Anyone read any KJ Parker/Tom Holt? I read the Engineer series but didn't love it.
This flowchart from /r/ Fantasy intrigues me.
Finished The Master and Margarita:
Outside of the Sinners Ball at the beginning of part two (which unfortunately felt like a bit of a slog), it was an absolute riot. Found myself surprised by how fond of Satan's retinue I grew as I approached the ending (Koroviev and Behemoth in particular), and just how enjoyable the whole Pontius Pilate narrative turned out to be.
The opening three chapters (two intellectual atheists debate the existence of Jesus with an irritating passerby they're unaware is actually Satan -> Satan's insistence that Jesus obviously did exist because he was there when Pontius Pilate sentenced him to death -> their desperation to rationalise Satan as some kind of academic or invalid (as he hilariously addresses all their unvoiced internal monologuing)) were sublime. That most of the book lives up to that insanely entertaining intro is super impressive.
The whole 'written in Stalinist Russia and chucked in a drawer when finished (after being destroyed and given up on a couple of times), only to be published after the authors death' thing is also a pretty good story in and of itself.
I read the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation, which includes a bunch of material that was initially censored (also available in the Burgin and O'Connor translation - from what I understand these two are basically the only 'faithful' versions (others like Glenny are easier to read, but omit information and are based on an incomplete manuscript)).What translation are you reading? There are like four different translations on the Kindle store, with big price differences.
I read the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation, which includes a bunch of material that was initially censored (also available in the Burgin and O'Connor translation - from what I understand these two are basically the only 'faithful' versions (others like Glenny are easier to read, but omit information and are based on an incomplete manuscript)).
Here's the opening paragraph from those two:
[Pevear-Volokhonsky]
Thank you! They look kinda equal
At the hour of the hot spring sunset two citizens appeared at the Patriarch's Ponds. One of them, approximately forty years old, dressed in a grey summer suit, was short, dark-haired, plump, bald, and carried his respectable fedora hat in his hand. His neatly shaven face was adorned with black horn-rimmed glasses of a supernatural size. The other, a broad-shouldered young man with tousled reddish hair, his checkered cap cocked back on his head, was wearing a cowboy shirt, wrinkled white trousers and black sneakers.
[Burgin-O'Connor]
One hot spring evening, just as the sun was going down, two men appeared at Patriarch's Ponds. One of them – fortyish, wearing a gray summer suit – was short, dark-haired, bald on top, paunchy, and held his proper fedora in his hand; black horn-rimmed glasses of supernatural proportions adorned his well-shaven face. The other one – a broad-shouldered, reddish-haired, shaggy young man with a checked cap cocked on the back of his head – was wearing a cowboy shirt, crumpled white trousers, and black sneakers.
I've also read a bit about comparisons, and it's important to note that some people say the Pevear Volkhonsky translation misses some of the author's humor. A number of people seem to recommend the Ginsberg translation for the humor and poetic writing, even if it's based on the earlier, censored version, while others say not to read them. Some promote Burgin-O'Connor for the clarity of writing as well, while some further promote Glenny as well. Of course you'll find people recommending different versions based on certain qualities and it's a bit of a wash.
Cool, let us know how it is. I want to read more Ukrainian fiction authors but there aren't that many.I'm starting the Dyachenko's Daughter from the Dark, which has just been translated into English for the first time:
I am looking for shorter (~300 pages) novels that deal with mental illness for my bachelor thesis. It would be favourable if the main character has one but it's not necessary. It's important that the author doesn't have a mentall illness themself. I could just google but I thought that people here would recommend something that they have enjoyed reading. I would appreciate any tips.
Passing this on to my partner, didn't even know about it! Are their other books good?I'm starting the Dyachenko's Daughter from the Dark, which has just been translated into English for the first time:
What kind of stories do you like?One day I'll read something other than web fiction. One day...
Who knew there was something tailor made for my tastes and it was just sitting out there unbeknownst to me?
Cool, let us know how it is. I want to read more Ukrainian fiction authors but there aren't that many.
Most of their books haven't yet come out in English - I've read Vita Nostra, which was released by the same translator in 2018. It's extremely good.Passing this on to my partner, didn't even know about it! Are their other books good?
I'm interested in this one! Let us know what you think when you're done!
She's a Russian speaking Ukie, but our local library has very little selection (Vancouver Island) and she's already read all their Russian Lit.Most of their books haven't yet come out in English - I've read Vita Nostra, which was released by the same translator in 2018. It's extremely good.
lol this sounds so much more interesting to me than"Let's explain the esoteric fantasy war going on behind the scenes!"
I really liked the first few sections that focused on personal drama
Enjoy! The book throws you in the deep end with terminology, but if you persevere you'll find there world building unmatched.
I absolutely loved this book. Some of the characters are cliched, there's a very clear "evil" threat with few shades of grey, the pacing goes to hell in the last third of the book.... but it's so much FUN. Literally the definition of more than the sum of its parts. I was also convinced to read it by the promise of a single-volume fantasy epic, knowing I can leave the world behind after just the one book and be satisfied from a fantasy story is a rare occurrence, and it definitely delivered on that front. It has a really interesting world and likable characters and for whatever it's worth it kept reminding me of Fire Emblem: Three Houses in terms of story and characters. Really a treat.
Its been Dune reread. I went through the first Dune through Children of Dune in January and about to finish God Emperor soon. Man, these books are amazing read thousands of pages in a month and it feels like a breeze.
Just finished The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie. I think I liked it a little more than Best Served Cold. Only complaint would be there was so much going on that I sometimes lost track of what was happening between the different divisions in battle. I probably should've referenced the maps between sections more. Not sure that would've helped all that much since I was still checking the list of characters often trying to remember who was in what division too. The upside to the large cast is that there were tons of great characters. I enjoyed Bayaz quite a bit in the end but Calder and Gorst were probably still the best. Craw and Beck would be close behind those three.
I sincerely hope you enjoy itI started A Wise Man's Fear (Kingkiller Chronicle #2) by Patrick Rothfuss a few days ago, after finishing The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. I was holding off A Wise Man's Fear for a long time because I loved the writing in The Name of the Wind and it became my favourite book, but I was feeling in the mood to start it.
So far so good!
Fair enough my friend!I love all genres but I need that personal drama to center things. It's why I loved Mount Char so much.
I was holding off A Wise Man's Fear for a long time because I loved the writing in The Name of the Wind and it became my favourite book, but I was feeling in the mood to start it.
Fair enough my friend!
I like both, but I'm also a history nerd so I love good world building/battles etc.
Also why I love Jack Whyte's Arthur books, and my mom, the biggest Arthurian nerd on the planet, doesn't care for them.Well, know you're just listing reasons A Song of Ice and Fire is so great. I'm pretty much always re-reading that series along with another book. Clash of Kings: still great!
I really, really enjoyed it until the second to last chapter where it completely imploded for me. 3/5 overall, but the ending left a really sour aftertaste >.<I've been reading The Bone Clocks for about a month and my interest is really waning. I really liked the first few sections that focused on personal drama, but now I'm in the "Let's explain the esoteric fantasy war going on behind the scenes!" part and, man, I just could not care less about what's going on. Should I continue? Does it shift back to personal drama? I'm about 78% of the way through.
Is this the book people always say is a little misogynist and wish fulfillment? I can't remember if it's the rothfuss books or this seriesI started Glen Cook's The Black Company after years of recommendations. So far, so good. I vibe hard with its bleak comedy.
Did you read the afterword, dedication and the font sections? Those are important.I read all of N0S4A2 by Joe Hill in two days.
couldn't put this fucking book down, satisfying ending that genuinely moved me
Not sure about Black Company but that is certainly true of Kingkiller.Is this the book people always say is a little misogynist and wish fulfillment? I can't remember if it's the rothfuss books or this series
Is this the book people always say is a little misogynist and wish fulfillment? I can't remember if it's the rothfuss books or this series