Vagabond Treehouse (2023) [Beware of Chicken 3 - December 4th] Showing 3,101-3,150 of 5,829

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I’m liking it… put it off for years… closing in on the high action section of #2… the entire 2nd half of the book basically…

Some heavy action happened early on… then officer training and setup for the next phase of the story… now here I am at Operation Beowulf… MC seems worried, based on the name alone…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'm a bit farther on Book 2, and am so HYPED... things are definitely gonna hit the fan, soon... the action has barely begun... more than that, tho, as a reader I know a bunch of stuff that is really gonna mess with the MC, Tanner Malone, once it starts playing out...

(view spoiler)[the idiots in Archangel Intelligence, or whoever, were using the space pirate from the first book, and put him in the captain seat again in book 2, on one of the strongest ships in the fleet, crewed by other criminals wanting a second chance... and he just took advantage of the first conflict in Operation Beowulf to kill the intelligence officer that's supposed to be keeping him on a leash (and this is AFTER he got away with trying to kill the Tanner earlier in the book)...

Then there's Harris and his crew on the Corporation side... that reckless recruit that washed out of military training, is clearly gonna turn out to be Einstein... last seen when Tanner put him in the hospital back in book 1... so he'll have a grudge when they meet again... (hide spoiler)]

So, like I said... excited...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I overhyped the closing sequence of Book 2, but it was still good... some of the stuff I was hoping for/expecting, is being saved for book 3...

From what I understand, this series follows the Black Jewels structure... 3 book trilogy, then more standalone-ish entries... #4 follows Alice Wong... and #5 is Tanner again, once he retired and finally gets to go to college (things get combative on an archeological dig)... and there's indications there could be more books in the future, but it's been a bit since the author published more than an anthology of short stories...

I'm probably gonna jump into book 3 soon, then take a break and read some other stuff...

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Read The Law this morning... did the audiobook... Jim Butcher recorded it himself... quality was pretty decent... interesting to see his take on the characters... altho some of it was probably insp..."

I just listened to The Law this morning. It went so fast! I thought the bloopers at the end were funny, and was impressed with Butcher's narrative skills--he's not one of those authors who is also a professional narrator (afaik), like Mary Robinette Kowal or Travis Baldree, but he did a great job with voices. I haven't listened to any Dresden audiobooks before, so I can't compare him to Marsters... but it was pretty fun.

I just took the "parts" as just chapters in audio, but I didn't think about the reasoning behind why change it up. Interesting theory.

I thought the opening few parts was a little repetitive, with (view spoiler)[Dresden failing over and over again to intimidate each person he came across. Though he thought "I'm usually good at this." But then each person hits him with the "or you'll do what?" and he didn't have a good answer or anything he could follow up with. Every person called his bluff calmly, and I kept waiting for him to change tactics.

Also--I don't really approve of interfering with the law--even slimebags still deserve representation--and I would have liked Dresden to realize he was using similar tactics to the people he despises. I know he's already had moments in the series where he has realized he is walking a fine line between fighting the bad guys and becoming one, but I think he's due for another serious soul-search in this area and hope the next book addresses this more. I did like that his solution was to make all parties back down from extralegal and extra-normal methods of interfering with the trial, and let the Law do as it would.

I was not expecting it to jump from that solution directly to the end, but I guess it's a novella. The action was done. (hide spoiler)]

@Tammie--I agree! Happy to see some Bob, would like to see more Max.

Also agreeing with Iain, I really liked (view spoiler)[the invitations to Game Night, and I'd like to see more of those in the future. And I am now very curious about who the refugees living in his castle are. And I REALLY want to try his pizza. Made with croissant dough? OMG. Sounds amazing. (hide spoiler)]

I also watched Daniel Greene's review before starting the book, and he was bummed over the lack of (view spoiler)[emotional reaction to the events of the last book. I didn't find that bothered me--I thought there were enough hints, and we know enough about Dresden to see he's essentially in denial and drowning himself in work to keep from thinking about it. (hide spoiler)] What do y'all think?

[Nirkatze]

Brian wrote: "@Iain. Poor Man’s Fight.

I’m about 1/4 way through. What a hidden Gem. Thanks Iain"

Totally adding to my TBR. Wishlist. Looking for it on Hoopla. Maybe giving in and just buying it and listening while waiting for the next audio BR...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I rate most short stories 3 stars, because like you said, they’re too short to be satisfying most of the time…

Do you not have KU?… the series is on there… 5 ebooks and 2 audio…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I’m getting to be a bit of a broken record… but I’m liking PMF #3… it’s gone in a number of unexpected directions… and Tanner is chafing, the more he understands…

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Home stretch on PMF 3 already, basically... this is the best reading I've done in a long time (I mean commitment to listening at work/etc, not material)... these books haven't been particularly short, and I've managed to read a book a day or more, without excessive pausing...

Goodreads, Top 5 Editions, puts the first 3 books at a combined 1536 pages... without the bonus inflation, it's still at least 1200-1300 pages... each audiobook keeps getting longer... 14hrs, 15.5hrs, 16.5hrs... while I was looking, I noticed the next book from Wong's POV is under 10hrs, and the 5th book is nearly 20hrs (probably alot of setup, with Tanner in college and then on an archeology dig)...

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I rate most short stories 3 stars, because like you said, they’re too short to be satisfying most of the time…

Do you not have KU?… the series is on there… 5 ebooks and 2 audio…"

Short stories are really hard to pull off successfully, I think. I'm actually just about to start How Long 'til Black Future Month? today, and in the introduction, Jemisin talks about how as a new writer she was encouraged to write short stories, and how she sees them as great mediums for experimentation. I think the most successful shorts I've read have been just that--a compact contained world. Garth Nix also has great shorts in that vein. The Dresden ones... are more like deleted scenes. Fun, but not as tight. Some of the St. Mary's ones I've adored though--especially Roman Holiday.

I don't have KU--I don't have a kindle and I really don't like the way they format their ebooks. I have a Kobo and I buy non-DRM ebooks and format them to look like my physical copies. One of my quirkier hobbies. But it makes me happy.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Nirkatze wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "I rate most short stories 3 stars, because like you said, they’re too short to be satisfying most of the time…

Do you not have KU?… the series is on there… 5 ebooks and 2 aud..."

I mostly have KU for the free audiobooks, and the ability to use it to get discount pricing on Audible audiobooks ($2 to $7.49 on the good deals)... I get the 2 year subscription for 40% off with online coupons (there's usually one available, just gift it to your own email)...

I generally just avoid short stories and novellas, unless they're just short books... there are gems out there, but I don't want to pay to seek them out, and anthologies are generally hit or miss, if they're an assortment of authors... or they are mid-series...

St. Mary's works so well, because honestly, the full books are just an anthology of short stories, with a thread of trouble connecting them together... I mean... look at any book in the series, like the one with the old guy... Max and the old guy get in trouble with Isaac Newton... end of at the end of the universe... restart the universe with a bang... that's a short story... then Max goes to the future and runs St. Mary's for awhile... that's a short story... then she returns to the present for the moneymaking venture of the book... that's a novella... and the book is over... and the characters are great fun... hijinks with the ducks, Markham in medical, etc etc etc...

Dresden has a million short stories... most just give a glimpse of what his life is like when it's not an apocalypse level threat, and show why he struggles to pay the bills... sometimes there's a series of short stories, like the Bigfoot ones... on rare occasions, you get to see pretty big stuff from an outside POV, like Thomas and the White Court's participation in the Oblivion War, or Murphy and the introduction of the Fomorians... or what happened between Molly and Carlos recently...

I really want to read the one with Toot Toot and Mister the Cat... came out a few months ago... it's in a multi-author anthology...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Finished PMF #3: it was good... ending was another cinematic action sequence... reminded me of newer Star Trek movie with Benedict Cumberbatch as the villain, I think...

I can see why some people didn't like the last 10%... they kinda crammed an entire 4th book of plot in there, to tie everything off and push the world/narrative forward...

And now I've noticed that #4's new POV story actually takes place between books 2-3, so I'm less excited for it... but it fills in details on the espionage missions implied in the prologue to book 3...

There's still PMF 5 to look forward to, tho... and I signed up for his Patreon page, to find out what's been going on... looks like he started PMF 6, which finally reunites Tanner with his war buddies and stuff, after his time away at college...

And that was paused, to work on a new IP... looks to be a cross between Good Intentions and PMF... Boy Meets Robot in space with sexytimes and polyamory... with a charismatic bad guy CEO like Jeff from Community... it's in professional editing now, and Kay is back to working on PMF 6... might need to up my Patreon tier and read the 1-2 dozen short stories available for both current series...

[Choko]

You guys totally made me pick Poor Man's Fight up, and I um up to Ch. 3... This is vastly exaggerated, but it is kind of a mirror for everyone who tries to go through a worthwhile school and is left with tons of debt and jobs that can barely cover it in our world. I paid my way through school by working full time, but my best friend in college took of the time she went to school and took loans. We have been out in the workplace for 30 years now and she is still paying on her loan... As a social worker, you are barely able to pay the monthly interest, let alone cover significant chunks of the principle... It is a shame really. I completely understand the frustration the young man feels in the book...

[Tonari no Emily]

Iain, you're totally right about St. Mary's books basically being anthology of short stories! Noticed that too.. There's a series of mostly unconnected adventures with maybe an overall villain arc.. Love them though. And most of the short stories are hilarious :)

Read The Law on KU.. First time I physically read a Dresden. And in terms of emotional stuff (view spoiler)[ I feel like Dresden is not quite processing his grief entirely yet... He's still spacing out about it, so still very beginning stages of grief, and not the outpouring of emotions that comes later. Throwing himself into a case probably's helped a bit, and I hope he processes it more in the next book..

And ugh.. I almost forgot about the arrangement with Lara.. (hide spoiler)]

I understand where your coming from Nirkatze with the whole not being above the law thing.. But the law is honestly very flawed and can be exploited so... eh? (view spoiler)[He did end up with a solution within the law though so that's good.. (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

And now I'll have to check out Poor Man's Fight... :D

[Choko]

Hahaha! Iain is evil like that, tempting us with new and exciting stuff:)))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "You guys totally made me pick Poor Man's Fight up, and I um up to Ch. 3... This is vastly exaggerated, but it is kind of a mirror for everyone who tries to go through a worthwhile school and is lef..."

Yea... it's a pretty blatant exaggerated metaphor for capitalism, but it's pretty spot-on, too... and later on, there's proof the system is rigger...

I really got into the book/trilogy/series... I took a break after #3, but will definitely be reading the rest, and eagerly awaiting new releases...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Emily wrote: "Iain, you're totally right about St. Mary's books basically being anthology of short stories! Noticed that too.. There's a series of mostly unconnected adventures with maybe an overall villain arc...."

I'm the other way around... I read the first 12-15 Dresden books... I only started listening to the audio on re-read... I found the series through the TV show on early Hulu, over a decade ago, around when #12 was the newest book...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "Hahaha! Iain is evil like that, tempting us with new and exciting stuff:)))"

While also trying to tempt you with old and exciting stuff that I want to re-read...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I did a bunch of shorter reads, yesterday:

A Spindle Splintered -- tried setting up a BR for this, months ago... I think Soo was the only one that showed vague interest... was also waiting for the 2nd to release... I enjoyed it... loose on logic, just a fun little story about female empowerment in fairytales... this one was about breaking the Sleeping Beauty curse across the multiverse... Alix E. Harrow really likes the multiverse...

The Original -- Sanderson/Kowal audio collaboration... by the time this was over, I wished a sequel was in the works... pretty thought-provoking stuff about cloning and government over-reach... but also made me think about the potential of the Metaverse and Altered Reality... it was like everyone was living in a Green Screen World, with their own stories/theming... or like the constant resets in The Good Place, where are the shops keep getting renamed...

Junkyard Bargain -- I read the first book in this series forever ago, through the Audible Original freebies, I think... it's by Faith Hunter, author of the Jane Yellowrock series... this is a post-apocalyptic series with telepathic cats and hivemind technology... MC is one of a handful of people that survived 2 different nanite attacks (one from bugs and one from robots) that turned her into a hybrid Queen that can build a hive of thralls... she's done a pretty good job of avoiding that, until this baddie starts doing it and trying to take her out... I hope there's gonna be more, because the series is nowhere near done... but it's hard to tell with Audible Originals... they don't really announce much ahead of time...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

St. Mary's #6.5: Jodi Taylor made the same faux pas, 2 short stories in a row...

This one was the followup to the previous one, with (view spoiler)[Max getting the jittery historian back in the field, only to lose a gun in ancient Egypt... Christmas hijinks ensue with Markham and Peterson... ends with Ian Guthrie deciding to retire with his historian... pretty big deal... (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I loved it though, Iain! But you are right, she could have made a full book from it, not just a short...

[Choko]

I finished the first Poor Man Fight... I liked it quite a lot. The concept is great, I just wish the author gave a tad more personality to some of the characters. I am going to jump into the next one and see how it goes:)))

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Glad to see everyone is liking it, despite my excessive hype this past week...

It's got me on a sci-fi kick again, a bit... between my listing of novellas, and I now seem to be digging out a favorite ebook series that sticks with me, for a third time: A Soldier's Duty... the MC is a mega-seer that basically foresees the entire series in the prologue to the first book, and then restructures her life and those of all her friends and family members on her home planet, to avoid an apocalypse 300 years after she dies... most of the tension in the series comes from the events that can't be predicted (because there are celestial manipulators and aliens in play)...

[Brian]

Finished Poor Man's Fight. Almost a 5 star read for me. Thanks @Iain. Little more character development would have made it over the top for me but I devoured this audio book. I am going to start #2 in the next day or two. Need to catch up on Mistborn paperback a bit since I am falling behind on that BR

[Choko]

Brian, we are here for you no matter what:)))

Iain, I have had that series on my TBR for a while now. Tell me when you start it, so I can join too:)

I am actually 20% in the second Poor Man's Fight book. I really don't know what to think about the spy chick. I am not too sure she is on our side...

[Tonari no Emily]

I really need to finish a couple audios I've already started, but y'all got me excited for Poor Man's Fight... Can't wait :)

[Tonari no Emily]

I read Lies, Damned Lies, and History last week.. Trying to remember some specifics from that particular book, but a lot of the plot gets tangled up in my head with the other books haha (view spoiler)[ I think this one did shake up things a bit with Max actually having some career consequences to her actions..
And we again have more at play than just time travel.. Seems to be some sort of wizard-ghost in the caves? Always something interesting here :D

Max is like SUPER pregnant in this one.. I can't imagine her doing some of the things she did especially as she's described as not the healthiest of people.. lot's of jokes about being constipated lol

Honestly having a baby alone in the past in the desert sounds absolutely horrible. Seriously Ronan is awful.. I am super glad the time police (of all people!!!) got to her in time. But I also don't understand how having a baby in the past would cause that baby to become part of the past.. (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I mostly have KU for the free audiobooks, and the ability to use it to get discount pricing on Audible audiobooks ($2 to $7.49 on the good deals)... I get the 2 year subscription for 40% off with online coupons (there's usually one available, just gift it to your own email)..."

I'll have to think about KU... I've only been doing audiobooks since y'all got me in to them when I joined FBR, so I've been slow to jump in the deep end on everything.

I really like your analysis of short stories, Iain--they feel very true for St. Mary's and Dresden. I had had similar thoughts on St. Mary's when reading, and it's nice to hear someone else put it into words.

I will seek out short stories or novellas as palate cleansers between series, or to try out a new author before jumping in to a bigger work. I usually keep a book or three of them by my bed.

Speaking of shorts--I just listened to Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings (St. Mary's 6.5) and it was fun but nothing special. But darn I felt bad for Markham! He puts up from A LOT from everyone else. I'm looking forward to the short story coming up which looks to be from his POV.

Started St. Mary's #7 Lies, Damned Lies and History last night! And then I finished it before I published this comment. I really need to learn to not let comments sit for days before submitting....

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "I really need to finish a couple audios I've already started, but y'all got me excited for Poor Man's Fight... Can't wait :)"

I started today and am really enjoying it! I really like military SF as a genre, but haven't read much for a while. A lot of interesting thought points in the first few chapters, and I like the premise. The economic POV is a very interesting spin. TY Iain, for bringing this to alls ours attention!

Random note about stepmother Sharon--(view spoiler)[I don't understand step-parents who want to be called "mom" or "dad." If the child comes to that themself, or are given the invitation to call them what they feel comfortable with, that's fine. But expecting a child to call someone who is easily seen as an interloper as "mom" or "dad" is just asking for trouble, and disrespectful. And the way Tanner's dad said "your mom" when she wasn't his mom is just asking for trouble too--and definitely made it feel like he was siding with the stepmom over the kid. Much better to have said "Sharon." Or to have another word specific to her, that isn't "mom" like "mamere" or some other foreign word, but even that's pushing it. I remember when my parents were dating other folks and I was a teenager--even though I liked the folks they dated, it was hard to accommodate them in my life and my parent's lives. It felt wrong. And I wasn't even one of those kids who wanted my parents to get back together.

Okay, rant done. Would be interested to hear other people's thoughts. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 was really satisfying. (view spoiler)[Hah! Down with Einstein! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "I read Lies, Damned Lies, and History last week.. Trying to remember some specifics from that particular book, but a lot of the plot gets tangled up in my head with the other books ..."

I hear you, both on everything getting mixed up and on the ending. I just read/listened to this yesterday and it already is all mixed up with the other books...

(view spoiler)[And I totally agree--WHY would giving birth in the past make the child a contemporary? And it was announced like, RIGHT AFTER she expounded again the difficulties of existing in a time and place not your own, with no connections to the community.

It can kind of be expanded into the different ways of achieving citizenship of a country. The U.S. has both blood and birth lines--parents count, and location of birth counts. Japan has only by blood. I don't know of any country that only practices location of birth. The child's parents should automatically give them citizenship of their time.

And then there's the question: what would happen if someone got pregnant from a contemporary, or impregnated a contemporary? (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I did a bunch of shorter reads, yesterday:

A Spindle Splintered -- tried setting up a BR for this, months ago... I think Soo was the only one that showed vague interest... was also..."

I liked Spindle alot too! Although, Alix Harrow has been pretty consistent for me.

I saw Junkyard on the Plus Catalog.. I'm always hesitant on trying things on there, but I might try that one (eventually) as well...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "Brian, we are here for you no matter what:)))

Iain, I have had that series on my TBR for a while now. Tell me when you start it, so I can join too:)

I am actually 20% in the second Poor Man's Fig..."

I read the first 40% of Soldier's Duty last night... we'll see if I get back to it today, or wait a day on continuing... didn't get much sleep... got work today...

[Tonari no Emily]

Nirkatze wrote: "Emily wrote: "I read Lies, Damned Lies, and History last week.. Trying to remember some specifics from that particular book, but a lot of the plot gets tangled up in my head with th..."

Hmm to answer your last question, they would probably have immunity from floating brains when they take over the world xD


But seriously, I think that's one of the things "History" would actually prevent..

[Choko]

Hahaha, Emily! Immunity from floating brains!!!

I will read St. Mary's #7 today... Running behind on everything....

Nirkatze, you are totally right about step-parents not pushing to be called mom or dad. I am glad, however, that he at least likes his step mom, because I get kind of tired of some of my favorite authors making step mothers always evil. That is just not reality and I hate the constant vilifying of women like that. Yes, the relationships could be a bit stiff and awkward, but not evil...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I get pretty gung-ho about reading ebooks, when it's one that can hold my interest long enough to finish, without being distracted... this is my 2nd year in a row re-reading Theirs Not to Reason Why...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

I'll finish St. Mary's #7 tomorrow, probably... seems we've finally hit one of the plotlines I kept thinking happened much earlier in the series, with Halcolm...

[Tonari no Emily]

Re steps... I have both a step mom and step dad.. My step mom since before I can remember basically, but she still has never tried to push for me to call her mom.. I agree that that's really way too pushy, especially late into childhood. I think that should definitely be the child's decision.
And, yes Choko, 100% with you on the evil step mother trope! Really hate that.

Through Chapter 5 of PMF.. Really enjoying it so far, and yes to the satisfying end to Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ Einstein was/is a real piece of work.. Glad he got a bit of comeuppance (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Einstein, obviously something is wrong with him mentally. I am actually worried that he might come back and try to get revenge on our dude.
I got to the end of book 1 and I understand why(view spoiler)[the government of Archangel might think it's a chance worth taking, working with Casey, the asshole murderous pirate, since they are obviously planning on going against the three major corporations and need ruthless fighters, but I think it probably will backfire on them big time. Also, Casey is not going to just let TM be and forgive and forget. They are going to come to blows eventually, but the worst part will be the loss of trust even to their own, supposedly standing for the good of its people government...

Also, TM got it on with the hot press secretary lady! Yay! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

POF #2 ... about 40% in... (view spoiler)[ Ooohhh, poor TM, he just doesn't have much luck with the ladies, does he... I liked him with the cougar lady, they seemed to be perfect for each other. I am guessing she is not very good with commitment though...

I still don't trust the Spy lady, but at least we see her actually working on our side for a while... And she carried him like a sack of potatoes when he got his knee screwed up! That was badass!

And I was right - Casey did try to take him out! Almost succeeded... I feel bad about the dude he had to cut his arm for him, as I feel bad for him having to do it.

Also, I have a hard time reading about the callous way the opposition is killing civilians. I know the author wants us to know that they are not good guys, but I hope he lets us experience some feeling of revenge eventually...

I love what the Archangel government stands for in this fight. I almost find all the factions in the governing body working together as an eutopic concept, but I will take it, since they are at least trying to stand up to blatant corruption. I still feel very uncomfortable about them working with the likes of Casey... The meeting on Earth and Andrea slapping the Union and the Corporations down, was awesome!!! It will surely come with consequences though, I just know it! (hide spoiler)]

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Nirkatze wrote: "Emily wrote: "I read Lies, Damned Lies, and History last week.. Trying to remember some specifics from that particular book, but a lot of the plot gets tangled up i..."

Waaaaa! LOLs Floating Brains. Love it.

[Tonari no Emily]

Finished PMF #1! That was very fun, thanks Iain for bringing this one up! Got my adrenaline going a bit :D

Probably gonna dive straight into #2

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Choko wrote: "I loved it though, Iain! But you are right, she could have made a full book from it, not just a short..."

Jodi could make anything a full-book, given how we describe the books as anthologies of shorts... she just likes writing in this world, I think... doing Christmas shorts... she also has tons of just "scenes" that are even shorter than short stories floating around, I think...

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Emily wrote: "I read Lies, Damned Lies, and History last week..."

Halcolm is a plotline I kept thinking happened/started earlier in the series... boy was I wrong...

(view spoiler)[these books run on "JT logic"... it's very easy to question it, since it all seems to contradictory... I mean, it's hard to say what makes Arthur's sword more special than half the other things the historian's let Thursk find and put in a museum... or how lax the rules have become on bringing items back (is lost in mud the same as burning in the Library of Alexandria?),,, that FOD plot algorithm must be super smart to know when an object can travel in time like that... (hide spoiler)]

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Choko wrote: "Brian, we are here for you no matter what:)))

Iain, I have had that series on my TBR for a while now. Tell me when you start it, so I can join too:)

I am actually 20% in the second ..."

Finished Soldier's Duty already... been reading quite a bit lately...

All military books need a bad egg that washes out of Basic Training...

[Nirkatze]

Just finished PMF! Lots of fun, thanks again for the referral, Iain! Lots of great action leading up to the end. Should have known, (view spoiler)[when Tanner asked "what the heck do you have to do to get the highest award?" that we would find out.

I had a little science twinge when Tanner told Laura to hold her breath--I always thought it was the opposite for decompression--you want to exhale to reduce the pressure differential and cause blowout on your lungs... but maybe that's just for explosive decompression?

The end bit, with Madeleine, Tanner, and Nathan all in the same room gave me Starship Troopers memories again (movie, not book)--you have three friends, whose post-graduation plans lead them in separate directions, girl goes for officer track, the boy who had a crush on her ends up a grunt, and there's a reunion with all three at the end... (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Choko wrote: "POF #2 ... about 40% in..."

Re Archangel (view spoiler)[ Feeling your apprehension here too! Just got to the opposition's meeting seems like (view spoiler)[ they're planning some kind of retaliation/attack (hide spoiler)]

I'm actually really loving the politics of this one and the contrast between the higher-ups planning engagements and strategies vs the grunts... Because intellectually what Archangel is doing is good... standing up to corporate corruption and greed, but it has fallback and the people at the bottom pay the highest price for engagements like this.. TM being very intelligent already grasped implications of Archangel's moves and I think he's bracing for something if not all-out war... (hide spoiler)]

[Tonari no Emily]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Halcolm is a plotline I kept thinking happened/started earlier in the series... boy was I wrong...

[spoilers remo..."


Haha yeah, only now starting to get to that plotline.. (view spoiler)[ the way this ended was pretty satisfactory regarding Halcolm basically quarantining him for leprousy :D

BUT then he has that sly look at Max before she was leaving for maternity leave and... I just know he knew what was coming... Is he in line with Ronan?? (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I am half way through St. Mary's #7... First, I feel terrible for poor Markham! He is being constantly abused and maimed for the good of St. Mary's, or for their crazy experiments...

Emily, you are right, it is the first time all of them had some real carrier consequences and it obviously stings... I would have acted the way they did in their place as well though...

Am I the only one who felt very sorry for Caroline, George 's wife? That made me sad for her...

Best parts so far - Markham being vulnerable with his girlfriend, the bailing out of jail situation and the report on historian turds:)))

[Choko]

Ronan is such a f@#$r!!! That was just a horrible plan, totally sadistic! I hate him so much!!!

[Nirkatze]

Emily wrote: "Timelord Iain wrote: "Halcolm is a plotline I kept thinking happened/started earlier in the series... boy was I wrong...

[spoilers remo..."


Haha yeah, only now starting to get to that plotline....."

The leprosy thing was brilliant.. (view spoiler)[I love Dr. Foster...

I totally had the same pit-of-stomach uneasiness when Harlow smiled that sly smile too, but couldn't imagine why... (hide spoiler)]

@Choko--totally agree on Markham!! He always comes out worse on everything, but it never seems to get him down... and he's always got the best laughs too. Cleopatra. One-handed bra-unfastening contests. Blue people...

I was actually very impressed with how diabolical Ronan's plan was--much scarier and more dire than his previous ones...