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Democratic Pirate posted:I need to go back and do a reread of at least the ending, because I'm still a little confused about the Megan = Firefight connection. From what it looks like she isn't even bad, but she was working with Steelheart the whole time? According to what we see with Prof, an Epic using their powers causes them to become more hateful, power mad, and evil. Megan being forced to not use her powers while infiltrating the Reckoners let the evil wear off and become more of a normal person. Presumably she was using her powers a lot while being Firefight. In addition, she resurrects herself somehow if she dies, and the aftereffects of resurrection leaves her mental state in chaos for a while.
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Sep 28, 2013 08:13
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I'm sure it's just some YA novel exaggeration deal, but Megan is super annoying.
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Sep 28, 2013 11:11
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^^ Isn't most of that coinciding with her use of powers?
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Sep 28, 2013 11:24
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I'm only halfway through as yet. Beyond that first impression is it's a quick, fun read. I like super powers stories. Edit: Ok, everything makes total sense now. Cool book. Fellwenner fucked around with this message at 13:59 on Sep 28, 2013 |
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Sep 28, 2013 11:30
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Democratic Pirate posted:I need to go back and do a reread of at least the ending, because I'm still a little confused about the Megan = Firefight connection. From what it looks like she isn't even bad, but she was working with Steelheart the whole time? She was probably being honest when she was giving her reasons for not wanting the team to focus on assassinating Steelheart. Steelheart was evil, but at least he brought a degree of stability and civilization to the region compared to some of the nonstop Epic war zones in other regions.
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Sep 28, 2013 17:44
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I think I spotted a bit of a plot hole: It's shown that UV light dissipates Nightwielder's darkness as well as making him tangible. So how does he block out the sun in the first place? It's not exactly important since the rules aren't very strict compared to Sanderson's other series but maybe it'll come up at some point and be explained.
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Sep 28, 2013 17:55
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Hallucinogenic Toreador posted:I think I spotted a bit of a plot hole: It's shown that UV light dissipates Nightwielder's darkness as well as making him tangible. So how does he block out the sun in the first place? It's not exactly important since the rules aren't very strict compared to Sanderson's other series but maybe it'll come up at some point and be explained. He used an umbrella 
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Sep 28, 2013 18:05
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Hallucinogenic Toreador posted:I think I spotted a bit of a plot hole: It's shown that UV light dissipates Nightwielder's darkness as well as making him tangible. So how does he block out the sun in the first place? It's not exactly important since the rules aren't very strict compared to Sanderson's other series but maybe it'll come up at some point and be explained. I assumed it was related to when they talked about different complimentary powers that add up to something greater than the parts. So the sunlight only stops the first half of his power, and the second half creates the right conditions for the first half.
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Sep 28, 2013 20:27
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Fun read. I believe the more obvious plot devices were intentional, as most of his books aren't that "in-your-face" about the ending "twists" (or whatever you want to call them). I enjoyed it, nice to see his book writing pace is still at some ridiculous level. He is getting better as time goes on as well.
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Sep 29, 2013 06:50
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I guessed it was either going to be not being afraid of Steelheart, or being attacked by an epic and a human simultaneously, after the first chapter preview came out. Didn't get the megan thing - thought that she was a gifter, and the 'second-newest person to join' was a coverstory. Other than that, it felt a lot like Darker Than Black.
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Sep 29, 2013 22:34
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The one thing about Steelheart that bothered me was the fact that the dad's dream of good a good super appearing is basically zero now that we know using the powers make you evil. The only way to be a good person with powers is either to not use your powers very often or be super lucky and have the ability to give your powers away.
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Sep 29, 2013 22:55
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If for some reason you're reading this thread and don't have Steelheart yet, the ebook is 50% off for the rest of today on B&N.
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Sep 30, 2013 01:05
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NinjaDebugger posted:If for some reason you're reading this thread and don't have Steelheart yet, the ebook is 50% off for the rest of today on B&N. Looks like the same price ($4.99) on Amazon, too
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Sep 30, 2013 01:22
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Loved Steelheart. The only thing that bothered me was the use of "Sparks" in place of a swear. It doesn't bother me in his fantasy books, but in a book that's like the modern world, it does. Yea, I know it's because he's Morman and can't swear but it still bothers me. The word that takes me out of his fantasy books is the use of "Awesome".
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Sep 30, 2013 01:31
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L-O-N posted:Loved Steelheart. The only thing that bothered me was the use of "Sparks" in place of a swear. It doesn't bother me in his fantasy books, but in a book that's like the modern world, it does. Yea, I know it's because he's Morman and can't swear but it still bothers me. It's more that it is a YA novel than anything else.
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Sep 30, 2013 01:39
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Kwyndig posted:It's more that it is a YA novel than anything else. Really? Because I can't recall any swearing in any of his other books either.
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Sep 30, 2013 01:49
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L-O-N posted:Really? Because I can't recall any swearing in any of his other books either. I think Hoid calls someone a slut once.
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Sep 30, 2013 02:30
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L-O-N posted:Really? Because I can't recall any swearing in any of his other books either. I remember (or think I remember) that Lord Cett, the angry cripple from the second (and third, I think) book of Mistborn swears a lot.
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Sep 30, 2013 04:24
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My guess was totally off. Around where the Prof was telling David to try using the Tensors when they were broken, I caught on that they were probably just for show, especially since all the gear was covered in LEDs. So my thinking was that the Prof had cracked certain powers by tapping into, I don't know, whatever the Epics use, and in order for the Reckoners to use it, he had to put on a little show with the gear, which was why it took time for them to get it right and why Megan couldn't do it, because she couldn't get in the right mindset. Good book though, even if I was ridiculously wrong about the twist.
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Sep 30, 2013 05:17
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Mr. Fowl posted:My guess was totally off. Around where the Prof was telling David to try using the Tensors when they were broken, I caught on that they were probably just for show, especially since all the gear was covered in LEDs. So my thinking was that the Prof had cracked certain powers by tapping into, I don't know, whatever the Epics use, and in order for the Reckoners to use it, he had to put on a little show with the gear, which was why it took time for them to get it right and why Megan couldn't do it, because she couldn't get in the right mindset. I thought it was going to be the same thing as well.
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Sep 30, 2013 05:21
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I figured it out around there, but now it just makes me more curious about who Knighthawk is and what sort of cellphone based powers he or she has.
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Sep 30, 2013 05:38
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Fine, Fine! With your pages of redacted text. I'll buy Steelheart already.
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Sep 30, 2013 07:40
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The Puppy Bowl posted:Fine, Fine! With your pages of redacted text. I'll buy Steelheart already. You have made the correct decision!
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Sep 30, 2013 08:03
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Gygaxian posted:I remember (or think I remember) that Lord Cett, the angry cripple from the second (and third, I think) book of Mistborn swears a lot. My best recollection is that his swearing is almost always reported rather than printed. I don't think I've seen curse words in any of Sanderson's work. And yeah, I'm finding the not-curse words (sparks and slontze primarily) kinda distracting.
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Sep 30, 2013 08:57
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Never had a problem with fantasy swearing myself. You could cuss with anything after all, and the intent is clear whatever the words used.
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Sep 30, 2013 09:05
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There are also a lot of 'hell's and 'bloody hells' in Mistborn . And, surprisingly, nobody ever uses "Deepness!" as a curse.
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Sep 30, 2013 09:18
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just finished, that was really good, enjoyed it a lot. I know people are happy that finally Sanderson has written a book without a clearly defined set of laws to the magic system, however I really want him to explain it later in the series. I figured that Steelhearts weakness was being hurt by accident. I guessed that Megan was an epic, however I didn't see Prof being one, that one got me. I am really excited by this series now. He doesn't often do non fantasy, but after reading this, firstborn and the infinity blade novels he is really getting a feel for it. Also he looks like he has written this specifically with a movie being made in mind, so, quiz time, what actors should play what part? Shia Lebouf for David? Jean Reno for Prof? Mila Kunis for Megan?
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Sep 30, 2013 09:35
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Dravs posted:Shia Lebouf for David?  I'd prefer unknown actors for a movie like this.
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Sep 30, 2013 09:50
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Dravs posted:Also he looks like he has written this specifically with a movie being made in mind  Dravs posted:so, quiz time, what actors should play what part? 
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Sep 30, 2013 10:02
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Regarding Megan, I wrongly suspected that illusionist (Refracticity or something?) they killed when going to David's place had done the old illusionist switcheroo with Megan. It was pretty obvious Megan was an illusion epic given her mood swings, hiding in the elevator shaft and the second motorbike, but that situation with that other illusionist seemed fishy to me. It was kinda weird to have another illusionist come out of nowhere to have been another Epic all along actually, was a bit deus-ex-machina-y. It was also pretty obvious that the Prof was an Epic as well, I mean that sudden arrogance/mood swing is a dead giveaway for all those secret epics isn't it? I thought he was a minor tech Epic like Micah from Heroes, but in hindsight I guess he woulda made more than 3 things in that case. That propaganda room to make Steelheart more feared kinda gave away his weakness early. If he needs to make himself feared then his weakness is probably not being feared. Would have preferred that part not being in the book actually, bit of a ham-fisted foreshadowing of something that wasn't obvious until then. Dravs posted:Also he looks like he has written this specifically with a movie being made in mind, so, quiz time, what actors should play what part? In my mind as I was reading it I had Jesse Eisenberg as David, Woody Harrelson as Cody, Prof as David Strathairn, Angela Jolie as Megan, Omar Sy as Abraham, Henry Cavill as Steelheart, Hiroyuki Sanada as Nightwielder and uhm, couldn't place an actress for Tia.
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Sep 30, 2013 10:19
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Angelina Jolie is a wonderful choice for a 19-20 year old.
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Sep 30, 2013 10:56
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I didn't see Megan's age mentioned, the bit where she and David met just reminded me of Wanted.
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Sep 30, 2013 11:00
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Nicolas Cage as Deathpoint.
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Sep 30, 2013 11:03
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Well, I finished it (ill today D: it's very distracting attempting to cough your lungs up about once a chapter) and it was very, very good. The minor plot issue that bothers me though, is the Transfersion - wouldn't it have made everyone's clothes and shoes metal too? Heck, their hair should have been affected. Steelheart doesn't seem the type to be kind enough to ship in a city's worth of clothing. I thought his weakness would be someone who thought he was a good guy - that would have been a lot tougher to work. It would have worked well with the propaganda room, too. The more people think he's a total oval office, murdering people for no reason, the fewer who are going to realise that he's actually been pretty good for the city, and start thinking of him as more benevolent. I pegged Prof fairly early on, but looking back, it should have been obvious - he's the only Reckoner who goes by a pseudonym. Completely missed Megan though - with all the stuff about it taking David a while to figure out the Tensors, I figured she just... couldn't work it out. It seems obvious on reflection. But it would have been more so if it had been explicit that neither the harmsway or the jackets worked for her, which wasn't obvious until the book was already climaxing. Can't wait to see where the next one goes. Also, it's fantastic to have basically what amounts to an entire book which correlates, both plot- and pace-wise to the last third of one of Sanderson's epic length books. He's great at the riproaring conclusion, having a whole riproaring book is just cool.
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Sep 30, 2013 11:33
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Dravs posted:just finished, that was really good, enjoyed it a lot. I know people are happy that finally Sanderson has written a book without a clearly defined set of laws to the magic system, however I really want him to explain it later in the series. Prof is CLEARLY Morgan Freeman. I couldn't not hear his voice every time the man spoke. Unknowns for everyone else, though. Well, maybe a couple of the epics could be big names, I guess.
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Sep 30, 2013 12:20
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thespaceinvader posted:Well, I finished it (ill today D: it's very distracting attempting to cough your lungs up about once a chapter) and it was very, very good. The minor plot issue that bothers me though, is the Transfersion - wouldn't it have made everyone's clothes and shoes metal too? Heck, their hair should have been affected. Steelheart doesn't seem the type to be kind enough to ship in a city's worth of clothing. No, it was mentioned twice in the book that Steelheart's powers don't affect living tissue and everything nearby. It was also mentioned that didn't make sense scientifically. For what it's worth, things I did and did not realize ahead of time: - I feel very silly for not realizing what steelheart's weekness was, it's pretty obvious in hind sight. - I was completely convinced that Megan was an illusion Epic after the scene in the power plant and I also was certain she faked her death somehow. - I thought about Prof being a giver Epic once the term/possibility was explained and I was certain of this once he told David to try using the tensors anyway. - I still don't completely get why Megan didn't kill/stage an ambush on the group much earlier. In hindsight, I find it weird that such a supposedly powerful epic did so little. Great book, read it in one sitting. I do feel the good guys group should have been a bit more numerous to make it more realistic, because they simply did too much for such a little group with too little consequences. Like, steelheart brings a huge police force (and some other epics) to the final fight and the good guys still have no trouble holding them off without casualities. As it is the bad guys seemed comically inept at times. Walh Hara fucked around with this message at 13:32 on Sep 30, 2013 |
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Sep 30, 2013 13:28
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I must have missed the 'and everything nearby' part - but it can't be that discriminating, it managed to steelify most of a lake, and they're full to brimming with living tissue... Probably just one of those things.
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Sep 30, 2013 13:48
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Troll Bridgington posted:Nicolas Cage as Deathpoint. Oh no, Sean Bean has that role.
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Sep 30, 2013 14:05
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I have the habit of picturing actors as characters when I read books as well. I'm not entirely sold on some of my own thoughts though if they did make a movie. Robin Gee as Abraham (I know he's not french) A slightly Younger Kris Kristofferson as Prof Dianna Agron or Teresa Palmer as Meghan Matthew McConaughey as Cody Vin Diesel as Steelheart Julianne Moore as Tia I didn't have a solid picture of David in my heard but I was thinking either Alex Pettyfer or Josh Hutcherson. I know he doesn't fit some of the physical characteristics such as hair, but imagine a voice saying "What are you doing here?" to Deathpoint at the beginning with Diesels voice and intimidation factor. Plus Steelheart doesn't have many lines, so it's all about the voice and physical presence.
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Sep 30, 2013 14:08
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Walh Hara posted:
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Sep 30, 2013 14:15
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