SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
What Else Are You Reading?
>
What Else Are You Reading in 2024?
I finished The Ringed Castle a couple of days ago, and it was excellent. Since it's Dorotht Dunnett, it was no surprise at all. Now I have only one book left in The Lymond Chronicles...My review is here ;)
Jumping back into SFF, my current reads are
Some Desperate Glory - it's a bit like reading an action movie, but it's getting better and better. I think I like it. I'm still not sure about that Hugo nomination, but I've only read 33%. We'll see.
Death's Lady: The Complete Trilogy - if I started one Rachel Neumeier series (Tuyo), then why not read another? It's very good so far, 10% in. It's a great idea to have a typical character from a dark epic fantasy being treated for trauma by a regular modern psychiatrist. But I am afraid it will get a lot scarier soon.
A turn to non-fiction with Woman, Captain, Rebel: The Extraordinary True Story of a Daring Icelandic Sea Captain by Margaret Wilson, the biography of Thuridur Einarsdottir. Born in 1777, her childhood was marked by the volcanic eruptions of 1783, the famine that followed, and the death of her father from leprosy. At eleven, she learned to fish from an open rowboat in the choppy North Atlantic, was a sought-after deckhand in her teens and twenties, captained oared fishing boats, and, with a Sherlock Holmesian insight, solved a notorious robbery. This was a gifted, strong, and incredibly resilient person who, somehow, endured more "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" than I could believe while staying true to an inner moral compass. The book paints a detailed picture of an unusual person dealing with poverty, a difficult culture, and a very harsh environment while still looking out for others and doing good. Definitely worth a read.
I've started the audiobook of the FINAL volume of Hell Divers by Nicholas Sansbury Smith: Heroes. I am only about a third of the way in, but I've been wondering for a while how he is going to end this thing. R.C. Bray narrates the entire series, and I can't image anyone else doing it.I guess I can start over when I'm finished. :-)
Anna wrote: "I would never tell anyone to start Kingfisher with that duology, but it sounds like you hated it so much that you'd probably not enjoy her other work either XD"I wasn't terribly impressed with her Thornhedge novella, which I read before this. It wasn't awful. My biggest gripe is the whole retelling trend is wearing very thin for me admittedly, but the thing that I took away from both books is the feeling she hasn't really given a lot of thought into gender beyond maybe "This has been my life experience so far as this gender." Given the kinds of things I'm reading from other authors these days, that just isn't very appealing to me.
I have a major surgery coming up so I have been hesitant to get into anything too deep, or check anything out from the library (they let me off the last time I brought in a stack of overdue books after being in the hospital, but I don't wish to make that a habit). I bought the Keanu Reeves sci fi book thinking it'd be something weird and low-stakes, and then learned the ghostwriter/co-author is...icky. Now I'm not in the mood, especially after being annoyed with Kingfisher for ungraceful uses of misogyny in the name of giving a female protag conflict. So I bought Max Gladstone's Dead Country, although I'll probably have to start it after my surgery, later next week.
In the meantime I've been rereading Witch King and The Wings Upon Her Back, the latter of which I really enjoyed on several levels, such as the emotional intensity and intellectual earnestly infused in a nicely conceived world that blends sci fi and fantasy in creative ways, and the distinct lack of "cozy" vibes (another thing that's wearing thin for me, although yes, I did read that Buttondown article by Charlie Jane Anders and I don't disagree, it's just, the idea of the community that many people think is inferred by that trend is very, very subjective and YMMV-ish)
I hope everything goes well with your surgery, CJ!
Best of luck to you, I hope everything goes well, CJ!
good luck CJ!! finished speed of dark by Elizabeth moon. a very interesting book, told from the perspective of a highly functioning autistic male, has a great job doing work particularly suited for him, along with a few others like him. also goes through prejudice and even criminal acts where he's the victim, and faced with a difficult choice. in some ways it does remind me of flowers for algernon, but it does stand on its own. it is set in the near future, things being discussed and no doubt some experiments are being done. the author has a son who is autistic, although her child isn't like the protagonist as she admits in the discussion after the novel ended.
it opened my eyes!
anyhoo, on to the next book, the conclusion of gene wolfe's great series, which is ' the urth of the new sun. '
some of the older books are very good, i am at the moment going through my collection eg E Moon , i have a lot of her books
CJ wrote: "Anna wrote: "I would never tell anyone to start Kingfisher with that duology, but it sounds like you hated it so much that you'd probably not enjoy her other work either XD"I wasn't terribly impr..."
I have to confess that I've been over the fairy tale retelling for years. It's very much in fashion, and has been now for quite a few years.
I have read Thornhedge, and I didn't mind it, but definitely prefer some of her other works.
I've been having a nostalgia month. I've re-read some Pern, and am currently finishing off Mistress of the Empire by Feist and Wurts.
Mod
currently reading Hell Followed with Us. I plan to read more Discworld this year, and more queer indie books. at some point, I plan on re-reviewing the Harry Potter series before donating my box set... maybe a project for this schoolyear?
Beginning Michael Harriot's, Black AF History. I suspect it will be enlightening.
I'm reading an historical fiction thriller called Blood Roses. It takes place in Soviet & Nazi invaded Warsaw in 1939.
CJ wrote: "I had gotten all excited about Service Model and then lost interest in it halfway through. So I started Starless Night (Legend of Drizzt #8) yesterday while I waited on my library hold for The Wing..."This is one of my favorite Salvatore books. It was very interesting to read about the adventures of a human girl in the UnderDark.
I am currently reading:For the Fallen (Zombie Fallout, #7) by Mark Tufo
A Familiar Ghost by Rosemary Johns
Eleven on Top (Stephanie Plum, #11) by Janet Evanovich
Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
and then I will be jumping back into Rhett C Bruno's Children of Titan.
I am mending my education, expanding my horizons.
I know it is a classic with a huge impact on sci-fi gender.
But it's so painfully dull
Ambereyes wrote: "CJ wrote: "I had gotten all excited about Service Model and then lost interest in it halfway through. So I started Starless Night (Legend of Drizzt #8) yesterday while I waited on my library hold f..."Ah... Cattie Brie, one of my favorite characters.:)
I finished The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley. It requires a re-reading in fairness. I was not fond of the unnamed Bridge but loved the one she was babysitting, expat Graham Gore. Graham Gore, a true historical figure, was this book part part fan-fiction. I'm currently reading The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey. I'm loving it so far.
Okay getting ready to start on a new Trilogy; or I think its only a trilogy as I just bought all 3 books out currently; by one of my favorite authors Jonathan Moeller. the "Half Elven-Thief". I said I was going to wait and not buy and read any more books. But this I'm going crazy waiting on books from his other two series that I'm reading and no books to read. LOL
BTW CJ I hope your surgery goes well and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Charlton wrote: "Ambereyes wrote: "CJ wrote: "I had gotten all excited about Service Model and then lost interest in it halfway through. So I started Starless Night (Legend of Drizzt #8) yesterday while I waited on..."I like her too.
I have just finished reading the In the Time of the Sixth Sun series by Thomas Harlan. These books are a wonderful mix of AU story, space opera and hard sci-fi.It's not just a ' Reverse Conquesta' world where the Aztec empire survives and triumphs. There's also space travel, aliens and a female archaeologist excavating million-year-old cities on other planets. There are also many comic episodes in this series.
Ambereyes wrote: "I have just finished reading the In the Time of the Sixth Sun series by Thomas Harlan...."Those sound interesting. Could use some sci-fi with a bit of comedy.
Economondos wrote: "Ambereyes wrote: "I have just finished reading the In the Time of the Sixth Sun series by Thomas Harlan...."Those sound interesting. Could use some sci-fi with a bit of comedy."
The second book is especially funny. In general, all the books in the series follow the adventures of Dr Gretchen Andersson (i.e. the female archaeologist) and her companions.
But the second book introduces a new character called Tezozomoc. He is an Aztec prince who likes to hang out with pretty girls and drink. At the head of an important mission on another planet, he looks particularly foolish. His poor bodyguards (including a middle-aged Eagle Knight who is also Scottish and bookish) have to act as his babysitters.
I don't know if you saw the old TV series BlackAdder with Rowan Atkinson. But His Highness Tezozomoc is just like Prince Edmund from the first series of that show, only in a cool spaceship and with a fancy cloak of bird feathers thrown elegantly over his shoulders.
In the end, it turns out that prince had a very good reason for behaving the way he did. But to explain it to you would be a spoiler.
Loved BlackAdder and have the series on DVD. Okay, that just moved up the reading list.
Prince Edmund... er... Tezozomok doesn't appear until the second book. The first one is more serious.Still, it's very interesting. Also, the main protagonist has an alien companion who looks like a erect-walking leopard or tiger. She's also a very funny character.
Granada took me a while, but I'm glad I finished it. It doesn't really have an MC. Instead it follows the members of an Arab family under Castilian rule at the end of the Reconquista (Columbus has a cameo, for context.) I'll probably read book 2.Beginning Christ Stopped at Eboli, Carlo Levi's autobiographical novel about his year of exile in distant south Italy (hell for a northern Italian) for insulting Mussolini.
Finally finished another book. Haven’t finished one for ages. Not SFF though. Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society by Sophie Green. She writes beautifully about female friendships. This is the 4th book of hers I’ve read so far. She’s got 6 out with the last one being released last week. Bought The Mercy of Gods a couple of days ago and am looking forwards to starting it soon. It’s on the pile ready to go. Hopefully I’ll get to it soon.
I finished Some Desperate Glory. I liked it overall, but had quite a few reservations. The Hugo win did not make me very happy, lol.My review is here ;)
I am also done with Death's Lady: The Complete Trilogy. It was a very emotional read! I like how Rachel Neumeier writes relationships and character interactions.
My review is here ;)
I'm listening to
Careless Whispers: The Award-Winning True Account of the Horrific Lake Waco Murders by Carlton Stowers
alright my reading friends. I have a son who works supervising road Contruction. He is good in science and computers. He however has mild dyslexia, with the new kindle font he wants to try a few booksany suggestion!!!!! He is 40 and never read books before, he tried to read 1984 but it was too dry, i told him not to try Dune, too much description
Mod
It's fun and escapist to read with an interesting narrator. Plus it's a novella, so it is a small reading commitment. The plot fully finishes, but if he likes it, there are more in the series.
Melanie wrote: "Theft of Swords if he wants to break into fantasy."I second Melanie's suggestion, Kateb!
Also on the fantasy side, an old one that is also fairly short is Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson.
Kateb wrote: "i think he is more into sci fi"he wrote both:
Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until his death in 2001. Anderson also wrote historical novels.
Fantasy
Roma Mater (1986) with Karen Anderson
Gallicenae (1987) with Karen Anderson
Dahut (1987) with Karen Anderson
The Dog and the Wolf (1988) with Karen Anderson
Operation Otherworld
Operation Chaos (1971)
Operation Luna (1999)
Operation Otherworld (1999), omnibus containing Operation Chaos and Operation Luna
Other novels
The Broken Sword (1954, revised in 1971)
Three Hearts and Three Lions (1961)
The Fox, the Dog and the Griffin: A Folk Tale Adapted from the Danish of C. Molbeck (1966)
Hrolf Kraki's Saga (1973)—British Fantasy Award, 1974[4]
A Midsummer Tempest (1974)—Nebula and World Fantasy Awards nominee, 1975[12]
The Merman's Children (1979)—Locus Fantasy Award nominee, 1980[15]
The Demon of Scattery (1979) with Mildred Downey Broxon, illustrated by Michael Whelan and Alicia Austin
Conan the Rebel (1980)
The Devil's Game (1980)
War of the Gods (1997)
Mother of Kings (2001)
CBRetriever wrote: "Kateb wrote: "i think he is more into sci fi"he wrote both:
Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1..."
i remember poul, he was once my fav author, i have a lot of his books in boxes. looks like i am searching this afternoon
that made me think of Simark's Waysation
Alexandra wrote: "I finished Some Desperate Glory. I liked it overall, but had quite a few reservations. The Hugo win did not make me very happy, lol."
I try to be indifferent to these awards, especially when I haven't read all the shortlisted books, including this one, but I loved The Saint of Bright Doors and Witch King and a win from either would have boosted that book's notoriety, which would have made me happy. But oh well. There are Hugo winners that I have very much disliked, although I still want to read this one. It's been on my TBR for a while, but I just can't get excited enough about it to read it.
i so agree CJ. Often if a book gets an award i dont read it. I wonder where the criteria went wrong. I have been reading sc fi since the 1950's and for years there whatever won an award was a book to valuemaybe i still have old ideas of adventure, entertainment before description
CJ wrote: "I try to be indifferent to these awards, especially when I haven't read all the shortlisted books, including this one, but I loved The Saint of Bright Doors and Witch King... "I loved Witch King too. Ann Leckie's Translation State was also nominated, and I would have been happy to see either of them win. On the other hand, both Martha Wells and Ann Leckie had won before, so their books will be all right, I think ;)
It's difficult to be indifferent to book awards, at least for me.
Mod
Alexandra wrote: "I finished Some Desperate Glory. I liked it overall, but had quite a few reservations. The Hugo win did not make me very happy, lol.My review is here ;)
I am also done with [book..."
I just got back from Glasgow and was at the Hugo awards. This book got a massive cheer and was clearly the fan favourite. Puzzling to me because I absolutely HATED it!
Just goes to show
Alexandra wrote: "It's difficult to be indifferent to book awards, at least for me."
I try to be indifferent; I don't necessarily succeed at it! Like Stephen says, there's apparently a big fan base for Some Desperate Glory, so it appeals to someone.
I haven't read Translation State yet, but I've enjoyed everything I've read by Leckie so far and several people with tastes similar to mine has praised it, so I look forward to reading it.
And I'm just not a Scalzi fan so I'll be passing on his book. He's another author with enthusiastic fans, but fans whose taste just don't often mesh with mine. But it's nice there's a variety of stuff out there in SFF for different readers.
I just started Blindsight by Peter Watts and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. The first isn't winning me over so far, but the second is intriguing and I like the writing much more.
Starting Lemmy Kilmister's autobiography, White Line Fever.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
I’d Rather Have a Cat than a Harem! Reincarnated into the World of an Otome Game as a Cat-loving Villainess Volume 1 (other topics)Odin's Child (other topics)
Bee Sting Cake (other topics)
Neuromancer (other topics)
Gardens of the Moon (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Andrea Stewart (other topics)Brian McClellan (other topics)
Robert Jordan (other topics)
Brandon Sanderson (other topics)
Charlie Jane Anders (other topics)
More...
Also, I kinda haven't really started Speed of dark till this morning, got distracted reading and finishing Geezer Butler's Into the void, his autobiography (he was the original bassist and founding member of Black Sabbath). I'm a fan, got an autographed sticker stuck on a page of the book (is it autographed? meh, I think not!), saw him doing his book tour a month or so ago, briefly lost speed of dark, so I picked Geezer's book up and read it!