The opening line of Neuromancer sticks with me to this day: "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel." It perfectly describes how the night sky looks above a bustling city at night, but the "color" is dull... bleak ... but with that hint of "electric" glow. For 80's cyberpunk that line sets it up opening scene and tone of the book perfectly. I dunno, maybe its just me. Its not an opening line, but later in the Chstsubo bar we get the thoughts of the main character Case, ruminating on the physical looks of the bartender, who is scarred and brutish looking: "In an age of affordable beauty, there was something heraldic about his lack of it" Ahhh, I love that stuff.
I just recently learned that there is a contest called the bulwer-lytton fiction contest that is about writting the worst possible starting line to a novel, and was just thinking how funny it would be for a tier list of some of those winners
The reputation The Left Hand of Darkness has is fully deserved, this novel is phenomenal. In fact, the entire Hainish Cycle is worth reading, but if you only have time for one Ursula Le Guin's book, then The Left Hand of Darkness is an excellent choice.
I agree with Richard that Project Hail Mary was absolute banger, one of the only books that I immediatly started to re-read the book after I finished it for the first time. The martian has a better first sentence though! Keep up the good work!
Agree with Rich that Project Hail Mary was amazing! Currently on Morning Star, 2 weeks into reading the Red Rising trilogy. Excited to watch the rest of the Pierce Brown videos.
Richard would love Malazan, based on his love for wheel of time and six-if and not wanting to understand a world immediately, of course if he hasn’t started already
hey guys I'm glad ur making content but I'm almost done with shadow rising and idk how to feel about it unless Richard tells me how to feel about it so get on it
I watch this channel every night before bed, but this first line series is easily the best. As an author, the first line of a book is extremely critical. And hearing some of these not only gives me ideas for future books, but also realizing my mistakes for my past opening lines. Keep up the great vids guys!!
Thanks so much! But please - for your mental health - dont watch us EVERY night before bed. Richard doesn’t need to haunt both of our dreams. (More “first lines” stuff to come 😁)
Great video, guys! I'm glad my anger at you liking Golden Sun more than Oathbringer caused me to start watching. My character journey is progressing well! I now use your rating system for books, and I've even gotten my cousin, who doesn't watch you guys, to start saying Teeter my Totter lol! Speaking of Golden Sun, I just finished reading the original Red Rising trilogy and these are the scores I gave: RR - 6.8 GS - 8.4 MS - 5.3 So, overall, I liked the first two books, but Morning Star just fell flat for me. I had a lot of the same issues you did, Austin, and other ones too. I tried to read Iron Gold but just stopped when my eyes glazed over while reading. I know Dark Age is supposed to be great, but I couldn't make it. I might try again someday. Now, since I've read your second favorite thing, Austin, I am going to try and convince you to read mine. The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne is one of my favorite series, second only to Stormlight. At its core, it is a classic fantasy story told in a modern way. It has familiar tropes (dark lord, coming of age, etc.), but it also has modern vibes and pulls from multiple real world cultures and Christian theology. Gwynne has the ability to get you quickly attached to a large cast of characters, who he often disposes of in a George Martin fashion (so prepare for some heartache). His action scenes are the best I've ever read, definitely on par with or better than Sanderson's. As for the tropes, they really only feel like tropes in the first book, because after that, Gwynne really makes them feel fresh. The plot twist in book 3 made my jaw drop. Animal companions are frequent and done better than I've ever seen, with the exception of Robin Hobb. Finally, Gwynne's greatest strength lies in how he uses POV chapters. They are short, often action packed in a Pierce Brown way, so not a moment feels wasted. He also changes or adds POVs in each book, and he gives POVs to the bad guys, who may not be so bad after all. Who knows, you may shed a tear for some of them.... Oh, and also, there's giants, and they are awesome. And they get POVs. As for the basis of the actual story, I'll give a quick pitch, so back of the book spoilers. Long ago, there was a war between Elyon (the God of this world), and the rebellious angel turned demon Asroth (Satan basically). The world shook, Asroth was defeated, and Elyon retreated in sorrow. Now, the world seems to be going fine, but an ancient prophecy is coming to fruition, and it may be signalling the time for a second God-war. Elyon's champion will be chosen. Asroth's champion will be chosen. Men and giants and angels and demons will battle again, all in service of the Bright Star or the Black Sun. Corban is a young man who wants to serve in the army, but will soon discover that nothing is as it seems. Evnis swore his life to Asroth because he wanted power, but is now finding that his wife and son may be more important than ruling. Veradis has always wanted a purpose beyond his disapproving family, and he has now sworn himself to the service of a noble prince, who may be far more than he seems. The first book, Malice, does a lot of setup in the first half, but after that point it kicks into gear and does not let up! This series is action packed, fastpaced, and enthralling, with great characters and worldbuilding. It's not super original, but it takes those tropes and makes them fresh again. But don't take my word for it! I highly recommend Mike's Book Reviews's video on Malice. He perfectly explains the awesomeness of this series. Hope you enjoy!
I love your humour! You both have such great banter. I especially identify with Richard's comments about the comments, lol, and his reading for pretention rather than enjoyment. In my case, though, it's classics instead of SF. How can one not feel slightly superior when casually saying, 'Yeah, did a little reading recently: Dostoevsky, Hugo, Cervantes." And I even spelt Dostoevsky right this time! (I looked it up after.)
I love watching your videos, even though I don't read anything that you guys do, lol. You're both so funny and it's obvious you have a good friendship and respect for each other. I love how you tease each other all the time, too. It's almost gotten me to start reading some of these books.
I really hope that left hand of darkness opener convinces you two to read UKLG. She’s a master and both her fantasy and sci fi novels are amazing! Favorite author hands down
The Martian Chronicles over 1984 for sure! I think the most important part, which neither of you commented on, is “One minute”. This implies in the next minute something is about to happen/change. I find that very intriguing and it makes me want to keep reading!!
Neal Stephenson has some great first lines: Seveneves- "The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason." Anathem- "Do your neighbors burn one another alive?" Chefs kiss
12:19 I wasn't sure if I'd read this or not, though it felt familiar -- and when you got to the end of the paragraph I still hadn't recalled, but I thought, "Oh, that has to be LeGuin!"
richard pronunced that "p" in "perfect book" like malfoy when saying "Ppppotter" 🤣,, bro i was waiting for this 19:50, that first line is so intriguing also can we talk about pierce brown , the favourite creation of god? my man got everithing lol
So hurt that Leviathan Wakes still wasn’t included even though y’all teased me with it in the comments last video. Then I realized I wasn’t subscribed and when I saw the bottom tier I figured you left it off out of spite 😂
you would love a memory of empire... perfect sci fi book to make you feel insanely smart. the language is so poetic and the worldbuilding is majestic and complex. won the hugo award in 2020 and not talked about nearly enough in my opinion
If you guys are dipping your toes into some YA, I would recommend The Schythe trilogy. Really great series super unique idea and povs, plus one of the greatest villains of all time. Quick read
I love Gideon's line so much but that might just be bias from the rest of it. Like it sets up a lot of questions about how the emperor had lived that long, whats the thing about the ninth as it is in the title was well, and also the tone with the pointing out of the dirty magazines. I don't know I just like it
@@2ToRamble that's awesome! It's really to see content from people that came from the same place. Heck we may have even gone to school together. But anyway I hope you enjoy your mom's birthday. If either of you ever have a meet and greet that would be awesome.
I forgot to comment on the previous video, but I just love how Austin has a clear tier in his head, and then tries to fight tooth and nail to justify it and get Rich to agree with him 😂😂😂 59:04 had me rolling 😂😂😂😂😂 Okay so I cannot believe I had no clue about The Handmaids tale, a book I read, but TIHYLTTW on the bottom tier is a crime 😂😂😂
I love Red Rising it's my favorite sci fi series I've read(I've admittedly not read enough). But the first line of Red Rising both the prologue and first line of chapter 1 are very underwhelming. The line that actually got me was the line about letting the family pull the legs I immediately thought "oh shit I'm in for something more than YA" reading it in my highschool library.
The Lathe of Heaven's opening is much stronger if you give it the first couple of paragraphs to complete the thought and put it in context. It's more a statement of the story's theme and not the beginning of the actual story (and is also beautifully written). 'Current-borne, wave-flung, tugged hugely by the whole might of ocean, the jellyfish drifts in the tidal abyss. The light shines through it, and the dark enters it. Borne, flung, tugged from anywhere to anywhere, for in the deep sea there is no compass but nearer and farther, higher and lower, the jellyfish hangs and sways; pulses move slight and quick within it, as the vast diurnal pulses beat in the moon-driven sea. Hanging, swaying, pulsing, the most vulnerable and insubstantial creature, it has for its defense the violence and power of the whole ocean, to which it has entrusted its being, its going, and its will. But here rise the stubborn continents. The shelves of gravel and the cliffs of rock break from water baldly into air, that dry, terrible outer space of radiance and instability, where there is no support for life. And now, now the currents mislead and the waves betray, breaking their endless circle, to leap up in loud foam against rock and air, breaking… What will the creature made all of sea-drift do on the dry sand of daylight; what will the mind do, each morning, waking?'
I love these videos. Also, it finally suddenly hit me that since both of you are wearing headphones, what are you actually hearing? Are you just able to hear each other naturally, or is it like a second delayed? It didn't occur to me but we're hearing voice through mic, but when I'm wearing headphones usually my own voice is muffled and the people I'm talking to aren't in the same room (headphones usually reserved for online gaming during lockdown) so that's something random I suddenly took into account. I'm probably overthinking it and there's no delay. Is it just for podcast purposes so you know instantly if mics stop working? Additional question: how does the Thumbnail occur? Feels like theres a funny story behind those.
Thank you!! And great question - we use the headphones to make sure audio is going through the mic and it’s also easier to hear/focus since our voices are coming direxrly through them. Cuts out any distractions/noises. As for the thumbnail- do you mean how to we put them together (the photos/etc?)
Modern audio equipment has up to near-zero latency monitoring, so if you have a semi-decent set up the delay is minor enough to not be noticeable. Your brain processes it the same as when you hear your voice naturally.
@@2ToRamble cool thanks Yep, I mean looking at today's photo I imagine you both having to pose for them and figured there's Some kind of plan behind them (I currently just draw a title and hold it up so I'm interested in the process)
1. Project Hail Mary is fantastic. Couldn’t agree more. 2. Repent for not being familiar with Blake Crouch. Recursion is amazing. 3. Team Austin. Red Rising always. 😊
I only had 1 problem with Project Hail Mary. It was the ending, pretty much the very last line. Spoilers: In the end, the MC walks into the room of alien children and asks a question on the material he taught them. Then it says something along the lines of “every one of them raised their claws.” All I could think was “ok, yeah, of course they did. We’ve already established that they have a perfect memory and can’t forget things. If you told it to them, they will know the answer immediately.” Yes, I know it’s trivial. It bothered me nevertheless.
Fantasy not sci-fi, and I’m not sure I’d get into a fight in terms of ranking but my favorite is “ Lest anyone should suppose that I am a cuckoo’s child, got on the wrong side of a blanket by lusty peasant stock and sold into indenture in a shortfallen season, I may say that I am House-born and reared in the Night-court proper, for all the good it did me.”
Pierce wishes he had my freakishly pointy ears 🧝♂️ - and the only thing I rival him on is my love for Red Rising. I think I might like his first book more than even he does lol
Omg the first lines of red rising are so terrible compared to how you hype them up. Richard is right, those lines are so generic, and I don't even read enough to know really lol. The Mars gravity line is incredible.
Everyone’s telling you you won’t like Fourth Wing because maybe they know something you don’t? 🤔 And I guess you mostly read sci-fi in your book club, right?
Always enjoyable gents, this one was fun, but it seems that your advertising skills are lacking. You only brought up the book club once and at the very end. Lets work to improve that
When I say I read Ursula K Le Guin, people think of “Earthsea” or “Left Hand of Darkness” … no …. I read “Catwings”. It’s about cats. With wings. And I adored it. 😺🪽
The opening line of Neuromancer sticks with me to this day:
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."
It perfectly describes how the night sky looks above a bustling city at night, but the "color" is dull... bleak ... but with that hint of "electric" glow. For 80's cyberpunk that line sets it up opening scene and tone of the book perfectly. I dunno, maybe its just me.
Its not an opening line, but later in the Chstsubo bar we get the thoughts of the main character Case, ruminating on the physical looks of the bartender, who is scarred and brutish looking:
"In an age of affordable beauty, there was something heraldic about his lack of it" Ahhh, I love that stuff.
This is the most fun I’ve had watching book-tube since… 🤔 the first 2toR’s sci-fi book-ranking video!
😂😁
I just recently learned that there is a contest called the bulwer-lytton fiction contest that is about writting the worst possible starting line to a novel, and was just thinking how funny it would be for a tier list of some of those winners
Confirmation bias! We already planned on doing this thank you for confirming and pushing this to a closer recording date this’ll be fun lol
@@2ToRamble hahahaha im holding you accountable on that 👀👀👀
The reputation The Left Hand of Darkness has is fully deserved, this novel is phenomenal. In fact, the entire Hainish Cycle is worth reading, but if you only have time for one Ursula Le Guin's book, then The Left Hand of Darkness is an excellent choice.
I agree with Richard that Project Hail Mary was absolute banger, one of the only books that I immediatly started to re-read the book after I finished it for the first time. The martian has a better first sentence though! Keep up the good work!
All I could thinking when I finished Project Hail Mary was "Wow. Just wow."!
I just think that you two are doing these videos because SOMEONE didn't read "The Shadow Rising"
😭😭😂
😂😂😂
Agree with Rich that Project Hail Mary was amazing! Currently on Morning Star, 2 weeks into reading the Red Rising trilogy. Excited to watch the rest of the Pierce Brown videos.
I love this series I want them to do every genre
To add to this: I want to see Richard reacting to smut books’ first lines and I need Austin to find the most outrageous ones 😊
@2toramble
1984 is s tier. Describes the setting and theme perfectly in 1 short sentence
I like this channel a lot. Thanks for all the videos!
Ahh thank you for watching them and the support!!
Confusing snow crash with snow piercer was great 😅
27:58 "glowing white in the illumination of its exterior scones."
If it really is scones and not sconces, that's straight S-tier.
Always a good Monday with 2ToRamble 👍
Richard would love Malazan, based on his love for wheel of time and six-if and not wanting to understand a world immediately, of course if he hasn’t started already
"NM education not having standards." I feel that 😂
I liked The Giver...
hey guys I'm glad ur making content but I'm almost done with shadow rising and idk how to feel about it unless Richard tells me how to feel about it so get on it
I watch this channel every night before bed, but this first line series is easily the best. As an author, the first line of a book is extremely critical. And hearing some of these not only gives me ideas for future books, but also realizing my mistakes for my past opening lines. Keep up the great vids guys!!
Thanks so much! But please - for your mental health - dont watch us EVERY night before bed. Richard doesn’t need to haunt both of our dreams.
(More “first lines” stuff to come 😁)
Great video, guys! I'm glad my anger at you liking Golden Sun more than Oathbringer caused me to start watching. My character journey is progressing well! I now use your rating system for books, and I've even gotten my cousin, who doesn't watch you guys, to start saying Teeter my Totter lol!
Speaking of Golden Sun, I just finished reading the original Red Rising trilogy and these are the scores I gave:
RR - 6.8
GS - 8.4
MS - 5.3
So, overall, I liked the first two books, but Morning Star just fell flat for me. I had a lot of the same issues you did, Austin, and other ones too. I tried to read Iron Gold but just stopped when my eyes glazed over while reading. I know Dark Age is supposed to be great, but I couldn't make it. I might try again someday.
Now, since I've read your second favorite thing, Austin, I am going to try and convince you to read mine.
The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne is one of my favorite series, second only to Stormlight. At its core, it is a classic fantasy story told in a modern way. It has familiar tropes (dark lord, coming of age, etc.), but it also has modern vibes and pulls from multiple real world cultures and Christian theology. Gwynne has the ability to get you quickly attached to a large cast of characters, who he often disposes of in a George Martin fashion (so prepare for some heartache). His action scenes are the best I've ever read, definitely on par with or better than Sanderson's. As for the tropes, they really only feel like tropes in the first book, because after that, Gwynne really makes them feel fresh. The plot twist in book 3 made my jaw drop. Animal companions are frequent and done better than I've ever seen, with the exception of Robin Hobb. Finally, Gwynne's greatest strength lies in how he uses POV chapters. They are short, often action packed in a Pierce Brown way, so not a moment feels wasted. He also changes or adds POVs in each book, and he gives POVs to the bad guys, who may not be so bad after all. Who knows, you may shed a tear for some of them....
Oh, and also, there's giants, and they are awesome. And they get POVs.
As for the basis of the actual story, I'll give a quick pitch, so back of the book spoilers. Long ago, there was a war between Elyon (the God of this world), and the rebellious angel turned demon Asroth (Satan basically). The world shook, Asroth was defeated, and Elyon retreated in sorrow. Now, the world seems to be going fine, but an ancient prophecy is coming to fruition, and it may be signalling the time for a second God-war. Elyon's champion will be chosen. Asroth's champion will be chosen. Men and giants and angels and demons will battle again, all in service of the Bright Star or the Black Sun. Corban is a young man who wants to serve in the army, but will soon discover that nothing is as it seems. Evnis swore his life to Asroth because he wanted power, but is now finding that his wife and son may be more important than ruling. Veradis has always wanted a purpose beyond his disapproving family, and he has now sworn himself to the service of a noble prince, who may be far more than he seems.
The first book, Malice, does a lot of setup in the first half, but after that point it kicks into gear and does not let up! This series is action packed, fastpaced, and enthralling, with great characters and worldbuilding. It's not super original, but it takes those tropes and makes them fresh again. But don't take my word for it! I highly recommend Mike's Book Reviews's video on Malice. He perfectly explains the awesomeness of this series. Hope you enjoy!
I love your humour! You both have such great banter. I especially identify with Richard's comments about the comments, lol, and his reading for pretention rather than enjoyment. In my case, though, it's classics instead of SF. How can one not feel slightly superior when casually saying, 'Yeah, did a little reading recently: Dostoevsky, Hugo, Cervantes."
And I even spelt Dostoevsky right this time! (I looked it up after.)
😁😂
I love watching your videos, even though I don't read anything that you guys do, lol. You're both so funny and it's obvious you have a good friendship and respect for each other. I love how you tease each other all the time, too. It's almost gotten me to start reading some of these books.
Ahhh thank you I hope we do get you to read them!
In defense of Austin, Shadow of the Torturer is also one of the titles for Book of the New Sun.
Pendragon! I've been trying to remember the name of that series, no joke, for almost a decade. Tysm.
You should do a video like this but with all and only cosmere books 🤷🏼♂️
I really hope that left hand of darkness opener convinces you two to read UKLG. She’s a master and both her fantasy and sci fi novels are amazing! Favorite author hands down
You’re tactics are working. I better subscribe!
😈
"Rarely are we united..." Sure. Sure. Coughs in stormlight archive.
Love your channel! And Wheel of Time. Which Austin is wrong about.
These two make me laugh when they ask who is Blake Crouch but they already put another one of his first-line books 'Dark Matter' in D 🤣
We are forgetful lol
@@2ToRamble 🤣🤣
The Left Hand of Darkness is excellent, I'm really looking forward to reading more Le Guin
Wowww there were so many good lines! Will be adding a few of these books to my TBR :P
🙏
Best pod on the internet!
Thankya Andrew!!
The Martian Chronicles over 1984 for sure! I think the most important part, which neither of you commented on, is “One minute”. This implies in the next minute something is about to happen/change. I find that very intriguing and it makes me want to keep reading!!
I love these videos so much but i love the reviews more! GIVE ME MORE
COMING! 🤝
Left hand of darkness is truly a fantastic book
Just read Nightflyers, really liked it. Fun little read
Strange idea: do the same thing but with best first pages. Be like a mini review of prose, character etc
Oo
Yes, we need this! Stopping in the middle of a sentence if it finishes on the second page.
Sad you guys didn't talk about The Expanse
"The Scopuli had been taken 8 days ago, and Julie Mao was finally ready to be shot"
Neal Stephenson has some great first lines: Seveneves- "The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason." Anathem- "Do your neighbors burn one another alive?" Chefs kiss
12:19 I wasn't sure if I'd read this or not, though it felt familiar -- and when you got to the end of the paragraph I still hadn't recalled, but I thought, "Oh, that has to be LeGuin!"
40:40 Just realized he’s thinking of Snowpiercer, as opposed to Now Crash
richard pronunced that "p" in "perfect book" like malfoy when saying "Ppppotter" 🤣,, bro i was waiting for this 19:50, that first line is so intriguing also can we talk about pierce brown , the favourite creation of god? my man got everithing lol
Lolol - Rich and Malfoy forever seatedbinto my mind now. And yea Pierce is just better than us
Can I just say, I'm going through all these and they work for me
I like the Martian chronicles line better than the 1984 line!
I agree that Project Hail Mary is an incredible book! Austin you should check out the Audiobook version it takes it to another level
I’ve heard such great things about the audiobook - without spoiling, is it because the narrator just does such a great job?
Yes! Ray Porter's voice acting makes it feel like a movie @@2ToRamble
Throne of Glass > ACOTAR. But read both. Helps to do ToG first tho
We shall read them 🤝
Can’t wait to see their reaction… Especially ACOTAR 🤣
I feel like Austin would make a good audiobook narrator!
🤠
Snow Crash is so good. In the level of Neuromancer for seminal cyberpunk!
Really enjoyed this (and part 1). I think Neuromancer's opening line needs to be a lot higher though :)
It is a great one
I quite my job as a free-of-charge orphanage builder so I can listen to this episode.
Understandable
Richard was thinking of the movie Snow Piercer.
So hurt that Leviathan Wakes still wasn’t included even though y’all teased me with it in the comments last video. Then I realized I wasn’t subscribed and when I saw the bottom tier I figured you left it off out of spite 😂
Was unintentional and we are forgetful but next time you comment it’ll be intentional 😂😂
you would love a memory of empire... perfect sci fi book to make you feel insanely smart. the language is so poetic and the worldbuilding is majestic and complex. won the hugo award in 2020 and not talked about nearly enough in my opinion
Thankyou for the rec! Sounds like this is right up Rich’s alley
If you guys are dipping your toes into some YA, I would recommend The Schythe trilogy. Really great series super unique idea and povs, plus one of the greatest villains of all time. Quick read
This has been getting a lot of reccomendations recently - might have to push it higher on the TBR
I love Gideon's line so much but that might just be bias from the rest of it. Like it sets up a lot of questions about how the emperor had lived that long, whats the thing about the ninth as it is in the title was well, and also the tone with the pointing out of the dirty magazines. I don't know I just like it
Are you guys in New Mexico? I love in ABQ, so either way sending praise and love from NM. Really enjoy the podcast
Richard here. I'm currently celebrating by mom's birthday in nm now. An enchanting home to grow up in.
@@2ToRamble that's awesome! It's really to see content from people that came from the same place. Heck we may have even gone to school together. But anyway I hope you enjoy your mom's birthday. If either of you ever have a meet and greet that would be awesome.
The Handmaids Tale show is very good! I don’t read but the show is great
40:26 Richard, you are thinking about a movie called "Snowpiercer" directed by Bong Joon-ho in 2013, which is also based on a comic book
Yep, I be a dumb ass sometimes.
I forgot to comment on the previous video, but I just love how Austin has a clear tier in his head, and then tries to fight tooth and nail to justify it and get Rich to agree with him 😂😂😂 59:04 had me rolling 😂😂😂😂😂
Okay so I cannot believe I had no clue about The Handmaids tale, a book I read, but TIHYLTTW on the bottom tier is a crime 😂😂😂
😁😁😂
Project Hail Mary is an awesome book - would even say it’s better than The Martian, and I loved The Martian
I love Red Rising it's my favorite sci fi series I've read(I've admittedly not read enough). But the first line of Red Rising both the prologue and first line of chapter 1 are very underwhelming. The line that actually got me was the line about letting the family pull the legs I immediately thought "oh shit I'm in for something more than YA" reading it in my highschool library.
Same here - that line is what did it!
Still waiting for shadow rising review 😅
👀😁
Snow crash has one of the best openings of all time, but the first sentence doesn't do it justice.
So at least someone read Neuromancer! But really. Why on earth it’s so rare to have a review of that book?
BTW you were thinking of Snowpiercer.
The Lathe of Heaven's opening is much stronger if you give it the first couple of paragraphs to complete the thought and put it in context. It's more a statement of the story's theme and not the beginning of the actual story (and is also beautifully written).
'Current-borne, wave-flung, tugged hugely by the whole might of ocean, the jellyfish drifts in the tidal abyss. The light shines through it, and the dark enters it. Borne, flung, tugged from anywhere to anywhere, for in the deep sea there is no compass but nearer and farther, higher and lower, the jellyfish hangs and sways; pulses move slight and quick within it, as the vast diurnal pulses beat in the moon-driven sea. Hanging, swaying, pulsing, the most vulnerable and insubstantial creature, it has for its defense the violence and power of the whole ocean, to which it has entrusted its being, its going, and its will.
But here rise the stubborn continents. The shelves of gravel and the cliffs of rock break from water baldly into air, that dry, terrible outer space of radiance and instability, where there is no support for life. And now, now the currents mislead and the waves betray, breaking their endless circle, to leap up in loud foam against rock and air, breaking…
What will the creature made all of sea-drift do on the dry sand of daylight; what will the mind do, each morning, waking?'
Liked the video simply for the impending prank on Richard😂
😈😈
Do last lines next 😂
I love these videos.
Also, it finally suddenly hit me that since both of you are wearing headphones, what are you actually hearing? Are you just able to hear each other naturally, or is it like a second delayed? It didn't occur to me but we're hearing voice through mic, but when I'm wearing headphones usually my own voice is muffled and the people I'm talking to aren't in the same room (headphones usually reserved for online gaming during lockdown) so that's something random I suddenly took into account. I'm probably overthinking it and there's no delay. Is it just for podcast purposes so you know instantly if mics stop working?
Additional question: how does the Thumbnail occur? Feels like theres a funny story behind those.
Thank you!! And great question - we use the headphones to make sure audio is going through the mic and it’s also easier to hear/focus since our voices are coming direxrly through them. Cuts out any distractions/noises. As for the thumbnail- do you mean how to we put them together (the photos/etc?)
Modern audio equipment has up to near-zero latency monitoring, so if you have a semi-decent set up the delay is minor enough to not be noticeable.
Your brain processes it the same as when you hear your voice naturally.
@@2ToRamble cool thanks
Yep, I mean looking at today's photo I imagine you both having to pose for them and figured there's Some kind of plan behind them (I currently just draw a title and hold it up so I'm interested in the process)
I had to go listen to the Recursion line again, I couldn't remember it either. And I agree, it was a D.
I tried to read recursion twice and I don't remember any of the book any better
The Boys are Back in Town 🙌👌👊
👊👊👊
every time I watched these videos I thought the Martians first line cleared them all
Have you guys done top scifi books yet? Looking to jump out of fantasy again. Heard a lot about empire of silence. What do you guys think?
We read the first book of that series for our book club, we both liked it. Richard, more so than Austin but we will both continue with the series.
1. Project Hail Mary is fantastic. Couldn’t agree more.
2. Repent for not being familiar with Blake Crouch. Recursion is amazing.
3. Team Austin. Red Rising always. 😊
RED RISING 🤝🤝
The bias against short lines is strong with this one. 🤣
I'm supposed to finishing Dune Messiah. Instead I'm listening to the entire video.
😁
I only had 1 problem with Project Hail Mary. It was the ending, pretty much the very last line.
Spoilers:
In the end, the MC walks into the room of alien children and asks a question on the material he taught them. Then it says something along the lines of “every one of them raised their claws.” All I could think was “ok, yeah, of course they did. We’ve already established that they have a perfect memory and can’t forget things. If you told it to them, they will know the answer immediately.”
Yes, I know it’s trivial. It bothered me nevertheless.
Can you guys do a scythe review? I think a lot of people would watch it it’s a really popular book with a broad audience
We have it on tge TBR but it’s not super high on it quite yet - would you highly recommend it?
@2ToRamble do yall have a public tbr on the discord or on a site? Would be cool to track what yall are reading
@@2ToRamblei would definitely highly recommend it although it’s sci if not fantasy but I’ve recommended it to over 10 people and they all loved it
@@2ToRamblealso it’s more ya
We don't but we will look into implementing that!@@ryanskeff
the amount of times i laughed throughout this video LMAO
Fantasy not sci-fi, and I’m not sure I’d get into a fight in terms of ranking but my favorite is “ Lest anyone should suppose that I am a cuckoo’s child, got on the wrong side of a blanket by lusty peasant stock and sold into indenture in a shortfallen season, I may say that I am House-born and reared in the Night-court proper, for all the good it did me.”
I gather Austin didn't like Shadow Rising? Well I quit Red Rising halfway through. Dunno how I will keep watching this channel.
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*Technically, he wasn't far off with The Book Of The New Sun seeing as the first part is called Shadow of The Torturer, so he wasn't far off
We’ll give him half credit lol
Does anyone know the name of the book that had the "plant" first line?
Piper in the Woods!
They say they don't know blake crouch so they immediately put recursion next to his other book on the list, dark matter 🤣
Oops 😂😂😂
20 MORE videos instead of the meme review?
preach brother
😭
There is no Snowcrash movie, you are thinking of Snow Piercer.
Need the Timestamps!
Theyre in the description, thats weird that they aren’t showing up in the video! Will look into this now 🫡
Fixed!
Martian Chronicles was so much better 😬
I need tk resd themaetiam
why austin look like an elf in the thumbnail. looks to rival pierce brown though if we're being real
Pierce wishes he had my freakishly pointy ears 🧝♂️ - and the only thing I rival him on is my love for Red Rising. I think I might like his first book more than even he does lol
@@2ToRamble I can agree with you on that one your love for the first book is unmatched.
1984’s opening sentence is better than The Martian Chronicles, imo.
Day I don't know how many of asking for First Law content 😢😂😂😂 ( Its only that ONE OF YOU is yet to read it 🤣)
Omg the first lines of red rising are so terrible compared to how you hype them up. Richard is right, those lines are so generic, and I don't even read enough to know really lol. The Mars gravity line is incredible.
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Everyone’s telling you you won’t like Fourth Wing because maybe they know something you don’t? 🤔 And I guess you mostly read sci-fi in your book club, right?
Fantasy and sci-fi equally - more sci-finrecently though. We’re looking forward to the read regardless 🥂
Always enjoyable gents, this one was fun, but it seems that your advertising skills are lacking. You only brought up the book club once and at the very end. Lets work to improve that
Hey we snuck one in there during the Neuromancer segment I think lol
Deus ex???
Martian Chronicles in D Tier.. Don't give in Rich.
Booo 😂
Lol😂The Martian Chronicles 1st line belongs in the lowest tier possible, it doesn't give sci-fi or fantasy vibes at all, it's just talking about Ohio.
This guy desperately trying not to read the rest of the WOT. 😂
😂😂😂😂 someone had to say it
Cmon the middle part of Project hail mary was a bit boring
Martian opener > PHM all day
Richard here. Lies and slander PHM all the way
@@2ToRamble I enjoyed the book, but the middle part was the same thing over and over again 😅
Haha. Bringing the debate to chat. Not enough to save it for the video/pod content.😂
When I say I read Ursula K Le Guin, people think of “Earthsea” or “Left Hand of Darkness” … no …. I read “Catwings”. It’s about cats. With wings. And I adored it. 😺🪽
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