Beyond Reality discussion
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What are you reading in March 2016?
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Kathi wrote: "Kernos wrote: "I have now started The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson. This will keep me occupied for some time. "I have those books on my shelf as well, but having just read [book:The Diamond Ag..."
I am really enjoying Quicksilver. He is so funny. I will very likely take a break too between the 3 huge novels.
I finished The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber and found it a good old-fashioned science fiction read...though I started reading sci fi in the seventies, when social issues on a universal scale were all the rage, and such social-oriented, idea-oriented world building is what I consider "old-fashioned."
I'm returning to the Foundation series after several years. When I first started the series it was one of favorite, and while Foundation and Earth isn't as great as the previous books, it certainly doesn't disappoint. It's wonderful to return to Asimov's universe after so long.
Alissa wrote: "The baroque cycle looks very interesting, and long to boot!"I was not as happy with it as I hoped. I sorta gave up on it.
I recently pulled them out of the box and will be attempting a reread next winter
And, I was right, the Affinites is the best book Wilson has written since Spin. I enjoyed it immensly.Next up, not sure. I have the next Rebus book out, but I had a late afternoon tinge of I want more SF. So maybe a book hunt is in order.
Jenny wrote: "I'm returning to the Foundation series after several years. When I first started the series it was one of favorite, and while Foundation and Earth isn't as great as the previous books,..."I'd like to read this again.
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I reread all those books a few years ago. Still among my all time favorites.
Ken, have you read Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky? It's his only SF book and it was very good.
Well I am in need of a book now, I figured I could find one here. Alas I had too many choices.I ended up going with a Thriller, or maybe not...
Stay tuned. ha ha ha
Ken wrote: "Alissa wrote: "The baroque cycle looks very interesting, and long to boot!"I was not as happy with it as I hoped. I sorta gave up on it.
I recently pulled them out of the box and will be attempti..."
This is really a detailed historical fiction. The science aspect comes from it being told from the creator and some members of the Royal Society and their work. I like the detail and have spent a good bit of time checking facts (so far so good) and who was real and who fictional. It would have been a great time to be alive if one were an educated person of Quality.
Finished up Marked in Flesh, which was good and is still the slowest slow burn of all time. If you've enjoyed the rest of this series, you'll like this one, but I'm starting to see why it's planned to end after the next book.Trying to push through more of the The Mabinogion Tetralogy. Stylistically, it reminds me of The Silmarillion, i.e. interesting but slow. I'm super proud that almost a quarter of the way through 2016, I'm only about 400 pages short of where I wanted to be in my reading.
Hi Everyone. First post. Justine directed me here after we were talking about Midnight Tides by Steven Erickson.
So, ya, Hi. :)
I'm a tad of a bit of a ADD reader, meaning, I tend to take longer to decide what to read, than actually reading it.
Last book I read was Child of Vengeance by David Kirk . Historical fiction, but, I do read mostly Fantasy/Scifi.
At the moment, I'm in a conundrum at the moment. Between Midnight Tides, Lies of Locke Lamora, and Disciples of the Wind by Steven Bein.
I liked Midnight Tides a lot, but since it's a book that introduces all new characters it is a good place to take a break if you need one. I haven't read The Lies of Locke Lamora yet, although I hear it is very good, because I was waiting to see how long it would take for the series to be completed before I started it. I know Lynch struggles with depression and that makes writing difficult, so that isn't meant as a criticism, merely an observation since my tiny brain will forget all the details if I have to wait too long between books.I haven't read the Steven Bein book, maybe someone else here has and could offer an opinion on that.
Also welcome to the group!
Kernos wrote: "Ken wrote: "This is really a detailed historical fiction. The science aspect comes from it being told from the creator and some members of the Royal Society and their work.."Yep, I liked that part of the book. I guess I was expecting more Cryptomicon. Ever other book he has written I have really enjoyed. I expect enough time has passed that maybe it will change my opinion
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I finished Fire Touched and it was a five star read for me; but I'm really biased when it comes to Patricia Briggs. I'm now almost halfway through Borderline by Mishell Baker, and wow, it is terrific.
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That's 'cause she's awesome :) Haven't gotten my hands on Fire Touched yet!
Shel!!!! Get thee to a bookstore - or download onto your ereader - soonest:)
I had to take a break from Malazan because life threw me some upsetting curve-balls and I didn't want Malazan to surprise me with any soul-crushing sadness, so I read Carry On by Rainbow Rowell instead. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Now that I'm feeling a bit more emotionally refreshed, I'm back at Dust of Dreams. :)
Glad to hear that Fire Touched doesn't disappoint. That one is going to be high up on my list once I finish Malazan.
Lindsey wrote: "...Trying to push through more of the The Mabinogion Tetralogy...."I found these novelizations of the branches of The Mabinogion readable, but thought they could have been a lot better. I sometimes wish Morgan Llywelyn or Juliet Marilliar have done them.
Have you read the Mabinogion? A great discussion of this Welsh literature, esp about comparing the various translations is http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/opi...
I like the Ford best, but he does not do all the tales. Avoid Guest. I'm surprised there is not a more recent translation available.
I finished bothFire Touched , Marked in Flesh, and Chaos Choreography this month. Marked in Flesh was the most complex of the stories, and Chaos Choreography the lightest. I love that all three of these authors had new stories for me, but man, the hit to my pocketbook!
Not that you need another hit to your pocketbook, but I just finished another new release, Borderline by Mishell Baker, and it was absolutely fabulous. Baker is definitely a talent to watch.I'm now reading Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers.
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I read 4 books by Evangeline Walton (Island of the Mighty, The Children of Lyr, The Song of Rhiannon, and Prince of Annwn) that retell The Mabinogion. My recollection is that, like you said, they read like history and not like a novel. Your comparison to The Silmarillion is apt.
Kernos wrote: "I found these novelizations of the branches of The Mabinogion readable, but thought they could have been a lot better. I sometimes wish Morgan Llywelyn or Juliet Marillier have done them. Have you read the Mabinogion? A great discussion of this Welsh literature, esp about comparing the various translations is http://www.digitalmedievalist.com/opi..."
Marillier would be a great choice! I have not read any translation of this work before. I'm struggling to remember why I picked this one up originally. Vaguely recalling a recommendation by Kate Elliott and a chance watching of The Black Cauldron. That article was really interesting, though, thanks!
Kathi wrote: "I read 4 books by Evangeline Walton (Island of the Mighty, The Children of Lyr, The Song of Rhiannon, and Prince of Annwn) that retell The Mabinogion."
That's exactly the one that I'm reading, just all compiled. :-)
@Lindsay The Sevenwaters series by Marillier is actually a form of The Children of Lyr told from a Gaelic instead of Welsh point of view. Juliet is amazing.
I love Juliet Marillier. I'm reading her book Dreamer's Pool at the moment. I also started Embassytown on audio. It's my first China Mieville & I am loving it - I can't believe I've never read any of his before.
I just finished reading Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, and it was a completely amazing piece of magical realism. It's on the shortlist for the Andre Norton Award for 2015 and I'm trying to read the books on the list that I missed last year.I'm now reading Dreamer's Pool by Juliet Marillier (like a lot of other people).
That's a good book, Carolyn:) I really enjoyed reading it.
I'm loving it Justine. I'm in the 3rd section right now.
Nice:) I loved all the different characters and I thought it was really exciting even though I don't usually read a lot of hard science fiction. I liked it much more than Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson, which also came out last year.
I had to put Leviathan Wakes aside as it was overdue at the library. I finished Half a King which I recommend and have moved on to These Broken Stars
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I also have Daggerspell requested from the library, so will take a break and read that when it arrives so I can participate in the group read. I'm also contemplating a re-read of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld for the group discussion, since I read it so long ago that I remember very little.
Shel have you read the Alpha and Omega books? It's a good idea to read Fair Game before Frost Burned if you can as there are some really significant things that happen in that book that affect the whole Mercy Thompson universe.
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Have read the first three :) Thanks for the heads-up though!
I finished The Snow Queen. The world building was great, the main characters not so much.I am now about a fifth of the way through A Stranger in Olondria, which has the most beautiful prose but I am still waiting for something to actually happen. I'll persevere though because the language and the description of the world are lovely enough in themselves.
I just finished Garden Spells which was a very quick read; others have described this book as "charming" and I would agree. Still, I enjoyed the book. Now on to Planetfall
I decided to re-read the Chanur series by CJ Cherryh before tackling book 2 of Neal Stephenson's The Baroque Cycle. I need some space action/adventure to clear my mind :-)
I finished Dreamer's Pool and it was just as good as everyone else here has already said; I'm just adding myself to the chorus.I'm now reading Malice by John Gwynne and will probably get that one finished before the end of the month. I'm really enjoying it so far.
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Beyond Reality
Books mentioned in this topic
The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate (other topics)Malice (other topics)
Dreamer's Pool (other topics)
Garden Spells (other topics)
Planetfall (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Ted Chiang (other topics)John Gwynne (other topics)
C.J. Cherryh (other topics)
Laura Ruby (other topics)
Juliet Marillier (other topics)
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Ooooh I love that series. Haven't gotten this one yet!