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Wolpertinger posted:Yeah, a lot of people fixate on the one small perhaps a little stupid but ultimately inconsequential moment and use it to brush off an entire book. Eh there's a lot more I could write about that book that I didn't like but to each his own. If anyone does read it I look forward to your reading your opinion either way
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Apr 7, 2015 19:30
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Seconding Dagger & Coin, the monetary aspect is unique and well done. The world and storyline aren't anything new but great characters. Black Company gets into politics toward the end of the series. Since it takes course over a long period of time you see an empire and the relationship between the rulers and ruled grow and change. It's also in fantasy India, which I found well handled. However you're reading nothing but journal entries which means it's very passive and often dry.
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Apr 24, 2015 18:17
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Yea it could be fascist conspiracy or it just looked like a dime a dozen terrible sci fi b movie and most people had probably never heard of the book.
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May 2, 2015 21:20
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Finished The Widow's House, the fourth Dagger and Coin book. Hopefully the next one will close out the series before it starts to become bloated. Loved Cithrin's monetary invention, the economic aspect of the series remains strong. On the other hand I find myself often rooting against the "good guys" because the nobles, especially the Kalliams, are so unbearable. However I would like to read a series of Kit and Marcus and Geder just exploring uncharted lands, those have been my favorite parts.
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Jul 3, 2015 12:48
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Monopthalmus posted:Is there such a thing as a hard fantasy series or book that attempts to treat warfare in a rigorously coherent and, dare I say it, "realistic" manner? I guess I'm looking for something that treats its combat and warfare the way Tolkien treated his languages, if that makes sense. And not just the military tactics and physical mechanics of fighting, but the entire scope of why and how (economics, logistics, etc.) nations go war. Something that explores the themes and concerns of real-life military history but in a fantasy setting. I realize that this might be completely antithetical to a genre which tends to focus on individual heroics, but I think there is a lot of room to explore a more logical and consistent treatment of warfare in fantasy. Fighting is such a major preoccupation of the genre, after all, at yet so much of it gets hand-waved away or relegated to the background in service of the hero. Maybe it isn't really possible to have true hero's journey while still exploring the intricacies large-scale fake warfare. Or maybe this is an autistic rabbit hole I don't want to go down. But, I'm open to suggestions anyway! I'll second the Shadow Campaigns. I'm about half way through the first book right now and the battles have impressed me. Nothing on the logistics really but the tactics, strategy, and weapons have been fairly believeable. He also does a good job showing the different quirks and competition between the three combat arms.
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Aug 23, 2015 17:29
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You could have stopped at Piers Anthony
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Aug 24, 2015 22:06
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Not a big zombie guy but I liked the Ex heroes series as well. I'll also recommend the Remaining series. Standard zombie set up but the protagonist is part of a govt program that puts special forces into bunkers during possible apocalypse events. His mission is to help civilization rebuild by rescuing survivors and helping them re establish society. He's definitely a bad rear end when he has to fight but he does his best to avoid conflict. I thought that was enough of a fresh twist on the genre that I read through the series. The action is really intense and well written as well.
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Aug 25, 2015 23:56
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Billy Dee Williams should narrate every book
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Aug 26, 2015 21:12
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I mean yea those are good points but what if we just used two people from the period as examples and declare everyone and everything as racist. Getting off topic, I'm looking for some sci fi and fantasy book recommendations. Getting tired of arching, fantasy epics focused on political intrigue and all that. I just want to read about adventurers and heroes going on quests and fighting bad guys. Also looking for end of the world/post apoc sci fi with a focus on action. Doesn't matter if it's zombies, aliens, whatever. Really enjoyed the Remaining series, Darwin Elevator was okay, didn't like Day by Day Armageddon. Nothing from the weird, fanfic-y gun nut/survivalist trash that's every where I look. Basically just looking for good action be it more grim or more fun, not too worried about depth, so long as they're. competently written and the characters are likeable.
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Sep 6, 2015 17:59
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I saw a bunch of those titles on the Amazon top list or whatever. Similar names and no cover art. I clicked on one and per the reviews I think it was satire but I have no idea what's going on with them. And thank you all for the recommendations earlier. Added most of them to my list
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Sep 8, 2015 02:25
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I also recently finished the first book and quite enjoyed it. The combat is well written and there are some solid characters. I get that it's supposed to be not France but I got more of a not England vibe from the army. Janus is also different enough from Napoleon to make him more than a complete copy. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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Sep 8, 2015 12:13
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I got nothing against anyone's genre preferences but it saddens me when I search dark fantasy or horror in hopes of getting a more spooky flavor and it always comes up paranormal romance / whatever you want to call it
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Sep 10, 2015 18:11
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I only read the first Riyria book. Like you said it's nothing ground breaking but it was a fun, light read with likeable characters. I've got the rest on my to read list
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Sep 24, 2015 01:33
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I felt the same way about Powder Mage as you. So much potential, some unique concepts, and some good characters but the overall plot is weak and the writing is just okay and never improves. Sincerely hope to see the author to continue in the universe though, and bring some more depth.
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Oct 1, 2015 15:54
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City of Ravens is a stand alone book, swashbuckling thief type as the protagonist. I remember enjoying it even after out growing most the rest the d&d books.
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Oct 5, 2015 00:23
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Was looking for something new and came across Monarchies of God by Paul Kearney. Can anyone who has read them give me opinions?
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Jul 13, 2016 22:38
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I love the endorsement from Bill B, ZeroGov forum member. I also love the concept of establishing a state with no taxes, no ID of any kind, and no army, in vicinity of South Sudan
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Aug 15, 2016 20:04
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I'm tempted to get unlimited so I can read these without giving him money. Or maybe paying him US currency via Amazon would be joke's on him Reminds me of the group trying to build their own sovereign citadel; complete with mspaint, home brew rpg style map: http://iiicitadel.com/about.html
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Aug 15, 2016 21:11
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flosofl posted:Ah, got it. Fastest gave a thin smile and said, "Clever."
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Aug 16, 2016 01:31
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I just finished reading the Cavern and Creatures books after they were on sale for two bucks the other week. Not my style of humor but I did laugh particularly hard during the dildo vampire stake bit. Second book was the best, concept wise, and could have been expounded on some more.
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Aug 24, 2016 02:03
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Drifter posted:
I read vampire of the mists for the first time last year. Not a bad book. The horror influences are certainly there but I never felt any dread or horror while reading. I'll get around to the others eventually.
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Sep 27, 2016 20:04
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The Victorian period is so historically interesting that it's a shame its reduced to the skin deep aspects in re steampunk
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Sep 28, 2016 20:40
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Fans of Powder Mage series: they've announced a rpg kickstarter will be launching on the 18th. It's going to be based on the Savage Worlds rules. I haven't found any other details but I thought I'd share
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Oct 11, 2016 22:18
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Echoing Powder Mage as good concept, okay at best execution. I've heard the novellas are similar to the first book and focus on smaller stakes, which I think is McClellan's strong suit. I plan to check them out. He also announced a new trilogy in the setting, beginning next year. I would prefer smaller scale action rather than going for the geopolitical thing again but I hope he took some notes from Wexler to improve his ability to write larger scope, because I do enjoy the setting and I think he has good potential as a writer.
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Oct 21, 2016 16:35
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Resurgence book 2: the return of resurgence
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Oct 30, 2016 15:28
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flosofl posted:Isn't "Adapt Improvise Overcome" a Marine thing? That seems to fit in. Also they big on the whole small unit leadership and self initiative thing
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Nov 17, 2016 00:54
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Go all in and get the Weird collection edited by the Vandermeers. Lots of content
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Nov 27, 2016 18:07
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ToxicFrog posted:Tried Rogues of the Republic by Patrick Weekes or Lies of Locke Lamora by I read the first two Rogues books by Weekes and recommend them. They're light and fun
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Dec 16, 2016 03:32
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ToxicFrog posted:Having read it three times, I think the first book does hold up well on re-reading -- but the second book is two potentially excellent heist stories (Locke Lamora on the High Seas and Locke Lamora Robs a Casino) awkwardly wedged together into one book, and the third book felt like Lynch was trying to do the same thing Brust is doing in the later Taltos books, but not nearly as well. I'd have loved it if it was just fantasy oceans eleven but the sea stuff really dragged.
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Dec 16, 2016 15:40
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Whenever mil sci-fi is brought up i feel obliged to vouch for Rick Shelley's Lucky 13th series. It's fairly standard, conventional war with such "marvels" as VTOL aircraft and helmet based squad comms. It's essential space ww2 infantry combat. That unremarkable quality plus the fact that it doesn't have weird sex or horrible politics makes it remarkable in my opinion, so far as mil sci-fi is concerned. There's also only three books in the series.
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Dec 20, 2016 00:10
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Solitair posted:How 'bout that Forever War? Forever War is great but I always mix it up with Old Man's War because they both have war in the name. Also, the nonfiction book The Forever War.
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Dec 20, 2016 01:25
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USMC_Karl posted:Holy god thank you for this, I love these kinds of books and it is so. friggen. hard. to find them. Cool. Let me know what you think.
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Dec 22, 2016 14:37
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If you liked Powder Mage then check out Django Wexler's stuff. Same concept (flintlock fantasy) but I think the writing is stronger. There are also several Powder Mage short stories but I haven't read them yet.
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Dec 31, 2016 17:14
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I made it through the first book but it was so big and such a slog I never bothered to read the rest. I also found the characters to be bland and the world to be uninteresting.
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Jan 4, 2017 12:55
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It's humor but high magic: Patrick Weekes' Rogues series. Funny, low magic: Michael Sullivan's Rirya Revelations.
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Jan 4, 2017 17:39
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General Battuta posted:But fantasy readers think finance is boring. You gotta get all 'magic systems' on them. Dagger and Coin series tho
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Jan 7, 2017 06:05
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I think you need to factor in that nearly every non borderland nation doesn't have a military force that's seen combat recently as well. Whereas the aiel are constantly fighting and raising. But yea I never particularly cared for the aiel.
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Jan 20, 2017 11:59
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Go back in time and tell Jordan to just do a band of the red hand spin off just focused on them fighting battles all over the place and not matts zany battle of the sexes hijinks
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Jan 20, 2017 20:53
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:I know, Wheel of Time is obviously #1, am I right or am I rite Seems like this dude saw the original link and ran as far as possible the opposite direction
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Feb 20, 2017 15:11
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Stupid_Sexy_Flander posted:The Thrawn pentalogy? was pretty good. Rogue squadron was the only EU I liked as well. It's held up okay but now I've noticed that Stackpole is kind of a dull writer and the combat scenes are fairly repetitive. The Wraith books were better I agree
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Feb 25, 2017 23:50
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