SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading in 2025?
Just got Parable of the Sower from Libby despite it saying it would take months to get.
I'm almost done: 
The first Robin Hobb book I've read. I like it. And, luckily I have the next two books in the series. Gotta love when that happens.
Mathew wrote: "I'm almost done: The first Robin Hobb book I've read. I like it. And, luckily I have the next two books in the series. Gotta love when that happens."
That series told a very unusual story.
Jonathan wrote: "I am currently working my way through the "A Thousand Li" series by Tao Wong for the second time. The final book just came out and I wanted to review the series before reading it. . This series is ..."How would you compare it to the Cradle series by Will Wight?
Sing Like Fish sounds interesting. I'm naturally sensitive to sound (as well as other sensory input), and generally, people will be very considerate of those who *can't* hear well, but not really at all about those of us who hear very well - unless you're talking about autism, where it's about difficulty processing sounds/other sensory information, and which very few people have, comparatively. So I'm constantly having to deal with all the too-loud things in our very noisy world and most people's inability to understand the effect it has on me and many others (at least a third of people). This makes the idea of how animals like sea creatures - especially with the way water carries and magnifies sound - must be affected by that world feel very relevant.
I'm reading a couple of Doctorow books nowRadicalized = 4 novellas and the first is interesting so far
and
The Lost Cause = MAGA vs their grandkids. Not liking this one as it seems to paint the old folks as all MAGA typed and the grandkids as all ecologically conscious, charging into the future, etc. I predict this book will not hold up in the long run (obsolete in the next 40 years)
finished
Pirate Utopia - another one I didn't like
and
Navola - had an extraordinary amount of lengthy conversations in it and some parts were truly gruesome. I'm on the wall as to whether or not I will read the future sequel
Read The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar. This is the story of a brilliant magician (with potions) who tries to salvage the situation when a princess and a lowly scribe fall in love just before the princess is due to be married to the prince of another kingdom. Naturally, the magician is technically terrific in what he does but everything finds a way to go awry. The story is light-hearted, is parceled out in small chunks, and reads smoothly. If you take this as adult fantasy (as the author and publisher want you to do), there is the problem of too many things happening conveniently for the plot. I would call this book cozy fantasy and a great book to read along with a mid-grade child or even read to a slightly younger child. But, no, not really an adult fantasy.
This week marks 2 years and 155 reviews here on GoodReads. This now qualifies as a hobby. On the 14th, finished The Diamond Throne by David Eddings.
My rating: 3.75 of 5 stars
An old favorite of mine, the reread was very comforting. Not a great stand-alone book, but very good intro to the trilogy.
My review here
This morning, finished the second book, The Ruby Knight by David Eddings.
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
The second book in this trilogy brings more depth to the characters and world of Eddings' imagination.
My review here
Now rereading the third in the series, The Sapphire Rose. Also listening to Pratchett's Lords and Ladies.
Happy reading all!
I've been reading a lot of contemporary lit-fic recently, the latest being Audition by Katie Kitamura, longlisted for the Booker award, which I appreciated as an unique reading experience but didn't love. It left me feeling really spent mentally and not is a good way, so I decided I needed to read some SFF as a pick-me-up.I started The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow. I loved her short story in the collection Someone in Time and this is my first time reading one of her longer works. It's very creatively written, but almost too dense and heavy in its story-telling.
Yesterday evening while waiting for the Hugo awards announcements, I read Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky and it was great. A very engaging, nuanced blend of fantasy and SF. It was exactly the thing I needed to get me back in a good mental space for reading.
Allison wrote: "2024 had 1530 comments of members sharing info about what they were reading! Can we top that?Share what you're reading in 2025, and start conversations about shared books! This is a great place t..."
I am reading Schrodinger's - What is Life?
James Barrat - Our final invention
Dropped The Waking of Angantyr at 67%/chapter 21. The writing was very decent until it just dropped the ball at 28%. Quickly realizing story-telling is more important than story events. I have to agree with reviews that note how most characters aren’t fleshed out or have clear motivations. This was not noticeable until we spent a lot of time with the characters and the main character’s underdeveloped emotional bonds became relevant, and at times this was extremely formulaic and rushed. I started to dislike the pacing as well—the tone felt like it lost itself, overtaken by plot.Finished and posted my review for The Eye of the World. Will be continuing the wheel of time with The Great Hunt.
Started Sailing to Sarantium. Also reading The Blade Itself and The Shadow of the Gods
Considering The Grace of Kings, but unsure.
Clickable image link vers for app users:
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Peony wrote: "Dropped The Waking of Angantyr at 67%/chapter 21. The writing was very decent until it just dropped the ball at 28%. Quickly realizing story-telling is more important than story ev..."I am sorry to read your note about The Waking of Angantyr because I am thinking of trying it. What I noticed, though, when I looked it up is that there are two books with the same title by the same author listed on Amazon. One, with the cover in Peony's post, is from Titan Books with a release of October 2023, paperback only and 488 pages. Then there is one with a different cover from Book View Cafe with a release of November 2023, paperback, kindle, and audiobook, and a page count of 324. Anyone know, or have any thoughts, about what may be going on here?
The Kindle version said 415 pages on amazon.com but the Paperback version did say 324 pages
Editions—formatting, and text sizing I presume. I’ve seen books with bigger variations.https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...
Likely it’s localization, with the publishers.
Spent the weekend listening to The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. Although I'm not generally a massive fan of Wil Wheaton's narration, I really enjoyed his style for this particular book.
Right now I'm close to 80% on Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist.I do like this trilogy, lots of memorable characters.
Charlton wrote: "Right now I'm close to 80% on Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist.I do like this trilogy, lots of memorable characters."
I recently re-read this series. It's great, and extraordinarily clever in so many ways.
I have finished Player Piano which speaks much to our times with AI being of such interest and concern.My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
@ PeonyReally liking this series, the main character lives in a world where she is brought to realization that she needs to make things better. And everything is so involved.
@ Leonie
You are right, sooo clever! It's like watching a magic trick, 1 hand performs and has your attention and the other picks your pocket.
I'm reading the Eternal Sky trilogy by Elizabeth Bear. My review of the first book is here.Peony wrote: "-Memory Sorrow and Thorn Book 1 The Dragonbone Chair- 8% It's growing on me. The main character is a lazy, ditzy, dreamy little guy and it's a bit charming. Does he have ADHD by chance? The forgetting important things and veering off into unintentionally all-encompassing side quests, unable to listen to a story (even one he's interested in and put a lot of effort into getting to hear) without multi-tasking. It would be interesting if that was intended..."
Happy to know you got interested in this story.
Walter wrote: "@Peony
Always, I end up liking the books better than the series. I do appreciate the actors in Game of Thrones, but my imagination is more than enough — and the books give me so much more detail. I..."
I don't know why, but I also prefer books to TV series and movies. And I always imagine the characters in my own way.
Here is something different:I've been reading a serial fiction on Substack - The Nun Who Hacked Heaven: A tale about faith, code, and rebellion in a convent nestled in the dystopian ruins of 2099.
https://noirandnonsense.substack.com/
I've always been a hardcore physical paper type of booklover, but I've found some great short fiction on substack lately.
Finished up the Elenium trilogy with The Sapphire Rose by David EddingsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
An ending that shows even gods can weep. 4.25/5
My review here
I was going to start a Black Company reread, but decided to go with Feist's Riftwar series instead. Since I recently reread Magician, going to start with Daughter of the Empire. Several others have lately reviewed this series and reminded me how much I enjoy it. Thanx readers!
Ryan wrote: "Hedesa is a good 3 stars! (But it's the kind of book you should only read if you love the series)..."
Yikes, this was a slog! I never thought I'd say it, but I DNF'd it at 64%. And I felt as if a great weight was lifted from my shoulders! I just had no more patience left within me.
Michelle wrote: "Yikes, this was a slog! I never thought I'd say it, but I DNF'd it at 64%. And ..."The middle was definitely SLOW!
Eric wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Yikes, this was a slog! I never thought I'd say it, but I DNF'd it at 64%. And ..."The middle was definitely SLOW!"
Oh, Eric...it was painful. When I have to talk myself into continuing each day, that's a problem.
Rereading The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. Maybe after this I'll try Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang or a scifi book. Or maybe straight to the new R.F Kuang novel Katabasis which will be released three days from now.
Oooo I’m reading the Blade Itself for the first time. Not for the characters or story (clearly, the gore and to e is not to my taste), but to expand my mind and see if the political maneuvering stuff is interesting.
I’m reading a StarTrek novel, Uhura’s Song. Obvs, it’s a TOS cast and is really fun. There are big sapient cats!
DivaDiane wrote: "I’m reading a StarTrek novel, Uhura’s Song. Obvs, it’s a TOS cast and is really fun. There are big sapient cats!"I considered that one a few months ago, Diane. I may need to look into it again because cats :)
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Come join the reread discussion with your thoughts on the book: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
After many years, I am reading The Andromeda Strain again. It was one of my favorite SF books.
I read Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold (Book 13 of the Vorkosigan series). Lord Auditor Miles Vorkosigan and his wife Ekaterine face a challenge. I liked how characters from previous books appear in crucial roles in this book like the Quaddies and Bel Thorne. I also read Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson. This is an expansion of his novella named The Sixth of Dusk. I liked how the novella was incorporated into the novel by using the content as flashbacks. I am reading Consider Phlebas (Book #1 of the Culture series) by Iain M. Banks. I am also reading Towers of Midnight (Book #13 of the Wheel of Time series) by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson next. I plan to read The Shattering Peace by John Scalzi (Book #6 of the Old Man’s War) next.
I finally finished reading Homer’s The Odyssey (print) and Seveneves (audio) by Neal Stephenson. Why I decided to read these two very long books at the same time, I do not know. They were both good (though I feel like Seveneves would have been better if Stephenson stopped after Part II), however I am looking forward to a string of short books in my future!So, immediately after finishing Seveneves, I read the novella The Adventure of the Demonic Ox (audio) by Lois McMaster Bujold. Now I’m flying through The Tomb of Dragons by Katherine Addison and also quite enjoying it.
Cody wrote: "🚨 New Release Alert! 🚨My latest book, is finally here!
Meet Elara Vaughn, a brilliant but haunted tech prodigy, and Nova, an AI companion who’s more than just lines of code...."
self-promotion belongs in this part of the forum:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
I've just read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I thought I hadn't read it, but as I read more and more, I realised that I'd read it decades ago.It was fascinating to read it in the context of a very politically complicated world, with many people focused on their online content, rather than the actual world.
I'm not reading anything at the moment cuz im currently writing my first ever novel. It's a YA SFF novel. for more info, lemme know!
But i'm also stuck on what to read next. any suggestions? anything more fantasy based?
Zackary wrote: "But i'm also stuck on what to read next. any suggestions? anything more fantasy based?"At the border of YA and epic fantasy, you might try David Eddings' Pawn of Prophecy.
I recently discovered a book series from Lubov Leonova The stories are mysteries set in a fantasy world, with all people having their own power, including the criminal. Really worthy read!
Finished Daughter of the Empire by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts a couple days ago. Held off the review while celebrating my birthday.My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A wonderful book where I wouldn't change a word. The best sub-series of the Riftwar novels, this gives a look into the society beyond the rift.
My review here
Straight into the next book in the trilogy, Servant of the Empire.
DIY projects leave lots of time for audiobooks, so I finished Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett while sealing the grout in the bathrooms.My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
My current reread of Pratchett's works (finally) lets me see how many lessons he taught while entertaining us. And the writing us so good. 'Elves are terrific, they inspire terror' has been and will be with me for a long time.
My review here
Moving right into the next book of the Witches sub-series, Maskerade.
Economondos wrote: "Finished Daughter of the Empire by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts a couple days ago. Held off the review while celebrating my birthday.My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A wonderful book where I wouldn't cha..."
Happy Birthday!
I just finished The Player of Games. Mixed feelings. What do others think of Iain M. Banks and the Culture books? He's a heckuva writer. But... well here's my review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Always, I end up liking the books better than the series. I do appreciate the actors in Game of Thrones, but my imagination is more than enough — and the books give me so much more detail. I find myself enjoying the same with The Wheel of Time; I’d rather spend time with the chapters, thinking about what happened, than rush through episodes on a streaming service.
As Tyrion Lannister wisely said: “A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”