Bill's 2nd Annual Reading Challenge - Finish Some Series

[Bill, Moderator]

This is my initial 12 + 4 list and it may change before end 2022 as I've got quite a few that I have to finish. But let's start with these possible books.

First 12

1. The Decent Inn of Death by Rennie Airth (John Madden #6 / Mys) 353 pages, started 1 Jan, finished 15 Jan, 4.0 stars
2. Ghost of the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker (Well World #7 / Sci-Fi / Fan) 342 pages, started 17 Feb, finished 12 Mar, 3.5 stars
3. A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (Monk & Robot #2 / Sci-Fi) 149 pages, started 12 Mar, finished 13 Mar, 4.5 stars
4. Think Inc by Adam Diment (Philip McAlpine #4 / Spy) 172 pages, started 13 Mar, finished 26 Mar, 4.0 stars
5. Heart of Red Iron by Phyllis Gotlieb (Dhalgren 2 / Sci-Fi) 235 pages, started 8 Apr, finished 16 May, 4.0 stars
6. Dust by Hugh Howey (Silo #9 / Sci-Fi) 468 pages, started 17 May, finished 3 Oct, 5.0 stars
7. Blood Debt by Tanya Huff (Blood Books #5 / Hor)
8. Blood Bank by Tanya Huff (Blood Books #6 / Hor)
9. The Marching Season by Daniel Silva (Michael Osbourne #2 / Spy)
10. Iron Council by China Miéville (Bas Lag #3 / Sci-Fi)
11. The Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad (Canaan Crime #2 / Mys)
12. The Names Of Dead Girls by Eric Rickstad (Canaan Crime #3 / Mystery)

Alternates
Alt 1 - Crime Machine by Giles Blunt (John Cardinal #5 / Mys)
Alt 2 - The City of Gold and Lead by John Christopher (Tripods #2 / YA) 218 pages, started 3 Oct, finished 11 Oct, 3.5 stars
Alt 3 - The Pool of Fire by John Christopher (Tripods #3 / YA) 218 pages, started 11 Oct, finished 16 Oct, 3.5 stars
Alt 4 - Idoru by William Gibson (Bridge #2 / Sci Fi) 383 pages, started 15 Jan, finished 17 Feb, 5.0 stars

Completed: 9

[Alissa]

And Bill is the winner w the first list outta the gate!! :-)

[Bill, Moderator]

Alissa wrote: "And Bill is the winner w the first list outta the gate!! :-)"

High Five! High Five!

[Jennifer, Moderator]

Wow, you are **WAY** more organized for this challenge already than I am, Bill! Good list!

[Bill, Moderator]

Jennifer wrote: "Wow, you are **WAY** more organized for this challenge already than I am, Bill! Good list!"

Thank you, Jennifer. Much appreciated

[Linette]

Getting serious with knocking down those series!

[Bill, Moderator]

Linette wrote: "Getting serious with knocking down those series!"

That way I can start more. LOL!

[Denise]

I am impressed with your list and impressed that you have a list! I haven't even made a topic yet.

[Bill, Moderator]

Denise wrote: "I am impressed with your list and impressed that you have a list! I haven't even made a topic yet."

Oh, you should see the lists I've been making.. lolol

[Patricia]

Same, Bill! The problem is deciding which list to use!
As usual, I'm looking forward to hearing about your reads!

[Bill, Moderator]

Patricia wrote: "Same, Bill! The problem is deciding which list to use!
As usual, I'm looking forward to hearing about your reads!"

Half the fun is just making the lists. LOL. I agree with you totally. Which to use.

[Lea]

Well, I've only read one of these books, The Testaments. I thought it was very different than The Handmaid's Tale, but was able to appreciate it. I'll be eager to see what you think. The rest of your list is very dangerous, but I know that I will enjoy hearing about what you've been reading and adding more series to my lists. :-)

[Martha]

Great list!! I need to read Blood Bank soon.

[Linette]

Bill wrote: "Linette wrote: "Getting serious with knocking down those series!"

That way I can start more. LOL!"

Hahahaha!
That seems to happen regardless :/

[Bill, Moderator]

Linette wrote: "Bill wrote: "Linette wrote: "Getting serious with knocking down those series!"

That way I can start more. LOL!"

Hahahaha!
That seems to happen regardless :/"

One of those facts of reading, eh? LOL

Martha wrote: "Great list!! I need to read Blood Bank soon."

Have you ever seen the TV series. I really enjoyed it.

Lea wrote: "Well, I've only read one of these books, The Testaments. I thought it was very different than The Handmaid's Tale, but was able to appreciate it. I'll be eager to see what you think. The rest of yo..."

I've had The Testaments for awhile now. About time I finally read it.

[Martha]

I did see the tv series & loved it. Hated to see it cancelled.

[Jackie]

I am "attempting" to avoid any new series for this year. Who am I trying to kid? Good luck!

[Bill, Moderator]

Jackie wrote: "I am "attempting" to avoid any new series for this year. Who am I trying to kid? Good luck!"

Thank you, Jackie.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Bill wrote: "This is my initial 12 + 4 list and it may change before end 2022 as I've got quite a few that I have to finish. But let's start with these possible books..."

Same here, Bill. I will probably be doing the same. Trying to make progress. I really feel like I may have to reread 1 or 2; which is not a completely bad thing.

You know that Hugh Howey has a newer book out, called Machine Learning: New and Collected Stories. So, this might be a quicker read since it is short stories!

Good luck, Bill, and happy reading!!

[Bill, Moderator]

Alondra wrote: "Bill wrote: "This is my initial 12 + 4 list and it may change before end 2022 as I've got quite a few that I have to finish. But let's start with these possible books..."

Same here, Bill. I will p..."

I'll check out the Howey book. Thanks.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

No problem, Bill!

[Madeline , Moderator]

I can’t say that I know any of those authors. Lol

But I certainly hope that they are great!

[Bill, Moderator]

Madeline wrote: "I can’t say that I know any of those authors. Lol

But I certainly hope that they are great!"

I hope so too. LOL

[Ioana]

Great goal, I'm wishing you luck. I was hoping to make some series progress in 2022, and failed miserably. I managed to finish 2 series, and that was only because there were only 2 books in each 😱
Let's see what 2023 brings. Happy reading!

[Vikki, Moderator]

Good luck Bill!

[Bill, Moderator]

Vikki wrote: "Good luck Bill!"

Thanks.

Ioana wrote: "Great goal, I'm wishing you luck. I was hoping to make some series progress in 2022, and failed miserably. I managed to finish 2 series, and that was only because there were only 2 books in each 😱
..."

There are always so many new series to start and check out that the others get neglected. I hope I can finish some next year.

[Carolien]

I seem to own most of the John Madden series except the first one. I should find it and then get to the series I think.

Enjoy this one, Bill!

[Bill, Moderator]

Carolien wrote: "I seem to own most of the John Madden series except the first one. I should find it and then get to the series I think.

Enjoy this one, Bill!"

Personally, if I recall them, I thought the 1st was the weakest but it is a good intro to the series on the whole. You should get it. 😊

[Carolien]

You are Enabler in Chief, Bill!

[Michelle]

Nice list Bill! You know I'll be following your reviews. Without you, Alondra, and Lea I would probably not have a TBR at all.

[Bill, Moderator]

Michelle wrote: "Nice list Bill! You know I'll be following your reviews. Without you, Alondra, and Lea I would probably not have a TBR at all."

We're forming a club.

Carolien wrote: "You are Enabler in Chief, Bill!"

I'm going to get calling cards made up. ;)

[Carolien]

You'll be pleased to know I ordered the first John Madden this morning, I might as well get on with it. Thank you, Bill!

[Patricia]

A good way to organize some of those series reads & get on with it! At least, you don't have as many "number 2's" in your queue like I do! Happy Reading!

[Bill, Moderator]

Patricia wrote: "A good way to organize some of those series reads & get on with it! At least, you don't have as many "number 2's" in your queue like I do! Happy Reading!"

Trust me, Patricia. I've got lots of #2's awaiting my attention. LOL. Thanks. Good luck with your 2023 reading.

Carolien wrote: "You'll be pleased to know I ordered the first John Madden this morning, I might as well get on with it. Thank you, Bill!"

I hope you like it, Carolien.

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Michelle wrote: "Nice list Bill! You know I'll be following your reviews. Without you, Alondra, and Lea I would probably not have a TBR at all."

We ARE forming a club! Hehehehehe... that's great. :)

[Bill, Moderator]

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Nice list Bill! You know I'll be following your reviews. Without you, Alondra, and Lea I would probably not have a TBR at all."

We ARE forming a club! Hehehehehe... that's great. :)"

👌

[Dee]

wow, that's lot of series, Bill!! Good luck!

[Bill, Moderator]

Dee wrote: "wow, that's lot of series, Bill!! Good luck!"

Thanks, Dee. Good luck yourself.

[Veronica]

Great list. You always find new books looking at your list

[Bill, Moderator]

Veronica wrote: "Great list. You always find new books looking at your list"

Thanks, Veronica.

[Denise]

I haven't read any from your list. Wish you the best of luck with your challenge.

[Bill, Moderator]

Denise wrote: "I haven't read any from your list. Wish you the best of luck with your challenge."

Thanks, Denise. I hope you enjoy your reading challenges as well.

[Bill, Moderator]

Finished my first book in this challenge, the 6th and final John Madden mystery, The Decent Inn of Death by Rennie Airth 4.0 stars

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

Next series to finish is The Bridge trilogy by William Gibson with Idoru I struggled with and didn't complete my last Gibson look at the future. I've enjoyed the two other books in this trilogy so I hope I do this one as well.

[Michelle]

Congrats on finishing the first book Bill. Hope you enjoy the next one just as much.

[Bill, Moderator]

Michelle wrote: "Congrats on finishing the first book Bill. Hope you enjoy the next one just as much."

Thanks, Michelle.

[Bill, Moderator]

Finally finished my 2nd book and it was worth it. Such an excellent story. My review of Idoru by William Gibson 5.0 stars

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

Next book is the last one in the Well-World series, Ghost of the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker

[Bill, Moderator]

Book 3, Ghost of the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker 3.5 stars

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

Next in line, the 2nd Monk and Robot book, A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

[Bill, Moderator]

My review of A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2) by Becky Chambers 4.5 stars. Loved it, most enjoyable.

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

Next in line is Think Inc (Philip McAlpine #4) by Adam Diment

[Alondra, Moderator Schmoderator]

Bill wrote: "My review of A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2) by Becky Chambers 4.5 stars. Loved it, most enjoyable.

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

You and Bill are enjoying this series; so, I am definitely looking forward to this. I need to read the rest of The Wayfarers books, though.

Kudos on your progress Martha!

[Bill, Moderator]

My review of Think Inc by Adam Diment 4.0 stars

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

I'll start my next book shortly after I clean up a few of my other books.