What are you Reading right now? Part 2.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Cape Grace. It is set after South Coast (Shaman's Tales) and is mostly covering the life of Sarah Krugg from birth until she leaves the planet. This is the same Sarah that appears in Half Share and Full Share who is so good with biscuits. I found it worth reading but an uncomfortable book.

I also finished that fantasy trilogy I had been rereading. Not sure what I’ll reread next. Possibly April by Mackey Chandler.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Working my way through a reread of the April series. Currently on The Middle of Nowhere by Mackey Chandler, which is #3.

Odds are I won’t binge the whole series without getting distracted by some other book. It’s almost February and I’ll reread Mirabile by Janet Kagan for the Feb Limited Pick, and Space Specter by Jenny Schwartz is due out in less than a week.

[Audrey]

Mirabile for the group read

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Reread the first five books of the April series by Mackey Chandler. This is a reasonably good place to put the series down for a while.

Next up is rereading Mirabile by Janet Kagan for our Limited Pick.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Mirabile. I still love that book!

Now reading Space Specter by Jenny Schwartz

[Lizzie]

Reading Amy DuBoff's newest release with co-author Shadow Behind the Stars

Read the first three books of The Wall series by Alison Ingleby - a young adult dystopian sci fi, set in London, which I enjoyed and was disappointed to discover the 4th one won't be released until my current run of free KU expires. .

It has been a YA sci fi week.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Space Specter by Jenny Schwartz. Readable but not as much fun as the first of the series. This might be the last book of the series, although the author is considering writing Space Baby as a fourth.

Now I’ll reread Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey as something completely different. Pern books are often more fantasy than SF, and even the most SF of them isn’t true space opera. But a lot of them are fun.

[Betsy]

Dragonsong, and the other two Menolly books, is one of my go-to books when I need an emotional pick me up.

[Leonie]

Betsy wrote: "Dragonsong, and the other two Menolly books, is one of my go-to books when I need an emotional pick me up."

I love the Menolly books! They're some of my favourites ever. The combination of music, dragons and fire lizards is just....marvellous.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Dragonsong last night, now rereading Dragonsinger. Not sure about rereading Dragondrums this year - it’s mostly about Piemur, at an age when he’s not as cute.

Edit: and finished Dragonsinger too. Now to find another book that catches my interest.

[Leonie]

Teresa wrote: "Finished Dragonsong last night, now rereading Dragonsinger. Not sure about rereading Dragondrums this year - it’s mostly about Piemur, at an age when he’s not as cute.

Edit: and finished Dragonsin..."

I agree about Dragondrums. It's an OK read, but a bit of a let down after Menolly.

[Betsy]

Teresa wrote: "Now to find another book that catches my interest."

Have you read Arrows of the Queen and the other Valdemar books? Not space opera, but I know you read fantasy too. I think of this book as similar in feel to Dragonsong --young girl, mistreated by her family, swept away into an unexpected situation where she finds her strength, everything works out for the best.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Thanks Betsy. Yes I’ve read all the Valdemar novels, most of them several times.

I’m back reading the April series now, continuing from the point where I left off to reread Mirabile.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Continuing my binge reread of the April series, currently on #9 A Sudden Departure by Mackey Chandler. I plan to reread #10 as well, but #11 was just published last month so won’t be rereading that one. I reread the related Family Law series less than a year ago, so not that either.

I have a new Liaden Universe chapbook preordered: The Gate that Locks the Tree. It’s due out Wednesday the 19th.

[Viion]

If your willing to not only follow a series for 10 books but reread them then I'm going to assume it's worth reading. It's now been added to my "Must read" pile. Thanks for pointing it out.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Viion wrote: "If your willing to not only follow a series for 10 books but reread them then I'm going to assume it's worth reading. It's now been added to my "Must read" pile. Thanks for pointing it out."
You may want to read the comments on the discussion thread for the first book of the series: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

People have different tastes and different tolerances for books that could use a copy editor too. My own taste in fiction has changed over the decades for that matter. I binge reread quite a few series.

[Viion]

Hmmm, I must admit there are a few red warning lights in that thread, but I'm still going to give it a try.... at some point. I've never read Heinleins juveniles, but I read and enjoyed Starship Troopers.

The multiple MC, errors etc I might be able to ignore if the story is good. But I have to ask about the political aspect of the book. Are we talking "The political setup is good and gives the story a reason for progressing in the way it does" or are we talking "I'm using this book to beat your over the head with my very unrealistic fears of the future"? The latter has a tendency to be to stereotypical to be enjoyable.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Earth governments in the book are mostly the scary future kind. The M3 station where our main characters live has a different philosophy and the population was mostly screened to prevent low IQ and insanity from taking jobs there. So it’s a story about one way such a station might end up rebelling and then try to set up their own government. If Libertarianism scares you, give it a pass. I don’t think I could live in that world, either on M3 or on Earth, but it makes a good yarn.

[Viion]

Nah, read plenty of book where libertarianism has been a central theme. It it's done good it can be a fun story, just read too many where it's been ham fisted revenge fantasy thingy where all the politicians and journalists are 2 dimensional and deserve everything they have coming to them etc.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I finished the tenth book in my reread of the April series, then read a new fantasy novel, and now I’m at 44% on the new Liaden Universe chapbook (novella) The Gate that Locks the Tree by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. It takes place on Surebleak, in the midst of a blizzard. Cats, the Tree, taxis, and a lot of familiar characters as well as a few new ones.

[Lizzie]

Just finished Glynn Stewart's new book Conviction . It's his newest series and I gave it 5 stars. I then started some other book that I quit 25% in because it bored me.

I read the 1st book Independent Living . No space battles (yeah!). I am starting on book 2 in the series this weekend, Assisted Living.

In the meantime, I am reading book 2 of The Long Winter trilogy.

I have 8 books that I definitely want to read and finish before my free KU expires in 4 weeks. I have lots more on my KU list that I would like to read, but recognize I won't get to them.

[L J]

Lizzie wrote: "Just finished Glynn Stewart's new book Conviction . It's his newest series and I gave it 5 stars. I then started some other book that I quit 25% in because it bored me...I have 8 books that I definitely want to read and finish before my free KU expires in 4 weeks. I have lots more on my KU list that I would like to read, but recognize I won't get to them. "

That's about when mine expires and I have more than 8 on my list. Fortunately many of the books are short ones.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The Gate that Locks the Tree was good but short of course, since it was a novella. Fans of the Liaden Universe who have to budget book buying might want to wait for the next Liaden Universe Constellation. All the shorter works eventually end up in one of those.

Right now I’m bouncing between three books that aren’t really holding my attention, a new fantasy, a fantasy reread, and a non fiction Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors by Matt Parker.

[Audrey]

Bob's Saucer Repair by Jerry Boyd. It looked interesting enough when proposed for the March pick that I decided to read it even though it didn't win. Amusing so far, with zero world building. I'm half way through and I'm not sure what Nikki looks like except "not green and not a man."

[Audrey]

I finished Bob's Saucer Repair, silly bit of fluff. Quick read. Next up is non-fiction Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker.

[Trike]

Tor’s free ebook this month is the novella Killing Gravity, which sounds Space Opera-adjacent. The blurb makes it sound like a River Tam story from Firefly.

It’s easy to sign up and get their free books. Don’t dawdle: it goes away Feb 28th.

https://ebookclub.tor.com

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Rereading Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey. This is chronologically the first Pern book, although it far from the first in publication order. Tells the story of when humans first colonized Pern. A heckuva lot of familiar names, as in people that places would later be named after.

[Leonie]

Teresa wrote: "Rereading Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey. This is chronologically the first Pern book, although it far from the first in publication order. T..."

I am also re-reading this one. It's quite a walk down memory lane, Pern-wise.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve been making more progress with Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors by Matt Parker than Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey, with side trips for fantasy books.

I just noticed a new book in the Bob's Saucer Repair series by Jerry Boyd. It’s not popping up in the search on Goodreads yet, likely be there tomorrow. Book is “Shaved Ape Key” which is a confusing title. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the silliness in this one as much as I did the earlier books.

[L J]

It's searchable by ASIN
Link to take you book page
Shaved Ape Key

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Thanks LJ!

[Wade]

Just getting back in expeditionary force series by Craig alanson after a few years break. Reading book 5 Zero Hour.

[Trike]

Listening to the audiobook of The Light Brigade, which so far is Military Sci-Fi with apparently some time travel. (Just started, so I’m not sure if it’s actual time travel yet.)

The narrator is actress Cara Gee, who plays the badass Belter commander Camina Drummer in The Expanse. (Which every Space Opera fan should watch. So good.) But sweet solar eclipse does Gee commit! The lady BRINGS IT in her performance of this book. It’s one of the very best audiobook readings I’ve yet encountered.

[Betsy]

The Frozen Sky, which was a group read in 2016. I didn't manage to read it back then, but it's been sitting on my phone enticing me ever since. I'm about 10% in but haven't made my mind up yet whether I like it or not. Reviews from the group back in 2016 were mixed.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Currently bouncing between Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors by Matt Parker, How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe (the guy who does xkcd), and various fantasy books. Trying not to cave in and buy the eARC of The Shaman of Karres which will be published in May and is likely to be readable but not worth the eARC price.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I enjoyed The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell which just came out a few days ago. Fantasy. Still not finding any new SF that holds my attention but there are books due out in the upcoming months that look promising.

[Lizzie]

I just finished Glynn Stewart's newest Starship Mage book 8. .

Earlier this week I read 2 in the Bad Luck Charlie series which was a sci fi and magic combo. Much more enjoyable than I expected. I read books 1 and 2.

[Trike]

Teresa wrote: "Currently bouncing between Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors by Matt Parker, ."

Coincidentally, I have been watching his comedy bits on YouTube lately. Quite fun.

[Betsy]

Having finished both my fiction and nonfiction reads, I was casting about today for something to start. Came across Red Mars which I've owned for ages and in fact started once before. Decided to try it again. Since I have nothing else clamoring at me to read. Not space opera exactly. No space battles. Don't even know if there's space ships. I guess maybe it's planetary romance.

Edit: There is a period with the colonists on the ship on the way to Mars. Does that count?

[Matthew]

Betsy wrote: "Having finished both my fiction and nonfiction reads, I was casting about today for something to start. Came across Red Mars which I've owned for ages and in fact started once before. ..."

Yeah, not sure I'd call it space opera. I'll be interested to know what you think of it.

[Trike]

Betsy wrote: "I guess maybe it's planetary romance."

I wouldn’t slot it there, either. Too much focus on politics over action. (I recall there only being one big action set piece.) Pretty much just straight Science Fiction.

[Audrey]

Mountain of Mars by Glynn Stewart.

[Lizzie]

I am on book 12 of the Silver Ship Series.

I was rushing to finish book 11 because my accumulated 5 months of free KU from various places expired on March 25th. I accidentally started book 12 and was only 1/3 of the way through when I realized I had missed book 11. So I went and hit cancel on my KU. Then they offered me another free 30 days.

[L J]

Lizzie wrote: "I am on book 12 of the Silver Ship Series.

I was rushing to finish book 11 because my accumulated 5 months of free KU from various places expired on March 25th. I acc..."

My KU also was to expire on March 25 and I received the same offer when I went to cancel. I was very glad to accept.

[Atlanta]

Listening to the audio of Abaddons gate by James sa corey.

[L J]

Re-read of Innkeeper Chronicles. Book 4 Sweep of the Blade is the first I would consider Space Opera, the others take place on earth, but I'm going to take the Andrews up on this offer.
Per her blog https://ilona-andrews.com/the-plague-...
Ilona Andrews has made The Innkeeper Chronicles, Volume 1, the collection of the first three books in the Innkeeper Chronicles, 99cents.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Currently reading Common Ground and Other Stories by Mackey Chandler, which I found in Kindle Unlimited (just started a free 3 month subscription). First story was a first contact and not bad, if a bit silly in places.

[Audrey]

I just finished by Rachel Caine. Up next is , one of our April group reads.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

About halfway through reading Legacy by Bob Mauldin, on KU. I doubt I’ll reread it but I might read the rest of the series if nothing more interesting catches my attention. Space opera. Main characters inherit a starship from a dying alien, and manage to get it off Earth before the government could confiscate it. A lot of handwavium.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Legacy and the second in the series. Definitely space opera, worth reading, but could stand some editing. Starting the third book now. Not sure I’ll ever reread this series.