What are you reading right now? For 2024

[Caitlin]

@Trike, Stephen Fry would be great casting! Assuming he was willing to shave his head and eyebrows…

[John]

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 ..."</I>

I finished reading [book:Last and First Men; I can sort of understand why it's regarded as important......but reading it was really a slog. I can safely say that I will never re-read it.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve been reading fantasy, but the new Bob and Nikki book just dropped so I’m switching to that. Friends With Boomafits by Jerry Boyd. This is a lengthy series, humorous space opera. First book is Bob's Saucer Repair. The author churns out a new one every 4-6 weeks on average.

[C. John]

Teresa wrote: "I’ve been reading fantasy, but the new Bob and Nikki book just dropped so I’m switching to that. Friends With Boomafits by Jerry Boyd. This is a lengthy series, hu..."

George R. R. Martin he ain't, that's for sure.

[L J]

C. John wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I’ve been reading fantasy, but the new Bob and Nikki book just dropped so I’m switching to that. Friends With Boomafits by Jerry Boyd. ..."

"George R. R. Martin he ain't, that's for sure."

Read a short story that has future humans find a man in cryosleep. They figure out how to wake him and when the unit opens he sits up and asks if GRRM has finished book. They reply he's working on it. Man says to wake him when it's finished, pushes buttons on unit and lays down to sleep as unit once again closes.

[C. John]

L J wrote: "C. John wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I’ve been reading fantasy, but the new Bob and Nikki book just dropped so I’m switching to that. Friends With Boomafits by [author:Jerry Boyd|8034886..."

Now that is funny.

[Kasey]

I'm hoping to get approved on Netgalley for New Adventures in Space Opera, lots of great authors in the anthology lineup.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

After finishing Friends With Boomafits I reread a bunch of fantasy. Today I’m in a weird mood so I’m rereading Alien Coffee by John H. Carroll and will likely follow that by Pink Snowbunnies in Hell: A Flash-Fiction Anthology (which I think has at least one short story involving the emo bunnies from Alien Coffee).

[Nick]

I am reading Enterprise by Michael Jan Friedman, the third book in the Star Trek Trilogy series called "My Brother's Keeper." This entire trilogy is based on events in the second pilot of Star Trek TOS (The Original Series), "Where No Man Has Gone Before." That episode aired in 1966.

The trilogy explores the relationship between Captain Kirk and Gary Mitchell. It is set after the events of the TV episode and is told mostly as a flashback from Kirk's perspective. The books depict Kirk and Gary's dislike of each other in the Star Fleet Academy all the way to their becoming best friends and officers serving together on a commissioned Star Fleet spaceship, and in this book, it's the Enterprise.

This third book focuses on Kirk's inner conflict over having to deliver the news of Gary's death to his parents on Earth and then goes into another flashback on the events of Kirk's relationship with his best friend to show how close they were and how hard it is for Kirk to deliver the news of Gary's death to his parents and also admin that he is the person who caused Gary's death. Other familiar classic Star Trek characters also appear in this book, such as Spock, Scotty, and Doctor "Bones Mcoy.

The trilogy is not considered canon in the official Star Trek body of canon, but it's a great nostalgic read for fans of Star Trak TOS, and Michael Jan Friedman does a superb job telling this tale.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished both Alien Coffee and Pink Snowbunnies in Hell: A Flash-Fiction Anthology. Lots of silliness. Back to fantasy for a while, however I’m looking forward to some new books dropping in the next couple of weeks:
* next Bob and Nikki is scheduled in one week, if it doesn’t get stalled
* preordered fantasy due end of May
* June 1st ebook edition of Double Vision by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Anthology of their stories that aren’t Liaden Universe. I read the original paperback edition a long time ago.
* June 4th Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Latest Liaden Universe novel.

[John]

I've just finished reading The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson. Its an interesting and absorbing sci-fi debut.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve been reading fantasy for a while, but the newest Bob and Nikki book just dropped. Gone Fishing by Jerry Boyd. This is #47.

I have preorders for three more books dropping in the next week. I’m particularly looking forward to Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, which drops on June 4th.

[John]

I'm reading another debut novel, which is excellent so far - The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler.

It's shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke 2024 award - and I can see why.

Amazon UK currently have it on kindle for 99p - its a bargain.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Gone Fishing started slowly but near the middle of the book it hit an action roller coaster. Loved it!

[Audrey]

Trader's Leap by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, as a lead-in to Ribbon Dance which will be released in a few days.

[John]

I'm now just past half-way with The Mountain in the Sea and enjoying it more all the time. It's very topical in its focus on climate change and ecology, and like a lot of the best new sci-fi at the moment, has a distinctly anti-capitalist mood. It's well-worth reading.

[C. John]

John wrote: "I'm now just past half-way with The Mountain in the Sea and enjoying it more all the time. It's very topical in its focus on climate change and ecology, and like a lot of the best n..."

Can think of a couple of politicians who would not like this one.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’m about a quarter through Double Vision by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. It’s an anthology of their earlier short stories, without any Liaden Universe stories. So far one story was SF, a bunch featured cats, and the rest fantasy. I’d read this book as a trade paperback decades ago before my eyes started insisting ebooks only. The ebook edition just dropped today. I’ll let you know if any of the stories are space opera.

UPDATE: about halfway. Just finished a story that definitely counts as our definition of space opera: “The Solution”. Possibly also “Stormshelter”. At least two other stories so far that are SF instead of fantasy.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

One of the longer stories in Double Vision is definitely within our loose definition of space opera. It’s been available as a separate chapbook and ebook for some time: Master Walk. I’m pondering whether to nominate it on the Limited thread.

[C. John]

Teresa wrote: "One of the longer stories in Double Vision is definitely within our loose definition of space opera. It’s been available as a separate chapbook and ebook for some time: Master Walk. I..."

The way its going with nominations lately I say go for it.

[Audrey]

I would second the story in Double Vision.

[Doug]

C. John wrote: "John wrote: "I'm now just past half-way with The Mountain in the Sea and enjoying it more all the time. It's very topical in its focus on climate change and ecology, and like a lot ..."

I was really impressed with it. Compelling, bleak, realistically dystopian, and yet ultimately optimistic.

[John]

Doug wrote: "C. John wrote: "John wrote: "I'm now just past half-way with The Mountain in the Sea and enjoying it more all the time. It's very topical in its focus on climate change and ecology,..."

I finished it yesterday, and agree totally with your summary, Doug. It's definitely not space opera, so not one for this group - but it's intelligent and well-written sci-fi. I must try to read more from this author.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Double Vision. Currently reading Ribbon Dance by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, which is the latest Liaden Universe novel, just out today.

Next in line is Luna and the Three Moons by Laura Jo Phillips, which is #4 in the series that starts with Luna of Earth. Just out June 1st but I only noticed it a few minutes ago. Mary Sue, slightly steamy, alien romance.

[John]

I've just started reading On Basilisk Station by David Weber. A bit slow at the moment, but its early days.

[Doug]

I'm almost done with Translation State by Ann Leckie. It's billed as first novel in a new series, but it very much comes across as a sequel. Unfortunately, I have not read Leckie before, so many of her universe's features and social conventions are entirely unfamiliar to me, and IMO she does very little in this book to introduce or contextualize them. So as a reader I've had to set aside a lot of prose as being essentially meaningless. I'd guess that a Leckie fan would have a very different experience. In any case, the writing is good enough to keep me going and I'm enjoying the rising action as the book nears its climax.

[John]

Doug, I think Translation State was originally billed as the first of a new series, but it now seems to get referred to as a standalone. However it's set in the same "Universe" as her Imperial Radch trilogy - all three of which were written well before Translation state. I think I would probably have struggled with Translation state if I hadn't first read the other books. I rated it four stars and I've enjoyed all her Sci-fi books so far.

[John]

I'm about 25% of the way through On Basilisk Station now, and it's developing slowly. Its very much Military Sci-fi, and I can understand why he dedicated it to C S Forester, and see the comparison between the main character and Horatio Hornblower.

[John]

I'm not reading them yet - but I've just bought two new sci-fi books that I'm looking forward to - The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, and The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton.

I'll probably get to them in July. Has anybody read them yet, and how did you like them?

[James]

I’m reading Rendezvous with Rama

[John]

James wrote: "I’m reading Rendezvous with Rama"

I always feel a bit guilty at having read so little of Clarke - I'll be interested to hear your opinion of it James.

[Audrey]

John wrote: "I'm not reading them yet - but I've just bought two new sci-fi books that I'm looking forward to - The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, and [book:The Last Murder at the End..."

I am just finishing "The Last Murder..." I think it is a solid 3 to 3 1/2 stars. It is a science fiction murder mystery. It is not space opera due to all action happening on a future Earth with a complete lack of space ships.

[John]

Audrey wrote: "John wrote: "I'm not reading them yet - but I've just bought two new sci-fi books that I'm looking forward to - The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, and [book:The Last Murd..."

Thanks Audrey. It was the "science fiction murder mystery" aspect that appealed to me.....I enjoyed those books of Asimov's that were in a similar mould, so I thought I'd give it a try.

[John]

I read recently that despite the popularity of science fiction & fantasy as a genre, with steady growth in sales, only about 5% of sci-fi authors can earn a living from their writing.

I guess we're lucky that there is a small but constant stream of new and exciting authors always breaking through, and its particularly encouraging to read some of the great new authors from countries such as Japan, China and Africa.

[Jemima]

John wrote: "I'm not reading them yet - but I've just bought two new sci-fi books that I'm looking forward to - The Ferryman by Justin Cronin, and [book:The Last Murder at the End..."
I really enjoyed Last Murder.my review should be on its Goodreads page.
Currently working my way through the Jani Kilian series, and although the prequel was within space opera, I’d say this is opera with aliens on earth now, unless something changes (which it might).

[John]

I'm taking a short break from On Basilisk Station at the moment to read a novella - The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar.

Its described as - "From PEN Award winner Samatar (The White Mosque) comes a brutal, haunting, yet ultimately uplifting novella examining capitalism and labor exploitation through the lens of science fiction. “The boy,” 17 and one half of a duo of nameless protagonists, was born and raised in the hold of a mining ship, a place of chain gangs and forced labor. Through a scholarship program, he’s rescued to the world above by “the woman,” who implemented the program, and whose father, too, was raised in the hold. What at first appears to be a relatively familiar academic setting—the woman is a professor, the boy a tentative new student under her tutelage —slowly unravels, revealing the deep horrors underlying the reality these characters inhabit. Samatar unfurls worldbuilding details with masterful subtlety, making each shocking reveal all the more potent. Through what amounts to a meditative far-future allegory, Samatar highlights the power of collective action in the face of oppression. This packs a punch."

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Luna and the Three Moons by Laura Jo Phillips was good but probably wouldn’t make much sense if you haven’t read the other books in the series.

I’ve been reading fantasy since then. Today Jerry Boyd dropped a new book, first of a new fantasy series, Mark's Magic. So far it’s good but isn’t the immediate grab that I got from Bob's Saucer Repair.

[John]

I finished reading The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain, and loved it. Five stars for beautifully written, almost poetic, sci-fi. The description of "haunting, brutal, but uplifting" is very accurate.

[James]

Just finished Rendezvous with Rama. Fascinating story. Don't think I'll read the rest of the series as I've heard that Clarke steps back from the story after the first one.

[John]

James wrote: "Just finished Rendezvous with Rama. Fascinating story. Don't think I'll read the rest of the series as I've heard that Clarke steps back from the story after the first one."

I'm not a great fan of "old" sci-fi (although I love Asimov's books - even on re-reading); how has this one aged, James?

[James]

My memory's a little spotty already on the fine details, but I think Clarke avoided the usual problematic pitfalls of racism, sexism, and... perhaps even classism?
Aside from that, what interested me most was in trying to identify the antagonist of the story--or even the central conflict. It's a tough call, but I wonder if there even is one. That simple fact blows my mind, how it can still be a good story without those elements when every writing class I ever took taught that story hinged on conflict.

[John]

James wrote: "My memory's a little spotty already on the fine details, but I think Clarke avoided the usual problematic pitfalls of racism, sexism, and... perhaps even classism?
Aside from that, what interested ..."

Your comments have intrigued me enough to give this one a try, James - but I've got such a backlog that I think I might try this one on Audible.

[L J]

James wrote: "My memory's a little spotty already on the fine details, but I think Clarke avoided the usual problematic pitfalls of racism, sexism, and... perhaps even classism?
Aside from that, what interested ..."

With Clarke antagonists tend to be problems, circumstances, whatever you want to call it, adverse situations rather than intentionally malevolent adversary. A Fall of Moondust comes to mind and even 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's the circumstances not a deliberate antagonist that are the primary conflict. Hal wasn't intentional malevolent adversary. Hal was confused, not understanding situation. If someone hadn't messed up Hal's programming thinking they were improving things the situation would have been very different.

[John]

Finished On Basilisk Station today. It took a while to get going, but the battle scenes at the end were worth the wait - a four-star rating from me.

[John]

Neither of the BOTM "Reader" or "Limited" choices for June/July appeal to me, so my next read is going to be Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh.

Described as "A thrillingly told space opera about the wreckage of war, the family you find, and the path you must forge when every choice is stripped from you. Some Desperate Glory is the highly anticipated debut novel from Astounding Award and World Fantasy Award-Winner, Emily Tesh."

It was shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke award, the Hugo Award for best novel, and the Locus Award for best first novel - but it was out about a year ago - has anybody read it yet?

[James]

I read the first several books of the Honor Harrington series. Loved it except that it started to bother me that (view spoiler)[everyone in the Kingdom seemed to forget how great a commander she was at the start of each book (hide spoiler)].
But like I said, I loved the ones I read.

[John]

James wrote: "I read the first several books of the Honor Harrington series. Loved it except that it started to bother me that [spoilers removed].
But like I said, I loved the ones I read."

Much as I enjoyed her as a character - I don't think I'd want her as my boss!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve been reading fantasy, but need a dose of space opera so I’m going to reread Temporary Duty by Ric Locke. US military unit detached to an alien vessel, with the main characters being a couple of enlisted men sent ahead to prep for the officers. From memory there’s action, humor, and culture clashing in generous dosages.

[John]

I'm about 20% of the way through Some Desperate Glory, and its enjoyable so far, although none of the characters have come across as very likeable yet.

[Trike]

Edit: finished Re-Coil. 1 star, sadly.

Currently at 60% of Re-Coil which is certainly Space Opera adjacent. It hinges on tech that does backups of your brain that can be downloaded into a new body. It’s very much in the vein of Altered Carbon but is its own thing. I’m enjoying it.

DNF at 30% Derelict: Marines. There was way too much of the “characters behaving like idiots” and “explain it to me like I was five” stuff, to the point where I couldn’t take it any more. I think if one were 12 and this was the first MilSF encounter it might be okay, but for anyone who’s read, like, 2 books in the genre, it’s way too dumbed-down and clunky.