Topic: Books You're Currently Reading?

@DefShepherd I wasn't aware it ever got an English translation? it was popular for quite some time but I didn't know it made it to the Western market. It's nice to hear a positive reaction, I never finished it. I think I was just to close to the source material, an important book definitely, if you can handle the content.

I finished Batman and Ethics by Mark D. White, much shorter than I expected but it did do a good job of weaving the politics and philosophy of the character and the world into one cohesive (small) package. Next up is Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight by Travis Langley, I've read it before but this is a revised 2nd edition. I'm also currently reading Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo’s Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008 and casually skimming through The Oxford Handbook of Film Music Studies by David Neumeyer. I've read most of his work on scoring, sound, and the importance of acoustics.

These look interesting, thanks for mentioning: Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight by Travis Langley and Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo’s Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008

@DefShepherd Batman and Psychology is an interesting one. A lot of pop-culture/franchises have books about the psychology of various characters and worlds, it's a kind of niche genre. I enjoy psychology so when I can combine the too it removes a lot of barriers, there's a pre-existing understanding of the character. I can then apply genuine psychology to the examples given and learn at an accelerated rate. I've probably read thirty books on Batman without actually reading about Batman, mainly because of that psychology, ethics and philosophy. I can't with other characters because someone like Spiderman means very little to me (sorry Spider fans) the same for Superman, he's technically not even from this world. I did start reading about the psychology of DareDevil, that's been an interesting spin on a superhero. The music one is simple enough, I like to read about the history of the music I listen to.

The book you mentioned was well received (mostly) in my home country. I don't think Westerners understand that some of us do want that return to the old system, hence our current detachment from the rest of the world. I don't agree with conflict being the catalyst for anything productive, suffering can't be. It's wrong full stop. There are other ways to change things from Above, and not all of those changes are positive (obviously) I know all about that too, change touches everyone regardless of age or class.

The people who did agree with that author saw Communism like I do, a sense of community, order and structure. I.E. it's our country, we are free to live as we see fit and no outside entity will tell us otherwise, ever. However that would also make me a hypocrite because I'm also a super-capitalist and I'm not blind to injustice and suffering. Which is happening right now as I write this. We're transitioning once again to a State controlled system or commerce, of course there is private industry too, we exist in a kind of balance and mixed paradigm that most people outside of Russia will never understand. Everything I've seen, and lived, points to a clear return of the old system, some want it, those who didn't already left. That's reality, blunt as it is. Russia is not what people think it is, there's strength in unity and right now people are united. I think we're united over something terrible, and that the something terrible is now the catalyst that was needed to reestablish order and structure. 'us against them' is a very dangerous way to live. I don't need to explain where that mindset came from. Right now it's rampant. Unity quickly becomes community, much like Communism.

I think she understood the past when she wrote that book, and some of the present, but she never predicted the future, hence she's now in exile and her books were removed and censored in various places. Which is why I never finished her book, it was removed because it would go against my morals and ideals. I disagree because like I said she did interview people who understood and wanted a return to Communism. They mourned the loss of the system, that same System raised me, so I can see the contradictions and understand how it's now a template for the New Russia. People don't realize that, they see one side of the situation. They aren't seeing the changes on the ground, in society, in the minds of the people, they think we are fighting the system, not at all. Many want order, and now especially there's a strong sense of us against them. Communism was seen as a utopia, one stolen from the people, the author understood that. Most wouldn't. The catalyst however like I mentioned is suffering, we're stealing a system too, we're stealing life, daily.

I do live among 'them' too, hence I'm here right now reading other peoples (Western folks) opinions, learning about their way of life etc. I think it's important that a person be given the opportunity see both sides of an argument and to make up their mind for themselves. which might be why you read that book, to see the side of something you previously had no access to.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN Apparently this exists too, I was checking the Sekiro Manga and saw it. A Sekiro lore book. I just Kindled it and it looks to be about three hundred and fifty pages. 4.6/5.0 on Amazon. The Dark Souls companion was really good, it's not the same author but I'm taking a chance on it.

The blurb

Few video game series can boast having marked the 2010s as much as Souls. FromSoftware mainly owes this amazing and unexpected success to the talents of the now-famous Hidetaka Miyazaki, whose radical vision of video games was quick to charm and win around players. In May 2014, the director was promoted to president of FromSoftware. He could have continued to create Souls forevermore, but instead chose to develop new franchises. The first true representative of this new era was Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a game with unprecedented richness and flawless thematic consistency. This book will discuss the work’s development process, an analysis of the storyline and characters, the soundtrack, themes, and its historical, cultural and artistic influences. It will also present an analysis of the problem with Sekiro’s difficulty—which saw a lot of ink spilled at its release—and take a look at the evolution of Miyazaki’s games.

This book will provide you with an analysis of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice : it will discuss the game creation process, as well as the themes, the storyline, the characters, the soundtrack and its different influences. The book will also present an analysis of the problem with the game's difficulty and the evolution of Miyazaki's games.

It seems to be laid out well, I might get through it sooner than later.

@GirlVersusGame I've got that, read some of it but didn't finish it. I'd highly recommend the Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying manga by Shin Yamamoto, which I did finish, and enjoyed much more.

I finished up Mark Twain ,the biography by Ron Chernow, at last. It is 1033 pages long and goes into the absolute minutiae of Twain's life, so it took me a while longer than it usually takes me to finish a long book, but yeah, I absolutely enjoyed it, despite some disturbing material about an aspect of Twain's personality towards the end, which almost soured me towards him as a person, but the final section of the book was able to mostly restore the man's merits to my mind. Keen to read his three-volume autobiography now.

I am now moving onto Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo ,the William Scott Wilson translation, which I've previously dipped into but not thoroughly explored until this point. So I'll be happy to speed through the remainder of that book, going at my usual pace in the next few days, or so.

I will also be reading The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon, in the next few days. I greatly enjoyed Black Skin, White Masks, by the same author, so I am keen to start that one soon, too.

Edit: I finished The Wretched of the Earth now. Moving on to Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin, now. I found 'Wretched' very enlightening and profound, but skipped the chapter on Colonial War and Mental Disorders ,as that wasn't the type of content I was seeking from the book.

@Ravix I’m still enjoying my jaunt through the Witcher books, but I slowed down due to spending so much time the last couple weeks with BG3. And actually, I had a bit harder time keeping my interest through the Broke’lon (I have no idea how to spell it) section with the Dryads and Ciri. The breathy voice Kenny does for the Dryad queen was difficult for me to follow, and so it took a couple re-listenings and I lost a little momentum.

Overall, Sword of Destiny hasn’t been quite as good as The Last Wish, but I was enjoying it up until this story. I know it’s an essential piece of the lore though, since it introduces Ciri, so that’s why I’m listening to it again and making sure I understand why she’s important.

I am still enjoying the overall world and growing to like the character of Geralt and Dandelion, and to an extent, Yennifer. I used my audible credits to get the first couple novels so I’m committed at least to get into those. I know the first one, Blood of Elves, supposedly is a little slow to get going but I’m prepared for that.

As far as when to jump into the game, I figure I’ll want at least one of the novels done, if not a couple of them. I know the game narrative is sort of related but independent from the books, as I understand, but I still want a solid foundation of the world before I go with the game. I am already excited to retry the game though, since now I have context for the setting and some of the main characters.

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As an aside, and speaking of novel related gaming, I have been playing The Invincible as my “turn my brain off and play on my Portal while watching sports or winding down for bed” game. It’s been decent enough to spur my curiosity about the novel on which it’s based. I’d never heard of it, nor its author Stanislaw Lem. I guess he’s a respected writer from early Sci-Fi and I should have heard of him though. But I was wondering if any of our more informed and accomplished readers have read his works, and especially The Invincible, and if so, have you played the game and how does it compare?
Paging @FuriousMachine who would immediately come to mind as someone who has a good chance of having read the book, but also anyone else feel free to chime in.

@Th3solution I recently blasted through Blood of Elves again and was kind of surprised it was like a very long intro for the next book. So I get that that is an opinion people may have. I think reading it on the page the first time I didn't really notice that, though, as I was fully invested in every aspect, and there's a lot to set up. I know which parts of the novels are my favourite parts, and a lot of it is later on (there is a lot I really love) but, like I say, first time I was definitely invested and I quite liked that it is fairly political for quite a while as that is how he built up the world, rather than through regular imagery, it was done through the politics and factions of the world and how everyone fits into that. So it may be alright for you as a first time reader, too.

I feel like Sword of Destiny should pick back up for you again pretty soon. I think I see what you mean about the Brokilon story. Credit for the Ciri with a blocked nose voice, though! And the quick switches between voices are still amazing to carry off. But yeah, the one is pretty breathy and a strange tempo so it might be best for quiet meditative listening where you cam focus on it. Also, be prepared for some large time jumps and flashbacks within stories. If you aren't concentrating it might confuse you for a moment. But the last two stories are pretty important

How are you handling some of the starts of chapters, too? Sapkowski will often include quotes and verses from in-universe books written by authors with their own beliefs, plus some real world quotes from time to time (it might actually be more frequently a thing in the novels as it will have long chapters with a theme kind of set up by those parts, at times) But in the written books they are either italic or formatted centrally so it is obvious you are reading extracts, but in narration it might start off sounding like the start of the chapter, but actually be a quote. Some of the quotes are basically framed as factual, but are actaully propaganda, which I'm sure you will have picked up on (or will, if they have indeed been mostly in the novels) I love the flavour they add, but even I was momentarily thrown off once or twice by the start of the chapter sounding like the chapter, but then actually being the excerpt. Always worth concentrating when it is an audiobook, so the fact you go back to listen is already a good sign.

Did you start to get a better understanding of the 'relationship' between Geralt and Yennefer so far in SoD? I feel like gets a good chunk of focus for a few stories. The Istrid tale, the Essie & mermaid based story etc. Becoming rather emotionally complex for a 'non-feeling' Witcher, hey? 😅 and any tale where Dandelion starts off as the comic relief but then ends up as the lense through which you see the most honest depiction of the world or it's characters are always good fun, and usually a little sad.

@Ravix I don’t recall any chapter beginnings having excepts yet, and if they did they must have flown right over my head. But so far no confusion there.

The time hopping, yeah definitely noticing that quite often. With the first two books being shot story collections a little time skipping is to be expected, but I’ll be prepared in case it continues in the novels. Usually it hasn’t been too confusing, except with some of the Yennifer stuff, but I’ve figured most of that out. But yes, their relationship has become more understandable. Complex, but I think I’m getting the vibe of how strained it is, particularly from Geralt’s point of view. I don’t know if I quite understand Yennifer’s motives all the time, but I’ve come to accept she isn’t going to be the typical ‘maiden-in-waiting’ type of love interest.

Above all, I’m becoming sympathetic to Geralt and continue to see his wisdom along with sometimes flawed behavior, but a hero that is becoming easier to root for. I’m not certain yet, because I’m still in the outset of the Ciri storyline, but from what I gather their relationship is going to endear me to him even more. I’m not sure yet how cliche it will be as far as an ‘adoptive father-daughter’ type of thing (a la Joel-Ellie, etc.) but even if so, I love that sort of thing. So far he seems a more willing participant in taking her on, but I’ll see how it unfolds.

And with Dandelion, I definitely like his wit and candor. Like you say, he serves the purpose of some running commentary and speaking Geralt’s conscience from time to time, and I like that role. I’ve read stories and seen movies before that try to take a side character like him and turn him into a temporary focus protagonist further into the series and that usually doesn’t work out.

@Th3solution oh yeah, don't worry about time skips or the novels, or be swayed by me rambling. It is just the end of SoD that is quite rapid-fire, in a way. I just remembered as I was casually listening recently I was like ohh.. where am I? Ah, a flashback. As I wasn't fully focused on the set up going back into the memories so soon again.

But the timeline basically goes from the Brokilon part, then the next story is a skip forward, but then pretty quickly a memory from before the last short story in the timeline, but dealing with similar themes which means it is a step back from what you literally just read happening. It works though, you just have to be locked in to listening at the time to piece it together and it soon becomes clear as everything catches up to the present to set up the novels.

It's best if I just let you listen to it, and if anything does catch you out just give me a shout. But as you will be concentrating it will be fine 😄

(And it probably is the novels that start chapters with the exerpts I mentioned, more often than short stories. I'll find a spoiler-free example at some point of the bits that are sometimes easier to read for format's sake)

I finished Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin, and I found it very thought-provoking and enlightening, especially the first part of the book, although the second part was still interesting to read. I am now moving onto, and aiming to complete Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, as translated by William Scott Wilson.

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN let me know what you think of Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai, it has been on my to read list for awhile.

@Elodin I've finished it now. In addition to all the martial valour elements, with regard to anecdotes about Samurai on the battlefield, and advice with regard to how one should approach and deal with combat, there is a lot more "wisdom" in the book concerning matters of how to conduct oneself with regard to one's everyday life, so in short, I think you should read it if you are at all interested in learning about 'The Way of the Samurai' .

As I was saying, above, I have now finished Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo, translated by William Scott Wilson. Now I am moving on to No Name in the Street by James Baldwin.

@Th3solution I have indeed read the novel and, incidentally, it was the first reveal of the game that prompted me to do so. I had neither heard of nor read anything by Stanislaw Lem before that, but he is probably best known for having written "Solaris", which has been made into a movie not once, but twice (first in 1972 and most recently in 2002 by Steven Soderbergh, starring George Clooney and Natascha McElhone).

Back to The Invincible, I read the version translated by Bill Johnston and I was initially a bit wary, worried that the writing would be obtuse, considering the age of the novel and it having been translated, but I needn't have worried. It was quite an easy read, very engaging and I enjoyed it a lot. One note I made: The foreword by N. Katherine Hayles in some editions assumes you have read and are familiar with the story and doesn't hold back on referencing "late game" plot details, as it were. The game is still on my backlog, so I can't speak to whether the game is faithful to the novel or not, but the visual style of the game was very much on my mind when I read it and that influenced my mental visualisation of it quite a bit, I would say.
I would absolutely recommend it if you like sci-fi that is slightly on the "pulpy" side

@FuriousMachine Oh, nice! I’m not surprised that it made its way into your book portfolio. It seems like something that would interest you.

Sometimes I struggle with hardcore Sci-Fi. Especially these older science fiction stories can be hard to digest through a 2026 lens when science itself is so much different than what it was in the 1960’s. They can be a bit hit-or-miss with the technobabble and twisted science logic, but amazingly some of them really are visionary and the stories hold up. Seems like Lem had a knack for that kind of imagination and had the foresight to not extend his vision of the future into theories and knowledge that would easily become debunked and expire.

So far the game is keeping in line with most of those timeless narrative qualities. There’s a few scientific principles that are glazed over, just like any hardcore Sci-Fi or Science Fantasy (modern ones included) product is prone to have so that we can keep the action going. It hasn’t been too difficult to suspend disbelief in the flow of unfolding the bigger mysteries on display. I reckon I’m about halfway through what is supposed to be about an 8-10 hour experience. I think I can see where the plot is going, but I’ll withhold judgment just yet. It’s safe to say that as a fan of the book, I think you’ll likely enjoy the game. 😄

@BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN fantastic. Thanks for letting me know, im bumping it up my list

@Elodin No problem.

I finished No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. I found it a potentially life-changing and mind-expanding book, for me, personally, and I'm sure many others would feel the same. Now I'm starting a book with a title that some might find amusing, but I have been assured is a serious work of fiction ,The Wild Ass's Skin by Honore de Balzac. "Ass" ,in this context, is just another word for Donkey okay? 😉😂

@Th3solution Happy to hear it, I may start that after I'm done with "The Forest" or thereabouts; it is definitely high on my backlog