Jun 12, 2009
Episode 27: The Lost Levels
Episode 27 for the week of June 7th: from the recesses of time and space, the lost Books mini-episode has resurfaced! In this we talk about other books in the fantasy and sci fi genres that we’ve been reading or have read in the past. Recommendations and condemnations come hand in hand to this swank party, so there’s a little something for everyone.
P.S. When we get to romance novels, this is what we were laughing about.
40 Comments, Comment or Ping
Chase
For the record, Sandkings is great.
Jun 12th, 2009
Surya
I think it would be useful if you listed in the information/podcast summary your favorite books. For example, I can’t figure out who the author that Mimi absolutely adores is…
Amin, you’re right, some of Martin’s sci-fi is great but I can’t get in to Wildcards. Probably because I love sci-fi as much, if not more than fantasy. The really cool sci-fi novels/short stories are the ones with an unique idea. I think that’s why short stories are so much more common in Sci-fi, and quite often the best place to start reading the works of a Sci-fi author. If you like Sci-fi, I think Asimov’s early novels and short stories should be good reads.
Also Pratchett is an awesome author, though very different from Martin. He has the skill to be funny yet write a good story.
Jun 16th, 2009
Chase
Mimi is infatuated with China Mieville.
Jun 16th, 2009
Surya
Ah, thanks. Didn’t how to spell his name. Maybe will check out one of his books when I get some time.
Jun 16th, 2009
Chase
As we’ve talked about, Perdido Street Station is a slow build up to some pretty rad stuff, but it introduces you to New Crobuzon, the big city that the books take place in, in a way that the other books don’t. Definitely a suggested read for an introduction to the series. I’m about eight chapters in to Iron Council now and it’s been almost non stop cool shit with much more of the insurrectionist rebellion type stuff. Really digging it, though I haven’t had as much time to read it as I’d like.
Jun 16th, 2009
mimi
iron council never fails to make me cry. cutter + judah = 4eva.
a lot of people recommend the scar (which takes place after perdido, but before iron council) as the starting point to the series, cause that shit is action-packed from the beginning. also, the brucolac is a fantastic character.
i think mimi mieville sounds like a great name.
Jun 20th, 2009
Chase
Well, thanks for recommending I start with Perdido! You led me wrong! Mimi, this hurts me.
Jun 21st, 2009
Surya
I started reading Perdido 2 days ago and I am close to 300 pages in and stuff is really starting to heat up. But I actually enjoyed what I’ve read so far too. I especially enjoyed Isaac’s narrative so far. I liked the detail in terms of science but I’d like some more information about the different races and their history and the history of the world in general…
I’ll post again when I’ve finished the book.
Jun 27th, 2009
Chase
That’s how I felt. I enjoyed the build up, it just wasn’t as holy shit awesome as Game of Thrones was. I’m still trying to get a good picture in in my mind of what all the races look like, too. The first description of a Vodyanoi was something like a “grotesque, wrinkled testicle writhing in its shallow trough of festering water” but they’re more like big frogs. 😐
Jun 27th, 2009
Surya
I finally finished Perdido Street Station. Good book, I will definitely read other books in the series. Also found similar elements of dark fantasy as in Martin’s work. The interaction of science and ‘magic’ was really interesting as well. Though the disdain Isaac shows for the Construct Council irked me a little (I am majoring/planning to research AI, so I am biased..).
All in all, enjoyed it but not sure I’d rate it over A Song of Ice and Fire though.
Jul 5th, 2009
Sebastian
I’m currently reading ‘Dying of the light’ which was one of GRMM’s early books.. I’ll let you guys know how it turns out 🙂
Jun 16th, 2009
Sebastian
OK after actually listening to the episode I have a few things to comment on:
I say I agree with Mimi Chris and Amin because usually when they have some large point or idea to make, it’s something I definitely agree on, and much moreso than with Aaron, Ashlet, etc (in the older quiet isle episodes)
#2… Amin: “Maybe I plugged into the wrong place” THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID FUCK
#3… Amin: “Yeah, I put it into the front instead of the back” THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
God dammit you guys. so not on the ball.
Jun 16th, 2009
Chase
I can’t belive I missed those.
Jun 16th, 2009
Sam
Just wanted to comment on my big buddy Samwell and his little pink wiggle worm. First of all right on Gilly for giving the big fella some sweaty wildling love and thank you George R.R. Martin for not going into too much detail. However I am surprised that we don’t receive a more in depth view of Sam and his self-consciousness. What I mean is here is a guy that (although we all love him) is a chubby guy and unless he is packing something equivalent to a Pringles can between his legs, I cant help but believe he is worried about Gilly pleasure during this epic lovemaking scene. Lets face it gentlemen not all of us are blessed with the greatest equipment and I just cant believe that my boy Sam was either, but never fear I am here with some lovemaking tips just for you Sammy boy. First… Ask help from a summer islander… Lets face it those people like to do the nasty so I would be willing to bet that they have some kind of male enhancement pill for guys who just cant fulfill their manly duties. Second… Drop some pounds… I don’t want to sound mean Sammy boy but your thang will appear bigger if it is not hidden by unsightly goo. If all else fails… Let her ride the wave… What do I mean by riding the wave you ask. Riding the wave is a simple but effective way to please your woman if you are a hefty fella like our buddy Sam. First you remove your lady’s clothes. Next you remove your shirt (leave your pants on no sense in revealing your unsightly weenie). Then you slap your belly and let her ride the vibration like sitting on a washing machine. You would be kinda like a vibrator she could call you the Moby. Hey hang in there Sam we are all rooting for ya.
Sincerely
Your Buddy
The Buttman
Jun 19th, 2009
Mary
I agree with you Sam. You would think that he would be worried about pleasing this woman. Also I have actually tried to ride the wave before when I was dating this kid in high school. I must say its not really a good strategy for lovemaking. Plus we didn’t call it riding the wave we called it the bunny hop. One more thing there is a dildo called the Moby and it is utterly satisfying.
Jun 26th, 2009
Jill
Who is the author Mimi was talking about-Joan Johnson? Johnston? “Sword in the Shadows series? Something like that. Always looking for new fantasy authors.
Jun 19th, 2009
Ashley 2
J.V. Jones
Jun 19th, 2009
Jill
Thanks….
Jun 19th, 2009
mimi
yeah, j.v. jones was my first foray into fantasy lit, and still a favorite. mind you, the sword of shadows (still shuddering how awful that name is) series is coming along pretty slowly.
some of the deeper character connections will be lost on you if you haven’t read the book of words (also shuddering) trilogy first. as much as i absolutely loved that series, i have a hard time recommending it to martin fans because of the formulaic baker’s-boy-is-the-chosen-one plotline, but everything else is fantastic. if you can get past the trite concept, i think you’ll notice how good the writing is.
Jun 20th, 2009
Chase
Hot Pie for King….?
Jun 21st, 2009
John
Mimi, you haven’t read Prince of Nothing because you don’t like the characters’ names?
Heh. Give me Cnaiur urs Skiotha over Xaro Xhoan Daxos anyday 😉
Jun 23rd, 2009
Someone
For Xaro I can at least imagine how it would be pronounced. How the hell would anyone ever be able to pronounce Cnaiur though? Is the ‘C’ silent? All those vowels: what sound do they make put together like that?
Jun 23rd, 2009
John
Cnaiur is pronounced: Nay-yur
On the other hand, I have no idea how Xaro Xhoan Davos is pronounced ;).
Jun 23rd, 2009
John
*Daxos
Jun 23rd, 2009
Sebastian
Zah-ro Zo-anne Dax-uss
As far as I’m concerned, anway.
Jun 24th, 2009
jude
I’m so surprised that no one mentioned Bernard Cornwell’s The Warlord Chronicles trilogy – then again, I’m the only person I know who’s ever read it. Yes, it’s by the same author who wrote those horrible WW1 Sharpe books…but it’s really an amazing series! It’s long finished, so no worries about waiting for the next book to come out, lol.
You guys should really pick it up – it’s a unique take on a bunch of Arthurian romance tales, told in the grittiest most unromantic way possible, from the POV of a Saxon slave who joins Arthur’s army. Lancelot is a pig-headed nancy boy and Merlin is a crazy old druid who runs around dirty and naked half the time. Brilliant stuff.
And I tried really hard to like Perdido Street Station, but 100 pages in I just got really impatient waiting for the plot to start. Descriptions were amazing, but not enough to keep me going.
Jun 25th, 2009
Lauren
I goddamn love this series. My best friend (coincidentally, the same person who got me into ASoIaF) lent me her copies of the Warlord books and I went crazy over ’em. Freaked out someone in a bookstore while doing a happy dance when I found “Enemy of God” after years of never seeing it.
Jun 25th, 2009
Lauren
Also, I think Sharpe is Napoleonic war, not WWI. I think. All I know is Sean Bean = Very Yes and enough reason for me to hunt the books down and then see the movies.
Jun 25th, 2009
jude
I’m so glad someone else has read it and can vouche for its awesomeness. I’ve got to read them all over at some point, seeing as its been almost 10 years.
P.s. I had no idea that Sean Bean was in a Sharpe TV series..or that it even existed. I seriously just laughed for half an hour while looking at this page:
http://www.full-of-beans.net/sharpe/covers/ukvid/index.html
I need to track these down!
Jun 26th, 2009
Chase
Seriously, Perdido takes about 400 pages for the real plot to start. It’s all build up before that. Mimi will yell at me, but it’s definitely the truth. Try out Iron Council, because that’s frantic shit from page 1.
The books you mentioned sound interesting and I’ll definitely put them in my queue. Thanks.
Jun 25th, 2009
Sam
This has nothing to do with the topic but I think Mimi is sexy so the one dude needs to quit saying she is fat or even hinting that she is. Just thought everyone should know.
Jun 29th, 2009
Sebastian
Jul 1st, 2009
Sebastian
wow fail, it doesn’t like brackets.
(insert pink worm quote here)
Jul 1st, 2009
mimi
chris is just jealous of me, cause he’s not on asianposes.com
Jul 2nd, 2009
Jon Doe
I can’t believe no one has mentioned Tod William’s “Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn” series. It (along with the Wheel of Time) was one of the works of modern fantasy which inspired Martin to write ASoIaF. The two series have a good deal in common and there are several clear nods to William’s work in Martin’s books.
Jul 2nd, 2009
Ashley 2
Pretty sure we’ve mentioned it in previous episodes.
Jul 2nd, 2009
Jon Doe
Really? Hm… must have missed that.
Jul 3rd, 2009
Anonymous
I just have to mention that I think Chase has a sexy voice…
So Mimi, this is your opportunity to add a mark to the crush tally.
My gateway into fantasy was the His Dark Materials series
and Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay as well as Ender’s Game, even though the latter qualifies more as science fiction than anything else.
Jul 14th, 2009
Avalon
Sorry, I didn’t mean to make the previous post anonymous.
Jul 14th, 2009
Brian
Ashley 2 i have a crush on you.. so don’t feel left out!!
Jul 25th, 2009
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