Chompa’s Comments (group member since Feb 16, 2015)

Chompa’s comments from the Grimdark Fantasy group.

I can totally see that, Brittany. I love those poetic naming conventions for death/god/etc. The setting being a city is also somewhat reminiscent of the Gentleman Bastards, but most of Low Town is in the slums of Low Town.

I started reading the second book a couple days ago and am enjoying it so far. I'll need to finish it to judge if it is better.

The Straight Razor Cure is the better title by far.

I question the classification of urban fantasy as that means modern day to me, but this very urban as it takes place only in a city.

Locke and Jean from the Gentleman Bastards springs to mind.

From Lord of the Rings there is Sam and Frodo (yes, I put Sam first). The friendly rivalry between Gimli and Legolas is also good.

Conan and Belit in Robert E. Howard's stories is another I'd submit.

Good point Brenno. When we have various people who don't care for Sanderson, Rothfuss or Abercrombie it is expected there will be people that also don't care for smaller authors.

By that same token, I'm thinking we'll have people that love them too.

I'm good with self-nominations. I'm not sure it is a great idea or an easy conversation if one is selected per Heather's point.

Rules light is good by me. I'm open to when the discussion starts - maybe mid month?

Yes, I'm one of those dreaded android people. Not that I've not used an iPad before. One of the reasonsMoon Reader is nice for me because it is a simple fix to change the illumination. If the wife has the light on and then turns it off, it takes a half second from the page you are reading to adjust the brightness.

That's the thing with our love of grimdark writing. We can like the characters that are frankly repugnant. In real life, if we found out the next door neighbor was screwing his sister and tried to kill a kid, we'd likely never put that aside.

This is excellent thinking, Brenno. In my head I had thought there is a time and place for self-promotion, but now we know the place! And they can do it any time.

I have an older kindle, but it is not backlit. I've got a Samsung Tab 3 tablet (8") that is now my default reading device. Moon Reader Plus is my program of choice.

Regarding font. In the last few years I've upped the font a lot and have also added reading glasses to the mix (I was able to reduce the font with the spectacles). Basically - changeable font is awesome, but getting old sucks.

On reading speed. I think electronic devices are faster. I know Moon Reader tracks my reading speed. I find that different books run at different speeds. The different speed is obviously based on how involved the reading is. My current read The Aeronaut's Windlass is tracking just over 300 words per minute. That's about 50 words per minute faster than my norm, but I base that on my familiarity with Butcher's writing plus his easy to read style.

Chris wrote: "The lack of participation lately would seem to imply we are still all very busy."

Very true, still quite busy. I read Low Town last week and am currently on The Aeronaut's Windlass which despite a slow start is quite enjoyable now.

I'm good with that. Pulling for Low Town since I jumped the gun and read it already. I thought it was awesome.

Thanks, Chris!

I'm pretty sure I start two or three series for every one I actually finish. It is pathetic.

Low Town for me also. I just read the short story A Drink Before We Die: A Low Town Short before it and I am intrigued.

I had forgotten about Narnia. That was very possibly my first dip into fantasy. The Hobbit came after that.

This week has started crazy for me too. Extremely long Monday and Tuesday left me tired as hell yesterday, but even after a long day I got some reading in. I finished reading Pacific Fire and even read the short story that comes before Low TownA Drink Before We Die: A Low Town Short.

I was going to move into Jim Butcher's new book, but it wasn't on my tablet yet and I was too lazy to walk two stories to load it.

I've been crazy busy this week too. It is closing in on a week since I've done any reading.

Mind again blown because Brenda reveals that C.S. Friedman is female. I had no clue, not that I've read many of her books.