SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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What Are You Reading 2015 Edition
Justine wrote: "Monica wrote: "Sarah wrote: How was Red Rising? I'm supposed to read that next week.I was not a fan of Red Rising, but I confess I'm interested in your take. I'm thinking it's generational and no..."
I agree Justine. It is a book to appeal to any age as long as you are into the genre:) I liked it very much, the sequel a little less.
I read the first chapter of Red Rising and went, "Meh." I'll come back to it at some point, but I have so many other books to read.
Reading Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop, Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews, and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Phrynne said: It is a book to appeal to any age as long as you are into the genre:)Not trying to be flippant. Real question: To what genre are you referring? I am assuming YA and that is true. I'm not a YA fan (though I enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy). I seemed to have diverged from the masses on "Red Rising". But of course people of all ages can enjoy it. I have also seen reviews from young folks that disliked it as much as I did so yeah, not generational. Not my cuppa. But I am curious in others views on it.
Monica wrote: "Phrynne said: It is a book to appeal to any age as long as you are into the genre:)Not trying to be flippant. Real question: To what genre are you referring? I am assuming YA and that is true...."
I don't think the YA genre necessarily that I would refer to...I'm actually surprised that you disliked it if you liked Hunger Games. I usually tell people that if they liked Hunger Games and Ender's Game, that they would probably enjoy Red Rising, as I find similar elements there (Brown even gives a nice nod to "Wiggin" at one point in the text), although I really did find Red Rising to be quite original and, just in my own opinion, very well written. I thought it particularly strong for a first novel. But like I said, Monica, if there is only one thing I know for sure, it is that there is not a single book out there that everyone likes! Even Cormac McCarthy has detractors. :)
Phrynne wrote: "I agree Justine. It is a book to appeal to any age as long as you are into the genre:) I liked it very much, the sequel a little less. "I loved Golden Son...I really did think it showed some growth in the writing; however, I was very depressed at the end of the book:) I read The Goblin Emperor right after, which was a perfect "rescue-me" :)
No I did not mean YA. Sorry I should have made myself clearer. I meant dystopian SF.
Flying through 3535 and enjoying it. Up next I'm moving on to The Martian since I've heard good things about it.
It's interesting, Red Rising is classified as YA on Goodreads but Barnes & Noble is shelving it as Adult.I got halfway into The Girl in the Road but then I had to put it down for a bit. It's pretty intense and strange. It's very good though, and very unique.
Morgan wrote: "Flying through 3535 and enjoying it. Up next I'm moving on to The Martian since I've heard good things about it."That is a great book. Intelligent science fiction and fun.
Sarah wrote: "It's interesting, Red Rising is classified as YA on Goodreads but Barnes & Noble is shelving it as Adult.I got halfway into The Girl in the Road but then I had to put it down for ..."
It's all marketing anyway. :)
Saint Odd Just finished this last book of the Odd Thomas series. I have really enjoyed the entire series but this last book, while big on the feels, felt a little rushed to me. It's well written and thought provoking, as were all the previous books, but there were a lot of plot lines and characters that had been built up previously as major events, which received nothing more than a few paragraphs of explanation and wrap up. Well worth reading, but not quite the slam-bang finish I was hoping for.J.A. Coppinger
Author, "The Screaming God"
Visit my Website: www.jacoppinger.com
jacoppinger@gmail.com
Taryn wrote: "Currently rereading the Dresden files. I just went through Hamilton's Anita Blake series and it kind of soured at the end so I needed to reset and refresh with what good urban fantasy/mystery can be."Love Jim Butcher's work! His Furies of Calderon series is also excellent.Furies of Calderon
Felt the same way about Anita Blake - the first few novels were really good detective stories with interesting characters but the later ones went too far into the "50 Shades" area for my taste. Hamilton lost the mystery and replaced with overly long sex scenes. If you like the Dresden Files, I recommend Hounded The Iron Druid series. A really good read with a sense of humor and unique cast of characters.
J.A. Coppinger
Author, "The Screaming God"
Visit my Website: www.jacoppinger.com
jacoppinger@gmail.com
I finished today after two plus weeks (a long time for me) The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters. It didn't work for me.Then I read and loved Gabi, a Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, which I really liked.
Now I'm reading A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott and enjoying it.
I gave up on The Paying Guests around 40%. I don't know how you managed to finish it.
Because The Paying Guests was only my second Sarah Waters novel. I finally got around to Fingersmith last month. I loved it. I should have returned The Paying Guest to the library and requested Tipping the Velvet.
I've been reading the iron druid chronicles. they have been flipping fantastic. very fun easy reads. I love the characters in Kevin Hearne's books. I've actually been listening to the audio book and Luke Daniels is a brilliant narrator. I only have 3 more books to go to be current on the series. highly recommended
I finished Legends of the Drenai and The Hadrian Enigma. Anyone interested in Hadrian and Antinous should read the latter. It is presented as a mystery. I also read The Magic of Recluce for another group read. It's book one of an epic fantasy which I enjoyed a lot. But, it's a 14 book series and I have such big piles of unread books...
I just started a re-read of E.E. Doc Smith's Lensmen series, a top Classic SF series from the '40s and '50s, spanning eons.
I finished by 3rd Discworld book in a row with Mort and continue to enjoy the series. (My Review)I did an audio reread of The Two Towers. Less of a review than a few thoughts. (My Review)
And I decided to give Urban Fantasy another try with Midnight Riot Still not as good as Dresden, but then nothing seems to be for me. I do plan to give the second book a shot. (My Review).
I am in the mood for a little alternative history, so I just started 1632 by Eric Flint. I also just finished and enjoyed The Silicon Mage by Barbara Hambly.Kernos, after seeing your post and review, I've added The Complete Lyonesse to my to-read list and might have to promote it to the top. I've been looking for something mythic and Arthurianish and that looks like it will fit the bill quite nicely.
I just started The Skull Throne. I was hoping there would be some discussions about it but I don't see much yet.
I just finished the Skull Throne it was pretty good...but fairly inconclusive. Unlike the last book which ends on climatic fight>literal cliffhanger, this one just kind of well ends. The book is basically 100% setup to the next one and spends most of it's time detailing what is going on with everyone else and getting ready for the final conclusion.I'm almost done with Fire with Fire. This book was odd for me it started at a 2/5 then moved to a 3/5 now it's a solid 4/5 for me. It almost feels like an older sci-fi book in many ways, it's about first contact with other alien races and some of the pretty tangled political webs that result.
Right, finally managed to finish The Lies of Locke Lamora and have now started on:
(yes, I'm a month behind! lol! March was busier than expected!!)
Kernos wrote: "...I just started a re-read of E.E. Doc Smith's Lensmen series, a top Classic SF series from the '40s and '50s, spanning eons. "I've still got the entire set, acquired when I was going through college back in the 60's. I love to re-read them.
Currently reading A Phule and His Money by Asprin. Just started.
I just finished "The Accidental Time Machine". A fun and fast read. I'm not a super fast reader and I finished it over a weekend.The Accidental Time Machine
Now, I'm finally getting around to reading "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. Loving this book so far.
American Gods
At the moment I'm reading The Skull Throne and The Slow Regard of Silent Things.
Also just got The Skull Throne from the library. I love being the first person to read a library book.The book continues the high-quality writing, btw.
I just finished The Inverted World by Christopher Priest. It was delightfully thought-provoking and mind-screwy.I'm just about to start The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu.
I'm reading a fun Sherlock Holmes pastiche about the kids who are the Baker Street Irregulars which is YA/ mg called The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas by Tracy Mack & Michael Citrin.
Question: has anybody read "the red knight" by miles cameron? Because I've almost finished it and it is Very good. I can't believe I'm the first one to bring it up.
I finished the first 2 books in the Lensmen series and am taking a break to read Ultima by Stephen Baxter book 2 in his Proxima series
I finished the first 2 books in the Lensmen series and am taking a break to read Ultima by Stephen Baxter book 2 in his Proxima series
Downloaded the latest in the Jane Yellowrock series Dark Heir and am enjoying it. So far, this one appeals to me more than the last couple did, not sure just why, but seems to have less 'vamp politics' and a more straightforward plot line.
Don wrote: "Question: has anybody read "the red knight" by miles cameron? Because I've almost finished it and it is Very good. I can't believe I'm the first one to bring it up."I've read the first two books. I very much enjoyed both of them and look forward to the third!
Finished Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie. Can't wait now for book 3My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My library hold finally came in for Half the World. Much much better than Half a King and more in line with what I expect from Joe Abercrombie. My Review
Chris wrote: "I just finished "The Accidental Time Machine". A fun and fast read. I'm not a super fast reader and I finished it over a weekend.The Accidental Time Machine
Now, I'm finally getting ..."
They are both good!
I just started Keeper of the Keys by Janny Wurtsand the hectic pace is leaving me quite breathless!!
I'm about halfway through Rough Magick and loving it, also just started Magic Bites and slowly crawling through The Eye of the World. The last one I'm finding a little disappointing.
I've read a bunch of pretty good to very good YA books lately:Green Witch, Boys Don't Knit, The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas, Bat 6.
And now I'm rereading and lovingThe Golem and the Jinni.
I Just Finished A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller Jr.. It was slow to start, but as much Science Fiction is, a depressing (but good) look at how foolish humanity can be, akin to Orphans of the Sky. by Robert A. Heinlein.
I am reading The Golem and the Djinni.I am enjoying it a lot. About half way through I started to complain that the plot wasn't moving anywhere and then BAM! all sorts of things happened. Now I am waiting to see how it will all end.
Tracey wrote: "I'm about halfway through Rough Magick and loving it, also just started Magic Bites and slowly crawling through The Eye of the World. The last one I'm fin..."If you are struggling through eye of the world you might wanna just stop there. That's one of the good books in the series. There are 3-4 in the middle that just draaaaaag. Wanted to give you a heads up
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
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I was not a fan of Red Rising, but I confess I'm interested in your take. I'm thinking it's generational and not my generation..."
I loved Red Rising! I don't think it's a generational thing as I am far out of the target if there was supposed to be one (also, my mom who is a senior also read and loved it so...?) I think it's more of a taste thing. I can see it not appealing to everyone, just like any book.