Comments on: Branching Out Into New Territory

By: Calvinball

Calvinball — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:52:37 +0000

Both in your initial post and in the subsequent comments, I’ve seen a lot of authors/characters that I enjoy. My buddy (who is way more into books than I, and that’s saying a lot) recently made a recommendation that I think you and others will really enjoy. The Burke series by Andrew Vachss. I’ve only read the first one, Flood, but it was quite awesome. Lots of grit, imaginative characters, very good writing, and definitely a dark humor.

By: bigbearbutt

bigbearbutt — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:13:53 +0000

Okay, those sound very interesting. I’ll have to fast track those.

By: Zombiee

Zombiee — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:40:23 +0000

Really got to throw my hat in the ring here with The Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Where Harry Dresden is PI meets wizard, this series is kinda like PI meets Sci Fi. Seven books so far starting with ‘The Disappeared’.

I highly recommend that you give it a read if you can find them.

By: bigbearbutt

bigbearbutt — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:24:40 +0000

Seriously, recommendations for books to read… the gift that keeps on giving.

By: EvilDwarf

EvilDwarf — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 07:23:33 +0000

I’ve loved your blog ever since a friend put me onto it, but seeing that you were a fellow Pratchett fan puts you in a new league of awesome:-)

I stumbled across a newish author in my public library a few days ago, another Brit, by the name of Toby Frost. His setting is sci-fi with a weakness for appalling puns and a generally high Silliness Factor. He’s young and only just hitting his stride – it’ll be some time before he’s as good as Pratchett – but anyone who can get away with a title like “Wrath of the Lemming Men” gets my seal of approval.

By: EvilDwarf

EvilDwarf — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 07:16:48 +0000

I know what you mean, he seems to handle fantasy settings better than sci-fi. His new one “Ghost of a Chance” left me feeling kind of flat, but the Nightside series is still purring along nicely. Like a big, spiky, blood-crazed purring thing.

By: bigbearbutt

bigbearbutt — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 05:02:49 +0000

Nay, I have not heard of that until you just mentioned it. Thanks!

By: bigbearbutt

bigbearbutt — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 05:02:17 +0000

If you can find it, the Mack Bolan book “The Trial” is hilarious.

Mack Bolan is captured by some small rural town in texas… and every law enforcement agency in the world starts flying in to begin extradiction proceedings, while all the bad guys start circling hoping to finally take him down now that he;s locked down in one place.

Meanwhile… well, Mack Bolan in court is about as funny as you’d expect.

By: KiwiRed

KiwiRed — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:12:40 +0000

Ooooh, Mack Bolan is a blast from the past… I might see if I can pick some of those up again – it’s been approaching a couple of decades since I read them, and I could do with something not too intellectually demanding for a change (I tend to think of them as the masculine equivalent of pulp romance novels).

By: Caged

Caged — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 03:03:47 +0000

BBB….kind of off topic, but since you like a bit of black comedy mixed in with your fantasy and others…. have you checked out the Malazan Book of the Fallen series yet by Steven Erikson? Excellent series, with enough content to keep even you happy!