What Else Are You Reading - April 2017

[Rob, Roberator]

What are you reading this month?

[Stephen]

See Rob. You are fast, like The Flash fast.

[Rob, Roberator]

Stephen wrote: "See Rob. You are fast, like The Flash fast."

That depends on your time zone and sleep schedule. I just get up early (4am weekdays and often by 7am on weekends) EST. Today I was up around 6am, so I got on the computer by 7 and took care of the monthly upkeep.

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

Stephen wrote: "See Rob. You are fast, like The Flash fast."

For me it was 10PM on the 1st when Rob added this thread.

So "What took you so long long Rob?" ;-)

;-P (j/k)

Obviously I'm reading "The Invisible Library"

Then I might read The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson which I got free from tor.com

[Stephen]

But you get stuff done Rob, I get up at 6am and by 6:30 am I got one sock on.
I gonna clear the slate for Red Sister which will hit the tablet Monday at 9pm ( one of the benefits of West Coast living besides 5:30 pm Hockey on the TV) Have the The Invisible Library from the library.

[Kristina]

Had just started A Gathering of Shadows when april's pick was announced. Snagged The Invisible Library and decided to jump in since it's not super long. So far I am realy enjoying it!

[terpkristin]

I too am reading The Invisible Library, for obvious reasons. I have started listening to Will Save the Galaxy for Food, by Yahtzee of Zero Punctuation. Both are light and work well to balance my work crap going on.

After these two, I have some options, and I'm not sure which way I'll go. I may just flip a coin when I'm ready. :)

[Annie]

I just finished The Dark Forest which I very much enjoyed and was a surprising next step in the trilogy. I didn't anticipate where this one went. It is definitely a book that focuses on ideas more than characters, although this one had a good balance. And I find the ideas he develops so intriguing.

Currently reading A Conjuring of Light. I loved the second book and the focus on Lila and the introduction of Alucard. Hopefully this is a satisfying conclusion!

[Rob, Roberator]

I finished listening to Pilot X and enjoyed it. ★★★★☆ - My Review

[Brendan]

Finished The Invisible Library. Forgettable.

Wanted to read City of Miracles but apparently its not out for a month, so reading Pilot X instead. I'll be interested to see how Primer the time loops get.

[David H.]

I don't think I like time travel stories that go the full Primer.

[Trike]

Rob wrote: "I finished listening to Pilot X and enjoyed it. ★★★★☆ - My Review"

Four stars? So, apparently there will be a mod position opening up soon....

[Trike]

Finished Alif the Unseen. Very, very good.

Got The Invisible Library and The Collapsing Empire from the library. Also, got a Sunday delivery (!) of graphic novels Ms. Marvel, Vol. 6: Civil War II and Doctor Strange, Vol. 3: Blood in the Aether. I just ordered them Saturday morning, so that was a surprise, especially since I live in the woods.

So, I don't know what to start next. Maybe the graphic novels, since tonight is season finale of Walking Dead.

[Brendan]

David wrote: "I don't think I like time travel stories that go the full Primer."

The full Primer requires multiple flowcharts to figure out, I hope Tom wouldn't do that to us.

[Rob, Roberator]

Trike wrote: "Rob wrote: "I finished listening to Pilot X and enjoyed it. ★★★★☆ - My Review"

Four stars? So, apparently there will be a mod position opening up soon...."

Lol.

[Sheila Jean]

So all my library holds came up this weekend, so I'm going to have a very busy 2 weeks. I did finish The Invisible Library already, so that's a start.

Audio:
The Bands of Mourning
ebook:
The Invisible Library, The White Rose
Hardback:
Firebrand, Etched in Bone

[Ivy]

Just finished the Dark Tower like 10 minutes ago...I'm in a book coma. It's similar to the food coma one experiences on Thanksgiving. The idea of picking up anything else just doesn't seem possible right now.

After a nap, though, and maybe some pumpkin pie, I'd like to get to the Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood, Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuval, and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Also finishing up The Night Circus.

[John (Taloni)]

FINALLY finished the "Night's Dawn" trilogy by Peter Hamilton. Over three thousand pages of story broken up into three volumes, but really one long book. Lots of interesting bits with space flight, living spaceships and space habitat, mixed in with a far too long treatise on possession of the living by dead humans from an unspecified beyond. Historical figures that are modestly interesting show up, along with evil dead evilly doing evil things. With evilness.

Despite the incredible length, Hamilton STILL goes for a fast Deus Ex Machina ending. The series is decent enough as book fodder if you have nothing else lined up. Good for Hamilton fans perhaps, but it should be the last Hamilton you pick up.

[Iain]

Slogging through Death's End which could have done with some edits. Fun offspring of Olaf Stapledon and E.E. Doc Smith.

Taking some time off while away fro a week reading the much lighter The Hanging Tree which is fun and reading my Son Neverwhere which he is enjoying.

[AndrewP]

Waiting for The Invisible Library to be transferred to my library for pickup so I started on the 4th Saxon Tales book Sword Song. Okay, but like many series this has become a bit formulaic and just more of the same. If Invisible Library doesn't come in this week I will move on to L.A. Confidential for another book group. I have a copy at home and have been waiting for an incentive to tackle it.

[Trike]

The start of Collapsing Empire is great. It's lightweight, hyper-verbal sci-fi, everything I want from a Scalzi book.

[Emma]

Finished Ghost Talkers in audio form and The Broken Kingdoms in e-book form.

Ghost Talkers was a nice diversion. It wasn't exactly "light" material, but it was a light read, if that makes any sense. Something I apparently needed.

The Broken Kingdoms grew on me. It had a pretty slow start, but got better. Enjoyed it by the end. I'll finish off the series after I finish this month's pick.

Currently listening to Cold Days and finishing up The Stars Are Legion in dead tree edition.

[Sky]

I read The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. The first half of the book was much better than the second half but generally i really enjoyed the different scientific studies discussd about how spending time in nature is good for us :)

I started This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking in audio since I already owned it and it is a collection of very short essays - since the main thing i am waiting for is:

RED SISTER! which drops tomorrow.

[John (Nevets)]

Danielle, which narrator did you have for "Cold Days"?

Trike, in reading the sample chapters of "Colapsing Empire" the dialogue was the one thing I didn't jell with. It just seamed to California relaxed, and not galaxy spanning empireish enough. But maybe that's just the trope I'm expecting. I'll still probably read/ listen to it soon.

[David H.]

John (Nevets) wrote: "Danielle, which narrator did you have for "Cold Days"?"

I'm not Danielle, but as far as I know, James Marsters has narrated all the Dresden books, aside from Ghost Story (John Glover), and even then, Marsters did a recording for that book later.

[Trike]

John (Nevets) wrote: "Trike, in reading the sample chapters of "Colapsing Empire" the dialogue was the one thing I didn't jell with. It just seamed to California r..."

It's pretty much the opposite of serious and portentous. So far some of the spaceship names have included Tell Me Another One, and the sister ships Yes, Sir, That's My Baby and No, Sir, I Don't Mean Maybe. Maybe this one isn't for you.

[Emma]

John (Nevets) wrote: "Danielle, which narrator did you have for "Cold Days"?"

David wrote: "I'm not Danielle, but as far as I know, James Marsters has narrated all the Dresden books..."

Yep! James Marsters is narrating Cold Days.

[BookishBenny]

I recently finished the first of the Reckoners books, Steelheart by B. Sanderson and have just started the second in the series, Firefight.

I have a natural interest in superheroes (Spider-man forever! :P ) and so this is a really interesting take on the genre. If you haven't read them I would highly recommend getting the first one as they're very easy to get into and nicely rewarding to read.Steelheart Chapter Sampler

[John (Nevets)]

Doh, sorry folks. I got "Cold Days" and "Ghost Stories" mixed up. As David pointed out Masters rerecorded that one, and I was wondering if you had listened to the older or newer version of that. The worst part is, I've listened to "Cold Days", it was just a while back. Marsters really has done a great job with all the Dresden books.

[Kristina]

Trike wrote: "The start of Collapsing Empire is great. It's lightweight, hyper-verbal sci-fi, everything I want from a Scalzi book."

He's signing about an hour a way from me tonight! So excited.. it's rare anyone stops so close.

[Emma]

John (Nevets) wrote: "Doh, sorry folks. I got "Cold Days" and "Ghost Stories" mixed up. As David pointed out Masters rerecorded that one, and I was wondering if you had listened to the older or newer version of that. Th..."

:) It happens. I listened to the Marsters recording of Ghost Stories when I read it. And yes, he does an amazing job for the Dresden books. Unfortunately, I'm getting pretty close to joining the "anxiously awaiting Peace Talks" club. I had been trying to space the books out to avoid being in that position.

[AndrewP]

Trike wrote: "It's pretty much the opposite of serious and portentous. So far some of the spaceship names have included Tell Me Another One, and the sister ships Yes, Sir, That's My Baby and No, Sir, I Don't Mean Maybe. Maybe this one isn't for you. ."

Those ship names are a definite tribute to Iain M. Banks:) SpaceX has done that too with it's drone landing ships being called "Of Course I still Love You" and "Just Read the Instructions".

Still waiting for Tom to pick a Banks novel :)

[Keith]

I'm at about the halfway point of The Diamond Age: or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. I went in knowing nothing about its contents (I'd read Cryptonomicon and the "Baroque Cycle" before but nothing else by Stephenson), so I was surprised and pleased with the blend of punks both cyber and steam. I am still not sure what the plot will end up being about, and my interest in Hackworth's magical psychedelic sex cave is low (I'm sure my opinion would be different if I was there), but so far I've enjoyed the ride and look forward to seeing where it goes.

[Jason (jasonb)]

Currently, Star Wars: Bloodline. After we lost Carrie Fisher I knew I had to read something Leia centric. And this is the most Leia centric book that I haven't read so far.

Also, I'm waiting to read Thrawn that comes out April 11th.

[Jenny]

I'm listening to The Girl with All the Gifts on Audible. I've been distracted by podcasts lately, but being on here makes me want to focus on the audiobook.

[John (Taloni)]

With a gap between the mega-trilogy Night's Dawn and before some other books came in, I decided to give the CS Lewis Space trilogy a try. I remember attempting to read it as a teen and putting it down. But hey, I'm older now so who knows!

Well, Out of the Silent Planet was just as dull as I remembered. I almost dropped it this time too. But courtesy of a bad night's insomnia I had nothing else to read and finished it.

The trilogy is the Lewis style "War in Heaven" cast in an SF light. Out of the Silent Planet got better, but really only worked its way up to mediocre by the end. I'm afraid this book has not aged well. As for the others, I started Perelandra and it is somewhat better. Perhaps that's because I have the heavy theology / philosophy data dump behind me. But Reynolds' "Revenger" has come in and I may postpone reading Perelandra. It's not like it will be hard to get from the library at any time.

[AndrewP]

I read this trilogy a month or so ago and I ended up wishing I had skipped them, especially Perelandra :(

[Bethany]

I just finished Pilot X and The Handmaid's Tale. Both were good, but I'm a little bummed that I bought Handmaid's Tail too early I guess and missed out on the extended ending from Audible :/ I'll have to wait until I have a glut of credits to find out if there's any new info (which is killing me) Now I'm going to finish Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits that I fell behind on.

[Iain]

Just finished The Hanging Tree ★★★☆☆. A good police procedural with magic. Goddesses, fey, and rogue wizards running around modern London causing mayhem, what more do you want in a light hearted romp.

Now on to Pilot X while I wait for Invisible Library to arrive.

[Colin]

Finished Scott Sigler's Alone, the final book in his Generations trilogy. Haven't quite settled on a rating for it yet. Mixed feelings about how it ended the series.

But anyway, just in time for the release of Claire North's The End of the Day. Can always expect something interesting from her.

[BookishBenny]

Early hours of this morning I finished Brandon Sanderson's second novel in the Reckoners series - Firefight.

It was more broader than the first adding more main characters and it sets up the story for the final book perfectly

Highly recommend this book.

[Silvana]

Finished with The Caves of Steel. Not as expected but I still give a four-star rating. Great to be back in Asimov's robot world. Daneel Olivaw is adorable.

Gonna be a busy month at work but hopefully I have time to finish Shadow & Claw (starting now), The Stars Are Legion, and if I have time in between, Chains of Command. I think there are two or three other next-in-series (Wolf Moon is one) but I have yet to procure them so maybe later.

[John (Taloni)]

^ Are you going to read Naked Sun next (or perhaps have read it?) I love that book beyond reason. Am curious about your reaction if/when you read it.

[Louie]

Silvana wrote: "Finished with The Caves of Steel. Not as expected but I still give a four-star rating. Great to be back in Asimov's robot world. Daneel Olivaw is adorable."

Interestingly enough, Isaac Asimov died on this date, 25 years ago.
And, as much as I disliked the Will Smith action-flick, I, Robot, I still wanted Sonny to become R. Daneel Olivaw in future films.

[David H.]

I don't know, I liked the Daneel wasn't made by Earthers.

[Shad]

I loved Asimov's robot novels. I ended up using Danielle and Giskard as logons on some systems.

Currently reading The Collapsing Empire. Put my reread of The Way of Kings on hold since my library's ereads site got Collapsing Empire.

[John (Taloni)]

Finished up Perelandra. That's one of the kind of books that I like having read, but don't particularly enjoy the reading.

I twigged to the (spoilers, I guess, if a 70 year old book can be spoiled)

(view spoiler)[idea that Perelandra was the next Garden of Eden pretty fast. Now we've got a persistent Serpent, but also this time an anti-Serpent. Well, okay, why not.

Problem is, I almost completely agreed with the Adversary. I ca n't believe in a Creator that made me to obey unthinkingly. Rather, I would think any Creator worth the name would want us to have free will. Also, the evil evilness of the possessed Weston is a setup, as he goes around maiming the local innocent animals, who somehow don't figure out they should stay away from the guy. It's like Lewis didn't trust us to get his morality play and put in a big blinking arrow pointing to Weston with "BAD GUY" in neon letters.

Also, for a guy expressing humility to God, Lewis shows some arrogance. Why should our solar system be special? If anything, we would be among a huge number of God's creations.

All in all this book borrows from Wells in the idea that the vitality of life passes from Mars to Earth and will eventually pass to Venus. There's a small sop to Stapledon's Star Maker in the vision the MC has at the end, of the perfection to come.

Interesting, worth reading, but a heck of a slog. (hide spoiler)]

[Iain]

Sad to say Pilot X only managed a ★★½☆☆. Just too much like Doctor Who episode for me.. Oh well on to the next book, if I am still allowed on.

[Silvana]

John (Taloni) wrote: "^ Are you going to read Naked Sun next (or perhaps have read it?) I love that book beyond reason. Am curious about your reaction if/when you read it."

Yeah, I think I will, but not this month :)

Louie wrote: "Silvana wrote: "Finished with The Caves of Steel. Not as expected but I still give a four-star rating. Great to be back in Asimov's robot world. Daneel Olivaw is adorable."

Interestin..."

Whoa, what a timing.

I have not watched I, Robot. Should I? I read the book a long time ago and only remembered liking it and full story escapes my memory.

[John (Taloni)]

I, Robot takes the three laws, plus a short story about a robot with a 1st law / 2nd law conflict and mashes it up with some Hollywood tropes. It is worth a watch. If it doesn't cost any extra. On a service you already subscribe to.