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Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

Your Top 5

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  • P
    popvulture
    見習いボス
    Joined: 2 Oct 2018

    The Master & Margarita is absolutely one of my top 5 as well. Such an incredible book.

    WTB
    IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
    Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

    last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 17:50 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
    • F
      flannel slut
      Raw and Unwashed
      Joined: 21 Feb 2022

      @DeeDee85 ha! Love it. I have not read any Robin Hobb but have heard great things; your recommendation may have just pushed it to the top of my what to read next list.

      Rothfuss prose is like poetry and is truly one of the more enjoyable fantasy reads out there but as I’m sure your well aware, has no end in sight… here’s a taste of those prose to tempt you some because I’m a bastard like that,

      "Let me say this. It was worth the whole awful , irritating time spent searching the Archives just to watch that moment happen. It was worth blood and the fear of death to see her fall in love with him. Just a little. Just the first faint breath of love, so light she probably didn't notice it herself. It wasn't dramatic, like some bolt of lightning with a crack of thunder following. It was more like when flint strikes steel and the spark fades almost too fast for you to see. But still, you know it's there, down where you can't see, kindling."

      last edited by flannel slut 13 Nov 2023, 18:00 D 1 Reply Last reply 13 Nov 2023, 18:19 Reply Quote 2
      • D
        DeeDee85
        啓蒙家
        @flannel slut
        Joined: 5 Jun 2023

        @flannel-slut Get ready for the long slog with the Robin Hobbs, think there’s 16 books in total in the “Elderlings” series.. 9 of which advance Fitz’s tale, but it’s worth tackling the whole series in order to get the whole picture I would say. I have family who have skipped books to see what happens to Fitz, which was mind boggling to my tiny, denim obsessed, OCD brain 😂

        Speaking about fantasy reading in general though, I pick a new one up when I’m sick of reading through the endless pile of crime novel cast offs my mother in law puts in front of me and they are genuine treats. Nothing has stuck with me quite like the Robin Hobbs though.. I’m just jealous you get to do it for the first time and I never will again!

        Will definitely pick up the Patrick Rothfuss novels the next time I’m in Waterstones cos that looks fantastic! Is there news on the final instalment of the trilogy then? I’m guessing not 😳

        last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 18:19 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • P
          popvulture
          見習いボス
          Joined: 2 Oct 2018

          Have you read any China Mieville, @flannel-slut ? Definitely near the very top for me in terms of fantasy/sci-fi with great storytelling/world building (usually the bar for entry) AND literary merit (much rarer). Perdido Street Station was the first one that pulled me in, but I'll say that The City and the City would also probably make my overall top 5 ever. Incredibly creative noir.

          WTB
          IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
          Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

          last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 18:23 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • F
            flannel slut
            Raw and Unwashed
            Joined: 21 Feb 2022

            @popvulture i have not but their name has definitely popped up on my recommendations based off my reading trends and who doesn’t like escaping w a quality fantasy/sci-if? Is “perdido street” or “the city” stand alone reads??

            @DeeDee85 16, hot damn. That is both daunting and exciting at the same time. For sure going to give it a go but need finish off some unfinished reads before committing.
            As for the king killer chronicles, it is said the third book to now be released next year but this has been the story for the last 5 years (not exaggerating)

            last edited by flannel slut 13 Nov 2023, 18:45 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
            • P
              popvulture
              見習いボス
              Joined: 2 Oct 2018

              @flannel-slut Perdido St is what put him on the map iirc, first of a trilogy of books in a world he created called Bas-Lag. The books don't share a story arc, more just overall broad setting — I think some characters might pop up in more than one book, but as I remember it they're just sort of tangential. I've read the first two (Perdido St and The Scar), but still haven't gotten to Iron Council. He's got a lot of books, really kind of all over the place, think he's just sorta too imaginative to stick to one thing for too long.

              The City and the City is totally standalone, and imo is really its own thing in terms of genre, too. Best thing I could describe it as would be fantasy noir. Definitely some Philip K Dick lineage, and very filmic.

              WTB
              IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
              Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

              last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 18:50 F 1 Reply Last reply 13 Nov 2023, 19:01 Reply Quote 1
              • F
                flannel slut
                Raw and Unwashed
                @popvulture
                Joined: 21 Feb 2022

                @popvulture thank you for putting him on my radar. Consider my head turned.

                last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 19:01 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • P
                  popvulture
                  見習いボス
                  Joined: 2 Oct 2018

                  You're welcome — I doubt you'll regret checking him out! The only thing I'll add is to avoid Kraken. Kind of an outlier in his catalog; I thought it sucked and didn't finish it.

                  WTB
                  IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                  Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                  last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 19:09 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • P
                    popvulture
                    見習いボス
                    Joined: 2 Oct 2018

                    Also thank you for mentioning Rothfuss — I need to check him out!

                    WTB
                    IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                    Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                    last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 19:12 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • J
                      jerkules
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined: 26 Aug 2018

                      An author I love but rarely get to recommend is M John Harrison. His novels exist in the Sci-Fi or fantasy genres, but are kind of on the periphery and don’t follow expected tropes ( a bit like Mieville). He’s also a bit tricksy and plays around with the form - he did an amazing piece of worldbuilding with the Viriconium series, and subsequently deconstructed the world as the story progressed. It’s hard to pigeonhole and explain, but anyone who loves a bit of sleight of hand would likely enjoy. Oh and his writing is some of the best I’ve ever come across, but it admittedly leaves you feeling very weird…

                      last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 19:28 J 1 Reply Last reply 13 Nov 2023, 20:00 Reply Quote 3
                      • J
                        jimcasey
                        Raw and Unwashed
                        @jerkules
                        Joined: 10 Aug 2016

                        @jerkules said in Your Top 5:

                        An author I love but rarely get to recommend is M John Harrison.…

                        Yep, he's excellent. One of his first novels, "The Centauri Device" is hands down the dirtiest space opera I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

                        last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 20:00 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                        • J
                          jerkules
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined: 26 Aug 2018

                          @jimcasey awesome that’s actually one of his books I haven’t yet gotten round to. I loved the “Kefahuchi Tract” trilogy, the second book “Nova Swing” is close to straight SciFi and I thought it was astonishing. I’m currently ready the Sunken Land Begins to Rise and really enjoying it

                          last edited by jerkules 13 Nov 2023, 20:06 J 1 Reply Last reply 13 Nov 2023, 20:13 Reply Quote 1
                          • J
                            jimcasey
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            @jerkules
                            Joined: 10 Aug 2016

                            @jerkules loved Nova Swing, but haven't read that trilogy you mention. Thanks for the tip man.

                            last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 20:13 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • P
                              popvulture
                              見習いボス
                              Joined: 2 Oct 2018

                              Very very noted! Thanks @jerkules and @jimcasey 🤘

                              WTB
                              IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                              Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                              last edited by 13 Nov 2023, 22:42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • T4920T
                                T4920
                                見習いボス
                                @flannel slut
                                Joined: 27 Apr 2022

                                @flannel-slut they're my favourite books of all time. I've bought so many copies of TNotW as gifts over the years..

                                Most recently I listed to the Audio books on Audible, the voice acting was amazing and certain parts had subtle musical backdrops which really added to the immersion.

                                Beautiful is the best way I'd describe them too. Since learning about Rothuss' distain for the Kvoth character, I've reread with a more analytical eye, trying to understand why he feels that way, but I just can't...

                                The naive yet beautifully poetic passages around his feelings for Denna are just perfect. They capture exactly how somebody of his intelligence, wit and artistic prowess would see things, but clearly lack emotional intelligence, and a wisdom that can only be acquired by life experience, because at the end of the day, he's still a child.

                                “𝑁𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑏 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑡, 𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜, 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑐ℎ 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡.”

                                last edited by T4920 14 Nov 2023, 06:51 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • F
                                  flannel slut
                                  Raw and Unwashed
                                  Joined: 21 Feb 2022

                                  @T4920 ha! I gifted TNotW one of my good friends about 10, 15 years or so ago. Back when I was young and impressionable and believed authors to be good people who would never create such enjoyable works of art, earn legions can of fans and then abandon them 😭 (that goes for you too GRR Martin cough)

                                  My apologies on the early morning rant!

                                  last edited by flannel slut 14 Nov 2023, 09:55 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • P
                                    popvulture
                                    見習いボス
                                    Joined: 2 Oct 2018

                                    @flannel-slut I just knocked out 50 pages of The Name of the Wind — really killer so far, and I know I’m just getting started. Looking forward to getting into this one.

                                    WTB
                                    IHSH-IHG-BLK XXL
                                    Sugar Cane Coke Stripe SS L charcoal

                                    last edited by 2 Jan 2024, 15:34 F 1 Reply Last reply 2 Jan 2024, 21:42 Reply Quote 0
                                    • F
                                      flannel slut
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      @popvulture
                                      Joined: 21 Feb 2022

                                      @popvulture just put a big smile on my face. Enjoy your escape pal

                                      last edited by 2 Jan 2024, 21:42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • weftyarnW
                                        weftyarn
                                        啓蒙家
                                        Joined: 8 Nov 2020

                                        My top 5 3 x 5 music albums in no particular order.
                                        Yes, I’m a hip hop head.

                                        Old School:

                                        InI / Pete Rock - Center of Attention
                                        Funkdoobiest - Brothas Doobie
                                        Guru - Jazzmatazz Volume 1
                                        A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
                                        Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II

                                        New school

                                        Yelawolf - Love Story
                                        Dr Dre - 2001
                                        Dem Atlas - Bad Actress
                                        Eminem - The Eminem Show
                                        Cunninlynguists - Will Rap for Food

                                        Dang, so many missing… Honorable mentions

                                        Slick Rick - Behind Bars
                                        Masta Ace - Disposable Arts
                                        Poor Righteous Teachers - Black Business
                                        Digable Planets - Reachin‘
                                        Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

                                        Could go on for hours haha.. Any other Hip Hop heads here?

                                        Use it or lose it.

                                        last edited by weftyarn 1 Feb 2024, 23:34 2 Jan 2024, 22:51 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Sir_Cuffs-a-LotS
                                          Sir_Cuffs-a-Lot
                                          The Unwoven
                                          Joined: 11 Feb 2023

                                          Operation Ivy - Energy (easily my top)
                                          Sublime - Sublime
                                          Leftöver Crack - Fuck World Trade
                                          Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose
                                          Modest Mouse - We Were Dead….

                                          last edited by 13 Jan 2024, 14:48 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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