Books 2nd Edition, Foreword by m0r1arty Options

[Jubei]

I'm reading The Dreaming Void at the moment, and am certainly enjoying it, but I keep on being pulled up by the punctuation - PFH keeps using commas where he should be using dashes or semicolons. Is this a case of slipshod proofreading to get the book out as quickly as possible, or has sold enough books that he can refuse to be edited?

I didn't notice it myself, although to be honest I would probably only really notice commas in the wrong place or spelling/word mistakes. And also, I'm willing to forgo a few cases of sloppy grammar, especially as commas, semi-colons and dashes are so interspersed now, to get the book a month or two earlier.

[Chapman Baxter]

I finished it last night. I did really enjoy it - it had the typical PFH cast of thousands, Technicolor sex and violence, cool technology and intriguing mysteries. I'm very much looking forward to the next one. But the proofreading was appalling - the punctuation was all over the shop, and nobody seems to have spotted that weary does not mean wary. It threw me off on several occasions. Tell you what, Pete, send me a copy in advance and I'll sort the next one out for you.

[Jubei]

So, I've bought Watchmen, and I'm starting to read it. Quite enjoyable so far. Also bought Elric. I've never heard of it, but it's in the Fantasy Masterworks collection and it's the first two books in one, so the value for money offset the cost of Watchmen a bit. Anyone else read it before?

[Chapman Baxter]

Also bought Elric.  I've never heard of it, but it's in the Fantasy Masterworks collection and it's the first two books in one, so the value for money offset the cost of Watchmen a bit.  Anyone else read it before?

It's schlocky swords-n-sorcery from early Michael Moorcock, the sort of thing he'd dash off at breakneck pace to pay the bills. Not as serious or as well-written as his later work, but more fun. It has the status of a classic because it set the tone for a lot of later fantasy writing, but it's pretty lightweight stuff.

[maian]

Finished Generation X by Douglas Coupland and loved every bit of it. Incredibly well written and I found myself really identifying with it. The terminology used throughout was also very funny.

I've now started Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore and am thoroughly enjoying it. Like any decent religious satire it has clearly resulted from a lot of research and thorough understanding of the Judeo-Christian belief system on the part of Moore. That it is also very broad in comedic terms and focuses just as much on the slapstick and witty dialogue as the theology adds to the fun immensely.

[Jubei]

It's schlocky swords-n-sorcery from early Michael Moorcock, the sort of thing he'd dash off at breakneck pace to pay the bills. Not as serious or as well-written as his later work, but more fun. It has the status of a classic because it set the tone for a lot of later fantasy writing, but it's pretty lightweight stuff.

Doh! Well, it'll be nice to read some more trashy fantasy as the last few books I've read have been heavy on clever story and light on exciting bits. Especially Snare.

[Crutch]

Finished "Die Kunst des stilvollen Verarmens." Which was more pleasent than I expected it to be. It's about getting happy without being rich.

Today I'll start "Darkly Dreaming Dexter." I'm looking forward to it.

[mcraigclark]

Today I'll start "Darkly Dreaming Dexter." I'm looking forward to it.

I think you're going to like this, Crutch. I bought the third book in the series (Dexter in the Dark) yesterday.

[Spider Dijon]

Reading Fahrenheit 451 at the moment, it's a good book. Dystopian literature often is a bit creepy, but thats what you expect.

[Starscream`s Gho...]

Reading Fahrenheit 451 at the moment, it's a good book. Dystopian literature often is a bit creepy, but thats what you expect.

It's also the best literature.

[fatseff1234]

Has anyone read Pratchett's latest yet?

I'll be picking it up on Friday, probably have it finished by monday.

[maian]

Having seen Night Watch and Day Watch, I've started reading Sergei Lutyanenko's novel Night Watch, from which the films were adapted. It's very good so far, with the same mix of magic, hard-bitten dialogue and incredible pacing that make the films such a joy. Though the fact that things are explained a bit better and I have a bit more time to digest things makes it a tad better than the films.

This post has been edited by maian: Oct 1 2007, 07:05 PM

[Jessopjessopjess...]

I finished it last night. I did really enjoy it - it had the typical PFH cast of thousands, Technicolor sex and violence, cool technology and intriguing mysteries. I'm very much looking forward to the next one. But the proofreading was appalling - the punctuation was all over the shop, and nobody seems to have spotted that weary does not mean wary. It threw me off on several occasions. Tell you what, Pete, send me a copy in advance and I'll sort the next one out for you.

I finished TDV last week. You are right about the comma-abuse. There were tons of typos too. It's a much more engrossing tale than the bloated meandering of the Commonwealth Saga. The action sequences (mostly concerning Aaron) rivalled anything in the Night's Dawn trilogy.

After a slow start, even Edeard's world became just as interesting as that of the far future outside the Void.

Any thoughts on who Aaron is, you guys? Net speculation says Morton, but his dreams seemed to point towards a former life as a Knights Guardian on Far Away...

[Jubei]

I finished TDV last week. You are right about the comma-abuse. There were tons of typos too. It's a much more engrossing tale than the bloated meandering of the Commonwealth Saga. The action sequences (mostly concerning Aaron) rivalled anything in the Night's Dawn trilogy.

After a slow start, even Edeard's world became just as interesting as that of the far future outside the Void.

Any thoughts on who Aaron is, you guys? Net speculation says Morton, but his dreams seemed to point towards a former life as a Knights Guardian on Far Away...

Morton, as in the guy who killed his wife and was dating Melanie? No idea. I'd have to read back through the Commonwealth again to pick out a likely candidate. Plus, the Kinghts Guardians are pretty open about what they do, as in they don't wipe their agents minds it seems, so why would Aaron have lost his memory. I like the odd network of spies, the Delivery Man, Aaron and the one whose name I can't remember.

[Jimmay]

After numerous recommendations on here, at meets and from my lovely girlfriend I have finally read some Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere to precise, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I have gotten to know London a lot better over the past year which I think was probably a good thing as reading this book without at least some knowledge of the city would cause some of it's magic to be lost.

I am now reading Sandman and so far so good.