The Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books Thread Book • Page 39

Super excited for you to read this. Phenomenal novel. Keep us posted on what you think.

 

@Vivatoto have you ever read the actual Canterbury Tales?

 

No, I believe I was suppose to read it the year I dropped out of college, ha. I haven't thought about it much but I was rewatching Se7en the other day and I noticed Freeman grabbing it and thought to myself I should read that.

 

I like picturing that as the reason you dropped out, haha.

You should give it a read. I read it back in high school, so it's not super fresh for me, but I really enjoyed it at the time—on its own merits, but it's also just hugely influential in English literature in general, in all kinds of ways.

 

Ha, yeah the way I said it made it sound that like it could have been. Probably one of the few things I would have actually enjoyed about the experience though.

That's definitely a good cool call. My next classic is Paradise Lost. Then I'll probably pick it up.

 

I hope you like it. One of the most unique entries to a sci-fi world I’ve ever read.

 

@OwainGlyndwr You check your mail yet today?

 

Not yet. You? haha. I'm finishing up some work stuff and then I'll pop down and check it.

 

It has been delivered according to Amazon.

I work late tonight so I won't be able to check until then, but I will post.

 

Beyond excited for this @Vivatoto. I've never heard of it before, but the back copy sounds absolutely insane and like something I'd immediately purchase if I found it in a bookstore. So cheers! Thanks a bunch!

 

So this series is the definition of Grimdark. Literally the grimmest, darkest damn series I've ever read. Magic is based on delusions, the more powerful the delusion, the more powerful you are at changing the world to fit your delusions. But of course every single person suffering from delusions eventually goes insane to catastrophic consequences.

The protagonists are vile, the action bloody, and basically nothing good can happen.

It was a really fascinating series. One of my favorites. There is a direct sequel, and then he sneaked in another book set in the same world, Swarm and Steel, but Amazon or Goodreads aren't going to tell you it's part of the series, so keep that in mind. Swarm and Steel is also the best of the 3. I was hoping he was doing a Malazan thing, since it takes place on a different continent, but he's still playing with the same world, but he's since been writing other fantasy series that didn't grab me as much.

I'm really glad I got you, because this probably would have been too dark for some, but I think you'll really dig it. Make sure to let me know!

 

Very excited about reading this book; this description sells it even harder, and knowing how much you like it, I'm sure it'll be great.

I'm terrible about reading things promptly, but I actually should have a sweet spot between Christmas and New Years before I jump back into Stormlight, so I'll plan to read it then if I can! Thanks again!

 

Dude. Legit never heard of this and it sounds fucking amazing. I’ve had a huge lull recently when it comes to good villains and I see that’s a talking point for this. I just finished the newest Dandelion Dynasty so now I’m reading a fantasy pallet cleanser but this will be next. I’m pumped. Thanks and good call

 

Whew glad you're excited! haha. You're welcome to dislike it, but this series is easily in my top-ten favorite fantasy series, maaaaaybe top five, so I really really really hope you enjoy it haha.

Okay so it's the first in a five-book series, and I think the series as a whole is just incredible. Fantastic worldbuilding, magic, and characterization; pretty dark but not over-the-top; and quite inventive with how it hews to and plays with typical fantasy tropes. I'm long overdue for a reread but I find myself constantly remembering cool scenes and characters from these books. They had a huge influence on my reading tastes and my own writing.

James Clemens is also known as James Rollins, who you might have heard of. He's pretty famous for military thriller/espionage books. He's written a bunch of those. They're pretty good, I've read a few. They sell way better than his fantasies, which is great for him but kind of a shame for me because I just want more fantasy out of him. In good news, he's got a new epic fantasy coming out in January from Tor (under the Rollins name) that I'm crazy excited about.

If you like this book, you should be able to find the other four books in The Banned and the Banished series easily enough, as well as his other two fantasies in an unfinished series called the Godslayer Chronicles, which I would also highly recommend. In an interview a few years back he said he plans to rerelease the Godslayer books when the rest of the books in the series are ready to be published, so hopefully his new one takes off and allows him to move forward with that plan too.

Oh and Wit'ch Fire came out in 2002, right at the height of the apostrophe craze in fantasy, haha, so you'll notice that's a big theme. It might be a little silly looking back, but at the time I thought it gave the story a cool flair. (He even said in his announcement of the first Godslayer book something like "Hey, a new fantasy from me—but no weird apostrophes this time.")

Anyway. I really hope you enjoy it, I think it's right up your alley, keep me posted either way—and Merry Christmas!

 

I’ve literally been thinking I would kiiiilll for a “Dark One.” I see Dark Lord on the back and that got me all kinds of excited

 

What a great idea this exchange has been!

 

definitely added this to my Audible wishlist

 

Alright mine should be there by Tuesday

 

I’ve been really pleased with it, even for just a few of us. It’s excited to see what everyone gets and I appreciate the time and care put into selecting good books. We’ll definitely keep it going next year.

 

@OwainGlyndwr Just finished Wit'ch Fire. I really enjoyed it! Reminds me of a darker Shannara. I ordered the second book.

 

Thanks @theagentcoma! It arrived on my birthday, so nice timing. I’ve not heard of this one but it has the beautiful nineties cover that makes me excited to check it out!

 

Yeah that cover rules

 

I forgot that you read physical books in like .4 seconds.

 

Has anyone here read this one?



I just finished it (and have the next two in the trilogy; I enjoy Mark Lawrence as almost a "candy" fantasy author in that it's super easy to digest, pretty good, but never the best) and it's a fun enough twist on the chosen one trope and the magic school (they're magical warrior nuns) trope. I think it's pretty cool because 98% of the main cast are women.

Gonna start the second later today.

 

Lol no joke it was this book and The Dark Tide by Dennis L. McKiernan that graduated me from Redwall to adult fantasy. Both covers looked awesome to teenage me and I picked them up at a used bookstore. It's loosely based on Norse mythology. Definitely not a high watermark of the genre but it's got a special place in my heart!