Who knew again? - Page 142

Fifthfiend · 06-08-2009, 09:19 PM

I add my usual caveat here that it's a Pratchett book and so still relatively good despite the stuff I find terrible it's just that it sets up this "Moist versus the Evil Banker" plot and then the Evil Banker never does anything and sits sort of quietly in the corner going insane while Moist swans around letting the usually seedy vicious violent and cynical denizens of A-M fall head over heels in love with him.

By comparison Going Postal (the first Moist von Lipwig book) had a villain which actively drove the plot, was convincingly portrayed as being at least as cunning as the protagonist, and made at least one credible attempt to end said protagonist's life, all while backdropping Moist's conflict with him with a lot of generalized (and well-warranted!) mistrust, suspicion, conflict and deliberate sabotage by the various people surrounding him. Which all in all I felt made for a much more interesting novel.

Lumenskir · 06-08-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Which all in all I felt made for a much more interesting novel.

Well, yeah. GP is definitely in my personal high tier, but I think MM is a fun enough outing to save it from reviews that paint it as a Granny-quality book. Then again, I wasn't that annoyed by the overarching plot, as I think it's one of the better books for amusing little world building exercises and interesting sub-characters, and with so much rambling around the unplot doesn't bother as much.

Now, I guess a case could be made that the various collection of things I liked (the pervy dead soul, the extremely exact water counter machination, money 'just about' breaking even to make, etc.) could have been sprinkled around the series proper without needing their own book, but then you're getting dangerously close into fanwanking some 'perfect' Franken-Pterry book and frankly that doesn't seem sane or fair.

Professor Smarmiarty · 06-09-2009, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifthfiend

How to enjoy shitty Mary Sue-fests with no real villain, apparently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah that was pretty much my sum-up of the book too. I'm not a fan of Moist in this one and GP was like a billion times better.
But I thought a discworld book was a safe-bet and this was only one that really fit into the time frame.

Mr.Bookworm · 06-09-2009, 04:20 PM

I was going to type something gushingly sarcastic here about Twilight, but it wouldn't be worth the brain cells.

Annnnnnnnnnnyway.

7. Confessor (krogothwolf) - Seriously, dude? Terry Goodkind is the hackiest hack ever to grace popular fantasy.

6. Rant (Overcast) - I've never read anything of his, though I really should.

5. Fatal Revenant (Lumenskir) - I've only gotten up to like the second book, sorry.

4. Nation (Fifth) - I've been looking for a copy of this for ages, but I have yet to find one. Should probably just order it off Amazon.

3. Making Money (SMB) - Definitely not Pratchett's high point. I've been rereading the Disc books, and I read this one right after GP, and the drop-off was really noticeable.

2. Harry Potter (Masked) - Yes I like the Harry Potter books.

1. Hunter's Run (RA) - Wuved this book. I picked it up while I was over in Canada, and devoured it. Credit where credit's due, though. Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham both wrote it too.

In reflection, this probably wasn't a very good topic, but what the heck.

Take it away, Rejected Again.

krogothwolf · 06-09-2009, 04:42 PM

The confessor is the only book i could remember besides any of the Malazan Book of the Fallen ones and i flipped a coin on what to pick. I actually haven't even read any of the Sword of Truth books. Well besides Harry Potter and Twilight, but you never know about those ones.

Overcast · 06-09-2009, 06:12 PM

Yeah Chuck is a real hit or miss author in every way. You either like his work or you don't, and even then you can have varying opinions on how you look at his works in total. For me Rant wasn't my favorite he's made, but from most of what I read since 2006 it seemed like a good bet since I didn't want to take the Pratchett path.

Masked Jedi · 06-09-2009, 06:38 PM

I actually just finished Rant, and I really liked it. Especially how he doesn't reveal that the book is actually dystopian science fiction involving time travel and zombies until about half-way through.

Overcast · 06-09-2009, 07:02 PM

Heh, well I will say I disliked it a bit until I was informed there would be other books. Though as someone used to him taking single book excursions it definitely wasn't as strong as his others. Though he does use his skill at making a twist in the middle rather well. His so called, "hidden gun" technique.

Rejected Again · 06-10-2009, 02:26 AM

Yeah Figured that Hunters Run was a solid choice. Excellent read I must say.

But more on topic. Favorite rock band. (Not the god damn games either)

GARUD · 06-10-2009, 02:27 AM

ACDC

06-08-2009, 09:19 PM	#1411
Fifthfiend for all seasons Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 19,409	I add my usual caveat here that it's a Pratchett book and so still relatively good despite the stuff I find terrible it's just that it sets up this "Moist versus the Evil Banker" plot and then the Evil Banker never does anything and sits sort of quietly in the corner going insane while Moist swans around letting the usually seedy vicious violent and cynical denizens of A-M fall head over heels in love with him. By comparison Going Postal (the first Moist von Lipwig book) had a villain which actively drove the plot, was convincingly portrayed as being at least as cunning as the protagonist, and made at least one credible attempt to end said protagonist's life, all while backdropping Moist's conflict with him with a lot of generalized (and well-warranted!) mistrust, suspicion, conflict and deliberate sabotage by the various people surrounding him. Which all in all I felt made for a much more interesting novel. __________________ check out my buttspresso

06-09-2009, 04:42 PM	#1415
krogothwolf Fetched the Candy Cane! Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 4,278	The confessor is the only book i could remember besides any of the Malazan Book of the Fallen ones and i flipped a coin on what to pick. I actually haven't even read any of the Sword of Truth books. Well besides Harry Potter and Twilight, but you never know about those ones. __________________ Knowledge is Power, Power is Knowledge ╔╦╦══╦══╦═╦══╦══╦╗╔╦╦╦╦══╦╗╔═╗ ║═╣╠═║╔╗║╔╣╔╗╠╗╔╣╚╝║║║║╔╗║║║═╣ ║║║╔╗╣╚╝║║║╚╝║║║║╔╗║║║║╚╝║╚╣╔╝ ╚╩╩╝╚╩══╩═╩══╝╚╝╚╝╚╩══╩══╩═╩╝

06-09-2009, 06:12 PM	#1416
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	Yeah Chuck is a real hit or miss author in every way. You either like his work or you don't, and even then you can have varying opinions on how you look at his works in total. For me Rant wasn't my favorite he's made, but from most of what I read since 2006 it seemed like a good bet since I didn't want to take the Pratchett path. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

06-09-2009, 07:02 PM	#1418
Overcast Cinderella Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Trespassing in the graveyard Posts: 3,076	Heh, well I will say I disliked it a bit until I was informed there would be other books. Though as someone used to him taking single book excursions it definitely wasn't as strong as his others. Though he does use his skill at making a twist in the middle rather well. His so called, "hidden gun" technique. __________________ Time to bust out the glow sticks!

06-10-2009, 02:27 AM	#1420
GARUD Demon Slayer and Ass Kicker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hell... and demons are my bitches Posts: 1,460	ACDC __________________ Just a post made by your neighborhood ~~friendly DEMON SLAYER~~ jerk PSYCHO KILLER! ~Awesome Avatar by Mauve.

06-09-2009, 04:20 PM	#1414
Mr.Bookworm YYYEEEEEAAAAAAHHH Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,034	I was going to type something gushingly sarcastic here about Twilight, but it wouldn't be worth the brain cells. Annnnnnnnnnnyway. 7. Confessor (krogothwolf) - Seriously, dude? Terry Goodkind is the hackiest hack ever to grace popular fantasy. 6. Rant (Overcast) - I've never read anything of his, though I really should. 5. Fatal Revenant (Lumenskir) - I've only gotten up to like the second book, sorry. 4. Nation (Fifth) - I've been looking for a copy of this for ages, but I have yet to find one. Should probably just order it off Amazon. 3. Making Money (SMB) - Definitely not Pratchett's high point. I've been rereading the Disc books, and I read this one right after GP, and the drop-off was really noticeable. 2. Harry Potter (Masked) - Yes I like the Harry Potter books. 1. Hunter's Run (RA) - Wuved this book. I picked it up while I was over in Canada, and devoured it. Credit where credit's due, though. Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham both wrote it too. In reflection, this probably wasn't a very good topic, but what the heck. Take it away, Rejected Again.