Firehawk Games
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: imported_Raf Blutaxt on January 03, 2011, 05:22:44 PM
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Well, as the title says... What are you currently reading and has it any relation to gaming, as inspiration or in any other capacity?
I'm interested and always looking for new stuff to read, so I hope to pick a few things up through this thread.
And to start it of:
I'm reading Kraken by China Miéville. It's absolutely weird and damn cool. It gives me some ideas for urban fantasy, mostly Fireborn, because it's set in London.
So what about you?
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Currently, I am rereading my Destroyer collection (Remo Williams & Chuin). No relation to gaming...
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I have not been reading much lately but here is what I have my nose in. Mostly because I am going through boxs of books to see what I want to sell and what I want to keep.
Gor Book 1 John Norman
The Ninja Eric Van Lustbadder
Unbeholden Robert Weinberg (WoD book OK but not great)
HP Lovecraft : Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre
The Martial Tales Edgar Rice Burroughs Book 2
And I am waiting for the second book of The Name of the Wind Series by P. Rothfuss. IMHO a great book and one series I look forward to for the future.
Most any of them can be game material but then I find game material in almost any thing.
MDC
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I just started re-reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson.
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Military history exclusively.
I play a large number of hex and counter wargames... I actually spend more time playing wargames than I do RPG's!
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Gardens of the Moon? That's one I have wanted to pick up for quite some time. Never got around to it...
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Gardens of the Moon? That's one I have wanted to pick up for quite some time. Never got around to it...
His world is amazingly detailed and layered with tons of politics, history and supernatural goings-on. His stories of wars and how the campaigns progress at the strategic, tactical and personal levels are exceptionally well done, in my opinion. His story board must cover a soccer pitch!
I read the first four books of his Malazan series a few years ago (I think #10 is coming out soon). They were great. I'm not easily deeply affected by reading books, but the conclusion of the third book was so intense that I literally felt damaged. I limped through book four (also really good) and just had to stop. I think I've recovered enough to take another run at it and keep the momentum going into the rest of the series. I have a well-read friend who has read them all and considers it the best fantasy series he's ever read.
I would add that Erikson's writing style is pretty unique and isn't necessarily for everyone. He uses words, terms and references that make no sense when you first see them, then slowly introduces what those things mean as you progress. I actually have come to really like it, but you have to get used to not knowing what's going on.
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I'm reading "Black Swan" by Nassim Taleb, not very gaming related, but could be considered inspiration nonetheless.
In addition I'm reading "The Final Empire" by somethingsometing Sanderson (I think)... mediocre fantasy, so in that respect gaming related. Got some nifty take on magic or the supernatural-natural powers of certain individuals. Interesting, but looks to be a boring rehash...
Also I'm starting the book "On being normal and other disorders", a delve into psychoanalysis, psychiatric systems of diagnosis and such goodies.
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I find it always hard to find really good fantasy books. There's lots of mediocre stuff out there, and sometimes I like to read something really cheesy, like Dragonlance or Icewind Dale, but in the really unique, great fantasy area, there's not much I'm aware of.
George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, perhaps Robin Hobb, Richard K. Morgan (if you ignore the pornographic parts) that's about it.
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There is a series of books out by Devon Monk that I found to be very good. Magic in the Blood, Magic in the Bones, etc... The Allie Beckstrom series. Modern fantasy series....
I love the way that it handles magic.
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I don't know that one, will take a look at it though.
I have found that when you leave the territory of classical fantasy, things often get more interesting, it's like only a few authors manage to get out of the shadow of Tolkien, when it comes to fantasy of the Elf, Dwarf and Orc variety.
I really enjoyed China Miéville's Perdido Street Station too, very unique take on everything, including magic, magitech and so forth. I'm still looking forward to the rpg for that, although Adamant are pushing it ever further. As a bonus, the author is a gamer and has even written a few articles for Dragon when it was still around. If you can stomach a bit of steampunk and lots of weirdness in your fantasy, it's a definite must, imo.
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I don't know that one, will take a look at it though.
I have found that when you leave the territory of classical fantasy, things often get more interesting, it's like only a few authors manage to get out of the shadow of Tolkien, when it comes to fantasy of the Elf, Dwarf and Orc variety.
Then I suggest you American Gods or Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I also enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell, by Susanna Clarke: set in an alternative 19 century England, with magic being re-discovered by the two protagonists. It's a bit strange, but with a lot of interesting ideas on magic, magicians and faeries.
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I've been reading The Sumerians, which is of course a non-fiction book about (you guessed it) Sumerian culture/religion/etc. It is pretty impressive, actually. While reading history books isn't really my thing, this has been very enjoyable so far. The idea of using a city-state idea, with a major god for each city (where the god is thought to actually dwell) and those gods forming a pantheon sounded very interesting.
I also thought the idea of having cylinder stones with reverse letters (cuneiform - the first written letters) so that they could roll the stone over wet clay was awesome. Almost like the first printing press. (http:///smile.gif)I kind of fell in love with the Sumerian language after I started using it to name everything in my Burning Heaven setting, and I wanted to find a book about them.
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Sumerians always make me think of Snow Crash (http:///bigsmile.gif)Still, it's an interesting culture to inspire gaming material.
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If any of you have not checked out the Name of the Wind that I listed above I would as it is very different in its make up and how it was written (ie author and his super readers "prominent authors themselves" ).
MDC
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I never heard of that one before you mentioned it. Can you give some landmarks to compare it to?
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Another good book to read is Dragon Precinct by Keith DeCandidio. He has Unicorn Precinct coming out later this year, IIRC. Good series... Think of it as a magical CSI type show.
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I never heard of that one before you mentioned it. Can you give some landmarks to compare it to?
It is tough to compair to as the author won an award and I think 5 other well known sci-fi authors helped him out. IMHO I can see almost different hands and ideas in different parts of the book with one overall guiding hand. There is a little of everything in the book and I do not think you will be disappointed by reading it.
I can say that it is the best crafted book that I have read in a long time that leaves you wanting for more ASAP. It really sucked me in an kept me hooked for the 700 or so pages, IIRC the page count and it is not a short book in any way. It was one that was recommended by Powles City of Books staff and while I was there I decided to pick it up. Also I think it has been delayed since last Aug while the authors do their thing again and be sure this book flows, reads and is constructed as well as the last.
I will try and thing some more about who I could compair it to but right now I am drawing a blank.
MDC
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I've always enjoyed Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books, so I've decided to give his Codex Alera series a try. Just finished Book 3 in the series. It's pretty decent Fantasy material, not as much humor as the Dresden books, and a few interesting ideas for a magic system based on "Furies" which are basically elementals that people bound with which can give them different types of powers. For example, Water gives you healing abilities and the ability to change your appearance. Wind allows you to fly and to see great distances (by adjusting air density to create a lens).
Fairly light reading, but enjoyable.
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I also thought that the Codex Alera was OK not great but OK. At times I enjoy the Dresden Books and at others not so much. I have not finished the last book and have had it for about 4 months. I just got tired of his writing style. But in another few months I probably will be itching to finish it.
I pick up a new series, Kris Longknife as it is said to be a better Honor Harrington and so for I am mixed. I give it a solid B as I am 1/2 way through the second book.
MDC
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I only read the first three Dresden books so far, light reading is what I'd call them. Interesting, funny but not too involving. I'll read the rest at some point, but I'm not exactly breathlessly waiting for the next book.
I finished Kraken now and it stays weird, very weird, very british and definitely unique. I can only recommend it.
Now I have a couple of things lying around, waiting to be read. I just can't decide whether to go fantasy or SF next.
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Now I have a couple of things lying around, waiting to be read. I just can't decide whether to go fantasy or SF next.
That is a nice problem to have.
MDC
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Yes, it is, I'm only sure that I don't want to read any more papers on functional programming at the moment (http:///bigsmile.gif)I looked at Name of the Wind and it sounds interesting, I'll add it to my list of interesting books.
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I just finished the first three books of the Kris Longknife series (Mike Shepard) and enjoyed them. They are light reading and like Honor Harrington but unique enough that I enjoyed them.
I also have finished the first book of the omnibus A Confederation of Valor (Tanya huff) and it was good but I am not sold on all of the different races. They seem to be just D&D races in space. I do not know if I will read the third book as people said it was not very good. I will just have to see if I am in a mood again to read the rest of the series.
MDC
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Well I just finished Daemon by Daniel Suarez, very cool, very Snow Crash in parts and a good read all the way through.
Then I pretty much rushed through Naomi Novik's His Majesty's Dragon
I read a lot of Hornblower when I was younger (terrible to say that at my age (http:///bigsmile.gif)Now I will start The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, we'll see how that turns out.
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I also enjoyed Naomi Noviks series for young readers as you said it was very HH. I regret that I never read and HH and I may check to see if I can find some for me to read. And of course to see if it is ok for my nephew to read as well. Or maybe I should say when it is ok for him to read.
MDC
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Well, I have only dimm memories, but I know I read it at the age of 12 or 13 and liked it very much. There was of course quite a bit of violence in the books, but not to graphic. I read LotR at the same time for the first time and found it more taxing, but more from a language point than because of its content.
I would say that Novik's book was morally more intense than Hornblower and of course it has a more reflected view on customs, especially concerning women in that society. Still, I enjoyed it very much.
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Sadly the next set of books I'll be reading is the Twilight books. I promised some of the women/girls in my life that I would and they promised that the books were better than the movies. I still want a "Team Blade" Tee-shirt though.
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Sadly the next set of books I'll be reading is the Twilight books. I promised some of the women/girls in my life that I would and they promised that the books were better than the movies. I still want a "Team Blade" Tee-shirt though.
We most know some of the same women or maybe they hang out at the same place on the net. Because I did the same thing. I enjoyed them but I can say that they are not for everyone.
MDC
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Hmm, I only saw the first movie by accident and didn't like it at all.
These guys aren't vampres in my book and I object on many things the movies and almost certainly the books too, have to say on the role of women in society and relationships. It is probably the thing that scares me most about it (and makes me angry), that so many girls and women like them and don't seem to mind this. But now I've derailed the thread, I fear.
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Raf Blutaxt;
Can you elaborate a little?
MDC
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Basically it is the whole plot of the vampire dude always treating the girl badly, sending her away then letting her come back, then sending her away again and so on that I can't stand. If someone is treated badly in a relationship, he or she should not feel it is her duty, fate or whatever to go back and get the same again. The whole plot seems to be about that girl not making any decisions on her own and letting the vampire and the werewolf push her around just as they please. That really is disturbing to me.
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I just finished Lonely Werewolf Girl. Moved on to Conan graphic novels & a cool Lovecraft inspire graphic novel too.
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Last novel I completed was Seal of Karga Kull... it was ok for a generic D&D 4e based novel. Tried to read Mark of Nerath , another 4e D&D novel. It was better than Seal but I got sick of the constant switching between groups of characters. Now I'm reading Stray a Urban Fantasy about werecats. Pretty good so far, been digging them (Urban Fantasies) a lot lately. I recommend Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson & Alpha Omega series. Been going through a novel reading drought the last few months , been mainly reading GNs & books on Judaism.
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@Markc: I just read that the sequel to Name of the Wind will be released on the first of march and the author is doing a reading tour through the US. I thought this might interest you.
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@Markc: I just read that the sequel to Name of the Wind will be released on the first of march and the author is doing a reading tour through the US. I thought this might interest you.
Thanks!
Yes I plan on reading the book and a number of my friends are also waiting with $ in hand. I am cash poor at the moment so I will probably read one of the other guys copies. But I am looking forward to the book and hope it is worth the delays. Which I expect it will be.
MDC
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On to David Gemmel now. You might like him Raf (if you haven't already read his stuff)
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I read his first book and liked it. Then I never managed to get through the second one (http:///bigsmile.gif)But it's definitely something I plan on returning to.
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I recently read the Savage Tales of Solomon Kane and was once more impressed. If you manage to overlook the latent racism, Robert E. Howard is still one of the most impressive writers of the last century.
Now I'm half-way through Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds and so far I like it. It's very classic hard SF, nothing extraordinary but well done and entertaining.
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Racism is a part of most of the pulp & post pulp era writings. It wasn't racism back then I guess. Thankfully, we have come a long way in a hundred years; and we can see past the obvious generational shortcomings of some brilliant authors (Lovecraft stands out within the genre too). I still remember reading Huckleberry Fin as a young lad, and my dad having a talk about it with me....
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I fully agree with you on this.
I know some people who just can't overlook that kind of thing and they are missing out on some great things.
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I've started the latest Umberto Eco's novel: the cemetery of prague. It's really funny and interesting, mixing historical and imaginary characters/facts... it really sucked me in from the beginning!
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I always wanted to read more of Eco's books but never got around to it so far.
Right now I have moved on to Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun. I read it once before and think it is one of the best and unique science-fantasy books ever written.
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maybe tim could start a "booklist" somewhere.....?
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Princess of Mars by Burroughs
Book 3 of "Terry and the Pirates" by Milton Caniff
Rise of the Evening Star (book 2 of Fablehaven) by Brandon Mull
Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle
and just finishing Cartoon History of the Modern World by Larry Gonick
Not sure what any of these have to do with gaming specifically, but the Cartoon History books in particular are enlightening in showing how seeming unrelated events can shape (or eliminate) a country and it's people.
Ha...that makes me wonder if there should be any rules for the plague or famine or similar scenarios in Novus?
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Princess of Mars by Burroughs
Great! I've read the whole Martian Series, as well as the Venus and "Inner Earth" series', although the names escape me... I believe Pellucidar was one...
And I've also read a number of the Tarzan books!
He was one of my favorite authors when I was a young man. His books are awesome!
I just picked up a few books from the bookstore the other day, No One Left Behind, the Lt. Cmdr. Michael Speichter Story and The Gigantic Book of Pirate Stories.
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Pirates! Grrrreat!
I finished The Name of the Wind now and really liked it, although it had a few lengths in the middle imo. Still I thank Markc for the recommendation. Now I'm in the middle of The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, a very interesting SF novel with a faszinating setting. It takes place in Bangkok in a future, where all oil has been used up and large seed companies protect their patents by creating diseases that destroy unlicensed crops. There's a lot of food for thought in it.
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Pirates are third in my favourite things.
3. Pirates
2. Zombies
1. Pirate Zombies
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Pirates! Grrrreat!
I finished The Name of the Wind now and really liked it, although it had a few lengths in the middle imo. Still I thank Markc for the recommendation. Now I'm in the middle of The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, a very interesting SF novel with a faszinating setting. It takes place in Bangkok in a future, where all oil has been used up and large seed companies protect their patents by creating diseases that destroy unlicensed crops. There's a lot of food for thought in it.
I agree with your statement but all in all a very good book, IMHO. The second one in the series was almost as good as the first and I am looking forward to the next book whenever it makes it to print or e-print.
I have been going back through my collection and picking out some classics to re-read. The first 3 Shadow run books as well as some others that I remember fondly. Now I just have to find the ones I am missing so I have whole series.
MDC
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I just finished Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie, very dark, very brutal, but great as always. Now I'm starting Embassytown by China Miéville, a Space Opera with lots of long words and language philosophy by all accounts.
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Am currently rereading another of my Destroyer novels. Once I am done with that, I will be reading "Bearers of the Black Staff" which is the first of the series that connect the "Word and Void" series to the "Shannara" series.
Other recent reads include:
License to Ensorcell - a Nola O'Grady novel by Katherine Kerr
Magic on the Hunt - an Allie Beckstrom novel by Devon Monk
Highborn by Yvonne Navarro
Beyond the Frontier: Dreadnought by Jack Campbell (also reread the other 6 books in The Lost Fleet series as well).
I often go through a book a week, or more sometimes... hehe
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Lovecraft shorts and Stormbringer here
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I am finishing the book 10 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen.
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I am now about half-way through reading Bearers of the Black Staff
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I'm about 1/4 of the way through George R. R. Martin's A Dance With Dragons. It's been a long wait. (http:///smile.gif)
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Yeah, it's been a long wait. I'm currently rereading the first four to get back up to speed on the series. I'm almost done with Game of Thrones and will probably start on the second tomorrow or the next day. I just hope that fifth book is worth the effort of all this rereading. (http:///bigsmile.gif)
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I thought about rereading the old books this time around, but I've already read them like 5 times over. hehe. I am sure I will read them again though. One day I want to run an epic ASOIAF campaign... I'm just intimidated by the setting.
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I only read them once before, so it makes sense to read them againbefore I plunge into the new book.
I already ran a short-lived campaign, using the old Guardians of Order rpg book. I also own the new edition from Green Ronin, but haven't looked much into it. So far I don't find the setting too intimidating. I find it hardest to run games in settings I really like on a deeper level, because they touch something in me apart from just being cool. This is the case with Middle-Earth and Howard's Hyborean Age. But then, I'm about to run anothher Conan game in a few weeks. (http:///bigsmile.gif)
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What would Conan do? WWCD? If he were a character in LoTR: would Middle earth be saved?
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I am going through and reading the Honor Harrington series now. I am in, the fourth (I think) book, Fields of Dishonor.
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How do you manage to read so much tim?
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I read voraciously and constantly. My nook has over 430 books on it - many of which I have read multiple times (there are a very few (such as with the Honor Harrington series that I am now reading for the first time).
I am also a relatively fast reader, and I will read in the bathroom, as I eat, when I go to bed, before falling asleep, etc... Just about any chance I get... (http:///bigsmile.gif)
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I think you are right in that with the settings I particularly love, I'm worried I will "mess them up." One of the things I took from the Tekumel setting was M. A. R. Barker's thoughts on the setting, in that your version of a setting need not be the version that is in the books. He also said to stress that before you start a campaign. (http:///smile.gif)I haven't been reading as much as I have in the past, but I've been picking up a ton of used books from 2nd hand stores, so hopefully that will change.
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Well, I usually love certain settings for very distinct reasons and it is these themes I want to portray in the version of the game I'm running. Especially for Conan this usually becomes problematic, since most players only know the movies which are very different from Howard's source material, which can lead to a lot of problems. We'll see how it turns out this time. I'm re-reading the short stories right now and have convinced some of the players to do the same, so I'm optimistic.
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I just finished Dance with Dragons and Started Chris Evans A Darkness Forged in Fire Book 1 of the Iron Elves. It is interesting so far as the setting has elements of British Colonialism, magic and fantasy races. But I am not sold yet on the writers writing style and hope it gets better. But then that could be a left over from just finishing G.R.R.M.'s Dance with Dragons.
MDC
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Just started Boneshaker....with the promise of airships & zombies......
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The Chris Evan series the Iron Elves is like Sharps Rifles set in a fantasy world and does have some interesting but basic twists so far.
MDC
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Ah, I'm still working through A Storm of Swords in my effort to be up to date when I start Dance With Dragons. (http:///smile.gif)
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I am working my way through the Honor Harrington series (finished the main series, still have to finish the Worlds of Honor, Torch, and Saganami series), then I will be moving on to the Iron Druid series.
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I am re-reading the Sword of Truth series.
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Almost done with Dan Abnett The Lost (Gaunts's Ghosts Omnibus #3). I have really enjoyed the entire series and the Omnibus's make it very economical in the states to pick them up. But having said that I have enjoyed almost all of his work.
MDC