Random’s Comments (group member since Apr 30, 2009)

Random’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Due to the nature of graphic formats, it is rare for a graphic novel to be published that was not originally published as individual issues that were later collected into a graphic novel collection.

This has nothing to do with the contents.

We tend to think of comics as strictly limited to the whole super hero thing from traditional comic publishers, but that does not have to be the case at all. In fact, Manga is also a graphic novel, just one whose origin is Japan.

Graphic Novel was a term that became popular in the late 90s/early 2000s as a way for people to pretend they didn't read comics.

That is an easy answer.

Many years ago my husband and I had gotten into Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire series. We had preordered Ascendant Sun and were thrilled when we got home from work one night to find it on our doorstep.

We got inside, hastily ripped off the packaging, looked at the dust jacket, and froze.



We very promptly ripped off the dust jacket, threw it into a drawer, and then started to fight over who got to read it first.

Neither of us can bring up the series without joking about that cover image, even 25 years later. :D

And you wanna know what is scary? Its actually pretty accurate.

Lets try again

For SF Faller
Started it years ago. It was quite interesting but life got in the way, I put it down, and then never got back to it. I'd love a push to get back into it again.

Will come back if I have an idea for Fantasy.

All I can think of are Star Wars and Star Trek tie in books and those can be hit or miss. I know some of the old Star Trek books were written by real SF authors, but the ones I personally read were all based on TNG and were eh at best.

Oh wait, there were Babylon 5 tie in books as well. They were also kind of eh. :)

Finished Convergence last night. not what I was really looking for, but I think it was what I needed. Interesting story that was easy to read with likable characters.

Started the second book Dragonslayer this morning.

CJ wrote: "Well, most recently it was Dungeon Crawler Carl. I love gaming, I love SF, I love the novels it clearly references, but wow, that one fell flat for me. It is a combo of my not liking the whole LitRPG format, it being to derivative and uninspired in its worldbuilding and it playing to the lowest common denominator for its audience. Dull and juvenile. "

LitRPG and Progression Fantasy are two newer sub genres that I have been too terrified to try.

I once had a discussion with a coworker trying to figure out what they actually are. I was given a line about how its so appealing because you just get stronger and beat the next bad guy, then get stronger again and beat the next bad guy. And basically repeat until, I don't know, they become gods or something.

I remember my response was something along the lines of, so whoever is the biggest bully wins?

From what I have heard, they sound like "end game" MMORPGs mixed with their cringy video game tie in books.
For those who don't know, end game MMOs are basically fight big bad guys, get loot drops which get better gear. Get enough better gear you can start fighting next tier bad guys who drop better loot. And its basically a rinse and repeat from there.

Anyway, I do intend to eventually try some one of these days so I can can give them a fair chance. I'm just having a really hard time getting a motivation to do so.

Back to the question. I mention this one every single time we talk about disappointments and bad books.
Perdido Street Station
I chose to read that book because I was reading so many people saying just how amazing it was. There were like 6 people telling me I absolutely had to read it. And I payed $10 for the ebook in 2009 (was expensive) because it was supposed to be well worth it. And then it fell flat on its face.

I think if I had just randomly picked up the book and tried it I might have just come away with an eh. But given all of the hype that surrounded it, what I ended up feeling was more of a rage due to the fact that the entire thing insulted my intelligence so incredibly badly.

So I finished the Isaac Steel series
Isaac Steele and the Forever Man and Isaac Steele and the Best Idea in the Universe

They were ok.
I had heard them described as HHGTTG-esque
Its more like the world/galaxy is silly like HHGTTG, but the story is very different. Ridiculous environment, but no laughs.

Work has been hectic for a while and adding in some car problems (the 26 mile tow was just the start), my brain just has not been able to focus very well and I am seeing it in my reading.

So I'm going to go back to Craig Alanson and try out the Convergence series, starting with the aptly named Convergence

Was really hoping to relax and take it easy this weekend but we're in a small heat wave and so have spent most of the time sweating and trying to play a game to keep my mind distracted.

Oh, and for those who watch, the most recent Strange New Worlds episode is really good.

This would be

Craig Alanson
Specifically The Expeditionary Force Series

I really highly recommend.

You guys are way more creative than I am. :)

I am in a mood. I have started half a dozen books this weekend and haven't been able to get very far on any of them before I stop.

Currently on Isaac Steele and the Forever Man
Maybe I'll finish it.

Ok, technically I don't know if I can call it a book as its audio only. But hey, if I can finish it, I'll take it.

I had this book so I thought I would give it a try.

While I don't dislike him, I'm not really a fan of Stephen King.
I am not a fan of post apocalyptic stories.
I absolutely despise Westerns unless they are comedies making fun of westerns.

Yeah, I made it to Chapter 2 and gave up.
Might be my mood as I haven't been thrilled with anything I've read recently. I might try again but I think the odds are stacked against it.

Finished The House in the Cerulean Sea

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about it. A lot of back and forth.

I was afraid of the romance part, but that was one area I didn't need to worry about. It was cute and sweet and was more my thing than most books labeled romance.

Linus felt a little overly naive and obtuse to me for some reason.
The kids sometimes felt a little too adult once in a while.
The surprise I saw the moment we got the hint. (view spoiler)[When Arthur said he knew a phoenix and wonders about the man he became (hide spoiler)]
I guess in some ways it felt a bit like a YA book to me. Everything seemed just a little too easy and simplistic.

I still enjoyed it though I don't know if I will continue the series. Maybe 3 stars for now.

Two come to mind immediately.

The Skolian Empire series by Catherine Asaro. At least 3 generations of main POV characters.

There's also the stand alone Nothing Human by Nancy Kress. its been a while so I can't remember exact details, but this also goes through a handful of generations.

Finished Absolution and I did not like it how I did the previous three. The first part was ok, but near the end it was way too much. Yeesh

I have got to read something that isn't SF or Horror.

Didn't get much reading done over the weekend, so I still haven't gotten far on Baking Bad.

I'm a back and forth person on this subject.

I'm not sure how much grimdark I have read as opposed to dark fantasy.

If its well written, the plot works, the characters make sense, then I can enjoy grimdark. I really enjoyed The Witcher books, even though the felt so brutal. I mean, there are periods in Ciri's journey that will haunt me for a long time. And yet it was barely touched on. And that somehow makes it even worse.

But in some ways this harshness can feel more realistic and less fantasy amusement park.

With that said, I am not a fan of the brutal for the sake of being brutal.
I mean that's no better than a villain being evil because they are evil. :)

I have started it but haven't gotten very far. Hoping I'll get a chance to do some reading this weekend.

End of the month and I have gotten distracted between work and other things going on.

I think I'm still on the second chapter of Absolution.

I also kind of started Baking Bad for BotM in August. Also only on chapter 2 there as well.

Hoping to be able to get in some solid reading time this weekend.

I don't know if I can answer this well. Looking back, I just haven't read many books that had been translated into English.

As for my records on Goodreads

Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (Russian).
It was an interesting story, but my memory of it is poor.

The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski (Polish)
Loved this series.

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten (Swedish)
Cute little collection of short stories about an old woman who is . . possibly a serial killer? I believe it is a spinoff of a mystery series and OMG I think there's another book.

I'm sure there is more in my past, but only going to mention one (or maybe three) due to the emotions they elicit.

The Aeneid by Virgil (Latin)
The Illiad and The Odyssey by Homer (Greek)

I took four years of Latin in high school. And what did I come out with.
- Rome and Greece were obsessed with the Trojan War
- Virgil was apparently the only Roman author of note.
- Fun with poetic license. Example: Aeneas goes to Hades became To Hell with Aeneas.

By the time I graduated from High School, I despised both Virgil and Homer. The last day of my senior year, I burned my Latin to English dictionary in sacrifice to the Roman gods that I would never have to think about any of it ever again. :D

To show just how masochistic I was in my teen years, Virgil was the only one we translated in class. I actually voluntarily read Homer.

Cheryl wrote: "Random mentioned Six Wakes... I know I've read another book... not too long ago... with a very similar premise... I think it had a sequel... I recall the hero (a guy) being sort of lower caste, or ..."

Mickey7 maybe?
There's a sequel called Antimatter Blues

Not read them myself, but your description matches a little with what I know of them. Looks like you read them in Dec 2023.

Finished Authority and Acceptance

My memory of those two books was pretty hazy and I am glad I reread them.

Will be starting Absolution tonight.