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 2021?
Okay peanut gallery, what are we supposed to be discussing here. OTHER BOOKS.Regular / Literary fiction:
-Crossroads - Jonathan Franzen
Sucked me in to the story within two pages. POV switches among members of dysfunctional family, the dad has interesting problems at work (he is an associate pastor).
-Assembly - a Mrs. Dalloway for our times.
Nonfiction :
-Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest - watched the TV show, then wanted to read the book. Paratroopers in WWII.
Into the Forest: A Holocaust Story of Survival, Triumph, and Love - Jewish people hiding in the woods from the Nazis during WWII. I heard about it on a couple of podcasts.
Almost done with The Dragon Reborn. I forgot how little of Rand we actually see in this one. I think I'll probably take a small break before moving on to the next one. Also nearing the end with The Steerswoman. I bogged down a little in the middle there, but now I'm back in it.
And I'm reading An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, because who doesn't love little old ladies solving their problems with murder?
Jordan wrote: "Almost done with The Dragon Reborn. I forgot how little of Rand we actually see in this one. I think I'll probably take a small break before moving on to the next one. Also nearing t..."
I know! Some books we didn't see him until the last two and a half seconds of the book!
I just read Shroud for a Nightingale, having enjoyed the recent “Dalgliesh” tv dramatization. I was actually wondering how faithful the tv show story had been to the novel it was based on. The book was published in 1971 and was P. D. James’s 4th novel. I read most of her novels from the late 80s and later but I never went back to this early work. The book felt somewhat old fashioned but in a good way, not entirely unlike Le Carre or Greene as an intelligent mid-20th century suspense story. It’s set in the odd hierarchical world of a British hospital nursing school, with Sisters and Matron and people knowing more about each other’s daily routines than they probably want to. As may be obvious I ended up enjoying the book a lot, though it started out feeling slow and a little stodgy and full of unnecessary detail.I’m also reading The End of Summer: Science Fiction of the Fifties, a good sf short story anthology. There is an interesting introduction by co-editor Barry N. Malzberg. Most of the stories were first published in Astounding.
I loved the broken earth trilogy. I for one think award winning books are award winning for the reason that they are simply great books. Jemison is a great writer!As for another award winning book that's not TP, just finished
from Frank Herbert. great book! I had failed to read it in my college years, but I did see the latest Dune movie (4 times now!), and slowed down (part of the problem was reading it too fast). I get why people love that book now!Anyhoo, now on t the next Hugo award winner, starting Forever Peace
from Joe Haldeman. I read his other hugo award winning book a few years ago, and while this isn't a true sequel to Forever War
(he even says this in the foreward or whatever it's called just before the story starts), I'm looking forward to it!
Finished Sybil Sue Blue by Rosel George Brown (which does not show up on the "add book" box for some reason). This is a re-printing of Galactic Sybil Sue Blue by the author's estate and, as far as I know, there are no changes from the original which was first published in 1966. It is an interesting book with some pluses and minuses. The big plus is the main character: Sybil Sue Blue, a cigar smoking, quick on the draw, widow with a high school daughter, police sergeant. Very different than most SF of this time period. Remembering that the book dates from 1966, I wasn't worried about the science and technology issues. The story takes place in 1990, when we have achieved starflight but still have doctors who make house calls. The story has a good existential threat in its plot. The big problems are some jarring transitions and the tendency of characters to make sudden decisions or take actions that are hard to understand and seem to occur because the plot needs them. Maybe it's because this is a short book and if it were 50% longer these would all flow better. Overall, a bit of a disappointment.
Ok She who became the Sun it is!! (I have not yet read Steerswoman but in my defense… the library still has not delivered it!! I’ll bet people in this club are keeping it from me 😉)
And I rated Broken Earth 5 stars heh heh. Though the first time I tried to read it I had to set it aside due to the start with the poor little boy ….
Let's see... my November books so far:The Expert System's Brother by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Black Ships by Jo Graham
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
Anyone by Charles Soule
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Borne by Jeff VanderMeer
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
One Two by Eliane Brum
A Single Swallow by Ling Zhang
The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
Now I'm on to Virtual Light by William Gibson and A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Bonnie wrote: "Okay peanut gallery, what are we supposed to be discussing here. OTHER BOOKS.Regular / Literary fiction:
-Crossroads - Jonathan Franzen
Sucked me in to the story within two pages...."
Band of Brothers is a pretty good book, if you enjoy it you might also enjoy Pegasus Bridge by the same author. But I will point out these will be the only two books I ever recommend by that author.
For me the Fifth Season was 4 stars, I enjoyed the original setting and the way the story was told. The Obelisk Gate was 3 stars as it felt less original and I felt less sympathy with the characters. Book three was a DNF for me, I just had a hard time getting into it.
I have just ordered The Broken Earth trilogy. I hope I'll like it.
I tried Fifth Season a few months ago. I struggled to get drawn in and put it aside. I will give it another try at some point.
I can’t say I love what I’ve read of Jemisin’s work, including the Broken Earth trilogy. It’s powerful stuff, but I don’t expect to read any more of it for a while. Not really to my taste.
I had some issues with THE FIFTH SEASON but once the major reveal occurs 2/3rds in I loved it, along with the sequels. I do think the 3rd one is that hardest one to get into but the time investment pays off handsomely in the end.
whoa, Forever Peace is definitely not a real sequel to forever war! A pretty good book overall.Now, since I'm reading Hugo award winners, I'm about to start what seems to be the most controversial winner. Is 'They'd Rather Be Right (they'd rather be right) truly unworthy? or maybe it won because there were no other books published in 1955?? I dunno, but anyhoo, here I go...
Marc wrote: "Now, since I'm reading Hugo award winners, I'm about to start what seems to be the most controversial winner. Is 'They'd Rather Be Right (they'd rather be right) truly unworthy? or maybe it won because there were no other books published in 1955?? "Interesting article on the subject from Tor:
https://www.tor.com/2010/10/31/hugo-n...
I finished Project Hail Mary and am now working on another book I had set aside, The Song of Achilles as my Kindle read and starting The Midnight Library as my physical book read.For comic books I finished Kill or be Killed, Vol. 3 and am curious how the series wraps up in volume 4 which I have just queued up for at the library. The next comic I'll try in the meantime is Reckless.
Still slowly working through The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Year's Best Science Fiction -- I haven't read a story from it in months though, I really need to get back to it.
Christopher wrote: "For me the Fifth Season was 4 stars, I enjoyed the original setting and the way the story was told. The Obelisk Gate was 3 stars as it felt less original and I felt less sympathy with the character..."The first was an excellent, powerful book. I've tried the second two or three times and keep stalling put before I get 100 pages in. Also true of at least two of her other books/series. I worry that I don't gel with her style anymore. Eventually I'll either push to the finish on one of them, or just give up on her books for a while. :/
Beth wrote: "Also true of at least two of her other books/series. I worry that I don't gel with her style anymore."Is any of her work written in first or third person? I tried one of her works before, but I could not stand the second person narration.
Mod
I'll give her another try, then.
I just finished The Girl with All the Gifts and am 100 pages into Killing Floor. It's not fantasy or sci-fi or horror, but sometimes I break away and read another genre.
This was disappointingly not one of my favourite books by this author.My review of Notes from the Burning Age by Claire North
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
After giving up on A Master of Djinn I indulged in one of my taboo reading habits - Westerns.I finished another L'Amour classic - Conagher.
Does anybody else read Westerns? I know I shouldn't, they are not very politically correct - with the macho, violence solves all, kind of attitude.
Mod
I read a bunch of Louis L’Amour years ago. I like various kinds of suspense/action stories when in the mood and I think that is what most westerns are. L’Amour’s heroes are decent, highly competent, incredibly tough men and the women they love are strong and loyal.Another excellent “subversive” literary western is Butcher's Crossing.
Mathew wrote: "After giving up on A Master of Djinn I indulged in one of my taboo reading habits - Westerns.I finished another L'Amour classic - Conagher.
Does anybody else read We..."
I used to read L'Amour's books in my tweens, but then got tired of them. Have you read any of David Gemmell's fantasy books? They're like a crossover country music artist in the book realm. Sort of fantasies with a western flavor. Not his Troy series, but the Waylander, etc series are very much in that vein. They might be of interest to you!
For a couple of great recently written westerns, try Joe Lansdale. The Thicket and Paradise Sky were both 5 star reads for me.Currently working on The Monster Baru Cormorant. Loved the first book, this one’s taking a little longer to grab me so far.
This post is about a pair of non-fiction books, both from the diaries of young women (one 30, the other 27) in the second decade of the 20th century. First, Olive the Lionheart: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and One Woman's Journey to the Heart of Africa by Brad Ricca is written from the diaries of Olive MacLeod. She was a daughter of Scottish nobility who fell in love with a naturalist, Boyd Alexander, and, after he was killed on an expedition in Africa, went on an African expedition herself to unravel the mystery of his death. There was a lot of adventure, growth, and eventual acclaim for her, but I would note that she had substantial support throughout her journey. Also, possibly a content warning, this is the story of a privileged Victorian-era woman and the expedition is in colonial Africa. The attitudes and racism of the time are evident. The second is Nurse At The Russian Front by Florence Farmborough. She went to Russia as to teach the children of a well-off family (almost an au pair/companion) and was back visiting them when World War I started. She volunteered for the Red Cross and wound up helping to staff medical units close to (sometimes in the middle of) the Russian front lines. Also went through the chaos of the Russian Revolution with the military. If this were fiction, we would call her character arc and growth astonishing. The book is stunning and horrifying. (As a thought experiment, imagine if your daughter went on vacation and vanished for 4 years into WWI and the Revolution in Russia.) Yet, it is the first book that is lauded by all major book review organizations. The second, I stumbled over (literally, it was in a pile on the floor) in a used book store and has had little, if any notice. I guess it's obvious which one I recommend you read first.
Colin wrote: "The second is Nurse At The Russian Front by Florence Farmborough. She went to Russia as to teach the children of a well-off family (almost an au pair/companion) and was back visiting them when World War I started."Looks like an alternative title is,
With the Armies of the Tsar: A Nurse at the Russian Front, 1914-18.
Let's get this back into print!
I have two nonfiction books (“Shape” and “The Disordered Cosmos”) going before I can get to my dessert of “Leviathan Falls”
MadProfessah wrote: "I have two nonfiction books (“Shape” and “The Disordered Cosmos”) going before I can get to my dessert of “Leviathan Falls”"I’m in the same boat! I have about 2.5 books Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Native Country of the Heart: A Memoir, and Folklorn. Then I can jump into Leviathan Falls. It’s going to be bitter sweet.
well, I just finished the hugo-award-winning and apparently controversial 'they rather be right', which won in 1955. Actually, I didn't think it was horrible (or as Jo Walton who has won the hugo, 'The book is generally believed to be so awful that there are conspiracy theories about why it won.' Thank you CBRetriever for the link!). It was actually, rather good (and no I am not a scientologist! Battlefield Earth was a truly horrid film!). There are times I read it in the voice of old-timey tv like old dragnet or in the original twilight zone, you know, they seemed to speak differently than us. And I also tried to remember to accept certain words that really aren't all that common today that the authors used. I was worried it was going to be rather preachy, and, honestly, it wasn't really. there was a small mistake on one of the pages where two sentences got flipped, I was like wtf? oh, it makes sense reading the bottom sentence first, then the upper sentence next. And the title does make sense in the context of the story (neglecting the knee-jerk reaction of, 'of course I would rather be right, why would I want to be wrong?'), roughly a third way it flat out says the title that makes sense in the story. My guess is, somewhere along the way, some folks didn't like it, and because the book has been out-of-print, no one got a chance to read it, and it became common knowledge that the book is a horrid POS. Should it have beaten I am Legend? I dunno, I liked both books.Anyhoo, that's my 2 cents, take it or leave it! On to the next book, Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog (yeah, I already read Doomsday book). Hopefully I'll get the last book (Blackout/all clear) as a xmas gift!
I just started reading The Midnight Library. Sounds like an interesting tale.
I recently finished The Accusation: Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea by Bandi and started The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Marc wrote: "well, I just finished the hugo-award-winning and apparently controversial 'they rather be right', which won in 1955. Actually, I didn't think it was horrible (or as Jo Walton who has won the hugo, ..."Marc, I like that you went in with an open mind and gave it a fair shot. Also, I admit I was surprised to see that I Am Legend was written as long ago as the 50s.
I recently started Odyssey One by Evan Currie. And I am really surprised how much I like that book as it is a real pageturner. Does anyone also know the other books of the author and are they also good?
Winterfella wrote: "For a couple of great recently written westerns, try Joe Lansdale. The Thicket and Paradise Sky were both 5 star reads for me.Currently working on [book:The Monste..."
Nurse at the Russian Front sounds fantastic! I've got to see if I can track down a copy. Yesterday I recommended two D-Day books and a WWI book to a fellow reader on Instagram, if this ends up being as good as it sounds I'll have to pass it along!
Mod
There are 7 books in the series and a spin off series that will keep you reading. They're all about the same quality. Well, the spin-off series isn't quite as good, but I'm hooked.
There is a also single scifi: Seal Team 13 that I also quite liked. He has a few fantasy series as well, but I have not read them yet.
Alexia wrote: "Winterfella wrote: "For a couple of great recently written westerns, try Joe Lansdale. The Thicket and Paradise Sky were both 5 star reads for me.Currently working..."
Hi, Amazon lists used copies of the version that I have. Alibris lists the alternative title that Bonnie mentioned. I do not know if there are any differences in the books other than the title and cover. You will enjoy the read. It is a fantastic story, all the more so for being real.
Thanks Melanie for the info. I've already started book 2 of the series as I really liked it.
Florian wrote: "I recently started Odyssey One by Evan Currie. And I am really surprised how much I like that book as it is a real pageturner. Does anyone also know the other book..."I have read all the books in that series and the two off-shoots of it. For the most part, they are all page-turners, although they do have some gaps in flow. Worst of all I am not sure that they are still being updated with new additions. It is a fun read though.
Mod
If you like this series, I will also recommend the Frontlines series. It is another well-written, high-action military sci-fi. The first book is Terms of Enlistment.
@Dj Yeah, I noticed as well that the beginning took a while until it really got me engaged.And at least the main series hasn't been updated since 2018, as far as I know.
And terms of enlistment sounds also nice.
Florian wrote: "@Dj Yeah, I noticed as well that the beginning took a while until it really got me engaged.And at least the main series hasn't been updated since 2018, as far as I know.
And terms of enlistment s..."
The Terms of Enlistment series is very interesting and starts out at a lower level of rank. Has a few miscues as far as I am concerned but it is a fun and quick read.
The Clockwork Crown takes me past 30 books for the year. Hooray! The description that came to mind is "slight, but not stupid." Basically it's easy to read, almost but not quite YA-ish, but it's fairly serious for the most part, with some minor pondering on religion and very human envy.I had intended to move on to Piranesi but--as mentioned in other threads recently--my brain is whimsical and decided it wanted to read SF instead. So next up is Forty Thousand in Gehenna, which ideally will get me a little closer to finishing my SFFBC "read some of the books" challenge. Unfortunately my edition is a hardcover with no dust jacket, so I won't be enjoying the amazing DAW edition cover.
I'm currently reading Red Queen. I'm only 50 pages in, but it's been an interesting story so far. I love dystopian-type stories, so I'm curious to see how this will play out.
Oh, red queen is really an interesting book, also in combination with the other books of the series. I liked the combination between the magic system, the social system and the growth of the individual characters, although they are sometimes a bit predictable.
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SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
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Good one {GUFFAW}!
Since all three books of the trilogy won multiple awards, and using my stars instead of yours, it definitely fits into your theory.
I an in a small minority : literally 2% (The Obelisk Gate) - 3% (The Stone Sky) of GR who did not like or love them.