What are you reading in February 2014?

[Nick]

Please tell us what you are reading, or plan to read, in February of 2014.

[Shel, Moderator]

I've been reading Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (and I agree with more of it than I thought I would), and have Cold Steel lined up for after I finish, to complete the Spiritwalker trilogy.

[Jim]

Currently reading Blue Remembered Earth and The Good Stuff, a compilation of both old and new space operas edited by the amazingly active and discerning Gardner Dozois. The latter is a real gem and the Reynolds is as absorbing as I usually expect from him.

[Lindsey]

Currently reading the anniversary edition of Heir to the Empire, which has some great behind the scenes info about writing for the Star Wars universe. Then it's likely on to Cold Steel or The Ambassador's Mission. I'm also doing a re-read of the first Harry Potter for my book club. If I get ambitious, I'll probably throw in a re-read of The Way of Kings before #2 is published next month.

[Bill]

I just finished The Minotaur Trilogy by Thomas Burnett Swann. What a Gem of a fantasy or from my point of view a Mythic Fantasy. Swann brings to life the ancient gods and demigods, Minoan and Greek and leaves one wondering if these are as much history as myth. His prose is lyrical and melodic, his characters unforgettable. I highly recommend Swann's works.

All that glitters is not new.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I'm in Captain's Fury with The Wandering Fire up next, as I continue to alternate between the Codex Alera series and the Fionavar Tapestry.

[Helen]

Finished the excellent Captain's Fury, I'm on Wandering Fire. However, unlike Kathi, I'll also be reading The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

[Tara]

I just finished reading Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and can't seem to decide which one to start next Green Rider , Miserere: An Autumn Tale or The Thief

[Lulu]

The next two weeks for me in sff:



as well as finishing off my audiobook for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I'm already halfway through What Makes This Book So Great? so it shouldn't take too much longer. And I am finally getting around to Saga before the 3rd Volume comes out.

[Andreas]

Just started The Last Unicorn which reads exactly like the movie.
Finished Fionavar 1 which was so great that I read the sequel in advance.

Next two books will be Grass and The Ghost Brigades

[Bob]

Reading Last Arguement of Kings, 3rd book of The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Really enjoyed the first two books. Unfortunately, I read The Heroes first (which I also enjoyed), then realized it was part of the First Law universe and decided to check out the trilogy. Not sure what to read next.

[Bill]

I just started The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

[Andreas]

Bob wrote: "Reading Last Arguement of Kings, 3rd book of The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. Really enjoyed the first two books. Unfortunately, I read The Heroes first (which I also enjoyed), then real..."

If you liked it then carry on with the standalone Best Served Cold or Red Country!

[Shel, Moderator]

Kernos, I LOVED The Sparrow! I really didn't like the sequel Children of God very much, though.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Kernos wrote: "I just started The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell"

This is one of the books that has really stayed with me. I'll be interested in your reaction to it.

[Mike]

I'm listening to The Summer Tree and I just started reading The Sailor on the Seas of Fate.

[Jenny]

From last month I'm finishing up The Glass Castle. I started reading Shift Omnibus Edition (Silo, #2) on my Kindle and I'm listening to Prince Caspian on audio. I have a lot of books I want to read this month because I received a bunch of books for Christmas and my birthday that I finally want to get to.

[Tyler]

I'm currently reading Independent Study and I plan on getting to Cress, Burn, A Darkling Sea, and The Martian.

[Alessio]

I'm halfway with Some Kind Of Fairy Tale (loving it) while reading We See a Different Frontier: A Postcolonial Speculative Fiction Anthology. The plan is to then move to Ancillary Justice and Osama.

[Sumant]

I am currently reading Dust of dreams by Steven Erikson and Eye of the world by Robert Jordan.

[Daniel]

Here is my Feb List
and

I also think I will get through the following audiobooks
and

[Pickle]

Im 41 pages into the very highly rated The Left Hand of Darkness and im usure if i will stick with it. Nothing has happened and what has been revealed could of been done in 1 page.

[Sandra]

Pickle wrote: "Im 41 pages into the very highly rated The Left Hand of Darkness and im usure if i will stick with it. Nothing has happened and what has been revealed could of been done in 1 page."

I never finished that one. Just didn't hold my interest.

[Shel, Moderator]

I love that book, but it's definitely a very slow start.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Cold Steel and am impressed by the way that Elliot has woven together all the various threads of the story into an epic big picture that's beginning to take shape.

[Ken]

Kernos wrote: "I just started The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell"

Oooo Great book. Sequel not so much but this one was is a favorite

[Ken]

Sumant wrote: "I am currently reading Dust of dreams by Steven Erikson and Eye of the world by Robert Jordan."
I really like the Erikson books. So far I have only read the first three. I have the next seven loaded up in my ereader and plan to start number four in April.

[Ken]

Finished Marvel Comics. It was ok, I did not realize how crappy it was behind the scenes. You get the impression though the book was written on behalf of the creatives though.

Started in on Of Truth and Beasts
About a quarter of the way through and I am not feeling the love. Not sure if its just the characters or the writing. Next Winter will start the next Trilogy with the original cast and will see if it makes a difference
(I tend to read Hardcovers in the Winter and paperbacks in the summer. I travel by bicycle in the non snow months and its lighter and roomier to read lighter books)

[Lulu]

I finished Farthing on Friday, and it was excellent. I loved the two perspectives, and trying to piece everything together. Perhaps Agatha Christie meet Harry Turtledove in this? I'm impressed with Walton, will have to bump her others up my reading list.

I finished Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer this morning. Short, quick read, with an interesting premise. It struck me as kind of similar to James Smythe's Anomaly Quartet, simply for the strangeness and organisations being dishonest about expeditions, though obviously this one doesn't take place in space, but in the strange 'Area X'. Interested to see how the rest of the trilogy (all released this year!) pans out.

And I finally got around to both Saga, Volume 1 and Saga, Volume 2 which definitely lived up to expectations!

Started the audio of The Ocean at the End of the Lane on Friday, begrudgingly - I really don't like Gaiman, but have caved to peer pressure to give him another go. I hate his narration already. Starting The Swan Gondola tomorrow.

[Chris]

I'm currently reading Timeline and am very disappointed. Sphere and Jurassic Park are two of my all-time favorite scifi books. If you told me the same author would write a story about time travel and it would be a let down, I wouldn't have believed you.

[Ken]

Chris wrote: "I'm currently reading Timeline and am very disappointed. Sphere and Jurassic Park are two of my all-time favorite scifi books. If you told me the same author w..."

Yeah, I enjoyed Jurassic Park but after reading Lost World I realized he was in it for the movie contracts. It read like a movie. I haven't read him since

[Sumant]

I really like the Erikson books. So far I have only read the first three. I have the next seven loaded up in my ereader and plan to start number four in April

Ya erikson is good but it is better to read a erikson book in a group read was my experience because his books are like he resolves mystery of one book in next book or a book after that too many threads to remember.Also I think Dead house gates and Memories of ice are best books in the series so far.

[Shel, Moderator]

Timeline was entertaining, but it definitely was not Crichton's best.

I finished Cold Steel and really enjoyed the way she wrapped up the trilogy. Thanks for turning me on to Kate Elliot, Beyond Reality! :)

On to some Regency romance with Georgette Heyer's The Masqueraders.

[Kelly]

@ Chris - I liked the idea of Timeline, but I agree it's not a good example of Crichton's books.

@Lulu - Isnt' Saga great?

@Pickle - I think The Left Hand of Darkness is my favourite Le Guin book. Years after reading it, I still have a vivid memory of so many scenes.

@Tyler - I look forward to seeing what you think of A Darkling Sea and The Martian. I enjoyed both.

[Pickle]

Sandra wrote: "Pickle wrote: "Im 41 pages into the very highly rated The Left Hand of Darkness and im usure if i will stick with it. Nothing has happened and what has been revealed could of been done..."

i gave up on it too, very slow.

Im now starting Snow Crash after being given a loan, very odd start.

[Chris]

It sounds like there is a pretty clear consensus about Timeline. I should have looked through here for user comments that I trust before starting it. : /

I still can't believe the same writer who made supersmart gorillas, an underwater sphere, and the recreation of dinosaurs all seem so amazing couldn't write a good time travel story.

[Kelly]

Chris wrote: "It sounds like there is a pretty clear consensus about Timeline. I should have looked through here for user comments that I trust before starting it. : /

I still can't believe the sam..."

They can't all be winners. I think he had a neat idea, but failed to execute it well.

[Helen]

Pickle wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Pickle wrote: "Im 41 pages into the very highly rated The Left Hand of Darkness and im usure if i will stick with it. Nothing has happened and what has been revealed co..."

I read the sample of Snow Crash and couldn't get into it, you'll have to tell me if it improves.

[Bob]

Add me to the "I couldn't get into the Left Hand of Darkness" group. It was long enough ago that I don't remember exactly waht the problem was, but I don't think I got too far.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Helen wrote: "I read the sample of Snow Crash and couldn't get into it..."

It took me a bit to get into it but I ended up enjoying it. Very different kind of book than what I usually read.

[Shel, Moderator]

Having a stressful week, so going back to some old friends and re-reading the Hyperion Cantos.

[Helen]

Kathi wrote: "Helen wrote: "I read the sample of Snow Crash and couldn't get into it..."

It took me a bit to get into it but I ended up enjoying it. Very different kind of book than what I usually read."

I don't think I completed the sample, 5%. Can't remember what I didn't like now.

[Ken]

Finished the final book in the Wynn trilogy, Of Truth and Beasts and it was a chore to get through. My biggest problem with it was I didn't like anyone in the books.

Read an article about Game Theory and some guy on Jeopardy so pulled out The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist's Guide to Success in Business and Life
I tried to read this a couple of years ago but couldn't get through it. Going to try it again as I have the time now to put into it

[Chris]

I'm starting The Silent War. It'll be the first Ben Bova book I've read, so I'm excited to see what it's like.

[Ken]

I like Ben Bova. I havent read much but what I read was pretty good

[Bev]

Ken wrote: "I like Ben Bova. I havent read much but what I read was pretty good"

I love Ben Bova books.

[Jenny]

Today I read The Walking Dead, Book Five and I can't wait to dig into the next installment. I'm also reading Vampire Academy which I'm enjoying a lot.

[Ken]

Well I gave up on The Art of Strategy. Just wasn't feeling the love.
Decided to give an old school thriller some love.
Presently reading Red Phoenix

[Mekki]

I'm reading the old school fantasy novel, Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson.

[Andreas]

Just readingPaladin of Souls.
Tomorrow, I hope for Words of Radiance

[Shel, Moderator]

In the past week I've read Etiquette & Espionage (SO MUCH FUN!) and Horns (very good, but VERY disturbing - just what you'd expect from Stephen King's kid). Now I'm reading through a friend's manuscript to give him some feedback.