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+--- Thread: The Book Thread (/showthread.php?tid=45)
RE: The Book Thread - Jen - 10-22-2025
I read a bunch of those Prey books years ago. They are among my favorites in that particular genre. I second the recommendation, although I would be surprised if you haven’t already read some.
Edited to add: I used to love those Reacher books but lost interest when they went into military life. Yuck.
Edited again to add: Don’t laugh, but the first few Alex Cross books by James Patterson are really good. I turned away from Patterson when he wrote those execrable books about flying children, and then he became a human corporation and I’m not sure any new James Patterson books were actually written by James Patterson.
RE: The Book Thread - Hexenwerk - 10-23-2025
I've been reading the most recent book of the "The Stormlight Archives" series by Brandon Sanderson.
The series caught my interest with the first book mostly because of the worldbuilding (I'm a worldbuilder myself and interested in such things). The setting felt kind of fresh compared to the usual high fantasy, there are really cool details in it - and on the other hand it didn't feel as brutal and dark as a Game of Thrones.
Through the books, characters become very depressed or have other mental issues, and it felt like an interesting idea to have such serious themes convincingly implemented into an epic fictional story. Many fantasy stories were just about fighting with sword or magic against each other or dragons, but here you have characters also fighting against themselves and who they are. Well, it is definitely a matter of taste, but I liked that.
The story was gripping so far, for me, but also had its lengths. I wasn't 100% happy with the last book (don't want to spoil anyone), but that's fine - I will continue reading the serious once the next book is published. Only half of the planned 10 books have been released, and usually I do not like to start reading such a huge series at all as long as not all books have been finished.
Overall, Brandon Sanderson is a fine author to me, overall, but English is not my native language (and I am reading the English original), so another reader might have a different opinion about that.
RE: The Book Thread - Jen - 10-24-2025
I really like Brandon Sanderson as well, and English is my only language. I read a lot of Mistborn years ago and some of Stormbringer but then lost track of where I was in both series and had moved on by the time I realized. There is a series of more recent books he did called The Secret Project that is just beautiful, and a little out of the norm for him.
RE: The Book Thread - LeftHandedGuitarist - 10-24-2025
I've really struggled to enjoy Brandon Sanderson's writing, although I know he's super popular among fellow fantasy fans. I've read Elantris and the first Mistborn trilogy. I thought Mistborn started fairly well but I hated it by the final book.
RE: The Book Thread - Boxblue Studios - 11-06-2025
Nothing particularly highbrow but I've been burning through Ben Aaronovitch's 'Rivers of London' series over the summer and into the early Autumn.
Some nice twists on legendary magic, folklore, history and with at least one Doctor Who reference in every book!
RE: The Book Thread - BobVP - 12-15-2025
I finished the Kofi Annan book, interventions. It was a pretty tough read. Primarily because it's elaborate and full of references and historical events - exacerbated by a particular worldview and a need to present certain actors in a positive light. There is little self-examination. A decent work from a remarkable figure and excellent diplomat.
Now I'm reading The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson again, I just love this book.
RE: The Book Thread - Hexenwerk - 12-15-2025
I accidentally read a book with AI generated text and image content recently.
At least I was able to leave a 1 star review on amazon.
RE: The Book Thread - Jen - 12-15-2025
How did you realize it was AI? I wonder if I’ve read an AI book without realizing. I read a lot of pretty crappy formulaic books, and I wonder if I’ve been tricked. I don’t think so, but I guess I can’t be sure.
RE: The Book Thread - Hexenwerk - 12-15-2025
(12-15-2025, 06:23 PM)Jen Wrote: How did you realize it was AI? I wonder if I’ve read an AI book without realizing. I read a lot of pretty crappy formulaic books, and I wonder if I’ve been tricked. I don’t think so, but I guess I can’t be sure.
Some of the images in the book description on amazon already raised suspicion (you know, those "hand drawn" characters that always look the same). But for some reason (because the book was about an important and severe subject) I wanted to give the author a chance.
While reading I noticed that texts were repeated and some joke was translated really really badly. After that joke was told, a character reacted so impressed by that joke that it felt like "oh, was that supposed to be funny? Okay ..."
I don't think I would have recognized that as AI, maybe I would have just realized it wasn't written well and could also have been created by a human.
At the end of the book it was mentioned (for both text and illustrations). The amazon page for the book or the website of the author said nothing about it. I felt deceived.
I probably just won't buy any books in the future where the cover illustrator isn't mentioned anywhere. It might help as a clue.
RE: The Book Thread - Jen - 12-16-2025
I have Kindle Unlimited, so I rarely pay actual money for a book. If I did pay for a book authored by AI, I would be royally pissed! Now I am going to keep an eye out. I was unaware that AI books were available on Amazon. Ugh. AI = art killer = something stinky from the sulfurous bowels of hell.