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    How do you discover books?

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    • Lotherio
      Lotherio @Arkandel last edited by

      @arkandel said in How do you discover books?:

      So recently I discovered there's a name for one of my favorite tropes in literature; progressive fantasy. That's the kind of book where a protagonist starts from humble beginnings, they go to some kind of school or undergo training, and then by the end of the story they become badass.

      Isn't this just classical fantasy? Is the humble beginning the distinguisher? Paul Atriedes and Frodo Baggins don't fit cause they're not from a humble beginning? Luke Skywalker doesn't count because even though he's an orphan that leanrs a style of teaching (jedi), he's not quite humble?

      I'm just a surge protector doing my job, sir.

      Derp 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Derp
        Derp Admin @Lotherio last edited by

        @lotherio said in How do you discover books?:

        Luke Skywalker doesn't count because even though he's an orphan that leanrs a style of teaching (jedi), he's not quite humble?

        Isn't he technically royalty?

        Racism isn't Tinkerbell. It doesn't need you to believe in it for it to exist.

        reimesu 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
        • reimesu
          reimesu Admin @Derp last edited by

          @derp Luke? No. Leia was, but that's because she was adopted by royalty.

          Derp 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • Derp
            Derp Admin @reimesu last edited by

            @reimesu said in How do you discover books?:

            @derp Luke? No. Leia was, but that's because she was adopted by royalty.

            Yyyyeah but their mom was a queen, and then went on to be a galactic senator.

            Right?

            Racism isn't Tinkerbell. It doesn't need you to believe in it for it to exist.

            reimesu Arkandel 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • il-volpe
              il-volpe last edited by

              In library-land, helping people find something new to read that they'll probably like is called "reader's advisory" and it's a skill they kinda-sorta teach the capital-L librarians in grad school. Ask a librarian to demonstrate.

              "... you'll find the story doesn’t end how you think, and the most important characters aren’t who you expect.” - Penny 40 to Derek, The Magicians S04E07 ‘The Side Effect’

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              • reimesu
                reimesu Admin @Derp last edited by

                @derp ...I never once connected that thought. Although, Padme's position as queen was an elected one, so I don't know if that counts as royalty. But that's nitpicky.

                Misadventure 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Misadventure
                  Misadventure @reimesu last edited by

                  @reimesu nah, that's exactly it. It's an elected, not bloodline position. Breha Organa is queen of Alderan, I assume for life or thereabouts.

                  I will say that if you ever so much as like an author on Facebook, you will get increasing offers for free books, free books on joining a newletter, or books for $.99. That's not a bad way to be exposed to fairly random things. I've even had it come around to authors I know, and who are fairly successful.

                  I grew up reading many of the "classics" and that included books recommended by Dragon Magazine (and others) as well as RPGs.

                  CJ Cherryh was a staple of mine, and I have I don't know how many series of hers left to try. It may come across as too dry (also as head trauma starvation theater).

                  I also dig the American Fabulists or whatever you call Tim Powers, James Blaylock et al.

                  I have a waggish sense of humor.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                  • Lotherio
                    Lotherio last edited by

                    An old way to find books to read that one may not have read before is Project Gutenberg. Public domain works that are available for free on-line. It has lots of classics, lots of great old stuff, much of what has inspired what we read today.

                    I'm just a surge protector doing my job, sir.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • Arkandel
                      Arkandel Admin @Derp last edited by

                      @derp said in How do you discover books?:

                      @reimesu said in How do you discover books?:

                      @derp Luke? No. Leia was, but that's because she was adopted by royalty.

                      Yyyyeah but their mom was a queen, and then went on to be a galactic senator.

                      Right?

                      Padme wasn't royalty, that was 'just' the title she got as an elected representative of her people. Her children, if Anakin hadn't gone uh a little off the rails, wouldn't have had inherited titles even if she had lived to raise them.

                      • He who takes offense when not intended is a fool. He who takes offense when intended is a greater fool.
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