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

Chompa’s comments from the Grimdark Fantasy group.

I started the first book of Malazan and was underwhelmed. Never even finished it. I feel like I'm missing something with everyone who raves about it. Maybe I'll try again some day.

I've not read the Way of Kings, but I've heard mixed reviews on it. That and it is supposed to be a huge series like "Wheel of Time" by Jordan was. I have enough series I've started that aren't nearly finished and I'm waiting on the next book.

I have only read Name of the Wind, but Rothfuss seems to be on the same level as Scott Lynch. Great writing from both. I also enjoyed the Painted Man (Warded Man in the US?). I'm not sure I consider either in the Grimdark.

The Grim Company is another book on my huge to read list, but one I want to get to more than a lot.

Welcome Silvana. I've had KJ Parker on my list for a while. Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn was great, but I'm borderline on calling it Grimdark without any particular reason why.

I've read the first two Lawrence Thorn books, but haven't read the third yet. The books aren't bad, but I have to be in a very particular mood for them, I believe.

I use Moonreader Pro on my Galaxy Tab 3. It is a great program and as you said - very customizable.

Welcome Kieron. Feel free to weigh in on the discussions of the First Law and Gentlemen Bastards.

I read Hobb's Assassin's Apprentice series back in the late 90's. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I see it more as straight up fantasy than grimdark.

Welcome Jon. Putting a label to genres is a slippery slope, but handy if you are looking for something in particular. To be honest, I'm not sure if dark fantasy and grimdark are all that different, but your view on it is probably fairly accurate.

For authors - we've read Joe Abercrombie, who is known on Twitter as @LordGrimdark and a personal favorite of mine. Scott Lynch is another the group has read and I believe he's one of the best writers I've seen. Mark Lawrence is another who is well liked by this group. GRRM as you said is also quite grimdark.

I've read the first three or four of Black Company and enjoyed it. It's a little dry, but I like a lot of what Glen Cook is doing in the novels. I'm a big fan of first person point of view and the world he lays out is very interesting.

One of the little things that really stuck with me is the names the characters go by. Goblin, Raven, The Lady and of course, Croaker who is the company doctor and our narrator.

In my experience, there's no shortage of punks in this world. Sadly most of them are not as cool as steampunk, cyberpunk, etc.

Jezel was a character that did change and grow over time, but also in the end becomes a huge disappointment.

I can see where people are viewing the characters as one dimensional, but I didn't read them that way myself. What I always felt was that Abercrombie focused more on their flaws than their strengths. And this was indeed a flawed group of characters.

I thought the second book was a bit of a letdown, but most people feel it is as good. The third book was fantastic.

I agree with you. We choose the tropes/genres that appeal to us. I'm also not sure about "swordpunk". There was a link in the article to the "____punk" versions that exist.

That all goes back to my love/hate of labeling things, but once again lands on the love side - if I want to read about a badass bitch that wield a sword, then I want that clearly labeled.

Here's an interesting article on a genre I've never heard of. I have a love/hate relationship with genres, but have landed on the side of love. Grimdark for instance is a great subgenre of fantasy (as you know since you are reading in this group). I've recently read some books referred to as "Flintlock Fantasy" that mixes very basic firearms in a fantasy setting.

The article below is one that talks about Swordpunk. I'm not sure what I think of this genre, but I kind of get, though it took the last paragraph to make me really understand what they are trying to get across. Anyhow - check it out and let's discuss.

http://jamesdcormier.com/2014/06/27/w...

I've met a good number of authors who are very good with their fans. I've sadly also met a few who are kind of dicks. I'm happy you met Terry Brooks and he was one of the good ones.

If you missed the clues, so did I. In the third book all is revealed and it is a total WTF!!! revelation. I'm glad you liked it.

Brittany wrote: "And I'm crushed :/"

I have a feeling where you might be in the book.

My understanding is the books and TV show continue to diverge the farther we go. I will be using the show's characters for my casting of the characters in the books when I get around to reading them.

I pictured a truly wretched looking man with Glotka. I heard part of an audio book for The First Law and the reader made him sound like he had no teeth - it was creepy and cool.

The love story takes a long time to play out (book 3), but you know it exists early on.