The Sword and Laser discussion
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What Else Are You Reading?
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What else are you reading - December 2021
Iain wrote: "John (Nevets) wrote: "Jerimy wrote: "John (Nevets) wrote: "Jerimy wrote: "Getting Ready to go Hiking in July, and trying to finish 100 books this year. In the interest of completing both goals I ha..."That does sound like the way to go. It would be nice to start fresh every morning and not worry about the Yogi Bears of the forest and such.
Ruth wrote: "Iain wrote: "John (Nevets) wrote: "Jerimy wrote: "John (Nevets) wrote: "Jerimy wrote: "Getting Ready to go Hiking in July, and trying to finish 100 books this year. In the interest of completing bo..."I like most of the critters. If a hiker is responsible enough to make noise, stay alert, and carry bear spray, then there's not too much danger. Still, it's good to be well-read, prepared, and practiced on the what-if scenarios.
Do you like history books? I like History, Memoirs (usually written by naturalists, rangers, and frontiersmen), biographies, and autobiographies. It never fails to fascinate me to learn about what our ancestors went through, and how detached we are from their way of life.
I just finished Revelator by Daryl Gregory, sword-adjacent, southern gothic horror. There are women in a family who commune with the "god in the mountain" set in the 1930s and 40s. Loved it!
I like that genre name: Sword-Adjacent.
Iain wrote: "I prefer the British long distance hikes. Someone takes your bag to a and you walk between B&Bs daily. Nice bed and hot meals..."My Mother and a friend of hers did that about 8 years ago. It was in far south west England, out past Plymouth, for the better part of a week. She had a great time. Said they often would buy packed lunches from neighbors of the B&B hosts, and then have a Dinner at pubs in the evening.
That sounds awesome! Could even be worth a trip from the US. Well, if I still had two working knees. When I was younger and traveled to Europe I enjoyed just setting out in the morning and seeing what I'd see.
Iain wrote: "The critters usually run away in Oz.... "I actually read this as L. Frank’s place and thought, “Well, what about the flying monkeys?” 😆
Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events is fan-tastic. It’s not sci-fi, but it is SF-adjacent, as Spiner uses ST:TNG as his jumping-off place.My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Trike wrote: "Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events is fan-tastic. It’s not sci-fi, but it is SF-adjacent, as Spiner uses ST:TNG as his jumping-off place."One of my favorite reads of 2021. I plan to gift myself the audiobook because so many people have been laughing as they listen.
Mark wrote: "Trike wrote: "Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events is fan-tastic. It’s not sci-fi, but it is SF-adjacent, as Spiner uses ST:TNG as his jumping-off place."One of my fav..."
This is so up your alley. Don’t wait!
I finished Winter: Book 2: The Guardians of Magic Series yesterday evening. It continues from the first book with a search for magic-users. Matters get complex as the King demands the loyalty of the characters, as a neighbor is preparing for war. I liked the characters in this as much as the first. The plot moves at a faster pace in this book. It ends on a cliffhanger, so I want to find out what happens next.
I have just read two early Philip K Dick novels Gather Yourselves Together and Voices From the StreetThese aren't Science Fiction and were unpublished in PKD's lifetime but they are very interesting reads and I could definitely see the beginnings of themes and style that would later be in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 1
I am so excited to dig into The Actual Star by Monica Byrne this month (finally!).And am finishing up the last book in The Ranger's Apprentice series (The Lost Stories), which my nephew is reading and gives us something fun to chat about together.
Mod
I have a bunch of audiobooks in my backlog to get through, I opted to do Cytonic next. I'm hoping for some lighter/fast reads to round out the year.
I’ve ended up lemming the December book of the month, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina (which is the fourth book of the month in a row I haven’t got on with!). I feel a little bit guilty about giving up on it because it feels like the sort of book that I really ought to like, but I simply wasn’t finding it compelling enough to want to continue.I have turned instead to an audiobook version of the complete Sherlock Holmes, read by Simon Vance, and I’ve just started listening to A Study in Scarlet. I feel like we don’t talk enough about the fact that the great detective apparently doesn’t know that the Earth goes around the Sun.
Ruth wrote: "I feel like we don’t talk enough about the fact that the great detective apparently doesn’t know that the Earth goes around the Sun."Yes! Holmes is all detecting all the time. He knows the difference between 17 different kinds of cigar ash (or was it 130?) but not even the basics of anything else. A true specialist. And he did what he loved.
So, the second half of Study in Scarlet gets fairly tedious and it's clear Doyle has no love for Mormons. When my wife read it she thought it was another book, the transition is so abrupt. Don't let that get you down. The oeuvre is amazingly good. And it's all free on gutenberg press or really any one of a number of sources. I read all of Holmes pretty much in one long binge over a several month period and it was an amazing time.
In Jo Walton's latest 'what I read last month' post, she recommended The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell, who I haven't ever read, so I picked that one up. Good historical fiction so far with just a few touches of the fantastical. I also have Bewilderment ready to start since I've wanted to read Richard Powers, but I may decide it's too weighty to read now (though it's short).
John (Taloni) wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I feel like we don’t talk enough about the fact that the great detective apparently doesn’t know that the Earth goes around the Sun."Yes! Holmes is all detecting all the time. He kno..."
I am duly warned about the second half of A Study in Scarlet!
I read all/most/some/can’t remember how much of the Holmes oeuvre many years ago, I thought I’d give it try in audiobook format. Not free but at a single Audible credit for over 58 hours of audio it’s certainly value for money!
Finished Klara and the Sun today. I really liked this more than I thought I would. It was thought provoking over many topics. Even though the story didn't answer every question I had it provided enough to keep me engaged through the whole book.
Ruth wrote: "John (Taloni) wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I feel like we don’t talk enough about the fact that the great detective apparently doesn’t know that the Earth goes around the Sun."Yes! Holmes is all detectin..."
Simon Vance is a great narrator too!
John (Taloni) wrote: "So, the second half of Study in Scarlet gets fairly tedious and it's clear Doyle has no love for Mormons. "In Doyle’s defense, Mormons were genuinely and completely horrible as a group in his day, even worse than Scientology is today.
To quote the lyrics from “I Believe” from the musical Book of Mormon:
ELDER PRICE
I believe!!!
That Satan has a hold of you.
I believe!
That the Lord God has sent me here!
And I believe
That in 1978 God changed his mind about black people!!
CHORUS
Black People!!
https://youtu.be/GVJgmp2Tc2s
😂🤣😂
Scott wrote: "Finished Klara and the Sun today. I really liked this more than I thought I would. It was thought provoking over many topics. Even though the story didn't answer every question I ha..."You should also give A Calculated Life a read, too. It has a similar set-up and themes.
I finished a book, paper and everything!!!The Witness for the Dead was a brilliant cosy mystery (with ghouls).
Now listening to this months pick, which is going OK so far.
Iain wrote: "I finished a book, paper and everything!!!The Witness for the Dead was a brilliant cosy mystery (with ghouls).
Now listening to this months pick, which is going OK so far."
Ooh I have Witness for the Dead lined up on my kindle to read next. Looking forward to it - I loved The Goblin Emperor.
Ruth wrote: "Iain wrote: "I finished a book, paper and everything!!!The Witness for the Dead was a brilliant cosy mystery (with ghouls).
Now listening to this months pick, which is going OK s..."
Katherine Addison is on my must read list and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel The Grief of Stones.
Ian (RebelGeek) wrote: "Ruth wrote: "John (Taloni) wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I feel like we don’t talk enough about the fact that the great detective apparently doesn’t know that the Earth goes around the Sun."Simon Vance is a great narrator too!
"
I really enjoyed Vance’s performance of the Lightbringer books by Brent Weeks, which was why I selected him to read the Holmes books to me (instead of Stephen Fry, who was the other option and whose voice I dislike)
Just started H. Rider Haggard's Heart of the World, which I believe is going to turn out to be one of his lost race books rather than (as I initially expected) one of his historical novels.
John (Taloni) wrote: "Ruth wrote: "I feel like we don’t talk enough about the fact that the great detective apparently doesn’t know that the Earth goes around the Sun."Yes! Holmes is all detecting all the time. He kno..."
I’m glad you warned me about the second half of A Study in Scarlet because the transition is very abrupt and it feels like a completely different book - new characters, new setting, even the style of narration is different (Watson’s first-person perspective replaced by an omniscient narrator)
Ruth wrote: "I’m glad you warned me about the second half of A Study in Scarlet because the transition is very abrupt and it feels like a completely different book - new characters, new setting, even the style of narration is different (Watson’s first-person perspective replaced by an omniscient narrator)"People forget (or don’t realize) that Doyle didn’t care much for Holmes and after a while hated the character and everything to do with him. That’s why he couldn’t be bothered with little things like remembering Watson’s name, and he killed Holmes off by throwing him off a waterfall. “That should shut these stupid fanbois up,” he undoubtedly thought. (Except it didn’t. The outcry was such that he was offered a ridiculous amount of money to resurrect Holmes, so he did.)
Finished up what's probably my last S&L-adjacent read of the year - Heaven's River. For me, this was a disappointingly average continuation of the original trilogy. I'd think long and hard before committing to further reads in this universe.Going to take a minute to think about what I can target from my TBR list for next year.
Colin wrote: "Finished up what's probably my last S&L-adjacent read of the year - Heaven's River. For me, this was a disappointingly average continuation of the original trilogy. I'd think long a..."Yeah I agree with you. I really didn't have anything great to say about the book. I think at the time I enjoyed it because I got to live in the world again, but after reflecting on it, I don't think I got that much out of it.
Just started reading The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison, set in the same world as The Goblin Emperor
I read Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Didn’t care for it. Would’ve been more bearable had it been half the length.
Trike wrote: "I read Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Didn’t care for it. Would’ve been more bearable had it been half the length."Mmm. And it's the start of a trilogy. I've been delaying my library hold for that for about two months now. It's got a lot of good press tho.
I'm likely to do a nostalgia run first, More Than Human by Sturgeon and Mammoth by Varley. The page count of both is less than Shards.
It’s just very light for its length. My review details why.
Just arrived yesterday - my fancy special edition copy of the newly published A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, co-host of my other favourite book podcast, Be The Serpent.
Trike wrote: "I read Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Didn’t care for it. Would’ve been more bearable had it been half the length."I'm reading this right now, about halfway through and was just thinking something similar.
Chris wrote: "Trike wrote: "I read Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Didn’t care for it. Would’ve been more bearable had it been half the length."I'm reading this right now, about halfway through and was just thinking something similar. ..."
And the climax is bizarrely bifurcated because he inexplicably pauses for like 150 pages. It’s as if Star Wars has the rebels approaching the Death Star and you hear, “Lock S-foils into position,” and then we cut to a whole different movie and watch that before continuing with the story.
(I need to add that to my review.)
Ruth wrote: "Just arrived yesterday - my fancy special edition copy of the newly published A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, co-host of my other favourite book podcast, Be The..."I'm reading this right now. Not the fancy edition just the copy I got at the library. I'm really enjoying it.
I’ve just finished The Sign of Four and I’m continuing my Holmes-fest with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I enjoyed The Sign of Four more than A Study in Scarlet - the murderer’s backstory was much better integrated into the narrative - although the portrayal of some of the Indian characters was, um, distasteful to a modern reader.
^ Cool, yeah, TBH I found the first Holmes work the worst of them and overlong. Since I will go with publication order whenever possible, that's where I started. Despite issues I read on and was glad I did. Most Sherlock Holmes is longish short stories (technically novelettes I suppose) and that length fits the concept best. I was routinely amazed at Doyle's inventiveness. Well, for Holmes. I read some of his SFF and, well, remained amazed at Holmes.As for the dated aspect...yeah, gotta keep in mind the timeframe in which it was written. I think back to stuff I read uncritically in younger years. Foundation, great galactic empire plotline but the only female characters are girlfriends or undercover spy concubines. Time Machine, a legit classic, but with Weena as a childlike dwarf that the MC was still apparently in love with. Heinlein's idealized women who look silly today, but he was top of the list of authors who actually included women. Barsoom, where Dejah Thoris had agency and told John Carter to go stuff when he deserved it, but still only existed as his love interest. And that's before the casual racism and slavery. Even Bradbury takes a hit as some of the stories in Long After Midnight seem stereotypical when for the day they were representation. Le sigh.
Played some "Library Roulette" and won both times. Read some St. Mary's time travel shorts and got the book of the month. Then I was close on Leviathan Wakes and got it just when I was starting on the last available short. Will probably buy the rest, but anyhoo......The St. Mary's books are a prime example of "do what you do well and don't worry about the rest." These books have holes you could drive a fleet of 18-wheelers through. It doesn't matter. Jodi Taylor handles the historical visits beautifully and makes you feel like you are there. The home base has ongoing soap opera plotlines and chuckle-level humor, very dry British style.
I wonder about a few things, such as, for instance, since the pods travel in time and space, has anyone noticed they've solved space travel? Set it to go one second in the future and 200 miles up. Bam, orbit. It's basically a TARDIS with the caveat that changing historical events will get you killed rather than the Doctor always trying to meddle. Or when they deal with the Time Police, set some indeterminate time in the future, don't they already know how things will turn out? Especially as St. Mary's is such a thorn in their side. It feels like the Time Police might just be play acting their roles.
Anyhoo, lots of fun to be had. And to let the cat out of the bag, I liked but didn't love Leviathan Falls, especially the ending. So I went straight back to Jodi Taylor for the Time Police trilogy, because she knows how to end a book.
Ruth wrote: "I’ve just finished The Sign of Four and I’m continuing my Holmes-fest with The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes...."I did that marathon a couple years ago. I thought the stories got better as they went along, and in general I preferred the short stories to the novels. Enjoy! And if you're not sick and tired of Holmes at the end of your journey, you might enjoy Sherlock Holmes: Beyond the Elementary which is available free on Audible to "Plus" members. It gave me an appreciation for a lot of little details that eluded me during my read-through.
I finished the "other" book by Michael Ende
Momo by Michael Ende
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I started reading the third (out of four) installment in the Books of Babel series
The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft
Really liked The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet - historical fiction with some fantastical elements and adventure, though with a sort of melancholy tone.On to Assassin's Apprentice because that was the best-looking eaudiobook I could grab quickly at the library.
Trike wrote: "I read Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Didn’t care for it. Would’ve been more bearable had it been half the length."Oh dear. Just picked that one up today for 99p from the Kindle daily deal email - it's been bubbling up towards the top of my TBR for a while and I thought that was a stroke of luck!
I might dial back my expectations now, but I'll still give it a read soon.
Colin wrote: "Trike wrote: "I read Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Didn’t care for it. Would’ve been more bearable had it been half the length."Oh dear. Just picked that one up today for..."
Don’t let my opinion sway you. We are all unique snowflakes.
(I’m the most correct of all the snowflakes, of course, but we’re all unique.)
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That reminds me of Ricky Gervais' response when told the B..."
Lol. I have to agree. I actually like the Bible, lots of good stuff in there. Your comment reminds me of Robinson Crusoe. I believe it was the only book he had when he was shipwrecked.