Interesting. I remember enjoying the Black Company, partly because I was a teenage boy / maybe 20s at the time, but also because I felt that it was written in a suprisingly readable style and thought Cook had a lot of skill regardless of the topic.
However, I can barely remember any of it and expect that a re-read would reveal that it’s aged amazingly badly.
Just saw this current bundle of trilogies contains the Ninefox Gambit trilogy and 8 others that I don’t know.
I know a few of these authors and have read books by them that I enjoyed:
The Bookman Histories 1 - The Bookman by Lavie Tidhar
Rupert Wong 1 - Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw
Rupert Wong 3 - Meat, Bone, Tea by Cassandra Khaw
Rupert Wong 2 - Rupert Wong and the Ends of the Earth by Cassandra Khaw
The Elfin Ship by James P. Blaylock
The Stone Giant by James P. Blaylock
The Disappearing Dwarf by James P. Blaylock
Obsidian and Blood 1: Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard
Obsidian and Blood 3: Master of the House of Darts by Aliette de Bodard
Obsidian and Blood 2: Harbinger of the Storm by Aliette de Bodard
Machineries of Empire 1 - Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
Machineries of Empire 2 - Raven Stratagem by Yoon Ha Lee
Machineries of Empire 3 - Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
The Worldbreaker Saga - Complete Trilogy by Kameron Hurley
The Bookman Histories 2 - Camera Obscura by Lavie Tidhar
The Bookman Histories 3 - The Great Game by Lavie Tidhar
The Complete Machine Dynasty by Madeline Ashby
The Axiom Book 1 - The Wrong Stars by Tim Pratt
The Axiom Book 2 - The Dreaming Stars by Tim Pratt
The Axiom Book 3 - The Forbidden Stars by Tim Pratt
The Tao Trilogy 1 - The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu
The Tao Trilogy 2 - The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu
The Tao Trilogy 3 - The Rebirths of Tao by Wesley Chu
$33 is a pretty good price if one wants to read at least 2 of the trilogies… this is the best bundle I’ve seen on there in a while. I had stopped checking because most bundles seemed to be a bit on the “why would I want to read this” side. But I know Aliette de Bodard, Kameron Hurley, Wesley Chu and Yoon Ha Lee…
Yeah, squicky is new to me as well but I lifted it from @benkyo using the context : )
I did a quick review of internet last night and consensus leaned toward Malazan being even more brutal than Song of Ice and Fire…
But at the same time also more wholesome and full of compassion and goodness. Like a full spectrum thing all the way out to the boundaries.
People kept talking, without details, about something called the “hobbling” that made even the most cauterized tremble at the memory.
Truthfully, I’d like to experience the books but I also know myself and some of these things I see or read can take years to work their way back out.
It probably is. In some ways.
But I always felt that ASoIaF leaned towards purposefully torturing the reader through brutalizing the characters because it was a new thing to do so. Killing off beloved characters and hope seemed to be the order of the day… betraying a dark vision of humanity. I cannot read the first book of ASoIaF anymore because I got so anxious halfway through my one re-read that I don’t care to go back there.
I don’t remember feeling the same thing with Malazan. I want to say there is a difference but right at this moment I can’t base that on anything but vague memories of enjoying spending time with the 100s of characters.
I think I have already started reading Gardens of the Moon this afternoon, because I want to find out what I think of it now. My last read of the main series was in 2017–well half of it. The Dancer trilogy was partially this year but it was incredibly confusing listening to it in audio–these books are better read than listened to.
I may also be blinded by my particular love of certain–more hopeful–storylines and redemption arks. Maybe what I am getting at is the humanity of those that qualify as protagonists versus the callousness I have encountered elsewhere.
I’ve been reading the Sisters of the Salt series by Erin A. Craig. They are dark fantasy re-tellings of classic stories - 12 dancing sisters/princesses for the first and Bluebeard for the second. I enjoyed them but definitely prefer the first one. It had far more universe building, which I enjoy, while the second is mostly another story in that universe with less adding anything new to what is known about it. The second is also a little darker and morbid than the first, as the source material should lead you to expect.
I agree that it feels often like GRRM is killing off characters just because he is able to and it shocks the reader.
Malazan doesn’t do that in that way or as much. This can be argued of course.
I did a quick review of internet last night and consensus leaned toward Malazan being even more brutal than Song of Ice and Fire…
Well Malazan is way longer, it has more room for brutality therefore. It is more brutal in some ways because it is high fantasy and the stronger prevalence of magic creates some instances which are more brutal than ASoIaF. But in other ways they are similar in their brutality, though GRRM is more brutal towards individuals. I think he focuses way more on them in his storytelling than Erikson does. Malazan’s cast is HUGE and the brutality is often broader against more (nameless) people. It is a bit hard to describe without spoilers.
All in all though I find Erikson less brutal because of
also more wholesome and full of compassion and goodness.
That makes a big difference. I can’t tell you without spoilers how much of this is present but you should know that after every night there is always a sunrise.
Also the humor is huge and helps you a lot. You wouldn’t expect that at all in a series like Malazan. His humor and style is comparable to Terry Pratchett.
People kept talking, without details, about something called the “hobbling” that made even the most cauterized tremble at the memory.
This is a very hard scene to read in book 9. I just reread that book some weeks ago and the scene was way shorter than in my memory. That doesn’t make it easier though. But it is possible to skip it without losing much. It is mostly about theme and that you get through other means too for this specific story line.
There is a lot of that humanity and Erikson went for it. Even more in my opinion in the newest Malazan book “The God is not willing”. It is an “easier” read too.
Which also could serve as an introduction to the Malazan world. It plays 10 years after the Malazan Book of the Fallen series and spoils some things therefore but if you don’t care as much about spoilers, it is an interesting idea at least.
I think GotM benefits probably the most from a reread. But you could argue about that of course.
I am very curious what you will think about the next two books, they go new places (figurative and literal).
No absolutely, it went from „oh my why have I started this series“ to an absolutely amazing 2nd read 
Because once you have read it all and go back it all makes sense and that is incredible.
I re-read a lot of it a couple of years ago, and it’s holding up pretty well. The style and pacing still work fine.
I am glad you experienced the same as I (and many others) did
First time I read it I thought it was fine, it was interesting enough I started the second book, but it is not amazing on its own. You definitely notice the 10 years gap between Gardens of the Moon and Deadhouse Gates.
But the second time it was really much better. The same counts for the other books, having the whole picture in mind makes you enjoy them all more.
It is good, but best depends on your assumptions.
I’d take four Locusts over an Awesome. Give me speed and the ability to deliver a thousand cuts.
And as for what I’ve been reading, Provenance and Translation State both by Ann Leckie. Recommended.
Also, Dogs of War and Bear Head by Adrian Tchaikovsky, which I read after finding The Final Architecture trilogy that blew me away. Colour me now a fan of his SF.
I have not been disappointed by a Leckie SF book yet. (Everyone but me also loved The Raven Tower.)
I’ve not read The Raven Tower because it’s not SF and I read very little fantasy. Colour me jaded.
The Raven Tower wasn’t as impressive for me as Leckie’s SF. I still enjoyed it thou. I have Translation State waiting for me at the top of reading stack; very much looking forward to it.
Also agree about Tchaikovsky - his Final Architecture trilogy was superb.
Right, so. I finished Titanium Noir and the author Nick Harkaway is a genius.
What I didn’t know was, he also (under another pen name) wrote the hyperviolent and silly “The Price You Pay”, about a gonzo drug dealer who has a bad day. I read it first not realising who the author was, and assuming it was an enjoyable romp. The fact that its actually by a very subtle and clever author choosing to write absolute clown-shoes level American-Psycho type violence has made my re-read much more enjoyable. Every clunky bit is a deliberate style choice, because if you can write something like GNOMON then none of it here can be a real lack of skill.
At which point the Tarantino barking nonsense of The Price You Pay is just pure fun. He’s taking a day off and (wisely not using his main author name) seeing what Warren Ellis would do around 2006 if he wrote a book that was entirely manic inner monologue but included firing someone’s head out of a cannon.
I remember reading the Saga of Recluce books when I was younger and enjoying them. Anyone know if they still hold up, Mega HumbleBundle of all the books here: Humble Book Bundle: L.E. Modesitt Collection by Tor Publishing Group (pay what you want and help charity)
I’ve been reading all 15 volumes of Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru for the second time. It is quite delightful.
I really only got into it because of my addiction to Ishiguro Masakazu other work Tengoku Daimakyou.
Also reading Raw Dog, not as dirty as you may think it is about Hot Dogs (do not type raw dog into google!), which is okay.
I know all these long titles end up with shortened versions for easy reference, but I assumed they were given by fans. This one even has the shortened “nickname” on the cover!
I am now done with Gardens of the Moon and have begun Deadhouse Gates.
I admit that this reading of Gardens was my 2nd favorite (of 3) because I have forgotten too many details to recognize all of the significant moments. But still… I know enough of what‘s to come to appreciate it a lot.
Deadhouse Gates immediately grabbed me. First (in person) appearance of Icarium and Mappo. The D‘ivers… and that scene where Fiddler meets the Tano Spiritwalker gives me the shivers. Every. Single.Time. (edit: the whole sequence. not just the scene at the end of it)
I had so many books I wanted to read. I‘ll probably somehow squeeze Secret Project #4 in there but other than that I am enjoying being back with Malazan too much to find time for other reads.
