Arthur's comments (member since Apr 12, 2009)

Arthur's comments from the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group.

Thanks.
Unfortunately, PDF is one of the worst possible ebook formats.
It would be very helpful if the books were in epub, rtf or html formats.
Ta!

Greyweather wrote: "It is the first volume in a new series. The story in this volume is basically self-contained so you can treat it like a stand-alone"

Thanks.
I wait until the series are finished.

Greyweather wrote: "I just finished with The Silver Skull by Mark Chadbourn. It was an entertaining swashbuckling fantasy adventure novel"

Is it s stand alone book?

Not much time for reading :(
Still on A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge

Crowgirl wrote: "I'm finishing the last of Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters books, Daughter of the Forest, Son of the Shadows, Child of the Prophecy and [book:Heir..."

I wish she would publish all of them in ebook format, then I would read the series.

Sarah wrote: "Arthur wrote: "Finished The Book Thief a couple of days ago. It took me a while to digest the book before I could start reading A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge.

The Book Thief is one of the b..."

LOL.
Yup. I used to be Astra here, but then a colleague of mine joined Goodreads and I decided it is time to come out of hiding :)
And you are...?

Finished The Book Thief a couple of days ago. It took me a while to digest the book before I could start reading A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge.

The Book Thief is one of the best books I have read in the last 15-20 years. Very powerful and moving story. Although, I started to read another book Liesel Meminger is still with me.

Started The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

I am not going to argue anymore.
It is a specific thread for Apocalypse novels. I am pretty sure the Crown of Stars series does not fall into this category, it is pure fantasy (an a very bad one IMHO but people have different tastes).
It is my opinion and a word of warning for people who come here for an advice.
You may want to believe whatever you fancy.

ajah wrote: "The major story arc of Crown of Stars is the apocalyptic end to that planet as the section that was removed many thousands of years before by an enormous spell is returned when that spell breaks. T..."

True, but that's it. In one sentence you have summed up the idea. The rest is epic fantasy.

ajah wrote: "I love the Crown of Stars series by Kate Elliot..."

What does it have to do with Apocalypse Novels?

It is 7 books pure fantasy series (I am not going to argue here of how bad the series is).

A few days ago finished the Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb. I wish she never wrote it and I never read it. Big disappointment.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/486...

Started Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. I must get to know a writer who is going to finish series that brought Fantasy to me.

Marc wrote: "I would never quote from my own books..."

I didn't realise you are a writer...

Jackie wrote: "The Anubis Gates still isn't doing much for me. ..."

I am with you.There were so many positive reviews, but boy! was I disappointed.

Anyway, August readings:
Finished Fool's Errand and Golden Fool.

A few months ago I re-read The Farseer and The Liveship Traders trilogies. Loved them as much or even more than when I read them first time 7 years ago. However, The Tawny Man trilogy is a major disappointment so far.
1. The major storyline/plot is very "local", no grand scale plot as it was in the first two trilogies.
2. So many boring descriptions, unbelievable.
3. Hobb's obsession with describing all sorts of gowns, clothes is driving me nuts.
4. Unwarranted number of repeating of what happened in the first two trilogies. Even repeatings within the book itself of what happened a few chapters before!
5. If I didn't know Robin Hobb, I would give up on Fool's Errand after the first 50-100 pages, because I would believe I picked up chick lit by mistake instead of fantasy.

Golden Fool was slightly better than Fool's Errand but still pales in comparison.
A word of warning. Anyone who says that one can read The Tawny Man right after The Farseer, thus bypassing The Liveship Traders is giving a very bad advice because if a person decides they would like to read The Liveship Traders after The Farseer & The Tawny Man, will be disappointed because there are way too many spoilers in The Tawny Man about The Liveship Traders.

Finished Neverwhere yesterday. I liked it. I would say 7 our of 10.
Some people compared Neverwhere to The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia and I was worrying about it because I really disliked the latter. However, Neverwhere has a clearly defined storyline, beginning, well written ending, while The Secret History of Moscow was just a delirious essay. I am glad I read Neverwhere :) Weird stuff but original.

I think I am going to start The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb today.

Kerry wrote: "
I'm sorry if you felt your time was wasted. I don't know how I ca..."

You know... There is always one....just forgive and forget :)

About 1/4 into Fevre Dream

Catherine wrote: "do you know whether if I buy a Kindle format book for my iPhone I can download that to my computer and then unlock it somehow? Or only download it to my iPhone?"

Look at mobileread forum for an answer. It is not a straight-forward thing.

Finished Last Argument Of Kings (The First Law: Book Three) by Joe Abercrombie.
Mixed feelings about this one. I wrote a short review.

On to Fevre Dreams by George R.R. Martin.
The first book by G.R.R. Martin for me.

Jim wrote: "Thanks for the link to the ebookwise reader, Lil. Much better price."

Just remember, ebookwise doesn't have eInk screen and doesn't hold charge for 2 weeks vs. Sony Reader.