SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading in 2023?
Cynda wrote: "I just finished The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
The last time I read this as a teenager I did not understand the science of tim..."
Always nice to get a better understanding of a book. I read this one a few years ago and was glad I waited until I was old enough to have a firmer grasp on the possibilities of the book.
This book could actually be called: The Mouse that Roared. The big large neighbor wants bits of Finland and Finland doesn't want to give up the land that they have. This one sided appearing conflict turned everything on its head and the world took noticed and stood behind Finland in unity for a time. Finland had few advantages in this conflict in fact it had almost nothing that would give an indication that they would be able hold the Russian's off for any amount of time. The Russians seemingly with every advantage gave most of them up and let the Finn's man handle their Armies. Fighting with Large mass armies and little support either from the air or from their artillery. Considering the use the Russian's put their Artillery to later in the war that seems almost unforgivable.
This was the first time the Russians had put their new Armies in the field and they made mistakes a plenty. This is what caused Hitler and his high command to think that Russia would fall just like the West and Poland had. They forgot the one lesson of the Winter War that they should have been paying attention too. No matter how bad they were doing, how many losses they were being subjected to, the Russians would ruthlessly keep going and in the end numbers do tell. And even if the Russians were slow learners, they did learn from their mistakes.
Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939-1940
Marc wrote: "Just finished The City We Became by NK Jemison. Took me a little while to get into it, as it is pretty much New York centric. Not really a spoiler, the title says it all, certain citizens in the 5 ..."I'm about 1/2 way through 3 body problem #2 (The Dark Forest) and really like it so far.
Just finished Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor. An alien 'invasion' story that's very different to any other I've read. Very much focused on the culture of Lagos, Nigeria as it is with the aliens themselves, which is really interesting. Just as you want a great alien novel to do - shine a light on aspects of humanity as they face this unique challenge. The novel does it brilliantly.
Rick wrote: "Just finished Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor. An alien 'invasion' story that's very different to any other I've read. Very much focused on the culture of Lagos, Nigeria as it is with the aliens themselve..."This is the novel that introduced me to Nnedi Okorafor. It still remains my favourite among her books, I think.
Oooh, looking at the jacket for the trial of the century, before I started reading, saw the author is a fox news regular and the title of his other book, I no longer trust him. So, I will NOT be reading trial of the century, and bummed I wasted money buying it.So, I saw Ann saying she is liking the dark forest, so that's enough endorsement for me! I'll start it now!!
Dj wrote: "This book could actually be called: The Mouse that Roared. The big large neighbor wants bits of Finland and Finland doesn't want to give up the land that they have. ."Added to my to-read list. It is very interesting how many myths were in the USSR as late as the 1980s about this war.
currently reading:Incomplete Solutions by Wole Talabi - Author is Nigerian and the book is a collections of very good short stories
Scion of Cyador by L.E. Modesitt Jr. - 11th out of 22 books in the series (he beat Robert Jordan) and maybe I'll finish this series in a year or two (it's my traveling/waiting book while outside my house)
Dragon and Soldier by Timothy Zahn - 2nd out of 6 books in the Dragonback series. It's rather YA/MG as the main character is 14 but it's a quick read. It's definitely a clearing out of my TBR pile as I own all 6 books (Humble Bundle)
Farilane by Michael J. Sullivan - this is book 2 in the last trilogy by the author that I haven't read
Complete Works of L. M. Montgomery by L.M. Montgomery = new Bathroom book as I finally finished The Works of Zane Grey by Zane Grey
Oleksandr wrote: "Dj wrote: "This book could actually be called: The Mouse that Roared. The big large neighbor wants bits of Finland and Finland doesn't want to give up the land that they have. ."Added to my to-re..."
I wouldn't be surprised a war lost when it should be an easy win in always going to have a lot of covering up.
I forgot, I'm also rereading The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron in preparation for finishing the last two books in the Traitor Son Cycle
A cozy mystery that is a tad light on the mystery and a bit heavy on the supernatural. Fun but I don't think I will make a habit of reading this series.
Cupcakes and Conjures
I just started Deacon King Kong by James McBride.
Glenda wrote: "I just started Deacon King Kong by James McBride."I really liked that one, Glenda! I wasn't sure about it at first, but it really grew on me as the story progressed.
So, I finished Foundryside The plot was rushing all the way! I liked the world building and the magic system. Some of the characters were walking and talking tropes, but I was willing to overlook that. The ending makes you want to read the rest of the trilogy, so... :)My review is here ;)
Cynda wrote: "I just finished The Time Machine by H.G. WellsThe last time I read this as a teenager I did not understand the science of tim..."
I have a Kindle H.G. Wells collection. I have read The Time Machine and War of the Worlds. Neither were perfect but were amazing given that they were written before 1900.
Right Bobby. I am quite happy that my brain still has elasticity to learn some science concepts. I am happy that within last few weeks I have read two by H G WellsThe Time Machine
The Island of Dr. Moreau
I want to reread The War of the Worlds. I am not sure I am yet ready to understand better than I did last time. This novel is on my bucket list for rereads.
I've read these by H.G. WellsTHE TIME MACHINE
THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU
THE INVISIBLE MAN
THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
THE SEA LADY
from Delphi Collected Works of H. G. Wells in Kindle format. The Delphi Collections are wonderful for seeing/reading a complete works of authors.
CBRetriever I remember watching the movie The Invisible Man long ago as a child. Thank you for reminding us of that title. I will try reading it sooner than later.
Cynda wrote: "CBRetriever I remember watching the movie The Invisible Man long ago as a child. Thank you for reminding us of that title. I will try reading it sooner than later."
the book is actually a tad bit comedic and snarky which I enjoyed
Wells was brilliant. I read a bunch of his stuff when I was young, then a couple of years ago The Island of Dr. Moreau and The Invisible Man. Both good but very different in tone, The Invisible Man lighter. I’ll read more Wells and probably reread at least The Time Machine.
I will participate in a 24-hour Readathon in October. I will read The Invisible Man then. I remember my mother enjoying the movie me and my brother. I am confident I will enjoy it the novel.
Magic Rises by Ilona AndrewsOne of the better installments in this fantastic series.
My Review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished Pines by Blake Crouch. Really enjoyed it. Started it somewhere over Eastern Europe about 4 weeks ago and picked it up again today. Currently on the train from New York to Buffalo where we will pick up a car to have a little drive around the New England area. Hopefully some of the trees are turning and we can get some Maine Lobster while we’re in Maine. We should be home in Australia by the end of the month.
Finished Lone Women. Not the worst thing I've ever read, but not the best either, by any means. Beginning I Marched With Patton, another combat memoir - taking care of library holds before more fiction (next is The Drowned Cities.
I am about to finish The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, and have Ascension burning a hole in my TBR pile. I also stepped out bravely and bought a Branden Sanderson book book I've never read him (I know, that makes me a bad person).
Magic Breaks by Ilona AndrewsMy second favorite installment in the Kate Daniels series --
my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I was a very happy reader after finishing Translation State! It was nice to be back in the Imperial Radch universe, which keeps expanding and getting more complex. I loved that. The characters are wonderful, and you care about them as soon as you start reading :) Highly recommended!My review is here ;)
Alexandra wrote: "I was a very happy reader after finishing Translation State! It was nice to be back in the Imperial Radch universe, which keeps expanding and getting more complex. I loved that. The..."That's great to hear! I finished it's predecessor recently and look forward to this one. I hope the books keep coming!
America For Americans, A History of Xenophobia In the United States, Erika Lee
Brett wrote: "America For Americans, A History of Xenophobia In the United States, Erika Lee"Ooh I’ll definitely be checking this out!
@Becky: it's simultaneously fascinating and horrifying so far. I'm only about 30 pages in so I can't recommend it or not yet.
Sounds about what I’d expect, Brett. It definitely seems like it is up my alley though. Thanks for mentioning it!
Ann wrote: "That's great to hear! I finished it's predecessor recently and look forward to this one. I hope the books keep coming!"Oh, I hope so too :)
I am reading The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet right now. Who else has read this? I'm interested in views as I'm a little torn. I like it, but keep finding it hard to go back to it.
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No spoilers:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
End of book spoilers:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I've just begun His Majesty's Dragon for a buddy read in another group. I've been meaning to read this one for years!
Stephen wrote: "I am reading The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet right now. Who else has read this? I'm interested in views as I'm a little torn. I like it, but keep finding it hard to go back to it."It was only a 2 stars for me. This is my review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The first few pages and the introduction to the crew felt a bit like Firefly so I was quite excited but then it became preachy and simplistic and tiresomely message driven.
Unfortunately it seems to be a trend for books to adopt this hammering-over-the head style to convey their message.
Hi
I've just finished Dean Koontz's new novel After Death. This novel is about a man who became 'enhanced' and gained new techno abilities during an incident in a science research facility. So often stories which feature a protagonist who becomes enhanced and gains new powers can be either very dark and heavy, or the protagonist becomes a superhero. In this novel the protagonist remains a normal guy and does not change who he is as a person. It was really refreshing.
This is one of the reasons why I love Jack Laing's The Wullie Glass Notebooks: Recruit series. In this series the protagonist remains a down-to-earth policeman even though he is taken away from earth and is recruited into the organisation that polices the universe. He's a normal guy drawn into unusual cirmcumstances, with none of the heaviness/darkness you may find in a police procedural, or the theatrical cowboy feel that you might find in a science fiction space guardian/lawman story.I enjoy those other types of novel, but it is these types of character that can make the stories seem so real. The characters literally seem like they could be your neighbour or the person you pass in the street. Makes me wonder what magic is happening in the world around me that I just don't notice.
Rick wrote: "Just finished Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor. An alien 'invasion' story that's very different to any other I've read. Very much focused on the culture of Lagos, Nigeria as it is with the aliens themselve..."A while ago I read Nnedi Okorafor's Binti: The Complete Trilogy which I enjoyed. Okorafor talks about the culture of the tribe Binti is part of which adds a nice texture to the story that helps to highlight the differences between worlds.
I have Lagoon but not got around to reading it yet - looking forward to it.
Allison wrote: "That was a group read! You can find the links here:No spoilers:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
End of book spoil..."
Thanks - I'll check out the group read
Is there a genre called "cozy horror?" If so, having finished A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher, I think it would be a great example. If not, that book can start it. Instead of a gothic mansion, we have a tract house in a development. The characters interesting and well-drawn. I thought the supernatural part was good, with an interesting twist at the end. Not too scary, though, but a good, quick read.
Currently reading Gobbelino London & A Complication of Unicorns for the Cat prompt for the Halloween Season Challenge at Horror Aficionados. Love this series!
Colin, I think T. Kingfisher has cornered the market on “cozy horror”. Her recent Thornhedge is a great example and I even use that signifier in my review!
Ozsaur wrote: "Currently reading Gobbelino London & A Complication of Unicorns for the Cat prompt for the Halloween Season Challenge at Horror Aficionados. Love this series!"Me, too!
Magic Shifts by Ilona AndrewsA "HEA" is hard to come by in post-apocalyptic Atlanta.
My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Glenda wrote: "I just started Deacon King Kong by James McBride."I some how have a very hard time seeing in my Minds Eye King Kong as a figure guiding a religious ceremony. There has to be some other use they are putting Deacon to.
Allison wrote: "... But places like Amazon only notice dollars, so if we want this website to work we gotta find a way to get attention. ..."I wish that I knew how to play this. I've mostly stopped buying books from Amazon and I no longer use Goodreads to manage/rate/review books. So... much less $$ and no data. I'm not sure how to turn that lack of activity into a more direct message, though, or what they would take from it.
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SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Hogfather (other topics)Night Watch (other topics)
Small Gods (other topics)
Hogfather (other topics)
The Last Continent (other topics)
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T. Kingfisher (other topics)Robin Hobb (other topics)
Robert Jordan (other topics)
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Martha Wells (other topics)
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The last time I read this as a teenager I did not understand the science of time. Now that I have read several books where time and time-space are described, I better understand this book. Very probably because of the bend of time-space, I may never completely understand, yet I understand enough to appreciate the descriptions.