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Post by Solana on Jul 16, 2015 22:03:00 GMT -5
(Passes over some earmuffs.) Squee!!!!
Okay, now that that's over...
I would definitely go with the Princess series. I loved the first in the Goblin series, (and though it's not required, it will add an extra enjoyment to 'Libriomancer') but the next two were kind of 'meh'. I very much enjoyed all of the books in the Princess series, though the last one is much darker than the others. There will be some light and funny moments, but it's not a fluffy remake at all.
Ooh, and if you get a picture with him, would you consider posting it? Pretty please?
(Goes to check on his convention schedule.)
Holy... he's doing autographs only a few hours away from me in a few months. I'm thinking a road trip may be in order, especially if I tell him I'm trying to handsell one hundred copies of 'Libriomancer' at work. (Only twenty-five to go!)
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Post by Rune Lai on Jul 17, 2015 12:30:21 GMT -5
Sure. I don't mind posting if I can get a pic with him. Princess series it is! I'm pretty sure he'd love to hear that you enjoy his work so much you're handselling it to people. He sounds like a cool person and most authors really appreciate the effort book store employees put into their work.
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Post by Solana on Jul 30, 2015 10:42:08 GMT -5
I had an amazing dream the night before last where libriomancy was brought into an RPG. Isaac would swap out books for different abilities during battle. I think I might have to mention this to Jim Hines in October.
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Post by Solana on Aug 9, 2015 14:39:54 GMT -5
Well, my manager gave me permission to try talking Jim Hines into doing an autograph session up here. Time to practice batting my eyelashes and polish up my charm. (Oh, heck, I already parade the charm and my overdone Shirogane Le Bel Sakuya impression when trying to sell memberships.) Holy crap, Jim Butcher, I am loving you more with every book. I just finished the sixth one and am waiting to get back to work to snag the seventh. You pull off what would be cliches in other books with grace and skill, (long lost relative), you started a running joke about Harry's lack of Latin skills in book four and brought it back in book six (plurals were apparently not covered in the stupid Latin correspondence course) there are the best battle cries ever (Bolshevik muppet!), and you have a protagonist who's perhaps even more of a smart-aleck than Aryn. Aryn- What was that?! Um, maybe equally so.
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Post by Rune Lai on Aug 10, 2015 13:16:41 GMT -5
Good luck getting that autograph session!
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Post by Roas on Oct 25, 2015 21:46:22 GMT -5
Started reading "The Dragon's Path" by Daniel Abraham last week. About a third of the way through. Slow starter, but it's the first book in a series, and I appreciate ground work. Characters are interesting so far, so I'm not bored yet.
As usual I'm cataloging its context and such for my own use...if my mind ever clears up enough again for me to concentrate on writing.
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Post by Ambrienne on Oct 30, 2015 15:51:23 GMT -5
It's been some time since I've mentioned what I've been reading lately (or in a few cases, re-reading), so it's about time I mentioned some of the highlights. Sadly, there have been a lot of lowlights during the same time which I will not mention, lest it turn into a semi-rant about the state of sci-fi/fantasy fiction in general and Lit-RPG fiction specifically.
From Drew Hayes, there has been Superpowered Year 3, Undeath and Taxes (the second book involving Fred, the vampire accountant), and Split the Party (the follow-up to the book NPCs). All three of them are pretty good reads. Though I like the character of Nick in Superpowered, I thought the way he was let back into the university after the events of the previous book was a bit too convenient. I will not say more about that so as to avoid potential spoilers.
Another author I've finished up reading is R. J. Larson. The six books of hers (in order) are Prophet, Judge, King, Exile, Queen, and Downfallen. This is Christian themed fantasy, of the kind where it's not shoehorned in but flows very naturally. It is very, very good, too, especially for character insights on how it really might feel to be chosen as a prophet.
Also on my recently read pile is Jaye L. Knight, author of Resistance, Half Blood, and The King's Scrolls. This series is still ongoing, and I have to say I'm impressed with how much work the author has put into her development of original fantasy races. It's no half-baked job and very compelling. Yes, this is also Christian themed.
Next up to mention, is a book by author Stephen Morse called Continue Online: Memories. According to the author's afterword, there will be at least another five books in the series, and it's off to a promising start. It has the distinction of being the only Lit-RPG genre book that I've read recently that I don't hate (the others I've read lately have had serious flaws that my suspension of disbelief/disgust couldn't overlook). The approach the author has taken is very novel. You're not going to find some stat balancing master here that somehow exploits the system for big gains, blah, blah... The main character here is a guy with realistic flaws/problems that a person will have no trouble relating to or rooting for. He's older than the typical protagonist for this genre, and the perspective he brings to the table is refreshing. Though I've never played the game To the Moon, I have a sneaking suspicion that the game may have somehow been part of the author's initial inspiration.
Lastly, I'm continuing my Terry Pratchett re-reading. I've just finished number 19, Feet of Clay, and am starting on Hogfather. I didn't notice this about Feet of Clay the first time I read it but I think that Pratchett must have been in a really nasty mood when he was writing the parts about the freed golem getting revenge on people. ::winces:: I'm never going to look at stuffed chickens and sausages the same way again. It was rather a low point in his style in an otherwise good book.
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Post by Solana on Nov 5, 2015 17:16:29 GMT -5
I just finished the thirteenth 'Dresden Files' book today, 'Ghost Story'. A lot of customers that I've talked to about it weren't as impressed, but I'm not sure why. I thought it was fascinating, but going into why would bring up way too many spoilers. Also, more 'Princess Bride' quotes!
The fourth novel in the 'Finishing School' series just came out, and Marissa Meyer's 'Winter' comes out in a few days. I also have two more Jim Butcher books from the old place and my bargain section. There's also the Richard Castle book waiting. Dang sleeping time cutting into precious reading time...
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Post by Anon Mous on Nov 6, 2015 13:04:12 GMT -5
I just finished the thirteenth 'Dresden Files' book today, 'Ghost Story'. A lot of customers that I've talked to about it weren't as impressed, but I'm not sure why. I thought it was fascinating, but going into why would bring up way too many spoilers. Also, more 'Princess Bride' quotes! Huh. We got in a set of books for the tabletop role playing game of the Dresden Files not too long ago. I just didn't know it was a book series. On the other hand we also got in a Wheel of Time Role Play book, so I guess they make a lot of RPGs out of books.
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Post by Roas on Nov 6, 2015 15:00:07 GMT -5
I just finished the thirteenth 'Dresden Files' book today, 'Ghost Story'. A lot of customers that I've talked to about it weren't as impressed, but I'm not sure why. I thought it was fascinating, but going into why would bring up way too many spoilers. Also, more 'Princess Bride' quotes! Huh. We got in a set of books for the tabletop role playing game of the Dresden Files not too long ago. I just didn't know it was a book series. On the other hand we also got in a Wheel of Time Role Play book, so I guess they make a lot of RPGs out of books. It was also briefly televised for as single season on Sy-fi last decade. Show wasn't bad, but it got axed.
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Post by Solana on Nov 6, 2015 21:42:48 GMT -5
At least some episodes are on Youtube. I like what I've seen so far, but it's not on the same level as the books. I also had no idea that there is a tabletop game, too. Yay!
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Post by Rune Lai on Nov 11, 2015 16:38:17 GMT -5
Finished The Stepsister Scheme by Jim Hines in prep for him being at the Loscon convention. Now starting The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin since I'm going to be on a panel for Chinese science fiction and it would help if I actually read the most famous Chinese sf novel translated into English.
My friend asked me to be on this panel since she's the one who proposed it to the convention folks, but I'm nervous about it since I'm not as steeped in the translation stuff as other people. She says it'll be all right, but she's a more comfortable speaker than me. To me, winging it is terror.
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Post by Solana on Nov 11, 2015 21:28:50 GMT -5
Best of luck to you, Rune. I really hope you enjoyed the book. I'm taking a break from plowing through Jim Butcher to finish off 'The Lunar Chronicles'. I've been waiting for the last book for a long time. It's been a while since I've read the first three in the series, but hopefully it will come back to me as I go.
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Post by Rune Lai on Nov 12, 2015 3:13:08 GMT -5
I did! I think the best part is when Danielle is hoping for rainbows and sunshine after kissing her prince and presumably breaking the curse... but then he passes out. Kicking him in the nuts after tricking his sense of honor didn't hurt either, but I kinda felt sorry for him in the end, having been a punching bag for almost the entire book. ^^;;
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Post by Solana on Nov 24, 2015 14:36:21 GMT -5
Jim Butcher, you.... well, pardon, but you magnificent bastard. I finished 'Skin Game' a few days ago, the newest Dresden Files book. If there was EVER a scene that defined 'Crowning Moment of Awesome', finding the new Knight of the Cross did it. Seriously, reading the previous fourteen books in a few months was worth it to lead up to this point. As a writer, I can only bow in homage to the prose, the timing, the set-up, just.... everything. You picked someone I never would have guessed, but looking back on it now, it definitely works.
I apologize for the vagueness, but I don't dare spoil things for anyone planning to read it. Roas, if you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it between the writing, the humor, and the countless 'Star Wars' references.
My fellow head cashier told me that obviously I was admitting the series to be superior to 'Libriomancer'. I told him when Jim Butcher worked in a Tamora Pierce reference, we'd talk. Or in Harry's own words, when told that one could be a Trekkie and 'Star Wars' fan, "LIES AND BLASPHEMY!!!"
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