What Else Are You Reading - December 2013

[Dharmakirti]

Thomas wrote: "Dharmakirti wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Finished Hamilton's Fallen Dragon - definitely recommend this one to any and all. Very well done. And now, a blast from the past... A Canticle for Leibowitz by Wa..."

I agree.

[Tamahome]

That's a good Hamilton to start with, since it's not part of a series.

[Thomas]

Tamahome wrote: "That's a good Hamilton to start with, since it's not part of a series."


I started with the Night's Dawn Trilogy. Made one heck of an introduction, I must say. Not sure I'd advise newcomers to leap into that one!

[Doug]

Just finished Neuromancer, and currently reading Count Zero. Really enjoying William Gibson's cyberpunk.

[Joseph]

Had to travel for work which meant many hours on planes & at airports over the past couple of days. On the plus side, that meant I finished Lost Covenant, read Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan pretty much in one sitting, and am now most of the way through Seven Kings by John R. Fultz. All three have been excellent!

[[deleted user]]

Currently reading Old Christmas: From the Sketch Book of Washington Irving an account of his time over the holidays in England. Tells the customs of a manor house in the early eighteen-hundreds. As a dancer I like his descriptions of English Country dancing and Morris Dancing, neither named only described. I'm not sure if it is a true account or something that is compiled from many visits and sources. It's further removed from my life than some of the speculative fiction I've read. Short, well-written with some charm.

[AndrewP]

I'm listening to A Christmas Carol as a seasonal audible treat. In book form I'm reading book 6 of David Weber's Safehold series Midst Toil and Tribulation. One of my personal goals for 2013 was to catch up on all the published works in a series so this completes that.

[Jenny]

I'm reading Timeless, the last book in the Parasol Protectorate series. So far so good!

[Joe Informatico]

Just finished The Privilege of the Sword, a tale of manners and political intrigue with swashbuckling. It's very interesting for the twist of its set-up: Usually in these stories of a young girl becoming a skilled warrior, she's a tomboy or orphan eager to prove herself in a man's world. Here, Katherine wants to wear fancy dresses, go to Society balls, and land a wealthy husband, but has been essentially blackmailed by her uncle into becoming a swordsman instead. Kind of like an Austen heroine forced into a Dumas hero's role.

Think I'll tackle Ken Macleod's first book, The Star Fraction next.

[Dara]

Jenny wrote: "I'm reading Timeless, the last book in the Parasol Protectorate series. So far so good!"

I have to get to that one next year. I didn't really like Heartless all that much but loved the first 3.

[David(LA,CA)]

Finished up Diaries of a Dwarven Rifleman and Dracula.

I've already started Child of Fire and His Majesty's Dragon, and with any luck, they'll help me meet my reading goal for the year.

[Jennifer]

I've finished up His Majesty's Dragon, and I'm stating up on The Lies of Locke Lamora I've heard nothing but good things, so I'm kind of excited about it. I just hope I haven't set myself up thinking it's going to be so awesome that I find it to be a bit lack luster.

[David Sven]

Jennifer wrote: " I just hope I haven't set myself up thinking it's going to be so awesome that I find it to be a bit lack luster. "

Locke Lamora Lack Luster? Ludicrous!

[Ctgt]

David Sven wrote: "Locke Lamora Lack Luster? Ludicrous!"

:)

[Tamahome]

David Sven wrote: "Jennifer wrote: " I just hope I haven't set myself up thinking it's going to be so awesome that I find it to be a bit lack luster. "

Locke Lamora Lack Luster? Ludicrous!"

How loquacious of you.

[Rob, Roberator]

Finished Attack on Titan, Volume 5 (My Review)

[Carolina]

David Sven wrote: "Locke Lamora Lack Luster? Ludicrous!"

Thumbs up :)

[Jennifer]

David Sven wrote:
Locke Lamora Lack Luster? Ludicrous!"

Indeed, nicely done, sir.

[Dharmakirti]

Last night I wanted to take a break from sci-fi and read a little fantasy, so I started reading The Summer Tree. I'm not sure how I feel about the book so far; this is kinda vague, but there just seems to be something off....maybe it's just Guy Gavriel Kay's writing style and I need to get used to it or something.

[Ctgt]

Dharmakirti wrote: "Last night I wanted to take a break from sci-fi and read a little fantasy, so I started reading The Summer Tree. I'm not sure how I feel about the book so far; this is kinda vague, b..."

Have not read this one yet but loved Tigana and The Lions of al-Rassan.

[Dharmakirti]

Ctgt wrote:"Have not read this one yet but loved Tigana and The Lions of al-Rassan."

I started Tigana and made it about 1/2 way through. I liked it quite a bit but I got distracted by something else and I never finished it. One of these days...

[Joseph]

And finished Seven Kingsand will conclude the series with Seven Sorcerers, both by John R. Fultz.

[Jeffrey]

Reading Glasshouse by Charles Stross. Not bad; suspense is keeping me involved.

Listening to A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin. As others have noted, picks up excitement level in second half. Already scouring internet for possible The Winds of Winter date. They're not saying

[Jacob]

Started reading Royal Exile by Fiona McIntosh. It's the first book in the Valisar Trilogy, only half-way through but I'm really enjoying it.

Anyone willing to try one of her books should look at this one or Myrren's Gift, the first book in The Quickening Trilogy. They are probably her best works from what I've read so far.

[Thomas]

Dharmakirti wrote: "Ctgt wrote:"Have not read this one yet but loved Tigana and The Lions of al-Rassan."

I started Tigana and made it about 1/2 way through. I liked it quite a bit but I got distracted b..."

I read The Fionavar Tapestry some years back, and though I found the first book started slowly, the numerous and enthusiastic recommendations I received for it made me keep going. I ended up thoroughly enjoying all three books. (Haven't yet read anything else by Kay.)

[Robert]

Just finished The Mortal Instruments Book 1: City of Bones and have finally gotten around to Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master. Liking the Magician books a lot better than the Mortal Instruments, but then again, being a 34-year-old male, I'm not really their target demographic lol

[Moonlitfractal]

Just finished Orleans by Sherri L. Smith. I highly recommend it, particularly to those who enjoyed Boneshaker.

[Blake]

I always like to finish up the year by re-visiting some favorites. This year it's the Dragonriders of Pern series byAnne McCaffrey. I first read them in middle school and outdated and sexist as they seem to be now- still just as fascinating and fun as the first time. Has anyone read Restoree?

[Blake]

Joe Informatico wrote: "Just finished the club pick for the month. I'm about halfway through Shards of Honour now. Wow, Bujold was such a good writer right from her first book."

Is this your first time with the Vorkosigan books? I love all of Bujold's books!

[John (john)]

The Land Across, intriguing but also baffling.

[Jeff]

Finishing off the year w/ His Majesty's Dragon (got the Omnibus from Amazon which has the 1st three in the series for $1 more than the standalone). Also listening to Monster Hunter International which seems to be a wild ride

[Keith]

Just finished Dawn by Octavia E. Butler and am moving on to the next one while juggling No Deals, Mr. Bond, another not very good James Bond novel by John E. Gardner, and The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest

[Dara]

Finally finished Midnight Tides. (My review) Now break time from Malazan. On to Alif the Unseen.

[Carolina]

Jeff wrote: "Finishing off the year w/ His Majesty's Dragon (got the Omnibus from Amazon which has the 1st three in the series for $1 more than the standalone). "

Talk about a good deal!

[David Sven]

Finished book two of the Riyria Revelations Avempartha on Audible
My Review

Continuing on with the series with Nyphron Rising The Riyria Revelations 3

[Aildiin]

Just finished 11/22/63 and I was flabbergasted by it. Really a great great book. Not really scifi though, the time travel is really a side tool, not the purpose of the book.

[Aildiin]

Tamahome wrote: "That's a good Hamilton to start with, since it's not part of a series."

Dharmakirti wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Dharmakirti wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Finished Hamilton's Fallen Dragon - definitely recommend this one to any and all. Very well done. And now, a blast from the past... A Canticle for ..."

I think it's my favorite Hamilton book.

[Dharmakirti]

Dara wrote: "Finally finished Midnight Tides. (My review) Now break time from Malazan. On to Alif the Unseen."

I hope you enjoy Alif, it is one of my favorites.

[Terry]

Reading and it's pretty good. Nice plot, magic, and some great characters.

[Will]

Just finished The Wolf of Wall Street. Probably going to start re-reading the Harry Potter series next

[Richard]

I finished the new Gene Wolfe book The Land Across and enjoyed it even if it is not his best story. This one is comparable to The City and the Cityas well as https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... both of which I enjoyed more. Comparing the three would make a fine discussion for a group, enough to make me wish I had a face-to-face group.

[Rob, Roberator]

I finished reading Dragon Haven and found it a definite step up from The Dragon Keeper. (My Review)

I also finished listening to The Man With the Golden Torc, which I found pretty underwhelming. (My Review).

Now I'm listening to Judas Unchained

[Ryne]

The Rookie by Scott Sigler. gotta finish six more in fifteen days.

[Kevin]

I just picked up To Green Angel Tower as I lemmed the book the first time around, and I thought all his books goes no where, but its pretty good this time around.

[AndrewP]

Just started an S&L catchup read with Bridge of Birds: and should finish it before the end of the year.

[Dara]

Finished Alif the Unseen. (Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...). Now on to Pandora's Star.

[David Sven]

Finished the second book in Robin Hobb's Rainwild Chronicles Dragon Haven
My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Continuing on with the series with City of Dragons

[Kevin]

David Sven wrote: "Finished the second book in Robin Hobb's Rainwild Chronicles Dragon Haven
My review https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Continuing on with the series with [bo..."

That is the link to the book, not your review, which is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[David Sven]

Thank you Kevin!

[David Sven]

Finished Nyphron Rising The Riyria Revelations 3
My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Continuing on with The Emerald Storm The Riyria Revelations 4