The Sword and Laser discussion

Any new readers or anyone planning to read this? I'll pretend like I haven't read it a dozen times while actually reading book 8 if that helps.

I'm planning on starting it as soon as I finish one of the other books I'm already reading. I haven't read it before, but it looks interesting.

It's been on my 'want to read, but do not own' list for ages. Maybe it's time I break down and buy it.

I'm going to start reading it once I finish the main pick, probably end of this week.

I started it yesterday… I'm already halfway through. It's light and fun, and so far I'm already loving it.

It is on my 'to read in December' list but I haven't started it yet. I'm excited to read it!

Read it a couple years ago, might reread, haven't decided. I noticed when it was first announced a LOT of people said they'd already read it.

For Kindle readers who haven't bought it yet. I'll recommend "In His Majesty's Service". It's the omnibus edition with books 1-3, currently only a dollar more than the single book.

http://www.amazon.com/His-Majestys-Se...

I'll bite... I've been looking for an excuse to read it anyway

If I have time after my next book I plan to try to jump in at the end of the month.

Looks interesting and thanks for the heads up on the Kindle Omnibus edition! I'll most likely go that route.

I started it a couple nights ago when I finished the main pick.

Dustin wrote: "For Kindle readers who haven't bought it yet. I'll recommend "In His Majesty's Service". It's the omnibus edition with books 1-3, currently only a dollar more than the single book.

Or a used paperback copy for $5. Think I'll go that route. Thanks for pointing the omnibus out though. I'd probably have missed that.

I just read the newest book in the series a couple weeks ago. Excellent choice.

I wouldn't have bothered, except it's previously been recommended to me. I ordered it from my library, it just got in today. Hopefully I'll get it read this month.

I have it on my kindle, but I want to finish my current short story collection first. I'll probably start it this weekend.

By pure coincidence I had this scheduled for a Buddy Read for Nov. 30th, so I just read it.

My library didn't have the Natural History pick but it did have this and it's on audio with the wonderful Simon Vance reading, so I'm looking very forward to it!

Got my copy and starting it today.

I just started it.

I just started it today (this morning) while driving to brunch. I'm about a quarter way through so far and really love the audiobook.

Chapter 12...I cried

Finishing of Natural History... today so hope to start this tomorrow. I'm really enjoying this little Dragon Alt History month we're having

Just started it a few days ago and liking it. Got the Omnibus version which was only $1 more so if it continues to keep me interested I have the next 2 books already to follow up.

Wish id known there was an omnibus before I bought it! Really enjoying it so far, I like how its fitting historical events and just adding dragons! Have been assuming its leading to battle of trafalgar since I saw ot mentioned the French were bottled up in toulon. Looking forward to finding out how it ends, and how closely the dragons change the historical events.

I am eagerly awaiting mine to come in the mail.

Done...well, done with one and two. (I did get the compilation). Moving on to book three now. I quite enjoyed His Majesty's Dragon, but thought Throne of Jade was a bit of a bore, by comparison.

Also did that audiobook with Simon Vance! It was wonderful and very entertaining. Moving on to the main pick audio book now.

Well, I may be out. Might be continuing another series with a smaller group next week instead.

I may try to get to this one early next year, but I imagine if I don't read this now it's going to keep getting pushed off.

I was amused to discover that Brandon Sanderson is also reading or listening to this at the moment. Here's his twitter blurb:

@BrandSanderson

Update on my audiobook foray: I'm enjoying His Majesty's Dragon immensely. Narrator is excellent. (But I'm not sold on the dragon's voice.)

End Transmission.

I struggled reading the first few pages, there were some sentences constructed in ways that left me confused as to the sense or meaning implied.

e.g. the second clause of the very first sentence
"a stroke might as easily bring down the man making it as the intended target."

And later when the Captain of the French vessel is said to be "deeply overset by the defeat."

I want to persevere with this book as it's a novel that many on the forum have enjoyed. The dialogue is far better written so that alone will make me persevere and I won't be detailing a weekly list of grammar/spelling issues.
BUT
For those of you who've completed or nearly the book, is it worth pushing on or should I wait for Januarys pick?

Rich wrote: "I struggled reading the first few pages, there were some sentences constructed in ways that left me confused as to the sense or meaning implied.

is it worth pushing on or should I wait for Januarys pick? "

I enjoyed it. Those odd little sentences popped up throughout the book though. I think it was supposed to make the narrative feel like it matched the supposed timeframe. Don't know. They didn't go away, but I got used to them.

I'll bite... what's wrong with that clause? It's perfectly understandable and grammatical.

I really enjoyed the book, rated it 4 stars (if you look at my average, 4 stars is hard to come by for me). I listened to the audiobook and though I had some minor issues/quibbles, they didn't hamper my enjoyment of the book. That said, I didn't find the language to be troubling as you seem to. It may have been different if I'd read the print version, but I don't really know. I am a lazy person, grammar-wise, and I didn't find those sentences jarring or anything.

Rick wrote: "I'll bite... what's wrong with that clause? It's perfectly understandable and grammatical."

I can't speak for Rich, who first posted it, but there were a number of times I found sentences awkward. That could have been one of them. They weren't grammatically incorrect and only took a second to stop and read a second time. But that's still a stutter to my flow. The vast majority of the writing was smooth and easy to read though.

Looking at those sentences (I got detoured off the book), they look like they're intended to evoke the era of the setting. They work fine for me in isolation, don't know how hard it would be in context. (Really need to get back to it...)

Rich (the other Rich!) wrote: "I struggled reading the first few pages, there were some sentences constructed in ways that left me confused as to the sense or meaning implied."

I don't think it would have been as good of a book if Novik hadn't written it the way she did. The odd phrasings were one of the things I most enjoyed about book. There were times that rereading was required, but it didn't happen so often that it put me off the book. Once I got into the swing of things, it all seemed natural to me.

This reminds me of the issues that some readers had with style Steven Brust used in his Khaavren Romances. Some people hated it, but others felt that it was as important to the story as the plot itself.

Well maybe it's just me but the phrase seems unnatural somehow... I first read it that the a man was going to make it as an intended target, as if it was a career! Clearly not the sense the author intended!

I've re-read it a few times since I posted this, but I can't put my finger on what bugs me about the phrase. It's also followed by a paragraph long multi-clause sentence, which ruins the flow of the action.

I should say I'm not here just to bad-mouth the book. As I said before, the dialogue rhythm feels natural and apart from the weird typo of overset for upset, it doesn't seem too bad so far.

The comments have been quiet positive elsewhere so I'll push on and wait for the Dragons!

Ok. The sentence didn't (and doesn't) cause me issues, but...

BTW, overset is not a typo. It's a correct usage of the verb: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio...

Huh. I was thinking we were talking about the main pick, but my comment above works fine for the alt.

And yes, "overset" is used correctly for the period.

I read five books of the series and I'll read the rest of them.