Brother Beck's Recent Activity

Brother Beck liked OwainGlyndwr's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

Haha nice, that is funny. Slightly extra funny because he’s a veterinarian, so the seals/sea lions are on topic as well lol

Brother Beck liked tvck's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

My favorite would probably be between Speaks The Nightbird by McCammon or 11/22/63 from King. Just excellent historical fiction from both.

Brother Beck attached a file to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

my kids are learning about seals & sea lions at the library in the next town over from us, and I popped over to the adult section to see new books and saw this and got a chuckle -->

Brother Beck replied to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I think my favorite non-fantasy or sci-fi would probably be Kurt Vonnegut, or maybe Catch-22 I'll echo the love for Cloud Atlas, and also Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by Mitchell

Brother Beck liked OwainGlyndwr's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

(Neither of those names is his real name haha.)

Brother Beck liked OwainGlyndwr's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

James Rollins is also James Clemens. He wrote 7 fantasy novels like 20 years ago (a 5-book series and the first 2 of another). But his thrillers under the Rollins name took off waaaaay more than the fantasies, so he eventually put the latter on the backburner for a while. Moonfall is his return to fantasy, but under the Rollins name since at this point that’s how people know him.

Brother Beck replied to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

what else has James Rollins written...?? for some reason I was under the impression that he hadn't written a lot of fantasy, and Moonfall was him branching out and doing something different

Brother Beck liked tvck's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I realized that I've basically loved everything I've read recently with the exception of a couple of books, so I can't really answer the questions of the day lol. My TBR is basically be catching up on all of the bangers that I've put off.

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I love Dan Brown, haha. Is it good? Do not care; I'm all in for Robert Langdon.

Brother Beck liked OwainGlyndwr's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

1: Much like @Brother Beck, this is hard for me to answer since I tend to not make it far into stuff I hate. Maybe The Death of Francis Bacon, though that seems to be pretty divisive anyway. That was probably the last thing I hated (except for some indie stuff I bailed on, but that’s rare too). 2: Howl’s Moving Castle lol. It’s weird, this *should* be right up my alley, it’s got all the things I like. But I just found it dreadfully boring and slow. I’ll probably try again at some point, as it’s likely a me problem. 3: Apparently James Rollins haha. Dan Brown also? Some Spider-Man comics, Wolverine too. Nina George’s The Little Paris Bookshop, going by average Goodreads ratings. Brian Lumley. Sōji Shimada. Oooh, KV Johansen, everybody needs to read her work but it’s only at like 3.5 on GR, which isn’t terrible but is still too low. 4: Tricky question, I love it. I’m gonna recommend a couple. Italo Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler. Charles Portis’s The Dog of the South (my favorite book after LOTR). And David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, which likely some of you have read. All three masterpieces that are fantastical but still largely outside SFF.

Brother Beck liked OwainGlyndwr's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

James Rollins is in my top five favorite fantasy authors for sure lol. Wild. These are really great questions. I’m gonna ponder for a bit and come back to answer.

Brother Beck liked theagentcoma's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

Brother Beck liked tvck's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

worth calling out that Ruocchio's first editor for Empire of Silence basically required him to do things in the same vein as NoTW, so that's why that comparison always gets called out, but I don't think it's anything like that going forward. And like @Helloelloallo said, if you aren't sold by end of 3, it won't be for you. I truly think it's worthy of the hype but I also know it's not for everyone

Brother Beck liked Brodobaggins34's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

Might catch some flack, but... 1) you hated - His Dark Materials 2) didn’t mind, but don’t understand the hype - Red Rising Saga 3) loved when no one else seems to - Micro by Michael Crichton. Don't think this wasn't necessarily loved, but just doesn't seem to have quite as much fondness by the general public as I have for it. 4) not in the sci-fi/fantasy space, but think those of us regulars in here would like - Any of the Slow Horses books. Currently reading Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper and really enjoying it. I don't know that I love the writing style, but it's an enjoyable story.

Brother Beck replied to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I loved that one too a lot

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

Yeah, I often try to switch genres between stories just to keep things fresh. The library just gave me Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword, so that's next, haha.

Brother Beck replied to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I am absolutely going to try it again - I had just finished a somewhat similar sci-fi book that I absolutely loved, and it's a little hard for me to switch gears to another scifi world and not overly compare the two, so I read a fantasy book after

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I've got this trilogy lined-up for after I finish Sun Eater and DCC7, so now I'm curious.

Brother Beck replied to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I even feel like a jerk saying that, because Name of the Wind & Wise Man's Fear are good, solid fantasy books - it's more that I wish the level of hype and praise (and money) heaped on him got spread around a little more to other authors that I think are equally worthy, if not even moreso who slip thru the cracks

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

Using these questions to slowly add to my TBR, don't worry, haha.

Brother Beck liked Helloelloallo's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I think a lot of reactions show how reading order is so important on the impression a book makes. I read Name of the Wind as one of my first fantasies and thus didn't know what was inspired by others and what was original. When I read The Wheel of time and Robin Hobb after, some things in The Name of the Wind didn't have the same shine knowing that it was retreading ground. I do still like a good part of the series and saw a pic of Pat Rothfuss lately where he looked so healthy and well, and that gives me hope that he'll finish one day. I also read NK Jemisin early on in my fantasy journey, but I think that holds up regardless, and there are some really unique things done to the narrative structure that are worthy of all the praise. #4 to Garretts question - The 7-1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - A pretty controversial book it seems by goodreads rating / reviews, but I loved it. It is sort of fantasy, but it's more of a very unique murder mystery. The ending wasn't the strongest part of the book, but man, was it a mind bender trying to piece it together and follow along with the timeline.

Brother Beck liked theagentcoma's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

FWIW I've been enjoying it! thanks again for the book!

Brother Beck replied to the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

yeah, I'm hoping your thoughts on it end up a little closer to mine haha it's funny, because I'm right with you on Starless Crown, but Ordinary Monsters is one of my absolute favorite books in recent years, hands down it's hard for me to do #1 because if I'm not feeling a book fully I usually stop reading it about ⅓ in at most and move on - recently though, I've done that with Starless Crown as mentioned and Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, even though on paper that one should be right up my alley #2 The Name of the Wind and really anything by Patrick Rothfuss honestly - I like them a little more than just 'didn't mind', but I still think he is (or was I guess) insanely over hyped #3 for me, all time, is always The Divine Cities trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett, but more recently The Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams #4 I'll go with The City & The City by China Miéville cuz it doesn't fit either descriptor really but I absolutely loved it

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

1) you hated - J.M. Miro's "Ordinary Monsters" or James Rollins' "The Starless Crown"; nothing about these books worked for me. 2) didn’t mind, but don’t understand the hype - Sun Eater 1 & 2 (currently reading 3). It's got a lot of the Name of the Wind vibes that I never really gelled with, and it feels to me like Red Rising does a similar story better. Also, anything by NK Jemisin... she's not that revolutionary. 3) loved when no one else seems to - The Illuminae trilogy. It's YA sci-fi, sure, but it's some of the most fun you can have (especially in audiobook form) 4) not in the sci-fi/fantasy space, but think those of us regulars in here would like - Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind (and related books)

Brother Beck liked theagentcoma's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

I'm reading this one right now lol

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

Give me your hot takes (in a judgement free zone, keep it fun and interesting and chatty): What’s a book you’ve recently read that… 1) you hated 2) didn’t mind, but don’t understand the hype 3) loved when no one else seems to 4) not in the sci-fi/fantasy space, but think those of us regulars in here would like

Brother Beck liked GBlades's post in the thread Book The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread.

1) you hated - The Call of Cthulthu. This has not aged well 2) didn’t mind, but don’t understand the hype - Klara and the Sun. It was beautifully written but felt like a drag 3) loved when no one else seems to - When the Moon Hatched. Romantasy gets a bad rep. 4) not in the sci-fi/fantasy space, but think those of us regulars in here would like - The Family Experiment by John Marr. Technically could come under sci-fi but that's not it's main draw. A dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

Brother Beck liked Jim's post in the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

haha I didnt see your post I swear

Brother Beck liked Garrett's post in the thread TV Show The Wheel Of Time (Amazon Prime).

[MEDIA]

Brother Beck replied to the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

I already love this song, you don't need to sell me on it so hard

Brother Beck liked Jim's post in the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

the opening piano reminds me of the vince guaraldi charlie brown christmas soundtrack haha

Brother Beck replied to the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

FIRED UP

Brother Beck liked Carrow's post in the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

Presser

Brother Beck attached a file to the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

tracklist --> love the idea of this song closing out the first half

Brother Beck replied to the thread My Morning Jacket - My Morning Jacket (October 22, 2021).

I've been singing the chorus all morning. definitely an ear worm. great song.