tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post6794450718407836178..comments2024-03-28T07:09:28.500+00:00Comments on The Speculative Scotsman: Books Received | The BoSS for 01/08/11Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-58907585421747432282011-08-02T20:22:42.947+01:002011-08-02T20:22:42.947+01:00Having read both The Map of Time and The Shadow of...Having read both The Map of Time and The Shadow of the Wind, I feel the need to mention that the only thing the two have in common is that their authors are Spanish, the novels are vaguely SFF-nal, and they both did well in Spain before being translated for the English market. It is a strange comparison, perhaps one only established because of the surface similarities above. When it comes to style, I would say the book has far more in common with The Count of Monte Cristo, a fellow melodrama.<br /><br />The Map of Time was enjoyable in a popcorn sort of way, pure delicious entertainment, but it falls far short of the The Shadow of the Wind's quality.Jameshttp://dazedrambling.posterous.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-79379858288043086412011-08-02T15:49:10.826+01:002011-08-02T15:49:10.826+01:00About the reading speed, that's interesting. I...About the reading speed, that's interesting. I actually read just as fast, which almost always makes people I know in person stare in awe and seems unremarkable to a lot of ye e-people.<br /><br />About the actual books, I'll admit I'm not a B+K fan, though I love the main series. I'm a bit in the minority there, though, and haven't actually read the crack'd newest.Nathaniel Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12852939663324751332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-78781242878724486642011-08-02T10:55:27.039+01:002011-08-02T10:55:27.039+01:00@Marduk - How quickly I seem to read is in all hon...@Marduk - How quickly I seem to read is in all honesty a dirty great lie I'm only too pleased to perpetuate. :)<br /><br />In fact I read about a page per minute; it's only that some nights, I read instead of sleeping! Who was it said that again? That "Sleep is for the weak," or some such thing? Whomsoever it may have been -- agreed. Though there are days I wish I <i>were</i> a weakling in that regard.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm coming around to thinking that with Gardens of the Moon finally behind me, my next stop Malazan-wise will be the first collected tales of B&KB. I've heard good things -- from yourself and a few other folks, Marduk. And the lighter the better at this moment in time.<br /><br />These novellas <i>are</i> lighter than the Malazan books proper, aren't they?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-17462753826008718742011-08-02T10:53:16.690+01:002011-08-02T10:53:16.690+01:00@Bibiotropic - I've got my fingers crossed for...@Bibiotropic - I've got my fingers crossed for Fairyland too, Ria!<br /><br />As I recall, that free eBook I posted about way back when doesn't have the illustrations by Ana Juan, does it? And those, looking at them now, are just... oh, just lovely! They really help to set the whole thing off.<br /><br />@Nathaniel - I hear you loud and clear. Terminal World be my next stop. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08713791516631476930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-66061329672839105482011-08-02T04:18:03.197+01:002011-08-02T04:18:03.197+01:00sorry - my previous comment meant to read that B &...sorry - my previous comment meant to read that B & KB don't hardly feature in THIS one ie Crack'd Pot Trail. Of course they feature very heavily in the earlier novellas, which is the main reason I like them so much!Marduknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-66920094764311053022011-08-02T04:15:24.534+01:002011-08-02T04:15:24.534+01:00Niall - Crack'd Pot Trail.... you don't re...Niall - Crack'd Pot Trail.... you don't really need to read the other Bauchelain and Korbal Broach stories before reading this as it is entirely different to those earlier novellas. In fact, to be slightly spoileriffic, B & KB don't hardly feature in those one at all. That being said it's a good little tale and one worth reading.<br /><br />I enjoyed the other B & KB novellas a lot more myself, but this one is good for the sheer guts it took for SE to write the thing and get it out there. Given how quickly you seem to read, definitely give it a shot as it won't take up too much of your time and I think you won't be sorry.Marduknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-87172261730521171072011-08-01T17:27:19.897+01:002011-08-01T17:27:19.897+01:00What a fantastic haul you've got there, Niall....What a fantastic haul you've got there, Niall. As for Terminal World, it's a truly fantastic book, one of Reynolds' two or three best, and he's probably my favorite SF author.Nathaniel Katzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12852939663324751332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6498739347909985243.post-15270854571615472502011-08-01T13:15:22.283+01:002011-08-01T13:15:22.283+01:00Looks like you've got a couple of good ones th...Looks like you've got a couple of good ones there! Very nice! I got a copy of the Fairyland one when there was that "get a copy of this e-book free" thing going on a while back, but I have yet to actually read it. I'm hoping it's as good as everyone says it is!Bibliotropichttp://bibliotropic.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com