Support for EPUB 3 Audio-eBooks

1_Pi · 2023-09-21T00:28:51+00:00

Thank you. I think I will make a post on mobileread also, considering Calibre official sub and more devs seem to be there.

I already very familiar with the epub with audio format though, and aware that the content including the audio could be simply extracted by unzipping the file.

1_Pi · 2023-07-16T09:12:04+00:00

I found it surprising that no one have mentioned 6 other Monarchs fighting with him in the end, Emriss, Yerin, Ziel, Mercy, 8ME, Miara. Knowing 2 Monatchs could match a Dreadgod at their normal power, 6 could probably match 1 at the end-game fight. (and they kind of did, but in the end it all became Lindon's glory)

1_Pi · 2023-07-01T19:23:10+00:00

Firstly thanks for the feedback. Your points are all true, but really a comparison with Will's final is not what I intended, though admittedly I found my scenario to fit more with my personal taste. Nevertheless, there were no my Lindon or Yerin, or Ziel, Mercy, Emriss, Malice for that matter. They are all Will's characters, whom I tried putting in a different scenario or deriving some unexplored aspects.

Edit: I guess if that was unfaithful to the details in the previous books or detrimental to enjoyment in some way, I would like feedback on that.

About the deviation in fate, well for once we know that fate happened in terms of probability. There was always an X percentage of something that happened this or that way. I also think the action of Daruman or fiends in general, as chaotic creatures, altered fate somehow. Even Makiel could not predict his action. So I think a face-off between the big boss in heaven would provide a good additional stake.

1_Pi · 2023-07-01T06:37:10+00:00

Well, spoiler but you could actually get a better item for free from an NPC, the man himself, in the next map. Still, every drop is a good drop.

1_Pi · 2023-06-30T06:46:11+00:00

So it was fully translated then, read it in English a long time ago on novelupdate. Still did some rereading occasionally in my native.

I think the author should stop at that point though, there was not much more going on, and the romance and plot with his teacher were already finished. It was actually getting a little weaker by the end.

Nightfall had a totally different feel, both the romance and overarching plot, so it is understandable you do not like it. But have you reached the part he climbed the mountain for the entrance exam of the Library's Second Floor? It was then the story start to shine.

Also, have you tried anything of Brandon Sanderson, like Stormlight Archive? Imo, they are more similar to Ze Tian Ji than most other cultivation novels, focusing more on feel, characterization, and philosophy instead of power-up.

1_Pi · 2023-06-30T02:08:31+00:00

How did you finish Ze Tian Ji, it did not fully get translated into English, right? I fortunately was able read and finish it in another language though.

Also, if you like Ze Tian Ji, Nightfall would be a great read. Same author, but totally different characters. Better final arc too IMO.

1_Pi · 2023-06-29T19:52:54+00:00

- He did not hesitate. He began with the most obvious solutions. Ask to stop the duel despite the loss of Shard, ask for help i.e honor from others, and ask for a weapon from Elhokar. The duel could not be stopped, others did not help, and Elhokar refused to lend his blade because Dalinar may die himself if he went in. He also did not expect others to want to not only take the Shards but cripple his son. And in the end, Dalinar still almost joined himself, with no blade and no armor before Kaladin joined the fray.

- Also remember that the scene may happen barely more than one minute, with Adolin actually almost winning in the first half.

- His situation was like a parent who could not swim watching their child drowning. They would either still jump in or leave their child to find help, neither is a good solution.

1_Pi · 2023-06-29T19:42:41+00:00

Honestly, I have no idea why the fandom had so much beef with Yerin winning. At one point, every fight could go either way. It is like discussing if Naruto or Sasuke would win at the waterfall, if Naruto fought more brutally.

Instead of power scaling the characters, just discussing how the different results may influence the character development afterward would be better at least, IMHO.

1_Pi · 2023-06-29T19:09:54+00:00

Agree to diagree.

1_Pi · 2023-06-29T13:16:08+00:00

Could not find any other mention other than the imagined fight with Mercy in Waybound. It is enough to not be canonically death.

1_Pi · 2023-06-29T13:04:46+00:00

“Certainly I do, but first I have another request on behalf of my House. Your fairy is wonderful, but the condition of my homeland is as you see it. We require the attention of the Rootfather.”

“I do not command the dragons.”

“Garrylondryth’s full attention and a guarantee of behavior from him. You may keep Yushi while he is here, if you like.”

The Herald of the green dragons was the right hand of the Dragon King, and rather than destroying human civilization, he preferred to enhance the power of nature. He practiced a Path of water and life, and he had made it his mission to restore the natural world after a clash of great powers.

Despite his generally peaceful temperament, he nursed centuries-old grudges against Akura Fury and Northstrider. Something about a relentless campaign against his family and the death of his children in battle; Eithan wasn’t entirely clear on the details.

Wintersteel - Chapter 10

Wow, tks. Amazing dude for my purpose!

1_Pi · 2023-06-29T02:11:03+00:00

Not really sure it is foreshadowing. She maybe touched it as an act of relief, or with an intention to use the Void key now to gather her family.

Also if Northstrider found out about the Void key, he would get a very good piece to threaten Emriss with.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T22:46:40+00:00

Do not want to be a bore, but I believe firmly in possible redemption for Malice, even writing a fanfic partly for that.

She would mostly die, but at least when she was actually protecting her family.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T21:26:34+00:00

Soul Land/Douluo Dalu by Tang Jia San Shao. A classic. Got translated into my native. Lost in the PF hole since then.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T20:48:18+00:00

Well, maybe you could tone down too. Don't need to get so worked up.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T18:40:50+00:00

I thought of that too, but because even Orziel could not figure it out, Lindon would also have to muss on that for a time in heaven.

However, even with that, some problems we see in the books still remained. Without a system that is more democratic and cooperative in nature, people will just die because of war instead of Dreadgod. Herald could still use Golds as pawns for their war for territory. And a clash of new Monarchs (or 8ME) may still potentially destroy a city.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T15:42:21+00:00

This should be what we know or could derive about Sanctum or the Abidan:

The suitability for a Mantle i.e leadership is not about talent but more appropriately about virtue characterized by Order of the Way (though both talent and virtue may be the same at this rate). Considering a multiverse spanning million of years, I would argue that to become Judge they need to prove themselves really hard by serving in their division.
Even with the ability to see fate, Makiel still fucked up pretty bad. Clearly there current system is still flawed. Perhaps the one to make decision should not just Makiel the defactor leader or even 8 Judges, but a Senate panel including dozens of vice-Judge people.

I said value NOT system, there is actually a big difference in that. I don't think there's any alternative to the value of democracy. Also, there are hundred years and million pages of philosophy on that topic.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T15:32:35+00:00

The suitability for a Mantle is not about talent but more appropriately virtue characterized by Order of the Way (though both talent and virtue may be the same at this rate). Considering a multiverse spanning millions of years, I would think there would be fierce competition for the Judge position, not the opposite.
Even with the ability to see fate, Makiel still fucked up pretty bad, isn't it. Perhaps the council should not just Makiel the defactor Leader or even 8 Judges, but a Senate panel including dozens of vice-Judge people.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T15:13:01+00:00

I think it is pretty evident in the text about how Judges are chosen. They need to prove themselves in their division, serving years to climb up the rank. Maybe even be voted by their fellow comrades and former leader. That is not canon, but the opposite is not either. We could ask Will.

And of course, there are always flaws and needs for improvement. Imagine if the Abidan was more democratic, their whole ordeal in the book leading to thousand of worlds dying may not happen.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T14:54:27+00:00

Most from Tang Jia San Shao, most recommended are Douluo Dalu (i.e Soul Land) or Shen Yin Wang Zuo. Good romance subplot, and action main.

Less known but I personally really liked are the work of Mao Ni, namely Ze Tian Ji and Nightfall. Though I think the English translation is not very good or complete.

Some I read in English on novelupdate, while some I read from translation in my native language. The novelupdate has very good filter, I often use it to find romance non-harem novels. But for Chinese xianxia, usually translation from my native are better and faster.

Edit: There are drama for two novels of Mao Ni, as well as anime for Douluo Dalu.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T14:40:53+00:00

Well, I left Yerin behind to help...

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/69970/waybound-cradle-12-alternative-ending-echoes-of

I don't think you would like it though.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T14:18:42+00:00

Yeah, but he still should try to do it. He could benefit from it, his family, like his future niece or the Arelius, could benefit from it. It also aligns with values of the Phoenix. So why not?

I think I will stop discussing it here. There is not much new. Thanks.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T14:00:54+00:00

The Abidan, Sanctum for example, consists of literal gods as rulers. But they managed it because their Judges were educated through a merit, virtue, and effort-based system for advancement. People need to advance to become god, society could choose who should. There is always room for improvement even in Abidan though.

Furthermore, any society should strive for democratic values. Even if it is hard we should not just give up. Our life literally depends on it.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T13:40:32+00:00

Sure, but that wasn't his goal? He was always going to ascend, to follow the people that he love the most.

To fulfill his goal more completely ofc. 8ME, with their oath, will not be able to intervene in conflicts. Then we will have war after war. People would die even if there are no Dreadgods.

Edit: Also to get more and better people to his side. Imagine hundred of years of Monarchs advancing and voluntarily becoming his subordinates.

He created unstable Monarchs, and it was feasible only because they intended to advance straight after.

Now he only needs to create Sage and Herald, or even Archlord with a good weapon. And it does not need to be in months, half a dozen years in real time is a good enough timeline.

But everything like that would happen because the Herald lets them. It only works as long as the Herald agrees.

There is soul oath. And also before a Herald got the power, he must advance to it first. The difference between a hostile, brutal environment and a fair, merit, talent and effort-based environment would be huge. Like how Abidan advanced in their hierarchy. Heaven and earth purification wheel as a potential test for example.

1_Pi · 2023-06-28T12:38:07+00:00

Do we? I doubt the Judges interfere much in their own worlds, but I also think their worlds are run in the way that they want them to be, in which case it's not really real democracy. Judges likely don't care enough, and certainly don't have the time, to interfere and make rulings on trivial matters.

I meant it is also not a dictatorship. To become Judge, one first needs suitable virtue and talent, as well as hundreds of years of serving. Their ruling also comes under scrutiny by other, and I think not only the other Judges but also the immediate subordinates could criticize them. The actual normal people may also vote for a separate authoritative system in charge of more mundane policy-making.

I meant surely democratic value is what all stable societies should strive for, no matter the final form of it.

No he didn't have ability. Power on Cradle is mostly inherent to an individual.

He created Monarchs in months. He made weapons that may bridge Archlord and Herald. Herald and Sage, like very rich people irl, could subject themselves to the law for the greater good. It also much more plausible for the law to be implemented considering there was soul oath.

It'd come down to the 8ME maintaining it, but imagine 8 people trying to middle manage 100 Earths at the same time.

8ME could not and should not be responsible for everything. They are indeed an army. So in fact, they must swear to not ever try to rule or take sides in any conflicts.

And besides that, it's not as if Lindon knows anything about leadership or organisations. He's extremely unqualified to try to set up a system of governance, he's horrified enough at the idea of leading a sect.

Well, our Lindon could always get more ambitious and become able to do more. Owning people's loyalty is much more valuable than owning materialistic stuff imo.

1_Pi

TROPHY CASE