SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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What am I also reading in July
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I'm currently reading God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell. Next up will be The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. My tentative reading plan for July is here: http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/4...
I didn't quite make my goal of ten books in June, but I got close: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...
Ive just completed the time travelers wife. This book is completely entrancing. I could not put it down. It is what all good fiction should be. it is a story about the human condition. You very quickly come to care for the characters.
This is truly science fiction. The element of involuntary time travel could be viewed as the gadget that drives the story. Even if the cause of the time travel is implausible. It is the cause of the conflict within the story. It turns the concepts of cause and effect on their heads and begs the question of free will vs determinism.
I could not recommend any book more highly. This is literature at its best.
I also read the Orson Scott Cards First meetings in Enders universe. 4 short stories that explore part of enders world before during and after the bugger wars
I have also read all 5 of Naomi Novic's Dragon war novels.
I found them greatly entertaining and hope she writes another.
I also read stephen Kinds UR which is only avalable on kindle. a fun novela.
I have missed a few quick reads But I am currently reading Arthur Clark/fredrick pouls The last theorem and on kindle I am currently reading weapons of choice by john birmingham.
I am in the first 50 pages of each having started one this morning between apointments and the other yesterday waiting for my son to come out of Tae Kwon Do.
So many books so little time. sigggggh
With Joe Abercrombie's new book coming out this seemed like a good time to read the First Law trilogy, so I'm in the middle of The Blade Itself now.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the First Law Trilogy. I've read two of three so far. But in July, besides the group book, Good Omens, I'm also reading Stone of Tears, book two of the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Being close to 1000 pages, that may take me the rest of July to finish, so I'm not sure what comes after that. Perhaps the next Discworld book (I've read the first two so far).
I'm reading The Great Hunt, the second book in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I read the first one last year and I thought I ought read the second before I completely forgot what was going on.
I am trying to read over the summer holidays all those books I planned and said I would read but for a variety of reasons have not been able to."Ship of Destiny" by Robin Hobb
"2666" by Roberto Bolano
"Perdido Street Station" by China Mieville
"Baron in the Trees" by Italo Calvino
"The Cloven Viscount and the Non-existant Knight" by Italo Calvino
"Fool's Fate" by Robin Hobb
"Flashman and the Mountain of Light" by George MacDonald Fraser
"Titus Alone" by Mervyn Peake
Im working my way through Brandon Sanderson Mistborn Series. It's a great read, and just enough to time me over until the release of The Gathering Storm
Kevinalbee wrote: "I have also read all 5 of Naomi Novic's Dragon war novels. "Yay! Another Novik's fan ;p
I think we have a discussion thread on it somewhere here in this group.
Anyway, I'm gonna read the following fantasy books this month:
A Wrinkle in Time (M. L'engle)
The Sorceress (Michael Scott)
I'm slowly working through Stephenson's Quicksilver. I understand opinions vary wildly on this one, but I, for one, am loving it!Jealous of those amongst us who haven't read the First Law trilogy or Best Served Cold yet - you've got SUCH a treat coming your way! :)
I'm really enjoying Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson. Because that hard cover is a signed first edition, I decided to take The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett with me to work to read during lunch.
Susanne wrote: "Jealous of those amongst us who haven't read the First Law trilogy or Best Served Cold yet - you've got SUCH a treat coming your way! :)"I have to admit that The Blade Itself was very good. The second to last chapter was especially impressive. I'm going straight to the second book, Before They Are Hanged.
Jon wrote: "I'm currently reading God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell. Next up will be The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. My tentative reading plan for July is h..."
I'm curious to hear what you thought of the Forever War. I just finished it a few days ago; I thought the premise was really interesting but the story a little strange...
Samuel R. Delany's "The Einstein Intersection."Has anyone seen this new documentary about him?
Robert wrote: "Samuel R. Delany's "The Einstein Intersection."Has anyone seen this new documentary about him?"
Wonderful book!!! One of my all time favorites.
What new documentary?
I'm not even going to try to finish the following list this month but I do have a plan - a concerted assault on the pile of books that I actually own that have been sitting on the shelf far too long:Fiction:
I'm finishing Maledicte, a library book. Good economical writing and an interesting cast.
Then it's off to:
If He Hollers Let Him Go and Pinktoes, both by Chester Himes
Dragon in Chains, Daniel Fox. An impulse buy from the SF Book Club. Hopefully, it'll live up to the blurb.
Bertram of Butter Cross, Jeffrey E. Barlough. I fear to read the next Barlough because his three previous have been uniformally excellent and I'm afraid he'll finally stumble :-)
Manservant and Maidservant, Ivy Compton-Burnett. Another recommendation from Michael Dirda's Classics for Pleasure. So far he hasn't steered me wrong so I'm optimistic about this novel.
The Master and Margarita, Mikhail Bulgakov. Based on the reviews, you either love him or hate him. Hopefully, it'll be love.
Nonfiction:
Somerset and All the Maughams, Robin Maugham. An idiosyncratic and rambling look at the Maugham family by the author's nephew.
Genghis Khan, R.P. Lister
Saint Louis, Margaret Wade LaBarge
Lincoln, David Herbert Donald
As you can see, I'm polishing off a few biographies that have been gathering dust.
I'm sure this will keep me off the streets for a few weeks at least.
Megan wrote: "Jon wrote: "I'm currently reading God Stalk by P.C. Hodgell. Next up will be The Forever War by Joe Haldeman. My tentative reading plan f..."
I could tell it was written in/for the Vietnam era. As I mentioned in my review, if I'd been born in the 50s (not the 60s) and male (instead of female), I would have probably loved this book.
I really enjoyed the science pieces (relativistic travel close to the speed of light) of the story. But the other bits were just strange.
I pretty much took all of April, May and June to read The Reality Dysfunction by Peter Hamilton. I actually didn't read any other books during that time, which is unusual for me when I read a doorstop book like that and is a testament to Hamilton's story.To decompress I dove into Mookraker by Ian Fleming. Nice and short.
I am also currently reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I'm not sure if I should find it as funny as I do.Also on my ongoing list are Charlaine Harris' Aurora Teagarden series (currently on book 6 - A Fool and His Honey), the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (up next book 6 - Lover Enshrined), and a few Discworld novels.
@20: Yeah, I found Haldeman's assumptions about society a thousand years in the future a bit off the mark. Good book otherwise.
I am finally getting around to Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds.I am thoroughly loving it so far and will probably have to go out and buy the rest in the series ASAP.
Roger wrote: "@20: Yeah, I found Haldeman's assumptions about society a thousand years in the future a bit off the mark. Good book otherwise."The depiction of the future in The Forever War isn't meant to be prophetic, it's a metaphor for the disconnect suffered by veterans of the Vietnam War when they returned home.
I'm currently reading a doomsday novel based on an upcoming film called 2012: Seeking Closure. I can say without a doubt that it's an incredible read. After that I'll be off to read a fantasy called The Hourglass of Souls. It's the sequel to a terrific YA fantasy book called Max and the Gatekeeper. Based off of how much I enjoyed the first book, I imagine the sequel will be excellent too.
I will be starting The True Story of Hansel and Gretel this week sometime. It is be the first non-scifi/fantasy book that I have read in months (and I average 3 books a week). About time for something else. I hope it is good.
I just finished Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover (anthology) which had some great stories in it. I started losing interest in Good Omens, not sure why, but I'll try it again. For nonfiction I'm reading While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within by Bruce Bawer. Interesting as its from a different political perspective than my own, but I like to challenge my way of thinking.
I finished Warbreaker last night - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... I'm still working my way through Lost in a Good Book.
Just finished the 2 group books, first time for the highly amusing Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, and a truly enjoyable reread of The Left Hand of Darkness, a book that deserves to be read digested and reread regularly.Playing catch-up again by reading Stranger in a Strange Land. Looking forward to reading everyone's previous comments, as opinion seems to be very divided on this one, being number 8 on Goodreads Best SF Books List and also getting a thorough slamming from many reviewers. Wish me luck...
Just borrowed a copy of "Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and I can't wait to start it. Soon as I have finished "2666" I will be diving in to it with out hesitation.
I'm new to the forum, and have enjoyed reading comments on the various topics. I'll join in here and say that I am interested in reading "Lear's Daughters", though I don't have a copy yet. Anyone have an opinion on whether it is worth the lengthy read?I am currently reading Jonothan Strange and Mr. Norell, and enjoying every bit of its 1000 pages.
So far this month I've finished Mistress Pat, Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, Reaper Man, and Soul Music. I'm currently working on Thief of Time (should finish tonight or tomorrow), The Forsyte Saga (I'm hoping to finish it this month- I've been working on it since May), and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.After the Death books I'll probably read the Witch books. Then I'll only have the short series' left.
I've started Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell a few times but can't get into it. I might try that again when I've finished some of the others.
Bronwy, I read The Forsyte Saga last year, and liked it very much. Have you seen the TV series by the BBC? It's really good.
Bronwyn wrote: "I've started Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell a few times but can't get into it. I might try that again when I've finished some of the others. "A lot of people, myself included, find the book doesn't really take off until about halfway through.
I'm reading Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson. Non-fiction, travel; definitely no science fiction or fantasy involved. Next, though, Stephen King's Thinner; more horror though than fantasy, of course :)
I've just finished Northern Lights. Stunningly good writing, although it's easy to pick some holes if you stop and think about the plot. It's not a children's book IMO, because apart from anything else it's about leaving childhood. It reminded me of Ender's Game in that way - the viewpoint character is isolated and soon has to act as a very self-reliant adult, despite their age.I also reread Lord of Light, which is always a pleasure, and picked up The Name of the Wind, but haven't started that yet.
I am currently reading Clash of Kings by George RR Martin. I've been reading it all month. Its a brick but so good!
With the first two books of Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy out of the way and thoroughly enjoyed, I've picked up the concluding volume, Last Argument of Kings.
I finished Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder which was very good.Then I read Magic Study, second book in her trilogy. Not as good as the first one, but it was a nice continuation.
Now I am reading Fire Study the last book in the trilogy and, although I am only about 60 pages or so in, I am finding it a slog.
Finished Lost in a Good Book a few days ago - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/.... Just finished Assassin's Apprentice this afternoon - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...Started reading Sabriel, The Hunger Games and started listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets as a CD audiobook during my commute to/from work.
Barbara wrote: "Bronwy, I read The Forsyte Saga last year, and liked it very much. Have you seen the TV series by the BBC? It's really good."I haven't seen the old one but I loved the new one. Watching it is what made me want to read the book. :) They messed with the story in To Let so much though and I don't understand why they made some of the changes they did. I have the other books about the Forsytes to read after I finish this one.
Greyweather wrote: "A lot of people, myself included, find the book doesn't really take off until about halfway through."
Ahh. I'll definitely have to give it another try then. It's been recommended so many times I feel like I'm missing out.
I finished The Hunger Games (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) earlier today and started The Martian Chronicles at lunch.
Wow I'm starting the Martian Chronicles tomorrow too. I'm also am going to spend the day at b&n reading.I just finish Looking for Alaska by John Green a few minutes ago and am listening to Young Wizards, Book 6 A Wizard Alone by Diane Duane.
I just started Thin Air by Rachel Caine. Book 6 in the Weather Warden series.
I'm also reading Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It is similar in plot device to To Say Nothing of the Dog, but much less humorous. In fact, it is mostly serious. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.
Jim wrote: "Robert wrote: "Samuel R. Delany's "The Einstein Intersection."Has anyone seen this new documentary about him?"
Wonderful book!!! One of my all time favorites.
What new documentary?"
Hey, Jim -- it's called The Polymath. The New Yorker raved about it when it played in Manhattan last year. Since then I've never heard of it being shown anywhere. Not too surprising, I suppose. There are rumors that it's meant to turn up on dvd ... someday.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
A Wizard Alone (other topics)Looking for Alaska (other topics)
The Name of the Wind (other topics)
Lord of Light (other topics)
Northern Lights (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
John Green (other topics)Diane Duane (other topics)
P.C. Hodgell (other topics)
Joe Haldeman (other topics)
Joe Haldeman (other topics)
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I just finished last nightThe Plot Against America, which I highly recommend.
My planned reading:
Slavery by Another Name:The Re-enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to WWII
Middlemarch
Victory of Eagles
Persuasion
I'm not sure what after that.
Lara Amber