tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post2170710897310731912..comments2024-03-29T12:42:15.329+00:00Comments on The Speculative Scotsman: Top of the Scots 2011 | The Best BooksAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-73784495971580337902011-12-31T04:12:56.583+00:002011-12-31T04:12:56.583+00:00I find it really interesting that, of the five boo...I find it really interesting that, of the five books, I'd only read two, and (as you noted) wasn't too thrilled with one of them (though I agree with you that Embassytown was superb and will be one of my books of the year as well). I added the rest to my amazon wishlist, though I wish I'd thought to do so BEFORE spending all my holiday money/book requests.<br /><br />About the Hammer, for me it really just came down to its similarity to The Engineer Trilogy and the fact that I definitely preferred that work, which, if you're doing her backlog, you should really read; it's superb. On its own merits, the Hammer was admittedly quite good, even if I did have serious problems with it.<br /><br />Looking forward to another year of Speculative Scotsman...Nathaniel Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12852939663324751332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-63330848594286571372011-12-12T01:29:22.982+00:002011-12-12T01:29:22.982+00:00Embassytown was my favourite book from 2011. It is...Embassytown was my favourite book from 2011. It is nothing less than "magnificent". I was disappointed with The Tiger's Wife though - I still haven't finished it.Words Uttered in Haste https://www.blogger.com/profile/05966223803044519829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-75686096127062475942011-12-10T20:08:52.573+00:002011-12-10T20:08:52.573+00:00Nice list sir, I've only read The Hammer from ...Nice list sir, I've only read The Hammer from your top 5, but I've managed to get to both of your runners up, and you biggest disappointment. <br /><br />I've never head of The Tiger's Wife, but I'm intrigued, I'm excited to see your review for it.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14261179296556524707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-43389509670924752972011-12-10T12:55:54.757+00:002011-12-10T12:55:54.757+00:00Good to know there are people reading ODD? (and Th...Good to know there are people reading <i>ODD?</i> (and <i>The Honey Month</i>, but I'm biased toward a book that contains a translation of mine :P). Hopefully, there'll be more in the works in the near future.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-4987800537418040142011-12-10T03:24:08.646+00:002011-12-10T03:24:08.646+00:00I'm working on my best of list, and Embassytow...I'm working on my best of list, and Embassytown is near the top of it. As is a handful of Catherynne Valente, who you should add to your list if you've never read any of her stuff.redheadhttp://littleredreviewer.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-61552296043738073222011-12-10T03:12:53.058+00:002011-12-10T03:12:53.058+00:00I totally agree with you about The Hammer. I loved...I totally agree with you about The Hammer. I loved The Folding Knife so much that I had to read it, expecting it to be just as awesomely good, but I think The Hammer is even better.Harrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-18636385929245267612011-12-10T01:05:49.813+00:002011-12-10T01:05:49.813+00:00@Rob - I really did enjoy 11/22/63, and it was a c...@Rob - I really <i>did</i> enjoy 11/22/63, and it was a close-run thing for a minute there, whether it'd get a spot in the best of the best. In the end, well... obviously it didn't. Stephen King, even really good Stephen King, is kind of a known quantity, don't you think? And I value surprise very highly; also discovery.<br /><br />Hence the love for The Hammer. Chuffed to bits you got a copy! Maybe one day I can look forward to hearing your thoughts on it? :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-19321232999603704552011-12-10T01:00:44.921+00:002011-12-10T01:00:44.921+00:00@Larry - ODD? also. And The Honey Month. I've ...@Larry - ODD? also. And The Honey Month. I've been loving what Jeff and Ann and their rogue's gallery have been up to recently, just loving the lot of it. And there's been a lot!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-40287272015955197512011-12-10T00:49:26.611+00:002011-12-10T00:49:26.611+00:00Good to know that you're enjoying The Weird, a...Good to know that you're enjoying <i>The Weird</i>, as I've been curious to know your reaction.Larry Nolenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-64249371036667869412011-12-09T21:00:49.111+00:002011-12-09T21:00:49.111+00:00Great selection by the way, K J Parker has just be...Great selection by the way, K J Parker has just been ordered!Rob Donovanhttp://ritualofthestones.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-23122389045874596442011-12-09T20:54:17.325+00:002011-12-09T20:54:17.325+00:00Surprised you didn't mention Stephen King at a...Surprised you didn't mention Stephen King at all. Thought you loved that book as much as I did.Rob Donovanhttp://ritualofthestones.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-13773957484526412922011-12-09T17:48:18.131+00:002011-12-09T17:48:18.131+00:00I have been pushing The Tiger's Wife like a de...I have been pushing The Tiger's Wife like a dealer, but not many people go on to pick it up. Glad that someone did.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Swamplandia! was one of the books I did not get around to reviewing this year and one that I am not going to review unless I read it again. That is unlikely to happen. It is a... difficult book to read. What little happiness there is to be found in Swamplandia! is flooded by a sense of loss--life, home, innocence, childhood--that seeps in, pervading the majority of the narrative. It could be described as the antithesis of the typical child's adventure story. It is a good book, mind you, but... difficult.<br /><br />---<br /><br />"Or else what were all those awards committees thinking?"<br /><br /><i>So who gets the award this year?</i><br /><i>Connie has a new book out this year.</i><br /><i>Hmm, you're right and there's no Stross out.</i><br /><i>Connie it is, then.</i>Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16504273309594020933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-10070516488191765362011-12-09T16:11:39.747+00:002011-12-09T16:11:39.747+00:00I hate to admit it, but... I haven't read any ...I hate to admit it, but... I haven't read any of the books on your list. I have some serious catching up to do.<br /><br />As for K.J. Parker, I'm fairly certain I have The Company sitting in my to-be-read pile, but as that one's reviews are more mixed than The Hammer's, I might have to go out and read that one first.<br /><br />Some books that I thought were great reads that you didn't get to this year:<br /><br />Mistborn: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson. It's not a heavyweight read, just a good ol' adventure novel. And all his Mistborn books are crackling good reads, actually.<br /><br />I know it's a love it/hate it sort of book, but I really got a kick out of The Wise Man's Fear. In terms of capturing a character's voice, I'd be hard-pressed to find many better authors than Rothfuss, and the characters are what draw me to a story.<br /><br />Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Perhaps my favorite read this year, Cline's debut novel is bursting at the seams with creativity, and it perfectly balances nostalgia and sci-fi.<br /><br />Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't say I discovered Daniel Abraham this year, beginning what I'm sure will be a lengthy literary love affair.Treynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-39477658692654071882011-12-09T15:06:51.675+00:002011-12-09T15:06:51.675+00:00Mechanique may make it my list as well, but it kee...Mechanique may make it my list as well, but it keeps competing in my head with The Night Circus, which I'm surprised you haven't reviewed. I had some problems with Embasseytown so I can't see it being in the top for me. The first half was brilliant, but I felt it lost its direction and the characters just became even colder than they already were.Mad Hatter Reviewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16020033648108721552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-76535146698064439622011-12-09T14:44:51.252+00:002011-12-09T14:44:51.252+00:00I'm a huge Parker fan and also really enjoyed ...I'm a huge Parker fan and also really enjoyed the Hammer. It makes a great 'first Parker' as well, as you suggest. I hope lots of folks take your advice!<br /><br />Great year, and hard to disagree with any of your picks. I haven't read Mechanique yet, but look forward to doing so.Jaredhttp://www.pornokitsch.comnoreply@blogger.com