Time to purchase a couple of new books for the Kindle. I'm continuing with the stories of Gordanius the Finder and pick up the second set of short stories. A Gladiator Only Dies Once http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Dies-Only-Once-ebook/dp/B003J48C1S/ref=pd_sim_kstore_6?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 (http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Dies-Only-Once-ebook/dp/B003J48C1S/ref=pd_sim_kstore_6?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2) and perhaps the forth book in the series Arms of Nemisis http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Nemesis-Ancient-Novels-ebook/dp/B0046H9UEA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 (http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Nemesis-Ancient-Novels-ebook/dp/B0046H9UEA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2). (I have what my wife calls a "weird obsession" to read the books of a series in order. Even though I got 3 other books in the series for Christmas; I just cannot read them yet. There are five books to read before the first of the Christmas gifts should be read.)
Now here is where I'm torn. I cannot decide if I want to stay in the past and start Bernard Corwell's Arthurian Series with The Winter King http://www.amazon.com/Winter-King-Arthur-Books/dp/0312156960/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3W0TP3JXH0VVD&colid=2FKFYHODI459L (http://www.amazon.com/Winter-King-Arthur-Books/dp/0312156960/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3W0TP3JXH0VVD&colid=2FKFYHODI459L) or move into the future and read Joe Haldman's The Forever War http://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1UHXTN58EWLUW&colid=2FKFYHODI459L (http://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1UHXTN58EWLUW&colid=2FKFYHODI459L) or re-read one of my favorite books of all time Frank Herbert's Dune http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B001F0WXY0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1ZDDPODI8OLTP&colid=2FKFYHODI459L (http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B001F0WXY0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1ZDDPODI8OLTP&colid=2FKFYHODI459L).
The Kindle was without question my best purchase in 2011. I love it so much. Now if I could only decide which books to read next. ;D
I'm not really familiar with any of those but there's good buzz around Forever War.
I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas and it's proving to be useful. I nearly burned up the entire battery yesterday using it to check in on the forums here. It's the right size for picking up and doing a quick flip through email and forums. And I've nearly completed a comparison of it versus the iPad which I'll get around to publishing here pretty soon.
The Kindle Fire's are nice, but I prefer the e-ink on the standard Kindle for book reading. Two reasons really. 1.) The battery without using my Kindle cover light lasts weeks. 2.) I found reading books with backlight using my Ipad makes my eyes tired and sore.
Trust me the Roma Sub Rosa books are awesome if you like a. mysteries and b. ancient Rome. Gordanius the Finder is the Sherlock Holmes of Ancient Rome. Good, quick, interesting reads.
That sounds interesting. I'm looking for some new material for the Kindle and that gladiator mystery may be the thing.
I've got my eye on a bunch of military history books, but none are available to on the Kindle. I like adding physical books to my library, but I'm amazed at how easily I seem to have let go of them. Not sure that's a good thing, but that's another discussion.
The first book in the series is Roman Blood http://www.amazon.com/Roman-Blood-Ancient-Novels-ebook/dp/B003J5652U/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 (http://www.amazon.com/Roman-Blood-Ancient-Novels-ebook/dp/B003J5652U/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2). Gordinius goes to work for Cicero. The second books is The House of Vestials http://www.amazon.com/House-Vestals-Investigations-Gordianus-ebook/dp/B0033UT1YK/ref=pd_sim_kstore_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 (http://www.amazon.com/House-Vestals-Investigations-Gordianus-ebook/dp/B0033UT1YK/ref=pd_sim_kstore_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2), which a series of short stories. Really just flesh out the characters and develop their history. I like it, but some folks don't care for the short story any more.
Forever War is a very powerful novel. I remember reading it back in the 80's. It came out of Haldeman's sevice in Vietnam
and subsequent return to 'the World' and the resulting sense of disconnect between the Soldier and the society that sends him off to war.
Also, you'll never look at DADT the same way...
I just picked up the entire series of Song of Ice and Fire.....my lord, it is going to take me a decade to read the entire seasons based on the size of these books....maybe I should have just watched the first book on HBO.
Well I opted for A Gladiator Only Dies Once and The Winter King. I downloaded and read the preview chapter for The Winter King last night. It drew me in immediately. I have a feeling this will be an Arthur tale unlike any other.
I bought Roman Blood on the Fire to check it out. Probably will be a few days before I get to it.
I hope you enjoy it.
Quote from: Bison on January 31, 2012, 03:15:53 PM
Well I opted for A Gladiator Only Dies Once and The Winter King. I downloaded and read the preview chapter for The Winter King last night. It drew me in immediately. I have a feeling this will be an Arthur tale unlike any other.
I've heard good things about Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian series. I have read all his 'The Saxon Stories' except for the latest to come out and really enjoyed them so I am going to have to look into his other books. Here is a link to 'The Saxons Stories' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saxon_Stories
I'm pushing on through E.B.Sledge's With The Old Breed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_the_Old_Breed) at the moment, and it's about the first book thats made me enjoy a Squad Battles game - namely The Proud and the Few!
Have begun reading
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. Looks to be more "standard" fantasy (as compared to Sanderson's different yet brilliant Mistborn trilogy), but it's too early to judge whether I like it or not.
Quote from: SCDJ on January 31, 2012, 05:53:02 PM
I've heard good things about Bernard Cornwell's Arthurian series. I have read all his 'The Saxon Stories' except for the latest to come out and really enjoyed them so I am going to have to look into his other books. Here is a link to 'The Saxons Stories' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saxon_Stories
Just to give you fair warning:
I'm a fan of Cornwell too, but his Arthuian trilogy didn't particularly grab me. You might very well enjoy it (obviously others do!), but for me, I found an "historical" Arthurian tale -- stripped of the usual magic, lore, & myth -- to not be very compelling.
Quote from: Bison on January 31, 2012, 03:52:27 PM
I hope you enjoy it.
I read a few pages and was very impressed. He is a talented writer.
Well I read 25% according to the Kinde of The Winter King waiting around today. I'm really enjoying this tale of Arthur. It's got an gritty feel to it that is just not there in other Arthur reads.
Well I've nearly blown through one of my two travel books before I even began travelling. I decided to go ahead and pick up the last two books in Cornwell's Arthurian series.
Enemy of God http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-God-Novel-Arthur-ebook/dp/B006WOVIRC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1328206893&sr=1-1
and
Excalibur http://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-Novel-Arthur-ebook/dp/B006WOVIWW/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on January 30, 2012, 09:11:12 PM
I just picked up the entire series of Song of Ice and Fire.....my lord, it is going to take me a decade to read the entire seasons based on the size of these books....maybe I should have just watched the first book on HBO.
GR, I've read the series through Dance with Dragons (which, in retrospect, was terrible) and very little of it has to be "slogged" through. Most of it runs pretty fluidly. The one thing I could say that might help before you start is to get a pad and write down the names of all the characters you meet more than once and where they go. The books have an appendix of which character goes with which House, but, I find it easier to remember if you write it down as you go.
Another trick to reading these types of books is printing out any maps if you can find them on the net
and using them for a bookmark. It certainly helps with Weber's Freehold books.
Quote from: Staggerwing on February 02, 2012, 09:17:06 PM
Another trick to reading these types of books is printing out any maps if you can find them on the net
and using them for a bookmark. It certainly helps with Weber's Freehold books.
That is such a simple and great idea that I am shocked I've not heard of it or done it before. Thanks!
Quote from: LongBlade on February 02, 2012, 09:35:32 PM
Quote from: Staggerwing on February 02, 2012, 09:17:06 PM
Another trick to reading these types of books is printing out any maps if you can find them on the net
and using them for a bookmark. It certainly helps with Weber's Freehold books.
That is such a simple and great idea that I am shocked I've not heard of it or done it before. Thanks!
I second LB's notion. Brilliant idea but why did we not think of it earlier :-[
I just started a book called Across the Nightengale Floor. It's fiction but it takes place in a very-close-to-reality medieval Japan. I am about 50 pages in and the book does well at giving me a feel for what medieval Japan, with a touch of fantasy, could be like. LB if you haven't read this series (there are three books) it may be something you are interested in and they can be bought for literally a penny at Amazon.
The first one is good but I'm not sure I will read the whole series. Definitely worth a penny though. I like real Japanese history a bit more. I'm reading it to get me in the mood to start my first Shogun 2 campaign, hopefully tonight.
Thanks for the tip, Gus.
Allow me to return the favor. There is a series of five book about the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. No magic or fantasy, just straight historical fiction, but it's a fun read that won't break your brain, especially if you're looking for a medieval Japan fix. Simply called Musashi the author is Eiji Yoshikawa.
Just called "Musashi" right? Because there's another book that's been out a while called "Brave Warrior Musashi" that I have been wanting to read forever. I also just bought these:
Emperor Meiji, His Life and World:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0231123418/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A145U086SR2CTZ
The Scramble for China
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0713997494/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately and am excited to get back into history, especially Asian history, which I love. Anyone have any suggestions on some games to go along with The Scramble for China?
Just Musashi. I've not heard of the other two, but I don't scour the world looking for Musashi books. :)
Are there plans to have book reviews here?
There are no plans not to...
^Touche.
Meh. If I had a master plan it wouldn't survive contact with reality anyway. ;)
^I won't tell anyone, Boss.
Finished up Cornwell's Arthur series awhile back and it was awesome. A completely different take on the ol' legend and was very refreshing because of it.
I've been browsing Amazon looking at picking up a couple of books for some long sit and wait sessions I have coming up soon. I really want to re-read Dune, but the purchase button is so freaking hard to push for a $15 ebook.
And I cued up a couple of Thomas Sowell books too, but they are in the same price range.
Perhaps I'll go with the free classics. Lots of those I can either re-read or read for the first time. Except Moby Dick. I hate that damned book. Best American book ever written my ass.
If you couldn't stand Moby Dick, then I urge you in the strongest possible terms to stay the hell away from anything written by James Fenimore Cooper. He makes Tolkien sound terse/succinct in comparison.
I read one of Cooper's books (The Pathfinder, I think?) in high school, and the man devoted almost an entire chapter describing -- I shit you not -- the goddamn trees of the forest Hawkeye was passing through. He's verbose to the point of inducing comas.
I actually liked Last of the Mohicans, but your write he's a wordy bastard. And in all honesty, I'm not sure if I could go back and read it again.
Quote from: Bison on March 23, 2012, 02:57:28 PM
And in all honesty, I'm not sure if I could go back and read it again.
I wouldn't recommend it. I think Cooper's "classics" can be safely read just the one time (if at all).
Quote from: Martok on March 23, 2012, 02:53:26 PM
If you couldn't stand Moby Dick, then I urge you in the strongest possible terms to stay the hell away from anything written by James Fenimore Cooper. He makes Tolkien sound terse/succinct in comparison.
I read one of Cooper's books (The Pathfinder, I think?) in high school, and the man devoted almost an entire chapter describing -- I shit you not -- the goddamn trees of the forest Hawkeye was passing through. He's verbose to the point of inducing comas.
I remember my Junior-High lit teacher reading an essay by none other than Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) tearing down James Fenimore Cooper. Some of it was pretty funny:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/hns/indians/offense.html
QuoteCooper's gift in the way of invention was not a rich endowment; but such as it was he liked to work it, he was pleased with the effects, and indeed he did some quite sweet things with it. In his little box of stage-properties he kept six or eight cunning devices, tricks, artifices for his savages and woodsmen to deceive and circumvent each other with, and he was never so happy as when he was working these innocent things and seeing them go. A favorite one was to make a moccasined person tread in the tracks of a moccasined enemy, and thus hide his own trail. Cooper wore out barrels and barrels of moccasins in working that trick. Another stage-property that he pulled out of his box pretty frequently was the broken twig. He prized his broken twig above all the rest of his effects, and worked it the hardest. It is a restful chapter in any book of his when somebody doesn't step on a dry twig and alarm all the reds and whites for two hundred yards around. Every time a Cooper person is in peril, and absolute silence is worth four dollars a minute, he is sure to step on a dry twig. There may be a hundred other handier things to step on, but that wouldn't satisfy Cooper. Cooper requires him to turn out and find a dry twig; and if he can't do it, go and borrow one. In fact, the Leatherstocking Series ought to have been called the Broken Twig Series.
There's a lot more. ;D
<chuckle>
Who doesn't love Mark Twain?
Quote from: Staggerwing on March 23, 2012, 07:09:40 PM
I remember my Junior-High lit teacher reading an essay by none other than Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) tearing down James Fenimore Cooper. Some of it was pretty funny:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/hns/indians/offense.html
[snip]
There's a lot more. ;D
That's some great stuff there! I only got about halfway through Clemens' essay (that you linked) before I had to stop for want of air, as I was laughing so hard. Thanks for sharing that!
Relevant to the topic, this part especially caught my attention:
Quote
In addition to these large rules, there are some little ones. These require that the author shall:
12. Say what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it.
13. Use the right word, not its second cousin.
14. Eschew surplusage.
15. Not omit necessary details.
16. Avoid slovenliness of form.
17. Use good grammar.
18. Employ a simple and straightforward style.
The literary "rules" I highlighted in bold are ones that Cooper is particularly guilty of violating IMO, although I concur with Clemens' assessment that he has broken all of those listed above to at least some degree.
There are a number of authors of supposed "classics" who I have never understood why they are so hailed, and Cooper is definitely one of them. Indeed, I find nearly all early 19th-century American authors -- Thoreau, Melville, Hawthorne, etc. (in fact, Poe is the only exception I can think of) -- to be guilty of having written so much drivel, and I will be forever mystified as to why they are included among the literary giants of the age.
Quote from: LongBlade on March 23, 2012, 07:13:27 PM
<chuckle>
Who doesn't love Mark Twain?
Indeed. He remains one of my favorite authors of the 19th century (probably second in my heart only to Dumas).
Cooper's fiction might not measure up, but his works of naval warfare are still great to read.
I'm re-reading Andy McNab's series of novels about Nick Stone, a former SAS soldier now working for Brit intelligence on deniable ops. They're great reads. Stone's character is pretty much the anti-James Bond. He's kind of a sad sack loser who's constantly getting screwed over by his employers, his exes, and pretty much life in general.
I'm also reading Mark Zeuhkle's 3rd book on the Canucks on and after D-Day, Breakout from Juno. As with all his books, it's a little disjointed but a good read. The Canucks usually only get a passing mention in the more general histories of D-Day so it's good to read a series of books focussed mainly on them.
Quote from: Bison on January 30, 2012, 04:19:35 PM
Time to purchase a couple of new books for the Kindle. I'm continuing with the stories of Gordanius the Finder and pick up the second set of short stories. A Gladiator Only Dies Once http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Dies-Only-Once-ebook/dp/B003J48C1S/ref=pd_sim_kstore_6?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 (http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Dies-Only-Once-ebook/dp/B003J48C1S/ref=pd_sim_kstore_6?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2) and perhaps the forth book in the series Arms of Nemisis http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Nemesis-Ancient-Novels-ebook/dp/B0046H9UEA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2 (http://www.amazon.com/Arms-Nemesis-Ancient-Novels-ebook/dp/B0046H9UEA/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2). (I have what my wife calls a "weird obsession" to read the books of a series in order. Even though I got 3 other books in the series for Christmas; I just cannot read them yet. There are five books to read before the first of the Christmas gifts should be read.)
Now here is where I'm torn. I cannot decide if I want to stay in the past and start Bernard Corwell's Arthurian Series with The Winter King http://www.amazon.com/Winter-King-Arthur-Books/dp/0312156960/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3W0TP3JXH0VVD&colid=2FKFYHODI459L (http://www.amazon.com/Winter-King-Arthur-Books/dp/0312156960/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3W0TP3JXH0VVD&colid=2FKFYHODI459L) or move into the future and read Joe Haldman's The Forever War http://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1UHXTN58EWLUW&colid=2FKFYHODI459L (http://www.amazon.com/Forever-War-Joe-Haldeman/dp/0312536631/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1UHXTN58EWLUW&colid=2FKFYHODI459L) or re-read one of my favorite books of all time Frank Herbert's Dune http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B001F0WXY0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1ZDDPODI8OLTP&colid=2FKFYHODI459L (http://www.amazon.com/Dune-40th-Anniversary-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B001F0WXY0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1ZDDPODI8OLTP&colid=2FKFYHODI459L).
The Kindle was without question my best purchase in 2011. I love it so much. Now if I could only decide which books to read next. ;D
Strangely enough I'm half way through Excalibur that is the third book in Cornwell's Warlord Trilogy and they are a fantastic read. I love how he's taken the fantastic legend and made it historically plausible. I also love how many of the characters are the complete opposites of what we know through the Legends. Too read this.
I've lined up more Cornwell as my next read.... The Last Kingdom
I've had The Story of the Lafayette Escadrille on my wishlist for quite some time but never popped the $16 for the paperback.
Yesterday (for the first time) it showed up as an ebook and was priced at a quite reasonable $3. I jumped on it. Haven't started reading yet, but this is one I've been looking forward to for a while.
Am currently about a third of the way way through
Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies. I'm almost done with the series now;
Hornblower and the Atropos is the only one I have yet to read!
Quote from: Ulfang on March 28, 2012, 09:04:17 AM
I've lined up more Cornwell as my next read.... The Last Kingdom
I love his "Saxon Tales" novels. It's probably my favorite historical fiction series thus far (although the Hornblower books are now probably a close second).
OT: The Hornblower series put out by A&E is outstanding.
QuoteI love his "Saxon Tales" novels. It's probably my favorite historical fiction series thus far (although the Hornblower books are now probably a close second).
I really enjoyed that series. I've read all of them except for the last one published, for some reason my library does not have it.
I'll have to check out these Hornblower books.
Quote from: Bison on March 28, 2012, 04:05:07 PM
OT: The Hornblower series put out by A&E is outstanding.
I've heard as much. I remember seeing commercials for it back in the day, although at the time I was (sadly) unaware of what it was all about.
Quote from: TheCommandTent on March 28, 2012, 06:50:18 PM
QuoteI love his "Saxon Tales" novels. It's probably my favorite historical fiction series thus far (although the Hornblower books are now probably a close second).
I really enjoyed that series. I've read all of them except for the last one published, for some reason my library does not have it.
Like David Weber and his Honor Harrington books, I just hope Cornwell manages to finish the series before he dies! Robert Jordan's death has made me quite paranoid...
Quote from: TheCommandTent on March 28, 2012, 06:50:18 PM
I'll have to check out these Hornblower books.
Even if you're only a modest fan of the "Wooden Ships and Iron Men" genre, they're almost certainly a must-read.
So, finished reading The Hunger Games. It actually wasn't bad in terms of teenage melodrama. Solid read...I'd give it somewhere around a 3 to a 3.5 out of 5.
There are 2 other books in the series. I have no idea what the Hell they'll possible be about.
Now, I'm on to Waiter Rant. I love expose type books in the food industry. ;D
Well I'm putting together the latest travel reading pile.
George Washington's First War by David Clary.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RSKFI/ref=s9_simh_bw_p351_d0_g351_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1CRXZA39HV1K9PMR7ZP5&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1345685042&pf_rd_i=1286228011
The Last of the Mohicans
http://www.amazon.com/Mohicans-narrative-Leatherstocking-Tales-ebook/dp/B000JQV49G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333530981&sr=1-1
I know. It's wordy as hell, but I enjoyed it once and thought it'd be worth a relook.
Ivanhoe
http://www.amazon.com/Ivanhoe-ebook/dp/B000JQUYI8/ref=pd_sim_kstore_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
Another classic that I read and this makes me feel old about 25 years ago.
And I have a couple others on the Kindle, but damned if I can remember.
I read Ivanhoe also 25 years ago in one weekend when I was punished. I loved the book!
Currently reading the base system book for Savage Worlds. After that will be a Walking Dead novel covering the rise of The Governor.
I'm in the last chapter and a half of Excalibur in Cornwell's Warlord Trilogy. One of the best series' I've ever read and ever book has been a gripping read. I'll be disappointed when its over although then I'll be moving in to the Saxon Chronicles.
I couldn't agree more Ulfang. Cronwell's Arthur series is awesome.
I just checked out a bunch of books from the library this morning. I think I may have an impulse control problem... :-[
Wanting a change of pace from having read almost nothing but Horatio Hornblower the last few months, I think I'm going to start with
The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore. I love (and own) a few of his books already --
Lamb and
Fool are nothing short of brilliant IMHO -- and I haven't read this one before, so I'm very much looking forward to it.
Quote from: Ulfang on April 05, 2012, 07:24:49 AM
I'm in the last chapter and a half of Excalibur in Cornwell's Warlord Trilogy. One of the best series' I've ever read and ever book has been a gripping read. I'll be disappointed when its over although then I'll be moving in to the Saxon Chronicles.
Amusingly enough,
The Last Kingdom (the first novel in the Saxon Chronicles) was one of the books I checked out earlier today so I could re-read it; I think it's been four years or so since I first read it. Fantastic series!
(Sorry, I know I've probably said that often enough both here and at WG that I sound like a broken record at this point, but I really do love Cornwell's writing.)