SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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What I am Also Reading in June
I just finished Julian Comstock A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson. I had very high expectations for the book, based on some of the author's other works. I'm pleased to say that the new novel completely blew me away - it's stunningly good. Expect this one on the short lists for the major SF awards. I wrote a brief review on the book's page.
Thanks, Stefan, I loved RCW's Spin and Axis, and the new one sounds terrific!I've got a lot of Urban Fantasy on my list. Just finished Wicked Game and loved it, and have started Skin Trade. I read a good review of Guillermo Del Toro's The Strain in Newsweek. I also reserved some older sci-fi, including several Lois McMaster Bujold books. In addition, I'm looking forward to Kevin J. Anderson's The Edge of the World Terra Incognita.
Currently reading
And
Just finished Lamantation (great book).
I'm now reading Diamond Star, the latest book by Catherine Asaro and The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan. I can't think of two books that are more dissimilar.
I am currently giving Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun" another go but it is slow going as there is just so many layers to this series. Did not get to read as many books as I would have liked to last month due to exams so I still intend to read the following
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee
"The Baron in the Trees" by Italo Calvino
I also plan to maybe give "2666" a whirl but it is rather large and daunting and I might want something a bit lighter after my exams.
Just started:
The Book of Lost Things
and have on order at the library:
Terrarium
When Harlie Was One
The Shape of Things to Come
Lara Amber wrote: Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies
His book Collapse was also really good.
I'm finishing up Tigana. I was going to start Mona Lisa Overdrive, but realized that I hadn't read the second book (had to order it). I think I'll either do the Time Traveler's wife, or Doomsday Book next.
I'm not sure what else to put on my list this month. I'm on The Accidental Time Machine and will start Dragonflight afterwards. I also have the Dresden Files Book 9 in the queue. I just got a Kindle and have about 30 books loaded into it. I went crazy on some of the free and bargain books this month, LOL!
I plan to read The Accidental Time Machine at some point this month, hopefully next week. This week, I'm stuck between two books that I'm finding extremely boring: Tunnels and The Book Thief. And I've begun reading 1984, which I like so far. I didn't get around to Good Omens last month, but I'm pretty sure I will this month.
Mawgojzeta, I look forward to hear what you think of THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS. I have it on my to-read list. Sounds fascinating.A few days ago I started reading, for the first time, Gene Wolfe's THE BOOK OF THE NEW SUN. I have heard many a praise of it. Anyone here read it? What did you think (if you can answer that without giving any spoiled that will be much appreciated, thanks;-)).
Henrik - so far THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS is great. I am really enjoying this (fast read) book. I love how it incorporates fairy tales that are not quite like the way I remember first hearing them (haha).I own a couple of Gene Wolfe's books but cannot figure out which box they are in (still unpacked) from the last time I moved! I look forward to hearing people's opinions about any of his books.
Book of the New Sun = Genius! 5 stars all the way from me, and I'm not an easy rater. There are images that have stuck in my brain since I read it 20 years ago. It kind of lost me in the last book, but I think that was also me, I should have taken a break perhaps. Or else I was expecting an easy resolution. Easy? Ha! Extremely dense books. But oh can the guy write.I'm STILL reading the Malazan series, up to bk 8. I've taken some breaks here and there, but not many considering how long and complex and dense these books are. A tome! But I can't get enough of it. And I'm getting anxious that now I'll have to wait for bks 9 and 10.
Read House of Suns- Alastair Reynolds- no one write hard sf like an astronomer
The Road- Cormac McCarthy- apocalype with a strong thread of hope
THe Books of Virga- Karl Schroeder- These books are amazing. Perfect World building. THese books will be a movie/series
I enjoyed the Gene Wolfe books but feel kind of dreary after reading them.
I wish i could list all the books I've read just this year!
Need to finish Ravenor Returned. Finish The Lost Fleet: Dauntless. Start the next in The Lost Fleet series. Picked up a couple of freebie classics for my Kindle - so I may dabble in The Sherlock Holmes books.
Finished Cordelia's Honor - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - yesterday and started The Moon is a Harsh Mistress this morning.
I have just finished the second book of four of "The Book of the New Sun" and have currently mixed feelings. I read the first one last year but for some reason never picked up the next volumes.I cannot doubt the quality of the work, the prose is some of the best I have read this year. Actually I will stick my neck out and say it is the best I have read this year. This is a major statement considering I have read such wordsmiths (although of very contrasting styles) as Orwell and Peake. The characters are strong but I have huge problems emphasing with Severian. He just seems so alien to me.
Also the layers that I have been able to pick up upon I have been subtle, clever and very engaging.
But I just can't seem to get in to it. I really don't feel the need to pick it up again. Although I will reserve my final judgement until I have read the whole series. Probably would improve on re-reading.
Lianna,Congrats on the Kindle!
Lara Amber
Just finished Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie and started Last Argument of Kings, the final volume in The First Law trilogy.I liked the second half of Before They are Hanged more than the rest so far. Powerfully emotional at some places.
I am at the same place, with the opposite reaction. I found Hanged inferior to The Blade Itself, and was severely disappointed to open Kings to find Logen et al. magically back in Adua after stranding themselves by killing/releasing their horses at the Broken Mountains. Felt cheated.The whole thing seems to be going the way of Robert Jordan. (That was not a compliment.)
I'm trying to decide what I'm going to read this month my problem is my "next books" are all really thick and that is keeping me from any of them.BTW that typo in Dragonflight is too funny!
As to "The Stand" - still one of my all time favorite books!
Just started:
-- Robin The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha | Nyphron Rising (Oct 2009)
As I've remarked elsewhere - I'm not sure what's on the agenda for June. I'm rereading the Narnia series with mixed reactions but after that it's a toss up amongst a number of choices, none of which are standing out above the others.Oh, well, I'll cope, I'm sure.
As to Henrik's question about The Book of the New Sun - wholehearted, unqualified endorsement. You must read them; otherwise you cannot call yourself an SF fan :-) Okay, yes, you can but if you do have any inclination to read them, indulge it. I first read the Shadow of the Torturer in high school and for a time I would reread all four novels every year, finding something new or a thread I hadn't seen everytime.
Woohoo I'm reading Nyphron Rising (actually doing the editing) but glad that it is "in the GoodReads system now".
Henrik wrote: "Mawgojzeta, I look forward to hear what you think of THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS. I have it on my to-read list. Sounds fascinating."I loved it. It reads really fast and was a really interesting way to interweave different fairy tales. The copy I have also had all the original fairy tales in the back so you could read them as well. I highly recommend it.
I'm reading The Forsyte Saga, Pat of Silver Bush, A Murder is Announced, Bleak House, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I need to finish something; I hate having so many going at one time. So far this month I've finished Murder at the Vicarage A Miss Marple Mystery; Christie's stuff reads fast and is all really clever. I want to get back to the Discworld books, but as I said I really need to finish something first.
Just finished reading Haze, the new standalone SF novel by L.E. Modesitt Jr.. It's excellent --- recommended both for fans of the author and people who aren't familiar with him (yet). I posted a review on the book's page.
I'm starting White Dragon (working my way through the Pern books as I thought) and I started "When Science Goes Wrong" this morning.Lara Amber
I'm devouring Best Served Cold at the moment. I'm a huge fan of the First Law trilogy, and so far, BSC is living up to my expectations. Re: Gene Wolfe. Am I the only person in the entire world who doesn't get Book of the new sun? :( I tried that a year ago and just couldn't get into it at all. I don't quite remember why, though. Maybe I should give it another shot, judging from the endorsement from you guys... :)
Working my way through Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet.
Just finished The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein - http://tinyurl.com/lk7lr2Next up - Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts.
Susanne wrote: "Re: Gene Wolfe. Am I the only person in the entire world who doesn't get Book of the new sun? :( I tried that a year ago and just couldn't get into it at all."No. You can add me to the club. I hate the series. I read 1 and 1/2 out of 4 books of the New Sun....
The most stupid, boring, idiotic series I have encountered in the last 4-5 years, besides American Gods.
I have been reading so much in the last two months I dont knwo where to begin. How about just te books I have read on my I phone in the last two weeks.The acidental time machine
assassins quest
dead and gone
his majesty's dragon
lost fleet relentless
the royal assassin
the jade throne
UR a novelal by king
white witch black curse
currently reading the black powder war and have loaded empire of ivory
I have also read in soft/hard cover
fear nothing
1864 the dreasdon incident
all 4 thomas odd books
and it is only the 10th
Kevinalbee wrote: "I have been reading so much in the last two months I dont knwo where to begin. "And where are the reviews? :P
Im so busy reading have been too lazy to make any. so here goes they are all pretty good:0>
Astra wrote: "No. You can add me to the club. I hate the series."Excellent!Thank you for this, made me feel better. I thought I was missing something. ;)
Funny though, isn't it, how taste differs? We both dislike Gene Wolfe, but then I LOVE American Gods and you hate it. :D
Just finished Saturn's Children by Charles Stross (3*) and Magic In the Blood by Devon Monk (4*). Read Glass Houses for a group, good YA paranormal. Reading Blood From A Stone, the 6th in Laura Anne Gilman's Retriever series. Finally got Absolute Sandman Vol 1 waiting for me, along with the 3rd in Simon R. Green's Drood books, plus I'm finally going to try Lois McMaster Bujold's Cordelia and Miles books. And a few more urban fantasy and mystery books.
Hello all,I am about 3/4 of the way through The Automatic Detective and really enjoying it. On an e-book front I started reading My Man Jeeves, which I am finding quite funny.
Stephen
Robin wrote: "I'm enjoying The Hero of Ages"Make sure to read the whole trilogy. Very fulfilling. I think it might be one of my favorites.
Susanne wrote: "Funny though, isn't it, how taste differs? We both dislike Gene Wolfe, but then I LOVE American Gods and you hate it. :D"LOL. Quite true :)
American Gods is liked by everybody in general. I am among a tiny minority in this.
I just read the first chapter of Nyphron Rising by Michael Sullivan. As I really enjoyed The Crown Conspiracy and absolutely loved Avempartha, the first and second books in the Riyria Revelations, I am anxiously awaiting the third book. As I had hoped, this book looks to be equally wonderful. It is clear from the sample, first chapter that Sullivan’s main characters are now fully developed, but remain complex and intriguing. The chapter pulls you directly into the plot which is already in full swing. The style is concise and flowing at the same time; a perfect blend that allows for the tension of the scene while exploring the main character’s underlying emotions. This is a promising start to what I’m sure will be another great book from Michael Sullivan.
I borrowed A Cook's Tour Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines from the library a few months back and am still reading it... Though I also finished Sarah Monette's Corambis, C. J. Cherryh's Regenesis and Conspirator last month.
Alex wrote: "I borrowed A Cook's Tour Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines from the library a few months back and am still reading it... Though I also finished Sarah Monette's Corambis, C. J. Che..."Just finished Conspirator, too - I thought Cherryh did a bang-up job. Again. Great series.
Im reading Dune and Thinner
Janny wrote: "Just finished Conspirator, too - I thought Cherryh did a bang-up job. Again. Great series."Yeah, it's a great book, though I'd love to see more of Tabini.
Alex wrote: "Janny wrote: "Just finished Conspirator, too - I thought Cherryh did a bang-up job. Again. Great series."Yeah, it's a great book, though I'd love to see more of Tabini."
Well, apparently she's in progress, writing another, so if we're very lucky, you may get your wish...
I really want to get back into this series. I read up to book 6, but it's been a long time and I don't remember many of the details... and I don't know if re-reading those first 6 books is realistic at this point.
I finished the first Pern trilogy and decided to give myself a break from that series and go read some of the group selections that I missed. Right now I'm 60% through Neverwhere.Lara Amber
Stefan wrote: "I really want to get back into this series. I read up to book 6, but it's been a long time and I don't remember many of the details... and I don't know if re-reading those first 6 books is realist..."You don't need to re-read to appreciate the next, CJ brings you right up to speed in the story. If I recall, anyway, after book 6, the series takes a radical turn for the deepest mess yet - you will recall enough background to jump right in, as she adds another wild card, and deepens the intrigue to an almost frenetic pitch.
I'd just go for it (speaking as one who almost never has time to re-read, either).
Lara Amber wrote: "I finished the first Pern trilogy and decided to give myself a break from that series and go read some of the group selections that I missed. Right now I'm 60% through Neverwhere.Lara Amber"
Good choice Lara - I really enjoyed Neverwhere - hope you do too.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Avempartha (other topics)Nyphron Rising (other topics)
Off the Map (other topics)
Unbinding the Stone (other topics)
A Warrior Made (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Tom Holt (other topics)Tom Holt (other topics)
Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
Thomas A. Day (other topics)
Thomas Greanias (other topics)
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The Accidental Time Machine
Dragonflight
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fate of Human Societies
I have a feeling I'll get sucked into the Pern books (funny typo in the Kindle version, at one point they are called The Dragonriders of Peru) and be reading several more this month. I've got several non-fiction book samples already on the K2, but I don't know which one I will tackle after Guns, Germs, and Steel (50% read).
Lara Amber