets more hilarious that the protagonists started a business to use cheap off-peak bandwidth to send YouTube videos to be physically copied to cassette tapes at 7-11 so they could fund their actual business plan of putting Bitcoin on the gold standard.
As we come to close on this thread I want to say Oscar Wilde is a dork, The Turner Diaries is an immoral book. Although I suspect he may have figured out himself that what people say isn't a game when he was in prison for being gay.
StraightziHere we may reign secure, and in my choice,To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered Userregular
I mean the quote is an excerpt from the introduction he added after he was forced to heavily censor The Picture of Dorian Gray
I'm pretty sure he was already well aware of the severity of the written word at that point, and that it was indirectly tied in to the fact that he was later imprisoned for being gay
Finished the Druid of Shannara. Amazed at the things I do and don't remember. Remembered all about Walker Boh and his arm and the Black Elfstone, completely forgot everyone else on the trip to Eldwist. Quickening the created woman, Pe Ell the assassin, Morgan Leah comes along. Carisman is just an actual D&D Bard. Liked this book best so far. On to the Elf Queen.
I just finished reading Empire of Gold, the conclusion to the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. Loved every page of it, and the story is pretty much designed to hook me. Can't get enough of Islamic Fantasy and romance.
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I hadn't realized we already had a copy - translated by Aubrey de Sélincourt - so a couple of years ago I picked up a two-volume set translated by Harry Carter.
Carter's take is fairly formal and, among other things, names the abductor of Helen as Alexander. Sélincourt is informal, a bit modern, and uses Paris.
not sure which I prefer. Might continue, as I did last night, reading a couple sections from the one and then re-reading it in the other.
That was so ice cold I had to go outside and warm up for a bit after reading it.
Amazing.
Same review contained this pretty wonderful story about Sats:
The last wish
The 1920s noir detective parallel is quite apt
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16534
I just finished blood of elves and was pretty unimpressed, basically nothing happened in it
I think a lot of the novels are kinda hot air, unfortunately
I really prefer the punchiness of the short stories
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16534
"Darkwood" and "Such Big Teeth", part one and two of the Darkwood series, by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch (also a guest on the podcast Desert Island Discworld), and "A Wizards Guide To Defensive Baking" by T. Kingfisher (aka Ursula Vernon).
I liked them all and I can see why the Pratchett comparisons were made, but I kinda feel like the Darkwood series has some of the humour of Pratchett but not so much the rest of what makes a Pratchett book, while Defensive Baking has much of the rest (and just reads better) but not the same level of humour. Of course, that's holding them to a very high bar.
They also all involve Breadmancy, come to think of it.
https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
Guess that solves my what to read question for awhile.
It's really just a reminder that even though the Discworld books read pretty easy and breezy, Pratchett was a generational talent and working at a caliber that almost no other living author can match.
Real good book, but I think everyone knew that already
I thiiiiink Everything I Never Told You might edge it out a little bit for me, but it's a tough comparison
The dude is thorough
Oh fuck those releasedates crept up on me
As well as Empire of Gold
Gonna have to wait though, I’m tapped out this month
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
The last one I read he made a point that "King Tiger" as in the tank is a sloppy translation and ought be "Royal Tiger" and never has a persnickety pedant point warmed my heart more
https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
Chapter 5 spoilers
1999, you are adorable.
I had a real brain bending moment there for a second where I thought you meant Oscar Wilde was somehow responsible for The Turner Diaries.
probably still not the worst episode of Doctor Who, though
I'm pretty sure he was already well aware of the severity of the written word at that point, and that it was indirectly tied in to the fact that he was later imprisoned for being gay
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=16534
LORD THERE IS SO MUCH
I don't consider myself good at guessing twists/reveals, but I did at least pick up on the thing that was being strongly hinted at.
I laughed for a minute straight at (tiny spoilers for a thing towards the end)
Origin ID: Discgolfer27
Untappd ID: Discgolfer1981
Empire of Gold was a very satisfying finale
PSN/Steam/NNID: SyphonBlue | BNet: SyphonBlue#1126