The B&B Book Review
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The Sailor who fell from favour with the sea.
Yeah. Enjoyed this, though had to persevere at times, despite its short length. Story of the author (Mishima) possibly more interesting than the book itself, though. -
The Dungeons and Dragons Art & Arcana book is bloody brilliant. Easily the worth the entry fee.
Anyone with a passing interest in the game would do well to pick it up as a coffee table browser. -
I finished The Dark Tower last week. This one wasn’t for me. Way too long for it’s own good and some majorly disappointing character wrap-ups (the man in black, I’m looking at you...I mean fucking hell that was bad). Also felt like I was being prodded to read some of King’s other books, namely Insomnia and Hearts in Atlantis, which ain’t happening. Then there’s the inclusion of King himself in the narrative; that was just a little too self indulgent for my liking. Also, it just felt tacky. Then there’s that ending... I actually liked it better than I was expecting to. It could have been better, but by god it could have been a hell of a lot worse.Get schwifty. -
I just finished Issac Asimov’s Foundation. Wow...I fucking hated it. Cool, I thought, a vast, galaxy-spanning civilisation on the brink of collapse. Sounds epic. What I got was men in rooms, talking. A lot. And that’s another thing: it was only ever men in rooms, talking. I mean I know it’s a thing of its time, but didn’t Asimov at least figure the opposite sex might at least have some small role in his vast and all encompassing future? But lo, a woman finally shows up in the final quarter of the whole story, and then it’s as a whinging harridan, there for no other reason than to hen peck her moar important husband. Shit book. Fuck off, Asimov.Get schwifty.
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The Dark Tower ending has to be one of King's best, a low bar I know. -
The ending was decent, which was welcome surprise. A shame so much of the journey was dull as ditch water. I obviously enjoyed it a lot more back when I first read it, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone back to it. It’s probably better to leave the treasured memories of books you read in your youth exactly where they are.Get schwifty.
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Mate some of its ideas are amazing, the way it spans generations is amazing, it plus the next couple are top tier for me. I'm not gonna defend a lack of women in it (vaguely recall one, but it's been a while since I last read it), but the idea of pyschohistory etc. is great IMO.Raiziel wrote:I just finished Issac Asimov’s Foundation. Wow...I fucking hated it. Cool, I thought, a vast, galaxy-spanning civilisation on the brink of collapse. Sounds epic. What I got was men in rooms, talking. A lot. And that’s another thing: it was only ever men in rooms, talking. I mean I know it’s a thing of its time, but didn’t Asimov at least figure the opposite sex might at least have some small role in his vast and all encompassing future? But lo, a woman finally shows up in the final quarter of the whole story, and then it’s as a whinging harridan, there for no other reason than to hen peck her moar important husband. Shit book. Fuck off, Asimov.
So while I admire your opinion, your are wrong. -
Even the idea of psychohistory is nonsense.Get schwifty.
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Foundation made me angry, which is rare.
I also finished Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination recently, which was written before Foundation and was a good bit more progressive and a heck of a lot more interesting.
Also finished The Willows by Algernon Blackwood, which is a classic bit of cosmic horror. Very Lovecraftian.Get schwifty. -
This month (it's still March right?) I have been mostly reading the Murderbot series of novella's by Martha Wells. The first is pretty short so it was a shot to nothing if it wasn't great, but I'm right into them now and nearly finished the third. There are four in total, and a full length novel on the way next month, but the short form of the stories has worked well for me so far. They're filling a sentient-bot gap in my reading left by (M.)Banks' departure.iosGameCentre:T3hDaddy;
XBL: MistaTeaTime -
Raiziel's opinion of Foundation makes me angry, which is rare
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I’m very happy to disagree with you, muz. Sorry, in a way, but happy.Get schwifty.
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We need a third opinion who agrees with me
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Seldon probably knows how this particular debate should pan out.Get schwifty.
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Sorry I'm with elf
F U Muzz"I spent years thinking Yorke was legit Downs-ish disabled and could only achieve lucidity through song" - Mr B -
Elf wins. Dayum. Can’t imagine elf (nor Seldon) saw that coming.Get schwifty.
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Fuckin Elf
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We should probably let him know.Get schwifty.
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Raiziel wrote:Foundation made me angry, which is rare.
I also finished Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination recently, which was written before Foundation and was a good bit more progressive and a heck of a lot more interesting.
Also finished The Willows by Algernon Blackwood, which is a classic bit of cosmic horror. Very Lovecraftian.
The Stars My Destination is amazing - so far ahead off its time.
I've been working my way through the Rosewater trilogy, by Tade Thomson. Great books and really refreshing to read sci-fi from a different cultural perspective than white Western dude saves the world.Gamertag: gremill -
Raiziel wrote:Elf wins. Dayum. Can’t imagine elf (nor Seldon) saw that coming.
Cockbeard is (major foundation series spoiler)
Spoiler:"Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." ― Terry Pratchett -
Ooh rosewater is 99p today. In.
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And another thing about Foundation. Worst. Ending. Ever.
Okay, I’m done now.
What to read next? I was going to read The Terror by Dan Simmons, but that feels like a winter read. Right, just had a quick look at my Kindle. The Ten Thousand Doors of January or The Priory of the Orange Tree. Someone pick one.Get schwifty. -
Is there a book club thread here? There should be, especially with all the free time at the moment.
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.. when all you need is a window, isn;t it iron..."I spent years thinking Yorke was legit Downs-ish disabled and could only achieve lucidity through song" - Mr B
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Not yet. Author was just nominated for a Hugo for it, however, and is the youngest woman to be nominated for the award, so it is held in quite high regard.
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Solid choice then. Will report back.Get schwifty.
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yourfavouriteuncle wrote:Is there a book club thread here? There should be, especially with all the free time at the moment.
As for this, perhaps, but this wouldn’t work for me. I have very particular tastes, so much of what might come up wouldn’t be for me. Good idea, though. Would be nice to join in occasionally.Get schwifty. -
I'm tempted to pick up Gideon the Ninth, which was also nominated. Sounds bonkers.
Given Uncle's post above though, I'd be up for doing Thousand Doors as a first pick in a B&B book club...
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