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Finished Ender's Game and enjoyed, so decided to continue on with the series.

So on to book 2:

Heechee Rendezvous by Frederik Pohl

Originally Posted by dmaul1114 The first season only covered the first book. So just read A Game of Thrones and then you can watch the show and then read further to be ready for future seasons.

I don't want to post this in the GoT TV thread but it has to be said: the book is SHITLOADS better than the show.

If you really enjoy reading GoT, I'd say skip the show entirely and put your entertainment hours into the next two books in the series. After you've finished Books 1-3, if you're still interested in the TV show, check it out.

Just know that the GoT show isn't "quality" TV in the way that other HBO shows are. It is highly polished schlock with decent source material.

Originally Posted by dothog I don't want to post this in the GoT TV thread but it has to be said: the book is SHITLOADS better than the show. If you really enjoy reading GoT, I'd say skip the show entirely and put your entertainment hours into the next two books in the series. After you've finished Books 1-3, if you're still interested in the TV show, check it out. Just know that the GoT show isn't "quality" TV in the way that other HBO shows are. It is highly polished schlock with decent source material.

Emphasis on Books 1-3. I'm on the 4th right now and it's a struggle for me to get through this one.

Originally Posted by RockinTheRedDog Emphasis on Books 1-3. I'm on the 4th right now and it's a struggle for me to get through this one.

The fourth book was the worse. The fifth one was better but still nowhere as good as the first three.

Just finished Robopocalypse. It wasn't Dickens but it was one of the funnest books I've read in awhile. Think of it as a cross between World War Z and Terminator. I would love to see a film adaptation of it.

I just hope the Giants win the Super Bowl so George doesn't fall into a depression and delay starting book 6.

Originally Posted by kill3r7 The fourth book was the worse. The fifth one was better but still nowhere as good as the first three.

I disagree, though I know I'm in the minority.

I've loved all the books. The fourth is not everyone's cup of tea because of the characters it follow, but I loved spending time with them just as much as all the other characters. Unlike Wheel of Time, where I grew to dread certain characters, I was always glad when I turned the page and found who would be the center of the new chapter.

To me, Game of Thrones is not about resolving a plot. That's interesting, of course, but it's all about characterization, detail, and getting inside the heads of the people in the books.

Originally Posted by blandstalker I disagree, though I know I'm in the minority. I've loved all the books. The fourth is not everyone's cup of tea because of the characters it follow, but I loved spending time with them just as much as all the other characters. Unlike Wheel of Time, where I grew to dread certain characters, I was always glad when I turned the page and found who would be the center of the new chapter. To me, Game of Thrones is not about resolving a plot. That's interesting, of course, but it's all about characterization, detail, and getting inside the heads of the people in the books.

We agree to disagree. IMO, Feast for Crows did not add to the plotline or character development in any meanigful way. It introduced too many new characters and shifted the focus off many favorite characters. I enjoyed the Jamie, Brienne and Arya parts but more than a quarter of the book was devoted to Cercei who I loathe. It was as though George was planting the seed for future acts that will determine the fate of the realm. With that said, I think books 4 and 5 are greatly improved if read jointly following a linear timeline.

Link to reading books 4 & 5 side by side. I don't recommend doing this prior to reading each book individually. Link

Read this on my bus ride to work this morning ..


The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate by Ted Chiang


What should I read next? Here's a list of the unread books on my Kindle right now:

Steve Jobs
It
Heart of Darkness
The Architecture of the Ozarks
Empire State
Debris
Page from a Tennessee Journal
Gotham: A History of NYC
These is My Words
The Way of Shadows
The Grove
The Eden Hunter
Gardens of the Moon: Book one of the Malazan Book of the Fallen
Revelation Space
Mass Effect: Ascension
The Blade Itself: The First Law Book 1
Free Will Flux
The Shadow and Night
The Night's Dawn Trilogy
The Void Trilogy

Not that thread activity isn't welcome, but if you guys want to talk ASOIAF, we have a thread devoted specifically to discussion of the books.

I hope you'll continue this discussion there, as I love discussing the books and learning about all the theories/perspectives people have on the books. I got the feeling in that thread that either nobody cared or I was doing so much posting that I was dampening the enthusiasm of the people who did care. So please chime in!

In book news, I've been reading the Island in a Sea of Time series by S.M. Sterling. I really like the first part of the first book, but I hate how the author felt like there needed to be a plain vanilla "bad guy." Such a waste of a good setting and an interesting premise.

As far as ASOIAF, I'm with those who loved the first 3, but was let down with books 4 and 5.

As for the TV show, I thought what I saw (the first 6 or so episodes) were fantastic. Great adaptation of the books, and I can't wait to get it on Blu and watch it all next moth.


Maklershed, the only ones of those I've read is The Grove and the Mass Effect book. The Grove is just ok, but is a very quick read. The Mass Effect books aren't anything great, but are an ok read if you're a big fan of the games.

I want to read the Steve Jobs bio at some point.

Just started


It by Stephen King

Originally Posted by Maklershed Read this on my bus ride to work this morning .. The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate by Ted Chiang What should I read next? Here's a list of the unread books on my Kindle right now: Steve Jobs It Heart of Darkness The Architecture of the Ozarks Empire State Debris Page from a Tennessee Journal Gotham: A History of NYC These is My Words The Way of Shadows The Grove The Eden Hunter Gardens of the Moon: Book one of the Malazan Book of the Fallen Revelation Space Mass Effect: Ascension The Blade Itself: The First Law Book 1 Free Will Flux The Shadow and Night The Night's Dawn Trilogy The Void Trilogy

Can definately recommend Revelation Space and Blade Itself. Revelation Space is a little hard to get into. It's the first book in a series but makes you feel like you're missing some previous info.

Gardens of the Moon is okay, but it's a 10 book series. Brutal and bloody. Confusing character names and magic/belief systems.

Wage of Shadows is good but really relies on some convient contrivances.

I wish I read more non-fiction.

Currently reading:



Delightfully weird. Abstract. At times it seems like the writer is a little in love with his own language. It's also sort of a "throw you into the deep end" type of book, where you're just immersed in this world and the explination of who these differnt races/speices are only shows up later. Some authors take paragraphs or pages explaining each alien species the first time they're introduced. This isn't one of those books.

Reading Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson. It's entertaining but the writing style is not the Gonzo journalism that I expect from Thompson.

Originally Posted by Mr Unoriginal Reading Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson. It's entertaining but the writing style is not the Gonzo journalism that I expect from Thompson.

Yeah, that was his first book and isn't Gonzo at all.

It's a very good read, but it's just a piece of immersion journalism. I actually read it for the first time in an immersive reporting class as an undergrad.

Originally Posted by Mr Unoriginal Reading Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson. It's entertaining but the writing style is not the Gonzo journalism that I expect from Thompson.

One of my all time favorite books.

Originally Posted by Maklershed Just started It by Stephen King

that clown. Gave me nightmares through most of my childhood.

Originally Posted by Mr Unoriginal Reading Hell's Angels by Hunter S. Thompson. It's entertaining but the writing style is not the Gonzo journalism that I expect from Thompson.

The book that cemented Thompson’s reputation as the premier journalist of the strange, deviant and crazed. Although not in the style of Gonzo journalism, you can still see the begins of it throughout the book. A very insightful read. Great book.