SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

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What Else Are You Reading? > What Else Are You Reading in 2019?

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message 1851: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn Chambers | 131 comments Just started This is How You Lose the Time War. Love the letters Red and Blue write to each other. Bet the two others had a great time co-writing this book!


message 1852: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn Chambers | 131 comments Ugh that was supposed to be two authors not others!


message 1853: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6113 comments Carolyn wrote: "Ugh that was supposed to be two authors not others!"

you can click the Edit below your post and change the text


message 1854: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn Chambers | 131 comments Using the app so I don’t think I can edit comments?


message 1855: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6113 comments dunno - you could try and see if it works


message 1856: by MadProfessah (new)

MadProfessah (madprofesssah) | 775 comments Yeah there’s no edit button and no hyperlinks in the app.


message 1857: by Jacqueline (new)

Jacqueline | 2428 comments If it’s anything like my phone it takes you to the app half the time even when I use Safari.


message 1858: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
Eric, that is funny...I wonder what the author would change if he could go back in time! Tad Williams is kind of an iconic name.

Leticia, that's quite a recommendation! I'm glad you enjoyed it, I'll have to check it out.

Ryan, little joy in that it's breaking your heart? I thought Temeraire was supposed to be on the lighter side of things? Or do you mean little joy because it's really not your speed right now?

Haha Karen it sounds like you have it all figured out! We had some great discussion about Calculating Stars in group, and there was a buddy read of Fated Sky, if you wanted to revive it ^^

Carolyn, I've heard such mixed reviews about that book! Looking forward to your final thoughts :)


message 1859: by Eric (new)

Eric | 463 comments Allison wrote: "Eric, that is funny...I wonder what the author would change if he could go back in time! Tad Williams is kind of an iconic name."

These books were first published 29 years ago and re-released in 2016. I believe Tad Williams updated his comments. The sequels to the first trilogy are new. He admits he had never intended sequels, but his "friends" pressured him into it. It will be interesting to see how the sequels compare to the original.


message 1860: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
Eric wrote: "Allison wrote: "Eric, that is funny...I wonder what the author would change if he could go back in time! Tad Williams is kind of an iconic name."

These books were first published 29 years ago and ..."


Ahh, gotcha, he's talking about the extended epic, not the original. I hope it all hangs together for you!


message 1861: by Don (new)

Don Dunham Just Finished "Calculating Stars" it was good but not my thing.


message 1862: by Eric (new)

Eric | 463 comments Allison wrote: "Ahh, gotcha, he's talking about the extended epic, not the original. I hope it all hangs together for you!"

Perhaps. The acknowledgement calling the tale a bloated epic was in the back of book two. Hard to tell given the re-release. This saga does sag in some places, but that is not unlike other "fantasy epics." I'll know more when I get into the sequels.


message 1863: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6113 comments Allison wrote: "Eric wrote: "Allison wrote: "Eric, that is funny...I wonder what the author would change if he could go back in time! Tad Williams is kind of an iconic name."

These books were first published 29 y..."


and wasn't the last part of the trilogy published as two volumes in paperback? I just bought the bridge book and the first book in the next series. Also, I love the Bobby Dollar books


message 1864: by Stratos (last edited Aug 08, 2019 08:30AM) (new)

Stratos Chouvardas | 38 comments Started The Book of Lost Things and it goes smoothly. Not impressed yet, but it was a steal for 2,50 euros, so no harm done!


message 1865: by Anna (new)

Anna (vegfic) | 10434 comments To Be Taught, If Fortunate was released today (in the UK, the US release is in September) and since I had it preordered, I decided to read it. If someone else is eagerly waiting for another Wayfarers type thing from Chambers, please adjust your expectations, because this is not at all similar to those! I knew it wasn't a Wayfarers book, but I was still expecting that certain Becky Chambers feel, and this left me disappointed. I won't say more than that, I still enjoyed it, but just know that it's not what one might expect after Wayfarers.


message 1866: by Jen (new)

Jen (jenthebest) | 523 comments I started Wanderers and it sucked me right in. I have a feeling much of my weekend will be devoted to this weighty tome.


message 1867: by Lizzie (new)

Lizzie (lizzie_bobbins) | 92 comments I've just finished JY Yang's Tensorate Series; I had started reading the wrong one first a few years ago (Red Threads of Fortune instead of Black Tides of Heaven) and abandoned it after a few chapters. But when the second two books came out, I realised my error and started again in the right place and have just torn through all four this week, and absolutely loved them.

Just started now on Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky, about 16% in and enjoying it very much so far; it's putting me in mind a bit of The Drowned World by JG Ballard which I read earlier in the year.


message 1868: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6113 comments Cage of Souls isn't yet available in Kindle version for US customers, but I did preorder Made Things which will be out in November

To stay on topic, I finished Too Like the Lightning which was a very interesting read. I'll comment more on it in the Buddy Read in October


message 1869: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 3167 comments @Jen I read Wanderers when it came out and loved it! I hope you enjoy it too. I would love to know your thoughts.


message 1870: by MadProfessah (new)

MadProfessah (madprofesssah) | 775 comments I am very curious to hear more about WANDERERS. I’ve never read any Wendig before.


message 1871: by Anna (new)

Anna (vegfic) | 10434 comments Lizzie wrote: "I've just finished JY Yang's Tensorate Series"

Did you check out the buddy read thread?


message 1872: by Jen (new)

Jen (jenthebest) | 523 comments The only other Wendig I've read is Blackbirds, which I liked ok, but I somehow started following him on twitter and he's really entertaining! Then I realized he is a local-ish author (he's here in PA). My new year's intention for this year is "wandering" so I'm drawn to anything related to that theme. :)


message 1873: by Beth (last edited Aug 09, 2019 08:11AM) (new)

Beth (rosewoodpip) | 2005 comments I was iffy about taking Kushiel's Dart on vacation, and so far that's proved correct. I don't want to put a lot of energy into remembering a bunch of fictional details.

I've read a small box of translated manga I took along, but not a lot of pure text stuff: just a couple of stories from Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer which has renewed my love for Tanith Lee's writing. Also a chapter or two of A People's History of the United States. It wouldn't seem like good vacation reading either, but it's working since the chapters have discrete topics. Fascinating and infuriating.

When I get home I'll get back into Phedre's adventures.

Audio to wind down before bed has been The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, pure comfort reading. I have portions of it all but memorized, but it's nice to sink into Stephen Fry's narration of it.


message 1874: by Jemppu (new)

Jemppu | 1735 comments Beth wrote: "...Also a chapter or two of A People's History of the United States. It wouldn't seem like good vacation reading either, but it's working since the chapters have discrete topics. Fascinating and infuriating...."

This sounds fascinating indeed. And I can easily imagine the infuriating to be true too.


message 1875: by Gabi (last edited Aug 10, 2019 07:52AM) (new)

Gabi | 3441 comments I read The Big Time, The White Road and Downbelow Station, which , after rounding, all ended up with 4 stars out of totally different reasons.

"The White Road" probably doesn't deserve such a high rating, cause it's quite light fantasy with a fannish character - but Seregil and Alec are my guilty pleasure and so they get points for sympathy.

"The Big Time" was a read in my award-winners quest. I was expecting a 'typical' 50ies SF novel, but instead was surprised by a totally weird chamber drama that intrigued me and made me want to read more from Fritz Leiber.

"Downbelow Station" was near DNF at some point, but got better the more the story evolved. In summary, Cherryh's try academic style just isn't my cup of tea, but her detailed views of the future are very well done.

And now I have to roll a dice, if I should read one of the group reads, one of the Buddy Reads, pick up one of the books I abandonned last week - or start something else ...


message 1876: by YouKneeK (new)

YouKneeK | 1412 comments I’ve just finished The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi, the fourth book in the steampunk Burton & Swinburne series I’ve been reading by Mark Hodder. There are two more books, but I’ve decided to stop here. The third book ended with an annoyingly illogical twist, and this book has continued to build on that with more internal inconsistencies. I’ve really enjoyed the characters and the humor in the series, and I feel rather bad about abandoning my fictional friends, but I think my annoyance is likely to increase if I keep reading and I’m reasonably happy with where events ended in this book, aside from the inconsistencies. My longer review.

Next up I plan to read The Odyssey by Homer. I read Lattimore’s translation of The Iliad last year, so I’m sticking with his translation of Odyssey to maintain a consistent feel between the two experiences.


message 1877: by Don (new)

Don Dunham Just Finished the Walter Jon Williams: near future techno thriller "This is not a Game" which is part of the Dagmar Shaw series. I enjoyed the book very much, William does a good job with technology and Dagmar Shaw is good company. I've moved on to the next book in the series "Deep State".


message 1878: by Sarah (new)

Sarah | 3167 comments I finished Salvation Day by Kali Wallace and mostly enjoyed it. I think it ventures more on the literary side without feeling too literary (if that makes any sense). There's a lot of introspection for the two main characters. I like more explosions/twists/turns in my sci-fi thrillers. I did appreciate the food for thought she gives the reader though. Overall a good book as long as your not expecting something like Dead Space.


message 1879: by Bruce (new)

Bruce For science fiction, I’m reading Icerigger, by Alan Dean Foster. It’s part of a trilogy, although I think it’s also part of the larger universe that his Pip and Flinx novels are set in.


message 1880: by Trike (new)

Trike Bruce wrote: "For science fiction, I’m reading Icerigger, by Alan Dean Foster. It’s part of a trilogy, although I think it’s also part of the larger universe that his Pip and Flinx novels are set in."

It is. That’s all part of his future history called the Humanx Commonwealth. The two main species are humans and thranx, thus the portmanteau “Humanx”. There are something like 30 books, so you can really get in deep with it,


message 1882: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn Chambers | 131 comments Finished This Is How You Lose the Time War. Loved the letters between the two agents and the premise of the book but the narrative plot was pretty nonexistent. Language as others have commented was quite poetic.

Now reading Cat’s Cradle. I could have sworn I read in my early 20’s but none of this amazing book seems remotely familiar.


message 1883: by Carolyn (new)

Carolyn Chambers | 131 comments On to Middlegame by one of my fave authors, Seanan McGuire.


message 1884: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
Glad to know I'm not missing much, Phrynne!

Carolyn, yeah, I keep hearing mixed reports on Time War. But Cat's Cradle is a classic! and Middlegame is also well received! Enjoy!

Thomas you seem to be on a roll lately! So glad you're having a good time ^^


message 1885: by Pam (new)

Pam Baddeley Read a couple of biographies. Loved the first, not so much the second:

Jane Austen at Home by Lucy Worsley - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2923787278
and
A Life In Secrets: The Story Of Vera Atkins And The Lost Agents Of Soe by Sarah Helm - reviewed - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2934217362.


message 1886: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments Having just finished Sabriel, I’m now starting Downbelow Station. Loved Sabriel.


message 1887: by Anthony (new)

Anthony (albinokid) | 1478 comments I joined some folks on a buddy read of Poul Anderson’s The Broken Sword and was really blown away. Anyone who likes Norse mythology, Vikings, epic, poetic, grand storytelling, and a dark, brutal vision of the creatures of Faerie, read this book and you won’t be disappointed.


message 1888: by Anna (new)

Anna (vegfic) | 10434 comments I'm Parasolverse trash. I just finished Reticence and now I want to reread Finishing School, which I never even liked in the first place! Gahh, I never expected this! I guess I know what I'll be reading for the next few weeks.


message 1889: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
People loving what they're reading is so addictive! Gotta blow through these books so I can find time for more!


message 1890: by Gary (new)


colleen the convivial curmudgeon (blackrose13) | 2717 comments I'm reading The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter for my ABC TBR challenge book. So far it's nothing like what I would've expected, but it's getting interesting.


message 1892: by Kaa (new)

Kaa | 1541 comments I haven't been reading a lot in the past couple months, but I read both This Is How You Lose the Time War and Alice Payne Rides. Sapphic time travelers ftw! I really enjoyed both of them. Alice Payne continues to be a lot of fun, and while I found that Time War started to drag a tiny bit in the middle, overall it was short enough that I was able to enjoy the writing and the ideas without needing much plot.

@Diane: I can't wait to hear what you think of Downbelow Station, as I have it penciled in to read in September!


message 1893: by Jordan (new)

Jordan (justiceofkalr) | 403 comments Just finishing up Magic for Liars. It's a book that I love the concept behind but that I find myself feeling frustrated with. Actually I felt pretty similarly about American Hippos. Cool concept, just didn't work for me. I think my main problem is that I don't particularly like the main character and get really frustrated with her actions.

A little over a third of the way through The Way of Kings and so far I'm loving it. I enjoy all the character POVs that I've read and I'm really intrigued by the world building going on. This is looking like a series that I will definitely enjoy just sinking in to. And with that page count there's plenty of sinking to do.

And I'm just starting This Is How You Lose the Time War and Sisters of the Vast Black. Too early to make any concrete opinions, but so far they both seem promising.


message 1894: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments So, I interrupted Downbelow Station (before I really even got started) in order to read the Migration by Helen Marshall. It came highly recommended and I had arranged a Buddy Read in another group and forgot that it was actually slated for August! Oops. I have to do better at keeping track of the books I plan/commit to reading at certain times.

Anyway, I started it yesterday and have read nearly half of it already! You can tell I’m on vacation, but it is really good! If anyone feels like reading it now and discussing here too, I’d welcome that. It’s not a long book.


message 1895: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
What's Migration about, Diane?

Perdido Street Station was so good until the back half and then I got bored, then impatient, then lost, then annoyed, and then enraged and then it ended. Mieville loves his SAT word list, but not so much his editor, I think.

I switched my eye-book for Muse of Nightmares and it's still a ton of fun but I find myself less wrapped up in the glamour of it...don't know if it's because I left time between the books or because I had such high hopes or if it's actually just not as strong a book?

Giving myself a break from the tough subjects (I hope!) with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

I've also now achieved equality between the men and not men authors I've read (and remembered to record on GR, obvs)! So now I'm going to strive to remain within 1% of that.


message 1896: by Kaa (new)

Kaa | 1541 comments Allison wrote: "Giving myself a break from the tough subjects (I hope!) with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe."

Um. Well, the extent to which this affects readers seems to vary a lot, even among queer readers, but I had a tough time with the end of the book because of some (general topic warning) (view spoiler). It's only a brief scene, but that's a sensitive topic for me. YMMV.


message 1897: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
sigh.

well. here goes nothing...


message 1898: by Gabi (new)

Gabi | 3441 comments Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Perdido Street Station ended a nuisance for you, Allison.


message 1899: by MadProfessah (new)

MadProfessah (madprofesssah) | 775 comments I just started THE SPARROW...


message 1900: by Jacqueline (new)

Jacqueline | 2428 comments I’m just getting back to The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. I started the audiobook ages ago but got an hour into it and realised that I hadn’t really heard any of it. I bought the book last time I was in Brisbane so I could read it instead of listen to it. Only 30 pages in but it’s OK so far. And I’m more or less remembering what I’m reading.

I found a photo of me reading a book probably last year sometime and I have absolutely no idea what it was. I could swear I never read it. I know I did. It was one of those photos where you have the book in front of you open and it’s the view from where you’re sitting and reading. Yeahhhh no idea lol


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