The book discussion thread

[Pifanjr]

I never liked the "Arthur" Stories. PFFFFTTTTTTT men using swords, fall in love, get married and die. Not my kind of thing, but I did like the "Wizard side of things. So did my best to read about Merlin. During my "Quest for knowledge" I found a book by Marion Zimmer Bradley named "Mists of Avalon". What I liked about it is the fact that the whole story was not from Arthur's viewpoint nor Merlin's viewpoint (Which is the general views you get when reading such books), this was written from Morgana's viewpoint. I fell in love with the book. Read it probably 50 times (Since I got it) and is the story about the Lady of the lake. It is a very dark story, but the magic and drama involved in her life from childhood to where she becomes the Lady of the lake is fantastic. I loved it so much that my youngest daughter was named after her.

Several years down the line (reading the book probably twice a year), I found out there was a (UK) 3-part mini-series based on the book also called mists of Avalon. It was not available in my country, but I was able to import it. Still one of the best DVD's I own.

Recently finished "His Dark Materials (Books 1-3) again, and rewatched the 3-season series (Still have about 4 episodes left to watch of season 3)

Some do not like watching a series or a movie about a book since they say that much is changed. I take it as widening the perspective of the story. Giving different insights to the characters. I might not have liked a specific character in a book but might like him or her in a series/movie based on the same book due to actions they take that suddenly makes more sense visually.

My main problem with movie/series adaptations of books are that a lot of them are just bad. Same with adaptations of video games into movies/series and adaptations of movies/series into video games.

Though even if an adaptations is bad, they can sometimes still contain some elements of greatness. Case in point the best opening of a movie I've ever seen:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRIbbxdGATs


I don't remember a single thing from the rest of the movie because it was entirely forgettable, but that opening scene is amazing.

 

[Charagma]

My main problem with movie/series adaptations of books are that a lot of them are just bad. Same with adaptations of video games into movies/series and adaptations of movies/series into video games.

Though even if an adaptations is bad, they can sometimes still contain some elements of greatness. Case in point the best opening of a movie I've ever seen:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRIbbxdGATs


I don't remember a single thing from the rest of the movie because it was entirely forgettable, but that opening scene is amazing.

Awesome, if that is a game trailer I would actually buy the game. Makes me want to go play God of War or even The Witcher 2 (Think was 2, the king slayer one)

 

[Charagma]

If you are interested, this is the opening of mists of Avalon

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-478LswZmA

 

[Johnway]

Another 2 books finished.

First up the 3rd book of the Artesia series Artesia - Afire. Our heroine continues the war in the midlands against the invasion of the thessids. Although Artesia has won a stunning victory and halted the sultan's further advances, the middle land armies have suffered defeat. To make matters worse, the thessids break the truce anyway and thus the invasion continues. Fearing being cut off, the armies including Artesia are forced to withdrawl to the port city and escape.

Another good book, its still continues the good story with plenty of politcal intrigue and fantasy. That said the same problems still exist, the artwork whilst good, everyone looks very samey making identifying key characters very difficult. The juicy lore that enhances the story, is tough to follow at times and needs to be addressed better. Sure the previous books had a mythical lore tales and the 3rd book has a glossary of stuff, its still difficult to follow at times. To make matters worse, the 4 book, Artesia - besieged, is nowhere to be found. its on indefinite hold and we'll never see the end of the saga which apparently would have spanned 6 books in total.



The next book i read, the horus heresy: Siege of terra series: End of an Era. The final book in the HH:Siege of terra spin off is an anthology of stories during the final moments of the siege of terra and at the end. Honestly a bit disappointing, most of the stories were meh, much of the interesting stuff glossed over. We do getanother story from conscript kashiro. The highlight is perhaps the story Homebound, by Chris Wraight where we say goodbye to the elderly Ilya Ravallion (highly respected general serving the white scars Space marine legion) as she spends her final days retiring to her former home.

The anthology has nothing significant, or relevant in the grand scheme of things, i suspect that comes from the next HH book.

 

[Zloth]

Speaking of political intrigue & fantasy, I recently finished Brandon Sanderson's Elantris. It was mostly political intrigue, really, with only a little bit of action, and it worked quite well most of the time. A couple of conflicts were resolved rather abruptly, but they were mid-way through the book, not right at the end, so it didn't damage the story too much.

The basic setup is a little complex (so I guess it's more of an intermediate setup than a basic setup). Before the book starts, there's a city named Elantris that's full of god-like people with magical powers, shining skin and hair, long lifespans, and so on. Their power fades with distance, though, so they were sometimes worshiped in the towns around their city, their influence lessened in distant lands. The people chosen to become these Elantrans were seemingly chosen at random. You would be going about your life and then, one morning, you wake up and find that your skin is golden.

Then, all of the sudden, Elantris... broke. The magic no longer worked. Elantrans skin no longer shined. In fact, their skin got splotchy and wrinkled. Their hair fell out. Instead of being lauded, people that are chosen to be Elantrans are quickly thrown into Elantris and their families pretend that they have died. The book takes place 10 years after this started. One of those distant powers has been rising up, taking over the world.

There are 3 main characters. One is a guy the son of the king of the nation that was left over after Elantris fell, who gets chosen at the start of the book. His soon-to-be-wife, daughter of the king in the neighboring nation, is on her way to marry him, and she is the second main character. The third is a high-ranking religious official from the nation that's taking over the world. He has been tasked with converting this nation to his religion. He's only been allowed three months, though. If he can't get it done, the military invades.

For a Sanderson book, there is really very little magic and very little action. This is more Warbreaker than Mistborn. It still works just fine, though.

 

[Pifanjr]

Speaking of political intrigue & fantasy, I recently finished Brandon Sanderson's Elantris. It was mostly political intrigue, really, with only a little bit of action, and it worked quite well most of the time. A couple of conflicts were resolved rather abruptly, but they were mid-way through the book, not right at the end, so it didn't damage the story too much.

The basic setup is a little complex (so I guess it's more of an intermediate setup than a basic setup). Before the book starts, there's a city named Elantris that's full of god-like people with magical powers, shining skin and hair, long lifespans, and so on. Their power fades with distance, though, so they were sometimes worshiped in the towns around their city, their influence lessened in distant lands. The people chosen to become these Elantrans were seemingly chosen at random. You would be going about your life and then, one morning, you wake up and find that your skin is golden.

Then, all of the sudden, Elantris... broke. The magic no longer worked. Elantrans skin no longer shined. In fact, their skin got splotchy and wrinkled. Their hair fell out. Instead of being lauded, people that are chosen to be Elantrans are quickly thrown into Elantris and their families pretend that they have died. The book takes place 10 years after this started. One of those distant powers has been rising up, taking over the world.

There are 3 main characters. One is a guy the son of the king of the nation that was left over after Elantris fell, who gets chosen at the start of the book. His soon-to-be-wife, daughter of the king in the neighboring nation, is on her way to marry him, and she is the second main character. The third is a high-ranking religious official from the nation that's taking over the world. He has been tasked with converting this nation to his religion. He's only been allowed three months, though. If he can't get it done, the military invades.

For a Sanderson book, there is really very little magic and very little action. This is more Warbreaker than Mistborn. It still works just fine, though.

I read this book probably around 15 years ago and I absolutely loved it, especially the twist about why the magic suddenly disappeared.

 

[Zloth]

I read this book probably around 15 years ago and I absolutely loved it, especially the twist about why the magic suddenly disappeared.

There's talk of a sequel! Not "Emperor's Soul" which takes place on the same planet, but a proper sequel to the story.

 

[lvancrue]

I've been reading The Expanse. Currently beginning Nemesis Games. It's been a blast. The TV show was incredible, and this just makes it better. Highly recommended, and well, Owlcat's releasing an Expanse game so, gotta prepare for it

 

[Zloth]

The TV show was incredible, and this just makes it better. Highly recommended, and well, Owlcat's releasing an Expanse game so, gotta prepare for it

I was reading it then, while on something like the 4th book, started trying to watch the TV show. THAT was confusing!

Gotta hand it to Expanse for giving us aliens that seem ALIEN. In most science fiction, the aliens seem more similar to us than some cultures here on Earth. I get that the authors want them to be relatable so they can make points about how our cultures do/don't work together, but how is it that so many of them want to do that over having something really <ahem> novel wandering around in a story?

 

[lvancrue]

I was reading it then, while on something like the 4th book, started trying to watch the TV show. THAT was confusing!

Gotta hand it to Expanse for giving us aliens that seem ALIEN. In most science fiction, the aliens seem more similar to us than some cultures here on Earth. I get that the authors want them to be relatable so they can make points about how our cultures do/don't work together, but how is it that so many of them want to do that over having something really <ahem> novel wandering around in a story?

Right?? It's another alien-in-scifi take which I like very much, but the Roci's misfits the treat for me and how they handle the situations of eeach disaster. In fact, I'm going to keep reading. Love that in Nemesis Games it's all the crew's POVs

 

[Johnway]

Finished another book at the start of the week, this time its The Stars my Destination by Alfred Bester

Set in a future where quite literally teleportation Quick travel (like in fallout or skyim) is possible (aka jaunting), our story revolves around Gulliver ("Gully") Foyle thirsts for vengeance against the crew of the star ship Vorga who left him for dead during his time of need.

Foyle's thirst for vengeance changes the unremarkable and unambitious man into a different man applying his untapped intelligence and power in the pursuit of revenge that makes him nearly unbreakable mentally and physically. As the story progresses we soon discover the significance of how Foyle got marooned on the nomad and the significance of the cargo onboard the Nomad. But more importantly, how special a person Foyle is, being capable of something that everyone thought was impossible.

The story does have that count of monte chrirsto vibes as Foyle acquires vast wealth and charisma masquarading as someone in high society to get his revenge. In fact its remarkably simiar. lazy or inspiring? you decide.

Did i like the book? i think i lost a lot of the nuiance of the story when i read it at night before bed so i probably didn't get to appreciate it as much as i should.

It is considered by some sci fi authors as one the best books ever written, but the count of monte christo similarities and some flimsy story elements (too spoiler heavy to mention) does take the shine off the story.