Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion
What We've Been Reading
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What are you reading? March 2015
Ooh, I'm excited about March. Lots of good books to read. I'm finishing up Retribution Falls, then starting Leviathan Wakes.
And I still have Scalzi's Lock In, which my daughter got me for Christmas.
I'm in the early chapters of THE EMPEROR'S BLADES by Brian Staveley. So far it's incredible.
Jessica wrote: "And I still have Scalzi's Lock In, which my daughter got me for Christmas. ..."
W.C. wrote: "I'm in the early chapters of THE EMPEROR'S BLADES by Brian Staveley. So far it's incredible."
I thought both Lock In & The Emperor's Blades were among my favorite SF/F novels of 2014.
We had a discussion of Lock-In some months ago. Initially I was a bit disappointed, but some aspects of the novel (which I won't spoil) kind of grew on me as time went on and I thought about it more.
I was a little disappointed with book 2 of Staveley's Unhewn Throne (The Providence of Fire) in January. It's one of those "single story split over multiple books" series, so you're pretty much committed to the whole trilogy or however long it's going to run.
W.C. wrote: "I'm in the early chapters of THE EMPEROR'S BLADES by Brian Staveley. So far it's incredible."
I thought both Lock In & The Emperor's Blades were among my favorite SF/F novels of 2014.
We had a discussion of Lock-In some months ago. Initially I was a bit disappointed, but some aspects of the novel (which I won't spoil) kind of grew on me as time went on and I thought about it more.
I was a little disappointed with book 2 of Staveley's Unhewn Throne (The Providence of Fire) in January. It's one of those "single story split over multiple books" series, so you're pretty much committed to the whole trilogy or however long it's going to run.
Just closed the cover on Pierce Brown's "Golden Son" - his books a very hard to put down. Also working through Brian McClellan's Powdermage books, which are rich and seem to hit just the right balance to flintlock and fantasy. Been meaning to pick up Staveley and Scalzi but I keep getting distracted by more books!
I just read the second of the Southern Reach books Authority. I loved the first one and I am still not quite sure what I make of the second one. I certainly didnt enjoy it as much. It didnt feel as well revised/ edited as the first, something that is not uncommon with sequels. Also the setting was much less appealing to me as I was neither as drawn to the more office politicy setting of the second book nor interested in the drip feeding of extra details and perspectives of the events in the first book - it didnt need a sequel to me. Still there was much that interested me and I enjoyed in the book but I wasnt rushing to pick it up between pauses.I read the strange and memorable Mrs. Caliban which is the type of fantasy that tends to get read more by a literary crowd than by the SFF folks. Its about a wife having an affair with a sea monster although there were some elements of fable and some questioning whether or not the events were real as is not uncommon with the literary side of the genre. Very condensed and slightly inconsistently paced so we get a longish scene with the protagonists friend at one point and in another we go in a space of a couple of paragraphs between the wife meeting the sea monster and "knowing" the sea monster in every room of her house. Some lovely bits of language and this is a compelling and interesting novella I will certainly reread.
Been reading a lot of genre criticism and commentary which I have enjoyed - it is amazing both how much is free online and how much you have to pay for much of the criticism that isnt available online unless it is at your local library.
I've been a bit foggy so struggling to do much reading over the past couple of weeks but made up for it by reading lots of graphical works and was pleased to discover The Private Eye, Volume One which was a visual delight and a satisfyingly plotted read - I like visual imaginings of SF and a lot of what becomes film is too generic/ commercial/ compromised so well rendered SF comics go some way to fill that gap.
I just listened to Legion by Brandon Sanderson. Can't do chores without a good story...
Just reading The Windup Girl. So far, so great! Setting equally good in comparison to The City & the City, but characters and plot seem to be better.
Leo (Rahien Sorei) wrote: "Just closed the cover on Pierce Brown's "Golden Son" - his books a very hard to put down. Also working through Brian McClellan's Powdermage books, which are rich and seem to hit just the right bala...""Golden Son" is excellent. That ending left me a shattered mess. Counting the days until "Morning Star" comes out!
Just finished Joe Abercrombie's "Half a King". Really enjoyed it, and really enjoyed that it wasn't a HUGE book. Going to pick up the sequel as soon as I can.Think I'm going to try Hugh Howey's Half Way Home next. (Maybe my theme for March will be novels with Half in the title!)
For those interested in what's coming out this month,
Tor.com offers:
March releases in Fantasy
March releases in SciFi
March releases in urban fantasy
And SFSignal offers March Releases in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
Tor.com offers:
March releases in Fantasy
March releases in SciFi
March releases in urban fantasy
And SFSignal offers March Releases in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
Finished The Mirror Empire (really liked it!), Half the World (LOVED IT) and Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang (eh....). Wrote reviews on each because I'm trying to do that for all books now.Started reading The Difference Engine by William Gibson and as always I really love his use of slang. 1980 or 1880, doesnt matter his excellent use of language always makes me smile.
Just finished The Seeking Sword, it's somewhat dated, but it was better then I thought it was going to be. I've had The Elric Saga Part I on my to read list for a long while. Finally found a deal I couldn't ignore, and picked up both parts 1 & 2 in hard back. I'm loving it so far. Having a hard time putting it down.
Kivrin wrote: "Leo (Rahien Sorei) wrote: "Just closed the cover on Pierce Brown's "Golden Son" - his books a very hard to put down. Also working through Brian McClellan's Powdermage books, which are rich and seem..."I may have never been so turned around while reading a book. The fastest 180 degree about-face I've seen in a plot since the Red Wedding. In absolute angst that I have to wait for Morning Star.
So many ups and downs in the book. I really hope they make a movie because I want to see that scene where Darrow walks down the tables! That was so vivid that I got chills.
Right now I'm listening to a e-book, really a series of college lectures, called Big History (I blew a credit on it at audible.com )...in 24 hours of class time you go thru 13 billion (yes, billion) years of history, from the big bang up...sort of reminds me of Olaf Stapleton's Last and First Men and Star Maker (you young space cadets wouldn't rember them, ask an old phart...truely grand SF...they are also to be had at Audible, or any of the digital bookstores, don't know if they are currently in print)...next I'm diving into Towing Jehovah by James Morrow...seems there is a 2 mile long, 2 million ton dead body floating in the Atlantic....yes, it's God, and he's starting to stink....3 books in a loosely connected series...also got 2 PKD novels on tap, The World Jones Made, and Our Friends from Frolix 8...more to follow I'm sure
Whoo Hoo!! I just got in the mail Who Killed Science Fiction? by Earl Kemp...it was originally published in SaFari Annual #1, which won the Hugo for best fanzine way back in 1961...see, there use to be TONS of SF magazines that were published EVERY MONTH....and you could actually walk down to your local newstand (that was a place that carried magazines and newspapers...yes, there use to be such things) and buy them....then there weren't...now remember, back in the day, SF BOOKS were rare as hen's teeth...practically all SF appeared in magazines, so it sure seemed like SF was all but dead....so Kemp made up a questionnaire (basically asking Who killed sf?), passed it around at that year's WorldCon and Who Killed Science Fiction? was the result...being it was originally published in a fanzine, it was hard to find for years and years (fanzines usually had a print run of a couple of hundred copies, if that). But, thankfully, it's now back in print. This is a important document in the history of SF as everybody who was anybody in the field at the time (from Asimov to Vonnegut) contributed. Can't wait to sit down and read.....goshwowboyohboy!!!!
There have been several fantasy book series started in the last few years which have picked up a solid fan following but for one reason or another I just didn't get to. (Mostly it's a trauma about lengthy unfinished fantasy series induced by Robert Jordan and George Martin. :)
I plan to start filling that lacuna this month.
First up is The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. I started it this morning, and it seems entertainingly written.
Also, I did so much 2014 short story catch up last month I'm now so far behind on my 2015 magazine reading I turned off the Wi-Fi on my Kindle.
I plan to start filling that lacuna this month.
First up is The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. I started it this morning, and it seems entertainingly written.
Also, I did so much 2014 short story catch up last month I'm now so far behind on my 2015 magazine reading I turned off the Wi-Fi on my Kindle.
G33z3r wrote: "First up is The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. I started it this morning, and it seems entertainingly written."The whole series is very entertaining! I also enjoyed his novella in Rogues.
Haven't done a lot of reading lately but I read Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart, which I enjoyed (review here).Also just finished Charming by Elliott James. I thought it was great fun and gave it 4 stars (review here), but not many people shared my opinion, judging by the number of rather lukewarm reviews it has.
Andreas wrote: "G33z3r wrote: "First up is The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. I started it this morning, and it seems entertainingly written."The whole series is very entertaining! I also enjoyed his novel..."
I'm reading the sequel. Thumbs up.
The City and the Stars. A good old Clarke, halfway through. Problem with old SF novels is that they feel dated. Not this one.
Alice wrote: "The Day of the Triffids :) Also, nonfiction, Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers.
Enjoying both books a lot!"
I like john wyndham's novels but day of the triffids felt a bit slow compared to some of his other books
I'm listening to John Ringo's Looking glass series and enjoying it very much. I'm currently listening to the 2nd book in the series Vorpal Blade
and I plan to listen to rest of the series
The City and the Stars...aren't there 2 versions of that one?
Spooky1947 wrote: "The City and the Stars...aren't there 2 versions of that one?"There is the earlier novella Against the Fall of Night from 1948 which Clarke revised to a full novel in 1956.
Well, The Lies of Locke Lamora was fun throughout.
I also read Fluency, which is an undistinguished Big Dumb Object that throws Roswell and interstellar insects into the mix.
What I really wanted to read is John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood, which I have now borrowed from the Kindle Owners Lending Library. (But since I had borrowed Fluency months ago and not read it, well... Can't return the book to the library without reading it. Just not done.)
Back to Unfettered...
I also read Fluency, which is an undistinguished Big Dumb Object that throws Roswell and interstellar insects into the mix.
What I really wanted to read is John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood, which I have now borrowed from the Kindle Owners Lending Library. (But since I had borrowed Fluency months ago and not read it, well... Can't return the book to the library without reading it. Just not done.)
Back to Unfettered...
Just started The Well of Ascension. I'm liking it so far, I'm itching for all my questions to be answered!
Alice wrote: "Just started The Well of Ascension. I'm liking it so far, I'm itching for all my questions to be answered!"
Sanderson did a pretty good job in this series of hiding information in plain sight.
Sanderson did a pretty good job in this series of hiding information in plain sight.
I have just read the remarkable modern fable The Dead Lake which I didn't realize could be seen as fantasy until I started reading it. I am trying to read books from every country in the world and in any case was drawn to this book from a favorable Guardian review and have enjoyed other Novellas by the publisher.Not everyone would view this as "Fantasy" and I take the view that "Fantasy" is a western label derived by USA/UK fandom that does not always apply to work from other countries that often is not routed in our fantastical traditions or influences. However it is a superb if a little grim tale that one or two of you might be interested in.
Hounded by Kevin Hearne, as I liked his story in Unfettered. Easy read, nice popcorn novel. Shut off brain and enjoy :)
Even though I despised Cryptonomicon, I'm going to give Neal Stephenson one more chance. I picked up Snow Crash. Also, I have Golden Son which is more in the "easy read" category.
Rose wrote: "Even though I despised Cryptonomicon, I'm going to give Neal Stephenson one more chance. I picked up Snow Crash...."
Snow Crash is still my favorite Stephenson. It's clever, satirical, and an easier read than his rather long and dense Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon. I fell in love with Snow Crash from the very first chapter, from the farcical gated communities to the high concept of pizza delivery.
Snow Crash is still my favorite Stephenson. It's clever, satirical, and an easier read than his rather long and dense Diamond Age and Cryptonomicon. I fell in love with Snow Crash from the very first chapter, from the farcical gated communities to the high concept of pizza delivery.
Andreas wrote: "Hounded by Kevin Hearne, as I liked his story in Unfettered. Easy read, nice popcorn novel. Shut off brain and enjoy :)"
Didn't waste any time making good on that promise.... :)
Didn't waste any time making good on that promise.... :)
Ben wrote: "I have just read the remarkable modern fable The Dead Lake which I didn't realize could be seen as fantasy until I started reading it. I am trying to read books from every country ..."I'll have to try that, Ben. What you say about fantastical fiction in other traditons: I see this is set in Kazakhstan. The Kyrgyzstan writer Chingiz Aitmatov features the Russian spaceport there in his novel with both fable and science fiction elements, The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years
Rose wrote: "Even though I despised Cryptonomicon, I'm going to give Neal Stephenson one more chance. I picked up Snow Crash. Also, I have Golden Son which i..."I haven't read Snow Crash but Anathem is my fave Neal Stephenson book. Golden Son, btw, is EXCELLENT!
G33z3r wrote: "Alice wrote: "Just started The Well of Ascension. I'm liking it so far, I'm itching for all my questions to be answered!"Sanderson did a pretty good job in this series of hiding info..."
Definitely! I'm starting The Hero of Ages now.
Kivrin wrote: "I haven't read Snow Crash but Anathem is my fave Neal Stephenson book. Golden Son, btw, is EXCELLENT!"G33z3r has mentioned Snow Crash a few times in different threads and gave it another thumbs-up a couple messages ahead of this so I'm going to try that first. If things go well with Snow Crash, I might give Anathem a try.
As for Golden Son, I didn't love the first but I liked it enough to read this one. It's rare that book 2 surpasses book 1 but I have my fingers crossed :)
Rose wrote: "Kivrin wrote: "I haven't read Snow Crash but Anathem is my fave Neal Stephenson book. Golden Son, btw, is EXCELLENT!"G33z3r has mentioned Snow Crash a few times in different threads and gave it a..."
I loved Red Rising, but Golden Son is definitely the better book. Can't wait to hear what you think.
Kivrin wrote: "I loved Red Rising, but Golden Son is definitely the better book. Can't wait to hear what you think. ..."
We actually had a discussion of Red Rising last year (I think it was a Goodreads Choice Award winner for 2013?). Feel free to expand the discussion to include the sequel if you'd like. I bet there are others reading by now.
We actually had a discussion of Red Rising last year (I think it was a Goodreads Choice Award winner for 2013?). Feel free to expand the discussion to include the sequel if you'd like. I bet there are others reading by now.
Just started an anthology, Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse (2008), my favorite sub-genre. Pretty sure I'll enjoy most of the stories. Probably read Wastelands 2 some time in the future.
I haven't been reading much. I finally started watching Person of Interest and ended up binge watching all 3 1/2 seasons and now I'm caught up - OMG I love this show!But I did read a bit - I abandoned for now The Shadow Master - wasn't bad, just not very interesting.
I also started and then abandoned The Atrocity Archives on audio - I liked the story but jeeze there are tons of acronyms and I just got annoyed by them - I'll have to try reading it later, eyes can skim those easier. Also I'm a bit OD'd on urban fantasy I think.
I read and finished The Paper Magician. This one was fun fluff with a strong romance subplot and I'm liking the magic system. Definitely going to continue the series.
I also read The Mermaid's Sister. This was a strange one - the idea was good, but the story was a bit weak and the characters were one-dimensional. It kind of dragged at times. Can't explain exactly what's wrong with it, but something was off. Anyways, not terrible.
Now reading DarkShip Thieves, pulpy space opera. Liking, not loving it.
Finished The Difference Engine, really enjoyed the cyberpunk aspects even though alt-history is not a genre that appeals to me. My review here. Started on In the Night Garden which seems well-written but the subject matter doesn't really light my interests on fire, bit too precious.
I absolutely loved Snow Crash. It is one of my most favorite SF books of all time.
Snow Crash made me laugh out loud multiple times. Gotta be one of the funniest SF books.
I did not find Prince of Thorns to my taste. Takes way too much pleasure in cruelty & violence.
Finished The Rook as our monthly contemporary novel discussion topic.
I just started Promise of Blood, the first book of McClellan's Powder Mage series. I started it on my Kindle, but I also have the audiobook ( Or "professional narration" as Amazon calls it.) Looks like I will get to all 3 recent fantasy series I have been meaning to sample for couple of years in this month.
Also, in graphic novel land, Lazarus, Vol. 3: Conclave just arrived in the mail and I put iZombie, Vol. 1 on my Kindle.
Finished The Rook as our monthly contemporary novel discussion topic.
I just started Promise of Blood, the first book of McClellan's Powder Mage series. I started it on my Kindle, but I also have the audiobook ( Or "professional narration" as Amazon calls it.) Looks like I will get to all 3 recent fantasy series I have been meaning to sample for couple of years in this month.
Also, in graphic novel land, Lazarus, Vol. 3: Conclave just arrived in the mail and I put iZombie, Vol. 1 on my Kindle.
G33z3r wrote: "I did not find Prince of Thorns to my taste. Takes way too much pleasure in cruelty & violence.Finished The Rook as our monthly contemporary novel discussion topic.
I just started..."
I didn't enjoy Prince of Thorns either. Too much unnecessary violence that didn't add to the plot in any way.
I am intending to start on iZombie too.
Finished The Elric Saga Part I, loved it. Almost done with The Elric Saga Part II. Looking at picking up some of Michael Moorcocks other novels. There are some characters that make brief cameos in the Elric books that have piqued my interest, that have their own novels.
Picked up a interesting omnibus " The Legend of Eli Monpress." Nothing complex, but a fun romp with a unique world where even the inanimate objects have opinions and trees get flirty. Fans of Locke Lamora may enjoy, but it's much less dark.
Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy
Books mentioned in this topic
iZombie, Vol. 1: Dead to the World (other topics)The Golem and the Jinni (other topics)
iZombie, Vol. 1: Dead to the World (other topics)
Gateway (other topics)
Lazarus, Vol. 3: Conclave (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Moorcock (other topics)Neal Stephenson (other topics)
Neal Stephenson (other topics)
Ben Aaronovitch (other topics)
Craig Cormick (other topics)
I read Area X: The Southern Reach Trilogy - really liked the first book, 2nd was good, 3rd lost my interest. I think once I started getting some answers it lost a lot of the appeal, which is weird, but Oh well! The writing was excellent all through.
Oh and I got caught up on the Ben Aaronovitch series - I love it! The audio versions are great too - I Whispersync'ed back and forth through all of them.
Slowly rereading the Burton and Swinburne steampunk series - on book 2 The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man.
I just started The Shadow Master by Craig Cormick after hearing him on a podcast - it's pretty good so far, only a few chapters in.