06-20-2013, 08:49 AM | #31 |
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Lindsay Buroker - The Emperor's Edge (a high fantasy in the era of steam)
I know it's bad to rag on self published authors, but this book was terrible. Not so much the writing style, as I think this author could do some really good work, it's just the painful plot elements such as the female lead asking a guard to let her out of prison... then the guard does... or the fact that even the title makes it out to be a steampunk-esque victorian story, but the only references to steam are the fact there's steam trains, steam trucks and steam bulldozers. I think these are used a total of 7 times in the entire book. I try to read a lot of self published book as there's some absolute gems there like G Wells Taylor, I pretty much spent the last two weeks only reading his books. I'm hoping that Lindsay improves in later books, and I might download another of her work, but the first book in this series has killed off any enthusiasm I had for these characters and the world. |
06-20-2013, 09:18 AM | #32 |
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This is the perfect example of how bad reviews can be useful recs. JSWolf hates LeGuin, loves the Covenant series: his "awful" books could well be my "must-read"s. To test this out, JSWolf, what do you think of (a) Margaret Atwood and (b) Robert Jordan?
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06-20-2013, 10:39 AM | #33 | |
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It was all just a bit too camp the second time around. I think I would have enjoyed it as a television show more. You're right, the writing itself is good, but I just don't think it's targeted at me. I don't know if I would call it bad fantasy, just "not me" fantasy. |
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06-20-2013, 11:37 AM | #34 | |
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I really enjoyed him too, although I tired of hearing about hernias in the first book. I have read the first in his series plus the short story follow-up (Painkiller) and plan on continuing this series too. |
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06-20-2013, 06:11 PM | #35 | |
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Again though, there are touches of genius here and some unsettling parts that creep you out without going too far (forever children) Yes, I think this is a better definition, I won't pick at the book any more as it wasn't a painful read, just a confusing mash of cliches. |
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06-20-2013, 06:50 PM | #36 | |
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The only Robert Jordan I've read has been some of his Wheel of Time series. He can be both good and bad in the same book. |
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06-22-2013, 10:36 AM | #37 |
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Oh dear. Let's see, I've had bad luck, from time to time. My friends all loved Tad Williams, so I tried Dragonbone Chair. I couldn't get through the first 50 pages. I also wasn't happy with Robin Hobb's Assassin's Apprentices (that he's less assassin than the title implied irked me) but I've tried her a few more times. Still not the top of my favorites list but she redeemed herself somewhat. I can't think of many that might land on my "OMG never again list." however.
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06-27-2013, 09:46 AM | #38 |
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Tad Williams is definitely on my No Thanks list. Dragonbone Chair was lethally boring, and when I tried a few of his other works I couldn't stand them either.
David Eddings *flees* Other than that, I don't really remember. I just forget books I don't like, which can be a real blessing. Mostly, I like some works by an author and some not. Jim C. Hines is a good example - some of his books work for me, but there are several where he comes across as pushing his own worldview too strongly, or the characterization get sacrificed for a joke. So I'm wary of books by him until I read reviews. Last edited by Rbneader; 06-27-2013 at 09:48 AM. |
06-27-2013, 10:09 AM | #39 |
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06-27-2013, 10:38 AM | #40 |
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I rather like David Eddigs and Tad Williams.
Now what I am wondering is if we can come up with some truly bad fantasy that nobody here will like. I'll give an example (SF though) of really bad is L. Ron Hubbard. Just awful (being very kind here). |
06-27-2013, 11:34 AM | #41 |
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I enjoyed the Belgariad the first time I read it, when I was the same age as Garion (12-13), but came to see the flaws in it later. I think it might still work as an introductory series. I believe I also read the second set, but can't remember much about it.
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06-28-2013, 09:54 AM | #42 | |
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And I have read the entire Kushiel's Dart (Phedre) trilogy and I recognize that they also start slow and that the author's style is unpolished in the first half of the novel. But then things get better and more interesting. It's not the kind of fantasy that keeps you at the edge of the seat, but for me it was still entertaining, I liked the whole concept of whoring as a religion . |
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