SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

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What Else Are You Reading? > What Else Are You Reading in 2022?

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message 1101: by Colin (new)

Colin (colinalexander) | 366 comments Jumping around genres, I read Elric of Melniboné (The Elric Saga #1) by Michael Moorcock Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock. This is a new compilation from Saga Press and includes Elric of Melnibone (can't get the accent here), The Fortress of the Pearl, The Sailor On the Seas of Fate, and The Weird of the White Wolf. There is also a useful Reader's Guide to the various incarnations of Elric books over the years. Elric is the odd and towering anti-hero of this fantasy world, and old-style, high fantasy it is. There is action and adventure aplenty but, other than Elric, don't look for nuance or depth in the characters. The hardcover is beautiful, with some terrific illustrations, and looks great on a shelf. Recommended to all fantasy-lovers.


message 1102: by Jen (new)

Jen (jenthebest) | 523 comments Nice, thanks Colin! I picked this up at the library last night on a whim.


message 1103: by Colin (new)

Colin (colinalexander) | 366 comments Jen wrote: "Nice, thanks Colin! I picked this up at the library last night on a whim."

You're welcome. I hope you enjoy it!


message 1104: by Phrynne (new)

Phrynne Finished the second book in the Clocktaur War The Wonder Engine. So good.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 1105: by Sam (new)

Sam | 37 comments I just started William Shatner's TekWar...and it looked like it was atrocious, especially coming from a Star Trek actor! I only read very little. I don't think I want to read it ever again.


message 1106: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 3168 comments Sam wrote: "I just started William Shatner's TekWar...and it looked like it was atrocious, especially coming from a Star Trek actor! I only read very little. I don't think I want to read it ever again."

:)


message 1107: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6111 comments Sam wrote: "I just started William Shatner's TekWar...and it looked like it was atrocious, especially coming from a Star Trek actor! I only read very little. I don't think I want to read it ever again."

sadness - I acquired that series as part of a Humble Bundle and have been putting off reading it. I think I'll backburner it even more


message 1108: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6111 comments I just finished The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier. Quite interesting:

"Winner of the Goncourt Prize and now an international phenomenon, this dizzying, whip-smart novel blends crime, fantasy, sci-fi, and thriller as it plumbs the mysteries surrounding a Paris-New York flight."

good character development too


message 1109: by Ozsaur (new)

Ozsaur | 106 comments The Librarian of Crooked Lane - listening to it on audio. I like it so far, and I'm interested in how the magic system works.


message 1110: by CBRetriever (last edited Oct 30, 2022 09:48PM) (new)

CBRetriever | 6111 comments and I finally finished Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. I'm not entirely sure what was happening in this book but it was an interesting journey


message 1111: by Gary (new)

Gary Gillen | 192 comments I finished reading The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin. It’s Book three of the Broken Earth trilogy. All three books in the trilogy have won awards and it’s easy to see why they won while I was reading them. I also finished reading Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi. Book 4 of the Old Man’s War series. It is a retelling of the previous novel with a different viewpoint. Interesting idea, but was it necessary? I am reading Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold. Book 3 or 7 depending on how you count them, of the Vorkosigan saga. An interesting non-Miles book. I plan to read Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan next. It’s Book 9 of the Wheel of Time series.


message 1112: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
knocking out some big series there, Gary! nice!


message 1113: by Bryan (new)

Bryan Craig Gary wrote: "I finished reading The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin. It’s Book three of the Broken Earth trilogy. All three books in the trilogy have won awards and it’s easy to see w..."

I really need to try the Broken Earth trilogy. I hear great things about them.


message 1114: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments I read The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne (finished it actually more than a week ago, but forgot to post, I think) and it was wonderful! It has the feel of a fairy tale, or a forgotten one, at least, but is framed as lost history. The characters are richly drawn and the plot is interesting. My favorite historical figure, Hildegard von Bingen, makes a cameo appearance. I was entranced!

I listened to it, and while the narrator is a good one, I do wish they would have chosen someone who is actually proficient at pronouncing German. It annoys me because I would do it better, yes, but also because the book takes place in Germany and there are a lot of German words (in italics in the print book), that were not pronounced well not to mention the names and places. Pronounced badly enough that I was glad I could go to the print book (which I also own) and check what the word/name was actually. If you don't know German, I'm sure it doesn't matter, but I do.


The Joy of Erudition | 83 comments DivaDiane wrote: "If you don't know German, I'm sure it doesn't matter, but I do. "

To me it does still matter, but I won't get into the reasons here, because it would be more suited to the "Now you're speakin' my language" thread.


message 1116: by SFFBC, Ancillary Mod (new)

SFFBC | 840 comments Mod
Voting for December runner-up books is open!

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message 1118: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 3168 comments I'm reading the second book in Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series, Fearless. My gosh, some of these characters need to be smacked upside their heads!


message 1119: by Marc (new)

Marc Towersap (marct22) | 340 comments done with my October Horror books, read
Joe Hill: NOS4A2 and Horns
Jeremy Robert Johnson: The Loop
Stephen Graham Jones: Mongrels, Mapping the Interior, Night of the Manniquins, Zombie Bake-off, and Three Miles Past

And just now finished the latest murderbot!! Martha Wells - Fugitive Telemetry

On to Andy Weir's Project Hail Mary!


message 1120: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 3168 comments I finished Fearless and I think it was even better than the first.

Now I'm all kinds of excited to read Moira's Pen: A Queen's Thief Collection, since I had preordered it eons ago and now it's mine 😉


message 1121: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
that's a great list, Marc! what stood out for you?

yay Michelle! i hope it lives up to your expectations!


message 1122: by Sam (new)

Sam | 37 comments I'm already beginning to read The Day of the Triffids. Its intro inspired the film 28 Days Later, and it was highly recommended!


message 1123: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
a surprising (to me) read! let us know what you think :)


message 1124: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra  | 252 comments I've just finished The Hands of the Emperor and I adored. There is so much love, care, humanity, the right kind of idealism and righteous anger in it. Its heart is in the right place. I've never read anything by Victoria Goddard before, but I'll be checking out her other books for sure.


message 1125: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments Sounds great, but it’s nearly 1000 pages!! 😳


message 1126: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra  | 252 comments DivaDiane wrote: "Sounds great, but it’s nearly 1000 pages!! 😳"

I know ;) I read it quite fast, though. It took me just one and half week to finish the book! After a while you stop noticing that you are reading a really LOOOONG story. But every reader is different...


message 1127: by SFFBC, Ancillary Mod (new)

SFFBC | 840 comments Mod
Don't forget to vote for our December books!


message 1128: by Marc (new)

Marc Towersap (marct22) | 340 comments Just finished Project Hail Mary from Andy Weir. It very much reads like Mark Watney in space. is that a bad thing (fyi MW is the protagonist from the Martian, his debut novel and movie adaptation)? IMHO, nope! great book!

gonna take a break from sci fi for a little while! got some history to read!


message 1129: by Araych (new)

Araych | 59 comments The Delirium Brief The Delirium Brief (Laundry Files, #8) by Charles Stross by Charles Stross

Laundry Files #8, series should be read in order. The British government is under attack by what appears to be a smarmy American televangelist but what is in reality a Lovecraftian demon of tremendous power. Bob Howard and the Laundry must defend us all. This is one of the finest (and darkest) books in the series. Highly recommended. 5 stars.


message 1130: by Colin (new)

Colin (colinalexander) | 366 comments Moved over to medieval historical fiction and read Time and Chance (Plantagenets #2; Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) by Sharon Kay Penman Time and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman. This is the second in her Plantagenet series although I read them out of order, and this was the last for me. This is the story of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the early part of their marriage, and sees them on their way to becoming the most dysfunctional marriage and family in history. It is also the story of the feud between Henry and Thomas Becket, a story of such pig-headed inability to see past the ends of their noses on both sides that readers might well consider the scenes unrealistic if this were pure fiction. Penman notes, however, in her Author's Note that the confrontations between the two were witnessed and documented by multiple people and that the words and actions are accurate. Truth is stranger than fiction. In addition, there were all the wars and intrigue (political and bedroom) of Henry's reign, and a huge cast of characters. The sheer number of characters may by the one drawback - a scorecard would help keep track. Penman's research is meticulous and detailed; the story is vivid. I would call this a must-read for historical fiction fans and for anyone who likes a tale in a European medieval setting.


message 1131: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6111 comments Colin wrote: "Moved over to medieval historical fiction and read Time and Chance (Plantagenets #2; Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitaine #2) by Sharon Kay PenmanTime and Chance by Sharon Kay Penman. This is the second in her Plantagenet series although I read..."

You might want to try the 4 Thomas Costain Plantagenet books


message 1132: by Colin (new)

Colin (colinalexander) | 366 comments CBRetriever wrote: "You might want to try the 4 Thomas Costain Plantagenet books"

Thank you. I have read them and enjoyed them greatly. For all Penman's attention to detail, her books are fiction. For example, the character Ranulf, Henry's uncle and confidante, is an invention. Sometimes, I like the smoother flow of fiction, but I do like it to stay close to reality where the reality is known.



message 1133: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6111 comments an equivalent series for French history is Maurice Druon's The Accursed Kings series:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

it deals with history from the Knights Templar over through up to and partly through the 100 years war

George R.R. Martin has acknowledged the series as an inspiration for his Game of Thrones epic.


message 1134: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2364 comments The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1) by L. Frank Baum

I am of a generation that saw this movie year after year on TV during the holiday seasons. Even so, I was prepared for some of the changes that came up when reading this book, like yellow slipper instead of ruby. The change to red was made since red would show up better on film than yellow. The book keeps going after the ending of the movie, for reasons that will be left untold at the present time.

However, there was one thing about the book that really did catch me off guard. It starts out in Black and White. The description of Kansas at the beginning of the book is literally a black-and-white image of dreariness. I had always thought that they did it in the movie to show you how good the studio could do with color and it turns out that is wrong. It was done that way because the book was done that way.

All in all a pretty fun read.


message 1135: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 3168 comments I'm still on a Jack Campbell binge, although I'm alternating his Lost Fleet series with another series re-read of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe. I finished Sharpe's Revenge tonight, (#19) then went to Campbell's Valiant, (#4).


message 1136: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments DJ, how many times have I read the Wonderful Wizard of Oz?!? I have no idea how many times I read it as a kid. A few I’m sure, and then all of the sequels. I reread Wizard when my son was about 8. And we listened to the audio book read by Anne Hathaway a little later. She did a great job.


message 1137: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2364 comments DivaDiane wrote: "DJ, how many times have I read the Wonderful Wizard of Oz?!? I have no idea how many times I read it as a kid. A few I’m sure, and then all of the sequels. I reread Wizard when my son was about 8. ..."

LOL. I have had one of the strangest reading journeys I imagine is out there. I started out reading Greek Myths in around third grade and then after struggling through the Illiad moved on to WWII history and some US Navy History. Then onto the US Civil War and back to WWII history. Then as a Sophomore in High School tripped over the Lord of the Rings and was hooked.

And when I say tripped over it was almost literally that. Someone had misshelved a book titled. Being on the War of the Rings, book one. Hell, I figured it was some British War, like the War of the Roses. Having seen the Hobbit, the old one with Richard Boone as Smaug I wasn't all that confused for long.

It wasn't until about the time I turned forty that I started reading the kid's books people told me were great when they were growing up. Still have a few (dozens) to go. LOL.


message 1138: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2364 comments DivaDiane wrote: "DJ, how many times have I read the Wonderful Wizard of Oz?!? I have no idea how many times I read it as a kid. A few I’m sure, and then all of the sequels. I reread Wizard when my son was about 8. ..."

By the by. Have you read the rest of the series? I have the second one on hold for a bit but plan to take it up.


message 1139: by Phrynne (new)

Phrynne I am reading Witch King which is a new book by Martha Wells
She's a genius. I can hardly put it down!


message 1140: by Anna (new)

Anna (vegfic) | 10434 comments Phrynne wrote: "I am reading Witch King which is a new book by Martha Wells"

Jealous! I'm really looking forward to that!


The Joy of Erudition | 83 comments I've read the second and third Oz books. I'll read more of them eventually. So far I like book 2 the best.


message 1142: by Stephen (last edited Nov 09, 2022 08:31AM) (new)

Stephen Burridge | 507 comments This reminds me that when I was a kid I had a copy of The Wizard of Oz and The Land of Oz in a single volume. I read them quite a few times but got less interested as I grew older. I vividly remember the green dust cover illustration. A little internet research tells me this was the 1960 Looking Glass Library edition. Funny, I hadn’t thought of the book in ages.


message 1143: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments DJ, I read quite a few of the sequels. At least 4 or 5, I think. Our library had the whole set. I remember liking them, but I have no recollection at all.


message 1144: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments I just checked and there are 14 volumes in the Oz series plus various short stories! I don’t think I read that many.


message 1145: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6111 comments I have read them all - you can get the entire OZ series on amazon.com for $2.99 in Kindle format with illustrations in most cases

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...


message 1146: by Meredith (new)

Meredith | 1775 comments I had several Oz books when I was growing up that I read over and over. But I had never read the first book until I got one of those kindle deals. I'm still working my way through the collection.


message 1147: by Phrynne (new)


message 1148: by Jeff (new)

Jeff McIntyre | 8 comments Just finished Project Hail Mary. It was a fun book and an easy read although I did have a minor issue with the protagonist. I won't go into details because it's a bit of a spoiler but all and all I would recommend it to anyone looking for good sci-fi.

I'm about a third of the way through Jade City. I have to say I've found the alternate world setting and the general premise to be intriguing so far. Pacing has been good and the characters are excellent.


message 1149: by Allison, Fairy Mod-mother (new)

Allison Hurd | 14221 comments Mod
both very good books in their own way in my opinion, I hope Jade City continues to intrigue you!


message 1150: by Dj (new)

Dj | 2364 comments The Joy of Erudition wrote: "I've read the second and third Oz books. I'll read more of them eventually. So far I like book 2 the best."

Ah, that will make it on the list to read soon then. LOL


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