SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading in 2018?
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Pam
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Aug 18, 2018 12:01PM
Read the second in the Vows and Honor series by Mercedes Lackey Oathbreakers - and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2489520299.
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As I like to do, today I’ve read a few short stories/novelettes between novels, all of which were interesting, but three of which — “Snake” by Nalo Hopkinson, “Beyond the Dead Reef” by James Tiptree Jr., and “Slow Birds” by Ian Watson — I especially enjoyed. The fourth, “Cicada Queen” by Bruce Sterling, was a bit obtuse for my taste. Any of these titles ring a bell for anyone?
I am about 3/4s the way through Charles Stross's 'The Nightmare Stacks' and enjoying it quite a bit. I find the Laundry Files series overall good, although sometimes bogged down with bureaucratic scenes - difficult to keep the balance between the farcical elements of a govt bureaucracy dealing with eldritch horrors right i think, but in this one, he has nailed it so far. I've also reread the Craft Sequence novels by Max Gladstone. Those are really different - I am not even sure how to describe them, 'wondrously strange', perhaps. I am so looking forward to the next book in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. I can pick up pretty much any of those and get immediately lost in that London..
Had a rather slow reading month; real life stuff be damned. Weaveworld: some good ideas and vivid images but it didn't entirely grab me. 3 stars
Sweet Days of Discipline: 2.5 stars
Grey Souls: Very good. Claudel is a master. If you are looking for something really bleak; 4.5 stars
The Promise of the Child: sweeping, far-future space opera but with some pacing problems: 3.5 stars
Currently reading Light which is mind-meltingly awesome. I might be compelled to read the other two books in this trilogy next.
Finished book 16 in our family-Terry-Pratchett reading: Going Postal and here even the German translation is perfect. The financial, economical and philosophical aspects were a bit too much for my boys, but I was completely moved by Pratchett's ability to draw me into his wonderful way with words and his insight into human nature. From time to time he simply evokes in me the urge to kneel down to his genius (sorry, sounds pathetic, I know, but describes my feeling quite accurately). Next one for this personal challenge is Night Watch. I wanted to go for Small Gods, but fortunately I read in time, that the ebook version is by another translator, who's apparently horrible. So I'll wait with this one till I get back home from vacation and order it in dead-tree-format.
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Julianna, you've just bumped The Craft on my TBR! I've been really meaning to read it, and that juts compounds things for me. Rivers of London is a ton of fun, too! Have you read the Alex Verus books yet?
Prophet, that's a pretty solid reading month even for a slow one! I'm so glad you're liking the one you're reading now.
Gabi, translators are so important, glad you had a back up plan until you could get the one your family likes. Enjoy the rest of your trip :)
Gabi wrote: "Finished book 16 in our family-Terry-Pratchett reading: Going Postal and here even the German translation is perfect. The financial, economical and philosophical aspects were a bit too..."Terry Pratchett and Iain M. Banks (The Culture novels) - both died in the same year, two of my favorite authors. I've read Pratchett in English and in German - 'Going Postal' is so much fun, I usually recommend people new to discworld to start with that one. There was even a movie made of it, we have the dvd, also a lot of fun, but of course, different from the book. re translation, how I wish that the decision had not been made to change Sam Vimes's name to Mumm it annoys me so much!
I took a quick break from Oathbringer this weekend and read through Ready Player One finally. I really enjoyed it! Very fun quick read. It rained all day so it was a great excuse to be cozy and lazy and read :)
MadProfessah wrote: "But Neptune’s Brood is surprisingly good."that's on my list, what did you like about it?
Allison wrote: "Anthony, I haven't read as much short fic as I'd like, and those all sound right up my alley! I'll *sigh* add them to my now ruined TBR. I'm going to lose so many points in the owned books challeng..."yes, have read the Alex Verus books too and like them. another series that I can whole-heartedly recommend is the one that Daniel O'Malley has started with 'The Rook' and 'Stiletto'. great fun - another secret govt agency dealing with the supernatural but with an interesting twist at the beginning that I wasn't sure about, but works really well.
Anthony wrote: "As I like to do, today I’ve read a few short stories/novelettes between novels, all of which were interesting, but three of which — “Snake” by Nalo Hopkinson, “Beyond the Dead Reef” ..."I haven't read much short fiction either - I can get 2 of the 3 from amazon.de, interestingly the Tiptree jr is not available. One of the shorter pieces I've ordered and am waiting for is the first of the Murderbot books, 'All Systems Red'. it has a snarky ai and a lot of rave reviews, fingers crossed.
I also have my eye on 'Elysium Fire' by Alastair Reynolds, I adored 'The Prefect' and this will have at least some of the same characters in it.
I've started in on A Natural History of Dragons as of last night.I'm finding it an utterly delightful sendup of Victorian English literature.
I LOVED the lady Trent books - so light refreshing g and delightful!
Thought I’d better make a dent in my Popsugar and Around the Year challenges and read something to fill prompts so I picked up The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. Gave it 3 Stars. Glad I read it but wasn’t particularly enamoured by it.
Well thanks to all your comments on here I read All Systems Red which was brilliant! And now I am reading The Fifth Season and loving it.
Phrynne wrote: "Well thanks to all your comments on here I read All Systems Red which was brilliant! And now I am reading The Fifth Season and loving it."I'm glad you liked it. I loved it when I read it.
I'm reading The Left Hand of Darkness - is there a thread for this novel? I couldn't find one when I scrolled down, but I'm not sure every thread is shown in my overview.
Lowell wrote: "I've started in on A Natural History of Dragons as of last night.I'm finding it an utterly delightful sendup of Victorian English literature."
It sounds like something along the lines of the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters, will have to check it out!
Another fun Victorian send up is the book by Connie Willis, 'To say nothing of the dog' - time travel hilarity!
Gabi wrote: "I'm reading The Left Hand of Darkness - is there a thread for this novel? I couldn't find one when I scrolled down, but I'm not sure every thread is shown in my overview."Spoiler thread is here. There are also loads of other topics, the group worked a little different back then. Find them all here, but beware spoilers.
@Anna: Thanks a lot! That's a lot indeed! I'll keep to the spoiler thread, once through with reading. I am curious what people thought about it.
This is an interesting fantasy written by David Duchovny of all people.My review of Miss Subways by David Duchovny
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I just finished Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl, which has a casually presented yet absolutely present element of fantasy. It was super fun: a queer, sexy, episodic romp set in the early 90s.
Mod
Oh, that does sound like a fun read, Travis! A good way to end summer, maybe.
Sometimes when reading pieces that are challenging, the effort can pay off. I just read Greg Bear’s 1984 Nebula-winning novella “Hardfought” and came to very much admire his skill in crafting a style of narrative that mirrored his characters’ lack of understanding of what they were experiencing. I haven’t read any of his other work, but I do know he’s won lots of other awards and has written many novels. I want to join the Ammonite buddy read but I’ve been enjoying immersing myself in shorter works so much. The diversity of voice, approach, style, subject matter is invigorating.
Udayan wrote: "On to Amberlough. Its quite an interesting read so far."That’s in my queue, looks very very interesting indeed.
Just finished The Left Hand of Darkness. What a devastatingly beautiful novel!After I dried my tears, I'll go on reading the thread, Anna kindly provided me with.
Gabi wrote: "Just finished The Left Hand of Darkness. What a devastatingly beautiful novel!After I tried my tears, I'll go on reading the thread, Anna kindly provided me with."
Ahhhhh that book is so incredible. Very glad you liked it. She was an utter genius.
@Anthony: Thank you so much for this recommendation! It was wonderful and sad - and exactly the kind of story I needed.
Read Werehunter a collection of short stories by Mercedes Lackey and reviewed it - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2498547334.
Mod
Earlier this week I finished European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman. What a fun read! There was adventure, intrigue, and action. We got more answers about the Athena Club, and (of course) more classic fictional characters enter the story. I look forward to seeing what happens in book 3.
Just finished The Fifth Season and really struggling with what to think. I seem to be the only one LOL. I found it really hard to read. There was nothing in that world described that I was attracted to, in fact I was so put off by elements I nearly put it down. It made me physically ill. I've rarely read a book with so little joy, so I can't really say that I enjoyed it, but obviously it's an elaborate, well written piece of work, so I can't really fault it except it triggered me. I had much the same reaction to Pan's Labyrinth, btw, it made me feel incredibly bad and repulsed and seeing it twice was depressing enough for me XD Now I'll try to write a coherent review haha.
Robert wrote: "Earlier this week I finished European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman. What a fun read! There was adventure, intrigue, and action. We got more answers about the Athena Club, an..."I have the first book in the series on my radar. Worth bumping up?
Damn ... Just realised that Doomsday Book, that I started, is nearly 600 pages. So now I have 4 days to finish it to be on time for my BR. ;) Good Bye sleep ;)
Dawn wrote: "Just finished The Fifth Season and really struggling with what to think. I seem to be the only one LOL. I found it really hard to read. There was nothing in that world described tha..."It's true that the book is incredibly depressing and contains so very little joy. It's a book about living through an apocalypse, and doing that while being an opressed minority. It's not going to feel "good," ever.
What it is, at least to me... is important. It appeals in to my empathy in ways that are hard to describe, and as written, the second person segments really FORCE me into a different mindset.
The only thing I can offer about it is that if you see the rest of the trilogy out, there is hope.
Mod
Gabi wrote: "Damn ... Just realised that Doomsday Book, that I started, is nearly 600 pages. So now I have 4 days to finish it to be on time for my BR. ;) Good Bye sleep ;)"Ah yes but both times I read it I found it totally compelling and ripped through it in no time flat. I hope you feel the same way!
Dawn wrote: "Just finished The Fifth Season and really struggling with what to think. I seem to be the only one LOL. I found it really hard to read. There was nothing in that world described tha..."I understand that its grim brutality can be tough to take, but I found it to always feel so grounded in authentic human experience, and was consistently moved by it. I hope you consider sticking with the whole trilogy.
Phrynne wrote: "My review of All Systems Red by Martha Wells 
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
Loved that book!! Need to get a copy of the sequel.
Just bought Writers of the Future vol#34 anthology. Sometimes a break in the form of short stories is refreshing. I used to read these anthologies all the time; now it looks like they mesh up the winning illustrators to add a little art to each story. Vol #34 is on sale right now for $0.99L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 34
colleen the convivial curmudgeon wrote: "I have the first book in the series on my radar. Worth bumping up?"I quite enjoyed the first one, too. I absolutely recommend it!
The third book won't be out till next year. I suppose it depends on whether that would bother you or not. I want to read what happens next, but I don't mind waiting.
More books for the TBR list......Did I say I read Fahrenheit 451 yesterday? Well I did. Finally. Quite enjoyed it.
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Did I say I read Fahrenheit 451 yesterday? Well I did. Finally. Quite enjoyed it."
Oh nice! I was surprised by how well that one held up. Glad it worked for you :)
Phrynne wrote: "My review of The Owl Service by Alan Garner 
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."
I remember that from when I was a kid. I liked The Weirdstone of Brisingamen better, but Owl Service was great too.
Yeah it has held up pretty well hasn’t it. My eldest (29) bought it last month (along with The Alchemist, 1984, Animal Farm and Brave New World) and yesterday when I put it on insta that I’d finished it my middle boy (27) asked if he could borrow it for a reread. It’s nice that a younger generation are reading the classics (and rereading) and loving them too. They are also hanging out to read the HG Wells set that Mr 27 bought for Hubby for Christmas last year. Hubby has finished them all so far this year (5 I think) and has read a heap of others as well. He’s just finished Ready Player One and really enjoyed it. Then he watched the movie and hated the movie. Before that was The President was Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson. And Sully, the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Hotel New Hampshire and a number of others including some by James Patterson, Matthew Reilly, and Wilbur Smith among others. He only mostly reads before he goes to sleep. He’s currently reading Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz.
He whinges about me buying books but I know he’s also loving the choice he has when he’s looking for his next book.
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