Hello everybody. I’ve been tagged by Embuhlee at Embuhleeliest to participate in the 20 Questions Tag. Thanks Embuhlee! I CAN FEEL THE PEER PRESSURE.
- How many books is too many books in a series?
Having more than 6 books is really pushing it. 6 can be separated in two trilogies and that’s a fine number to tell a great tale. But a 7th book is dangerous. There is no end after that.
- How do you feel about cliffhangers?
Occasionally they work. I think they work best if they are only a sentence long. Something like “and then the aliens showed up.” And just end the chapter there. Don’t overuse it though.
- Hardback or paperback?
Paperback. I want them to be handy, and dustcovers are a pain in the ass. I never know what to do with them.
- Favorite book?
Haha. Next question.
- Least favorite book?
Perhaps Dan Brown’s Origin. But that was just lazy writing. The last time I was really mad at a book was Jim Butcher’s Summer Knight. The author mentions coca cola about 20 times in the novel, and his main character was such an annoying Nice Guy.
- Love triangles: Yes or no?
Absolutely not. It may just be that most romance in fantasy and SF novels is really bad. The personal baggage of the writers often shines through.
- The most recent book you just couldn’t finish?
I have had real trouble with Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant. It was so, so slow, and the characters annoyed me so much. I pushed through but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
- A book you’re currently reading?
Two actually. Terry Pratchett’s Monstrous Regiment and B. Catling’s The Cloven. Which is the final part of his stunning Vorrh trilogy.
- The last book you recommended to someone?
Scott Hawkins’ The Library at Mount Char. A crazy, crazy story about some kind of pantheon of gods on the American countryside. Sounds similar to American Gods, but much greater and weirder.
- Oldest book you’ve read by publication date?
That would be the Epic of Gilgamesh, written around 4000 years ago. I didn’t read it in the original cuneiform though.
- Newest book you’ve read by publication date?
Peter Watts’ The Freeze-Frame Revolution, published in June 2018.
- Favorite author?
Oh, very difficult question. Some of my favorites: China Mieville, Jeff Vandermeer, Jack Vance, Frank Herbert and Iain M. Banks.
- Buying books or borrowing books?
Buying books. Most of all because I like checking out new books in stores.
- A book that you dislike that everyone else seems to love?
The Name of the Wind. I have no interest in reading another angsty book about magic university. The story meandered in all directions and ultimately went nowhere.
- Bookmarks or Dog-Ears?
Bookmarks. I should get a personalized one.
- A book you can always reread?
The Lord of the Rings.
- Can you read while hearing music?
Only very soft ambient chillout music.
- One or multiple POVs?
One. Preferably in first person.
- Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?
Haha, I don’t think I would be able to read a book in a single sitting. I need about a week. Can’t read more than 100 pages on a single day before my attention wavers.
- A book you’ve read because of the cover?
Dan Simmons’ Ilium.
Oh now I should picks others, right?
Bormgans, imyril, Granny Weatherwax, Sarah, Bookstooge,
A Sky of Books and Movies 
OMG THE NAME OF THE WIND YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
…and The Library at Mount Char is hovering near the top of my TBR. Must get on that.
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Yes the Library at Mount Char is awesome and I hear he is writing a new book!
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Thanks for the tag.
Not only did the book Name of the Wind go no where, the trilogy has ALSO gone no where, ha! Man, do I despise Rothfuss.
I don’t mind a longer series if it has ended. But not knowing if it is going to end? That’ll stop me from ever starting it. The Wheel of Time taught me that very valuable lesson.
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I don’t understand Rothfuss’ problem. He said years ago that he had the whole trilogy worked out. And judging by his books he liked writing. So what happened?
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He’s a lying scumbag. I figure he lied through his teeth about the trilogy being finished for whatever reason and then when Name was super popular, panicked? Because the alternative, that it IS finished, is even worse. That would mean he’s with holding it 😦
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…no need for conspiracy theories. He’s not well – he suffers from depression and fan pressure doesn’t exactly help as it just amps up the anxiety. Like Scott Lynch, he’s talked about it candidly in the past. Just because you know where you want the story to go doesn’t always make the act of writing it any easier! No doubt he’s grinding away as and when he can, and it will be ready when it’s ready. He’s the sort of writer who constantly revises as he goes, so if he’s not happy with it (and if he’s depressed, that’s a big ask!) then … I guess he’ll keep revising.
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I didn’t mind The Name of the Wind so much, but Wise Man’s Fear definitely took a nose dive for me. Ugh, Kvothe still gets me worked up over how much I dislike him.
And The Library at Mount Char has been on my list to read for ages, glad to hear you liked it. 😀
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I liked TNOTW a lot, but I read it in the beginning of my ventures into fantasy. Wise Man was a step down indeed, the story doesn’t really advance. There is so much set up to something big in book 1 everybody is asking how Rothfus is going to get to that climax and wrap it up with just one book left.
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Occasionally I think about picking up Wise Man’s Fear, just because it is such an acclaimed book in the fantasy community. But I always change my mind.
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It’s not that it’s bad, just a bit too long and in the end Kvothe is more or less where he was at the beginning.
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(Thanks for the tag btw, I’ll see what I can do!)
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No pressure
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