Greg Strandberg's Blog, page 9
August 5, 2014
Reading Challenge 2014
I’m going through my list of friends this afternoon, or at least the people I’m following, and I’m simply amazed.
I’m amazed at how many have set such high challenges for 2014 when it comes to books. Many people have goals of 200 books, and many have 170 or so finished of that.
Lots of others go up to 100 books or 50, while many choose 25. I went through the whole nine pages of these people and liked the ones that had finished about half of their challenges so far.
Now, if I’d have been on that list I wouldn’t have liked myself. See, I’m only at 8 or so of 20 books. But a month ago I was at 7 of 10.
Yeah, I upped the ante on myself…and with just five months of the year to go.
Hell, I think I can crack those books’ heads here in the next couple months and maybe even get my completed list up to 30 books. I’m certainly not upping the ante right now, however.
I hope those readers got some motivation from my like. Lots had no likes at all, even though they’d finished a lot of books. Maybe that’ll spur them to keep going.
Hope you keep going this year too…happy reading!
I’m amazed at how many have set such high challenges for 2014 when it comes to books. Many people have goals of 200 books, and many have 170 or so finished of that.
Lots of others go up to 100 books or 50, while many choose 25. I went through the whole nine pages of these people and liked the ones that had finished about half of their challenges so far.
Now, if I’d have been on that list I wouldn’t have liked myself. See, I’m only at 8 or so of 20 books. But a month ago I was at 7 of 10.
Yeah, I upped the ante on myself…and with just five months of the year to go.
Hell, I think I can crack those books’ heads here in the next couple months and maybe even get my completed list up to 30 books. I’m certainly not upping the ante right now, however.
I hope those readers got some motivation from my like. Lots had no likes at all, even though they’d finished a lot of books. Maybe that’ll spur them to keep going.
Hope you keep going this year too…happy reading!
August 4, 2014
Epic Fantasy Giveaway
This month I'll be giving away 3 copies of The Hirelings.
This is a stand-alone fantasy novel set in a kingdom with serious financial difficulties.
In this world there's a system in place, one that's dependent on a dragon on a mountain to attract adventurers to come and put money into the economy.
They kill monsters and give a percentage to the king, and a whole lot more to the local economy with their drinking and whoring.
The dragon, of course, is off limits. After all, if you killed it the whole financial system would collapse.
Those that fight the monsters are called Hirelings.
This group of Hirelings sets out to kill that dragon.
I think you'll like this biting and edgy book, one that tilts the genre and doesn't pander for reviews or your interest. These characters don't give a damn about you...and you know it.
The Hirelings
Giveaway Link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
This is a stand-alone fantasy novel set in a kingdom with serious financial difficulties.
In this world there's a system in place, one that's dependent on a dragon on a mountain to attract adventurers to come and put money into the economy.
They kill monsters and give a percentage to the king, and a whole lot more to the local economy with their drinking and whoring.
The dragon, of course, is off limits. After all, if you killed it the whole financial system would collapse.
Those that fight the monsters are called Hirelings.
This group of Hirelings sets out to kill that dragon.
I think you'll like this biting and edgy book, one that tilts the genre and doesn't pander for reviews or your interest. These characters don't give a damn about you...and you know it.
The HirelingsGiveaway Link: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
August 1, 2014
Goodreads Readers and Goodreads Authors
I’m a Goodreads Author and I’ve got 43 or so books. I wrote 105,000 words this past month, put out 1 new eBook and added 66 blog posts to my sites.
I also wrote some stuff for other people, and I made quite a few new friends on Goodreads. Overall…a pretty good month!
It was good to get back into the swing of reading after several months of not finishing a single book. I read a lot of crap for other people, meaning I write for other people so have to read for that. I do that all the time and don’t often read for pleasure.
I changed that this month and finished off…let’s see, Mistborn, Foundation, and The Hobbit. Three books in one month is terrible compared to how many I used to read as a single person with no kids, but it’s more than I read all the rest of the months this year so I’m pleased.
Hopefully I can keep the trend going. I’m doing the reading challenge in the Book Addicts Group this month, so maybe I’ll see you there!
I also wrote some stuff for other people, and I made quite a few new friends on Goodreads. Overall…a pretty good month!
It was good to get back into the swing of reading after several months of not finishing a single book. I read a lot of crap for other people, meaning I write for other people so have to read for that. I do that all the time and don’t often read for pleasure.
I changed that this month and finished off…let’s see, Mistborn, Foundation, and The Hobbit. Three books in one month is terrible compared to how many I used to read as a single person with no kids, but it’s more than I read all the rest of the months this year so I’m pleased.
Hopefully I can keep the trend going. I’m doing the reading challenge in the Book Addicts Group this month, so maybe I’ll see you there!
July 27, 2014
Montana Politics is a Mess
Maybe you haven’t heard, but Montana’s appointed-Senator, and one up for election in 3 months, just got slammed with allegations that he plagiarized up to 79% of his thesis term paper.
Well, they’re not allegations, they’re true…he’s said as much.
It’s a sad state of affairs for us Democrats here in Big Sky Country, and we’ll probably lose that seat in November.
Perhaps you’re interested in what other fiascos Montana has been involved with. Trust me, there are many. One of our senators was forced to resign in 1900 when it was found out he bribed legislators up to $100,000 each to send him to Washington.
Anyways, check out some of these good books on Montana history if you’re interested.
Montana: A History of Two Centuries Revised Edition Montana: An Uncommon Land Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome Montana: A History Tribes and Trappers: A History of Montana, Volume One
Well, they’re not allegations, they’re true…he’s said as much.
It’s a sad state of affairs for us Democrats here in Big Sky Country, and we’ll probably lose that seat in November.
Perhaps you’re interested in what other fiascos Montana has been involved with. Trust me, there are many. One of our senators was forced to resign in 1900 when it was found out he bribed legislators up to $100,000 each to send him to Washington.
Anyways, check out some of these good books on Montana history if you’re interested.
Montana: A History of Two Centuries Revised Edition Montana: An Uncommon Land Montana: High, Wide, and Handsome Montana: A History Tribes and Trappers: A History of Montana, Volume One
July 22, 2014
What Should I Read Next?
I’m asking myself this today because I finished Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn late last night.
I’d been reading the book for awhile and now I can move one. I’m looking forward to the next book in that series, but just not now.
So that leaves The Drawing of the Three and The Bully Pulpit on my “Reading List.” I’ve read the Stephen King book before, about two years ago while living in China. And history about the early 20th century…I could do without that right now. I need to start on my own history of Montana during that time, and it’s the last thing I want to think about.
Anyways…I’ve got two books that just might come in the mail today. They’re The Crystal Shard and The Hobbit. The former I’ve read about four times and the latter…never. Yeah, I’ve never read The Hobbit.
I used to have a nice copy from the 60s or early 70s that my mom had. That was with me in China and in a box that was lost when we moved back. Never use China Post.
Regardless, the book will probably come soon. And then I have all those books I got at the used bookstore in Helena this past weekend (see last post).
I’ll have to sit down tonight and make a decision.
I’d been reading the book for awhile and now I can move one. I’m looking forward to the next book in that series, but just not now.
So that leaves The Drawing of the Three and The Bully Pulpit on my “Reading List.” I’ve read the Stephen King book before, about two years ago while living in China. And history about the early 20th century…I could do without that right now. I need to start on my own history of Montana during that time, and it’s the last thing I want to think about.
Anyways…I’ve got two books that just might come in the mail today. They’re The Crystal Shard and The Hobbit. The former I’ve read about four times and the latter…never. Yeah, I’ve never read The Hobbit.
I used to have a nice copy from the 60s or early 70s that my mom had. That was with me in China and in a box that was lost when we moved back. Never use China Post.
Regardless, the book will probably come soon. And then I have all those books I got at the used bookstore in Helena this past weekend (see last post).
I’ll have to sit down tonight and make a decision.
July 19, 2014
Today’s Used Bookstore Purchases
Today I went to Aunt Bonnie’s, a used bookstore here in Helena, Montana.
I’m visiting my mom this weekend in my hometown, and I thought heading to the store might allow me to replenish some of the library I once had in China.
I was quite surprised how good the sci-fi and fantasy section was, and I got the following books for $11:
Magician: Apprentice Magician: Master Silverthorn A Darkness at Sethanon Elminster: The Making of a Mage Rendezvous with Rama Rama II The Garden of Rama The Waste Lands FoundationRed Seas Under Red Skies
I’m visiting my mom this weekend in my hometown, and I thought heading to the store might allow me to replenish some of the library I once had in China.
I was quite surprised how good the sci-fi and fantasy section was, and I got the following books for $11:
Magician: Apprentice Magician: Master Silverthorn A Darkness at Sethanon Elminster: The Making of a Mage Rendezvous with Rama Rama II The Garden of Rama The Waste Lands FoundationRed Seas Under Red Skies
July 15, 2014
Excited to Read this Book!
I'm excited to read A Time of Changes by Robert Silverberg.
I'd never heard of the book or the author until last night when I was looking through a list of Hugo/Nebula winners.
What really did it for me was that cover. I mean you've got this cover with some kind of skeletal beast, a huge nose or beak on it, and piercing the back of this other, human skeleton.
Both died right there, somehow and for some reason.
Why?
Seems like an interesting book and I might just have to bump it up on the To-Read list. I wonder if my library has a copy?
I'm reminded of A Canticle of Leibowitz with this book for some reason.
by
Robert Silverberg
A Canticle for Liebowitz
I'd never heard of the book or the author until last night when I was looking through a list of Hugo/Nebula winners.
What really did it for me was that cover. I mean you've got this cover with some kind of skeletal beast, a huge nose or beak on it, and piercing the back of this other, human skeleton.
Both died right there, somehow and for some reason.
Why?
Seems like an interesting book and I might just have to bump it up on the To-Read list. I wonder if my library has a copy?
I'm reminded of A Canticle of Leibowitz with this book for some reason.
by
Robert Silverberg
A Canticle for Liebowitz
July 11, 2014
Adolph Hitler Killed in New York!
Breaking News:
A scientist created a time machine and went back to 1940s Germany to bring Adolph Hitler back to our own time to stand trial.
I'm not making this stuff up, folks...well, I am.
Each Friday I make up all kinds of weird stories and put them on my site for free.
It's called Free Fiction Friday and this week is the 18th post.
So if you've wondered if my books are any good but you just don't want to spend the money...well hell - now you don't have to!
http://www.bigskywords.com/writing-bl...
A scientist created a time machine and went back to 1940s Germany to bring Adolph Hitler back to our own time to stand trial.
I'm not making this stuff up, folks...well, I am.
Each Friday I make up all kinds of weird stories and put them on my site for free.
It's called Free Fiction Friday and this week is the 18th post.
So if you've wondered if my books are any good but you just don't want to spend the money...well hell - now you don't have to!
http://www.bigskywords.com/writing-bl...
July 9, 2014
Classic Fantasy for a New Generation
The Lord of the Rings is certainly my parents’ fantasy. I grew up with the D&D universe, however, and my favorite author was R.A. Salvatore.
I got started with The Crystal Shard, and I came across this awesome review and summation of the novel, which you can find below.
If you haven’t read this fantasy book I highly suggest you add it to your “to-read” list. Like the article below says, the book’s got 3 murders in the first 15 pages!
It keeps up that great pace but doesn’t sacrifice on character development or plot. I’ve read this book at least 3 times and know I will again. You should too!
The Crystal Shard
http://www.heroicfantasywriters.com/2...
I got started with The Crystal Shard, and I came across this awesome review and summation of the novel, which you can find below.
If you haven’t read this fantasy book I highly suggest you add it to your “to-read” list. Like the article below says, the book’s got 3 murders in the first 15 pages!
It keeps up that great pace but doesn’t sacrifice on character development or plot. I’ve read this book at least 3 times and know I will again. You should too!
The Crystal Shardhttp://www.heroicfantasywriters.com/2...
July 8, 2014
History Book Giveaway
This month I'll be giving away 3 copies of Tribes and Trappers.
This is Book 1 of my Montana history series.
In case you don't know, Montana is the fourth largest state in America but has one of the lowest populations. This is where you can find Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
It's a beautiful place, and this book give you the history of it all the way from the dinosaurs, up through the twelve Native American tribes that called the state home, and then into the fur trappers that dominated the area from the 1810s to the 1840s.
The book ends in 1840 but follows the lives of the mountain men until they died. The second volume, called Priests and Prospectors, picks up in 1840 and goes until 1870.
The third volume is called Braves and Businessmen and it tells the history of Montana from 1870 to 1900.
So if you're interested in American Western history then you should really check this book out. The series gets really in-depth on things like the Panic of 1873, gold mining, and railroad politics as it goes on, and I know history buffs will love it.
If you're one or you know one, enter to win 1 of 3 copies of Tribes and Trappers. Thanks!
Tribes and Trappers: A History of Montana, Volume One
Priests and Prospectors: A History of Montana, Volume Two
This is Book 1 of my Montana history series.
In case you don't know, Montana is the fourth largest state in America but has one of the lowest populations. This is where you can find Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.
It's a beautiful place, and this book give you the history of it all the way from the dinosaurs, up through the twelve Native American tribes that called the state home, and then into the fur trappers that dominated the area from the 1810s to the 1840s.
The book ends in 1840 but follows the lives of the mountain men until they died. The second volume, called Priests and Prospectors, picks up in 1840 and goes until 1870.
The third volume is called Braves and Businessmen and it tells the history of Montana from 1870 to 1900.
So if you're interested in American Western history then you should really check this book out. The series gets really in-depth on things like the Panic of 1873, gold mining, and railroad politics as it goes on, and I know history buffs will love it.
If you're one or you know one, enter to win 1 of 3 copies of Tribes and Trappers. Thanks!
Tribes and Trappers: A History of Montana, Volume One
Priests and Prospectors: A History of Montana, Volume Two
