Jason’s Comments (group member since Jan 16, 2013)

Jason’s comments from the Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy" group.

Quag Keep, found 2 weeks ago, read last week, review here:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Dan wrote: "Do you know of more other than the one included Swords & Dark Magic?

as for the Novellas: I was waiting to be introduced to the main characters in the main series (book 3 I think?) before starting the novella series. I do have each one on my shelf though, and really look forward to reading them..."

I thought there was one other Malazan short in another large anthology, but I can't recall which and haven't been able to find it.

Yes, the novella characters first appear in MOI, bk#3 - a rather fine cameo too!

Greg wrote: "Jason M wrote: "as for what I'm reading right now, I am thrilled to be reading a long anticipated title, Ian C. Esslemont's Dancer's Lament. I cannot adequately express just how muc..."

Greg, Didier delivers the goods!

Dan wrote: "I'm looking to jump back into the series at some point soon. Read the first two from Erikson and the first book from Esslemont. I enjoyed them all to varying degrees. But agree the scope of the ser..."

Oh, and there are very few shorts that I am aware of, and while they are set in the Malazan world, none include series characters or further series story lines, they are simply exciting little romps in a known and dangerous world.

Dan wrote: "I'm looking to jump back into the series at some point soon. Read the first two from Erikson and the first book from Esslemont. I enjoyed them all to varying degrees. But agree the scope of the ser..."

It is daunting when looked at backwards - but the core is finished, and it is a spectacular core indeed! FYI, the novellas are standalone from the series, you don't have to read either to get either. The starring characters of the novellas only appear in the main series once.

If you'd like a taste of Erikson's writing style and of the Malazan world however, and enjoy dark satirical fantasy, I cannot recommend the novellas enough as a way to do so. I consider these novellas some of the funniest dark fantasy satire on the human condition I know of, and at roughly 100 pages each, the laughter factor alone is worth it.

Peter wrote: "I've read the first few of the Malazan books. I really liked them, but the scope (and number of characters, races and places) is so epic, I'm pacing it out a bit.
I always had my phone next to me, ..."

I describe MBOTF as epic S&S - meaning while there is an over-arcing world-epic story being told (IMHO, one of the greatest romances ever written), each book is a series of conjoined S&S scenes/shorts manned by out-n-out S&S characters. When I first read GOTM and DG I was flabbergasted, as I held in my hands the epitome of what I had been feebly trying to write, I just didn't recognize it until then, and I recognized it with delight. I cherish these books.

Greg wrote: "Jason M wrote: "hey all, looking for some reading suggestions. Y'all are so very well-read, there is no one better in my opinion to answer this need: an adult friend of mine who does not read much ..."

@Dan and Greg, thanks for the additional Templars suggestions!

S.E. wrote: "Jason M wrote: "Tell us more about Direk. What stories does he appear in?"

S.E., thanks for asking about Direk. he's only actually reached publication once, the projects of his 2 other submitted tales suffering miscarriages. he appears in Tales of the Black Arts: A Sword and Sorcery Anthology. I'm going to put the previously pubbed story and a fresh one together in a Kindle ebook, and if that garners promising reviews, keep doing that. :)

yea, saw this too and was quite excited. can't seem to preorder it though, so we'll have to keep an eye out.

as for what I'm reading right now, I am thrilled to be reading a long anticipated title, Ian C. Esslemont's Dancer's Lament. I cannot adequately express just how much I was looking forward to this work and how much it is living up to, even surpassing, my hopes. I really, really enjoy (in case anyone didn't know ;) ) the Malazan Book of the Fallen, and one of my very favorite characters is who this trilogy is about. After reading everything Malazan and several talks with the author(s), this is pretty much a dream come true. I realize I sound like a gushing fanboy, and I am, but I am really very joyful about this.

On another note, my artist extraordinaire friend Didier Normand https://www.instagram.com/normand.art/ has delivered the final rendition of my character Direk, Lord of Vengeance, furthering my joy :) https://www.facebook.com/direklordofv...

S.E. wrote: "Jason, side bar... Ever hear of the Blind Dead by-horror films regarding the Knights Templar? I watched a few. Dated for sure (1970s I think) but unique.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombs......"

lol, no, hadn't heard of that, I'll have to take a look. Thanks, S.E.!

Jack wrote: "Jason M wrote: "hey all, looking for some reading suggestions. Y'all are so very well-read, there is no one better in my opinion to answer this need: an adult friend of mine who does not read much ..."

Cool (and I know, smart phone app typing doesn't always succeed!), thanks and I'll respond to your message.

hey all, looking for some reading suggestions. Y'all are so very well-read, there is no one better in my opinion to answer this need: an adult friend of mine who does not read much watched Iron Clad and asked me all about the Knights Templar and is very interested in reading about them. So anyone have recommendations of titles that would be good reads? my buddy pretty much has only read WWII nonfiction and sports mags. thanks all!

Just tossing in my observation that this conversation (while very good, don't take me wrong) has a cyclic appearance, popping up in my Google Alert feed about every 1.5-2 years. Here's another take on it:

another new examination of the qualities and worthiness of S&S

40! Hot dang!

Great banner once again, S.E.! I love me some Ray Swanland in the morning!

Hilariously well timed S.E.!

Shadyia, interesting - also have a similar setup, though my prologue is set 11 years before, it is essentially for the same reason, to identify the primary antagonist, but to also establish a fundamental feature of the world that plays an integral part in the story. my duology is not S&S though.

I read every word of the books I read, so I've never skipped a prologue. there's been good and not so good, but I figure the author has something s/he wants me to know.

Dan - great review, especially your closing summation.

An hour long, but a great continuation of my conversations with both authors at WFC 2015.

Around the 23 minute mark begins a discussion on the adjective/category 'grimdark' and I really find Erikson's description apt in summing my feeling of the term: a "celebration of despair." His MBOTF and Cook's Black Company often gets lumped into this category unfortunately. Ensuing talk examines the difference between their writings and these versions and comes to a conclusion it's as simple as the difference between seasoned adults and petulant youth. I agree.

While I don't dislike the term and agree there is a place for grimdark, there's always been grim and there's always been dark, neither of which are this grimdark. So let's be clear here: grimdark is the celebration of despair; minus that it's not grimdark. Neither Cook nor Erikson celebrate despair.