What else are you reading - November 2022

[Rob, Roberator]

What are your plans for November reading?

[Trike]

Currently: Fairy Tale by Stephen King, the first novel of his I’ve read since throwing It across the room back in 1988.

Waiting on The Jasmine Throne from the library.

Just finished the 6th book in the terrific series Fred the Vampire Accountant, Undeading Bells.

[Chris K.]

I'm reading:

Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman, an excellent (so far) biography.

The Golden Enclaves, third and last in this series, so far, so good.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, a wonderful book.

I'm also listening to Termination Shock, the narrator is excellent which is what is getting me through this book. I'm 49% done and not a lot has happened yet.

[Rick]

Stephen Blackmoore's new one Hate Machine is up soon. I should make a dent in the backlog on my phone but... well...

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished the first book in the Harper Hall trilogy, which is the third book in the larger Dragonriders of Pern series (publication order)


Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading a collection of stories and material related to the Amber series


The Road to Amber by Roger Zelazny

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

Also, I finished the first book in the Sci-Fi-archeology Academy series, which turned out to be a slog at times


The Engines of God by Jack McDevitt
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading the November group read, a Sci-Fi locked room murder mystery (and I'm pretty sure the butler didn't do it)


Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

[Anne]

I'm catching up on the picks that I missed to being stuck with Pandora's Star F O R E V E R. I also am trying to read a few books on my virtual TBR pile on my Kindle instead of buying new books.

So at the moment it's Hunt the Stars. Enjoying it more than I expected.

[John (Taloni)]

Read Witches of Karres which was every bit as good as I remembered over the three times I've read it at various life stages. First being fourteen or so.

Plot? WE DON'T NEED NO STEENKIN PLOTY!! It's pretty much a series of madcap adventures featuring a space captain who rescues three Very Special girls from slavery, only to find they have magic-style ESP gifts. They're essentially unable to be caught in space. Hijinks ensue. Lots of hijinks. Oh, there's some overarching menace that gives rise to MORE hijinks. It's all played for fun instead of drama. And man is it fun.

[Ruth]

As well as my ongoing Discworld read, I’m revisiting another classic fantasy series with a slightly different tone: Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings series, starting with Assassin's Apprentice. Meanwhile, the daily read of Dracula is reaching its climax.

I’m also reading the delightful new romcom Paris Daillencourt Is About to Crumble by Alexis Hall in which love blossoms while biscuits crumble at the Great British Bake Off. Plus some historical fiction: Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson and The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton.

Finally, a bit of non-fiction: The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5.

I think that’s probably enough books to be getting on with 😅

[Stephen]

First up Legends & Lattes as I have heard good things about the book. Second, Orconomics keeping the mood of light and humorous tales involving Orges . A re read of Six Wakes as I enjoyed it the first time I listened to the audiobook.

[John (john)]

Finished The Road the other day 😭 and started The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. I keep trying to read it when I go to bed but I conk out cause I'm old. Hoping I can get a couple hours into it this weekend.

[terpkristin]

Stephen wrote: "First up Legends & Lattes as I have heard good things about the book."

Is this the one that on a podcast someone said was like a fantasy cozy mystery? It doesn't actually matter because I bought the book, but if it's not, I want to know what that one was, too (it was on some list, possibly, of books looking forward to or good books in first part of year or...?)

I'm reading The Jasmine Throne with my eyes and ears, though I might switch to the aforementioned Legends & Lattes with my ears. October was an insane month. November and December look slightly less insane. So I hope to read Six Wakes with my eyes after The Jasmine Throne. I also have a non-fiction book queued up.

[Stephen]

In Legends & Lattes Viv hangs up the Broadsword after one last score (the mystery plot) to open up a Coffee Cafe in a place where no one knows her, So far so good.

[Trike]

Switched to Upgrade by Blake Crouch because of the short library loan. Interesting body mod story (so far) using the next generation of gene editors beyond CRISPR.

Being Crouch, I kinda expect it to end like Flowers for Algernon, but maybe not.

Edit: I heared it all up. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John (Taloni)]

Stephen wrote: "In Legends & Lattes Viv hangs up the Broadsword after one last score (the mystery plot) to open up a Coffee Cafe in a place where no one knows her, So far so good."

Looks good, and LAPL has a copy. Actually 26 copies and a 10 week wait! That bodes well for quality. I'll read it when it comes in.

[Trike]

Stephen wrote: "In Legends & Lattes Viv hangs up the Broadsword after one last score (the mystery plot) to open up a Coffee Cafe in a place where no one knows her, So far so good."

Looks interesting. Solid first chapter. I’m in!

[Tamahome]

Finished Iron Truth, the Spsfc winner last year. 3 stars. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chris K.]

I've finished:

Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman, an excellent biography. 5 stars.

The Golden Enclaves, third and last in this series. Good ending. 4 stars.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, a wonderful book. 5 stars.

Termination Shock, the narrator is excellent which is what is got me through this book. Parts of it were interesting and I liked the characters but it was just too long. 3 stars.

[kvon]

Working my way through Victoria Goddard's series, finished the novella Those Who Hold the Fire, preparing for the Feet of the Sun.
Finished listening to Sandman volume 3; I'd read the graphic novels years before, but slightly out of order; the jump between the last two acts was more sudden than I expected. The audio work is as good as usual; Wil Wheaton narrates the last act, has a very distinctive voice.
Still working on Chilling Effect for my other book club. Nice space opera, lots of interesting aliens.

[Seth]

Read and really liked Siren Queen. It really maintains cohesive vibe of lavish Hollywood lasciviousness with an undercurrent of danger.

[Trike]

Seth wrote: "Read and really liked Siren Queen. It really maintains cohesive vibe of lavish Hollywood lasciviousness with an undercurrent of danger."

I liked it, too. My non-spoiler review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Rick]

Seth wrote: "Read and really liked Siren Queen. It really maintains cohesive vibe of lavish Hollywood lasciviousness with an undercurrent of danger."

Lavish Lasciviousness? I think I dated her daughter, Vixen, in college.

[Joseph]

I went back to Katherine Kurtz' original Deryni trilogy -- read Deryni Checkmate and started High Deryni.

[Mer]

Discovering new realms of Sir Terry Pratchett’s mind with Trucker. Very fast read about Gnomes n lorries w airplane steering in their future. hilarious! Ready for book 2.

[Tamahome]

I just read The Shining Girls. It only took me 8 hours. Kirby has better hair in the book. I think Dan likes her.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chris K.]

Just started The Spare Man by Kowal. Really enjoying so far.

[John (Taloni)]

Mer wrote: "Discovering new realms of Sir Terry Pratchett’s mind with Trucker. Very fast read about Gnomes n lorries w airplane steering in their future. hilarious! Ready for book 2."

I needed a book as the TBR is at zero and I'm waiting for a few to come in off library hold. Anyway, this looks good. Was available at LAPL and I grabbed it. Thanks!

[Trike]

John (Taloni) wrote: "I needed a book as the TBR is at zero"

Were there bright lights and a heavenly choir when you experienced this miracle?

[Colin]

I finished listening to Mur Lafferty's Station Eternity, which I didn't enjoy as much as I'd hoped. Her take on the "cosy mystery" genre ... but in space!

After that I started a re-read of Six Wakes, which I think is a better book. More succinct. Less madcap.

[Joseph]

Time to revisit Dune for the first time in about 15 years.

[Misti]

I'm listening to Whispers Underground. I'm still working on The Well of Ascension. Having trouble getting my stupid brain to focus long enough to read more than a chapter at a time most days (if I manage to read anything at all).

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

I finished Ken Liu's debut short story collection


The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading the Science-Fiction anthology


The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1964 edited by Robert Silverberg

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

and I finished the Science-Fiction locked, um, airlock murder mystery


Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

and I started reading


The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

[Iain]

I have been avoiding reading an IRL bookclub pick which is a touch too melodramatic for me.

Instead I read a few library books that were available instead.

Victories Greater Than Death was a reasonable YA space opera which works hard at inclusiveness. Once I got through the somewhat clunky beginning the story rumbled along effectively. I would class as a light read.

Then I zipped through Hench which is a fast paced story of a temp Villains hench person which could be sub titled "using data science for fun and villainy" and (view spoiler)[ includes one of the most gruesome scenes involving the defeat of hero I have ever read (hide spoiler)].

Then I started Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak because it was available.

In the meantime I listened to The Spare Man which is a very god nourish mystery set on a space cruise. Not as good as the Lady Astronaut books but a very enjoyable read. Mary Robinette Kowal keeps her spot as a must read author.

[John (Taloni)]

^ Looks like your friend Otto Correct has been overzealous! I am modestly curious what a "god nourish mystery" is...

[Mark]

John (Taloni) wrote: "^ Looks like your friend Otto Correct has been overzealous! I am modestly curious what a "god nourish mystery" is..."

Are we talking spiritual nourishment or snacks for supreme beings?

[Seth]

Thanks to whoever brought up Legends & Lattes a week or two ago - I really enjoyed it.

[Chris K.]

I just finished The Spare Man. Very good read. It's a solid mystery with interesting main characters. Could turn into a series.

[John (Taloni)]

Seth wrote: "Thanks to whoever brought up Legends & Lattes a week or two ago - I really enjoyed it."

I have it tagged at LA Public Library. 32 copies and it's still a six week wait. Looks like a good one!

[Tamahome]

RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote:
"...The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929-1964 edited by Robert Silverberg..."

Classic!

[Tassie Dave, S&L Historian]

John (Taloni) wrote: "^ Looks like your friend Otto Correct has been overzealous! I am modestly curious what a "god nourish mystery" is..."

I'd assume it is a "good noirish mystery"

[John (Taloni)]

^ Dang, after seeing the 7th Doctor take on an Angel - well, an angelic looking alien anyway - and seeing a character turned into primordial soup, I was kinda hoping this one would involve several gods in a millennia-long dinner / locked dining room / deicide mystery.

[Iain]

John (Taloni) wrote: "^ Dang, after seeing the 7th Doctor take on an Angel - well, an angelic looking alien anyway - and seeing a character turned into primordial soup, I was kinda hoping this one would involve several ..."

I should proof read my posts....

The Spare Man does have a fair bit of nourishing drinking and snacking going on (don't want soggy fries though)....

[Iain]

Iain wrote: "John (Taloni) wrote: "^ Dang, after seeing the 7th Doctor take on an Angel - well, an angelic looking alien anyway - and seeing a character turned into primordial soup, I was kinda hoping this one ..."

I would like to know if Tesla Crane is named after the Crane who bankrolled the Skylark in The Skylark of Space.

[Ruth]

It’s been a bit of a slow month for reading but I’ve finished two books today, both historical fiction of different kinds: Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson and The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton.

Now I’m starting three more: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan and the non-fiction The Wrath to Come: Gone with the Wind and the Lies America Tells by Sarah Churchwell

[Stephen]

I am reading Illborn and so far, so good.

[Gary]

I finished reading Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold. Book 3 or 7 depending on how you count them of the Vorkosigan saga. It’s an interesting non-Miles book that deals with gender and alternative lifestyles. I am reading Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan next. It’s Book 9 of the Wheel of Time. It features Rand, Elayne, Mat, and Perrin. I plan to read The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson next. It is the seventh book of the Mistborn series and the last book of Mistborn Era 2 featuring Wax and Wayne. It is intimately tied to the Cosmere series and it will be interesting to connect all the dots between the different series.

[Tamahome]

Listening to Dan Wells' Zero G, a middle grade sf. The audiobook is full cast. It's pretty awesome. ShadesOfOrange mentioned it in her youtube gift video.

[Trike]

Finished The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches which has immediately leapt to my Best of the Year list. This cozy Fantasy was perfect. Loved it.

My spoiler-free review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[John (Taloni)]

^ LAPL has a copy, nine week wait. Tagged. Looks fun! Kind of YA?