What are you reading in November 2017?

[Nick]

Please let us know what your are reading, or plan to read, in November. All genres are welcome here, not only SF/F/H.

We want to know!

[Random]

Just finished The Human Division last night. Enjoyed it a lot. Started The End of All Things this morning.

Not sure what I'll be hitting after.

[Rachel]

I have finally begun The Way of Kings.
Only 10,000 pages to go!

[Allan]

Almost finished with _Johannesburg Cabal The Necromancer_ by Jonathan L. Howard. This is the second book that I’ve read by this author and while I’m enjoying it I found his novel _Carter & Lovecraft_ far more entertaining.

[Allan]

Darn autocorrect.... that should have read Johannes not Johannesburg.

[Jenny]

I'm listening to The Collapsing Empire on Audible, I'm reading Sense and Sensibility in paperback, and I'm verrry slowly reading The Wise Man's Fear on my Kindle.

[Ken]

Finished Bared Blade last night, all in all pretty good. Very Vlad Taltos like but not to much.

Was going to read Foundation and Earth, ended up reading a synopsis of Foundations Edge and, while not really, I noticed just for continuities sake I should of read Robots and Empire first

So I decided to go against the grain and start in on Red Mars

[Bill's]

The Robots of Dawn - continuing with my plan to read the Foundation Universe Series
Everyday Calculus: Discovering the Hidden Math All Around Us - because it was chosen as the book of the month for the Science Book Club that I co-moderate https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Cibola Burn - series read for this group
Doomsday Book - book of the month on another website
Still Life - something a bit different than my usual reading, if I get around to it

[Juliana]

Linesman, Alliance, Confluence
Horizon
The Keeper of Lost Things
making my way through The Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft, but that's going to take longer than a month!

[Travis]

I just finished the Kindred: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, which was a really remarkable take on the original novel.

I'm in the middle of The Way of Kings, which is exactly what I love about high, epic fantasy: completely immersive, excellent characters, and a driving plot.

I also recently finished Her Body and Other Parties. Wow! If you like horror and fairy tale adaptations, this is such an excellent collection. (And I say that as someone who typically doesn't like short stories...)

I read Pym, Mat Johnson's really smart black-centric rewrite of Poe's white supremacist novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. Lots of fantasy elements and polar travel.

And I'm looking forward to the group read of Cibola Burn later this month!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I decided to read the Company series by Kage Baker. I had already read In the Garden of Iden (I think it was BOTM for us some years ago), but I am rereading it to refresh my memory before moving on to the rest of the series.

I may read The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, Heritage of Cyador, and Taking Hope before diving into our next Expanse book, Cibola Burn.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I'm reading:

- Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold
- Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
- Rama II by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee

Hope to finish most of those this month, and will also try to read At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft and The Wanderer by Fritz Leiber.

On the back burner I'm still picking away at A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin.

[Christine]

I've just finished An Oath of Dogs and wish the author had better "fleshed out" this world. The murder mystery was engaging but there were many unanswered questions about the moon on which it is set. Next up is The Scorpion Rules or Den of Wolves

[Ken]

I started Red Mars but about 2 pages in I wasnt feeling it.
So I spent a couple of hours looking at my shelves and ended up reading Alien Emergencies: A Sector General Omnibus

[Leserling]

I finished reading (listening to) Colorless, which I quite liked. I'm currently listening to The Queen and the Cure (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles #2).

[Shel, Moderator]

I just started Cibola Burn in preparation from the group discussion.

[Random]

I finished up the Old Man's War series and have started on some of the Expanse side stories. Planning on starting Cibola Burn next week.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I only got through In the Garden of Iden and Taking Hope before deciding I’d better read Cibola Burn for our upcoming discussion.

In the Garden of Iden was even better than I had remembered. Taking Hope was an interesting fantasy, a mix of battle-related planning & action and introspection & philosophy by the main character, Morgan/Scarface. It is the sequel to High Rage, and this book is more optimistic. Both excellent reads (4*/5).

I have not chimed in to the Shards of Honor discussion since I remember so few details.

[Christine]

I finished The Scorpion Rules which i gr3eatly enjoyed and highly recommend. Now I'm reading Den of Wolves and am happy to be back with Blackthorn and Grim

[Bill]

So far in November I've re-read Wells' War of the Worlds in preparation for its authorized sequel The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter which I quite liked, but it does not have the horror that Wells can conjure.

And I read Earthlight a 50's Sci-Fi by Arthur C. Clarke. I love the scientific wonder and feel of optimism found in that era of Sci-Fi. It's what I grew up with. One can get distressed from all the dystopian literature coming out today. Should I continue with my TBR list, or pull out old favorites and live in the good-old-days for awhile?

[Shel, Moderator]

I finished Cibola Burn the other day and am ready for the upcoming discussion! I wasn't feeling well yesterday and spent a good portion of the day in re-reading Dragonsdawn for the umpteenth time - it had been a while since I visited Pern :) Now I'm deciding whether I want to re-read some of the other Pern books, re-read Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, or pick up something new.

[Bill]

Shel wrote: "...I wasn't feeling well yesterday and spent a good portion of the day in re-reading Dragonsdawn for the umpteenth time..."

I love Pern. I'm recovering all of its books from boxes in preparation for a re-read next year.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Bill wrote: "Shel wrote: "...I wasn't feeling well yesterday and spent a good portion of the day in re-reading Dragonsdawn for the umpteenth time..."

I love Pern. I'm recovering all of its books from boxes in ..."

Another Pern lover here. I think there might be a couple books I haven’t read, and a couple I’ve read more than once.

[Bill's]

I finished The Robots of Dawn then started Cibola Burn.

The Robots of Dawn was a little more enjoyable than I was expecting. I have read it at least once before but didn't remember much about the story. Only about 14 more books to go to finish the Foundation Universe. Last time I read the Foundation Universe books, I missed some, because Asimov was still writing them.

My wife ran off with the tablet yesterday, so I took a break from Cibola Burn and read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Now I am back to Cibola Burn.

I don't think I have read Jekyll and Hyde before, but I sort of knew what the story was about. After 50+ years of reading it is hard to remember what I have and haven't read before.

Pern is on my to-read list. I have had the first 2 books for many years but haven't got to them yet.

[Travis]

Kathi wrote: "Another Pern lover here. I think there might be a couple books I haven’t read, and a couple I’ve read more than once. "

I've yet to read these, but you are all making me think I need to do so as soon as I possibly can.

[Shel, Moderator]

Travis wrote: "Kathi wrote: "Another Pern lover here. I think there might be a couple books I haven’t read, and a couple I’ve read more than once. "

I've yet to read these, but you are all making me think I need..."

They are a lot of fun, though somewhat dated in a lot of ways. Still, they're favorites of mine :) I decided to go with Good Omens, but I may go back to Pern afterwards, because it's been a long time!

[Random]

Started Cibola Burn on the way into work this morning.

[Bill]

Shel wrote: "...They are a lot of fun, though somewhat dated in a lot of ways..."

Bet dated in ways that are good, IMO. It's probably my age, but I'm not that big of a fan of modern fantasy in general, but love classic epic fantasy.

Wanna talk about whether Pern is Sci-FI or fantasy?

[Shel, Moderator]

Bill wrote: "Wanna talk about whether Pern is Sci-FI or fantasy?"

I'll start another thread so we stop hijacking this one :D

[Ken]

Took a break from reading Alien Emergencies, which is good but just wasnt feeling it. Started Crash Override: How Gamergate (Nearly) Destroyed My Life, and How We Can Win the Fight Against Online Hate

[Katie]

After finishing I, Robot, I wanted a series to dig my teeth into. My husband has been recommending C.S. Friedman for a while, so I started Black Sun Rising. While I'm sorta intimidated by the size, I find the writing to be breathtaking and am pretty sure this author is going to rip my heart out.

[Random]

I've enjoyed Friedman''s work and the Coldfire series is a good one to start with.

[Bill]

Katie wrote: "After finishing I, Robot, I wanted a series to dig my teeth into. My husband has been recommending C.S. Friedman for a while, so I started [book:Black Sun Rising|36..."

Did you like I, Robot? Asimov's Robot books are not my favorite Asimov's

[Katie]

Bill wrote: "Katie wrote: "After finishing I, Robot, I wanted a series to dig my teeth into. My husband has been recommending C.S. Friedman for a while, so I started [book:Black..."

That's a tricky question for me. I liked certain stories a lot while others I could have dealt without. I wanted to read this book, because I'm interested in AI fiction, and felt this was one of the quintessentials. To be frank, I thought the first half of the book, except for "Robbie," sucked, but I really liked the latter half.

[Shel, Moderator]

Katie wrote: "After finishing I, Robot, I wanted a series to dig my teeth into. My husband has been recommending C.S. Friedman for a while, so I started [book:Black Sun Rising|36..."

I adore the Coldfire trilogy. I didn't love the middle book, but the first and the last are amazing. Gerald Tarrant is pretty much my favorite anti-hero ever.

[Christine]

I finished reading Den of Wolves; I have really enjoyed this series and highly recommend it to others
I'm now starting on The Sudden Appearance of Hope

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I finished Cibola Burn. Whew! So good!

Next up I have Sky Coyote as part of my personal Company series read, Heritage of Cyador as the end (for now) of my Recluse series read, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, and a gift from a friend, Wisconsin Lighthouses: A Photographic and Historical Guide, Revised Edition.

[Christine]

I abandoned The Sudden Appearance of Hope after reading less than 50 pages; the writing irritated me so I moved on. I've just started The Ship Beyond Time

[Ken]

Finished Crash Overide. Very good. All about some of the GamerGate stuff and what happened after and some help.
What is interesting is some of the reviews on GoodReads. Obviously trolls still harassing

Started Children of Earth and Sky

[Silvana]

Starting Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb.

[Christine]

I finished The Ship Beyond Time which I recommend; now i am reading the first of these two books, The Girl from Everywhere

[Leserling]

I'm nearly finished with Michael Palin's: Around the World in 80 Days. I finished reading 'The Ghost Owl', and I started: The Book of Dust (la Belle Sauvage).

[Bill's]

I didn't completely follow my plan from the beginning of the month.

I read:
The Robots of Dawn
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Cibola Burn
Doomsday Book

then started: Consider Phlebas

I read Consider Phlebas about 10 years ago but don't remember much from my first read. I have the rest of the series but never got around to reading them yet. When I take too long getting through a series I have to start over from the beginning.

The Doomsday book was sort of disappointing. The characters spent too much time nattering, especially in the modern era. The parts from 1348 were more interesting. This book doesn't read much like a SF book.

Cibola Burn was my favorite Expanse book so far.

I talked about the other 2 books in an earlier message.

[Christine]

I finished The Girl from Everywhere which I enjoyed but not as much as the sequel (which I read first). Still, I do recommend it. I've now started Wake of Vultures

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Bill wrote: "I read Consider Phlebas about 10 years ago but don't remember much from my first read. I have the rest of the series but never got around to reading them yet. When I take too long getting through a series I have to start over from the beginning."

I was debating between Culture and Company for my next personal series read, and I decided on Company. I have read a few of the Culture books and need to get back to that series at some point, too. I think, of the ones I’ve read, Consider Phlebas was one I liked somewhat less than the others.

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

This December I'm reading:
The Wanderer by Fritz Leiber
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Rama II by Arthur C. Clarke and Gentry Lee

And I'm trying to finish them all by the end of the month, along with Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.