The Sword and Laser discussion

I have become an unabashed fan of the Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Starting with The Disappeared and up to Blowback have been a real joy to read.

These are excellent SF Thrillers full of intrigue, political maneuvering, and great insight into human-alien relations.

I have posted reviews for this series:

http://marion-hill.com/category/retri...

I hope Tom and Veronica would choose a book from this series as one of their picks of the month.

What is the series that you have become an unabashed fan of?

Marion

I really loved the Retrieval Artist books as well! I listen to them in audiobook. Jay Snyder is a fantastic narrator for this series. I've read through Paloma. Accidentally listened to the Possession of Paavo Deshin not realizing a couple of books came before it.

The Cassandra Kresnov series by Joel Shepherd. The universe's most advance combat android deserts her post in the military and tries to build up a life as a civilian on a planet of her former employer's/owner's enemies.
The first 2 books suffer a bit from early book syndrome with rough around the edges writing and uneven pacing, but it has so many great ideas and a broad spectrum of politics, social conflicts and generally a lot of questioning of the human condition. Also lots and lots of highspeed action that puts most superpowered fantasy battles to shame. The 6th and (for now?) final book is spectacular in scope and ties the whole series together in great way.

completely agree with Kevin on the Kresanov series. The author has also written a fantasy series that was very good as well.

I'm a huge fan of The Expanse books - I just love them.

I picked up the first Ben Aaronovich book (Midnight Riot) two weeks ago and today I started book 4 in the series - so I'm a new fan of this one, it's a lot of fun. And it's urban fantasy without the noir flavor or the burnt out, cynical detective (he's still snarky, but he's also pretty gung ho and new to magic and like a kid in a candy store - it's a nice change).

Michele wrote: "I'm a huge fan of The Expanse books - I just love them.

I picked up the first Ben Aaronovich book (Midnight Riot) two weeks ago and today I started book 4 in the series - so I'm a n..."

I agree with Michele about Aaronovich. I've read all of the Peter Grant stories except the last one (Foxglove Summer, I think it's called). At my request, my local library has it on order. They're a lot of fun.

Still in love with 40 or so of Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. They top my 'I'm a fan of..." list.

The series is finished for the time being, but Joe Abercrombie's First Law and associated books. Not the deepest books in the world but so entertaining.

Brendan wrote: "The series is finished for the time being, but Joe Abercrombie's First Law and associated books. Not the deepest books in the world but so entertaining."
I've only read "The Blade Itself". I can't say it suited my personal taste, but I'm not really a dark fantasy fan.

Michele wrote: "I'm a huge fan of The Expanse books - I just love them.

I picked up the first Ben Aaronovich book (Midnight Riot) two weeks ago and today I started book 4 in the series - so I'm a n..."

Plus, it's sort of wonderful that Grant is written as a massive geek himself, which adds to all the humour. Since I'm still relatively new to the UK (3.5 years!), I like picking up on the specifically-British humour that I don't think I would have gotten before moving here.

Just finished Broken Homes and Foxglove Summer. Michelle, you're in for a good read!

Marion wrote: "I have become an unabashed fan of the Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Starting with The Disappeared and up to Blowback have been a r...

...I hope Tom and Veronica would choose a book from this series as one of their picks of the month..."

Sounds good to me.

Robyn wrote: "Michele wrote: "I'm a huge fan of The Expanse books - I just love them.

I picked up the first Ben Aaronovich book (Midnight Riot) two weeks ago and today I started book 4 in the ser..."

Some of the distinctly British vocabulary can be a challenge. I lived in the UK for a few years when I was a kid, so I got most of it, but I had to pause and figure out some words and phrases from content. I eventually had to check the magic internet to find out why Grant called his Ford Focus an Asbo. :)

I took a 10 year break but have recently picked back up the Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore. He's hugely popular but you don't hear about him much in the forums - love his writing and I'm a big fan of the series.
It's a shared world so that is a drawback but love the way he writes a story and writes the characters. Big fan.

I didn't even think about Terry Pratchett, I guess I take it as given that the whole world loves him (though I'm sure that's not true, there must be some Pratchett haters somewhere out there).

I love John Scalzi's Old Man's War series

I'm also a huge fan of The Peter Grant series. If ever there was a book series that was crying out for TV adaptation its this one. Consistently brilliant.

In a similar but more esoteric vein, Charles Stross's Laundry Files series also sucked me in & I can't wait for the next one.

Also love the Expanse series.

I got sucked into the world of Harry Dresden. I tried really hard not to but the damn thing got me anyway.

Pratchett's a given but I wouldn't go as far to say that I'm an unabashed fan anymore... it feels more like an obligation or habit these days.

Lawrence wrote: "I love John Scalzi's Old Man's War series"

I agree on Scalzi. I enjoyed his Old Man's War books and Fuzzy Nation and Redshirsts.

Discworld, but I'm hardly unique in that. Hopefully Old Man's War when I get around to reading the Trilogy I got for Christmas. I liked his other work so far.

Iain M. Banks Culture novels. Sadly there will be no more:(

I'm now a HUGE fan of the Kate Daniels Series. I started reading the first book around October and blazed through all seven books, finishing in December. I'm now all caught up and waiting for the eighth book and let me tell you, I'm super excited to see what comes up next. How much I ended up loving this series was pure surprise and so far there hasn't been an urban fantasy that has impressed me as much. Kate Daniels rocks! XD

Nearly everything this guy does is 5-star worthy, and I am not a 5-star review giver. I rave about him far too much.

Biggest reason? He revitalized my interest in fiction because he trusts the reader to connect the often-hidden dots, to interpolate with external worldly knowledge and vocabulary, to discern the hidden currents and guess where they may lead.

Scott wrote: "I took a 10 year break but have recently picked back up the Drizzt books by R.A. Salvatore. He's hugely popular but you don't hear about him much in the forums - love his writing and I'm a big fan..."

Forgotten Realms is unique for a shared world, most of the times characters would also be shared, but each author has their own unique characters that nobody else can write.

Marion wrote: "I have become an unabashed fan of the Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Starting with The Disappeared and up to Blowback have been a r..."

First book in this series The Disappeared is $0.99 in Kindle version today.

Conal wrote: "First book in this series The Disappeared is $0.99 in Kindle version today."

I was curious about this book series when it was mentioned, but now that I know that the first book is so cheap, I totally snapped it up. I will for sure try out this series now.

In the meantime, I've had a number of the first books of Terry Pratchett in the Discworld series in my wishlist. Pretty much waiting for the prices to someday go down. I've never read any of his works but I've heard such good things about the Discworld series for years. I hope to someday read all that is of this universe.

Keidy wrote: "I've heard such good things about the Discworld series for years. I hope to someday read all that is of this universe. "

It's a matter of taste, really. Some people love Pratchett's Discworld books. I'm one of them and have hardback editions of all of them in my personal library. I reread them often. They're light fantasy, in a way, humorous, philosophical, with just a bit of science thrown in. What they are mostly is different. I've come across no others that have a comparable combination of wit, wisdom, and fun.

I'm a big fan of The First Law Trilogy and A Song of Ice and Fire, but those are pretty popular so I don't know if I'm adding much to the conversation by offering those up. Same with the Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson; I've only read the first book in that series but I'm sure I'll be continuing with it. I also love China Mieville's Bas Lag books (although I still need to read Iron Council). If there's a series that's less well known (although the author is getting a lot more attention lately) that I often find myself advocating for, it's probably The Kameron Hurley Omnibus: The Complete Bel Dame Apocrypha Series.

Andy wrote: "I'm a big fan of The First Law Trilogy and A Song of Ice and Fire, but those are pretty popular so I don't know if I'm adding much to the conversation by offering those up. Same wi..."

Ha, other than ASOIAF (which I read the first book of and didn't really love) you are basically me. I've got my first book by Kameron Hurley (Mirror Empire) purchased and ready to go.

Andy wrote: "I'm a big fan of The First Law Trilogy and A Song of Ice and Fire, but those are pretty popular so I don't know if I'm adding much to the conversation by offering those up. Same wi..."
I didn't care much for the one book of Abercrombie's I read (The Blade Itself). The characters were all such despicable human beings, I didn't care what happened to any of them. They start out scum and they stay scum. I've liked most of Sanderson's stuff that I've read. It's enjoyable epic fantasy. The magic systems he creates are imaginative, and at least some of the characters have redeeming qualities. I picked up his Mistborn trilogy last week and am reading the last one now. I've read several of his other books previously.

I'd echo the Discworld and Kate Daniels series.

I'm having a hard time falling in love these days. Maybe I'm just jaded because so many of my past loves turned out to be poor companions for the long haul because they just wouldn't stop talking (Safehold) or they stopped calling me back (Game of Thrones) or they've become kind of high maintenance, so I'm not sure where the relationship is going (The Demon Cycle).

Then there are so many first dates where people assured me, "Oh, great personality! Just need to get to know it!" (Dresden, Potter, WoT, Hunger Games).

I'm just looking for love in all the wrong places, I guess.

I'll read anything that Brandon Sanderson writes. And I have read just about everything by him.

D.L. wrote: "I didn't care much for the one book of Abercrombie's I read (The Blade Itself). The characters were all such despicable human beings, I didn't care what happened to any of them. They start out scum and they stay scum. I've liked most of Sanderson's stuff that I've read. It's enjoyable epic fantasy. The magic systems he creates are imaginative, and at least some of the characters have redeeming qualities. I picked up his Mistborn trilogy last week and am reading the last one now. I've read several of his other books previously.
"

It's funny that you say that - I often use those exact two authors as examples of what I like and don't like in fantasy, except my feelings are the exact reverse of yours. I find Abercrombie's characters complex and dark, whereas Sanderson's are morally one dimensional good guys/bad guys. You mention that "at least some of the characters have redeeming qualities." Other than the obvious 100% baddies, what unredeeming qualities do any of them have? In reviewing The Way of Kings, one of my major criticisms was that, to the extent that the characters have any flaws at all, they're the type of flaws you would highlight in a job interview: "sometimes I'm just too honorable! Sometimes I just care too much!"

I think the characters in The Blade Itself have many redeeming qualities - for the most part they're people born into a harsh, unforgiving world who are just doing their best. Logen is a guy trying to put his past behind him (it's not his fault that he Hulk's out and turns into the Bloody Nine when he gets pissed off), and even Glotka expresses regret (he's constantly asking himself "why do I do this?") and a desire to be better.

Having said that, despite having many criticisms of The Way of Kings I gave it 5 stars. It has elements that usually turn me off in fantasy, but the story is just that good. I couldn't get past the first Mistborn book, but I'm hooked on this series and will be reading the second book soon.

Brendan wrote: "Ha, other than ASOIAF (which I read the first book of and didn't really love) you are basically me. I've got my first book by Kameron Hurley (Mirror Empire) purchased and ready to go."

Glad to hear that you're checking out Hurley, but I would just offer this bit of advice: if The Mirror Empire doesn't work for you, don't give up on her - check out the Bel Dame Apocrypha series. The Mirror Empire is... well, it's not for everybody, and I'm not sure it was for me (although I give her credit for swinging for the fences and attempting to be very creative and epic). I'll probably give it another shot though and see if the series improves with the next book. Same with Abercrombie's latest series - didn't love the first one, but he's earned my readership at this point so I'll see what book 2 has in store.

Andy wrote: "It's funny that you say that - I often use those exact two authors as examples of what I like and don't like in fantasy, except my feelings are the exact reverse of yours. I find Abercrombie's characters complex and dark, whereas Sanderson's are morally one dimensional good guys/bad guys. You mention that "at least some of the characters have redeeming qualities." Other than the obvious 100% baddies, what unredeeming qualities do any of them have?"

Hi, Andy. I think the issue comes down to a matter of taste and what we like in fiction. I am not a fan of dark fiction in general. I don't find it entertaining. People of low moral character, either real or imaginary, don't interest me. I don't find vicarious violence thrilling and, by the same token, I don't laugh when some poor sap slips on a banana peel. It's not funny. What differed between Abercrombie and Sanderson for me was that in Abercrombie's book, the characters were selfish and sadistic and pretty much resigned to remain that way to make their way in a harsh world. They didn't like it, but they accepted it. Sanderson's books tend to place tainted and trouble characters in a harsh environment who want to make both themselves and their world better. Because of this, I, as a reader, care more about what happens to them and whether or not they succeed. There is some of that in 'The Blade Itself' but, for the most part, not enough to catch my interest.

Until my dying days I will be an unabashed fan of David & Leigh Eddings' Belgarion, Malloreon, Elenium and Tamuli series. I love these books and have read each of the series many, many times.

While it isn't finished yet, I have a feeling that Scott Bakker's Second Apocalypse series will also be on that list.

D.L. wrote: "Andy wrote: "It's funny that you say that - I often use those exact two authors as examples of what I like and don't like in fantasy, except my feelings are the exact reverse of yours. I find Aberc..."

Totally agree, D.L., it's just a matter of personal preference. I'm not suggesting that the way Sanderson writes characters amounts to bad writing - I'm just more in the realism camp than the escapism camp in terms of what I look for in entertainment. I think we live in a complex, morally gray world and I prefer those realities to be reflected in my entertainment. I realize that many other people look for stories to teach life lessons and for characters to be role models of how people should behave. I can appreciate that and I like those kinds of stories occasionally also. The kid in me still likes stuff like Star Wars, but these days I'm more likely to enjoy the dark complexities of shows like Breaking Bad, The Wire or Game of Thrones. As I mentioned, I think The Way of Kings is such a richly imagined world and compelling story that those distinctions don't wind up making much of a difference; having morally perfect/one-dimensional characters is not always a dealbreaker for me.

Andy wrote: "D.L. wrote: "Andy wrote: "It's funny that you say that - I often use those exact two authors as examples of what I like and don't like in fantasy, except my feelings are the exact reverse of yours...."
Agreed, and I respect the difference, but I don't see positive fiction as escapism any more than I see dark fiction as realism. All fiction simplifies things to make a story, or sometimes even, make a point, but it's all still fiction and therefore equally escapist in that respect. It's more a matter of what you choose to focus your attention on. I look to nonfiction books and 'news' for my exposure to how things currently are and how they once were in the real world. Human civilization is a continuing tale of both disasters and achievements. Looked at from the long perspective of history, humanity has progressed considerably, both technologically and ethically over time. It still seems to be doing so. (See Steven Pinker's book The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined.)I think this is why I find people who are trying to discover and build things( e.g. real life scientists, engineers, and some others), far more interesting and worthy of attention than criminals and dictators. The former are the ones who actually make a lasting difference.

Kenneth wrote: "
Nearly everything this guy does is 5-star worthy, and I am not a 5-star review giver. I rave about him far too much.

Biggest reason? He revitalized my interest in f..."

Kenneth,

I've read a couple of Gene Wolfe novels. He is challenging and excellent. I would like to read some more of his works in the future.

Marion

Conal wrote: "Marion wrote: "I have become an unabashed fan of the Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Starting with The Disappeared and up to Blowback. The books get better in the Retrieval Artist Series and this novel gives the series a great start.

Marion

Keidy wrote: "Conal wrote: "First book in this series The Disappeared is $0.99 in Kindle version today."

I was curious about this book series when it was mentioned, but now that I know that the fi..."

Keidy,

I hope you enjoy The Disappeared as well. You can check out my review in the original post after you read it.

Marion

Marion wrote: "I hope you enjoy The Disappeared as well. You can check out my review in the original post after you read it."

I surely will. Thanks Marion! ^_^

I'm a die hard fan of the Vorkosgian series by Lois McMaster Bujold, and I don't care who knows it. It's got so much! Spaceships, wormholes, and stun guns! Mercenaries and adventure! Complex male and female characters! Interesting gender discussions! Mysteries and puzzles! The (mostly) point of view character, Miles, is a little bit over-the-top, like a tabletop roleplaying character where the player took a couple of major flaws to balance out some pretty ridiculous positive traits, but I adore him. Like Tyrion with less angst. The only major scifi thing that it doesn't have is aliens, unless you count the massively genetically altered humans running around. The stakes are big, but the scope usually focuses on people and their relationships.

Joanna wrote: "I'm a die hard fan of the Vorkosgian series by Lois McMaster Bujold, and I don't care who knows it. It's got so much! Spaceships, wormholes, and stun guns! Mercenaries and adventu..."

I almost forgot about those. I enjoyed the Miles books. They remain on my shelves after a couple of clear-outs to make more room. I think it's probably time to reread them.

Marion wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "
Nearly everything this guy does is 5-star worthy, and I am not a 5-star review giver. I rave about him far too much.

Biggest reason? He revitalized ..."
Glad to see yet another Wolfe fan! Added some recommendations from this thread to my list too.

Rich wrote: "completely agree with Kevin on the Kresanov series. The author has also written a fantasy series that was very good as well."

Yes, his fantasy series is great too. It has all the same ingredients as his sci-fi series.

I'm assuming that trilogies are not classed as series, otherwise The Kingkiller Chronicles would top my list. I binge-read the first 6 books in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik late last year and plan to go back to the 7th sometime soon.

And of course the Discworld novels: I have a whole shelf just for them and deeply regret a fit of 'I have to much stuff and must get rid of it' a few years ago where I gave away around 15 Discworld books. I don't even really think of the Discworld as fantasy - it's a category all of its own.

T wrote: "And of course the Discworld novels: I have a whole shelf just for them and deeply regret a fit of 'I have to much stuff and must get rid of it' a few years ago where I gave away around 15 Discworld books. I don't even really think of the Discworld as fantasy - it's a category all of its own."

Agreed. I decided I wanted hardback editions of all the Discworld books and finally finished amassing them last year. They're not all from the same publishers, and a few are missing dust jackets, but I now have them. They have and will remain on my shelves even during my most ambitions shelf clearings.

T wrote: " I don't even really think of the Discworld as fantasy - it's a category all of its own."

It's kind of fantasy/satire. I've really enjoyed the last few books taking what was a medieval/renaissanceish world into the industrial revolution.

Joanna wrote: "T wrote: "It's kind of fantasy/satire. I've really enjoyed the last few books taking what was a medieval/renaissanceish world into the industrial revolution. "

I did as well. Loved The Truth and the Moist books, although parts of Raising Steam seemed almost like a farewell performance, with some characters coming out to take a final bow. I realize Pratchett's progressing illness must make it difficult for him to continue writing, although you have to give him credit for sticking with it.

D.L. wrote: "I realize Pratchett's progressing illness must make it difficult for him to continue writing, although you have to give him credit for sticking with it."

I get the picture that Rob Wilkins, his assistant, driver, and typist, is acting kind of as an amanuensis for him. It's hard to be a totally transparent projector, so I suspect that Wilkins' presence has slightly effected the writing. It's hard to know how much without seeing their process. But in the documentary on assisted suicide, "Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die", they seemed to be always together.

Joanna wrote: "D.L. wrote: "I realize Pratchett's progressing illness must make it difficult for him to continue writing, although you have to give him credit for sticking with it."

I get the picture that Rob Wi..."

Yes, I,ve noticed the same and have wondered how much Rob is influencing the final stories. I've made minor changes to my own stuff because of feedback from editors and beta readers, but Rob is far more than that.