SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
What Else Are You Reading?
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What Else Are You Reading in 2025?
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Jennifer
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May 26, 2025 06:41AM
I've decided to work through the Suneater series by Christopher Ruocchio. Just finished Empire Of Silence, then started The Devils by Joe Abercrombie while I wait for the next Suneater book on Libby.
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This morning reached the end of Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton.My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A long, average sci fi adventure. Not worth the investment of my reading time.
My review here
Also listened to the audiobook of Alistair MacLean's Ice Station Zebra. This book is proof that you can write a novel that consists of nothing but action scenes. Four stars, no review.
Not sure what is next, but it will be something completely different from a long sci fi book.
Economondos wrote: "This morning reached the end of Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton.My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A long, average sci fi adventure. Not worth the investment of my reading time."
I just started this the other day. Really slow going but I kinda dig it. Reminds me a little bit of my experience with Consider Phlebas.
Finished the Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny before that.
Hope you like it better than I did.
CBRetriever wrote: "I'm working on Downbelow Station right now. Sheepfarmer's Daughter was good and Eyes of the Void could fit some of the June prompts as well"Seeing your comment on Sheepfarmer's Daughter reminded me that I intend a reread of Hambly's Windrose Chronicles starting with The Silent Tower. Now I know what I am reading next.
I'm obsessed with the solo novels in the First Law World by Joe Abercrombie. I don't know how he does it but his characters are incredible (and expendable) and lovable (and yet so despicable).
Jacci wrote: "I'm obsessed with the solo novels in the First Law World by Joe Abercrombie. I don't know how he does it but his characters are incredible (and expendable) and lovable (and yet so despicable).""First Law" was fun.
My wife is listening to a chapter a night of The Iliad. So I listen with her before picking up The Silent Tower.
Economondos wrote: "My wife is listening to a chapter a night of The Iliad. So I listen with her before picking up The Silent Tower." Which translation are you listening to?
Reading roundup for May!Every single one of these was a group read of one kind or another. I pledge to be greedier next month.
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover: I thought that I'd be able to avoid this ubiquitous author's books, but a favorite podcast (I'm on their Patreon) covered it, so here I am. I hated it. (review)
Ubik by Philip K. Dick: a strange one, to say the least. Took me a while to get into it. (review)
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake: the book itself is more down-to-earth (so to speak) than its title. An accessible introduction to fungi and their interactions with other forms of life. (review)
Huckleberry Finn ended up being harder to read than I expected. Not escapist fantasy at all. I think the point is our inhumanity towards each other which is not cheery reading.Read A Memory Called Empire and A Desolation Called Peace. Good but all the space related books are starting to blend together in my head. Speaker for the Dead is next so that is probably more space. After SFTD I may finish my Ray Bradbury collection next by reading Something Wicked This Way Comes.
Huckleberry Finn is worlds ahead of Tom Sawyer.
I finished Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and I liked it pretty well. It was a little slower than the first book (which was okay because the first book was a little too much non-stop peril for me). I plan to read the last book in the series, but I'm going to take a break first. All three books are quite long.I've now started Downbelow Station by CJ Cherryh, and I'm liking it a lot so far. This is my second book by Cherryh.
I'm also slowly listening to The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope. It is kind of a historical fiction / fantasy / heist story. The narrator is very good, and I'm curious to know more about which parts are true to history. (It takes place in the 1920s in Washington DC.)
Sheska wrote: "Which translation are you listening to?"Translated by W.H.D. Rouse, read by Anthony Heald. It was supposed to be one of the best translations back when my wife bought it on CD.
Just finished up The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly this morning.My rating: 4 of 5 stars
One of the best 'crossing to a fantasy world' books and first in a really good series. Originally read this in the 80s and my friends were working in tech and defense companies. Seems pretty close to their experiences for the Terra side.
My review here
Continuing the series with The Silicon Mage.
Economondos wrote: "Translated by W.H.D. Rouse, read by Anthony Heald. It was supposed to be one of the best translations back when my wife bought it on CD." I found a website where you can compare various translations, as I've never heard of Rouse. That's an interesting one... the differences are quite arresting. From the little passage that I've read, and this might just be my own bias coming through, but it feels like the translation is somewhat furtively airbrushed with Christianity, you know, like the unnecessary substitution of Zeus with God. Does that seem like a fair observation or am I reading too much into it?
I read Fagles' translation but would love to give Emily Wilson's one a go, as I really enjoyed her work on Odyssey and the Iliad certainly deserves another re-read.
On a different note, I love the fact that you share this audiobook with your wife. This is such a cool way to spend time together.
I am reading Joseph and His Brothers. Thomas Mann considered this his magnum opus, though it was never as popular as The Magic Mountain. Amazing book. Highly recommended, though dense.
Richard wrote: "I am reading Joseph and His Brothers. Thomas Mann considered this his magnum opus, though it was never as popular as The Magic Mountain. Amazing book. Highly recommended, though dense."1500 pages, yikes! Maybe I'll tackle that once I'm back to my normal reading habits. Right now 1500 pages is too intimidating ;)
Michelle wrote: "Richard wrote: "I am reading Joseph and His Brothers. Thomas Mann considered this his magnum opus, though it was never as popular as The Magic Mountain. Amazing book. Highly recommende..."looks like it might be 4 books in an omnibus edition
Sheska wrote: "On a different note, I love the fact that you share this audiobook with your wife. This is such a cool way to spend time together...."We both have insomnia, so having something to share and relax to together is really nice.
As for Christian airbrushing I sure didn't notice anything. The long scenes in Olympus as the gods manipulate each other and interfere in the free will of both sides don't have any resemblance to Christianity in my mind. And all the heroes boast of being descended from gods - regardless of which one.
We had the written version by Fagle and my wife read it years ago. But that book went the way of many others during book purges for moving and retirement.
Getting into A Queer History of the United States, by Michael Brodski, for Pride Month, and wrapping up Emilie Amt's, Black Antietam, which is short and relies a forgivable bit on conjecture, given the dearth of primary sources.
Charlton wrote: "Just started Servant of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist."They're going to make a show based on this series, Charlton:
https://deadline.com/2022/02/the-rift...
I have thought Midkemia deserved a series for a long time. Not sure the Kelewan side will go over as well. Nevertheless, I may have to start watching TV again.
I completed Buried Deep and Other Stories
. Quite the compilation of short stories/novellas that span the creativity of the mind of Naomi Novik. Snippets from "Spinning Silver," "The Scholomance," "Temeraire" and other spaces within Naomi's cranium. Perhaps the start of a new series with the discovery of an Abandoned Continent. Four stars.
Michelle wrote: "Charlton wrote: "Just started Servant of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist."They're going to make a show based on this series, Charlton:
https://deadline.com/2022/02/the-..."
That sounds amazing, there is so much of Midkimeia they could work with.
Economondos wrote: "We both have insomnia, so having something to share and relax to together is really nice." I can imagine. The closest I can get to this experience is if I read to my friend's two cats next time I look after them.
Economondos wrote: "As for Christian airbrushing I sure didn't notice anything."
Oh yeah, so, it's not so much the content but the language and style, like minimising the use of specific god names and instead using the generic term 'god'; or substituting an appeal to a specific deity with a prayer without its supposed recipient’s name. It tends to be more apparent in translations where there are wider cultural gaps, so I may well be reading too much into what little of the text I saw.
i’m reading terra ignota by ada palmer, after that house of leaves which i’ve been meaning to get to forever, the persians are coming by bruno frank which is an old (1929) incredibly neurotic but prescient novel about the rise of fascism in europe, and labyrinths by jorge luis borges. i was also considering rereading summerland by michael chabon which i haven’t read since i was a kid
I am continuing my Barbara Hambly journey, finished The Silicon Mage My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Really hard to put down even on this, my [insert large number] reread
My review here
Next up in the series is Dog Wizard.
I am finally reading The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. I finally picked it up because I’m auditing another course with Signum University’s SPACE program (short non-degree courses). My friend Amy H. Sturgis is teaching and she is just the best. It’s such a dense book with all the romanticism of the language and emoting. But on the other hand there is not a word I’d want to leave out especially for a close and in-depth reading like this. We are spending 4 weeks on it. We discussed the first “volume” today, which bears little resemblance to SF except for the fact it takes place in 2073 and further, the English monarchy has gone bye-bye and there are diigibles with wings with actual feathers!
I can’t wait to get to the apocalyptic part!
DivaDiane wrote: "I am finally reading The Last Man by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley." That is such a terrific book. Reading it a couple of years into the pandemic was so surreal, especially living in London and recognising the same blatant disregard that she described, especially around theatre attendances and other public venues.
Since I'm wrapping up a couple of other titles in my short stack, and because it's got the closest due date, I started Daniel Immerwahr's, How To Hide An Empire: A History of the Greater United States.
Mod
Read House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This is set in the same world as his City of Last Chances, an unstated time after that book. This book follows the experiences of an experimental field hospital behind the lines of a major military campaign. The scale of the military operations suggests World War I or the American Civil War with large-scale infantry and artillery action pushing the line forward and back with huge casualties. The weaponry is magic-based, with a well described magic system and the medical treatments at the hospital are also grounded in magic, along with some old-fashioned sewing and cutting. This is simply the best book I have read that deals with medicine in a fantasy world. (Think of a dark fantasy MASH, although it does not go for comic relief.) Even better are the characters. The author gives us multiple detailed and truly individual characters, all with their own particular flaws and positive attributes. (view spoiler)If you like fantasy, especially military fantasy, I highly recommend this one.
Michelle wrote: "Charlton wrote: "Just started Servant of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist."They're going to make a show based on this series, Charlton:
https://deadline.com/2022/02/the-..."
I'm really keen on this! I've just re-read the Kelewan trilogy recently, and it was just as good as it was when I read it years ago.
I'm currently rereading The Awakening by Nora Roberts. Lol, it's so not realistic, colourful and a bit naive (I love it). And so for the very next plans, besides some sequels, I have Harlan Ellison's short stories. I only know two of his stories, so I want to get more familiar with his work.
Im challenging myself this year to read as many of the "Great" works of science fiction that I can. The ones I've read so far this year:
The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov
Childhoods End - Arthur C. Clarke
Hyperion - Dan Simmons
Neuromancer - William Gibson
Currently reading - Enders Game - Orson Scott Card
Planning to read next:
Fall of Hyperion - Dan Simmons
The left hand of darkness - Ursula Le Guin
Contact - Carl Sagan
Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson
This might change. Im really enjoying Enders game so might read the sequels next instead.
Stewart wrote: "Im challenging myself this year to read as many of the "Great" works of science fiction that I can. The ones I've read so far this year:
The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov
Childhoods End - Arthur..."
I feel like you and I are on a similar track. I recently read Hyperion, Neuromancer, and Ender's Game. I loved the Left Hand of Darkness and Contact which I read a while ago. You might consider Speaker for the Dead and The Dispossessed in addition to those on your list.
Hi Bobby, wow lots of similarities there! I will definitely add Speaker for the Dead to my list. Re: The Dispossessed that will depend on how much I enjoy The Left Hand of Darkness. I actually read several of Le Guins Earthsea books when I was younger but was never a huge fan of them. I am also interested in The Word for World is Forest, so might give that a go.
Stewart wrote: "Hi Bobby, wow lots of similarities there! I will definitely add Speaker for the Dead to my list. Re: The Dispossessed that will depend on how much I enjoy The Left Hand of Darkness. I actually read..."I didn't care for the Earthsea books as much as the Hainish Cycle books, for what that's worth. Your mileage may vary! :)
Stewart wrote: "I am also interested in The Word for World is Forest, so might give that a go." It saddens me that this book doesn't get as much attention as The Dispossessed or The Left Hand of Darkness. If it were up to me, I'd say read it first, as otherwise you'd risk not getting to it at all. Either way, don't let your experience of one put you off others, as all three of these books are vastly different in their worldbuilding, pace, and complexity, and are worth the effort just for the philosophical problems posed therein. Plus, they tie into so many other sci fi works that had followed since.
Yeah the Ewoks in Star Wars are a straight rip off of Word for world is Forest. Sad it isn’t t wider known
Rachel wrote: "Yeah the Ewoks in Star Wars are a straight rip off of Word for world is Forest. Sad it isn’t t wider known"There is a whole history of other SF ripping off Le Guin. Star Trek is so notorious for that it's a running joke (sadly). When they tried to make up for it by naming a ship in the series after her, a number of people were like, "yeah, but it's not the same as actually giving the author credit due."
I finished reading A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold. Miles’s latest mission is his most difficult yet. He’s in love and wants to court the next Lady Vorkosigan, but everyone conspires against him, including her. I am reading The Waste Lands (Book three of the Dark Tower Series) by Stephen King. Roland continues his journey to the Dark Tower. We learn more about his universe, but I’m not loving it so far. I am also reading The Devils by Joe Abercrombie. A dangerous mismatched group is sent on an impossible mission by the Pope in this alternate world fantasy. It’s fun and crazy for sure. I’m planning to read An Autumn War (Long Price Quartet Book #3) by Daniel Abraham next.
Read Dog Wizard by Barbara Hambly.My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ever read a good book that comes after a couple better ones in a series? 3.75/5
My review here
Completing the series with Stranger at the Wedding.
Meet Me at the Crossroads - mysterious doors appear, but what's beyond them?Not far in and definitely hooked!
Rachel wrote: "Yeah the Ewoks in Star Wars are a straight rip off of Word for world is Forest. Sad it isn’t t wider known"Sheska wrote: "It saddens me that this book doesn't get as much attention as The Dispossessed or The Left Hand of ..."
Thats interesting, I didn't know that. I kinda had it in my mind that Word for World was a bit like Avatar. Definitely adding it to my reading list now.
Yes, but Avatar is a lot like Word for World, not the other way around! The description of the indigenous Worlders is more like the Ewoks than Eywa’s Children.
Sheska wrote: "It saddens me that this book doesn't get as much attention as The Dispossessed or The Left Hand of ..."To be honest, I like The Word for World Is Forest a lot more than The Left Hand of Darkness or The Dispossessed. I think it was one of those books that sparked my interest in such sci-fi and fantasy stories where good non-humans fight bad humans.
Also, I very much like Planet of Exile. I don't know why.
Rachel wrote: "Yeah the Ewoks in Star Wars are a straight rip off of Word for world is Forest. Sad it isn’t t wider known..."
The Ewoks looked so funny, not to mention so much like stuffed toys, that I couldn't even imagine them being based on the Athsheans. But now I think they were.
Stewart wrote: "Thats interesting, I didn't know that. I kinda had it in my mind that Word for World was a bit like Avatar..."
'The Word for World is Forest' is really similar to Avatar (or rather, Avatar is similar to 'The Word for World is Forest') as a clash between cruel humans and peaceful aliens inhabiting a forested planet is depicted in both stories.
There are some clear differences here. The Athsheans' culture differs much more from that of the humans. Unlike the Na'vi, they were completely unfamiliar with violence before contact with humans and never fought amongst themselves.
Besides, their appearance differs significantly from humans, and they are quite difficult to glamourize and romanticize. And there is no romance subplot at all. Instead, as there always is in Ursula Le Guin books, there's a lot of psychology and philosophy. The Athsheans eventually learnt how to kill, but did it really benefit them?
In terms of plot, there are also major differences, and Avatar is considerably more primitive than The Word for World Is Forest. In Avatar, the poor Na'vi are miraculously saved by a noble human renegade and their goddess. In The Word for World Is Forest, the Athsheans largely save themselves, with the help of other aliens. So 'The Word for World is Forest' is not as human-centric as Avatar, and it completely lacks the tired trope of the white/human saviour.
A dull character like Jake simply doesn't exist in 'The Word for World is Forest'. Instead, there is a very embittered Athshean leader who organises a great rebellion against the humans. In fact, it's probably more accurate to say that 'The Word for World is Forest' is like 'Avatar' if Tsu'tey were the main character in that movie.
Of course, there is also a decent human character who sympathises with the Athsheans, but he doesn't become their leader, nor does he have an Athshean girlfriend, and his fate is much sadder than Jake's.
If books and films could be compared to people, Avatar would be a cheerful girl in her early teens, while The Word for World is Forest would be a wise old lady. This book is much more mature, if I may say so.
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