What Else Are You Reading - September 2013

[David(LA,CA)]

Illness put me down for most of the month, so I don't remember where I left off.

Finished:
The Demolished Man
Necessary Evil
Mistborn: The Final Empire
In Hero Years... I'm Dead

Currently reading:
Just a Geek: Unflinchingly honest tales of the search for life, love, and fulfillment beyond the Starship Enterprise

On Deck:
Steelheart

[Walter]

Just started Knock Knock.

[David Sven]

Finished the Audible version of Small Favor The Dresden Files 10
My review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Starting Robin Hobb's last book in the Tawny Man Trilogy Fool's Fate - I did the previous book on Audible and got hooked on Nick Taylor as narrator.

[Rob, Roberator]

I listened to The Shining to brush up before Doctor Sleep. You can read My Review if so inclined.

[Clyde]

Just finished Up Jim River.
Now reading Skye Object 3270a.
Next up is The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944.

[Joseph]

Finished The Drowning City, which was excellent, and moved straight on to the sequel, The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum.

[Kevin]

Reading Doctor Sleep, about 40%, and its really interesting.

[Joshua]

Finally reading Caliban's War. These books are awesome.

[Replicasex]

I've been finishing up The White Road and am looking forward to picking up the next in the Nightrunner series. I'm happy to report that this fifth novel picks up the quality after a very disappointing fourth.

The relationship between the two male characters is, as always, non-exploitive and supremely well done. Super happy about that.

I also reread Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West because I do enjoy feeling empty and desolate every so often.

[Ctgt]

Just starting The Broken Sword

[Name Less]

Joseph wrote: "Finished The Drowning City, which was excellent, and moved straight on to the sequel, The Bone Palace by Amanda Downum."

I saw the book title now have another series to add to my to-read list.

Currently, Blue Remembered Earth is my slog. Something about the style leaves me invested with the book after each chapter, but not in a way that keeps me leaping into each chapter with gusto.
Within the last week and a half I read the first two intalments of the Mistborn series. I began The Hero of Ages, but took a break for some space. Filling that void is Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. It seems to be suffering some of the issues of Mistborn's The Well of Ascension. Both books are about governing a people after a coup, but place the heroes in a very reactive state imprisoned by the forces around them.
However, gunpowder magic is pretty cool and the new ideas make up for some of the shortfalls.

[AndrewP]

Alan wrote: "You might want to try Weber's Safehold series, especially..."

Thanks, I've read a couple of those as well. Does it bother you that (view spoiler)? "

Not really because after the first couple of books they have to start going to great lengths to hide their advantage. This reminds me of the circumstances surrounding the breaking of the Enigma Code, and the steps that had to be taken to hide that it had indeed been broken. Stephenson's Cryptonomicon has a lot on this subject.

Finished Red Seas Under Red Skies and now onto A Canticle for Leibowitz.

[Laura]

I finished reading The Way of Kings, re-read The Screwtape Letters, read some of and put down Wilder Mage, and am now on The Name of the Wind.

[Ludo]

I'm having some trouble finishing part two of the 'Silo Trilogy' by Hugh Howey (The Shift) - I understand why he wanted to give some backstory, especially on the origins of the Silo's. But I was more 'committed' to the characters from 'Wool' (part I). That really was some very good storytelling. Anyway, I'am halfway through and will finish it because part three (Dust) seems to be on par with Wool.
And I'm listening to the Name of the Wind, slowly getting into the story. It is funny to say - and one might wonder how this is possible - but my suspension of disbelief is instantaneously with SF, but when I read fantasy, it takes a little time to really 'get' into the story. But they are both fiction though?

[[deleted user]]

Just finished The Lottery Ticket by Jules Verne. My least favorite book by him. I enjoy his books because they are about travel and adventure, both were lacking.

Just started Robin Hood by Dumas. I'm interested to see the French take on such an English character. Dumas is good for an adventure story and Robin Hood is such a good character I'm looking forward to a good read.

[[deleted user]]

Laura wrote: "I finished reading The Way of Kings, re-read The Screwtape Letters"

Laura,

The Screwtape Letters are clever and well written but not much more. Have you read Till We Have Faces? I feel that is Lewis's best fiction work and often overlooked.

[Dara]

Ludo wrote: "I'm having some trouble finishing part two of the 'Silo Trilogy' by Hugh Howey (The Shift) - I understand why he wanted to give some backstory, especially on the origins of the Silo's. But I was more 'committed' to the characters from 'Wool' (part I)"

I started Shift Omnibus Edition (Silo, #2) but I couldn't get into it. I got about 15% in and switched to something else. So you're not alone.

[Laura]

David wrote: "Laura wrote: "I finished reading The Way of Kings, re-read The Screwtape Letters"

Laura,

The Screwtape Letters are clever and well written but not much more. Have you read Till We Have Faces? I ..."

Not to brag, but I have read all of C.S. Lewis's fiction. Till We Have Faces is very good. My favorite book of his is The Great Divorce, but Till We Have Faces is a close second.

I would have to disagree about The Screwtape Letters being "not much more." I pay attention to the sins they're tempting the guy toward, and it reminds me not to fall to them myself. Most notably, being unhappy for having fallen out of that passionate period with my husband most call "being in love."

[Laura]

Ludo wrote: "I'm having some trouble finishing part two of the 'Silo Trilogy' by Hugh Howey (The Shift) - I understand why he wanted to give some backstory, especially on the origins of the Silo's. But I was mo..."

That's funny! (About the suspension of disbelief.) I mostly read fantasy, but my suspension is instantaneous with SF, too.

[Luise]

I just discovered Lois McMaster Bujold after listening to a recent S&L podcast. I love this author! Humor, character development, back story, scene setting...I could gush on. Thanks for mentioning her on the podcast. I just finished Mystery and Mayhem and am starting Miles In Love.

[Ryne]

The Voyage to Ruin by HL Tombley. Much more fantasy oriented than I expected.

[Jenny]

I've been so slow with my reading this month. Between grad school, internship, work, & just wanting to watch TV I haven't finished anything. I've been reading Heartless and listening to Dead Ever After.

[Rob, Roberator]

Finished up Steelheart. A slow start but pretty enjoyable. I liked it better than The Rithmatist. You can read my review if you're so inclined.

[Frank]

I downloaded book 1 of the kings wolf series... " touched by magic"
Has anyone read this? Opinions? Reviews?

[terpkristin]

Finally getting back into the swing of reading. It's been a rough couple of weeks. Yesterday I finished The Demolished Man and The Mongoliad: Book Two (the latter I listened to the audio for SFFAudio).

Now I'm moving on to The Mongoliad: Book Three (also for SFFAudio) and I have Boneshaker and Steelheart ready to read in print. I think I'm going to do Steelheart first, since I think I'll be able to knock it out quickly before moving to the October pick.

[Gregory]

I just finished Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, and highly recommend it if you enjoy his work. Otherwise, I am thinking of finishing up the Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) series as I've already read Boneshaker (October's book).

[Ludo]

Just finished Siilo. Posted a review. Overall I gave it three stars and now I am looking forward to the concluding part: 'Dust'. But first....Boneshaker

[Rob, Roberator]

I finished listening to Rise of Empire, found it even better than the first omnibus (My Review).

Taking another break from the series to do Doctor Sleep for SFF Audio

[Dara]

Finished Deadhouse Gates, book two of the Malazan series. It was excellent. Taking a break to read Steelheart.

[kvon]

Jenny, Anubis Gates is my favorite Powers book, and one of my favorite time travel books. It's pretty representative of his style and themes--very frenetic and packed with detail.

I read Resenting the Hero by Moira Mead because it was the best of the sf at the outlet Book Shack. Not great, but I finished it, which was more than I could say of the The Darwin Elevator. I also read the beginning and end of Battle Royale to see how it resembled Hunger Games, but I skipped most of the carnage in the middle. High gore factor.

[Karen]

"Dara wrote: "Finished Assassin's Quest Friday and promptly threw the book across the room. I hated it.


I just finished the last book in the Tawny Man Trilogy,
Fool's Fate and had much the same reaction. That book in particular, out of the whole bloated trilogy, was a 900 page monstrosity of unnecessary dialog and description. I was so glad to be done I took it back to the library right after I closed the cover. I'm taking an indefinite hiatus from Robyn Hobb. I might (someday, maybe) start the Rain Wilds Chronicles, but only long after the pain of reading this trilogy fades to a dull throb.

[Rob, Roberator]

I loved Fool's Fate. I gave the first 8 books 4 stars, but that one was a 5 for me.

I can see how Hobb's writing style is not for everyone, but I'd think people would have figured that out much sooner.

[Alan]

Karen wrote: "...I'm taking an indefinite hiatus from Robyn Hobb. I might (someday, maybe) start the Rain Wilds Chronicles, but only long after the pain of reading this trilogy fades to a dull throb. "

I'd skip it if I were you. I liked the Rain Wilds books but I can't imagine liking them if you didn't like the Tawny Man Trilogy.

[Thane]

Chuck Dixon's Cannibal Gold. I can't seem to find it on Goodreads, oddly enough.

http://www.amazon.com/Cannibal-Gold-B...

Chuck is a former Batman writer and currently writes GIJoe for IDW.

[Joshua]

Now moving on to Abaddon's Gate

[Emma]

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. my first good read founding, wish me luck !

[Scott]

Just finished Princess Rescue Inc. A nice long scifi'sh book. The editing was horrible, but the story sucked me in.

[Karen]

Rob wrote: I can see how Hobb's writing style is not for everyone, but I'd think people would have figured that out much so..."

Well that's easily explained :) I enjoyed the Farseer Trilogy, and I really enjoyed the Liveship Traders, so I came into the third series with a lot already invested. The first book was slow, but I thought it would pick up. It didn't, for me anyway. By the third book, it was just one of those "well I have come this far already" scenarios. Maybe edited down to a single 900 page book it would work better for me. But since I really liked the Rain Wilds world, I might be willing to give it another try sometime.

[Rob, Roberator]

Karen wrote: "Well that's easily explained :) I enjoyed the Farseer Trilogy, and I really enjoyed the Liveship Traders, so I came into the third series with a lot already invested."

That's a new one on me. For myself, and people I've discussed it with, have either liked each trilogy better than the last or didn't like the first trilogy at all/much. That's too bad you didn't enjoy it.

[Dara]

Karen wrote: ""Dara wrote: "Finished Assassin's Quest Friday and promptly threw the book across the room. I hated it.


I just finished the last book in the Tawny Man Trilogy,
Fool's Fate and had much the same ..."

I'm also taking an indefinite hiatus from Hobb. I like her writing style but its the plot from the Farseer trilogy I couldn't abide.