What are you reading right now? For 2025

[John]

I've finished Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and the associated short story Human Resources. They're not space Opera, but were enjoyable. I have also finished Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, which is Space Opera. I think I'd noninated this recently but maybe best that it wasn't selected - although its definitely an impressive debut, its maybe not impressive enough to be be a monthly choice.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Heh, a lot of our monthly choices are just 3 star reads, anyway.

[John]

That's true Teresa, although we've also enjoyed some 5-star choices. I've got high hopes for a book I've just started reading - Cronix by James Hider. His book Ripe was one of our choices in May.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve started reading Station Down by Alice Sabo. It’s too soon to tell whether I’ll finish it. I have previously (not lately) enjoyed two of her series, the ones starting with Tales of Haroon Books 1-3 (fantasy) and A Changed World Box Set: The Complete 5 Book Series (post-apocalyptic SF). In Station Down the characters are trying to colonize a planet that has no vegetation. Some are on a space station, others are building the first outpost and exploring. I’m seeing hints of sabotage. I borrowed this book from Kobo Plus.

[Betsy]

I finished Friends Indeed and enjoyed it more than I expected to. Not really space opera, of course, but adjacent to a major space opera series. And it seems certain that there will be at least one more book in this series, since there was at least one major plot thread left hanging.

Trying to decide what to read next. Chasing Solace, The Scavenger Door, A Desolation Called Peace, or maybe Ribbon Dance.

[John]

Betsy wrote: "I finished Friends Indeed and enjoyed it more than I expected to. Not really space opera, of course, but adjacent to a major space opera series. And it seems certain that there wil..."

Of those four, Betsy, I've only read A Desolation Called Peace, which I really enjoyed.

[Betsy]

Thanks, John. I'm definitely planning to read all four. It's just a question of which first. I'm actually leaning toward Ribbon Dance, since I already own it.

[L.D.]

I have three books open. None of which are catching and keeping me enthralled. I hate when that happens.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

L.D. wrote: "I have three books open. None of which are catching and keeping me enthralled. I hate when that happens."
I feel your pain. I’m giving up on Station Down as being too dark. Switched to reading humorous fantasy again.

Man I miss my monthly dose of the Bob and Nikki series.

[Linn]

Teresa wrote: "L.D. wrote: "I have three books open. None of which are catching and keeping me enthralled. I hate when that happens."
I feel your pain. I’m giving up on Station Down as being too dark. Switched to..."

Teresa, have you looked into the Earthcent Ambassador series? Date Night on Union Station
My impression is that it's meant to be humorous, so maybe not too dark. Not sure how it compares to Bob and Nikki, but I think there are quite a few books in the series.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Thanks Linn. Right now I’m satisfied with R.J. Blain’s series Magical Romantic Comedies (with a body count). Enough weird beings to count as aliens.

[John]

I've finished reading Cronix by James Hider - an exciting page-turner, with strong characters. I'd like to read more from this writer but for the moment there seem to be only the two novels, and one non-fiction book.

[John]

Having just had some surgery, for the next couple of weeks my activities have to be quite restricted. So this seems like a good opportunity (medication permitting!) to concentrate on some reading, including finally getting round to reading Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.

[John]

Now 25% through Red Mars. The descriptions of Mars are fascinating and the piecemeal way he builds up the characters both develops them and maintains the reader's interest.

[Paul]

I loved Red Mars (also Blue & Green Mars) one of my favourite SF books of all time

[John]

That's good to hear, Paul. At the moment I can certainly see me going on to read the rest of the trilogy. (Do you have a favourite among the three books?)

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’m currently reading The Initial Fold by Nick Adams who is a British author. So far it seems to be borderline between space opera and hard SF. Near future but they are inventing an FTL drive. I borrowed it from Kobo Plus.

[John]

Teresa wrote: "I’m currently reading The Initial Fold by Nick Adams who is a British author. So far it seems to be borderline between space opera and hard SF. Near future but the..."

Its on offer at £0.99 on Amazon UK at the moment so I've just downloaded it....despite my moaning about book series on the "exploring continents" thread.

But it does look worth checking out, so thanks for mentioning it Teresa.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’m about 18% in on Initial Fold. Definitely feels like hard SF. There is an attempt at banter but either it’s not well done or just not the kind I like. Lots of factual details, and definitely corporate espionage and shenanigans. I put it down yesterday to read something with more emotions, but I’m trying again after finishing the other book. They are in space now so hopefully it will get more interesting.

[John]

I'm now 70% of the way through Red Mars, which remains engrossing. Its a long book, but it has never felt too long.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

About halfway through Initial Fold. Not sure about continuing. It’s getting more and more unbelievable.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Gave up on Initial Fold. Sigh….

[Betsy]

Teresa wrote: "Gave up on Initial Fold. Sigh…."

So sorry to hear that. it looked interesting.

[Betsy]

Hmmm ... It occurs to me that might be an interesting discussion topic. Believability in speculative fiction. How important is it? How do you think an author achieves it? What books have you read that are notably successful or unsuccessful?

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve read some books that were completely handwavium but they worked because I cared about the characters. The trouble with Initial Fold is that I wasn’t feeling any emotions from the characters, and two of the several POV characters were downright evil.

[John]

Teresa wrote: "Gave up on Initial Fold. Sigh…."

That's a pity Teresa - I'd hoped that a 7-book series would have something going for it. Like you, I can forgive a lot if I can believe in or relate to the characters, so I may not bother even starting tbis one.

Ach well - it creates an opportunity to read something more rewarding.

[John]

Betsy wrote: "Hmmm ... It occurs to me that might be an interesting discussion topic. Believability in speculative fiction. How important is it? How do you think an author achieves it? What books have you read t..."

An interesting point Betsy - I am probably more inclined to suspend believability if I relate to the characters, can appreciate the world-building, or can simply enjoy the quality of the writing. I suspect Teresa for example is more demanding than me in the consistency and believability of the science.

[John]

(And I realize that I've body-swerved your questions about how an author achieves it, and examples of success or otherwise!)

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Well I like fantasy too, but when a book is science fiction and gets basic facts I learned in 7th grade wrong my physics degree yells about it. And when I was in 5th grade my dad was doing a project for college programming the orbit of something, on punch cards.

I give up on a lot of fantasy and romance books too. I have to care about the characters or at least enjoy their dialog.

[John]

I just had a Proustian moment there - remembering how wierdly therapeautic and soothing it was punching out amendments to RPG programs on punched cards on a hand punch. I can still feel the rhythm and hear the sound......sometimes progress can be a terrible thing!

[Betsy]

John wrote: "I just had a Proustian moment there - remembering how wierdly therapeautic and soothing it was punching out amendments to RPG programs on punched cards on a hand punch. I can still feel the rhythm ..."

Ahh, yes. I didn't do much RPG. I mostly programmed in Autocoder, then COBOL. Then I'd have to work for several hours in the evening to test and revise a program. Those were the days. Not.

[John]

I've just finished Red Mars - an excellent book, and I'm pretty sure I'll go on to read the rest of the trilogy. But first I need to catch up on some other reading.

[John]

Before starting anything more substantial, I'm going to read (or at least try to read) The Initial Fold by Nick Adams.

Teresa gave up on it, but our tastes are quite different and I'm nowhere near as knowledgable as Teresa, so the book's inaccuracies hopefully won't be as glaring to me.

[Trike]

Started listening to Jeremy Robinson’s The Lost Tribe which has been pretty fun so far. It’s a Secret History and First Contact with a touch of Alien Invasion. One of the alien characters has a real Rocket Raccoon vibe.

It takes place in New Hampshire fairly close to where I live and prominently features the main character’s Golden Retriever, Grover. So far so good. I peaked at book 2 and Grover’s still alive, which is a huge relief.

[John]

I'm a third of the way through The Initial Fold and while I haven't yet given up on it, a decision is not too far away. It is unbelievably dull and the "humorous" quips from the main protagonists grew tedious very quickly.

[John]

I've abandoned The Initial Fold as its gone from "boring" to "irritating". Even at 99p it was grossly overpriced.

[John]

"When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent."

Isaac Asimov

Sadly, I suspect this quote from Asimov applies equally in both the US and the UK at the moment....and is a reminder to me that I should at least avoid books that lack intelligence.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Dropping by just to mention that I haven’t found any SF that holds my attention recently. I’ve become super picky lately; started and gave up on a full dozen books today (at least three different genres). So please mention any space opera books you are currently enjoying. Eventually I’ll get past this at least to where I can reread it again.

[John]

Teresa wrote: "started and gave up on a full dozen books today (at least three different genres).."

That's got to be a record, Teresa! and I have to admit that I admire your discipline...I think I'll try to follow your example.

[Caitlin]

I just finished Startide Rising by David Brin and liked it a lot. His Uplifting universe has quite intriguing worldbuilding and this installment had great characters and lots of action and suspense.

Have you read this one, Theresa?

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I read all the Uplifting books when they were fairly new, and tried to reread a couple of them a few years ago but they just didn’t grab me at that time.

[Caitlin]

Fair enough. They’re different than a lot of recent SF—more focus on genetic engineering and biology for one thing — which I found refreshing. I’ve also just been in the mood to read about cetaceans lately for some reason; I also read Moby Dick for the first time this year!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The power of posting: I did finally find a book that grabbed me, then stayed up late to finish it. Contemporary romance, not SF. So eventually I’ll be back to reading space opera again.

[John]

Teresa wrote: "The power of posting: I did finally find a book that grabbed me, then stayed up late to finish it. Contemporary romance, not SF. So eventually I’ll be back to reading space opera again."

Your reading rate is awesome Teresa.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

One of the books I tried but then gave up on recently is worth mentioning here: Shakedowners by Justin Woolley. It’s space opera comedy with strong elements of Star Trek influence. I got it as a free book a few days ago, so it might still be free. Just because I gave up on it doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it, because my brain is currently refusing to allow me to enjoy SF. (Not the first time I’ve had this kind of issue)

[John]

It look interesting Teresa, but is currently £5 on UK kindle or £14 for paperback. I'll keep a watch on it, in the hope it comes on offer here. Thanks for letting us know.

[Kay Dee (what is your storygraph name?]

John wrote: ""When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent."

Isaac Asimov

Sadly, I suspect this quote from Asimov applies equally in both the US and the UK at the moment....and is a..."
so true. that is why i read ...to escape reality.

[John]

I've just started reading Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather - a losing nomination for our October LIMITED thread. An interesting, and different, space opera novella so far.