What Else Are You Reading - August 2014

[Gaines]

I'm reading "Anti-Ice" by Stephen Baxter. It's the second time; the first time I couldn't get past the first few pages. Not the most exciting of books, but about halfway through it picks up. Baxter is very imaginative :-)

[Joseph]

Finished White Fire so it's time for something completely different. How about an anthology? Fearsome Journeys: The New Solaris Book of Fantasy, edited by Jonathan Strahan, and featuring quite a fine-looking assortment of contributors.

[[deleted user]]

Gaines wrote: "I'm reading "Anti-Ice" by Stephen Baxter. It's the second time; the first time I couldn't get past the first few pages. Not the most exciting of books, but about halfway through it picks up. Baxter..."

I recently read The Time Ships by him and was pretty blown away! Definitely agree, that guy has a wild imagination.

[Joseph]

Rabindranauth wrote: "I recently read The Time Ships by him and was pretty blown away! Definitely agree, that guy has a wild imagination.
..."

If you want something a little more galactic-scale 1990s space opera, check out his Xeelee sequence (beginning with Raft).

He also wrote Titan, near-future hard SF and one of the grimmest and most depressing books I ever read.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks for the recs! I have Raft on my TBR already. Titan sounds pretty messed up, though, I think I'll have to start with that first o_O

[Joseph]

Rabindranauth wrote: "Thanks for the recs! I have Raft on my TBR already. Titan sounds pretty messed up, though, I think I'll have to start with that first o_O"

You're welcome! I'll be curious to hear what you think. Titan was actually one of three unrelated books (Voyage and Moonseed being the others) that basically used Apollo-level technology to get out into the solar system.

[[deleted user]]

Joseph wrote: "Rabindranauth wrote: "Thanks for the recs! I have Raft on my TBR already. Titan sounds pretty messed up, though, I think I'll have to start with that first o_O"

You're welcome! I'll be curious to..."

Ah, was wondering if they were tied together. I'll probably end up reading them in order anyways.

[Rob, Roberator]

Ooh. I got a review copy of the audio version of Fool's Assassin, but I still have 5.5 hours left on The Dragon's Path.

/firstworldproblems

[Jordan]

I'm "reading" (listening to) Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan, book two of the Blood Song series and I'm really enjoying it. So meaty and long.

I'm determined to finish this before I go back and re-listen to NOTW for August as I know once I start that, it's a good chunk of time.

I'm also actually reading "The Queen of the Tearling" by Erika Johansen and it's such a quick read compared to some of the others I'm trying to get through, ie Blood Song, Tower Lord, Name of the Wind etc.

I powered through and read all Mary Robinette-Kowal's books in less than a week. I'd always loved seeing/hearing her interviewed but could never find her books anywhere. Eventually I realised to look on Kindle and I now have and have read and have recommended them onwards.

I also started "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie as I never got around to reading that earlier, but that's taking a backseat for the moment.

And I also picked up "Under the Empyrean Sky" by Chuck Wendig and read a chapter or two but put it on hold for QOTT.

Essentially I've been busy reading and all my TV watching habits have gone out the window, thankfully there's nothing much on at the moment I need to be watching.

[Fredrik]

Elizabeth wrote: "Think I shall read The Fractal Prince next as I'm rather excited to hear Rajaniemi talk at LonCon. "
I tried reading the The Quantum Thief, but the technobabble honestly seemed like more babble than techno to me so I lemmed it with extreme predjudice. Is there actually an interesting story in there?

[Dara]

I am reading A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. I'm really loving this book (I forgot why I didn't read it with the group in December). Isabella is a wonderful contrast to Kvothe and provides a much-needed break from his arrogance and general pain-in-the-ass-ness. Also the hardcover is beautiful.

[Hobbes543]

I tend to have multiple books going at the same time. I currently have 4 books in progress, along with the July issue of Fantasy and Science Fiction and the September issue of Asinov's.

For books I am reading The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein, Childhoods End by Arthur C Clarke, Storm Front by Jim Butcher and What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell

[Dharmakirti]

Fredrik wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Think I shall read The Fractal Prince next as I'm rather excited to hear Rajaniemi talk at LonCon. "
I tried reading the The Quantum Thief, but the technobabble hon..."

I've picked up Quantum Thief and tried readign it a couple times, but I have problems with some of the concepts that the author is presenting. I still plan on reading it at some point because I was very intrigued by it. I did find the following glossary that does provide some help in being able to understand the jargon. http://www.karangill.com/glossary-of-...

[Nadine]

I'm nearly done with The Shapeshifters: The Kiesha'ra of the Den of Shadows
Next on my list are The Necromancer Chronicles, starting with The Drowning City

[Andrew]

I just finished up The Crimson Campaign. I tore through it. I really like this series. Great stuff. I'm now revisiting the alt picks that I've missed and starting on Empire State. I may have to reread Name of the Wind this month as well.

[[deleted user]]

I'm throwing in the towel on Scourge of the Betrayer. It's a really fun book, but it's just plain not the sort of book that does it for me anymore.
Here's my review

[David(LA,CA)]

Started listening to The Name of the Wind today and planning to start reading Amped tonight.

[Dara]

Finished A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent this morning. I enjoyed it quite a bit. My review

[terpkristin]

I interrupted my read of The Black Prism (which I'm really enjoying) for a jump back into the world of Andy Carpenter with the latest in the series, Hounded. This was, in my mind, a return to form for David Rosenfelt. His last few Andy Carpenter books had a lot of silly terror and crazy insane flashbang-whiz stuff. This latest was more down to earth, was tense but not over the top.

[Walter]

Primary read: The Lies of Locke Lamora (Hoping it lives up to its reputation.)

Commute read to listen to: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (Because I'd listened to all of the Modern Scholar lecture series on the shelf at my local branch library, and it's on my To-Read list anyway.)

[Will]

The Giver
Maybe Patriot Games

[John (Taloni)]

Finished up Count of Monte Cristo, a suggestion from my wife. I do not usually enjoy classics, finding them more ponderous than interesting. This one was incredible. Dumas creates a slow build over hundreds of pages. Each section has its climax but leaves more for the next.

I also read Three Musketeers, which was good, but not on the level of Count of Monte Cristo. Really amazing. Dumas hit it out of the park with that one.

[[deleted user]]

Just finished up Echopraxia by Peter Watts, coming soon. A hard read, it's the densest hard science fiction book I've ever read. But jeez, it's downright amazing for it. Can't help but highly recommend this one, as hard a read as it is.
Here's my review

[Quinton]

Reading Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and The Dragon Heir by Cinda Willliams Chima.

[Geoff]

Just finished The Widow's House by Daniel Abraham. I thought it was great.

Going to read through The Vengeful Virgin, a Hard Case Crime novel, before heading back into the Wheel of Time.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I'm doing another round of speed-dating my books (to decide if I want to read them, and if not, out they go!) I tried Virtual Light by William Gibson but it isn't resonating with me the way his books do when I love them.

[Shad]

Finished The Well of Ascension. I loved it as well. I'd go straight onto The Hero of Ages if I didn't have a hold on Fool's Assassin that is currently being cataloged by my library. I may pick them both up at the same time though. The Fitz and Fool books tend to be pretty good page turners for me.

[Ian]

the magic of recluce by l.e. modesitt jr and curse of the mistwraith at the moment

[David Sven]

Finished Robert McCammon's The Queen of Bedlam on Audible.
My review


Starting the much anticipated Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb

[Tamahome]

I read the female Captain Marvel. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[terpkristin]

Last night, I finished The Black Prism and really liked it. My review will be coming shortly. The plan is to start The Blinding Knife today, probably after I finish my morning surfing. ;)

[Phil]

Just finished The Name of the Wind. Loved it. His way with a turn of phrase is excellent.
Starting The Best of Marion Zimmer Bradley: Jamie and other stories edited by Martin Greenberg.

[Sky]

FinishedWhite Night (Dresden Files #9). Started The Atrocity Archives (Laundry Files #1). Was going to start on Theft of Swords after White Night, but wanted something a little more sci-fi/hackerish for Vegas. I am enjoying all the Lovecraftian/Turing/Infocom references in Laundry Files so far.

[Ludo]

Just finished The Golem and the Jinni which I found very good. (Short review here. ) I am now also on my second try to finish Ancillary Justice. I see why it is a book that can be divisive. The thing with the pronouns feels very 'gimmicky' to me.... I still find it difficult to get into the book. But I'll finish it this second time around.

[Joseph]

Finished Fearsome Journeys: The New Solaris Book of Fantasy, which I quite enjoyed, and am starting The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs, another one of those that I've just never quite gotten around to over the years.

[elie88]

Done with Red Country, a great book...next I don't know what to read next but I'm debating weather to finish And the ass saw the angel, it's one of those books that I always go back to but never actually finish

[Kristina]

Fizzled out on my Name of the Wind re-read... which is nothing against the book, I never seem to get through re-reads. I also never replay video games :P I had also read about 125 pages of Clockwork Angel while I am waiting on my son to finish City of Lost Souls, but it just wasn't really catching my attention. I don't know if I 'm just more interested in Clary and Jace and Simon at the moment, but it kind of feels like the same story over again. I ended up setting it asside in favor of The Spirit War

[Michele]

I picked up the first 3 Sandman Slim books when Amazon had them on sale. Starting the third book now Aloha from Hell. Really liking them, but wow, they are dark! Gonna need some really light fluff after this one.

[Phil]

Starting The River of Time by David Brin.

[Ben]

Michele wrote: "I picked up the first 3 Sandman Slim books when Amazon had them on sale. Starting the third book now Aloha from Hell. Really liking them, but wow, they are dark! Gonna need some rea..."

I like them a lot as well but I can't read them back to back. Tried it, just can't do it. Gritty snarky angsty darkness overload.

[Pat]

I enjoyed The Name of the Wind so much I decided to plough straight on to The Wise Man's Fear

[James]

I'm reading the Grossman's third, The Magician's Land. There's something about it not quite settling well with me so far, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

[Eric]

Red Rising as an audio book

[Stephen]

Besides a Re-Read of The Name of the Wind, I am a third of the way through The Bonehunters, the sixth book in mind-blowing series Malazan Book of the Fallen. It is a tough read & most of the time I have no idea what is going on, but I have invested to much time to put it down or give it up. Plus I am 5 books ahead of my 2014 goals so I can spend the time.

[[deleted user]]

I just finished The Ocean at the End of the Lane, my second Gaiman novel to date. I've read some of his short stories, and American Gods. It's definite; the guy is one of my favorite authors currently writing, no doubt about it!
Here's my review

[Dara]

I started Ready Player One the other day. I'm not gonna lie - I'm not really liking it too much. The first 15% or so is one giant infodump and the plot seems less important than referencing nerdy bits of culture from the 80's.

[Alice]

The Dark Lord of Derkholm. This summer has been very DWJ-heavy for me. She's probably one of my favorite authors :)

[Alice]

Dara wrote: "I started Ready Player One the other day. I'm not gonna lie - I'm not really liking it too much. The first 15% or so is one giant infodump and the plot seems less important than refe..."

I'm glad someone else doesn't like it! I really didn't care for it, the characters felt flat and the writing mediocre.
It seems to be one of those hit-or-miss books, everyone seem to either love it or dislike it :P

[Dara]

Alice wrote: "I'm glad someone else doesn't like it! I really didn't care for it, the characters felt flat and the writing mediocre. "

That's what I'm thinking so far. It feels juvenile. I'm 27% into it but I really don't like it.

[[deleted user]]

Dara wrote: "I started Ready Player One the other day. I'm not gonna lie - I'm not really liking it too much. The first 15% or so is one giant infodump and the plot seems less important than refe..."

I haven't read it yet, mainly because most of the hype behind that book seems nostalgia-driven. Looking forward to your review!