What Else Are You Reading? October 2012

[Paul]

Finished Leviathan Wakes a few days ago. It was pretty good but not sure if i'm going to read the next one. Moved on to Great North Road now. Enjoying it so far but the world-building is not as strong as some of Hamilton's other books. After this bout of laser I'll be going back to some sword next i think. Probably Red Country by Joe Abercrombie.

[Glenn]

I've given up on Cloud Atlas, and am instead reading Version Control with Git: Powerful tools and techniques for collaborative software development . It is a comparatively good read! :p

[Tamahome]

Glenn wrote: "I've given up on Cloud Atlas, and am instead reading Version Control with Git: Powerful tools and techniques for collaborative software development . It is a comparatively good read! :p"

I think Cory Doctorow backs up his novels using Git.

[Glenn]

Hah! That does not surprise me.

[Carlos]

Today I finished reading 'Looking for Alaska' by John Green and I would recommend it to everyone: really good book.

Also, if you happen to know any teenagers that enjoy coming of age stories, definitely steer them towards this book.

[Pickle]

Currently reading Specter of the Past with a view to read:

11/22/63 and The Death of Grass

[terpkristin]

I'm currently listening to Energized. It's turning out better than I expected, though is really more of a thriller than a science fiction title. Turns out the author, Edward M. Lerner, has a physics degree and worked in the aerospace field, so it's not completely hole-y.

I'm also still reading The Way of Kings on my Kindle. Slow but steady...

[Tamahome]

Lerner frequently collaborates with Larry Niven (Ringworld).

[terpkristin]

Tamahome wrote: "Lerner frequently collaborates with Larry Niven (Ringworld)."

As I'm not a fan of Niven, that's not exactly a ringing endorsement. ;) Plus, so many sci fi writers don't know science. Lerner seems to, for obvious reasons.

[Leesa]

Lerner was at CapClave a couple weekends ago and I sat on one of the panels he was on, "Science Fiction Without Science: can the improbable work without some basis to science." He acknowledges that some of the stuff he writes gets a handwave on the science, but otherwise, he gave good comments and insight into writing sci fi. All the authors agreed it was important to stay cohesive within the story moreso than strive toward probable science. That's an all too simplistic summary of a panel that was nearly an hour long.

[Carrie]

Just started and for doing a buddy read of

[Tamahome]

terpkristin wrote: "Tamahome wrote: "Lerner frequently collaborates with Larry Niven (Ringworld)."

As I'm not a fan of Niven, that's not exactly a ringing endorsement. ;) Plus, so many sci fi writers don't know scien..."

I'm actually enjoying Benford & Niven's Bowl of Heaven right now. Nice and short too.

[Joseph]

Tamahome wrote: "I'm actually enjoying Benford & Niven's Bowl of Heaven right now. Nice and short too."

I loved Niven's Known Space books back in the day. Was kind of turned off by the last couple of Ringworld books (where he was trying to retrofit contemporary hard SF into a universe that was built on a basis of late 1960's hard SF) and haven't read any of the more recent Puppeteer books. This one looks tempting though -- I've always been a sucker for Big Dumb (or perhaps not-so-dumb) Object books.

[Derek]

Finished the Enduring Flame Trilogy with book 3, Phoenix Transformed by Mercedes Lackey.

A good story, though I never did care for the main characters. The rest of the cast made up for it. Looking forward to the next book in the world, Crown of Vengeance coming out next month. It tells the story of the first war with darkness. Before the coming of man, when elves fought alone. More than 12,000 yrs in the past.

Now going to listen to Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. Read it when it first came out, but want to see how the audio is.

[Redrosevertigo0]

I am reading . It really slogged towards the middle and I was skimming to finish. It just picked up quite a bit so I am reading a little more carefully. I am also reading and totally want a Raven as a pet. I'd call it Omen....

[Neil]

Finally reading The American Gods. I seems really slow. My first Neil Gaimen book.

[Derek]

Finished Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch. Good book, but knew that already. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is an OK narrator, but he tends to run his words together. Not quite the voice I picture for Peter Grant, always imagined his voice deeper, with a stronger accent. But that a personal preference, otherwise not a bad reading.

Might as well listen to the rest of the series, on to Moon Over Soho.

[Pickle]

NMC wrote: "Neil wrote: "Finally reading The American Gods. I seems really slow. My first Neil Gaimen book."

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I never could get into American Gods. Just didn't capture my..."

i gave up after 100 or so pages... i couldnt go reading dream sequence after dream sequence. I might try it again in the future so i will hold onto my copy.

[Rob, Roberator]

Just finished The Godfather (in audiobook). Full Review for anyone interested.

Continuing to read The Mad Ship

[Kathryn]

I'm reading the Dark Brotherhood series by JR Ward. The Vaginal Fantasy group has gotten me reading a lot more smut lately! :-P

After I'm done with the series I have Cloud Atlas waiting for me... and I just picked up the first Sandman Slim novel for my kindle on sale... :)

[Kathryn]

Ian wrote: "In the middle of God Emperor of Dune and Elfstones Of Shannara.

Have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by God Emperor, first read it when I was a lot younger and found it hard going, am enjoying it ..."

I really loved the first few Shannara novels, but I lost interest after the 6th or 7th one.

[Neil]

Pickle wrote: "NMC wrote: "Neil wrote: "Finally reading The American Gods. I seems really slow. My first Neil Gaimen book."

I'll probably get flamed for it, but I never could get into American Gods. Just didn'..."

It is nice to know I am not alone. I am listening to it. That may be the only reason I made it all the way through.

[David Sven]

Finished Abercrombie's Best Served Cold on Audible. Fantastic audio narration by Steven Pacey.
My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

Next up also on audio book is Sanderson second Mistborn book The Well of Ascension

[David Sven]

Finished Neuromancer
My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Starting Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber as my lunch time read.

[Derek]

Finished book 2, Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch. On to book 3, Whispers Under Ground.

[Joseph]

Finished Shadow Prowler, which was fun, and moved on to Shadow Chaser, the second in Alexey Pehov's written-in-Russian-translated-into-English trilogy.

[Derek]

Finished Whispers Under Ground. Ready for the next book in the series, too bad it'll be sometime next year.

Was going to listen to Caliban's War, but realized I couldn't remember anything about Leviathan Wakes, so listening to that first.

Not a good sign that I can't remember the story, I can generally remember any book I've read with a little effort or from reading the synopsis. Not being able to remember means the story didn't stick with me. Hopefully a 2nd listening will help.

[Dharmakirti]

I'm currently reading Cloud Atlas and I really like it.

I've also started The Forge of Darkness and I'm enjoying that, too.

[Rob, Roberator]

In addition to continuing The Mad Ship I started the audio book for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for my work commute.

I really wanted to reread these books, but I didn't want to cut into my normal reading time.

Plus I've been told the reader is quite good.

[AndrewP]

Rob wrote: "In addition to continuing The Mad Ship I started the audio book for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for my work commute.

I really wanted to reread these books, but I didn't want to cut into my normal reading time.

Plus I've been told the reader is quite good."

Which reader are you talking about? The Harry Potter books have 2 versions. One read by Jim Dale and one by Stephen Fry. There is a great deal of debate about who is better :)
I would listen to sample of each before committing. IIRC Stephen Fry reads the English versions, i.e. Philosophers Stone, not Sorcerers Stone.

[Rob, Roberator]

AndrewP wrote: "Which reader are you talking about? The Harry Potter books have 2 versions. One read by Jim Dale and one by Stephen Fry. There is a great deal of debate about who is better :)
I would listen to sample of each before committing. IIRC Stephen Fry reads the English versions, i.e. Philosophers Stone, not Sorcerers Stone. "

Ah see I had no idea there was multiple versions. I've read the books several times (own them all in Hardcover) but this is my first go at the audio.

I live in the States, so I have the Jim Dale Version (borrowing from a friend, he swears by them). I'm not sure if the Stephen Fry ones are available here.

Now I'm curious to see if I could get my hands on them
though and maybe do my own comparison at some point. I do like Stephen Fry, and he seems like he'd be a good reader.

I'm only about a chapter or so into the book, but Dale has been good but not exceptional to me so far.

I am more excited to continue listening after work than I was expecting to be for books I've already read a few times, but that may simply be because how much I enjoy the series.

[AndrewP]

FYI You can download samples of both from the Pottermore website. Just select English (US) or English (UK) to get to the different versions :)
http://shop.pottermore.com/en_US/harr...

[Nicklaus]

The greatest books to be BOTH Sword AND Laser:

http://www.goodreads.com/series/43942...

It's just awesome, even though MOST of the science is wrong... hey, it was written before the Great War! AND saying this, i realize how much it was influenced by the "démesure" of the killings as the series goes on and the war went on simultaneously.

AND don't dare say something about the movie here. Nothing. Nope! NOPE! They are NOT the same thing. Forget about it. NOPE!

[AndrewP]

Keeping up my 'read some classics' project I just started Brave New World. I thought I would read it while 1984 is still fresh in my mind.
Just finishing off Surface Detail as my main read and The Inner Circle on audio.

[Rob, Roberator]

AndrewP wrote: "FYI You can download samples of both from the Pottermore website."

Cool, good to know. Thanks. For now I'll be sticking with the Dale ones since it's free. :-D

[David Sven]

Finished Dan Simmon's Carrion Comfort.
My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Starting Pandora's Star by Peter F Hamilton

[David Sven]

Downloaded Neil Gaiman's free book on Audible Click-Clack the Rattlebag
Its only 12 minutes. I listened to it 3 times. A nice snack sized treat.

My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Jesse]

The month is almost over and only now did I think of actually replying to this thread D=
So far I've finished The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel and Ready Player One.
I really enjoyed both of them and I got short reviews of each on my profile.
In addition I just started Retribution Falls and liking it so far, it's giving me Firefly vibes which is always a nice thing!

[Dharmakirti]

I've finished Cloud Atlas (and loved it) and now am starting to read Talulla Rising.

[Derek]

Finished Leviathan Wakes. Finally started remembering the story about half way through. Now on to Caliban's War.

[Dara]

Just started Soulless by Gail Carriger. Really liked her on S&L.

[Jim]

Working on audiobooks in my library to free up space. Cloud storage costs money and I can't use that. But, because The Many Colored Land is so slow, I have been reading Miles Vorkosigan novels in chronological order and just finished Cetaganda. Popcorn reading.

[Kenny]

Still working through the dresden files I'm in white night now, also I started dirty streets of heaven early. So far it's been great.

[Derek]

Finished Caliban's War. Pretty good story. Just one question, I may have missed it because I listened to the story instead of reading, but who is Caliban? Don't remember any characters with that name.

Taking a break and listening to something vaguely educational, The Folklore of Discworld by Terry Pratchett.

[Derek]

Jim wrote: "I have been reading Miles Vorkosigan novels in c..."

New book in series comes out later next month, Captain Vorpatril's Alliance.

[David Sven]

Snokat wrote: "Finished Caliban's War. Pretty good story. Just one question, I may have missed it because I listened to the story instead of reading, but who is Caliban? Don't remember any characters with that na..."

Caliban was the monster in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

[Derek]

David Sven wrote: "Caliban was the monster in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."..."

OK. I can see that. Would've been nice if they'd made some reference to it, kept expecting them to discover that someone named Caliban was behind the new attacks. I don't mind alliterative titles, as long as there's an explaination somewhere.

[Mark]

My other book club is doing Canticle for Lebiwotz

[Mark]

Oh and this alien shore by cs friedman-- surprisingly good

[Derek]

Finished The Folklore of Discworld. A lot of fun. Audio includes a conversation between the authors @ the end talking about how they met and the importance of folklore, about an hour long.

Going to listen to Wake of the Perdido Star by Gene Hackman. Talking about it on another thread got me wanting to listen to it again. Great story, always wished there'd been a sequel or two. But it's been years, so I'm guessing no.