Chris's comments (member since Mar 29, 2009)

Chris's comments from the Beyond Reality group.

For fantasy I would like to nominate Night Watch.

I don't have anything for SF this time.

Reading from both my parents (though they can't figure out where I got my love of fantasy from)

But,

I also inherited my love of Errol Flynn and All Creatures Great and Small.

Ron wrote: "I started 'Nation' by Terry Pratchett; it seems pretty good. I'm not yet really clear on whether it's one of his Young Adult novels yet.

i also accidentally started reading Jack McDevitt's new pap..."


Nation is supposedly YA.

This month, well, I'm never really sure what I will be reading when. But most likely

Miles, Mystery & Mayhem, which I started and had to put down. I don't know if it was the first boook or me. Most likely me. I liked the other ones in the series well enough, so I'll give it another try.

2666 because it was on sale and sounds interesting.

I've got the next two Jenny Casey books by Elizabeth Bear as well as Brokedown Palace.

As for Atwood, my favorite novel of her is The Robber Bride closely followed by Alias Grace A Novel and The Handmaid's Tale. But her short fiction is wonderful. This is this short story she wrote that presents all these different endings to a marriage. Wonderful.

I'll second what Sisimka said. Thank you very much for being a big participent in the discussion.

Janny wrote: "Jim wrote: "Outward Bound sounds a lot like Army training could be. I HATE running, but we used to run 10 miles most mornings & often 20 miles at a time in combat boots. They were Hollywood runs ..."

I think I would buy it, but only to a degree. With Mykkael, I had no problem buying the endurance because of the stress of the sitution and the fact that he was a solider. If Anja had shown the same level, I would not have believed it. (And I did like how when she makes a mistake it is due in large part, or seems to be due, to exhaustion).

A 20' fall could be brought if it (a) didn't happen all that often and/or (b) the person suffering it had training of some sort to a degree. With the fall, you have freak true life falls that lend an air of believability. There was a window washer who fell many stories and surived. He fell over 20' feet.

Sisimka wrote: "The new Niffenegger book sounds interesting, but I've read some very lackluster reviews. It's disappointing when an author publishes a book you love, then fails to keep your interest with subseque..."

The Guardian UK had a fairy tale series. They comissoned Niffenegger and two other writers to do modern fairy tales.

Here's the link http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/nov...

I've read Perdido Street Stationand The Scar. While I thought they were good, I had that quasi over rated feeling about them. I read Un Lun Dunafter buying it at a deep discount. It's because I loved that book that I picked up THe City, which is, to my mind, his best book.

Janny wrote: "Chris wrote: "I liked most of the major characters. I have to say I really enjoyed the fact that the princess was not stupid, and when she makes a mistake, it makes sense. It's understandable.

B..."


Thanks, Janny. I was wondering if the choice was stylstic and why.

You know the physican didn't bother me. Maybe because in many books and other media physicans are nameless.

I love the nominations in this group. I always get turned on to at least one or two good books, even if they don't win.

For fantasy, Thor. It's a really good twist on the whole were-wolf idea.

For SF, On Basilisk Station.

I liked most of the major characters. I have to say I really enjoyed the fact that the princess was not stupid, and when she makes a mistake, it makes sense. It's understandable.

But I really liked Taskin because in some ways he seemed more trapped. I do have a somewhat strange question. How come it took so long for Taskin's daughter to actually be called by name (Lindya)? I'm asking because it bugged me for a little bit. Not much, but I thought it was strange.

Yes, the personalities are what I loved about it. I haven't been lucky enough to actual own a living breathing horse, but I hate the way they are sometimes protrayed in fiction. I particularly dislike the stallion who seems to be gelded and then goes back to being a stallion once released back into the wild.

I did like the fact that the two fighting men were older. I thought it was a nice change.

I also have to say, I loved all the bits with the horses.

I enjoyed it and found it a quick read. I almost forgot to get off the train at one point.

Cool! Thanks for posting this.

New Terry Pratchett, which I, like a geek, have already pre-ordered.

I'll get the new Mitgar as well. And will consider Zombie Racoons and Killer Bunnies, because it sounds cool.

I agree. I actually enjoyed the first half of the novel better. It made more sense. I just couldn't buy some of what happened in the latter half.

Janny,

There is a sequel to Lady of the Forest, Lady of Sherwood.

I actually think Lady of the Glen is the better of the historicals.

Lukyanenko's Watch books are set in Moscow. They are about a group of beings called Others. People who are magicians, werewolves, vampires, other shapeshifters. The Others are divided into three groups or Watches. This was done to enforce peace or status quo. There is Night Watch which is comprised of Light Others (the "good" ones). They keep the peace during the night. There is the Day Watch which are the Dark Others (the "bad" guys). There is Dusk Watch(sometimes translated as Twilight Watch). This group is made up of Dark and Light others and makes sure both sides are playing by the rules. The first book in the series is kinda slow, but they are all good. The first two, at least, were made into movies. In Russia, apparently were huge blockbusters there. The fourth book is The Last Watch.

For me, the connection is in the tone of the writing, as well as the idea of the Breach, which reminded me very strongly of the Dusk (or Twilight) Watch.

Shoot, Stefan I forgot about the order thing. Sorry about that. When I first read the Discworld series, it was whatever book I could get, so I never really think of them as "an orderly series". I'll be more than glad to post the infromation. Do you want it prior to voting?