What are you Reading right now? Part 2.

[Kev]

Almost finished with the current Murderbot novel,Network Effect , and loving it!

[Lizzie]

Ally wrote: "I like the Lt. Leary series bur I was very disapointed by the n.11 Death's Bright Day. So I didn't read the last 2. Will do one day ..."

Glad you mentioned that. The list on Amazon Kindle I was going off of only showed 10 books. I looked a couple of other lists and the one you mentioned and a book 12 show up.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Currently rereading Starship's Mage: Omnibus by Glynn Stewart. It’s not one that I reread regularly but it’s readable and I’m having a hard time finding any new books that appeal to me right now.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Starship’s Mage and #2 in the series, gave up on #3. Read several fantasy books, one biography, and finished a humorous nonfiction I had paused.

Currently reading Interstellar Mage by Glynn Stewart. It takes place between Starship’s Mage and its sequel, and Damian is not a character at all other than a few mentions of him. So far it’s holding my interest.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Interstellar Mage was good. I’m now reading its sequel Mage-Provocateur which is also good. There’s also a very obvious reference to Ishmael Wang from the Nathan Lowell books (vendor named Ishmael asks character to buy a whelkie).

[Lizzie]

I really liked the Starship Mage series. I keep looking for a new one.

I liked his Exile series too.

Just finished L.L. Richman's The Chiral Agent, a new series, , the newest Renegade Star book (#15), and a few of M.D. Cooper's that I had collected over the last few months.

I enjoyed the 5th book in the Wanderer series by Simon Goodson. Not as good to me as the earlier ones, but still solid.

A new one will be coming out soon by Amy DuBoff and her co-writer Lulcinda Pebre in their Shadowed Space Series, set in a part of the Cadicle Universe. And there are several Aeon 14 books coming out soon. And, Goodreads has giving me another 2 months of free Kindle unlimited, while I have yet to do my taxes. Read a book weighed against taxes ---- eventually I am going to have to go with my 2nd choice as the deadline approaches.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Mage-Provocateur was good. I’m mostly done with the third book Agents of Mars which isn’t holding my interest as well. I’ll finish it but am unlikely to reread it. This trilogy runs parallel with the first few books about Damien.

I have no clue what I’ll be reading next. Not seeing anything interesting on Amazon that is already out as ebook. In a few days this one might be good: Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott. One trilogy she wrote was good and worth rereading but the rest of her books were either “read once only” or not holding my attention at all. YMMV of course.

Edit: oh and there’s a fantasy book due out on the 11th that I know I’ll enjoy, but that author doesn’t do preorders so it’s not showing on Amazon or Goodreads yet.

[Lizzie]

I still haven't started my taxes. But I read the latest Silver Ships book by Jucha!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Lizzie wrote: "I still haven't started my taxes. But I read the latest Silver Ships book by Jucha!"
Ooooo a new one! Why the heck doesn’t Amazon show me new books by authors I follow instead of ridiculous matches?

[Lizzie]

Teresa wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "I still haven't started my taxes. But I read the latest Silver Ships book by Jucha!"
Ooooo a new one! Why the heck doesn’t Amazon show me new books by authors I follow instead of rid..."

I have the same problem. Amazon offers me books I have already read and fails to notify me of the next one in a series. I only learned of the lastest Silver Ship because someone else mentioned it in a thread somewhere in Goodreads.

I think there is something that goes on between authors and Amazon because some authors (I think Chaney is one) have stated in their newsletters or at the end of their books that Amazon will not notify of a new book.

[William]

The next in Glynn Stewart's Scattered Stars series should be out very shortly, right?

Yeah: Looks like Deception is due out this month. Just need to find something to hold your interest until then.

For me: I'm rereading Dune, the secondary Starship Mage series, and maybe a couple other, harder, works.

What I need right now is not hard books, that's for sure. Give me some of that spaceship action.

[Trike]

Teresa wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "I still haven't started my taxes. But I read the latest Silver Ships book by Jucha!"
Ooooo a new one! Why the heck doesn’t Amazon show me new books by authors I follow instead of rid..."

This is why losing FictFact was such a bummer. That site was super useful. The only alternative I’ve found is AuthorAlarms, but it’s not as good.

[L J]

Trike wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Lizzie wrote: "I still haven't started my taxes. But I read the latest Silver Ships book by Jucha!"
Ooooo a new one! Why the heck doesn’t Amazon show me new books...
This is why losing FictFact was such a bummer..."

Have you tried FictionDB? I have it send me email when books by my authors or in my series is added to site. Even though many are older books being added, I find it useful. I think many of us miss FictFact.
https://www.fictiondb.com/

[C. John]

Odd, until now I had never heard of FictFact. Would have been useful for SF and Fantasy. I already get the newsletters from Stop, You're Killing Me so mysteries are already covered.

[L J]

I use Stop You're Killing Me a lot.
FantasticFiction can also be helpful
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The latest Silver Ships book Talus by S.H. Jucha was about 3.5 stars. Definitely readable, and I’ll probably reread it the next time I do a binge of the series, but not as enjoyable as many of the others in the series likely due to juggling so many characters that I couldn’t get a resonance with one.

Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott was released today. I gave up in the middle of the free preview. I have a low tolerance for main characters who are the heir to a throne and palace politics shenanigans.

I’ll be rereading various books until the 11th when a fantasy that I know I’ll enjoy will come out.

[Betsy]

Teresa wrote: "I have a low tolerance for main characters who are the heir to a throne and palace politics shenanigans."

I agree with you on that. I started reading The Last Emperox shortly after it came out and quickly got very fed up. It was all politics and mostly nasty politics at that. I may get back to it because I like the first two books of the Interdependency, but I'll have to force myself.

[Trike]

Betsy wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I have a low tolerance for main characters who are the heir to a throne and palace politics shenanigans."

I agree with you on that. I started reading [book:The Last Emperox|38322550..."


For those of you who hate that sort of thing, in Last Emperox specifically (view spoiler)[she and most of her friends get murdered. No, I’m not kidding. (hide spoiler)]

[Brandon]

I use the Follow feature on Amazon for authors I like. It seems to do a pretty good job of emailing me when an author has a new book in their system. This notification is usually in the pre-order time frame instead of on the release date, though.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I follow a lot of authors on Amazon. Plenty of times Amazon doesn’t email me until a couple of months after the book came out. Sometimes they do email me in the preorder stage, but I’ve seen more emails about books I’ve already finished than books I could preorder.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Book 10 of the series starting with Bob's Saucer Repair by Jerry Boyd just came out. Title is Monkey Business

But it’s about bedtime and I have work tomorrow..... gah.....

[Lizzie]

I read Shadow Rising by Lucinda Pebre and Amy DuBoff, set in Amy's Cadicle Universe and J.J. Green's lastest Dark Mage book - Accursed Space , along with Tier 2 and Tier 3 by Cindy Gunderson .

Then, I finally did my taxes today and e-filed them. My printer won't print (it still copies, faxes, and scans), so guess I will start looking at a replacement, but it added an hour to the process. (7 hours - I could have read a book!)

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Monkey Business was good, at least for those who liked Bob’s Saucer Repair. I read a few fantasies.

Now I’m reading Fathers' Honor by M.C.A. Hogarth. This is the newest in the Pelted Universe. This one isn’t true space opera, although the story started with the point of view character on a ship going to the Eldritch home planet. Multiple alien races, trying to provide medical and other help to the Eldritch. Culture clashes, people getting used to living on a planet unlike what they are used to, etc.

[Audrey]

Daisy's Run by Scott Baron. I am just starting it but am already confused. One of the characters is referred to as a cyborg, but seems to maybe be an android instead. Then several other characters are human/machine melds but are not cyborgs? If it is a bust, at least it was free on Amazon the day I got it. I will keep reading.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading Suicide Run by Nathan Lowell for the group read this morning, and now I’m rereading the third in the trilogy Home Run.

[Audrey]

for the August group read

[Cynthia]

I just finished reading the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and LOVED them. I can't wait for the next volume!

[Trike]

Cyn wrote: "I just finished reading the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and LOVED them. I can't wait for the next volume!"

Same. I loves me some Murderbot.

Currently reading Edges by Linda Nagata, which is Space Opera that falls a bit more on the harder side of the sci-fi spectrum.

[Ally]

Cyn wrote: "I just finished reading the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and LOVED them. I can't wait for the next volume!"

Me too !

I discovered Blake Crouch so I read:
Recursion just great
Dark Matter crazy
Wayward Pines 1 & 2 I felt sorry for them

All the Asimov's Fondation books. For the 1st time, yes I know ... I keep some of the classics "under the elbow" (French expression) as there arent' so many.

Severance by Ma Ling . Very good

Alan Dean Foster's Lost & Found I like the sense of humor of this author.

And some urban fantasy.

And now I'm reading David Drake's RCN n°11 . It's not from the usual caracters POV so it's a good change.

[Michael]

Currently reading Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

[Trike]

I’ve been hitting the Space Opera pretty hard this month. Currently listening to the full cast recording of Aurora Rising, which is YA but I quite like it. It has a “Star Trek meets Firefly but with teenagers” vibe to it. I’m about halfway. Warp drives, psychic powers, space elves, ersatz Klingons... it’s all good.

[Audrey]

I am just starting Home Run by Nathan Lowell. He is one of those authors where I wanted to read everything he wrote.

[Trike]

Aurora Rising is meh. It is far too derivative of other IP, and the ending is lame. I’ve canceled my library hold of the sequel.

[M.]

I am in the final book Survive of the series by Vea Nazarian. She has done a great job with the surrounding characters throughout the series. I have made a reference that there is a sadistic touch that bothers me but the over all story is a different SciFi opera that leads you from page to page just to see how the heroine gets out of the next horrid problem.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve been rereading fantasy books lately. The eARC of the next Liaden Universe book should show up in September- looking forward to that one. Trader's Leap.

[Lizzie]

M. wrote: "I am in the final book Survive of the series by Vea Nazarian. She has done a great job with the surrounding characters throughout the series. I have made a reference that there is a sadistic touch ..."

I read the series, but for some reason the last book did not grab me as much.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I finally found a SF book that held my interest. This one is closer to alien romance than space opera, but it has a lot of action. Luna of Earth by Laura Jo Phillips.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Currently rereading Messinants by S.H. Jucha because I needed something with aliens.

Next up (or possibly luring me away from Messinants) is one of two new books:
12th book in April by Mackey Chandler, just out today. Title is Who Can Own the Stars?
Trader's Leap by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. EARC is due out any moment now, from Baen. Official and cheaper version will be out in early December.

[Ally]

RCN n°12 by David Drake . Again not a story with the usual caracters at all but nice.

I found some free books on Kindle last month so I read :
The Game by Terry Schott and I get hooked ! So I read the 2nd one . There are 7 more.

Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler wich is a very good novella (Hugo and Nebula winner)

Infinity Claws by Andrew Mackay which was bad. Poor cats had to fight in a electric cage ... the story was stupid.

Books 2 and 3 of the Embers of War series. Was disapointed in the last one, the psychology of the caracters felt artificial.

I'm reading Redliners by David Drake which is a good surprise. It's military SF but no strarships battles here. It's the Vietnam's war in an Alien jungle, very alien jungle.

[Pickle]

Just read and really enjoyed it, a bit soppy but true space opera and some original ideas.

Moving onto (Bobiverse #2)- quite enjoyed the first one. Seems slow to get going but I'm only 2 chapters in.

Thinking of rereading (Hyperion #1-2)- was quite touched by those books, when I day dream I end up thinking of images from those books. Hoping someone will buy me Hyperion (#3-4) for xmas.

[Laz]

I just finished Honor Among Thieves which is incredibly innovative and exciting.

[Audrey]

I am about a third of the way into The Service of Mars by Glynn Stewart.

[Gaines]

I’m just over a quarter the way through The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling. It’s a slow build, and a bit too much in the author’s head (which has a double entendre, for anyone who has read it hehe), but I am enjoying it. I think it’s just the sort of story / escape I needed. (view spoiler)[Hard to call it an “escape” though, given what seems to be about to happen! (hide spoiler)]

[M.]

I am in the middle of the Last Reaper series and boy those two guys that put their heads together to write these stories really created some great characters, especially the main Reaper. It makes an old lady like me want to go out and get a fat cigar and a double shot of good whiskey while I ready the next one. I wholly recommend this series.

[Trike]

Started Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes last night, which is straight-up non-stop Space Opera action adventure. It’s Firefly with telenovela overtones. (There is a section that is hilariously straight out of a telenovela, except with bird-dino aliens.)

[Lizzie]

I don't recall if I posted in August, so here is my summary.

I read Glynn Stewart's Deception and The Service of Mars.

Been reading Clara Wood's Lunera Station series (finished through book 4).

J.J. Green's Star Mage Saga book 6. (Seems like a lot of mages in my most recent readings).

Also, M. D. Cooper's The Hyperion War and The Marauder's Compass.

A couple of Star Trek books - Jean Luc Picard's autobiography and an original Trek by Dayton Ward - Agents of Influence.

Finally, David Drake's Lt. Leary book 5 and have started on Book 6.

[Gaines]

Trike wrote: "Started Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes last night, which is straight-up non-stop Space Opera action adventure. It’s Firefly with telenovela overtones. (There is a section that is..."

Sounds fun. Worth a read?

[Trike]

Gaines wrote: "Trike wrote: "Started Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes last night, which is straight-up non-stop Space Opera action adventure. It’s Firefly with telenovela overtones. (There is a s...

Sounds fun. Worth a read?"

It’s a lightweight action story that borrows from other IP, but I liked it. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[M.]

I am still in the Reaper series. Yep as an ole gal, I still read about this tough guy and want a good cigar and a short glass of whiskey. LOL
Well, I will say that Chaney and Moon have softened up the Reaper and then they did fill in the pages with a fight with a - big stinging beast with babies? It wasn't the best book in the group, but I will go on to the next to see if he beats the dangerous Union.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Who Can Own the Stars? by Mackey Chandler was good (assuming you liked the more recent books in its series). I would have enjoyed it more if the context didn’t switch quite as often. That kind of thing makes it harder for me to immerse myself in the story. The story fills in a few more gaps in the history before the Family Law series starts.

I’m about half through Trader's Leap by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. This one is slower paced so far, with fewer story threads. I fully expect that the second half of the book will have more breathless action, since most of the other books in the series have done that. I’m glad I have Monday off because I’m likely to stay up late reading it.