SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading in 2025?
Michael wrote: "Tosh wrote: "I also have a few Stephen King books to dip into, though not fantasy or sci-fi."Titles? I'm curious :-)"
Hey Michael. I got Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Shining (3-book set from Amazon) and also 11/22/63. So that will keep me busy for a while :-)
I'm listening to Ring Around The Sun by Asimov. It's a collection of short stories, many of which I've never read before.
Reading Pandora's Star by Peter F Hamilton and it's been a pretty slow read so far. I'm thinking of maybe switching to Hyperion if I lose interest in Pandora's Star. I'm also considering reading Consider Phlebas at some point soon.
Beginning Blues People, LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), a history of Black American music.
I finished The Windup Girl, a book club pick. Or rather, I suffered through it. The dystopian dark world was very interesting, and a couple of character arcs were nice. Otherwise, the characters were mostly flat stereotypes and I wasn't invested in the plot. The worst thing was the wallowing in rape and violence. I posted a rant.
Luckily my other ongoing books are good/excellent: The Deed of Paksenarrion (I guess this is an epic fantasy classic nowadays?) and The Spring of the Ram (amazing historical fiction).
Brett wrote: "Beginning Blues People, LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), a history of Black American music."I picked up a used copy of that a few months back, need to get it. I just haven't been in a non-fic mood much lately. I'm a jazz musician by training, even though I don't play these days, due to health reason. It's highly recommended by knowledgeable people.
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Current end of January reading:
Erasure Percival Everett
Witchmark by C.L. Polk
The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Overstaying by Ariane Koch
Hoping to get to after the above:
Ghostdrift by Suzanne Palmer
To & Fro by Leah Hager Cohen
Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Tosh wrote: "Hey Michael. I got Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Shining (3-book set from Amazon) and also 11/22/63. So that will keep me busy for a while :-)Great selection! Prob some of his best books!
Alexandra wrote: "Luckily my other ongoing books are good/excellent: The Deed of Paksenarrion (I guess this is an epic fantasy classic nowadays?)..."I really like that series. Is it a classic? Not sure if others agree, but it is to me.
I am currently reading Kashimashi Volume 1, a Japanese graphic novel, Carnacki, the Ghost Finder, a supernatural detective chapbook and Legends and Lattes, a cosy fantasy.
Economondos wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Luckily my other ongoing books are good/excellent: The Deed of Paksenarrion (I guess this is an epic fantasy classic nowadays?)..."I really like that series. Ia it a classic? No..."
It should be considered a classic! ;) I am liking it a lot.
I loved the Deed of Paksenarrion.
This morning finished up Dead Beat by Jim Butcher.My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This may well be my favorite book in this excellent series. The actions scenes are well-written and the climax is excellent.
Dead Beat review here
Couple days ago finished up the audiobook of The Return of the King and give it a totally unsurprising 5 stars.
I am new to audiobooks, but have come to enjoy them when the narrator is good. Robert Inglis is more than good, he is excellent. The books come alive in a way superior to movie adaptations, because every word is here (even the Appendices!).
Return of the King review here
I am now reading Proven Guilty for my Dresden Files marathon and the LibriVox audio edition of The Cosmic Computer by H Beam Piper.
plus Inglis actually sings the songs and recites the poems - I used to skip over those in the books
Recently I finished listening to Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism, which I wasn’t the biggest fan of. Now I’m listening to Grendel. Also currently reading The Hobbit, or There and Back Again and The Dallergut Dream Department Store.
Just finished SHIFT by Hugh Howey, very good. I read WOOL many years ago and didn't realize he finished this series. The complete view of what's going on still hasn't materialized, but it's closer ... a little frustrating sometimes. But I love the way he develops characters and find myself deeply engaged in his stories. Also just finished audio version of A MEMORY CALLED EMPIRE -- would've been better to read than listen to that one. I was not engaged with the characters, didn't care much about them, but many of the ideas in the novel were creative and I loved the poetry-based society -- having been a poet in my quiet corner of the world, that was epic!
Work has been insane this past month, so I’ve not read as much as I would’ve liked. I did finish Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh though. It contained a remarkably well-conceived and rich world in terms of its socio-political landscape, which just for that reason alone probably deserved 5 stars. It felt, for the lack of a better word, kinetic, like every element in the book was brimming with power and designed to propel the plot, unfortunately, it was done at a cost to the character depth, or at least that's how I experienced it. It did make me think of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Falling Free, which now seems like a poor imitation of Cherryh’s universe, though perfectly well-intentioned and not without its advantages. I’ve also recently finished Peter Clines’ Dead Moon (GoT's Hardhome meets The Blob... but on the Moon) and Convergence by Craig Alanson. I was satisfied with giving the latter a go but don’t think I’d be continuing the series, much rather wait for the new Expeditionary Force audiobook.
Had a bookclub catch up at work last Thursday, where only 3 other people had read Terry Pratchett’s Night Watch. Remarkably, all 3 enjoyed it and indicated they would be keen to explore more of the Discworld novels. GNU Sir Pterry!
Finished Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher yesterday.My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The saga continues as we learn more about Harry Dresden's job as a Warden of the White Council. Another excellent entry in the Dresden Files.
My review here
I have more books open than usual. Continuing the Dresden Files with White Night. On audio, The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper. And for the reread challenge, The Stars My Destination.
It's my new years resolution to read! I have started off the year with a classic but am intent on reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy :)
Seren wrote: "It's my new years resolution to read! I have started off the year with a classic but am intent on reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy :)"That's a great way to start!
Starting Threshold: Stories from Cradle. This is a collection of short stories set in the "Cradle" Universe. I loved the Cradle series and am looking forward to revisiting this universe.
Just finished White Night by Jim ButcherMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another solid entry in this aadventure/mystery/action series and the wrap-up with 'what happened to Thomas' is just perfect. 4.25/5
My review here
Perhaps a short interruption in the Dresden Marathon for The Stars My Destination, then continue with Small Favor.
My reading slump is winding to a close, I hope, but in the meantime we have a third monthly round-up without much to show for it.Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow: UF. After a striking beginning, this one quickly dwindled into mediocrity. If I'd picked this book up on its own, we'd have a "one and done" on our hands, but (unfortunately?) I own the complete series in anthology form, so I'll be going back to it. Eventually. Maybe. (review)
The Empress of Salt and Fortune and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo: I'm not going to credit these with breaking my reading slump, because a brain's just going to do whatever it feels like sometimes. Both are, to some extent, about what stories are remembered, and how they are remembered. Very pretty writing.
Empress of Salt and Fortune (review)
When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (review)
Also: 17 manga, manhwa, graphic novel volumes.
Beth wrote: "My reading slump is winding to a close, I hope, but in the meantime we have a third monthly round-up without much to show for it.Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow: UF. After..."
I read this 'Empress' in 2022. It's not a bad book, but I didn't like the fact that the shape-shifting foxes were pretty ugly characters in it. But that's just because I really like shape-shifting foxes, and I don't like them being written as stupid and nasty.
The barbarian elephanteria (or should I say mammotheria?) was just great! If mammoths had managed to survive and were still roaming the steppes north of China, this kind of army might actually exist.
Beth wrote: "My reading slump is winding to a close, I hope..."Hopefully so!
I recently revisited A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it's just as fascinating as I remember. Hawking's insights on black holes, time, and the nature of the universe make me wonder: How much of his theoretical physics will become practical in the next century?Given how rapidly space technology is evolving, do you think future space colonists will rely more on quantum mechanics and relativity for interstellar travel? Or will we be stuck in the realm of classical physics for the foreseeable future?
Also, reading this made me reflect on how humanity might use science to push ethical boundaries in space. (I've been exploring this idea in my own writing about penal colonies in space.)
What’s a book that has made you question our place in the universe lately?
Jeongwoo wrote: "I recently revisited A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it's just as fascinating as I remember. Hawking's insights on black holes, time, and the nature of the universe make me wonder: ..."If you enjoyed Hawking's work, try Black Holes by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw. It's a wonderful trip through black holes and current theories of cosmology, mostly not in math. Michio Kaku has written a number of books on modern physics that are pretty accessible, see Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100
Colin wrote: "Jeongwoo wrote: "I recently revisited A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it's just as fascinating as I remember. Hawking's insights on black holes, time, and the nature of the universe..."Thanks, Colin! Black Holes by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw sounds fascinating—I love books that make complex ideas accessible without overwhelming math. And Physics of the Future by Michio Kaku has been on my radar for a while, but I never got around to reading it. I’ll definitely check it out.
Kaku’s predictions about AI and quantum mechanics shaping our future sound incredibly relevant. Do you think we’re on track to see some of his predictions (like AI-assisted space travel) come true in our lifetime? Or do you think he’s too optimistic about the timeline?
Jeongwoo wrote: "Colin wrote: "Jeongwoo wrote: "I recently revisited A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it's just as fascinating as I remember. Hawking's insights on black holes, time, and the nature o..."I will say first that I don't expect his prediction about "AI-assisted space travel" in my lifetime. Part of the problem is the difficult issue of the rocket principle and coming up with the insights necessary to have new approaches to propulsion. The second part, for me, is that I'm in my seventies, so if we're going to do it my lifetime, we better rush.
What I do try to keep in mind, though, is that we went from the Wright brothers first flight to landing on the moon in 66 years. That's not bad, is it?
A Play of Shadow (second book in Night's Edge series).
Colin wrote: "Michio Kaku has written a number of books on modern physics that are pretty accessible..." Michio Kaku has become a bit of a hack when it comes to appeasing media with his half-baked predictions. I always refer people to Scott Aaranson's review of Kaku's book if they want another expert's opinion. See Book Review: “Quantum Supremacy” by Michio Kaku (tl;dr DO NOT BUY)
I just finished an arc, Curio Citizen I thought I was getting a cool alien abduction adventure, instead I got a very badly written alien romance. Heeeelp.My rant/review is here ;)
Thankfully, The Deed of Paksenarrion is still very good (I am approaching the end of book 3...)
Finshed up The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester this morning.My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not sorry I read it, but not going to give it shelf space. Into the donation pile.
My review here
Economondos wrote: "Yay for Paks!"Exactly! :)
I just read UESI by Karl Drinkwater, brand new novella out. It was ... surprising! Not really like the other books apart from Ruabon (which had AI droid chats). And yet, it pulled me in and kept making me think and wonder what the AIs were really up to! This is clever stuff and worth rereading once you have your thoughts in order. (The photobomb rabbit makes sense in terms of the plot but I can't explain as it might be a spoiler.) Anyone else read it?
My favourite read last week was definitely The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem. I think I smiled throughout the entire book, with some unexpected guffaws here and there. Would not be surprised if Douglas Adams was inspired by some of its stories, especially his improbability drive concept. Terry Pratchett is another author who may well have been moved by the way science was so seamlessly and playfully incorporated into such a comically fantastical universe.
Colin wrote: "Jeongwoo wrote: "Colin wrote: "Jeongwoo wrote: "I recently revisited A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it's just as fascinating as I remember. Hawking's insights on black holes, time,..."That’s a great perspective, Colin! You’re right—66 years from the Wright brothers to the moon landing is an incredible leap. If history has taught us anything, it’s that breakthroughs often happen faster than we expect, especially when there’s a strong incentive (whether it’s economic, political, or existential).
On the topic of propulsion, do you think we’re more likely to see a breakthrough in nuclear-based propulsion (like NASA’s current research into nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion), or do you think a more exotic concept—such as antimatter or even some form of quantum drive—has a chance within the next century?
Also, it’s fascinating to think about how AI might not just assist space travel but eventually play a role in governance and decision-making in space colonies. Do you think AI will reach a point where we trust it to manage long-term missions without human oversight?
Sheska wrote: "My favourite read last week was definitely The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem. I think I smiled throughout the entire book, with some unexpected guffaws here and there. Would not be surprised if Douglas..."I enjoyed those stories too. Lem really was a great writer. But I don't know if they were translated into English in Douglas's time.
I vaguely recall seeing Lem books in translation in bookstores either in the late '70s or early '80s.
Jabotikaba wrote: "I enjoyed those stories too. Lem really was a great writer. But I don't know if they were translated into English in Douglas's time." Apparently they were translated in 1974, so about 4 years before the H2G2 radio play.
Finished two in the last 48 hours. Sight-read Small Favor by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Really good action in an urban fantasy setting. 4.75/5
Small Favor review
Also finished the audio version of The Cosmic Computer by H. Beam Piper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A good 60's space adventure that also explores local politics, family dynamics, hope, and mob mentality.
Cosmic Computer review
I'm listening to Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present, a sci-fi anthology by Cory Doctorow and it's been riveting so far (44% done)
Listening to Wizard's First Rule from my haul of used audiobooks. Picture of the haul on the Off-Topics area pf the Discord.
Jeongwoo wrote: "Colin wrote: "Jeongwoo wrote: "Colin wrote: "Jeongwoo wrote: "I recently revisited A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and it's just as fascinating as I remember. Hawking's insights on blac..."My personal feeling about AI is that it will be excellent for sifting through the data that already exist but is not at a stage where it can develop new ideas.
As for what we may be able to do soon, you might find it interesting to read through Students to Mars!: The Mars Society's International Design Competition for High School Students 2022-2023 collected by Nicole Willett. These are papers from an engineering design competition for high school students to construct a Mars mission. The attention to detail in these papers is great.
If you want to get into design details of possible systems, and step out of the realm of fiction, have a look at Frontiers of Propulsion Science edited by Marc Millis and Eric Davis. My apologies for veering away from SF/F here, but this is interesting stuff.
I just finished The Deed of Paksenarrion. Go, Paks, I am rooting for you! Good stuff, and yes, I do think this is a fantasy classic.My review is here ;)
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Titles? I'm curious :-)