tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post1056157009922473199..comments2024-01-21T09:25:55.810+00:00Comments on Civilian Reader: 2013: New Year’s (Reading) Resolutions – FantasyCivilian Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-67658352600292041422013-01-03T13:30:55.734+00:002013-01-03T13:30:55.734+00:00I don't think I'll be able to read as many...I don't think I'll be able to read as many this year as I did last year... I have a feeling that, of the series I mention in the post, Sanderson's will be the last attempted (maybe it'll be Christmas 2013...?) due to the novels' length. James Barclay's I've had for a long time, so I feel I really should get to that soon.Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-6267626701630296232013-01-03T13:16:08.500+00:002013-01-03T13:16:08.500+00:00Ambitious goals, and I wish you the best of luck :...Ambitious goals, and I wish you the best of luck :) My reading goal is to read more books this year than last year, since my reading pace has slowed down so much!<br /><br />JamieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548680159204361401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-27549947950589576662013-01-03T07:37:31.471+00:002013-01-03T07:37:31.471+00:00Yes, it's a "spin-off". If I underst...Yes, it's a "spin-off". If I understand correctly one of the elves in the book will later become part of the Ravens. <br /><br />The Elves is set before the Raven books (as far as I can gather) so I don't think reading them would've been a requirement.<br /><br />As for sci-fi series:<br />Anything by Peter F. Hamilton (Night's Dawn, Commonwealth, Void)<br />Iain M. Bank's Culture (though some of them work better than others)<br />Neal Asher (very violent, action orientated).KJ Mulderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13306475344390343790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-60207115401023135702013-01-03T01:30:28.002+00:002013-01-03T01:30:28.002+00:00Yes, I've read Scott Lynch's first novel i...Yes, I've read Scott Lynch's first novel in the Gentlemen Bastard series. I absolutely loved it. I'm holding off on the second until it looks like there will actually be a release day for the third book.<br /><br />It's too bad he's struggled with depression, because he is really a phenomenal writer and would likely venture into SF as well. With folks like Brandon Sanderson or Daniel Abraham, you know the books will be coming out regularly, so there is little risk in picking up a series from them.Peterhttp://oddengine.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-4627856958012397402013-01-02T22:51:35.708+00:002013-01-02T22:51:35.708+00:00Gemmell should also have been on my list - both of...Gemmell should also have been on my list - both of them, actually, as Stella Gemmell's "The City" looks pretty awesome, too.Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-66708667529487837882013-01-02T22:50:25.362+00:002013-01-02T22:50:25.362+00:00Which Sci-Fi series would you recommend, then?Which Sci-Fi series would you recommend, then?Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-15507880678401971002013-01-02T22:50:08.813+00:002013-01-02T22:50:08.813+00:00Isn't the Elves series a "spin-off" ...Isn't the Elves series a "spin-off" from the Raven books?<br />(Actually, if you keep an eye out, you'll find this out from an interview with James Barclay, that is currently in the works...)Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-59685689903778659252013-01-02T17:20:00.062+00:002013-01-02T17:20:00.062+00:00I'm planning to read Tom Lloyd as well! In add...I'm planning to read Tom Lloyd as well! In addition, I have a gazillion series to catch up on and I really need to read Gemmell, Shinn, and Kate Griffin.Mieneke van der Salmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04782771945227479913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-53809568542824447052013-01-02T16:44:29.051+00:002013-01-02T16:44:29.051+00:00I actually also have to read most of the series yo...I actually also have to read most of the series you have listed here. Since my focus is more on science fiction the fantasy keeps getting bumped down the list each time.<br /><br />I've tried James Barclay's ELVES: ONCE WALKED WITH GODS, but it was far too confusing (had to check that it was the 1st book) and I moved on to something else. I actually have to pick it up again at some point.KJ Mulderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13306475344390343790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-35956436578605274702013-01-02T07:24:44.848+00:002013-01-02T07:24:44.848+00:00I haven't read any Tad Williams either, but Th...I haven't read any Tad Williams either, but The Dirty Streets of Heaven looks really interesting. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross is alright but it's basically two novellas rather than an overarching story.<br /><br />And for Zahn, I'm going to read the Heir to the Empire stuff first and then if I like that (which I should) get some newer stuff. Milo MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05145862452794634877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-15918012784321106842013-01-02T07:19:08.550+00:002013-01-02T07:19:08.550+00:00Hah! :)Hah! :)Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-79259552487926309142013-01-02T07:04:36.820+00:002013-01-02T07:04:36.820+00:00People who haven't read Sanderson don't kn...People who haven't read Sanderson don't know what they're missing out on. It makes me extremely sad. It's like growing up in Western society without celebrating Christmas.Joshua Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05660987767660028351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-107456671624149672013-01-01T23:27:36.274+00:002013-01-01T23:27:36.274+00:00I enjoyed Sanderson's "The Emperor's ...I enjoyed Sanderson's "The Emperor's Soul", but felt it was too short - more like a vignette/scene from a larger piece of work. This, I think, bodes well for his full-length (well, double-length, some might say) novels. I've heard nothing but good things, too. They're just... so damned BIG!<br />[First person to make a "That's what she said" joke is fired...]<br /><br />Tad Williams is another I've never read - Michael "Mad Hatter" gave me a spare copy of "Dirty Streets of Heaven", so I hope to get a chance to read it relatively soon. (Those words have been written so very many times on this blog... I should just stop using them...)<br /><br />There should be a couple more Alex Cross novels - "Merry Christmas Alex Cross" and "Alex Cross Run". Quite looking forward to those, but I'm waiting for the eBooks to get a bit cheaper before I buy them.<br /><br />re: Tim Zahn & Star Wars: his new ones, or his old ones? Or both? His first SW trilogy is still, in my opinion, some of the best sci-fi/space opera ever written. His and Kevin J. Anderson's first SW trilogies sparked my life-long passion for the series. [Although, I do prefer everything set around and after Episode IV.]<br /><br />Dresden... Yes. I've read I think the first two or three, and didn't particularly love them. Apparently he gets MUCH better not too long after that. One day I'll get around to reading more, but they're not too high on my priority list at the moment. In that vein, it's Kevin Hearne for me. And Richard Kadrey, but he's in a league all his own, IMHO.<br /><br />Rothfuss is great - first novel stuck with me long after I finished reading it. Second book was also very good, but could have done with an aggressive edit. Neil Gaiman's amazing - I'm hoping to read his Sandman series before Vertigo publishes the prequels later this year.Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-82724597679172350992013-01-01T23:19:28.456+00:002013-01-01T23:19:28.456+00:00That's fair enough - a lot of fantasy isn'...That's fair enough - a lot of fantasy isn't for everyone. Have you tried Scott Lynch? I find his novels are superb gateway drugs... ;)<br /><br />I've heard very good things about Sanderson's Stormlight Archive - I picked up the eBook when it was published because it was so cheap for a 1,000+ page novel.<br /><br />If horror's your thing, you could try to find some fantasies that are also quite horror-tinged? Unfortunately I can't think of any off the top of my head, but I'll have a think and report back with suggestions. (If someone else has any, feel free to share!)Civilian Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978134983999101494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-82697148077870720152013-01-01T21:20:45.375+00:002013-01-01T21:20:45.375+00:00I need to read all of Sanderson's non-Mistborn...I need to read all of Sanderson's non-Mistborn stuff (and The Alloy of Law), All of Patrick Rothfuss, All of Neil Gaiman apart from American Gods, the second and third First Law novels as well as Best Served Cold, Tad Williams' Dirty Streets of Heaven, Ready Player One, catch up to date on Jim Butcher's Dresden Files (on Book 9), read Timothy Zahn's Star Wars, read the rest of the Alex Cross novels... So yeah, a lot. Milo MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05145862452794634877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25675853.post-2726329185991075022013-01-01T19:45:29.214+00:002013-01-01T19:45:29.214+00:00There are probably three big authors that I haven&...There are probably three big authors that I haven't read from yet (two of which you mention):<br /><br />Brandon Sanderson<br />Patrick Rothfuss<br />Joe Abercrombie<br /><br />I tend to read more sci fi and horror than fantasy and have found myself occasionally disappointed with fantasy titles that others rave about. But I need and want to catch up with these folks. I'm thinking of just biting the bullet and picking up book one of Sanderson's mammoth ten volume series...Peterhttp://oddengine.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com