Literally Geeky discussion

What's tickling your fancy at the moment? Any recommendations you can't wait to share? How are you passing the time until GRR Martin's ready to confirm that Tyrion's riding on a dragon*?

Shut up! Tyrion is so going to fly on a dragon. He's going to fly on that dragon like a dragon riding god!




*This may or may not be a spoiler. I'm saying nothing. NOTHING, YOU HEAR?! He might be dead already. Go read the books. Read the books and talk about it here.

Nearly finished with The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and, sad to say, I'm completely underwhelmed.

It started out well, and the author definitely has a gift for the written word, but once Kvothe made it to the university, it got booooooring - with stock characters and slow pacing. Things have finally gotten interesting again, 300 pages later. I just hope it isn't too little, too late.

With the amount of praise this book has received from both friends and critics, I was expecting to be blown away. Instead, I just want to find the guy who said it earns a place on your shelf next to Tolkien and hit him with a copy of The Silmarillion.

I'm almost finished with For The Win by Cary Doctorow.

I was hoping for a good book about the game world colliding with real life, with interesting characters and situations.

So far I've had a 400-page economics lesson. And not even an interesting one.

And far, FAR too much use of the phrase "waggled their chin" for no apparent reason except bad editing. Can't say I recommend this one.

Aww, that's a shame Aaron. I really loved that book. I agree that the middle drags a little, but I personally think the ending makes up for it.

Big fan of In the Name of the Wind, I really enjoyed the TH Whitesque writing style, and taverns! You don't get enough tavern action these days.

Also I agree with Lara, it's got a good end, despite the detour to Middle Ages Hogwarts. That said, I like the mad teacher there.

One for all Dragon Age fans: I've just finished reading the third story, Asunder. Hedge magic! Orlesians! Plots! Demons! Tranquil Mages! Oh my.



As with previous novels, it feels like you're reading a game treatment: you can more or less picture working your way through the levels. It took me out of the storytelling, but others might find the experience to be an interesting perspective.

Unlike The Stolen Throne and Stolen Throne Sequel - Sad King Maric's Sexy Times Adventure in the Deep Roads (or whatever it was called - when Duncan (view spoiler)[took down a dragon with a pair of daggers, (hide spoiler)]...so cool), Asunder deals with life a decade after the blight, in snobbish Orlais (boooo).

Old friends feature heavily, namely Wynn and Shale, and it's nice to see them again - even if time hasn't been that kind to Wynn, who, just like Tiny Tim "didn't die!" .... but instead transitioned from grandmother handing out hard mints to bitter old crone handing out hard slaps to the chops.

There's lots of lore (hurrah), and one of the characters from upcoming DA:I gets his introduction. While Bioware have repeatedly stated that you don't need to read any extra stuff to enjoy the game, it's a pretty decent intro. Also, I'm not sure that I agree with the party line... yes, you're not missing out per say - you'll never be left in the dark in Dragon Age Origins or Inquisition if you play the games without reading the stories, but.... they add an awful lot. Especially the second novel, Sad King Maric Gets Some in the Dirty, Diseased, Cold, Hard Deep Roads).

As for Asunder an average sort of pulpy-fantasy: the story is strong; the protagonist characters veered between scenery chewing and pancake flat. It won't rock your world (no offense Shale), but it won't rain all over your day either. If you like Dragon Age then it's a diverting enough way to spend a few hours.

PS: every time someone mentions the "Hero of Fereldan", I felt very smug, like one of those kids who's reading a book with their name inserted in it, but, y'know, 32.

*The Calling (my favourite of the stories so far).

I sat down and powered through Succubus Blue today, which I really enjoyed, but now it's time to get started on this month's book club picks.

I'm definitely going to try and read the Dragon Age books before I play Inquisition. I should have some money spare in a couple of weeks, so I might pick the first one up then.

I'm reading all the Narnia books right now, and I'm on The Silver Chair just now. I had only ever read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe before, so it's quite interesting to read the whole series.

I tried to read the Narnia books as a kid - I could never get into them for some reason. I wonder if I'd appreciate them more as an adult.

The Silver Chair is my favourite of the Narnia stories, possibly because I was fond of the BBC version and Tom Baker as Puddleglum.

An I've only ever seen many versions of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe. Though I think I've seen the newest prince Caspain. I've just finished The Silver Chair and it was quite good. I think the Magicians Nephew and The Horse and His Boy were quite dull though.

I would really recommend the book the Seance by John Harwood. I stumbled across this book by chance in a closing down sale of a well loved book shop. I have to say its brilliant. Set in Victorian times its really gripping and has an unexpected ending. A good read for around Halloween without being too scary as I'm a wimp.

Oooh I loved The Seance, really fun spooky mystery book.