I walked into Pulp Fiction in the city and saw there was a new Feist book on the shelves "Rides a Dread Legion". Didn't know this was out yet so I picked it up. Will read it this weekend :D.

Is there any good sites for finding the release dates on books, other than stalking the authors on blogs/mailing lists?

You just reminded me to pop down to the store tomorrow to pick up Wrath of a Mad God. I've been waiting for the normal paperback sized ones to arrive.

As for release dates, I haven't stumbled across any good central sources.

I walked into Pulp Fiction in the city

I fricking love that store :) Feist has new stuff, may investigate.

Okay, have investigated. Set in Midkemia (as with most of his earlier stuff, most notably his Riftwar saga), here's a link to some info.

For a great range of information about fictional authors (including release dates) go to http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/. The release times a generally pretty accurate if you shop online or go to pop culture stores.

Can he actually write on a 10th grade level yet?

For a great range of information about fictional authors

Why would anyone care about your fictional authors when there are so many real ones to choose from?

Project Gutenberg ftw

I've just been reading out-of-copyright classics lately.

Zy - remind me about the details of your book again? I finally have time to rip through as many books as I want. Life is sweet.

I think that writing about Midkemia is one of the best facets of his repertoire. For me it always makes the book more interesting when he refers to the old characters, but that's just me.

EDIT: Sorry Trog, I think I hit 'New Thread' instead of 'Post Reply'.

Anyone read it? I just finished the book now and I'm unsettled as to how it finished.

In previous novels, there has always been a starting, climax and a finishing but always left in a way that a sequal can be writted. There is always unanswered questions, unfinished quests and the like.

But this book was still a fantastic read but doesn't match his older styles. I felt the book was always building up to the climax, and as I was drawing closer to the end, I was thinking 'something should have happened by now', but it wasn't the climax i was expecting.

I just felt that it was just an introduction book, introducing characters, events and that sort of thing.

Nevertheless, I will still most definetely be buying the next book in the series but hoping it has a better climax than the last.

Still it was a fantastic read and kept me occupied for the last couple of mornings.

Only read the first line of your post (in case you say anything about the book's story). Haven't read it - I always wait for the small paperback to be released.

I'm reading Brothers Karamazov at the moment, been trying to finish the bastard for exactly one year now ...

It reminds me a lot of the opening to the Serpentwar Saga, in the style of the writing. Very different from the Riftwar Saga, but face it... I doubt anything he writes will be as good as that again. It's a bit sad when your first work is your masterpiece :(

Still, I'll keep buying and reading them, because even his mediocre work is better than most other authors' showpieces.

Can he actually write on a 10th grade level yet?

Which is probably ok since a lot of 15year olds read them.

Very different from the Riftwar Saga, but face it... I doubt anything he writes will be as good as that again. It's a bit sad when your first work is your masterpiece :(

Yeah Riftwar was definately better.

David Edings first series was his best too. Maybe they burn out ?

Personally I find Terry Pratchett is a better read and he definitely aims his books at that age bracket... he apparently is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's : /

he apparently is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's

Yeah, he is, what a terrible way to go out :(

I've been pretty burnt out on fantasy for a while, I haven't read a fantasy book for many, many, many years (well, except Discworld books, but they kinda sit apart from your standard fantasy fare). I had George R R Martins "A song of fire and ice" series recommended to me though by multiple people, so I've just started reading that, and yeah, its pretty awesome.

George R.R. Martin's books are good, even if he did essentially just swipe large chunks of British history and toss in a handful of dragons :P

i just died when i read feist's last book :(

BAHAHAHAHAHA!

That's gold

Serpent War was soooooo boring it wasn't funny

:/ hmm serpent war is my favourite series.

Best part about the Serpentwar Saga was watching Roo get absolutely shafted at the end of RoaMP. :D

Yeah, Serpent war was when I stopped reading Feist, don't think I ever made it through Rise of a Merchant Prince.

Zy: yeah, I read that excerpt you posted from it a few months back, and it was pretty cool. I was keen to read it, had a look around at a few bookshops down here (I'm in melbourne, makes borrowing a copy a bit trickier), but no luck. And then I kinda forgot about it =\ Whats the easiest way for me to snag myself a copy?

Sweet, I'll shoot you off a PM, prolly next week cos I get paid then :P

I think that writing about Midkemia is one of the best facets of his repertoire. For me it always makes the book more interesting when he refers to the old characters, but that's just me.

Totally agree, being about the same world is great, and from what my gf has told me and the snippets i have skimmed thorugh in this thread (don't want to ruin it) sounds like he is starting a new saga! :D It's a pity I have caught up to him now - being able to read book after book after book for the past 4 years has been great! Now I have to wait in between each one :(

Haven't read it - I always wait for the small paperback to be released.

Same, it's freaking lame it takes so long between hardback - trade paperback - paperback (mass)

Yeah, Serpent war was when I stopped reading Feist, don't think I ever made it through Rise of a Merchant Prince.

First two books of serpent war were a waste of space basically.....but the last two made up for it in my opinion.

thing is, serpent war set up soooooooooo much of the history thats been used/referred to in the last few sagas - go read them again (even magician) and see how much more you pick up of stuff thats been talked bout in the latest books (characters, places, descendants etc)

also still probably my favourite saga too

Serpent war was a decent (cept Silverthorn?) read, but I found his later writings which continued on from that just 'replaced the heads', you know, same writing style, same kinds of things happening, just new names.

^ read George R R Martin, A song of Fire & Ice. Aaaawesome.

Serpent war was a decent (cept Silverthorn?)

Riftwar saga had silverthorn...and yeah I agree - bit of a filler book.

edit: Yeah Zy, it kinda adds to the suspense! :D

last edited by Fireblood at 09:01:02 11/Apr/09