Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Buddy Read starts on 7th January.

Well... this has been on my TBR for a year and a half, so I'll try and make it...

Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Well... this has been on my TBR for a year and a half, so I'll try and make it..."

Really anticipating this one.

I'm armed with my audiobook. =)

Soo wrote: "I'm armed with my audiobook. =)"

Almost time to start... this sure is a big one... 41hr audiobook.. 1236 pages

Wait! This is a buddy read?! I was planning on reading it next month 😩

Yanique wrote: "Wait! This is a buddy read?! I was planning on reading it next month 😩"

Yup... books are so big, tho, that the BR is bi-monthly... January/March/May

I'm about 30% in and the story isn't all that likeable yet. Interesting but not likeable. I'm probably going to re-listen to the beginning few hours because a lot of character/other stuff happens there that will make more sense now.

Will be starting tomorrow.
This has been on my TBR for so long I am hoping that it will be a great story.
This trilogy put Peter Hamilton on the map, and having read five of his books and liked them all I would hope this lives up to the hype.

@Soo, I hope it gets better for you.

I've been planning to read something by Peter Hamilton for a while and this is my intro to his work.

Lots of interesting parts but none of the characters stand out yet. I believe that has to do with this being the first book and setup phase. I'm in the thick of action right now. This part reads (view spoiler)[like a horror story (hide spoiler)].

Soo wrote: "I've been planning to read something by Peter Hamilton for a while and this is my intro to his work.

Lots of interesting parts but none of the characters stand out yet. I believe that has to do w..."

That's pretty much the internet consensus... you need to wait through the setup for things to get awesome...

Get to 45-50% and loads of action. Fun times! This is like an action packed sci-fi + horror.

I think I'm going to join this one :)

WooHoo! More Sf =D

Just downloaded this one and finished my current audiobook. I'm all ready to start!

I really liked this one when I read it back in 1998 or so. Maybe the plot or style have re-used since, but back then it was different in scope and plot. Of course, back then I liked a main character with a impossible sexual appeal and scoundrel attitude. Sort of a mix between James Bond and Han Solo. Now, I'm 'a bit' older and the style have to be a bit more complex and/or subtle.

When are we doing the sequel?

Nearly done with audio round 1. Planning to skim-read book and make notes sometime this week.

The terrible transitions do not detract enough from the plot. John Lee has done a great job narrating the book. Two thumbs up!

I find the story itself to be fairly simple. It's the multi-range of places and people that make it complicated.

Attitudes are mostly cavemen. Overwhelming testosterone despite a few strong female characters. Well. More like one.

Story threads are making a fun and mildly lumpy tapestry. =)

I am running through The Last Kingdom, hopefully done tomorrow, then full attention to this Hamilton, which needs it with all the characters he usually has in his tomes.

Soo wrote: "When are we doing the sequel?

Nearly done with audio round 1. Planning to skim-read book and make notes sometime this week.

The terrible transitions do not detract enough from the plot. John Lee..."

You probably didn't notice it on the schedule since the schedule is bi-monthly to accommodate the most people with varyign reading speeds... book 2 is scheduled for March 8th, I think, and the 3rd is May 8th...

I'm DNFing at 21%. This is the wrong audiobook for me, it can't hold my attention at all and subsequently i have very little idea what's happening...

Just started today. Looking forward to it.

Angela Jr. wrote: "I'm DNFing at 21%. This is the wrong audiobook for me, it can't hold my attention at all and subsequently i have very little idea what's happening..."

If you can, I would give it another hour or so. It makes more sense around 35%.

Soo wrote: "Angela Jr. wrote: "I'm DNFing at 21%. This is the wrong audiobook for me, it can't hold my attention at all and subsequently i have very little idea what's happening..."

If you can, I would give i..."

I just started, and I'm not sure if it's the book or the narrator that's the problem... I'm only on like page 5, but I find myself lulled by the narrator's cadence, rather than paying attention to his words...

5% in: Edenist puberty -- (view spoiler)[so they just go around having sex 12+ hours a day, until they turn 18?... (hide spoiler)]

Soo wrote: "When are we doing the sequel?

Nearly done with audio round 1. Planning to skim-read book and make notes sometime this week.

The terrible transitions do not detract enough from the plot. John Lee..."

This is a good description... I think I'm getting used to the narration...

Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "5% in: Edenist puberty -- [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[There's a lot of sex in the story period. Hahaha but I don't think they start having sex at 12? A little bit later in teens. He pretty much crams that part in. (hide spoiler)]

John Lee usually does a good job but I think he did a great one for this book. It's hard to realize that until later though because so much happens that I think you kind of ignore him talking for the info he is saying.

Soo wrote: "Angela Jr. wrote: "I'm DNFing at 21%. This is the wrong audiobook for me, it can't hold my attention at all and subsequently i have very little idea what's happening..."

If you can, I would give i..."

Hm, I'll finish my current audiobook and then try again.. can't promise anything though 😅

Soo wrote: "Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "5% in: Edenist puberty -- [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]

John Lee usually does a good job but I think he did a great one for this book. It's hard to realize..."

It's all so nonchalant... I do think the narration has gotten better / more understandable... I also sought out some summaries to get a feel for the MCs / factions...

Bit further in now: Edenists vs Adamists: (view spoiler)[Edenists sound like a First World Society vs Adamists as a third world society... mostly in how the Edenists treat & manipulate the Adamists for their own gain... I'm at the start of the section where Adamist exiles are colonizing the jungle planet, I think... there was a section with priest and marm... (hide spoiler)]

What speed are you listening at? I started the audio at 1.8x and later listened to about 1.9-2x.

It actually takes like 40% for you to get a good grasp of the characters & places (habitats, ships, planets).

There's more differences between the Edenists & Adamists. I think the biblical attachments in the story are interesting & detracts from the plot.

Like, I find it hard to envision people regularly saying "Mother Mary!" to curse in futurewhen.

I'm listening at 1.5x... I might speed up to 2x around 40%, when that full grasping happens...

Ch 2

(view spoiler)[Do we really need a detailed description of evolution on a new planet? I think it would be sufficient to say, "Life formed much like it did on Earth" and let the reader fill in the blanks. Curmudgeon out (hide spoiler)]

Wow, Ch 3, take off!

Well I am 150 pages thru, plodding along creating some notes on characters and places.

For all there is a Confederation Handbook, published in paperback for the trilogy that may be helpful. The Confederation Handbook.

I am curious though how many are reading vs. audio?

Frank wrote: "Well I am 150 pages thru, plodding along creating some notes on characters and places.

For all there is a Confederation Handbook, published in paperback for the trilogy that may be helpful. [book..."

I'm doing audio, altho I've paused to finish Gardens of the Moon and some other things...

Wikipedia has a decent summary going for the book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rea...

This online review is also pretty detailed... altho I think some of it comes from that wikipedia article: http://sfpotpourri.blogspot.com/2014/...

I'm reading, but only 3 chapters in.

The first 2 chapters had me worried that I might not like it, but I really enjoyed Chapter 3.

(view spoiler)[Not only do you get a symbiotic relationship of a 'human' and a sentient, living space craft, but you also get the reproduction, embryology, and development of that symbiosis! (hide spoiler)]

Timelord Iain (Eeyawn) wrote: "Frank wrote: "Well I am 150 pages thru, plodding along creating some notes on characters and places.

For all there is a Confederation Handbook, published in paperback for the trilogy that may be ..."

Thanks, did take a look at those, but always worried about spoiling if I read too far in, LOL.

Ah Gardens of the Moon, I have read twice already and still can't jump off to the next books.

I did it by audio and plan to skim-read the print. Book ended up getting better as it went. =)

tried again, but still not for me... i got up to hour 15 but still can't focus on the story.

Aw sorry to hear that the story didn't work out for ya.

Well, I finished the story, decided to read it, as I thought an audio version would get away from me, as seeing the characters name in print was able to give me the ability to follow everyone, as Hamilton does jump around quite a bit.
This a solid story, wonderful world setup and character development, and large story.
We have our heroes, rogues and the bad, oh that Quinn Dexter!!
I will be moving to the next book in March, hope some are joining.

I'm in for book 2.

I DNF'd this for now... haven't touched the book in over 2 weeks... admitting defeat... but I plan to try again in the future...

I did it!! I finally finished!! I've been reading this off and on for a year, but I finally did it. If any of you gave up, don't. It really gets going halfway through. I loved it. Can't wait to continue the story!

I quit near the start... I might give it another try eventually, but I just wasn't in the mood for it at the time...

I'll try it:) Thanks for the advice, Kristen:)))