The Sword and Laser discussion
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What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading - March 2017
Trike wrote: "Just finished Straits of Hell and it turns out I read it last August.I was 300-some pages in before I recognized a scene, but I thought maybe it was because it had been a preview ..."
That's pretty great. I've never had something like that happen; the closest I've come to it is when my eyes drift along a page as I'm closing a book or the ebook equivalent and when I come back to it, I'm confused as to why what I'm reading seems so familiar. I can't have read it before, this is where my bookmark was!
The Neutronium Alchemist finally came in from the library. I was really jazzed to read it after reading the first book. I'm just a little leary right now because it's focusing really heavily on the demonic possession angle and not the much more fun living spaceship and space habitat part.
Eric wrote: "That's pretty great. I've never had something like that happen; the closest I've come to it is when my eyes drift along a page as I'm closing a book or the ebook equivalent and when I come back to it, I'm confused as to why what I'm reading seems so familiar. I can't have read it before, this is where my bookmark was!"I actually just had a somewhat similar thing happen--Clarkesworld Magazine will reprint some stories, and the March issue had a story by MacLeod that just seemed so familiar... turns out I had read it a few years ago in a Year's Best anthology. But Trike's example is (unfortunately) hilarious.
David wrote: "Eric wrote: "That's pretty great. I've never had something like that happen; the closest I've come to it is when my eyes drift along a page as I'm closing a book or the ebook equivalent and when I ..."I guess I have had that happen at least once with Clarkesworld and Escape Pod. But they tend to overlap very rarely.
Well, I did it. I finished Seveneves. Despite grinding to a halt in part 2, I ended up really enjoying it. My review.Not sure what to read next. Maybe something short.
Dara wrote: "Well, I did it. I finished Seveneves. Despite grinding to a halt in part 2, I ended up really enjoying it. My review.Not sure what to read next. Maybe something short."
Took a look at your To-Read. Read Pyramids. It's standalone and fun.
Finished Realms of the Dead edited by Susan J. Morris. It's a collection of short stories featuring undead, set in the Forgotten Realms world from D&D. I had only read a couple of these authors, Ed Greenwood and R.A. Salvatore, before but the writing was excellent throughout. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this.Reading Armor next.
Finished Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures by Robert E. Howard, which was excellent, and started to reread D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths for the first time in many, many, many years -- I need to read the Gaiman book, but I wanted to go back to a childhood favorite first, just to cement that version in my memory.
Dara wrote: "Richard wrote: "Dara wrote: "I started Seveneves a couple days ago. The premise is interesting though I wish more time was spent on Earth."Whilst I did like it, I much preferred t..."
I lemmed it.. life is too short and the plot never took off (stuck in orbit)
Just finished The Massacre of Mankind by Baxter - ★★★☆☆Too long, lacks the brevity of the original. Too many characters and too many locations bog down the plot... not a worthy sequel.
Iain wrote: "Dara wrote: "Richard wrote: "Dara wrote: "I started Seveneves a couple days ago. The premise is interesting though I wish more time was spent on Earth."I lemmed it.. life is too short and the plot never took off (stuck in orbit)"
My review spoils it pretty well if you want to read that instead. It's about 880 pages shorter, too. :p
Finished D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths, which was just as good as I remembered it being, and decided it was finally time to check out the Gentleman Bastard with The Lies of Locke Lamora.
Eric wrote: "Fair enough. If OMW hasn't put you off from him entirely, there are essentially 3 other books to consider..."Going to hold off an anything Scalzi for now. Maybe i'll try him again in 5 years or so.
Finished: The Curse of Chalion. I liked it, fun and subtly smart at points. Not hard to see why Bujold has many devoted fans. Will look for other books by her, I think.
Currently reading: New York 2140. For me KSR is one of the few "day one buy, dont even read the synopsis" authors, I'll check out anything they write.
I breezed through The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin the other day, because I needed something new and hadn't ever read it. It gets a bit info dumpy, but if you like dreams, it's the book for you! Plus some doses of Portland in near future disaster scenarios.
Mod
Fields of Fire - Fronlines continues to be excellent, though I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as the last one. ★★★★☆ - My Review
Going Rogue - The Spells, Swords & Stealth series is a ton of fun, and this is my favorite book yet. ★★★★☆ - My Review
Sins of Empire - An excellent start to a new trilogy in the Powder Mage series. ★★★★★ - My Review
Rob wrote: "My reading time has been pretty light lately, but thankfully my audiobook time hasn't. It doesn't hurt that my last 3 books were all really good too.Fields of Fire - Fronlines con..."
I started reading the first Frontlines book, Terms of Enlistment, last week and thought it was pretty great, but realized I've already read two books that start with T this year, so I set it aside for later.
I'm about 1/7th of the way through Bookburners, which is terrific so far. The voice through the first four "episodes" (basically short stories by different authors) has been remarkably consistent so far. (Maybe some after-the-fact tweaking?)
I really enjoyed the way the initial story was written. Short, choppy, propulsive, not unlike a screenplay. If this is indicative of how Max Gladstone writes, I'll definitely have to check out his other books.
Mod
Heh. You and your book title thing.
Mod
If he was English I'd call his Alphabetic book selection "quaintly eccentric".
I don't know what the US equivalent is?
quirkily kooky ;-)
Adrian wrote: "How did you like Six Wakes? I listened to the audio that she narrates and did not enjoy it as much as I would have hoped."Finally finished. I actually really enjoyed the story. It was a properly tangled Whodunnit? where the finger of suspicion could justifiably by pointed at any of the novel's cast. I thought that the use of clones was well done. She had clearly spent some time thinking through the implications for a society where cloning becomes commonplace and how people might respond to it.
Sadly, despite all her years reading stories on short fiction podcasts like Escape Pod and Pseudopod, I don't think her own reading of the novel did it any favours. All the characters whether male, female or AI had the same voice, which made it harder to follow the dialogue. I think a professional voice actor could have made a huge difference to the experience.
Fields of Fire - ★★★☆☆ This book was okay, and not the explosiveness I wanted but it does make sense in universe, I think all the everything is kind of dark and depressing is really hurting this series for me.SpecOps - ★★★★☆ On the flip side you have SpecOps which is kind of over the top schlocky in a really fun way with great characters, highly recommended in audiobook form.
Caine's Mutiny - ★★★★★ I'm barely giving this a 5, but I still thought this book, hell this series is amazing. The bad guys are great to hate, and while this author doesn't excel in physical action writing his verbal action writing is top notch and always where this series excels.
Hard Luck Hank: Robot Farts - Almost done with this one, it's tracking a 4 right now, this series remains basically the only sci-fi comedy series worth anything out there right now, bonus points on it not trying to be another hitchhikers guide and instead just being it's own thing.
Working through Witchy Eye, Cartwright's Cavaliers, and The Phantom Castle as well, but am not far enough to really know what I'm going to give them yet.
Eric wrote: "Dara wrote: "Well, I did it. I finished Seveneves. Despite grinding to a halt in part 2, I ended up really enjoying it. My review.Not sure what to read next. Maybe something short..."
I ended up going the total opposite of Seveneves and started Belgravia by Julian Fellowes (of Downton Abbey fame). It's totally trashy and Fellowes is kind of a one-trick pony but it's a nice light book for the moment.
Currently enjoying the Intl Women's Day TOR short story collection: http://www.tor.com/series/nevertheles...Still in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay audiobook - I can't fall asleep with Eddie Redmayne's voice.
Oh and I finished Minority Report and Other Stories. PKD is now on my top list. Found myself enjoying more his shorts than full length novel.
Eric wrote: "This is fortuitous timing given our discussion of Scalzi: http://www.tor.com/2017/03/20/where-t..."
Hmm I started my Scalzi journey with Redshirts....oh man do I have to reread...
Silvana wrote: "Currently enjoying the Intl Women's Day TOR short story collection: http://www.tor.com/series/nevertheles...Still in [book:Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Scree..."
And now goodreads supports the rereads! perfect time!
Finally finished Worm and my senior undergraduate thesis, so I have my life back on two fronts! Holy crap Worm was amazing. It's a time investment (and was probably not the best thing for me to pick up while writing the aforementioned thesis), but I honestly can't recommend it enough. It has everything I look for in a genre fiction - character depth, creative and logical world building, and just an addictive, kick ass story. The only drawbacks are the serious book-hangover it left me with and the fact that no one I know has heard about it, let alone read it.
Last week I blew through A Conjuring of Light, which was decent. I thought it was a major improvement over book two in the Shades of Magic series. I just started Leviathan Wakes (after marathoning the first season of the Expanse last weekend), and I'm also planning to start on The Shadowed Sun this week.
Mod
Reading of the Backworld books. It's pretty good. Not too gripping yet but enjoyable.
Finished The Outback Stars and figured it's high time I knocked this one off my list of shame, so I'm starting The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer.
Oh, good choice Keith. And if you go that way, I think the audio book performance makes it even better. You'll soon find out why this makes sense in the world of the book.On a similar note I'm about 3/4 of the way through a reread of Anathem and really enjoying it. I've enjoyed just about all the Stephenson novels, but I think this is my second favorite after Cryptonomicon. I know not everyone likes this one, but for me it really works. It helps that the lead character has many attributes that I picture in myself. And Stephenson's over explanation makes more sense in a world that is not our own.
Took a break from SF with some thuggish detective work: Night School ★★★☆☆, have I really read 21 of theses things and did Holywood really thing that midget Cruise was an appropriate actor... thats the fantasy element..Now on to Death's End.
John (Nevets) wrote: "Oh, good choice Keith. And if you go that way, I think the audio book performance makes it even better. You'll soon find out why this makes sense in the world of the book.On a similar note I'm ab..."
I enjoyed Anathem until the end. I'll have to do a re-read maybe I'll like it better the second time around. I find Stephenson kind of sucks at endings.
Well, I got about 40 pages into this month's pick when my library hold on Abaddon's Gate came in. Now I'm not sure I'll be able to finish the pick in time for the wrap up episode, lol.
Oh geez.. yesterday my teen went to take his ACT at the main library in town. I decided to take a quick wander after he was settled.. and walked out with like 8 books.. despite having Sins of Empire e-delivered in the last week or so and knowing that I have Strange the Dreamer preordered and it's coming out next week... It was so fun though! I never just go look at the library anymore.. these days I just put holds on things online then run in to pick them up. So now I've started Ancillary Sword.
Mod
Just started Big Pulp Fall 2011 as I finished The Machine God. Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I finished Belgravia yesterday. I enjoyed it. My review.Now I'm reading some book called Pilot X by some guy Tom Merritt. Never heard of him before.
Dara wrote: "I finished Belgravia yesterday. I enjoyed it. My review.Now I'm reading some book called Pilot X by some guy Tom Merritt. Never heard of him before."
One day that Mr Merritt's going to go far. Maybe even be one Bacon number away from Felicia Day.
Rob wrote: "Don't sleep on Sins of Empire! I think it's my favorite book of year so far. Not that I've read that many books yet, but it was still really good."I'm working on it currently, it's good so far.
Jessica wrote: "Finally finished Worm and my senior undergraduate thesis, so I have my life back on two fronts!
Holy crap Worm was amazing. It's a time investment (and was probably not the best t..."
Another convert ahoy. Worm 2(or whatever it will be called) prewriting has already started, and Twig is about to wrap up.
Just finished The Clan of the Cave Bear which was pretty good and I might read the rest of the series at some point. Currently playing catch up with the Expanse series and now on Cibola Burn.
Rob wrote: "Don't sleep on Sins of Empire! I think it's my favorite book of year so far. Not that I've read that many books yet, but it was still really good."ack! I need to find more reading time! I've been looking forward to it for ages!
Now I'm reading some book called Pilot X by some guy Tom Merritt. Never heard of him before."
Would sure like to get my hands on that...
Scalzi's The Collapsing Empire arrived on my Kindle this morning. Only had time to read a couple of pages so far.
Mod
I'm enjoying that a lot so far, but I've enjoyed all of Scalzi's work, so I may not be a good gauge for that.
Rob wrote: "Colin wrote: "Scalzi's The Collapsing Empire arrived on my Kindle this morning. Only had time to read a couple of pages so far."I'm enjoying that a lot so far, but I've enjoyed al..."
I'm about 30% of the way into the audio book. I am enjoying Wil Wheaton's narration but I am just not getting into the book. I feel like there are a ton of characters and it is just a little hard for me to get into.
Is it worth continuing?
Mod
I will say I haven't met many new characters since the first few chapters.
I just finished part 2 which puts me around 75%. I think part 2 was a lot better than 1 (although I enjoyed 1 a lot). You'll end up with a much better understanding of the big picture.
It's hard for me to say if you'll change your mind though.
Dara wrote: "Now I'm reading some book called Pilot X by some guy Tom Merritt. Never heard of him before."Kristina wrote: "Would sure like to get my hands on that..."
I was at my local library last week, and was delighted to find Pilot X on the new releases shelf. I just have a stack of other things (comics) to read before I get to it.
Finished my other club reads, but still waiting for Gateway to arrive at my local library. Till then I'm reading Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future.
I am on the last book in the Ciri Saga Lady of the Lake and Aftermath: Life Debt to finish that Star Wars trilogy.
Louie wrote: "Dara wrote: "Now I'm reading some book called Pilot X by some guy Tom Merritt. Never heard of him before."Kristina wrote: "Would sure like to get my hands on that...."
Oh wow! I'm going to check my libraries!
Actually the Kindle version is only a little over 5$ right now.. so I think I'll just buy it. Woo!
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The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
The Collapsing Empire (other topics)The Invisible Library (other topics)
Alif the Unseen (other topics)
A Gathering of Shadows (other topics)
Ancillary Sword (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Tom Merritt (other topics)Tom Merritt (other topics)
Tom Merritt (other topics)
Tom Merritt (other topics)
Wil Wheaton (other topics)
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I was 300-some pages in before I recognized a scene, but I thought maybe it was because it had been a preview appended to the previous book. I only gave it 3 stars last year because there was almost no forward momentum in a book about a world war with dinosaurs. I'd give it 2 stars on the re-read because so little of it made an impression.
I don't know if I should be embarrassed by this or not. I mean, I should have checked to see if I'd already read it, but on the other hand a 400-page war story shouldn't be so forgettable after 8 months.