re: Weber.
Personally, I'd rec staying with his sci-fi stuff and avoiding his Bahzell books altogether. It's not anything we haven't seen before in fantasy and the execution ... well, it plain bores me. The first book is still somewhat readable, but by the time you get to the third you scratch your head and go 'yeah, okay, when is something going to finally fucking _happen_?!' in irritation. Or I go, at least.
-Griever
When tact is required, use brute force. When force is required, use greater force.
When the greatest force is required, use your head. Surprise is everything. - The Book of Cataclysm
Personally, I'd rec staying with his sci-fi stuff and avoiding his Bahzell books altogether. It's not anything we haven't seen before in fantasy and the execution ... well, it plain bores me. The first book is still somewhat readable, but by the time you get to the third you scratch your head and go 'yeah, okay, when is something going to finally fucking _happen_?!' in irritation. Or I go, at least.
-Griever
When tact is required, use brute force. When force is required, use greater force.
When the greatest force is required, use your head. Surprise is everything. - The Book of Cataclysm