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?
I finished Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography just yesterday and am not okay. The last third of that book was physically painful because he's fading, but it was an incredible biography all the same.Needed something different after that, so Fairy Tale it is. I have no idea at this point if it's going to be a hit or a miss, because King could go either way with me. I read Sleeping Beauties last year, I think, and it was such an enormous drag I almost DNFed it. I really like The Eyes of the Dragon and 'Salem's Lot, though, so if this one is anything like those, I might enjoy it.
DivaDiane wrote: "CBR, which Mary Gentle books did you acquire? I have The Black Opera, which has been on my shelf since it was published (2012!)!! Don’t get too excited about a buddy read, though, if it’s one of ..."
Golden Witchbreed and the sequel
Phrynne wrote: "I seem to be one of very few people who did not really enjoy the latest Stephen King Fairy Tale. It was so drawn out and the magic world lacked any feeling of magic at all!My revie..."
I have similar feelings, Phrynne. For me it started well but then simply dragged on and on. I've put it aside at 80 something%. I do intend to go back and finish it at some point, but frankly I've found it a bit of a slog and a bit of a bore.
Jan wrote: "I've put it aside at 80 something%. I do intend to go back and finish it at some point, but frankly I've found it a bit of a slog and a bit of a bore."Exactly how I felt Jan!
Phrynne wrote: "Jan wrote: "I've put it aside at 80 something%. I do intend to go back and finish it at some point, but frankly I've found it a bit of a slog and a bit of a bore."Exactly how I felt Jan!"
it can't be as bad as The Monster Baru Cormorant can it?
Mod
Don't get me started about Baru!!
just finished the final book (so far) of Vernor Vinge's Zones of Thought, The Children of the Sky. It's pretty much a direct sequel to A Fire Upon the Deep, starting very shortly after AFUTD ended, and on that planet. A much smaller book in scope, but not in pages! Is it a must read after AFUTD? ah, honestly, not really, it was good, but didn't really advance anything in that universe.Anyhoo, on to my next book! was gonna knock out another series like follow-up Dune sequels or 3-body-problem sequels or the Uplift series, but, I'm kinda anxious to start watching Station Eleven, so, I'll read Emily St. John Mandel's book first!
Started Game of Thrones. One of three thick fantasy books my daughter lent me that is on the D&D list and also this group’s list. Really like it so far first chapters.
Currently reading three series and have such a strong urge to start other series. Anyone else have this issue? 🤣 Add me on Twitter @GhoztReviews
Absolutely.I have three different buddy reads I should be doing. Am I? Nope! I've been seduced by the siren song of gay paladins. (No, not those ones, those ones.)
This month is ridiculously overbooked and frontloaded anyway, so I was expecting to play BR catchup, but-
*sigh* Just another day in the struggle of a Mood Reader vs. FOMO
Haha, you pre-empted my exclamation XDBut would you recommend the gay paladins for fans of the other paladins?!
edit: Oh nevermind, Storytel has them on audio, I will try them!
Well they're no T. Kingfisher, but who is? Solid worldbuilding, but more primarily romance. It's actually been a minute since I read the first one, but I remember it as a cosy roadtrip fending off the undead. Delightfully indulgent in its tropes. I'm a fan of forced proximity though, so this is admittedly my crack. Give these men more cuddles! Forthwith!I'm just on the second one now, which is exploring more of the worldbuilding of the gods.
I also liked the author's other series starting with Prince and Assassin, partly because there are magical telepathic wildcats, and wow if that didn't satisfy a craving I didn't even realize I had. I appreciated that the assassin drama was engaging on its own, and the characters were smart and clear-headed with healthy paranoia, not immediately devolving into sentimental goo-goo eyes.
Mel wrote: "Well they're no T. Kingfisher, but who is?"I won't compare them, but I might as well give the first one a listen since I have it. Unless I get sidetracked by something else on my Storytel TBR, I'll be losing access to it soon.
Mel wrote: "there are magical telepathic wildcats, and wow if that didn't satisfy a craving I didn't even realize I had..."Ha ha. Those wildcats do sound appealing.
Jan wrote: "Mel wrote: "there are magical telepathic wildcats, and wow if that didn't satisfy a craving I didn't even realize I had..."Ha ha. Those wildcats do sound appealing."
Same here.
I am reading the fourth in the hilarious Gobbelino London series: Gobbelino London & a Melee of Mages.
Ah - I’m reading the first Gobbelino - glad to hear they’re good!
Rachel wrote: "Ah - I’m reading the first Gobbelino - glad to hear they’re good!"They really are! The series just keeps getting better with each book.
Just purchased The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, anyone ever read this?
Tyler wrote: "Just purchased The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, anyone ever read this?"Loved it. That short series is all quite good.
I've just finished
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (Novel) Vol. 2 by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù.This xianxia series is so much more than just male/male romance (or danmei).
While reading this second volume, the scenes of "The Untamed" (which is the wildly popular web drama adaptation of the original novel "Mo Dao Zu Shi") kept coming back to my mind, just like when I was reading Vol. 1.
I had never planned on reading this translation series. Now that I've finished Vol. 1 & 2, I'm hooked. The novel series is at least as good as the web drama adaptation (which I've watched twice already), if not better.
Tyler wrote: "Just purchased The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, anyone ever read this?"Yes, I love that series. Becky Chambers is awesome.
I'm thinking about reading Battlefield Earth at some point
Michelle wrote: "They really are! The series just keeps getting better with each book."Be sure to sneak a peek at her copyright page dialogue. She sneaks a gem or two in there.
Eric wrote: "Michelle wrote: "They really are! The series just keeps getting better with each book."Be sure to sneak a peek at her copyright page dialogue. She sneaks a gem or two in there."
I did, Eric! There were a couple in this one ;)
I finished Termination Shock (2021) by Neal Stephenson, his latest (so far) novel. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tyler wrote: "Just purchased The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet, anyone ever read this?"Oh, this is a wonderful book and series. I am a Becky Chambers fan :)
Finished The Scholomance series. Last book:
The Golden Enclaves. Excellent, imaginative work. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Beware what lurks.Do not let the YA designation send you away. I detest that moniker and whoever thought it up.
I did not care for Naomi Novik's Dragon series. Her
Spinning Silver was wonderful.
Eric wrote: "Finished The Scholomance series. Last book: The Golden Enclaves. Excellent, imaginative work. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Beware what lurks...."
Such good books! I am very curious to see what Naomi Novik does next.
I liked the Scholomance books, Uprooted, and Spinning Silver. I’ve always been reluctant to even try the “Napoleonic wars but with dragons” books. Novik is good enough that I may eventually take the plunge.
They're on my TBR, since I love reading about both of those subjects!
I recently re-read His Majesty's Dragon for a local book club and I enjoyed it. It was slow to start but the battles were fun and hello, dragons! Temeraire & the other dragons were definitely the best part of the book for me. I thought it was good considering it was her debut novel.
Oh I loved Spinning Silver! I've read all the Temeraire books, and I really enjoyed the first one. The next couple were also fun meeting new dragons. However the later installments got repetitive for me and dragged on to the end. I suppose if you're enjoying the travelogue formula and novelty of new places then keep going, but somewhere in Australia I got exhausted.
I loved His Majesty's Dragon, 5 stars for me. There's really something there about loyalty and honor. I started book two but never got around to finishing it, not sure why it didn't have a similar spark for me.
Christopher wrote: "I loved His Majesty's Dragon, 5 stars for me. There's really something there about loyalty and honor. I started book two but never got around to finishing it, not sure why it didn't ..."
I read book 2 and no further as well, don't remember why I stopped there though.
I'm making it a goal to read through the Wheel of Time series this year! I'm just starting on my re-read of book 2, and I'm looking forward to getting to the books I haven't read before!I'm also planning to read Neuromancer somewhere between all of that!
Chinchy wrote: "I'm making it a goal to read through the Wheel of Time series this year! I'm just starting on my re-read of book 2, and I'm looking forward to getting to the books I haven't read before!I'm also ..."
Good for you, Chinchy!
Chinchy wrote: "I'm making it a goal to read through the Wheel of Time series this year! I'm just starting on my re-read of book 2, and I'm looking forward to getting to the books I haven't read before!I'm also ..."
I read the whole thing in 2018. It has it's ups and downs
Eric wrote: "I did not care for Naomi Novik's Dragon series. Her Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Spinning Silver was wonderful...."
Fully agree! Uprooted and Spinning Silver were great, dragon series was ok but weaker
I agree, too. I love Novik's standalones and enjoyed Temeraire well enough, but the last couple of books in that series were a pain to get through. I haven't read the Scholomance books yet, but I own the first one, so I think I'll get to it later this year.
I finally finished my Middle Grade marathon (still can’t review them though!) and now I’m free to read other things. I had a hard time settling, but now I’m reading Neom by Lavie Tidhar. I’m enjoying it.
If you are a fan of the Ilona Andrews team of authors then their latest Sweep of the Heart in the Innkeeper series is a beauty. The magical Inn just gets better and better. I want one.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
starting book 2 of the Expanse series.
Just finished
Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. This is historical fantasy mixing the gods and demons of Mayan mythology with Mexico of the mid-1920's. The development of the two main characters, Casiopeia and Hun-Kame, is terrific. Their growth and change is organic from their backgrounds and the plot as it advances and that change makes the ultimate plot twist work. As with all of her books, the prose is easy to read and enjoyable. This is a fun, light read. Recommend it especially to those who like mythology in their fantasy but, really, I think anyone would enjoy this story.
Just finished Station Eleven from Emily St John Mandel! A haunting book, especially since we just are going through a global pandemic! I did not want it to end, but... it did!On to A.E. Van Vogt's Slan. Don't know anything about this book, it's been sitting on my to-read pile, so, it's next!
Emily wrote: "starting book 2 of the Expanse series."I hope you enjoy it. I read the entire series not long ago and enjoy the videos on Amazon.
You being funny Rick? There’s even an appreciation society on here for T Kingfisher. Or whatever their name really is.
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SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
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T. Kingfisher (other topics)Robin Hobb (other topics)
Robert Jordan (other topics)
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Don’t get too excited about a buddy read, though, if it’s one of the ones you have. Im not sure I can get to it anytime soon. You consume books MUCH faster than I do!