What Else Are You Reading - July 2016

[Trike]

Louie wrote: "Is anyone else irked that Book #6 of The Expanse series, Babylon's Ashes, has been delayed to NOV 1 (previously AUG 16, and before that JUN 14), when all of the previous books were ..."

One of those guys is GRRM's assistant, so you're lucky it's delayed a few weeks rather than half a decade.

[Phil]

Finished The Time Traders including Galactic Derelict. They were O.K. I think I liked the second one a little more than the first because I found Time Traders a little disjointed. I always seem to want to like Andre Norton more than I actually do. Her plots are good, old-fashioned adventure yarns but her writing leaves me a little flat.
Starting Empire by Orson Scott Card.

[Silvana]

On Basilisk Station. I hope Honor is at least as kickass as Bobbie Draper or Avasarala.

The book is available for free here: http://www.baen.com/on-basilisk-stati...

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

Silvana wrote: "On Basilisk Station. I hope Honor is at least as kickass as Bobbie Draper or Avasarala.

The book is available for free here: http://www.baen.com/on-basilisk-stati..."

If you like it, Book 2 has been free for a while on Kindle (though I'm not sure about in Indonesia) and it is also free on Baen.

http://www.baen.com/the-honor-of-the-...

I have them both, but haven't got to them yet.

[Mel]

Not a genre novel but I really loved: The Things They Carried it is a great war novel, really more of a book about telling war stories.
I was watching the studio Ghibli films so I have been reading the source material.
Howl's Moving Castle This remains a great novel. When Marnie Was There This is a quite enjoyable read.
I've also gone back to read some RA Lafferty short stories in: Lafferty in Orbit
Also in the theme of reading books I've been meaning to read. I've just started reading:Shadow & Claw Just finishing up:The Shadow of the Torturer. I really enjoyed this book.

[Phil]

I haven't read any Lafferty in a long time. I always felt like I was the only one who had ever heard of him. I'll have to dig some of his stuff up again.

[Viola]

Reading Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig. I was delighted to see that Wedge was in it, although I'm 108 pages in and he remains unconscious. Also there are a lot of characters that I don't give a hoot about and the writing style is a bit odd, this is going to take some time.

But it ain’t bad and if things remain as it is I will probably give it 3 stars, but that remains to be seen.

[Shad]

Finished up this month's pick. I read the Baen free version that included Galactic Derelict. Unlike some of the others who have posted, I enjoyed Time Traders more. There was a little too much waiting to be able to take action in Galactic Derelict for my liking.

Finishing up the Hyperion Cantos by reading The Rise of Endymion. The start is a little slow, but there are enough characters involved that there needs to be a little setting up the chess board to start out. I'm hoping for a good finish to what has been a good series.

[John (Taloni)]

^ I am glad to hear that. I read the two Hyperion books and yes, slow start there as well, but ultimately a payoff. Am currently waiting out the Hold list at my library to get the first Endymion book.

[Sumant]

Here is my review of prince of fools. It's definitely a good one time read.

[Rob, Roberator]

I finished The Time Traders, which really wasn't for me (My Review).

[Joseph]

Finished The Fifth Season, which was not fun but which was very, very good, and am starting The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher to complete my Hugo nominee novels.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

Rob wrote: "I finished The Time Traders, which really wasn't for me (My Review)."

Fair review. I liked the book, but rated it about the same (2.5 stars)

One question you had was answered in the book and expanded on in later Books in the series.
(view spoiler)[Rob wrote: "But why time travel? Both sides are afraid to change the past, so what do they hope to gain?"

The Russians found evidence of ancient alien Space Craft in present day Russia, thousands of years old. They travel back in time to when the Space Craft is still new and reasonably intact and steal any technology that is still on board, to get a technological edge over the Americans. (hide spoiler)]

[Phil]

Tassie Dave wrote: "Rob wrote: "I finished The Time Traders, which really wasn't for me (My Review)."

Fair review. I liked the book, but rated it about the same (2.5 stars)

One question you had was ans..."

Plus about what you said about Murdock; I don't think he's supposed to be an anti-hero. (view spoiler)[ It's explained in the court scene (I think) that he's just a tougher guy that the current society doesn't appreciate anymore. (hide spoiler)] He's very similar to the "competent-man" that Heinlein and others used to write about. He might be called a Marty-Stu if written today.

[Walter]

Finished Red Harvest. Saw where it got its name from. Had a body count to put a Quentin Tarantino movie to shame.

Now reading The Dain Curse while waiting for a book club read to come in at the library.

[Rob, Roberator]

Phil wrote: "Plus about what you said about Murdock; I don't think he's supposed to be an anti-hero"

OK. Then I just find him unlikeable then. Lol.

[Rob, Roberator]

Tassie Dave wrote: "Rob wrote: "I finished The Time Traders, which really wasn't for me (My Review)."

Fair review. I liked the book, but rated it about the same (2.5 stars)

One question you had was ans..."

OK, I remember reading that, I guess I took that as the how, not the why. Thanks for the clarification.

[Silvana]

Starting Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. My first flintlock fantasy. Please, please don't suck.

Tassie Dave wrote: "Silvana wrote: "On Basilisk Station. I hope Honor is at least as kickass as Bobbie Draper or Avasarala.

The book is available for free here: http://www.baen.com/on-basilisk-stati......"

Thank you. Unfortunately the book is just not for me. DNFed. I really, really don't like the writing. Too many expositions and info dump in inappropriate places, like between scenes and so on. More or less like this: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/s... I almost decided to continue reading just for the laughs - the main character is so Mary Sue - but I just don't have the time.

[Trike]

Silvana wrote: "Thank you. Unfortunately the book is just not for me. DNFed. I really, really don't like the writing. Too many expositions and info dump in inappropriate places, like between scenes and so on. More or less like this: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/s... I almost decided to continue reading just for the laughs - the main character is so Mary Sue - but I just don't have the time. "

Ahh... HAHAHAHAHA!

It's funny because it's true.

[Sky]

Silvana wrote: More or less like this: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/s... "

Oh man that is awesome.

[Aaron]

While all your books are getting delayed, Pillars of Reality book 6 is coming 1st of next month, I was pretty sure we weren't supposed to be getting that until November.

I read Hard Luck Hank #2 and #3, going to take a bit of a break before continuing the series again.

Started Age of Myth, I liked his previous series and this has been solid so far.

I stalled out on The Atrocity Archives, it's my first book by Stross and I just can't get into it at all. I will try again later when I'm more in the mood.

Finished Sword Art Online 16 this book was basically all buildup to the next one. At least the fight scenes are great and the more I read Reki's stuff the more I feel he should be commissioned to write Star Wars books. ソードアート・オンライン 16: アリシゼーション・エクスプローディング

[Sparrow Knight]

Finished Cherryh's "Forge of Heaven", a tightly plotted political intrigue on a space station. Even many of her secondary characters are well drawn; her primary characters are excellent. I particularly loved the daughter of the space station director going full-on teen rebellion just as political espionage starts to erupt on many levels....isn't that just how it goes? If it's one crisis, it'll be 3.

Starting "Full Dark House" by Fowler, an author new to me.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

Currently I'm reading Crux by Ramez Naam. It's the second book in a trilogy that began with Naam's Nexus. So far I've been enjoying it.

[Colin]

Rick wrote: "Next up is the 3rd novella in Matt Wallace's Sin du Jour series, Pride's Spell"

Me too, now that I'm done with Time Traders. They've been short, fun reads so far, so I'm expecting more of the same.

[Joel]

Just finished reading a new book from Dan Wells, the author of the John Cleaver series, called Bluescreen. It's YA cyberpunk, and I thought it was a lot of fun and interesting. The sequel comes out in February. Check it out if you get the chance.

[Melissa]

Finished Nemesis Games a few days ago. It is definitely my favorite of the series so far. My interest had started to fade after Leviathan Wakes, so I'm glad I stuck with it. Currently reading the S&L pick, The Time Traders. After I finish that I'll probably start Who Fears Death (its been on my To Do list forever).

[Sky]

Not sure when I last posted an update or what I've read in between. My son is 12 weeks old today. I knew reading would be slower after having a kid, but I didn't quite grasp how much slower. I thought I'd still have time to read - and I do - its just that I'd much rather spend it sleeping than reading :D It's the best thing in the world though.

Anywhoo, I finished The Wheel of Osheim. It was spectacular. I am sad to see this world come to an end, again, so to speak. Next up is Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I hope to get to Age of Myth sometime soon as my signed hardcover came last week. I need to get back to finishing Malazan with Dust of Dreams.

I read about 30 volumes of Naruto or so at least since my last update. It's what I have the time and attention span for at the moment :)

[Trike]

Sky wrote: "Not sure when I last posted an update or what I've read in between. My son is 12 weeks old today. I knew reading would be slower after having a kid, but I didn't quite grasp how much slower. I thou..."

In case i didn't say this, Congrats! This is why I only have dogs.

Did you name him Chess?

[Sky]

Trike wrote: "Sky wrote: "Not sure when I last posted an update or what I've read in between. My son is 12 weeks old today. I knew reading would be slower after having a kid, but I didn't quite grasp how much sl..."

Thanks!

I wanted to name him Christian since my last name is King (Christian King - like Jesus, get it? Haha - Unfortunately my wife didn't think it was so funny, or at least, growing up, others might not appreciate my sense of humor. Joke names are a bad idea). In the end we named him Aiden, the derivation of which comes from Aed, which in Irish mythology is the god of fire and the underworld, so I guess that is still cool, and provides the perfect counterpoint to my name :)

[Aaron]

I blew though Age of Myth, it's generic and predictable...but it's very well polished and well done generic with good characters, good worldbuilding, good plot, good comic relief and good action. The main issue now is the 1 year wait until the next book :(.

[Trike]

Sky wrote: "I wanted to name him Christian since my last name is King (Christian King - like Jesus, get it? Haha - Unfortunately my wife didn't think it was so funny, or at least, growing up, others might not appreciate my sense of humor. Joke names are a bad idea). In the end we named him Aiden, the derivation of which comes from Aed, which in Irish mythology is the god of fire and the underworld, so I guess that is still cool, and provides the perfect counterpoint to my name :) "

Your last name is a factoid I remembered, because of the TV show reference in the "Naming People After Fictional Characters" thread. It suddenly occurs to me that the hospital probably had him tagged as "Boy King." Heh.

[Sky]

Trike wrote: "Your last name is a factoid I remembered, because of the TV show reference in the "Naming People After Fictional Characters" thread. It suddenly occurs to me that the hospital probably had him tagged as "Boy King." Heh"

:D

[Phil]

Just finished Empire by Orson Scott Card. I usually like Card's writing and enjoy some political and/or philosophical discussions in the books I read but.... unless you're a male, hyper-right wing, Christian, conservative, American who doesn't believe in climate change and who still thinks he's a moderate, this book will probably piss you off. I'm not most of those things so let's just say this isn't going to make my top ten list this year. The fact that I started reading this the night of the Dallas shootings and during Trump's run for the presidency made this even more disturbing . I do recommend a lot of his books (Ender's Game, Pastwatch, Seventh Son, Enchantment) but not this one.
Starting The Dirty Streets of Heaven.

[Pat]

Silvana wrote: "Starting Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. My first flintlock fantasy. Please, please don't suck. ..."

It doesn't. I'm definitely on the Laser side & only occasionally dabble in Sword (or Musket) but I loved it & blew through the whole trilogy in a couple of weeks.

[Kristina]

Pat wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Starting Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan. My first flintlock fantasy. Please, please don't suck. ..."

It doesn't. I'm definitely on the Laser side & only occasi..."

That's another series where each book is even better than the last...couldnt put them down!

[Silvana]

Hear hear! I agree with you, Pat and Kristina.
I like action-packed books with fast moving plot so this series is right up my alley. Interesting magic system as well. Finished the first one last night and can't wait to read the rest!

[AndrewP]

I'm reading Doomsday Book and can see there's a good story, but the author seems totally incapable of telling it.

[Jessie]

I just finished Children of Earth and Sky. It was my first Guy Gavriel Kay book, and I was surprised how much I loved it considering that alt-history fantasy is usually not my cup of tea (really struggled with The Grace of Kings earlier this year). I think Kay's character beats sold it for me - he writes such beautiful, complex relationships.

On the other hand, I followed it up with Red Rising and ended up detesting the main character. It's a quick read, but I found the book a bit off-putting.

Now I'm on to Senlin Ascends. Picked it up because I saw it compared to A Face Like Glass, which is one of my all-time favourites. So far it's... odd, but I'm warming up to it. It reads a bit like a steampunk art-film.

[Walter]

Finished The Dain Curse. Now reading The Maltese Falcon while waiting for Learn to Earn: A Beginner's Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business to come in at the library. (Will probably be a bit basic, but one of my favorite books on the stock market is Peter Lynch's One Up On Wall Street: How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market, so . . .)

[Tina]

Windhaven - since it was mentioned on the Updraft threads.

[Rob, Roberator]

First I listened to The Waking Fire. I liked it a lot better than his last book. It looks to be an interesting series (My Review).

I also read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, which isn't SFF, but was very book nerdy. I found it a lot of fun (My Review).

Finally in another break from SFF, I listened to The Day of the Jackal, I liked it, but didn't love it (My Review).

[Joseph]

Finished The Aeronaut's Windlass and decided to revisit an old favorite, Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny.

[Olivia "So many books--so little time.""]

I've just finished reading Nebula Award Stories Nine which is edited by Kate Wilhelm. I enjoyed most of the stories.

[Keith]

I needed a pick-me-up, something light and breezy and full of things that will revive my faith in humanity. So I picked Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege, 1942-1943. My decision making process is flawed.

I'm also reading Dracula, since I only ever read the "Illustrated Classics" version when I was a sprout.

[Fresno Bob]

Trike wrote: "He could've written entire books about each of the gambits, really."

yep, would love to read these! Just finished Capital in the Twenty-First Century which was like taking a super interesting economics course, and am currently reading The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team where two fantasy baseball writers end up running an Independent baseball team in Sonoma.

I'm piling up fiction for my vacation reading, The Sudden Appearance of Hope, Underground Airlines, and A Long Time Until Now

[Joseph]

Finished Jack of Shadows (t was one of those lovely early 1970s books that felt that 200 pages was more than enough to not overstay its welcome, thank you very much) and started my vacation reading a week early: A Game of Thrones by this Martin Georges guy.

[Walter]

Think I've heard of him. Plumber's handbook, right?

[Joseph]

Walter wrote: "Think I've heard of him. Plumber's handbook, right?"

Something like that. I've heard good things.

(Honestly, I read the first three books years ago and really liked them; I decided it was finally time to read all five so that I could watch the last couple seasons of the TV series.)

[Stephen]

Thanks to the shortness of The Time Traders I will fit in the audio of Dark Disciple, (so far it is a blast), plus the dead tree version of Shadows Linger from the Godfather of Grimdark, Glen Cook.

[John (Taloni)]

Just started Endymion. Had I not already read the Hyperion books and mostly enjoyed them, I might have lemmed this book right away. It starts off with an anti-hunting screed in which a bunch of weekend hunters act like a jerk to their guide and flout all the common sense rules of hunting. I've known plenty of hunters and none act like that. That scene reveals the author's prejudices more than anything else.

But even worse, the hunters are repeatedly described as fat or obese. Yep, they're bad because they're fat. I am so, SO sick of that particular trope.