FREE/BARGAIN — Science Fiction & Fantasy

[GlennD]

I enjoy Recluce but they do tend to follow a formula; one that he follows pretty closely with the Imager series.

I picked up the bundle because I'd been actively watching prices on them, and had about half the Recluce books and none of the others. It's cleared off half a shelf of paperbacks.

Modesitt did publish a timeline at one point but he recommends publication order for anyone new to the Recluce series.

[Aleron Ives]

I just have a hard time believing any author is skilled enough to write 20 books in the same series and make them all interesting without repeating himself or relying on formulas that get old after book five.

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I just have a hard time believing any author is skilled enough to write 20 books in the same series and make them all interesting without repeating himself or relying on formulas that get old after book five.

Sometimes (read: most of the time, it seems, when it comes to mainstream fiction) the formula is what sells.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I just have a hard time believing any author is skilled enough to write 20 books in the same series and make them all interesting without repeating himself or relying on formulas that get old after book five.

You should read the Discworld novels. The underlying problems and solutions in each book are different, and diverge more-so as the series goes along and Pratchett finds his stride. Even the humor varies and isn't always predictable. Probably the only really consistent formula is the use of footnotes, but those are often some of the funniest things in the novels. Characters evolve over time as well, so their actions aren't always formulaic beyond basic character traits.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Manabi

You should read the Discworld novels. The underlying problems and solutions in each book are different, and diverge more-so as the series goes along and Pratchett finds his stride. Even the humor varies and isn't always predictable. Probably the only really consistent formula is the use of footnotes, but those are often some of the funniest things in the novels. Characters evolve over time as well, so their actions aren't always formulaic beyond basic character traits.

Very well said!

[andyh2000]

Originally Posted by Manabi

You should read the Discworld novels. The underlying problems and solutions in each book are different, and diverge more-so as the series goes along and Pratchett finds his stride. Even the humor varies and isn't always predictable. Probably the only really consistent formula is the use of footnotes, but those are often some of the funniest things in the novels. Characters evolve over time as well, so their actions aren't always formulaic beyond basic character traits.

I stopped after about fifteen or so as it felt like I'd internalised his voice so much I could tell what was coming next, what the jokes would be etc. They started to feel very 'same-y'. Maybe I should give them another go starting with some later ones.

Andrew

[SomeSteve]

The Mabinogion Tetralogy by Evangeline Walton is $2.99 at Amazon US and Kobo US.

I haven't read it, but when I saw it among the bargains, the author's name seemed familiar to me, so I thought I'd mention it here.

https://www.amazon.com/Mabinogion-Te...dp/B07MW982G1/

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the...on-tetralogy-5

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Book Bale's intention is to add more books over time as they sign more agreements with authors/publishers. How successful they'll be in adding new contents, I don't know.

Just the Adam Troy Castro books will pay for my first two months subscription, so I'm happy.

But after the first two months I've decided to cancel. If I didn't have a massive TBR pile of bought books, I think it would be a good deal. But as it is, there isn't enough that I actively want.

I was also a bit surprised to find the download link for one of the books I bought downloaded the wrong book. They sent me the right book by email.

I hope they make a success of it. It's certainly the model I was looking for (permanently owned books), but their selection isn't compelling enough for me yet.

[JSWolf]

After i get this month's books from Book Bale, I am going to cancel.

[salty-horse]

Chuck Wendig's Mirian Black series is on sale for $3 each in the US (Kobo (only some are discounted ATM), Amazon)

Miriam Black knows how you’re going to die. This makes her daily life a living hell, especially when you can’t do anything about it, or stop trying to. She’s foreseen hundreds of car crashes, heart attacks, strokes, and suicides. She merely needs to touch you—skin to skin contact—and she knows how and when your final moments will occur. Miriam has given up trying to save people; that only makes their deaths happen. But when she hitches a ride with Louis Darling and shakes his hand, she sees in thirty days that Louis will be murdered while he calls her name— Louis will die because he met her, and Miriam will be the next victim. No matter what she does she can’t save Louis. But if she wants to stay alive, she’ll have to try.

[cromag]

Even if Book Bale doesn't expand its offerings I've got a few more months to go before I run out of download candidates. I've been picking up some replacements for hard copy books by L. Sprague de Camp and Jack Chalker as well as some new titles.

[tch65721]

Old Man's War by John Scalzi - $1.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEIK2S

He won the HUGO for "Redshirts" but to my mind, this is his best.

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by tch65721

Old Man's War by John Scalzi - $1.99
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SEIK2S

He won the HUGO for "Redshirts" but to my mind, this is his best.

That whole series is great, as is the other series set in the same universe.

[andyh2000]

Originally Posted by Manabi

That whole series is great, as is the other series set in the same universe.

Which is the other series set in the same universe as Old Man's War etc.?

Andrew

[Manabi]

Originally Posted by andyh2000

Which is the other series set in the same universe as Old Man's War etc.?

The Human Division followed by The End of All Things. Harry Wilson returns from the original series, but he's the only one I remember. They were both originally released as serials, one chapter at a time.