What Are You Reading?

[Xisor]

Stormcast had been a very minor hell for me too. Not unbearable, but a perennial "I don't get it..." sort of vibe.

I'm still not 100% sold on them, or the takes, but the second half of Realmgate Wars have breathed a lot more life into them. Certainly, to allow their stories to be interesting, they can be truer to the conceit of themselves than Space Marines can.

(I still maintain that Space Marines should be howlingly dull characters to follow in a story. Absurdly entertaining from time to time, but never knowingly interesting. Even, *especially*, the "interesting" ones.)

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Accordingly, just finished up the Josh/David Guymer Mortarch of Night "anthology" - it's surprisingly good. The anthology format for two authors telling each, say, six twelths of the same story is intriguing. I'm not sure it works amazingly, but the story's certainly agreeable, and the two write a fine wee riot too, so I'm in no position to complain.

It also introduced Hamilcar.

Earlier today we we were at a neat Comics exhibition at a local library, and amongst lots of cool, unusual and odd pieces (no 2000AD, I noted sadly, despite being well contributed by many other publishers, like DC [Dandy, Beano etc]), I was also chuckling to think that I can see the attraction of Hamilcar.

He's like a Stormcast two-thirds away from Flashheart to Desperate Dan.

It's quite endearing!

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Now onto Clint's "Lord of Undeath" - the end of the series!

Already off to a very good start with a Neferata-heavy opening, and a lot more of his normal flair back.

After that, possibly jumping onto Gav's mortal/Chaos focused "Red Feast" or Clint again with "The Tainted Heart", both amongst the hally "make it all deeper and more storied" AoS stories.

Give a little bit less focus to the Stormcast and I think they'll shine all the better.

(Not to mention that the mortal Chaos stuff is damned exciting. I keep achingly, excitedly eyeing the Warcry anthology for Pyro's return!)

[Rob P]

You're certainly persuading me to give AOS more of a go!

Actually (slightly related) finished painting a gryph-hound today!

I agree with what you say about space marines in so far as the description in lore pulls us one way and the novels another.

I'd hope the alignment of Order and Chaos, and what factions each alignment contains, could (if it hasn't already) allow for Chaos protagonists (proper heroes) and villainous agents of order (whether it be the Dark Eldar like Idoneth Deepkin, the near immortal and everything chaos hunting Stormcast, or any other the other factions to be honest).

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I actually ready Aunshi rather than Ninth Rain and i'm now part way into A Sanctuary of Worms. No comment on the latter, but Aunshi is utter madness - the Master Splinter-esque Ethereal. It was utterly weird but no less entertaining for it. Would read more, but perhaps not a full novel. I can imagine Aunshi visiting the famous names and places of 40k.

[Rob P]

I've read the Ninth Rain and the sequel since I last posted.

I'm now 15% into the final in the trilogy. A good series that's worth a read - albeit 1500+ words of investment (nearer 1800 to be honest).

Would recommend.

I am yet again struggling to fall in love with anything Warhammer related. I feel that I have to grab the books to support the brand rather than to satisfy a need to read them. Haven't been wowed since the 'Sword of' books. And I want to be wowed!

[Athelassan]

I've read the Ninth Rain and the sequel since I last posted.

I'm now 15% into the final in the trilogy. A good series that's worth a read - albeit 1500+ words of investment (nearer 1800 to be honest).

Would recommend.

I am yet again struggling to fall in love with anything Warhammer related. I feel that I have to grab the books to support the brand rather than to satisfy a need to read them. Haven't been wowed since the 'Sword of' books. And I want to be wowed!

Ditto, really, but then I haven't had the heart to read anything from BL since, I think, Vulkan Lives. On the other hand, not reading BL has given me more time to read other stuff.

Most recently, Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, on which I'm some way into volume 6. He left the actual Roman Empire behind some time ago, but I'm determined to finish. Fiction-wise, the latest was Umberto Eco's Baudolino, which is, frankly, weird. But quite fun.

Ath

[J D Dunsany]

Struggling to get through The Primarchs HH collection. (Yes, I am that far behind, but I haven't given up - not quite, at any rate...)

But, my word, The Emperor's Legion by Chris Wraight is strong stuff! I don't think I've read a 40K novel this impressive in a long long while - even if the ending felt a little rushed.

Non-40K is all pulpy stuff. Some Conan. Some EC Tubb. I probably should try something more challenging but the lockdown lack of routine is curiously enervating. Someone needs to tell me to get a grip. (Usually, Mrs D is good for that, but she's feeling it herself. )

Love and hugs,

JDD

[J D Dunsany]

The Mammoth Book of Cthulhu, edited by Paula Guran.

I'm about three or four stories into this. It's okay, but nothing as strong or as memorable as, say, Watson's opener in Cthulhu's Reign. I shall persevere.

[Rob P]

Currently giving Trouble in Paradise by Slavoj Zizek a go

Saw him on channel 4 news a couple of years ago and then watched the debate where he 'destroyed' Jordan Peterson re Marxism (or so the YT video title suggested).

A lot going over my head to be honest.

Think i need to watch David Harvey lectures on Marxism for a primer.

[Therion]

WARHAMMER IS FOR EVERYONE EXCEPT FOR ME

[Rob P]

Thanks, Therion. I will watch the video today or tomorrow.

Perturabo gets a pretty good showing in Angel Exterminatus. Can't think of a book i've read where Night Haunter gets development time!

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I've decided to put down Slavoj Zizek for a bit and instead i'm listening to David Harvey's podcast before attempting it again (something like 50 20 min episodes to go through on capitalism through the lens of Marx).

I'm also reading Jack Hunter's 'Greening the Paranormal'. I've read most of his books and i'm convinced that he believes what he's saying about the paranormal, which makes me go all Fox Mulder (I want to believe)

[Xisor]

I re-read The Sundering recently.

I am very pleased with it, perhaps some of Gav's finest work in there.

The parts dealing with Malekith's friendship remain potent for me.

But of most striking, poignant and perhaps relevant note, I had a very great deal of time for this passage:



Thereafter, noting that it's all in arseaboutface order, I started reading "Masters of Steel and Stone" - by reading he fourth novel in the Omnibus: Honourkeeper, a story of Karak Ungor after the Sundering but before the War of Vengeance proper.

Speaking of, I'm hoping to read the "War of Vengeance" itself shortly - some of Nick Kyme's absolutely finest, if memory and popular (Well, Rob P[opular], recently) acclaim can be believed.

At the moment, I'm concluding "Sylvaneth" in Legends of the Age of Sigmar.

It's less pacy than Pestilens (a fine wee enjoyable romp of a novel, the city of Shug'gohlis helluva memorable), and less readily engaging than the more "down to earth" bonkers weird fantasy of Fyreslayers, but it's also much closer to old WHFB in tone, even if the tree folk get a lot more stage, and the (a)elves get short shrift, if any presence at all.

As a single volume omnibus, Legends is pretty tremendous value. Pestilens and Fyreslayers are a steal at the price, whilst even the more difficult Sylvaneth is well enjoyed.

Particular shout should go to Rob Sanders' Splintered, which I massively enjoyed.

I've a lot of time for his more poetic (though unpacy) prose - the story of Shaddock and pals was an utter treat for me.

[Fenris]

I don't really know if anyone still threads these lands,but seems fair to give an update to end this specific saga:

After a year where i didn't manage to lay eyes on a single page of a single book (2020 has been a silly year in more ways than the very obvious ones for me) today i managed to finish The Eternal Champion.
Restarted it because i had it on my phone Kindle app and i was stranded with no signal while going up and down a very sunny hill and i ended reading the 45% of it i was missing over 2 hours of walking

A strange book it turned out to be.Not really sure i can explain myself better at the moment.

And since i was there,i started Phoenix in Obsidian. Here's to the hope it won't take me 3 years as the first one