Thomas Cardin > Recent Status Updates

it's been sitting on my kindle forever behind a backlog of other books, but it finally filtered up to the top of the to be read stack.

So far it's ok. Everything about the setting seems to be a vehicle for writing asphyxiation scenes which really rocked in WOOL, but here it may be too much of a good thing. To Hugh's credit I am feeling every grain of sand in the scratches and wounds. I am at a loss to see what is supporting all these communities of people on the sand, there was one mention of bringing soil from the mountains--GO LIVE THERE PEOPLE!

While I read this my mind fills with visions of movies like Forbidden Planet

delightful "old school" sci fi.

Still getting more of the same. Plus so rather big departures to the realm of exposition as yet MORE worldbuilding takes precedence over story. Please strike a balance. An overall plot peeks in at the edges, but it is still too soon to do more than guess at.

lots of world building? check.
jumping to a new character with each chapter? check.
unpronouncable names? 'Tvlakv'? Seriously? check.
recognizable plot? none yet

That said, what I have read so far smooth and well-written. It's clean and inventive enough for me to give it a lot of chances to engage me.

Just started. My first Sanderson book. I am having a hard time connecting. I have no idea who these beings are in the prologue: They fight the same battle repeatedly and in between they are tortured? This sets me up for a world that looks like a grandiose "Groundhog's Day". I have lifted my feet in preparation to be taken away, that's all I can do on my own until the words grab me and pull me in.

Reading DeadPixel Publications first anthology -- Flying Toasters--The DeadPixel Tales. I read several of the stories in here before publication as I am part of the round-up of writers. There appears to be something in here for almost everyone (especially if they are into humor, fantasy, or horror). I am very proud to be among such talented folks!

Reading DeadPixel Publications first anthology -- Flying Toaster--The DeadPixel Tales. I read several of the stories in here before publication as I am part of the round-up of writers. There appears to be something in here for almost everyone (especially if they are into humor, fantasy, or horror). I am very proud to be among such talented folks!

Wow. Beautiful. (sigh) its all done. I am emotionally spent anyhow. When I have recovered sufficiently, I shall write the most glowing review ever.

put down the book-breathe...pick the book back up-SCREAM. Repeat when out of breath.

Gasp! I look up from the pages, see the people around me and think: how can you walk around, completely unnaffected by what is happening to the Land?

Sobbed my eyes out at the 49% mark. Sad tears then happy tears. I am so moved by this story.

oh. my. god. This book is making me bubble over with its passion, desparation, selflessness, and hunger. It is beautifully written--everything and more than I was hoping it would be.

Savoring. I love Donaldson's vocabulary--even when it is a word I have never seen before, the heart of the character and the mood of the scene defines it. I KNOW that it is exactly the right word. I fell asleep with my spirit in The Land, and dreamt of Giants and Ranyhyn.

oops that should read "section" not "second"--typing disconnect

Just started reading. I am a huge nerdy fan of the Thomas Covenant books, so don't expect an impartial display from me. I can already say that just reading the "what has gone before" second at the beginning is making me weepy. My brain is already engaging me and I haven't read a word of the actual book yet.

This sequel to The Annihilation of Foreverland is engrossing and dark. Bertauski weaves a story where each sentence is a hard driving bullet plowing through flesh of reality.

Bwaaaauuugh! I'm an ant!

Yes I know...I am reading all of these stories in reverse order. This is the one that first introduces us to Tim, Dave, Julian, and Cooper. Can I just say I love these guys? They would certainly cast sexually desparaging remarks my way, but I will say it anyways. I love them.

Very engaging, but not emotionally grabbing for me. When tragedy strikes I want to feel it inside, and here I was just an outside observer and the felt none of the emotions the characters were embroiled in. I do not like being so detached from a story, yet it is honestly engaging me. Some analysis is in order.

Plot begins at about the 25% mark. The characters themselves were already plotting like made--but until this point the scenes are just vingettes that get us the character of Locke, his fellow Gentleman Bastards and the city. There's lots there, though the story itself doesn't begin in until amazingly deep into the novel.

10% in. No plot yet. Setting, time, focus changes rapidly and with little to no connective tissue. Sentences are often long, convoluted, and clunky. I am, however, intrigued enough in the setting and characters to continue. Things will grow on me.

Still eating this up with a stick and a spoon. There's just something about the visceral ugliness of Stephen King's villains that I am really digging here.

Fu Xi enters the picture at last. I am really wrapped up in this story.