What are you reading right now? For 2024

[John]

L J wrote: "Someone suggested I try the GraphicAudio version Murderbot and the preview was what got me to try them. I don't usually like full cast recordings but have enjoyed most of the GraphicAudio I've tried. "

I'd never heard of GraphicAudio, L J. I've just had a very quick look, and they seem a bit expensive compared with Audible - but I may give one a try just to check them out.

[Paul]

I have recently finished The Expanse series, and absolutely loved every book, this is a 9 book series and one of my all time favourites (and I have been reading SF now for over 50years). The series is set in a recognizable future Solar system where we have already colonized Mars and the larger asteroids. The "belters" living in the asteroid belt and "Martians" consider them selves apart from Mother Earth and are at war as the story opens and then a mysterious alien microbe/virus/something changes everything. This series is high on action and realism, great space battles and eventually expands to planets outside the Solar system. A group of central characters are with us throughout the series navigating the chaos and madness triggered by the discovery of the alien entity. Highly recommend.

[John]

Thanks for that recommendation Paul - I loved the first in the series when it was a Reader BOTM back in Feb, and I plan to read more in the series soon.

[Trike]

L J wrote: "Someone suggested I try the GraphicAudio version Murderbot and the preview was what got me to try them. I don't usually like full cast recordings but have enjoyed most of the GraphicAudio I've tried."

GraphicAudio can make even bad books seem good.

[L J]

John wrote: "L J wrote: "Someone suggested I try the GraphicAudio version Murderbot and the preview was what got me to try them. I don't usually like full cast recordings but have enjoyed most of the GraphicAud..."
"... expensive..."

It seems when they have a sale it's GraphicAudio website only. Even at 40% off they are not cheap. Fortunately I have access to many through library Overdrive and Hoopla.


Trike wrote: "L J wrote: "Someone suggested I try the GraphicAudio version Murderbot and the preview was what got me to try them. I don't usually like full cast recordings but have enjoyed most of the GraphicAud..."
"GraphicAudio can make even bad books seem good."

Maybe some books are bad due to lack of editing.

[C. John]

I recall when Spider Robinson was doing the reviews for Galaxy he wrote in one that someone had written them that Robinson's reviews helped him pick out books to get. Basically if Robinson loved a book he would hate it and if Robinson hated a book he would love it . Sound weird but as Robinson said it worked. Oddly enough, those reviews are the only thing written by him I have read.

[J]

I just finished THE STARS MY DESTINATION for the first time. Kind of a Count of Monte Cristo revenge story, but with so many cool scifi and fantasy elements woven into it. It seemed really imaginative to me, especially for having been written so long ago. Also, I thought the old title, TIGER, TIGER, was so dumb until I actually read the book, and now I get it! Pretty cool imagery. Kind of haunting at times. Lots of fun overall. Great speculative fiction.

[L J]

Gender has been a question when it comes to Murderbot. Listening to GraphicAudio changed how I think of Murderbot. It did not make me think male even though Murderbot is voiced male. It did not make me think androgynous because I don't think of Murderbot as having both male and female characteristics.

In print reading I thought intelligent thinking living feeling machine with organic components. Then I would say I did not think gender anymore than I think gender when it comes to a computer. Now I would say I do not think gender anymore than I think gender when it comes to the Great Barrier Reef.

Continuing on with GraphicAudio Murderbot from Hoopla.

[Trike]

I’ve never bought any GraphicAudio because they’re expensive, but the library has a decent selection on Libby and Hoopla. I’ve been tempted, though.

I listened to the Michael J. Sullivan prequels to the Riyria books done by GA. The books were quite good (epic fantasy), and the production was really good. Age of Myth is the first one.

I grew up at the tail end of the radio drama age, and the GA productions remind me of those.

[L J]

Trike wrote: "I’ve never bought any GraphicAudio because they’re expensive, but the library has a decent selection on Libby and Hoopla. I’ve been tempted, though.

I listened to the Michael J. Sullivan prequels...

I grew up at the tail end of the radio drama age, and the GA productions remind me of those."

I remember listening to radio shows and these remind me of them. So far I've enjoyed all the ones I've listened to though I've sampled some I decided against.

Before GraphicAudio I tried other full cast recordings and they reminded me of audio recordings of TV shows.

[John]

I'm just starting Earthrise by M.C.A. Hogarth - my first time reading this author.

[sailor _stuck_at_sea]

I've started reading Salvage Trouble by JS Morin. I'm hoping it's better than the last book I read, Cascade Failure by LM Saga's. I just couldn't get into it and it took 21 days to read something I'd normally complete in a few days

[John]

I was sad to hear of the death yesterday of Fredric Jameson, the American literary critic, philosopher, Marxist political theorist and author of many books. He's probably best-known for his critique of postmodernism, but he was also interested in, and wrote about, science fiction. One of his most substantial works was Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions. Once Verso UK are shipping again I'll buy a copy of this.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I haven’t found any SF that holds my attention since I finished Wise Guys by Jerry Boyd. Looking at my list of upcoming books other than the next Bob and Nikki in about four weeks, all I see that is SF is Outcaste by Christie Meierz which is due out in November. Outcaste is the latest in the Tolari universe, which starts with The Marann.

Edit: FYI I’m not in one of my “can’t read fiction” spells. Just finding it harder to get into books, with fantasy and romance being easier.

[Debrac2014]

Thanks! I've enjoyed this series!

[Rosenblue(promoting non-biased,honest reviews & a dislike button on GR)]

I recently completed the manga series "The Heart of Thomas" by Hagio Moto.
I started reading "They were Eleven" by the same author of "The Heart of Thomas" and the novel The Winter Queen "A Fandorin Mystery" by Boris Akunin,Vampire Hunter D and Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire.

[John]

I'm currently about a third of the way through Earthrise by M.C.A. Hogarth. It's not quite my cup of tea, but it's certainly enjoyable enough to keep reading, so thanks for the recommendation, Caitlin.

[Betsy]

Not space opera, but speculative. Future after climate collapse. When You Had Power by Susan Kaye Quinn. It's a novella, first in a series, recommended by Nathan Lowell.

I'm enjoying it so far, but I'm not very far in.

[John]

Betsy wrote: "Not space opera, but speculative. Future after climate collapse. When You Had Power by Susan Kaye Quinn. It's a novella, first in a series, recommended by [author:N..."

Definitely looks interesting, Betsy - I've just downloaded a copy - and its currently FOC on Amazon UK.

[John]

I'm now about half-way through Earthrise, and it's slowed down a lot and is becoming slightly boring....so hopefully they'll soon get the ship repaired and get moving!

[Audrey]

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey. I finally finished Deathstalker by Simon R. Green, which was OK (plus, dated in an annoying way) but took a few weeks to finish because I kept finding other books that grabbed my attention.

[Caitlin]

I just finished Meru by S.B.Divya, the first in her Alloy Era space opera series. Really interesting and dense world building: posthuman beings called alloys run most of society, live in space and are free to explore it while humans are mostly confined to Earth after a disastrous attempt to terraform Mars. But the human main character gets a chance to prove humans can live on a newly discovered Earthlike planet and things go from there…

[John]

I've just finished reading Earthrise by M.C.A. Hogarth...which I was confident I wasn't going to like.

Then when I liked it...I was confident it was at best a 3-star rating.

Then when I decided it was a 4-star rating....I was confident that despite this, and the fact that I enjoyed it, I wouldn't read any more in the series.

Now...I'm not confident enough to predict.

But thank you to Caitlin and others for the recommendations for Hogarth and this series, of which I suspect I will read more (despite them being a touch too cozy and romantic for my normal taste).

[Trike]

John wrote: "I've just finished reading Earthrise by M.C.A. Hogarth..."

I went to Amazon to check this out, only to discover that I already own it, as well as Earthrise: Books 1-3 and Earthrise: My Adventures as an Apollo 14 Astronaut. Apparently I went on an Earthrise binge at some point. :p

As someone once said, buying books and reading books are two different hobbies.

[John]

Trike wrote: "As someone once said, buying books and reading books are two different hobbies. ."

Too true, Trike. Accessing Goodreads on my phone has on a number of occasions prevented me from buying books I already own!

[John]

I jumped the gun on October's READER BOTM and have finished it early, and it's looking like there might not be a LIMITED BOTM.

So while I'm waiting for any suggestions for October's "Culture Series" Buddy Read, I'm reading a short story by John Scalzi - The President's Brain is Missing. (At least, I think its fiction?)

[John]

I finished the short story - The President's Brain is Missing, and it was very funny.

[Caitlin]

@John, Glad you liked Earthrise more than you thought you would! It kind if sneaked up on me too when I first read it.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Outcaste by Christie Meierz is due out in November, but the author was kind enough to offer me an eARC of it. This is #6 in the Tolari Space series. First of that series is The Marann. SF/Romance, and most if not all of the books include some scenes on space ships or at least space stations, so they count as Space Opera for this group. I’ve just started reading Outcaste.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

And finished with Outcaste. Here’s my review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Trike]

Just started The Mercy of Gods, the first book in the new series by James S.A. Corey. I’m only a little way in but so far so good.

Amazon has double Kindle points tomorrow, so I’ll probably grab the monthly read, among others.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Currently rereading School Days by Nathan Lowell. This book starts a story arc in his Solar Clipper universe, so it’s a reasonable entry point. Ish is an experienced captain in this book. If you want the full backstory, it starts with Quarter Share which is available separately or as part of The Lois McKendrick Omnibus: Trader's Tales 1-3. We have discussed several of the books in this universe before. I’m likely going to binge the three books in this story arc, then have several new fantasy books expected later this month.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished School Days. I had forgotten that book ended before any of the cadets set foot on the ship. On to Working Class.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Now rereading Hard Knocks which is the latest book about Ish. If memory serves this is where “boring is good” will really get taught to the green crew, because it’s about to be far too exciting on the ship.

Edit: yup. “No immediate danger”

[John]

I've just finished Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks, so I'm now going back to Echo of Worlds by M.R. Carey. I'd paused about a third of the way through so that I could finish Look to Windward, and I'm looking forward to completing it now.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Hard Knocks was great, finished it last week. Today I’m finding it difficult to maintain interest in books, whether new or rereading. I’m hoping that April by Mackey Chandler will work. I’ve read it quite a few times and the action usually grabs me even with me remembering the key plot points.

Next Wednesday a new Bob and Nikki book drops, assuming Jerry Boyd doesn’t hit a snag. There are a couple of fantasy books due out later this month that I’m looking forward to as well. Crossing my fingers that my attention span settles down soon.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’m about halfway through April, and it looks to have broken my book hangover. Just finished a scene where a character is explaining why different USNA agencies rarely cooperate well.
“Believe me, the interests of the NSA and the CIA, and the TLA no more coincide with each other than with the Mafia.”

If memory serves, TLA doesn’t get explained in this book, but several books later in the series it crops up again, in a strange context. I don’t care what is said in that book later, I’m positive that it stands for Three Letter Acronym or Three Letter Agency.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished April. It reminded me of Leonard Wibberley’s books about the Duchy of Grand Fenwick, particularly The Mouse That Roared, but April is serious and the Grand Fenwick books are intended to be humorous.

I’m going to see if something in my TBR or my currently reading (but set aside) piles can hold my interest, leaving the sequel to April handy if my book hangover is still interfering.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

No luck with what I had been trying to read before, but I was able to enjoy rereading the second book of a fantasy series that has #3 dropping in less than a week, which is a good sign.

So I’m now rereading April #2 Down to Earth by Mackey Chandler. I’m expecting a new fantasy on Tuesday, hopefully new Bob and Nikki on Wednesday, and that #3 fantasy on Friday. I’ll probably just wedge more of the April series into the cracks between, or if Tuesday’s new fantasy can’t hold my attention. I’m more confident of the other two new books.

[Trike]

I’m in a bit of a valley with the last 6 books I’ve read 2-stars or less.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished rereading Down to Earth. Now about 40% through April #3 The Middle of Nowhere. “At least nobody will be shooting at us.” HAH!

[Trike]

Listening to Mechanical Failure, which is silly fun.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

A couple of nice quotes from Middle of Nowhere:
—-
The designers who had developed the modular concept of lunar construction never considered just how easy it made stealing an entire building, instead of some of the contents.
—-
"I think you have been hanging around April too much. We have to get away from solving everything by orbital bombardment," she insisted.

"That would be fine with me," Jeff agreed. "But it has been working so far," he pointed out.
—-

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Middle of Nowhere. Started reading the new fantasy but put it aside to try again later. #1 of that fantasy series was worth reading but not great, so I’ll save this one until I’m in the mood for magic and demons.

Now reading April #4 A Different Perspective by Mackey Chandler.

[Bigpallooka]

I've always imagined with his background that Mackey Chandler must be a very competent individual himself. I particularly like that he doesn't use the despicable plot device of making his protagonist act out of character to move the plot forward. I can only remember reading something in one of his books a few times where a character did something that didn't make sense to me only to have it fully justified shortly after. I'm sure there are multiple reasons to be critical of his prose, his politics or his science however as a prolific reader of science fiction I find they all work together for a compelling story that is fun to read, and read again.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

No new Bob and Nikki book today. Jerry Boyd released a new book in his Fat Man’s Gift fantasy series instead: Mei’s Quest. I’ll probably be stick to my binge reread of the April series a while longer. Not sure whether I’ll reread the entire series or not.

Edit: nope, Mei's Quest lured me away.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Mei’s Quest (fantasy). Now about 80% through A Different Perspective. I had forgotten just how very many intense action scenes were in this book. Whew!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Now reading April #5 A Depth of Understanding by Mackey Chandler but I’m likely to be distracted from it tomorrow when a fantasy book I preordered drops (#3 in a series with mages and dragons). April #5 has the main characters taking on not just China or USNA but the whole UN this time, because the UN orders them to vacate their L2 halo orbit.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished Depth of Understanding. Read the new fantasy that just dropped. Will likely reread April #6 And What Goes Around by Mackey Chandler next. If memory serves this is the book where there’s a nasty pandemic on Earth. I really couldn’t stand to reread that book in 2020-2022 but enjoyed rereading it in 2023.

Edit: yup, that’s the one.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished April 6. Now reading April 7 They Said it would be Easy by Mackey Chandler. Not sure how far I’ll binge this series. My pile of other interesting books is growing.

What are you reading?