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Russad posted:He said he's already read MHI. With that level of self-insert, I think he's good. I'm onto the second one, they are amazingly bad.
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Aug 17, 2015 01:16
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Deptfordx posted:It was terribly unfair not winning the Hugo which he thought he really deserved. Fortunately he handled his disappointment with dignity and grace. The more i think of the hugos the more I think it needs to rebrand itself. To vote on the hugos you need to go to a convention, but the hugos are meant to be everybodys opinion on sci-fi and fantasy. Then you have people saying "Oh my god this novel was on the Sad puppies list Im not going to read the book and give it a no award vote". Seeing how vulnerable the hugos are to infighting and political bullshit makes me doubt how valid the results are. I obviously have some bias since I'm in the Dresden Files thread. For some reason the Sad Puppies campaign endorsed Skin Games (even though Jim has no idea who they are).
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Aug 17, 2015 02:31
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RosaParksOfDip posted:I think the general sense was that he felt magic was going away and considering all the poo poo he had gone through with most of his friends and colleagues dying, he was happy to let it diminish. Why bother keeping a full complement of supernatural police if there's nothing to police? I believe there is a specific quote from Nightingale where he explicitly mentions that they all just assumed that magic was going away because after Ettersberg the insular magical community was torn apart, and they all woke up to a wider world that now had jets and computers and no need of magic.. Additionally, after Ettersberg most British were dead or quit the business, and most of the wizards of europe were dead at the hands of the Nazis, or died fighting for them. There was no real need for wizards and magic if there were no more magic users to guard against for God and country.
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Aug 17, 2015 02:42
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Kea posted:I'm onto the second one, they are amazingly bad. I barely see how that's physically possible. I pulled the ejection cord at the Sluggy Freelance reference in book one and never looked back. That said, the Grimnoir series by the same author is actually okay-ish; it's set between WWI and WWII, so you actually can get pretty far into the books before you hit blatant fascism-worship and FDR becomes one of the major villains.
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Aug 17, 2015 09:23
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Old Kentucky Shark posted:I pulled the ejection cord at the Sluggy Freelance reference in book one and never looked back. Wait, really? Like, really?
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Aug 17, 2015 09:45
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Skippy McPants posted:Wait, really? Like, really? The book was written in 2009, so you can't even blame it on people not knowing any better in the early ages of the internet.
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Aug 17, 2015 10:08
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Old Kentucky Shark posted:I barely see how that's physically possible. I pulled the ejection cord at the Sluggy Freelance reference in book one and never looked back.
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Aug 17, 2015 10:29
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Old Kentucky Shark posted:I barely see how that's physically possible. I pulled the ejection cord at the Sluggy Freelance reference in book one and never looked back. Hah I finished it and dammit I'm going to read the third, I read quickly so it's not that much of a waste of my time. HAHAHA oh god these books are so completely terrible, its like the worst gun porn, in the second book they meet some gnomes (like the garden variety) and they are the worst stereotype of gangster/rap culture you have ever read, there is hilarious deus-ex-machina everywhere and the big badass government agent , Agent Franks, turns out to be literally frankensteins monster, I have no idea how I didnt see this coming
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Aug 17, 2015 10:35
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Old Kentucky Shark posted:In order to show that they are give-no-fucks complete badasses, the unit of elite monster hunters at the beginning of the book show off their "Bun-Bun holding a switchblade" combat patches to the main character. This can't be real. Like, does he pause for an expositional bit of prose or does he just take it for granted that both groups of characters and the reader will be well acquainted with the random first-gen web comics? I just... my mind boggles. I want to believe you are lying, because I don't want to live in a world where people are so lacking in self awareness. Skippy McPants fucked around with this message at 11:54 on Aug 17, 2015 |
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Aug 17, 2015 11:51
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Skippy McPants posted:This can't be real. Like, does he pause for an expositional bit of prose or does he just take it for granted that both groups of characters and the reader will be well acquainted with the random first-gen web comics? I just... my mind boggles. I want to believe you are lying, because I don't want to live in a world where people are so lacking in self awareness. Reading MHI is like reading Correia's diary. He's the bestest best at guns and also the chosen one, and gently caress the government, yeah! It's honestly exactly what I expect from him - he bitches about the government and bootstrappiness, but the entire business model of MHI is corporate welfare - they get paid to do what they do by the government. The romance side plot was infuriating - at one point he's hitting on the girl while her boyfriend is missing and possibly dead, and then doesn't understand why the boyfriend hates him. There's also one conversation between Gary Stu and Hot Girl who is Awesome with Guns where he just HAS to do a "liberals are the REAL racists" which is terrible not just for the content, but because he doesn't even bother trying to make it fit into the conversation naturally. Oh, and the hunter who is a former stripper, whose entire purpose is to exist for people to talk about her tits. Please don't give Larry Correia your money.
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Aug 17, 2015 13:03
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Russad posted:Reading MHI is like reading Correia's diary. He's the bestest best at guns and also the chosen one, and gently caress the government, yeah! It's honestly exactly what I expect from him - he bitches about the government and bootstrappiness, but the entire business model of MHI is corporate welfare - they get paid to do what they do by the government. Yeah do not buy these books, I got them from a charity shop because i recognised the title, do not ACTUALLY buy any of his work its the worst.
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Aug 17, 2015 13:11
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I ended up reading the Grimnoir Chronicles before I knew anything about Correia. In fact, it's the only reason I ever found out who they guy is, because by the end of the second book I'd spotted one too many instances of what sounded like the author talking over the voice of his characters. I went looking to find out what the real guy was like and decided to never even glance at his MHI series after I'd found out. So I knew it was bad, but name dropping loving Sluggy Freelance is an entirely different strata of terrible writing beyond even being a libertarian nut-bag who can't keep his rant out of his write. I don't even hate Sluggy Freelance, read it for years, but holy poo poo there are some things you just do not do, and one of them is name-dropping your kitschy little nerd crushes that nobody has ever heard of. Skippy McPants fucked around with this message at 15:52 on Aug 17, 2015 |
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Aug 17, 2015 15:48
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Also it was only funny when John Ringo did it. And even then it was only funny the first time, then he ran that poo poo into the ground.
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Aug 17, 2015 18:42
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Just about to read Monster Hunter Alpha, I am sure its going to be absolutely horrendous! Edit: Well! about 7 hours to read this 500 odd page pile of dreck and its more of the same though the story focuses around a seperate character and doesnt have the original gary-stu in it, that doesn't make it a good book however, it is loving terrible. As a bit of background to my habits reading wise I will pretty much read anything, or at least try to, there arent many books I cant get through (failed at Quantum Thief the first time, second time it became one of my top 5 books) I have also read something like... 11? of the anita blake vampire hunter books, if I remember right the first one or two arent terrible but I could be wrong. Basically I have really godamn low standards and no one else should read this rubbish. Kea fucked around with this message at 04:46 on Aug 18, 2015 |
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Aug 17, 2015 19:52
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I finished Ghost Story last night. I mean, it was obvious that Kincaid was who pulled the trigger, but I'm impressed how they still managed to get me with a twist. I had no idea where he was going with the story, but the revelation that he ordered his own hit, and why, was heartbreaking. Even more so when you find out at the end that it didn't matter, because Mab got him anyway. Well, not that it didn't matter, without his death Morty would be dead and Corpsetaker would be back, but you get what I'm saying. Also, I loved the deck of the Enterprise inside of Molly's mind. Like, not "riding the back of a T-Rex" love, but it's close. That was a really clever way of showing her fending off psychic attacks. I was surprised by how emotionally moving the whole book was. It's something I'm not used to from the series. I honestly don't think I've ever read a book quite like this, and that's a good thing. I'm glad he's back alive, because I don't think I'd want to read another book with him as a ghost, but I'm really glad Butcher went this route for this book. A bit of a pause in the breakneck pace, and my mind is spinning thinking about what Mab is going to do with him. New powers, new crazy person trying to control him. How the hell is everyone going to react to him being back? There was some serious "moving on" from everyone. I also get why everyone kept posting  after my posts.
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Aug 18, 2015 14:21
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thrawn527 posted:Also, I loved the deck of the Enterprise inside of Molly's mind. See, that's one bit I didn't like. It came off as a bit, "Yeah, okay. We get it, Jim, you're a geek. Get on with the story." It was distracting.
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Aug 18, 2015 14:51
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Wheat Loaf posted:See, that's one bit I didn't like. It came off as a bit, "Yeah, okay. We get it, Jim, you're a geek. Get on with the story." I think it was more to represent how disjointed and screwed up Molly's mind was. She literally started fighting with herself when Harry tried to point out the cabinet to her and ask what was in it. I did like Morty's "Hey, dumbass, maybe don't leave a bunch of ghosts lying around for an Ectomancer to use against you if you're a ghost yourself!" bit. And also how that bunch of ghosts transformed into a South Bound Train to drag Corpsetaker's soul to Hell. Speaking of, I wonder whatever happened to Fitz and the other characters introduced in Ghost Story.
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Aug 18, 2015 14:56
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Wade Wilson posted:Speaking of, I wonder whatever happened to Fitz and the other characters introduced in Ghost Story.
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Aug 18, 2015 15:03
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What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me.
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Aug 18, 2015 22:11
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Wheat Loaf posted:What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me. Probably more down-to-earth sci fi, which isn't even a subgenre afaik. Like it takes place in a mostly normal setting with some weird stuff. The book Jumper comes to mind. Everything is normal except the protagonist can teleport.
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Aug 18, 2015 22:16
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Wheat Loaf posted:What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me. Well, the mainstays of urban fantasy are: -set in a city (obviously), at least primarily -Involves stereotypical depictions of the genre (vampires, fairies, etc), maybe with a unique spin to them - Society in general is mostly unaware of them With these categories in mind, I'd look towards conspiracy/Illuminati sort of science fiction. The whole "Government is hiding aliens in Area 51" stuff.
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Aug 18, 2015 22:22
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I'd say anything that attempts to explain magic and mythical creatures present in modern times by science. Vampires in Blindsight come to mind, although that obviously doesn't fit the setting criteria.
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Aug 18, 2015 22:28
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Wheat Loaf posted:What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me. 'shadowrun?
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Aug 18, 2015 22:36
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Wheat Loaf posted:What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me. The Mindscape Investigations series by Alex Hughes. The Breach series by Patrick Lee. The Joe Ledger series by Jonathan Maberry. There's going to be overlap with techno-thrillers and cyberpunk, yeah.
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Aug 18, 2015 22:39
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Wheat Loaf posted:What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me. Superhero stories would probably fit into this category as well as the stuff that others have mentioned. Worm by wildbow is a good read for that sort of thing.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:05
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Yeah i'd imagine any low-key probably tech-based superhero would fit in really well. Also it's a bit harder I'd imagine to figure out where the line is drawn between advanced tech in modern times and low tech science fiction. Comedy option, something like Men in Black?
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Aug 18, 2015 23:10
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I bailed halfway through the second Monster Hunter novel. The somewhat sad thing is that Correia's absurdly personable in real life, and a natural charismatic draw. I met him earlier in the year and if I hadn't already known about the Sad Puppies stuff and his views on women and rape, I might have actually liked him.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:14
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I'm looking at what I think are telly examples - like The X-Files, for instance. Maybe Fringe or something like that? Heck, perhaps even Heroes would count.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:14
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I actually drafted (and am kinda sorta editing/self publishing) a book that was basically Dresden But With Science and Aliens instead of Magic last year. It was really fun and mad easy to take the basic formula and swap out every "And then I gathered my will" with a "I activated the doodad".
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Aug 18, 2015 23:15
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Wheat Loaf posted:What would be the science-fiction equivalent of urban fantasy, if there is one? I hear people say cyberpunk, but it seems like an inexact comparison to me. X-COM? Agents of Shield, at least part of the time.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:25
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Wheat Loaf posted:I'm looking at what I think are telly examples - like The X-Files, for instance. Maybe Fringe or something like that? Heck, perhaps even Heroes would count. Continuum would probably also count.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:31
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The verus books were bad. Mostly it was just glimmers of potential hidden in bad storytelling.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:38
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Any cyberpunk, but that's not a very large genre anymore. Most William Gibson, some Neil Stephenson, are the authors that come to my mind.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:44
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See, I tend to think of cyberpunk as being essentially futuristic, looking at the world as it might be. Blade Runner, for instance. What I'm thinking of would probably be more contemporaneous, if you see what I mean, where there's extraordinary sci-fi technology in the present day. However, I've not read a great deal of cyberpunk, so I might not have a well-informed understanding of the genre.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:46
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Tomorrowland is a pretty good film example too.
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Aug 18, 2015 23:50
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Wheat Loaf posted:See, I tend to think of cyberpunk as being essentially futuristic, looking at the world as it might be. Blade Runner, for instance. What I'm thinking of would probably be more contemporaneous, if you see what I mean, where there's extraordinary sci-fi technology in the present day. However, I've not read a great deal of cyberpunk, so I might not have a well-informed understanding of the genre. They were futuristic when they were written. But we actually do live in cyberpunk now, so the shine has worn off a bit imo.
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Aug 19, 2015 00:51
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Error 404 posted:They were futuristic when they were written. But we actually do live in cyberpunk now, so the shine has worn off a bit imo. Which is kinda why I recommended them. Hell snow crash describes what is essentially Oculus rift+ Kinect+ second life And for the uf comparison, it's essentially the never never.
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Aug 19, 2015 02:07
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Reading Cold Story... ...Santa?
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Aug 19, 2015 02:50
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thrawn527 posted:Reading Cold Story... Not until after Halloween.
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Aug 19, 2015 02:55
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The Fool posted:Which is kinda why I recommended them. Hell snow crash describes what is essentially Oculus rift+ Kinect+ second life Yeah Snow Crash was extremely well done from a tech perspective. The real world situation is significantly less so, though.
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Aug 19, 2015 03:24
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