Random’s Comments (group member since Apr 30, 2009)

Random’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

I would say I would lean towards up and coming.

I read a number of the classics in my early teens to early 20s and sampled a large number of those earlier classic SF/F authors. I'm looking for the newer voices now.

Doesn't mean I don't feel the classics have something to offer. Its just ground I have already heavily tread.

Justine wrote: "I’m sure you have read it, but if you haven’t then Annihilation is a good cosmic horror that kept me glued. It’s not the same as Bird Box but there is this building tension of WTAF is going on?.."

Read it, loved it. I still haven't gotten to the newer 4th book in the series, but I intend so sooner rather than later. I'm debating on rereading the first three books since its been a number of years now. I suspect that's why I've been dragging my feet.

Finished Armageddon
Starting Valkyrie

Its been a while since I read this, but from some comments I made, it looks like I might have been around half way through. I caught on to the different points in time part early on, but it took longer before I realized it was the same person.

Sadly, my comments didn't give any specifics. But I too also remember having an aha! moment when it clicked.

Shel wrote: "Last week I had a really hard time putting down Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. It's one of those horror novels where everything just keeps building..."

I really need to read that book. I've been impressed with most of the stuff I've read by Grady Hendrix. My favorite being The Final Girl Support Group

For me, its likely Bird Box. I had only opened it because I was fiddling around with my ereader software on a dull Sunday afternoon. Next thing I knew it was the wee hours of the morning and my alarm was going to go off at 6am. I was dragging all day, but did manage to finish the book during lunch. :)

Bird Box is a great example of the kind of horror I tend to really enjoy. I really like that unknown, undefined threat. Especially when its not focused. I'm finding this difficult to explain. Cosmic horror I think comes closest.

"emphasizes the terrifying nature of the unknown and incomprehensible, often featuring themes of cosmic dread, insignificant humanity, and unfathomable entities."

We are insignificant ants being tread upon by beings who don't even notice our existence.

Humble Bundle has the entire Wheel of Time series, including 2 companion books as a current ebook bundle for $17.

There is also a few hours left on the Dragonlance bundle.

Finished Homefront last night. It was just a shortish audio drama.

Started Armageddon this morning.

Justine wrote: "You’re making me want to read these!"

Its been a lot of fun. There honestly isn't a character I dislike, they are easy to read, there's a nice bit of humor tossed in, and the story is also quite interesting and draws me in as well.

Finished Deathtrap

Started Homefront

I've been really enjoying myself with this series :)

I've had to think about this question. I mean aren't a lot of the protagonists in spec fic basically underdogs? I'm a little unsure here. I mean, it would be a boring story if success was certain. :)

But I do have a couple I'm pretty sure will hit the mark.

Rincewind from the Discworld series. He just wants a comfortable, safe, and easy life. Instead he's often thrown into the fray, usually accidentally saving the day.

And, because I'm in the midst of a marathon, Joe Bishop from The Expeditionary Force series.

A 20 year old lowly army specialist home on leave when a ship from an alien invasion force crashes into a nearby potato field, leading him to be known as "That Barney Guy". (Great scene. If you read nothing else, the first chapter is well worth the free preview over on Amazon.) Not very intelligent (or mature) he manages to save Earth and humanity several times from many overwhelmingly advanced alien forces.

I highly recommend this series. Don't let the self publishing turn you off like it did me initially. This guy has been on the NYT best seller list multiple times now.

Finished Renegades

Starting Deathtrap

I've got a 3 day weekend starting in a few hours and I might pause my Expeditionary Force marathon (in audio) to get back to Jeremiah Bourne in Time (in ebook).

However my husband also just gifted me with a new game that I could play on this 3 day weekend as well.

But then again, I might just sleep for three days straight. :D

Forrest wrote: "“Y’KNOW, there’s really no need for all this violence.”

And then the dragons came.

Quicksilver by Callie Hart

(That’s a pretty great setup line. lol … I had a shipping delay on a hardcover book ..."

That one is hilarious. :)

Dawn wrote: "They gathered in the car park in the hour before dawn and waited to be told what to do. And then the dragons came.

Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor"

Oh that's a good one. :)

Read this a while back and won't be reading. but I will join in on discussion as my memory allows.

I enjoyed this series and the first book has a few elements that felt a little unique to me. Look forward to hearing what other think.

I read this a while back and won't be rereading. But I will jump in with the discussion as my memory allows.

I do very much love this series and I hope those who are new to it enjoy it. :)

Reminds me of the between the sheets game. :)

"As our Frankenship limped toward the Ruhar data relay station, I squeezed my hands together to prevent from showing my anxiety in a more obvious fashion. And then the dragons came."
Renegades by Craig Alanson

"So, imagine if the apocalypse, when it does happen, comes about not through some lack of effort by the human race to bring down carbon emissions, not because of alien invasion, nor from one of the several pandemics, but from the side-effects of a different, and new, catastrophe. And then the dragons came."
Jeremiah Bourne in Time by Nigel Planer

The first one was just ok, but the second one was just about perfect. :)

Finished Mavericks

Likely be starting Renegades this evening.

Kathi wrote: "The 5 book series The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe gets a 4.23 rating overall here on Goodreads. I don’t recall when I read them except that it was a long time ago..."

I know we read the first book here with the group. Was it a series read maybe? I remember the first book had a few interesting ideas and I gave it 3 stars, but the second one went down hill and I stopped after that.

I think going into a book with high expectations makes the disappointment even worse than if you had none. I know that was at least part of why I was so disgusted with Perdido Street Station. That and I paid $10 for the ebook back in 2009.

--edit--
Yep, we read The Book of the New Sun series as a group series read back in 2016.

I was poking around in my Read list as I was already curious about what books I liked that others don't usually and I realized I missed one for books I hated that most people liked/loved.

Lord Valentine's Castle
I rated this 1 star where the average is 3.89

I read this 9 years ago with the group so I'm struggling to remember details. But I did find my comments in our group's archives. :)

"I've been forcing myself to get through it (and about 2/3 through) but I keep feeling like my brain is melting and will start dripping out of my ears at any moment now."

"This just seemed like semi pointless wanderings to show off world building.."

"The only real conflicts we had in the book were due to Valentine making poor decisions, and they resolved themselves way too easily with little effort from the characters. Actually everything resolved way too easily."

"The entire thing felt like a dream sequence, like nothing was real, including Valentine. Like he was gently floating down a river and landscape, people, and events just lazily passed by having next to no affect on him or anything else. That entire planet is so passive it makes my teeth ache"

I remember feeling like the book would have been improved if I had taken some very strong hallucinogens. :)

Woops, forgot to mention
Finished Black Ops a few days ago and started Mavericks