SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

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What Else Are You Reading? > What Else Are You Reading in 2024?

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message 1301: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments CJ wrote: "So for this November I made some big plans: several long reads, including some GR groups' BotM reads, a Discord buddy read and a couple of personal challenges: Indigenous Writers and Cyberpunk/Biop..."

I loved Moon of the Crusted Snow and we had a great discussion on VBC of the book. Not sure if the level of posted-discussion (in the threads) was equal or not, but you should check that out. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. Good to hear good things about it.


message 1302: by Mai (new)

Mai Britt | 56 comments The Fox Wife,Equal parts murder mystery and myth, this exquisitely written tale is also about the loss of a child and the resilience of love.


message 1303: by Julia (new)

Julia Just started Life, the Universe and Everything (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3) by Douglas Adams


message 1304: by Esther (new)

Esther (eshchory) | 555 comments I thought She Who Became the Sun was terrific both for the plot and the characters. I hope you enjoy it."

I second that recommendation


message 1306: by Brett (new)

Brett Bosley | 329 comments A copy of Hawk Recon, a Vietnam War memoir by a guy named Osgood, had been calling my name, so I put everything else on hold to blow through it. It's brutal, gruesome (he was a medic), and insightful.


message 1307: by Kaia (new)

Kaia | 660 comments Leonie wrote: "I've just read The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. Loved it! And if you like cats, then this could be a book for you."

Thanks for the recommendation, Leonie! I've been wondering about adding this one to my TBR, but the fact that it has cats has me on board for giving it a try. 😺


message 1308: by Kaia (new)

Kaia | 660 comments CJ wrote: "In better news, I really liked Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice. Rice had a very good idea of the story he wanted to write, didn't overreach and put in the work to realize the very polished novel. I would recommend it for readers who liked Station Eleven."

I might have to move this one up on my TBR list after your recommendation, CJ!

Also, Rachel, thanks for the tip that the audiobook (and the sequel) is good - I'm always looking for good books to listen to, as I regularly listen during my commute and while doing chores.


message 1309: by Kaia (new)

Kaia | 660 comments I'm currently reading Hild by Nicola Griffith and absolutely loving it. The audiobook narrator also adds a lot to the story. I'm curious about it being tagged as fantasy, though, as it seems like there isn't anything magical so far - mostly historical fiction of Britain in the 600s.

I just finished eye-reading Provenance by Ann Leckie, which was the last book set in the Imperial Radch universe that I had left to read. I liked it pretty well - not as much as the Ancillary Justice trilogy or Translation State. It's quieter and more of a mystery with a bit of heist-story and political intrigue thrown in. I liked the main character.

Now, on to my re-read of The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K Le Guin, which is my favorite of the Earthsea series.


message 1310: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6105 comments Kaia wrote: "I'm currently reading Hild by Nicola Griffith and absolutely loving it. The audiobook narrator also adds a lot to the story. I'm curious about it being tagged as fantasy, though, as..."

I think it's just fantasy because she's a seer


message 1311: by Julia (new)

Julia Just started Cold, Cold Bones by Cathy Reichs..


message 1312: by Jabotikaba (new)

Jabotikaba | 106 comments I started reading The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborti. It seemed to be a pretty good book.

Kaia wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Currently reading: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins. The world is fascinating, the ideas are cool, but the execution is so-so. It's a pity, I loved the Djinn books. It might get better..."

People praise this book. I think I will read it one day. By the way, I have already read a book by this author and I liked it very much.

Kaia wrote: "Mai wrote: "Finished Legends & Lattes. Author Travis Baldree delivers a light-hearted story that brought me smiles. An overwhelming desire to consume coffee and pastries accompanied my reading. Coi..."

Great books! Recommend them to everyone.

Michelle wrote: "Mai wrote: "Jhereg.This one reminds me of Mission Impossible only it lives in Fantasyland. A quick and fun read."

That series gives me the giggles!"


Me too.

Ambereyes wrote: "I finished to read Chimeras of Estmer. Although it's a long book, I read it practically in one day. There is a lot of humor in this book, and the unexpected plot twists, and some of the characters ..."

Read this book over the summer. Great book, but the author should have split it into three parts and made it a trilogy. And the plot of Kemlilin and his pirates could have been developed.
However, it is still an interesting book.


message 1313: by Brett (new)

Brett Bosley | 329 comments Frank Dikötter's, How To Be A Dictator is next (it's due back soon), anout cults of personality.


message 1314: by Raucous (new)

Raucous | 888 comments That reminds me that I've got a copy of On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century that I've been meaning to read.


message 1315: by Leonie (last edited Nov 07, 2024 02:31AM) (new)

Leonie (leonierogers) | 1221 comments Kaia wrote: "Leonie wrote: "I've just read The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher. Loved it! And if you like cats, then this could be a book for you."

Thanks for the recommendat..."


I went straight on and read the second book The Olympian Affair, and really enjoyed that one too.

A quote from some of the dialogue between human and cat for you, Kaia: (contains no spoilers but just in case you don't want to read it I've put it behind spoiler tags)

(view spoiler)


message 1316: by Brett (new)

Brett Bosley | 329 comments On Tyranny is outstanding.


message 1317: by Jen (new)

Jen (jenjilla) | 1 comments Jabotikaba wrote: "I started reading The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborti. It seemed to be a pretty good book.

Kaia wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Currently reading: The Dead Cat Tail Assassins. The w..."


I really want to start reading John Gwynne!


message 1318: by Kaia (new)

Kaia | 660 comments Leonie wrote: "A quote from some of the dialogue between human and cat for you, Kaia: (contains no spoilers but just in case you don't want to read it I've put it behind spoiler tags)"

Thanks, Leonie!


message 1319: by SFFBC, Ancillary Mod (new)

SFFBC | 840 comments Mod
Don't forget to vote!


message 1320: by Brett (new)

Brett Bosley | 329 comments Starting Black Sun, by Rebecca Roanhorse, for Indigenous People's Month (it was that or Mean Spirit.)


message 1321: by Melanie, the neutral party (new)

Melanie | 1602 comments Mod
The fantasy poll is currently a tie.


message 1322: by CJ (last edited Nov 07, 2024 02:26PM) (new)

CJ | 531 comments Brett wrote: "Starting Black Sun, by Rebecca Roanhorse, for Indigenous People's Month (it was that or Mean Spirit.)"


I loved that one. I'm planning on reading the second book in the series this month after I've finished some of my current reads.


message 1323: by Jabotikaba (new)

Jabotikaba | 106 comments CJ wrote: "Brett wrote: "Starting Black Sun, by Rebecca Roanhorse, for Indigenous People's Month (it was that or Mean Spirit.)"


I loved that one. I'm planning on reading the second book in the series this m..."


Great book and great writer.


message 1324: by Kirsten (new)

Kirsten  (kmcripn) I've been listening to the graphic audio adaptation of A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2) by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas


message 1325: by Esther (last edited Nov 09, 2024 10:11PM) (new)

Esther (eshchory) | 555 comments I am reading The Book Eaters The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean .At about 25% I agreed with several of the meh reviews but as I get further in there is some insightful and subtle writing.


message 1326: by Walter (new)

Walter | 35 comments I'm deep into The Dragon Reborn right now, and let's just say... my pillow and I are starting to grow apart. I keep telling myself, 'One more chapter,' but apparently, Rand and company have taken that as a personal challenge! If anyone has any advice on how to actually put this book down, I'm all ears—though preferably before the dark circles under my eyes start resembling trollocs.


message 1327: by CJ (last edited Nov 10, 2024 07:49AM) (new)

CJ | 531 comments Yesterday I reread Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and read The City in Glass by Nghi Vo. Conrad is an old fav of mine, and while I've been impressed with Vo's Singing Hills cycle, I was rather disappointed in this new book. I also read the graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler's Kindred. It was pretty good--I prefer the novel to the graphic novel but I like that the graphic novel exists for people who find that format more accessible.

In bed last night, I started a reread of James Tipree Jr./Alice Bradley Sheldon's The Girl Who Was Plugged In but dozed off. Will need to finish that today. I'm reading it from the excellent SF anthology The Future is Female! Vol. 2-- I highly recommend both volumes.

Oh also I renewed my long expired library card at the Houston Public Library to access their digital catalog and kind went wild with putting titles on hold. But I came away with a few audiobooks I hope to get through/start today:

This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples - a murder mystery set on an Ojibwe reservation, reading for Native American Heritage Month.

The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer - a queer YA SF novel that I've heard really good things about

Dreamsnake by Vonda N. MacIntyre-- 1979 Hugo winner post-apocalyptic SF classic I've never read before

(BTW, if you live anywhere in Texas, you can sign up for a Houston Public Library card for free with proper Texas-issued ID. For non-Texas resident, I think there's a fee to sign up. Just know it's a big library serving the US' 4th biggest city and so you will have contend with queues for some items--for one title, I'm #22 in queue although most of my holds are quite shorter than that lol)


message 1328: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6105 comments I think the Philadelphia or Pittsburgh Library is open to any one in the US


message 1329: by Julia (new)

Julia Just started Children of Ruin Children of Ruin (Children of Time #2) by Adrian Tchaikovsky


message 1330: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 3168 comments Walter wrote: "I'm deep into The Dragon Reborn right now, and let's just say... my pillow and I are starting to grow apart. I keep telling myself, 'One more chapter,' but apparently, Rand and company have taken t..."

That is a good one.


message 1331: by Kaia (new)

Kaia | 660 comments CJ wrote: "Yesterday I reread Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and read The City in Glass by Nghi Vo. Conrad is an old fav of mine, and while I've been impressed with Vo's Singi..."

I liked the audiobook of Dreamsnake - the story was more interesting than I expected. Silly fact - I listened to last winter during a particularly snowy time here, so I also associate it with shoveling snow in the dark, early morning (which is funny because most of the story is set in a desert area).


message 1332: by a.g.e. montagner (last edited Nov 11, 2024 12:11AM) (new)

a.g.e. montagner (agem) | 667 comments Following a pause of nearly two months, I am now reading The Bird King, which turns out to be the pageturner I needed to kick back my reading schedule into action.
I nominated the book months ago in another group, and somehow it won the poll.

On the sideline, I'm also keeping up the Beowulf protocol.


message 1333: by Walter (new)

Walter | 35 comments Julia wrote: "Just started Children of Ruin Children of Ruin (Children of Time #2) by Adrian Tchaikovsky"
Oh, you’re in for a treat with Children of Ruin! I read it a few years ago, and it still sticks with me. Get ready for a whole new appreciation (and maybe mild suspicion?) of octopuses! 🐙 Enjoy the wild, mind-bending ride—and be prepared for some serious 'what if?' moments!


message 1334: by Walter (new)

Walter | 35 comments Michelle wrote: "Walter wrote: "I'm deep into The Dragon Reborn right now, and let's just say... my pillow and I are starting to grow apart. I keep telling myself, 'One more chapter,' but apparently, Rand and compa..."
Ehr yes..
My wife insists that reading in bed is just my favorite way to court insomnia—one incredible book at a time.. I guess?


message 1335: by Richard (new)

Richard Derus (expendablemudge) | 34 comments I've reviewed the top-flight fantasy/SF hybrid Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov by Yaroslav Barsukov, which got 4.75* of five from me, here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


message 1336: by Kaia (new)

Kaia | 660 comments a.g.e. montagner wrote: "Following a pause of nearly two months, I am now reading The Bird King, which turns out to be the pageturner I needed to kick back my reading schedule into action.
I nominated the ..."


I loved The Bird King! I’m glad you’re enjoying it, a.g.e.


message 1337: by DivaDiane (new)

DivaDiane SM | 3676 comments Why the long pause, Ale?


message 1338: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 3168 comments Walter wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Walter wrote: "I'm deep into The Dragon Reborn right now, and let's just say... my pillow and I are starting to grow apart. I keep telling myself, 'One more chapter,' but apparentl..."

Reading keeps me awake a lot, too, unless the book's a total bust. I call it the "just one more page trap" :)


message 1339: by a.g.e. montagner (new)

a.g.e. montagner (agem) | 667 comments Each year I'm assigned to a different school, sometimes two at a time, and the first weeks are always taken up with bureaucracy and getting up to speed.

The result is that usually there are the books I read in August, and those I read in late October.

Thanks Kaia for the feedbacks!
I really loved Wilson's Ms. Marvel and I was looking forward to exploring her novels. It's been a pleasure to discover that she writes beautiful prose.


message 1340: by CJ (new)

CJ | 531 comments As a recently retired teacher, I get that. I used to teach special ed, often at multiple campuses each semester, and the start of a new semester was always pure chaos. Retiring due to my cancer was not great for many obvious reasons, but it certainly freed up my schedule for reading!


message 1341: by Economondos (new)

Economondos | 503 comments Just finished up a reread of Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Can see why it is a classic of SF. but it just didn't hold my interest. Deliberately provocative for a 1960 audience.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Found something by Pratchett that I hadn't read, A Blink of the Screen: Collected Shorter Fiction. Some short stories might be a good way to snap me out of my current funk.


message 1342: by Charlton (new)


message 1343: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra  | 252 comments Yesterday I finished The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. I enjoyed it a lot! Nice characters, excellent writing, an infinite library, lots of bookish Easter eggs.

My review is here ;)


message 1344: by Mai (new)

Mai Britt | 56 comments CJ wrote: "Yesterday I reread Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and read The City in Glass by Nghi Vo. Conrad is an old fav of mine, and while I've been impressed with Vo's Singi..."

I've read and reread Dreamsnake at least 3 times. An enjoyable old classic.


message 1345: by Mai (new)

Mai Britt | 56 comments Eyes of the Void. A lot less fun than the first book in the series. This one had a duller plot, fewer interesting characters, less witty banter, less cohesive flow. Not moving on to the next one.


message 1346: by CBRetriever (new)

CBRetriever | 6105 comments Mai wrote: "Eyes of the Void. A lot less fun than the first book in the series. This one had a duller plot, fewer interesting characters, less witty banter, less cohesive flow. Not moving on to..."

third book is pretty good


message 1347: by Rachel (new)

Rachel | 1405 comments Yeah there’s a little bit of middle book syndrome.


message 1348: by CJ (last edited Nov 11, 2024 10:54PM) (new)

CJ | 531 comments Mai wrote: "I've read and reread Dreamsnake at least 3 times. An enjoyable old classic."

I'm enjoying it a lot, and will probably finish it tonight. There's a lot in it that is quite forward-thinking for when it was written and its thoughtful feminine perspective that's not afraid to explore themes like compassion and healing is great. I knew a bit about McIntyre before reading this, but one thing I didn't know was how she was a total horse girl, lol.

Kaia wrote: "I liked the audiobook of Dreamsnake - the story was more interesting than I expected.."

I'm listening to the audiobook on Libby along with the ebook which is currently available through KindleUnlimited. It's an older audiobook, clearly a digitization of an analog recording. But I like the narrator Anna Fields (her real name was Kate Fleming) and was sad to learn she passed away in 2006.


message 1349: by Jabotikaba (new)

Jabotikaba | 106 comments Kaia wrote: "CJ wrote: "Yesterday I reread Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad and read The City in Glass by Nghi Vo. Conrad is an old fav of mine, and while I've been impressed with..."

I read some of her books in the Singing Hills cycle last year. They were well written, but their characters and plots didn't impress me very much.
Well, at least those books have cute domesticated mammoths in them.


message 1350: by Brett (new)

Brett Bosley | 329 comments Started Michael Harriot's, Black AF History: the Un-whitewashed Story of America. Because D.L. Hughley's, How Not To Get Shot wasn't angry enough. This is gonna be fun!


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