What are you reading right now? For 2024

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading the Metal Boxes series. Lots of action. Don’t expect the science to make sense. Larry Stu type of main character.

I’ll probably be reading fantasy for a while now.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Nope not fantasy. New Bob and Nikki book just dropped! There's No Space Like Home by Jerry Boyd.

[John]

I'm reading an old fantasy novel that I hadn't previously heard of - Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. I've only just started, and I'm not sure if its my cup of tea, but I'll persevere - its certainly well-written so far.

[C. John]

John wrote: "I'm reading an old fantasy novel that I hadn't previously heard of - Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. I've only just started, and I'm not sure if its my cup of tea, but..."

I think I have heard of this one, but really don't know anything about it. May have read about it in a reference work on Fantasy literature.

[Niloufar]

Right now I am reading the legends of dune trilogy, stalking on the beggining of the battle of corrin. It is a quiet fascinating journey to know more about the world's background.

[John]

I've decided to re-read the entire "Foundation Universe" series from Asimov - roughly 18 - 26 books depending upon how obsessive I decide to be. I've just started with The Caves of Steel, one of my favourite Asimov books.

[Caitlin]

That’s quite a project, John!

I just finished Eversion by Alastair Reynolds — it was a fantastic sci-fi mystery that kept me guessing as to what was going on right to the end. Not space opera exactly, but highly recommended.

[John]

Good to hear that you enjoyed Eversion, Caitlin - I bought it a year ago when I think Amazon had it on a Kindle deal, but haven't got round to reading it yet. I might read it after a few more of the Asimov books.

I finished Caves of Steel today, and I'm now starting The Naked Sun.

[John]

Niloufar wrote: "Right now I am reading the legends of dune trilogy, stalking on the beggining of the battle of corrin. It is a quiet fascinating journey to know more about the world's background."

Another great series, Niloufar. Has anybody seen the "Dune - Part 2" movie yet?

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Read several fantasy books. The eARC of Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller should be dropping any moment but I’m going to attempt to wait for the official version in June. So now I’m rereading Linesman by S.K. Dunstall and will likely binge the two sequels.

[C. John]

Why is it whenever I see the word 'linesman' I think of Glen Campbell? Something to do with Wichita I think.

[Betsy]

C. John wrote: "Why is it whenever I see the word 'linesman' I think of Glen Campbell? Something to do with Wichita I think."

You're dating yourself. 😉

[C. John]

I do that alot. I tell my kids I remember when Pop Tarts first came out and I am not sure they believe me. Of course it is funny when one of them starts to really like cartoon shows you liked when you were a kid (or older).

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading Linesman by S.K. Dunstall then reread the second of the trilogy, Alliance. Now starting to reread the third: Confluence.

[John]

I've finished The Naked Sun, and I'm now starting The Robots of Dawn. This was always one of my favourite Asimov books - I wonder if it still will be?

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading Confluence then switched to fantasy. I’ll be rereading Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller for the April Reader Pick eventually.

[Rod]

I'm finishing up Red Rising right now and boy is that a thrill to read. Cant wait to continue the series!

[John]

Finished The Robots of Dawn and delighted that I still rated it as a five-star read. I'm now taking a brief break from Asimov to read Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.

[Trike]

John wrote: "Finished The Robots of Dawn and delighted that I still rated it as a five-star read. I'm now taking a brief break from Asimov to read Last and First Men by Olaf ..."

[John]

It certainly is Trike - Last and First Men was written in 1930, so it will be really interesting to see if it shows its age badly. I am hopeful about the review comment that "Together with its follow-up, Star Maker, it is regarded as the standard by which all earlier and later future histories are measured."

The Asimov books I've re-read so far are holding up well, despite their age. Probably because Asimov could write, unlike some of those who churn out "series" currently.

[John]

After Last and First Men I plan to read a more recent book I've just purchased - Hollow Moon by Steph Bennion, who I believe is a member of this group.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Well I had started my reread of Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, but got distracted by other books. I will finish it in April, but in the meantime I’m rereading the trilogy that starts with Frontier Incursion by Leonie Rogers, and on Wednesday the new Bob and Nikki book will drop. There’s a couple of fantasy books coming out later this month too. The newest book by Christie Meierz that was supposed to come out this month has been rescheduled, not sure when but likely a few months.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading Frontier Incursion by Leonie Rogers. Started rereading the sequel, but today the new Bob and Nikki book came out so now I’m reading that: Thus Shook Zarathrustra by Jerry Boyd. And yes there are references to Zarathustra both ways: soundtrack of 2001 A Space Odyssey, and the planet in Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper.

[Trike]

Thus Shook Zarathrustra - book 45! 😮

Is he single-handedly trying to go after Perry Rhodan? 😂

[C. John]

Trike wrote: "Thus Shook Zarathrustra - book 45! 😮

Is he single-handedly trying to go after Perry Rhodan? 😂"

Perry Rhodan does have an advantage in that it is still being published and there are more than one author.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Jerry Boyd cranks out another book every 4-6 weeks, unless he gets sick or something. They are light, easy reading mostly, with the POV rarely changing and quite a bit of “slice of life” mixed with teasing and culture references.

[Betsy]

Toll of Honor, the latest book in the Honorverse, which just came out April 2. It covers events that were also covered in several of the Honor Harrington series, but from the viewpoint of some other characters. In this case, it seems to be a junior lieutenant who was wounded at the battle of Hancock. I'm only about 10% in but it seems to be classic Weber. Occasional bursts of plot, interspersed with tons of political "conversation".

[John]

I'm about a third of the way through Hollow Moon by Steph Bennion at the moment. It's mildly amusing at parts, and not bad for a YA novel; I'll definitely carry on to the end but at this stage its unlikely that I'll continue with the rest of the series.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Thus Shook Zarathrustra was good. So was rereading the Frontier trilogy, which I finished last night. Now to see if I can finish rereading Alliance of Equals before I’m distracted again. I’m very easily distracted recently.

[Betsy]

I finished Toll of Honor. I enjoyed it, but I'm a diehard Honor/Weber fan. It did not significantly add to the canon. The first half was a reprise of a significant period in Honor's life, from only a slightly different viewpoint. The second half was primarily a series of minor battles, involving Lt. Bolgeo, a ship's engineer first introduced in a novella "Travesty of Nature".

[John]

After Caitlin mentioned it, I couldn't resist The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard, so I downloaded it last night. It's a short novella, so should be a quick read. I've just started it - but very enjoyable so far.

[John]

I've finished The Tea Master and the Detective - I think I'll be reading more from this author, after this 4-star novella.

[John]

I'm back to reading Hollow Moon by Steph Bennion. It's about teenagers, and for teenagers, but a pleasant enough read. I hope to finish it in the next day or two.

[Audrey]

I saw mention of "The Tea Master and the Detective", too, and found it at my library. Just finished reading it and liked it a lot.

[C. John]

Hmm. That's two recommendations for that book. When I get my library card reinstated maybe I shall have to check and see if our regional library system has it.

[C. John]

Well I am here I shall take time to note that it is Dan Dare's 74th birthday. At least according to John Freeman's Down the Tubes newsletter.

https://downthetubes.net/happy-74th-b...

[John]

C. John wrote: "Hmm. That's two recommendations for that book. When I get my library card reinstated maybe I shall have to check and see if our regional library system has it."

Three recommendations, C.John - Caitlin, Audrey and myself.

[Trike]

C. John wrote: "When I get my library card reinstated"

Are you in library jail?

[C. John]

No my fees are over the limit where I can use my card. I haven't done much about it as we moved and the branch I would use now isn't as close as the one I used before the move. Mind you what I owe has gone down as they have eliminated late fees and I think everyone who owed late fees had it waived.

[Trike]

C. John wrote: "No my fees are over the limit where I can use my card. I haven't done much about it as we moved and the branch I would use now isn't as close as the one I used before the move. Mind you what I owe ..."

I don’t mind paying library fines because it helps fund the library a little bit.

[John]

Finished Hollow Moon by Steph Bennion today. A pleasant YA book that improved as it went on.

[C. John]

Trike wrote: "C. John wrote: "No my fees are over the limit where I can use my card. I haven't done much about it as we moved and the branch I would use now isn't as close as the one I used before the move. Mind..."

My probblem is that when we had to move some library stuff got packed and it is somewhere in storage. However it has been replaced so not I owe the replacement fees. Probably going to be easier to simply pay the fees. I cleared up some fees owed by my daughters and now it is my turn.

[John]

Since we've got just over a week before our May read of Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis, I couldn't resist her debut novel of Frontier. Only 99p on Kindle in the UK, and described as -
"Love, loss, and gunslinging in this dazzling debut novel by Grace Curtis. For fans of Sam J. Miller, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Becky Chambers, Frontier is a heartfelt queer romance in a high noon standoff with our planet's uncertain future, full of thrills, a love story, and laser guns."

[John]

I'm half-way through Frontier already - and loving it. Its a bit like a Western set in the future.

[John]

I've finished Frontier - and really enjoyed it; an excellent debut novel. I'm looking forward to starting Floating Hotel later this week.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I finished rereading Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller some time ago, although I did resort to skipping the Tolly and Haz scenes. I also reread two short stories that give background for Trader’s Leap: Preferred Seating and Ambient Conditions.

I’ve been reading fantasy more recently but today was ready for SF again so started rereading Trader's Leap which follows Padi directly after Alliance of Equals, and prepare me for Ribbon Dance which is coming out in June.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading Trader's Leap. It kept my attention nicely. Next will reread Fortune's Favors which gives backstory of one of the minor characters in Trader’s Leap. After that I have a new fantasy to read.

[Caitlin]

I just finished Tuf Voyaging by George R.R. Martin, a collection of linked stories about a trader named Haviland Tuf who acquires a “seedship” capable of cloning just about anything you can imagine. It uses the premise of Tuf becoming an ecological engineer to explore questions of bioethics. I hadn’t read Martin’s work beyond the Song of Ice and Fire series, and this was pretty interesting and memorable.

[Corey]

currently reading Attack Surface by Cory Doctorow.

[Trike]

Caitlin wrote: "I just finished Tuf Voyaging by George R.R. Martin, a collection of linked stories about a trader named Haviland Tuf who acquires a “seedship” capable of cloning just about anything you can imagine..."

I really like Tuf Voyaging. I can see Stephen Fry playing Haviland Tuf in a TV series.