Great Series Recommendation

Dave Berk · 12-01-2008, 03:12 PM

I want to recommend a trilogy that has just got published in electronic format.

The reason I specially picked this series is because:
1. I really liked it

2. It's very hard to get complete series as ebooks. (even though in this case each book can be read as standalone, which is even better, IMHO)
3. It's a good sign for the future

. First the last book in the series, which just came out, was published; Then Random House took the trouble and published the first two books as ebook, even though they first came out in 1999 and 2002 respectively.
4. It's not yet available at Amazon Kindle store, but BoB has it. It's the first ebooks that I've seen that are available at BoB before Amazon.
5. Did I say that I really like it?

So without further ado:
1. Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover. Amazon. BoB.
2. Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Woodring Stover. Amazon. BoB.
3. Caine Black Knife by Matthew Woodring Stover. Amazon. BoB.

astra · 12-03-2008, 02:38 PM

Although the books might be read a stand alone books, the series is unfinished and the writer said he will have to write something that will give him some bread before he returns to the series.

Liviu_5 · 12-03-2008, 03:29 PM

The Caine series by M. Stover is one of the best dark sff series of all times but it is not for the squeamish or easily offended. I reviewed all 3 books for Robert at Fantasy Book Critic - some spoilers though - and the first two are a complete duology, independent of the rest and with a clear ending.

Book 3 picks up later and is half of a story with book 4 which is to be done completing it, but it is a good story in itself and for me and quite a few others it's the best fantasy release of 2008.

But the first page of Book 3 - Caine Black Knife says it all:

"The following has been rated X and UV for explicit sex, cannibalism, extreme violence, perversions..."

The quote is from memory since I am lazy now to get the actual quote, but it is accurate in spirit and the X and U(ltra)V(iolent) and most adjectives or synonyms are there...

pshrynk · 12-03-2008, 03:54 PM

Caine Black knife is available for Kindle. Not the first two, yet.

Typical.

Dave Berk · 12-03-2008, 04:43 PM

I haven't yet read Caine Black Knife. I just bought Heroes Die from BoB and I'm going to reread it and Blade of Tyshalle before I'll read CBK.

I didn't know about the XUV rating, but I dare say it won't bother me much. The only book that I couldn't really finish because of excessive darkness, if I may call it such, was Empress by Karen Miller. And I don't know why that book set me off. Usually violence (in books) just slide off me, and while sex (in books), IMHO, is usually tasteless, it's no bother. What bothers me more is all those psychological thrillers about serial killers and psychopaths with insight into how their mind works. Can't read those books.

BlackVoid · 12-03-2008, 05:05 PM

If you like dark fantasy, then do not miss Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. It is excellent with lots of dark humor. It is also quite grim and violent.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/books.htm

Liviu_5 · 12-03-2008, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

If you like dark fantasy, then do not miss Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. It is excellent with lots of dark humor. It is also quite grim and violent.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/books.htm

As it happens Before They are Hanged which is book 2 of First Law has been my top fantasy of 2007

Last Argument of the Kings is a very good ending of the story, but it lacks the implied menace of earlier books, reverting to more straightforward battles, fights and such. Also it's a bit too sprawling, though that one on one duel for the North is awesome, cannot remember a better one in any sff book read. Still a pretty good novel and the series overall is my #1 finished fantasy series for now - if we count Caine as unfinished of course

Caine Black Knife is really a superb book, short as fantasies go at about 300 pages as opposed to the 6-800 pages of the first two, every word counts and here Caine is clearly center stage, though I sometimes miss the Hari persona.

ErwinOtten · 12-05-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

If you like dark fantasy, then do not miss Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. It is excellent with lots of dark humor. It is also quite grim and violent.

http://www.joeabercrombie.com/books.htm

And then again.................NOT available as an ebook.............

astra · 12-05-2008, 04:55 AM

Look on the darknet.

ErwinOtten · 12-05-2008, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Look on the darknet.

I found them there

But for my books I try to stay as legal as I can.... I really would like to buy an official version

For my films though..........

astra · 12-05-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErwinOtten

I found them there

But for my books I try to stay as legal as I can.... I really would like to buy an official version

For my films though..........

I have all 3 books as hardback editions. The last one even signed

Now...when I decide to read the series, I will either buy them as LIT files or go to darknet.

HappyMartin · 12-08-2008, 01:19 AM

Sounded interesting so went looking for it but was not able to find the books in mobipocket my favorite format. The books were by then on my wishlist at Fictionwise.

Yesterday I noticed that a mobipocket format selection had become available so I moved the books from my wishlist to my cart and purchased books 1 and 2 with micropay credits. Went to my bookshelf to download the books and recieved an error message saying that this retailer is not authorized to make this download.

Have written to fictionwise but have not yet received a reply. Cant say that I expected to it being Sunday evening and all. They have always been pretty good with queries in my experience.

Just curious about what this could be.

astra · 12-08-2008, 06:50 AM

Fictionwise doesn't have them.
Here is a list of available writers:

Code:

# Shana Abe (Romance)
# Shana Abé
# Alicia Abell (Business)
# Barbara Abercrombie (Self Improvement)
# Iain Abernethy (Health/Fitness)
# Paul Ableman (Classic Literature)

No Joe Abercrombie in it.

natasha_fawn · 01-21-2011, 09:29 PM

This is an old thread, but I'm so happy to find it because I love these books. I hope people don't mind, because I come bearing some new information:
The three currently published books (Heroes Die, Blade of Tyshalle, and Caine Black Knife) are all available for Kindle and other formats, as well as easily available as a bundle . The next book in the series will be His Father's Fist, and is scheduled for release sometime this year. (The author has said that it's with an editor now.)

There is also a new project to continue the story in comic/graphic novel format, written by Stover. And yes, they are planning to release an electronic version.

(I have no affiliation with this project other than being an excited fan.)

I've loved these books ever since I picked up the first one 10 years ago. They're dark fantasy in a dystopian future science fiction frame. There is a lot of violence, but it's balanced by a lot more interesting philosophical considerations than many dark fantasy books. They're books I recommend to anyone I know who enjoys this kind of thing, because they're some of the best and they don't get nearly enough credit. So I'm spreading the love.

You deserve to read these.

FlorenceArt · 01-22-2011, 11:57 AM

Thank you for reviving the thread, the books sound interesting, I'll have a look. The bundle you linked to is only available in the US, but on Kobo I found Heroes Die for a very reasonable price and apparently available for France. Maybe I'll try it. Though I have too many books on my TBR list already...

12-08-2008, 06:50 AM	#13
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Fictionwise doesn't have them. Here is a list of available writers: Code: # Shana Abe (Romance) # Shana Abé # Alicia Abell (Business) # Barbara Abercrombie (Self Improvement) # Iain Abernethy (Health/Fitness) # Paul Ableman (Classic Literature) No Joe Abercrombie in it.

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12-01-2008, 03:12 PM	#1
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	Great Series Recommendation I want to recommend a trilogy that has just got published in electronic format. The reason I specially picked this series is because: 1. I really liked it 2. It's very hard to get complete series as ebooks. (even though in this case each book can be read as standalone, which is even better, IMHO) 3. It's a good sign for the future . First the last book in the series, which just came out, was published; Then Random House took the trouble and published the first two books as ebook, even though they first came out in 1999 and 2002 respectively. 4. It's not yet available at Amazon Kindle store, but BoB has it. It's the first ebooks that I've seen that are available at BoB before Amazon. 5. Did I say that I really like it? So without further ado: 1. Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover. Amazon. BoB. 2. Blade of Tyshalle by Matthew Woodring Stover. Amazon. BoB. 3. Caine Black Knife by Matthew Woodring Stover. Amazon. BoB.

12-03-2008, 02:38 PM	#2
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Although the books might be read a stand alone books, the series is unfinished and the writer said he will have to write something that will give him some bread before he returns to the series.

12-03-2008, 03:29 PM	#3
Liviu_5 Books and more books Posts: 917 Karma: 69499 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: White Plains, NY, USA Device: Nook Color, Itouch, Nokia770, Sony 650, Sony 700(dead), Ebk(given)	The Caine series by M. Stover is one of the best dark sff series of all times but it is not for the squeamish or easily offended. I reviewed all 3 books for Robert at Fantasy Book Critic - some spoilers though - and the first two are a complete duology, independent of the rest and with a clear ending. Book 3 picks up later and is half of a story with book 4 which is to be done completing it, but it is a good story in itself and for me and quite a few others it's the best fantasy release of 2008. But the first page of Book 3 - Caine Black Knife says it all: "The following has been rated X and UV for explicit sex, cannibalism, extreme violence, perversions..." The quote is from memory since I am lazy now to get the actual quote, but it is accurate in spirit and the X and U(ltra)V(iolent) and most adjectives or synonyms are there...

12-03-2008, 03:54 PM	#4
pshrynk Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah! Posts: 11,726 Karma: 8255450 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!	Caine Black knife is available for Kindle. Not the first two, yet. Typical.

12-03-2008, 04:43 PM	#5
Dave Berk Fanatic Posts: 574 Karma: 138556 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PRS505	I haven't yet read Caine Black Knife. I just bought Heroes Die from BoB and I'm going to reread it and Blade of Tyshalle before I'll read CBK. I didn't know about the XUV rating, but I dare say it won't bother me much. The only book that I couldn't really finish because of excessive darkness, if I may call it such, was Empress by Karen Miller. And I don't know why that book set me off. Usually violence (in books) just slide off me, and while sex (in books), IMHO, is usually tasteless, it's no bother. What bothers me more is all those psychological thrillers about serial killers and psychopaths with insight into how their mind works. Can't read those books.

12-03-2008, 05:05 PM	#6
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	If you like dark fantasy, then do not miss Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. It is excellent with lots of dark humor. It is also quite grim and violent. http://www.joeabercrombie.com/books.htm

12-05-2008, 04:55 AM	#9
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Look on the darknet.

12-08-2008, 01:19 AM	#12
HappyMartin Martin Kristiansen Posts: 1,546 Karma: 8480958 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Johannesburg Device: Kindle International Ipad 2	Sounded interesting so went looking for it but was not able to find the books in mobipocket my favorite format. The books were by then on my wishlist at Fictionwise. Yesterday I noticed that a mobipocket format selection had become available so I moved the books from my wishlist to my cart and purchased books 1 and 2 with micropay credits. Went to my bookshelf to download the books and recieved an error message saying that this retailer is not authorized to make this download. Have written to fictionwise but have not yet received a reply. Cant say that I expected to it being Sunday evening and all. They have always been pretty good with queries in my experience. Just curious about what this could be.

01-21-2011, 09:29 PM	#14
natasha_fawn Evangelist Posts: 414 Karma: 184633 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Sony PRS-950 (finally!)	This is an old thread, but I'm so happy to find it because I love these books. I hope people don't mind, because I come bearing some new information: The three currently published books (Heroes Die, Blade of Tyshalle, and Caine Black Knife) are all available for Kindle and other formats, as well as easily available as a bundle . The next book in the series will be His Father's Fist, and is scheduled for release sometime this year. (The author has said that it's with an editor now.) There is also a new project to continue the story in comic/graphic novel format, written by Stover. And yes, they are planning to release an electronic version. (I have no affiliation with this project other than being an excited fan.) I've loved these books ever since I picked up the first one 10 years ago. They're dark fantasy in a dystopian future science fiction frame. There is a lot of violence, but it's balanced by a lot more interesting philosophical considerations than many dark fantasy books. They're books I recommend to anyone I know who enjoys this kind of thing, because they're some of the best and they don't get nearly enough credit. So I'm spreading the love. You deserve to read these.

01-22-2011, 11:57 AM	#15
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	Thank you for reviving the thread, the books sound interesting, I'll have a look. The bundle you linked to is only available in the US, but on Kobo I found Heroes Die for a very reasonable price and apparently available for France. Maybe I'll try it. Though I have too many books on my TBR list already...

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