A MASTERFULLY Flawed Protagonist! 😈 ( Howling Dark Review )
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- My review of #Suneater's Howling Dark!
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Empire of Silence (Book One):
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Howling Dark (Book Two):
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Hey Daniel,
So glad you dug Howling Dark--it's still my favorite child (excepting my actual child) in a lot of ways. I don't know if word has gotten to you, but between you and Petrik, you've gone and cleaned DAW out of Empire of Silence and Howling Dark already. They've had to go and reprint them both!
This is great. I am so glad for you. I have watched you talking with various book-tubers over the years but only a couple of days ago I started the Sun Eater series. Hadrian is just leaving off-world for the first time (I am around 1/5 of EoS). I am enjoying it.
@@tasosalexiadis7748 I'm so glad you're liking it! Thanks for reading!
@@SunEaterBooks Just keep writing, don’t pull a Martin on us :)
@@tasosalexiadis7748 I literally sent the final proofs for book 6 to the publisher an hour ago. Book 6 is done.
@@tasosalexiadis7748Roucchio is only like 30. And he has said that the ending of the series was where the story started. He has been building toward a very specific end that all of this is just the set up for.
"It could completely crash and burn in book 3." Well... book 3 is the best book in the series so far, so you don't have to worry about that happening. Honestly it get so good, you get to see so much, the universe is deepened, the strangeness turned up, and I cannot wait for you to get to it. Thank you for bringing more people to this gem of a series.
On Book 3 now and can confirm - it is even better. Will Books 4 and 5 drop off in quality (a la ASOIAF)? Quite possibly. But for now, MAH GOD IS THIS SERIES AMAZING.
@@tkinsey3 Books 4 and 5 on their own are not as good but that's only because Ruocchio's publisher had him split the original book 4.
IMO the story from 4-5 in one novel? Best in the series for sure. There's so much good shit happening.
@@regulah2125 So exactly like ASOIAF :P. Feast of Crows and Dance with Dragons were also written as one book.
@@tasosalexiadis7748 the split affects the books, but the pacing is not NEARLY as affected as in the last two ASOIAF books.
Book four though…
Hurts in the best way
HALFMORTAL HALFMORTAL HALFMORTAL
I love when Hadrian says that people says he's melodramatic. Bit of an understatement.
Finished up Howling Dark over the weekend and already just under halfway through Demon in White and man couldn’t agree more this series has jumped to potentially my personal all time favorite
Switch's main problem was that he decided to do it on his own, instead of brainstorming with the crew,
they might've agreed with him and then it wouldn't have been so easy for Hadrian to just ostricize Switch, also the story gives the impression as if all the other crew members were 100% with Hadrian's opinion about how bad it was to call for the Empire, which is practically impossible in real life,
they just didn't know that communication was possible.
GOD it feels good seeing big channels finally recognizing this masterpiece of a series.
Starting this sun eater series. Daniels excitement for this series is infectious!!
Seeing how much Daniel loves the series so far and considering that the series gets better and better with each book just makes me so happy and excited to see his thoughts on the rest of the series.
Glad you loved it, but I never doubted you would. I recommend reading at least Demons of Arae from Tales of the Sun Eater Vol. 1 and Queen Amid Ashes before you continue. After that, buckle up, because like I told Petrik, Demon in White is like 5 of the best books you've ever read in a single book.
I'm so thrilled you're enjoying this series!!! Book 3 is my absolute favorite, and I can't wait to hear what you think of it! Once you get caught up I hope you can have Christopher on for a nice long discussion 🙂
Oh man what an awesome review! Totally agree on Ruocchio’s incredible command of the first person POV. I was right with you on hating Hadrian’s treatment of Switch, what an a-hole move.
I also didn’t love the first Act of this one and the handling of the time jump, but Kharn Segara was just absurdly compelling. I then really enjoyed Hadrian and Valka’s imprisonment, and the stuff at the end reached mind blowing territory.
Enjoy the next part of the journey!!
The beginning of this review could be straight out of a Dan Carlin podcast, and I love it!
Dude I'm loving the exposure this series is getting. I feel like a proud uncle for some reason lol
From my read, I think some of the chemistry from Valka's side is that Hadrian's interested in and apparently connected to The Quiet, as that's really her beginning and continuing drive to stay with Hadrian romantically or not. She's very intellectually interested in The Quiet and I think she sees Hadrian as the power and drive to get her questions answered.
Agreed. I think she loves his curiosity and that he is so interested in her passion project. I think we all get a special bond when we meet people with our niche interests.
I flipping love this channel. The amount of amazing stuff I’ve read because of Daniel. Feels good to support all these amazing authors and their hard work too.
Dude. I am halfway through book 3 and started after your video. I keep thinking, “how the hell is this one this much better”. God these are addictive. How can anyone think they are slow? I also wish they were longer.
You're beginning to believe... Daniel, so excited to see how floored you'll become with the rest of the series. You're not prepared, but read you must.
Absolutely loved this book, it had some of my favorite moments in sci-fi I have ever read. Glad you are enjoying it so far. Demon in White is at the same level or even more.
Welcome to The Red Company!
Daniel's description of Hadrien reminds me of Jorg Ancrath from Mark Lawrence's books, and it honestly just makes me want to read Sun Eater.
Beware, they are addictive. If I haven’t been at work or asleep this month, all I have done is read Sun Eater. The first book is good, but the second and third novel are just stupid good. I wanted to call in sick to work just to read book 3.
@katieamarsh Well dang, I guess that settles it. Going on my TBR.
The more I hear Dan talk about this, the more convinced I am that he would LOVE Worm, and so would other fans of this series
Yay!!!! I've been waiting for this. That last scene with Switch absolutely replays in my heart omg. I'm on book 5 and it's still one of the most impactful moment. It was written so well
Last year, i read 104 scifi books, and sun Eater is king of the lot. So happy You’ve found it, and share the joy of reading it with people. You convinced me to give the jade saga a chance with one of your videoes, and I really hope people get to read sun Eater because of these book reviews. Thank you man!
Could you give me a quick peek at the upper echelon, loving Sun Eater and a recent convert to SciFi
wow, isn't that like a book every 3 and a half days?
@@msid7748 something like that. I work as an animator, and draw alot, and i listen to autobooks while working, so thats how i got it done haha
@@bobfunkmeiser9506 depends on what you enjoy man. Loads of great books. Gene Wolfe inspired C.R, so if you enjoy the sun eater books then anything by gene wolfe should be a good read for you. A bit strange, but really well done. Other Easy recommendations are «the expance» «red rising» «hyperion» «jade saga» hmm Yeah start with any and or all of those
Great review and thoughts! The stuff with Switch is incredible. I just recently reread the book and it's so masterfully done. What is going to happen is all there on the page with Switch's reactions to things Hadrian does before it comes to a head. Man you're going to love Demon In White
I think there is even a sentence in earlier chapters along the line of rooster/cock crowing and I immediately thought about Judas betraying Jesus in the bible
Would love to see you and Christopher chatting in a video some time!
I love your reviews so much! The passion you have when you talk about a book you love always makes me want to go and pick them up. I’ve been introduced to so much different books that I would never have even looked at before. This is what BookTube is meant to be ❤
I love seeing how excited you are about this series so far. Sun Eater is one of my favorite sci fi series and it's a blast seeing you discover how amazing this series is.
I too, just finished Howling Dark and promptly started Queen Amid Ashes. I agree with almost everything you said about Hadrian. However, one thing struck me as I read. Hadrian is basically a teenager amongst adults here. And like a teenager, he presumes to understand things he genuinely has no context for.
Like teenagers everywhere, his world is black and white with no room for nuance. He believes that he can end a war that has gone on for centuries without any regard for how or why it began or for what each side needs to end it. The war should end because he knows it's wrong and if he finds the right words each side will see it too. I commend Hadrian's idealism but I love Ruocchio for creating a world so vividly realistic that war could never end so easily.
I am on page 1054 and I keep circling around a detail that is very important at this point in the story, but I don't know how to handle it.
SPOILER WARNINGS AHEAD:
Namely, it's about the slave girl made a qiati, a being without utility. Their hands (and feet) mutilated so they are completely dependent on their owners.
I read about something like this before, and I remember this specific detail vividly because it was so horrific of a thing to have done to a sentient being that it was seared into my brain. Specifically, in the book The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. From the wiki: "Eventually found by Supaari, Sandoz's hands are disfigured and rendered useless in a Jana'ata practice meant to convey the honor and privilege of being dependent on another, a mutilation analogous to the practice of foot binding."
From the actual book (trigger warning for horrible medical procedure and mutilation):
[...}"That was when he took you to see the ivy, the sta’aka?" John asked.
"Yes." For once, he did not have to explain. Sitting impassively, his mind drifted as John Candotti told the others about the hasta’akala. About the way the hands were made to look like the trailing branches of ivy, which grows on stronger plants, to symbolize and enforce dependence.
[...}HE REALIZED LATER that he’d gone into clinical shock about halfway through the destruction of his left hand. Over the next few days, he would come to himself at intervals, damp and cold and suffering from a thirst unlike anything he’d experienced previously.
[...]For a time, the heavy immobility of bloodlessness kept him from looking at what had been done. His hands felt clubbed, swollen and throbbing, but he could not lift his head to see them. Periodically, someone would come and exercise his fingers, stretching them flat. He had no idea why this was done. He knew only that the stretching was agony and, sobbing, begged for it to stop. His pleas were in Spanish and therefore unintelligible, but it wouldn’t have mattered if he had spoken a pure and perfect High K’San. They believed it was necessary to prevent contractures from spoiling the line of his fingers’ fall from the wrist. So they let him scream.
[...]When next he woke, his head was clear, and he was alone, unbound, in a sunlit room. With great effort, he got himself to a sitting position and looked at his hands for the first time. He had nothing left to react with, too weak even to wonder why it had been done.
[...]He walked to his place at the table and sat down, shaking with anger. When he spoke again, his voice was very soft, but he was obviously fighting rage, braced hands rigid in his lap, eyes on the table. "My position in the household of Supaari VaGayjur was that of a crippled dependent."
@DanielGreeneReviews I honestly don't know what to think of that. I know that it is difficult to be original telling anything, really. But the hands... specifically the hands are so similar, that it kinda feels lifted from Russell's book? And she published hers in 1996. It might just be an obscure sci-fi trope, I wasn't aware of prior, and maybe I just didn't read enough sci-fi to know about it... it just bothers me a bit, because The Sparrow along with the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons is one of those books that stuck with me ever since I read them because of some of the vivid details in them and how both authors described the human condition. How both authors made me FEEL about humanity at large. And maybe Ruocchio did mention that he took inspiration from Russell and my bad if he did... but yeah, just wanted to point that out.
I spent more time looking into this, and I personally think that someone with Daniel’s level of following has a moral obligation to at least briefly note not just the “similarities” and “paying homage” to other books and authors but literal parts that have been lifted from other books that came before. It’s nice that the book resonates with so many people, but those people might want to know that some of the parts that resonate with them are actually somebody else’s original idea.
Reading other people posting comparisons of Sun Eater side by side other author’s works started to feel like the hbomberguy’s recent video essay on Somerton…
Thank you for getting me into this series :)
Look, I have only watched a single second but the moment I saw the thumbnail, having heard you talk about books for years and compared your thoughts and tastes to mine... lemme get my wallet out I need this book
If anyone is into audiobooks, this series has one of the best vocal performances of any I’ve ever read. Please give it a go, book 1,1.5, and 2, are on the plus catalogue on audible so no need to use a credit
References in «Howling Dark» (2/3):
Hadrian’s possible ancestor Prince Faustinus: Christopher Marlowe wrote the play «Dr. Faustus», where the Devil (the Marlowe sigil) tempts Doctor Faust
Lady Harfleur: Harfleur is a city in Normandie, France, famous for it’s seige during the Hundred Years War by English King Henry V, which not only was the first English use of gunpowder artillery during a siege, but also became immortalized in Shakespeare’s play «Henry V» when the King rally his men with the line: «Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more»!
Domitia: Female variant of Domitian (Roman Emperor)
The Golem (Robot) Yume: Yume is Japanese for «Dream», and is the Japanese title of Akira Kurasawa’s movie «Dreams» (maybe also a reference to the story «Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep» by Philip K Dick, which was the basis for the movie «Blade Runner»)
Golem: Jewish Mythology, a clay men serving a Rabbi to protect the Ghetto
Historian Impatian: Of Latin «Impatiens» («Impatient») and also the name of the Impatiens flower, also known as «touch-me-not» in North America.
Playwright Bastien: Inspired by the Roman Comedy writer Terence?
Panormo: Panormo(s) is a village on Crete
Merenhor: Possible 8th Dynasty Pharaoh (only mentioned in one source)
Anunna: Also known as the Anunnaki, pantheon of Ancient Mestopamian Deities, often espoused by Pseudo-Archaeologists as proof of Ancient Astronauts/Ancient Aliens!
The Statue at Kharn Sagara’s Table: Jesus and Mother Mary!
«Sat gray-hair'd Saturn, quiet as a stone»: John Keats’ poem «Hyperion»
Dis: Dis Pater, another name of/conflation with Pluto, the Roman God of the Underworld
Kharn calling out Hadrian that in Dante’s «Inferno», the 9th circle is frozen!
Anaxander: Greek, «King/Ruler of men», Spartan King, Great-Great-Grandfather of the famous King Leonidas
Cyrus the Golden: Cyrus Gold, aka Salomon Grundy from DC!
The Pretender Boniface: Multiple saints and popes (interestingly also an antipope!), as well as a leader of the 4th Crusade
Sunless Sea, Gardens and Domes: Xanadu in the poem «Kubla Khan» by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Eternal Youth: Shangri-La in «Lost Horizon» by James Hilton
«Thatched Cottages at Cordeville»: Van Gogh painting!
Hadrian compare Naia to the brides of Dracula!
Holographic clothes: «Blade Runner 2049»
Consent Kharn!
Former Emperor Victor Sebastos: Latin «The Victorious» & «The Venerable»
Dual helix snake biting a man from a tree: Garden of Eden , St. Paul biten by a snake on Malta (first accused being a criminal by the locals, and then declared a god surviving it) and DNA
Twisted Horn: A Saxophone?
Kharn as «The King-in-Yellow»: Story by Robert Chambers, later part of the Lovecraftian Cthulhu Mythos as the Great Old One Hestur
«Sibylla ti theleis»: From the Epigraph of T.S. Elliot’s Poem «The Waste Land» (which has a loosely narrative deal with death and rejuvenation, faith and post-war depression, with multiple allusions and references to Ancient Literature, Religious Texts and Arthurian Myth), lifted from Petronius’ «Satyricon», being spoken to in Greek «Sibyl, what do you want?» (The Sibyl being a Roman Oracle, this one being specifically the Cumaean Sibyl who in «The Aeneid» had guided the Trojan Hero and Roman Ancestor Aeneas through Hades and who had been granted immortality (though without eternal youth) by the god Apollo), to which she replies «apothanein thelo»: «I want to die»
Sword of Mars: The legendary weapon of Attila the Hun, worshiped by the Huns (and given Ruocchio is a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs, also likely a nod to his «John Carter of Mars»/«Barsoom» Novel «Swords of Mars»), here mixed with King Arthurs’s Sword in the Stone/Excalibur
Gibson: The Force Ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi appearing to Luke Skywalker
Titania and Oberon: Queen and King of the Faerie in Shakespeare’s «A Midsummer Night’s Dream»
«London Bridge is Falling Down»!
Father Calvert: Possible reference to the English Calvert Noble Family with the title Lord Baltimore (of which the US State has it name from) or the Calvert Half-Brothers in Peter F. Hamilton’s «The Night’s Dawn» Trilogy
Child of Clay: In Jewish Mythology, Adam was made out of clay
«You are a lever pulled your genes. Nothing More.»: Genetic Determinism
«I think, therefore I am»: Descartes’ «Cogito, ergo sum», a Classic Quote/Principle of Continental Rationalist Philosophy and Western Philosophy in general, also quoted by AM, the villainous and sadistic AI/Sentient Master Computer from Harlan Ellison’s «I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream»
AI using Humans as bio-electricity: «The Matrix»
Brethren as a form of «Grey Goo»: Out of control self-replicating machines
«Bound by laws Isaac Asimov would have approved of»: Asimov’s three laws of Robotics (The First Law: A robot may not injure a human being (through action or inaction), The Second Law: A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings (as long as it does not conflict with the first law) & The Third Law: A robot must protect its own existence (as long as it does not conflict with the first or second law)
A man «like Pallino» hanging from a Tree: In Norse Myth Odin gave one of his eyes and hanged from a Tree to gain Wisdom
Zeno: Ancient Greek Philosopher, founder of Stoicism
Hypatia: Female Neoplatonist Philosopher, often cited as a Martyr of Science and Feminisim
Lovelace: Ada Lovelace, daughter of the Poet Lord Byron, known for recognizing the potential beyond simple calculations of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a proposed mechanical computer (also a character in William Gibson and Bruce Sterling’s Steampunk/Alt. History Novel «The Difference Engine»)
Peterson: Jordan Peterson
The «Other Gibson»: William Gibson? («Neuromancer»)
The Deep: The Deep Ones from Lovecraft’s Chtulhu Mythos
I'm so happy to see all these book reviews again. It's my favorite content from your channel.
Me personally, I don't think the relationship with Valka & Hadrian is rushed at all. Thinking on it, they have been on this mission together for what, 12-15 awake years? Much of that he was with Jinan I think, but his relationship with Valka was built over more than a decade of constantly working towards a mission together. Although we as a reader don't see that over time directly, I do think overall the relationship makes sense.
Ruocchio's work is incredible! I'm currently reading Howling Dark and almost finished. What a ride.
I am 20% into Howling Dark so I'll come back to this video, but maaaaaan do I love it so far. Thanks for the recommendation, it's been a while since I've felt so many feekings about a book series
Book 3 is by far my favorite in the series, it doesnt even come close to a crash a burn. This series is truly phenomenal. Glad youre loving it! Was a little sad you didnt mention much about a certain new character or that creature we meet (trying not to spoil lol).
I cannot wait for your review of Demon in White and Kingdoms of Death. Those 2 are tied for my favourite book in the series. Absolutely incredible
The second book is not only my favorite book in the series but also generally a favorite book of all time. I just loved that labyrinth so much and Hadrian's character development.
I can't wait to see your reviews for the rest of the books bc you talk so passionately about them and it makes me wanna re-read the series.
I’m here for this. I’m on book 3 now since the first review dropped.
Happy to know you enjoyed the book tremendously. On a side note, i feel like Valka is attracted to Hadrian since Empire of Silence, given that both spents a lot of time together discussing things and Valka doesn't hang out with anyone. She's a proud person, so it may takes a while for her to comes to term with her feelings towards Hadrian
You and Petrik have me so hyped for this series. I think its Hilarious Murphy doubts her interest in this series. I can't wait to see her reaction to book 1.
Good thing i got into my 'Great Conquerors' books phase right now😂
Gotta add this one to Dune, Alexander, and Qin Shi Huang
Saving this. I'm 60% through book 2. I am really enjoying it so far. Such a good series
It’s interesting for me to see the contrast of opinions when it comes to switch. Myself personally, and I do realize that this isn’t a good personality trait, felt almost no remorse or empathy for switch. Maybe it’s the environment I grew up in or some other aspect of my childhood trauma but I cannot and will not abide betrayal from a close friend, especially one of that magnitude. That being said, I can see and do concede that the cruelty with which Hardian handled the conflict was not the actions of a “good person”. At any rate, I find our disheveled goblins view on the matter to be interesting and completely valid.
This series is worth owning/reading for the incredible covers ALONE. The fact that the books are also amazing is just a bonus. Haha.
Great video Daniel! I love how Ruocchio has managed to turn so many things that normally frustrate me in many not-so-well written books, and make them essential to the characters in these books. For example, I often hate when people make stupid decisions in books, not because of the stupid decision, but they very often don't seem to fit with the character that makes said decision. This has not been the case with Sun Eater for me. The bad decisions here feel very human, and it's refreshing to get to see reflection (although often also flawed, in a human way).
Maybe a bit spoilery:
Hadrians plot armor is also very central, and in upcoming books, you get to see that armor can come at a cost. Suffice to say, the ending paragraph, and especially the two ending sentences of each book changes meaning and tone throughout the series, even though the actual text remains the same.
Damn that thumbnail got me. Still reading the first book.
I am literally obsessed literally obsessed
I like to think you read my comment in the past about your watch game and are just flexing now 🔥
I’m halfway through demon in white and I love it so much THANKS TO YOU
Glad you're onto the Suneater series. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book and the February for the series reread leading up to it. Your video makes me want to start the reread now.
Such an amazing book. This was where it truly started to buffle me how huge both the world and the series are. Just the beginning - even if it is a similar formular to book 1, the Painted Man alone is such a cool character of whom I wanted to see much more.
And book 3 is even better. It's unreal to what places and events this series takes you.
Yo Greeny!! Great video boss! As a fellow fantasy fancier........I hope this isnt too sci-fi heavy!!!!
The halfmortal season reminds me of when Rand in WoT declared openly himself as the dragon, I think at the end of book 3?
Mary Sue at this point just means "character I don't like", and imo carries this threat of "and if you like them you're wrong and you suck". It's bargain bin "criticism". The one thing I'd add to your take is that these "Mary Sue traits" people complain about are just hero traits-Hadrian IS the hero, with all the good and the bad that comes with that, and Ruocchio writes it so well.
Excited for you to read Demon in White! I think it'll make it even more clear what the story is and what Ruocchio is doing with the ideas and themes.
Ah, remember the days when terms like Mary Sue actually meant something? Good times.
Can’t wait to start this series after all the praises I’ve heard for it.
To your point on Alexander the Great he literally thought he was Divine and would often brazenly charge into the battlefield.
Hi! I found your channel a few months ago, and I am really happy I did. I have read some of the books because of your suggestions and I really enjoyed them! Thank you!
Here are all the references I caught in «Howling Dark» (1/3)
Vorgossos: Tartaros (the Abyss serving as prison for the Titans in Ancient Greek Myth), Tartessos (a «lost» Iron Age Civilization in South Western Spain, by some tied to the Myth of Atlantis, being beyond the «Pillars of Hercules»/The Gibraltar Strait), the Atlantic Sargasso Sea (famous for its seaweed) and the «Vorkosigan Saga» Sci-Fi Series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Admiral Marius Whent: House Whent of Harrenhal from George RR Martin’s «A Song of Ice & Fire», Catelyn Stark’s Mother was a Whent
The Planet of Pharos: The Lighthouse of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt. One of the Seven Wonders of Antiquity.
The Space Destroyer «Balmung»: The name given to the Sword of Sigurd/Siegfried the Dragonslayer in the Medieval German Epic Poem «Die Nibelungenlied», «Gram(r)» in Norse Sagas and «Nothung» in Wagner’s «Der Ring des Nibelungen»/«Ring Cycle»
The Space Interceptor «Mistral»: Famous Wind in Southern France, giving name to several cars, aircraft and ships, including a class of French Amphibious Assault Ship/Helicopter Carriers
The Planet of Trieste: Italian City on the Adriatic Coast
Soisson: French City, Capital of the Post-Roman Kingdom of Soisson before conquered by the Franks
Prisca: Roman Empress, wife of Diocletian
Durand: Surname of Multiple French, British, American and Canadian Politicians, Scholars and Artists, as well as the Durand Line (the international recognized border between Afghanistan and Pakistan)
Corvo: Italian «Crow»
Shara: Mesopotamian God of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Irrigation & Divine Warrior, and a Nation in Robert Jordan’s «Wheel of Time» Fantasy Series
Eidhin: Aidhne, a Irish Petty Kingdom, in myth settled by the legendary Fir Bolg
Bordelon: Surname, including a French Utopian polygraph Playwright and Abbot, an American Korean War Flying Ace and an US Marine awarded posthumously the Medal of Honor during the Pacific Campaign
The Painted Man: Novel by Peter V. Brett (The Mule from Isaac Asmiov’s «Foundation»? The Finn from «Neuromancer»? The Joker?)
Andernach: German City along the Rhine River, founded by the Romans and site of the Archepiscopal Castle of the Archbishop/Electorate of Cologne during the Holy Roman Empire
Aptuca: Archaeological Site of an Roman City in Modern Day Tunisia, with a titular Catholic Bishopric from Antiquity to this very day
Ardistama: Ancient City in Cappadocia (Modern Day Turkey) inhabited by the Hittites, the Hellenistic Greeks, the Romans and the Byzantines
Athyras: Greek Colony in Ancient Thrace (today near the European side of Istanbul, Turkey), a titular Catholic and Orthodox Bishopric
Bannatia: One of the Settlements of the Pictish Tribe Vacomagi in Modern Day Scotland mentioned by the Geographer Ptolemy
Coritani: Britonic Celtic Tribe before the Roman Conquest, located in the Midlands, with Modern Day Leicester as their Capital
Epidamnos: Greek Colony in Illyrium (Modern Day Durres in Albania). Their governmental structure is mentioned in Aristotle’s «Politics» and their internal political strife between Oligarchs and Democrats served as an ignition for the Peloponnesian War, between Sparta and Athens and their respective allies. Later renamed Dyrrhachium by the Romans and was the site of a battle between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great
Gibeah: Several settlements in the Old Testament, including the first capital of a Unified Israel under King Saul
Kremnoi: Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast (Modern Day Taganrog, Russia, famous from many of the works by Anton Chekhov)
Lycia: Ancient Region of Anatolia in Modern Day Turkey
Milinda: Milinda Panha/Milindapanha, Ancient Indian Buddhist Text, written as a dialogue between the Buddhist Sage Nagasena and the Indo-Greek King Menander I Soter the Great of Bactria («Milinda» in Pali), who converted and became a great patron to Buddhism
Nessus: Centaur in Greek Mythology
Rostam: Persian/Iranian Mythical Hero, famous from the Persian Epic «Shahnameh»
Sarmatia: The Sarmatians, Iranian-languaged Nomadic Equestrian Confederation related to the Scythians on the Pontic Steppe, who fought the Romans numerous times, famous for their Armored Cataphract Cavalry which later served as Roman Foederati Soldiers
Senussa: Senussi, a Sufi Order and Clan in Libya, claimant Kings of Libya
Ubar: Mythical Kingdom in Southern Arabia («Atlantis of the Sands»), sometimes tied to «Iram/Irem of the Pillars» famous from «1001 Nights» and HP Lovecraft’s «Call of Cthulhu» & «The Nameless City»
Tyras: Archeological Site of an Ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast, near Modern Day Odessa, Ukraine
Tanais: Archeological Site of an Ancient Greek colony on the Black Sea Coast, in the Don River Delta of Modern Day Russia.
The Refugee Camp/City of Arslan: Persian, «Brave»/«Lion-Hunter»/«Gladiator»
The Downed Space Carrier «Murakami»: Japanese «Village Superior», the name of an ancient Clan and Fiefdom, as well as of an 10th Century Emperor during the Heian Period and the famous modern writer Haruki Murakami
Suren, the Destroyed Capital of Rostram: The Parthian Noble House of Suren, which including the General Surena who defeated and executed the Roman Statesman Crassus (once the richest man in Rome, who had defeated the Slave Rebellion led by Spartacus, and been part of the First Triumvirate together with Ceasar and Pompey the Great) at the Battle of Carrhae
Stygian Ropes: Stygia, «Evil Egyptian Wizard Land» in Conan the Cimmerian
Orestes: Son of King Agamemnon and Clytemnestra of the Iliad, whose murder of his Mother (for murdering his Father) and trial was the subject of multiple Ancient Greek Poems and Plays
Tristan: Arthurian Knight of the Round Table, famous for his tragic romance with the Princess Isolde
Ram: Rama, avatar of Vishnu and hero of the Indian Epic «Ramayana», Arthur C. Clarke’s «Rendezvous with Rama» and a character in the Sci Fi movie «Tron»
Idun: Norse Goddess, Guardian of the Apples of Eternal Youthfulness
Kingu & Marduk: Mesopotamian Gods
Panopticon: Prison design by the Utilitarian philosopher Jeremey Bentham, allowing one guard to watch over all prisoners at all times
Catwalk sword-fights and cut hands: Humming the Imperial Theme here!
March Station: «Ringworld» by Larry Niven and the «Halo» Video Games!
Lothrian Cyrillic! Name: The Ides of March?
Therevada bhikkhu: Buddhist munk (Theravada is the oldest and strictest interpretation of the main branches of Buddhism)
Holographic Geisha: «Blade Runner» and «Ghost in the Shell»!
The Raven Hrothgar: King Hrothgar of Denmark built Heorot Hall that is plagued by attacks by Grendel in «Beowulf», and the raven is a symbol of Odin in Norse Myth
Hellenic Pharaoh: The Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt, and Percey Shelley’s «Ozimandias»(Ozimandias is the Greek name of Ramses)
Ossulum Vaccine: «Osculum infame» «kiss of shame», alledged witch ritual involving the witch kissing the Devil’s…«end»…
The Spaceship «Enigma of the Hours»: «The Enigma of the Hour», Italian early 20th Century Painting by metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico
The Old Florentine & Lions, Leopards & Wolves: Dante, «The Divine Comedy»
Artifical Owl: «Blade Runner»
Nuncius: Latin «Messenger», «Sidereus Nuncius» («Starry/Sidereal Message/Messenger») was Galileo Galilei’s first treatise on his celestial observations using a telescope
Jayavarman: Multiple Khmer Kings, including Jayavarman VII, who converted to Buddhism and invested heavily in infrastructure and welfare for his people
The hightower: The Hightower(s) of Oldtown in «A Song of Ice & Fire»?
About halfway done with howling dark and it’s soo so good
I think when valka and hadrian were trapped in The cell in voregosos there was supposed to be a moment where she fell for him but I don't think the execution wasnt great. So I agree it was a little bit harder for me to understand why after all these years she's letting him out of the friend zone lol
Can anyone create a wiki/fandom about this? We’re not all Tor Gibson or have the sight of Jari.
It’s being worked on.
@@lukei4655 good. I can’t wait to read a whole article on Brethren.
That wheel of time book looks good 1:17 btw im from the video where she made that 😉
I love the format of these reviews. I never would have put Suneater on my tbr without the nuanced perspective you're providing.
This books absolutely slaps, A+, 10/10 🔥 loved it!
This could end up being my favourite series, easily! Thanks for shining a light on it!
I stopped at the end of the spoiler-free section because this review definitely made me want to pick it up when I would have normally passed this by and I want to be spoiler-free for it now! I couldn't help but think about Kate Elliott's Sun Chronicles (2 books out of a trilogy, and book 3 is still being written) especially because you just happened to talk about Alexander the Great as that series is meant to be an Alexander retelling (in spaaaace) and it's fascinating how the authors seem to me to have taken a completely *different* approach to what they want to explore characterization-wise but end up with probably equally detailed and nuanced work. Elliott said in some of her interviews before that she wanted to explore Alexander as this... incredibly charismatic figure. Like, not in a "what kind of strengths and flaws does this person need to have to be this way" angle but "how was it that this person enticed all who met him, what kind of a presence was he" angle. I wouldn't say Sun is written as super-flawed _or_ flawless. Elliott's strength has always been worldbuilding and characterization for me, and Sun feels just as complete a character as the rest of the cast. She just happens to be the magnetic centre with that Alexander charisma. I hope people give this series a try because genuinely I went from a pretty diehard fantasy fan who rarely read science fiction to someone who may still read more fantasy than SF but definitely has this series all the way as my favourite series of all time. (Which is wild because it's not even finished but at this point, I don't think I would even knock it down from its pedestal in my head if Book 3 disappointed me.)
Also, I should add that Sun being gender-bent in the books was an extra treat since Elliott also thought it would be fun to write a magnetically beloved charisma-leaden character who just happens to be a woman (sex, gender, and sexual politics are all different in the setting, it's not the factor it is in ours). As a reader who actually just happens to read mostly female-led books, the way she tackled Sun really does feel different to read and it's a blast. To entangle why would be like a small essay though and this comment is long enough.
Sabia que tu ia gostar dessa saga. Uns meses atrás eu tinha te recomendado empire of silence em uma live tua. Vou pro segundo livro agora. Feliz por vc ta gostando, isso me motiva a continuar.
This is a great series so excited youve started it
Been trying to listen to this series on Audible. The whole missing chunks of narrative are a complete mind fudge though...
Daniel coming from such a different place than me reviewing these book is so interesting I cant wait to see his take on the common wealth
First off dude I’m so glad that you’re doing reviews again and that you’re enjoying Sun Eater! This is my fav book in the series for sure and honestly you don’t have to worry about them crashing cause they stay consistently great in my opinion. I can’t wait to hear your opinions going forward! I love hearing your ideas of what’s coming next
I started this because of your very enthusiastic recommendation and I didn't like the first book as much as you did but I liked it enough and trust you enough to continue
Now I just finished Howling Dark and wow, I'm all in, thank you for introducing me to this series
Oh baby. It only gets better 😁😁
Spoiler-ish comment: For me Valka falling for Hadrian was about him not seeming as he appeared. Being palatine, but having gripes with the empire. Hating the chantry. Also being well educated and having similar interests in the quiet. With the time jumps, relationship can get glossed over and your mind has to make the believable jump filling in what moments could occur. I could just be ignorant and looking things from Hardian's view too much - but the jumps can be jarring from where we were relationship wise. I Appreciate the content and the review! This is my favorite series I read this year, have done books 1-5 in the past month :).
Stopped before the spoiler section. The way you keep gushing about the series, I'm definitely starting it as soon as I finish Malazan.
You've sold me instantly, going to go purchase the ebook when Im ready to read it.
Damn it! Now I have bought these books while I'm still reading 3 other....
I am glad that you have returned to book reviews since you said you would a couple of videos ago.
This emanates a more genuine you
I had unsubscribed from you when your content switched to just feeding the masses.
Now that you are back, i have subscribed again
How I loved the hostage standoff scene and the absolute fuckery how that escalated and erased every progress that was made before.
I'm 35% in and this book is fantastic!! If I finish by the end of the month I think it will crack my Top 10. Great review Sir.
Im so happy you are on the Suneater train. Its to bad you missed the Kickstarter.
Hey Daniel! Would love vor you to check out "Elric of Melniboné". It's a Classic imo. Especially for Dark Fantasy.
I'm so happy that you're enjoying Sun Eater, and I hope it's inspired some other readers to try the series out. It's some of the best scifi out there, if not the best.
Always interesting to see how someone pronounces "Ceilcin"
Book 2 almost feels like a completely different universe with how much the out-there sci-fi concepts are brought to the forefront, not to mention the myriad interesting philosophical questions raised. That isn't a criticism. One of the many questions I have to Christopher is how do you fit so much into one book
Okay, aight, your sheer enthusiasm got me, Danny boy. I left a like but ima opt out of the vid early and go listen to these books then come back see ya on the flip side
Seeing how excited you are over Howling Dark, I feel like you’ll probably self combust by the time you finish Demon in White 😅 I don’t know how to explain it, but my top 3 favorite sci fi books of all time are all capsuled in Demon in White 😭❤️
Like ur review videos!! 🎉
Currently reading this!
Just went through the audiobook big contender for best sci fi I have ever read as limited my experience with the genre is
Ah the berserk callout, you're totally ready for the rest of the series
Love this series! Reading kingdoms of death right now 🤓
I don't like Red Rising, King Killer, and thought Dune was boring and I looooooove Sun Eater.🎉🎉🎉
Fantastic review Daniel. Sun Eater rules! Hope you can get Ruocchio on the channel around the time book 6 comes out.
You should review the "Aria of Steel" trilogy by Steven Raymakers.
Me about to put Sun Eater to the top of my tbr simply because of an impassioned recommendation from Daniel B Greene
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That last conversation with Switch really stabbed me in the heart. Like my dude, this person has been there for you, they were worried for you and they made a mistake, you cant find it in yourself to acknowledge that it might take time but you might be able to work through it? That Switch isn't the only one to blame for lives lost? I was so hoping he'd let him back on the ship. That was actually probably the most impactful conflict of the book for me. Cant wait to see who else he'll discard on his way to greatness.
Great Review Daniel, Sun Eater is my favourite sci-fi series of all time. I compare the beginning of the Sun Eater books to a james bond film, always at the beginning James Bond is wrapping up his last mission and going onto the next. I like it but I can see why it bothers some people. Glad you picked up the series, looking forward to your future reviews of the series.