Caught up to side stories in Side Jobs by Jim Butcher. It’s a short stories collection in Dresden Files universe. Only 1 short story and 1 novella remaining in the book. Short story is after next the book and the novella is after the book after that.

Now reading The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King. I have this book in my library for over 15 years. Bought it a long time ago just by looking at King’s name, but then assumed it must be a part of a series (at that time all fantasy I had read were part of series), so left it for later and then forgot. Someone mentioned the book somewhat recently, and I looked it up again and found out it’s a standalone book, so finally reading it now.

It’s written in very different style from King’s usual work, like a tale told orally. It’s also a medieval fantasy, with kings, magic and dragons. Also, not as long, less than 400 pages. I am about halfway done, and enjoying the book. Should finish it soon-ish.

What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?

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  • dresden@discuss.onlineOPMEnglish
    2·
    9 days ago

    Since you have just finished Arc 1 and started Arc 2, how much would I miss if I start Arc 2 but only recall main plot points from Arc 1 without all the details and characters?

    • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
      2·
      9 days ago

      I wouldn’t worry too much about it. It’s well into the future, and the world is very different from the first arc. I’m not that deep, but I can say pretty confidently that I don’t think you’ll need to know anything from the first set to immerse yourself in the second. There are places named for characters, and religions are connected to players in the first story, but they’re all historical figures at this point (potentially minus some timeless figures from the bigger Cosmere, though that’s just guessing from my other reading of his Cosmere novels).

      • dresden@discuss.onlineOPMEnglish
        2·
        9 days ago

        Yeah, I know it’s well into the future, but it’s still a sequel so was thinking if I should read the original trilogy again. I have read them twice, so they should be a pretty quick read, but I may also get bored because of that, I have become less patient when it comes to books now.

        Well, I won’t be starting it this week, so just finish the books and let me know if I am safe. I may still decide to re-read them first, but at least then I would be doing it because I want to, not because I have to. Makes a big difference.

        • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
          2·
          6 days ago

          I’m on the lost metal (7) and everything I’ve seen is flavor. Descendants of characters in the first arc, mythology around characters in the first arc, some involvement of ones who aren’t impacted by time the same way, etc. You won’t be missing plot points if it’s not fresh.

          I also read secret history after 6, and I honestly couldn’t tell you the “minor spoilers” of the second arc he says it has. (Maybe an awareness of one character you’re already aware of if you’ve read Stormlight or secret projects.) I’d personally say you’re safe reading it without the second arc, and the different perspective on some key points in the first arc were pretty impactful.

          • dresden@discuss.onlineOPMEnglish
            2·
            3 days ago

            I have decided to re-read Mistborn series. As predicted, once I found that I don’t have to read the first arc again, I realised I want to read it. So, will start up on it soon.

            • conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works
              2·
              2 days ago

              For whatever reason I’ve seen people say they don’t consider The Lost Metal a critical part of the second arc (maybe because it happens or was written a few years later?). I would disagree wholeheartedly and think it makes the series. It’s what finally pulls the second era to a comparable level to the first era for me.

              • dresden@discuss.onlineOPMEnglish
                2·
                2 days ago

                It’s part of 2nd era for me. That’s the reason I delayed reading the 2nd era so much, wanted it to completely finish before jumping into it.

        • TheMinions@lemmy.world
          2·
          9 days ago

          I read Era 2 Mistborn after I did my first read through of the Stormlight Archives and I don’t think you’ll have missed much. That was a good 2-3 month break.

          You will want to have read Mistborn Secret History after the Bands of Morning as well.