What else are you reading in November 2009?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Please let us know what other SF&F books you're reading this month! It's a fun way to pick up recommendations and discover new authors and titles.

[Kelly]

Right now I'm reading The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. Despite loving Oryx and Crake I'm finding this one a bit slower. There's so much of the God's Gardener's religious instruction included - I have to say I'm not a huge fan of text within text - songs, poetry and the like. I just want a story. :)

[Nick]

Sisimka wrote: "Right now I'm reading The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. Despite loving Oryx and Crake I'm finding this one a bit slower. There's so much of the G..."

I recently readThe Penelopiad The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus by Atwood. It, too, was full of texts within texts, poems, songs. I found it annoying. But I love some of Atwood's themes. What I remember best from what little I've read of her is a superb collection of short stories, Bluebeard's Egg Stories which have slight fantasy elements all the way through. (The title story is wonderful!)

[Kelly]

I read The Penelopiad too and don't remember much other than the fact I liked it. Not loved, but like it. Worthwhile read and I thought it was nicely handled. I'll have to look into the short story collection, thanks for the recommendation!

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I'm about to start reading All the Windwracked Stars, my first novel by Elizabeth Bear. I've heard a lot of interesting things about this book, so I'm eager to get into it! I also have the sequel By the Mountain Bound, which was just released last Tuesday.

[Kaia]

The previous poll made me decide to reread Flesh and Spirit by Carol Berg, so I've been doing that. Alongside other stuff I have lined up, I also picked up The Red Tree by Caitlin L. Kiernan. It's set in my home state and sounded interesting.

But otherwise I'm trying to be good and read by backlog, because I want to save money for the holidays. That's hard though. :(

[Jon]

I finished The Lies of Locke Lamora (my review) yesterday; just wish it hadn't taken so long to finish.

Book club reads this month (and some leftover from last month) include:



I'll be finishing up these selections:



I received a surprise in the mail today - my signed/numbered copy of The Gathering Storm. :)

[Marty]

I'm reading the new Jordan/Sanderson Wheel of Time entry. And Ink and Steel by Bear. Plus I started Blindsight and I ordered Brokedown Palace.

[Bill]

Is that Jordan/Sanderson just the most awful cover ever, or is it just me? I'm stunned at TOR.

[Marty]

I did think the cover was noticeably bad. I've never liked any of them, really too unreal and soft. But this once while in the same style as the others was worse. I haven't gotten very far at all but Sanderson seems to be doing a credible job.

[Laurel]

I just finished The Curse of Chalion and loved it! I'm now onto my wish list for November:

The Dispossessed An Ambiguous Utopia
The World More Full of Weeping
Under the Dome A Novel
Stephen Fry in America
Paladin of Souls
The Gathering Storm
The Hobbit Or There and Back Again

Its going to be a great month!

[Ron]

I wasn't all that taken with the episodes of "Stephen Fry in America" that i saw on the tube; I hope the book is better. However, one of the funniest clips I've seen on Utube is from "Last Chance to See" (from the Douglas Adams book--see how I work in a science-fiction angle): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfs...
Hope the link comes through alright. Warning: somewhat racy content, not for the kidlets. PG-13 or so, I imagine.

[Kelly]

Marty wrote: "I did think the cover was noticeably bad. I've never liked any of them, really too unreal and soft. But this once while in the same style as the others was worse. I haven't gotten very far at al..."

I saw somewhere that all(?) the books are being released with new covers, new artwork. It is so much nicer than the old artwork, which I agree, was not good.

[Candace]

Ok, I feel like a kid, but I just read both The Hunger Games and Catching FirebySuzanne Collins. I had read the Gregor series by her thinking my then 11 year old son would like it but I ended up being the one snagging it off the New shelf at the library, though he did later read them and loved them. So when I saw this one I just had to have it. They're not nearly as juvenile as the Gregor books and not as "fun" but this new series is captivating and I have enjoyed them both and plan to read them again because I buzzed through them so quick I know I missed a lot of the "deeper" meanings. Not to mention I now have to wait for the next one! They're a little sci-fi like being set in a post-war America, so I believe they count for this group! I'd love to hear if anyone else has read them?

[Christine]

This month, well, I'm never really sure what I will be reading when. But most likely

Miles, Mystery & Mayhem, which I started and had to put down. I don't know if it was the first boook or me. Most likely me. I liked the other ones in the series well enough, so I'll give it another try.

2666 because it was on sale and sounds interesting.

I've got the next two Jenny Casey books by Elizabeth Bear as well as Brokedown Palace.

As for Atwood, my favorite novel of her is The Robber Bride closely followed by Alias Grace A Novel and The Handmaid's Tale. But her short fiction is wonderful. This is this short story she wrote that presents all these different endings to a marriage. Wonderful.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I just finished All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear - a good novel that could have been great, I think.

Next up I'm going to read Makers by Cory Doctorow. I've already read the first few chapters online, and I'm really in the mood to continue this (comparatively) light story after the gloom of By the Mountain Bound.

[Ken]

Marty wrote: "I did think the cover was noticeably bad. I've never liked any of them, really too unreal and soft. But this once while in the same style as the others was worse."
I agree, this cover isn't great. I never liked the artist who has done the covers

[Ken]

Speaking of covers. I have been reading The Gathering Storm while its nice to have closure I feel that Sanderson just doesn't have the voices of the characters. I realise he isn't trying to mimic Jordan's style, I miss it.
Other than that, I am enjoying it

[Jon]

I've noticed that as well. I miss the arrogance, the condescension, the undecision, the undercurrent ... but I'm still in the Prologue. Perhaps it will get easier as I read on.

[Ken]

Thats it!
"the arrogance, the condescension, the undecision"

Its still there but almost a low hum in the background. Jordan's voice made them scream it. Sanderson's is understated.

[Laurel]

We're only a few days in, and already I need to change my list! I've had a few books on request from the library, and they all showed up on the same day! So, my revised list is:

The Dragonbone Chair
To Reign in Hell
The World More Full of Weeping
The Dispossessed An Ambiguous Utopia
The Gathering Storm
Paladin of Souls
Stephen Fry in America

Love November!

[Anomander]

Books's read recently:

The Ships of Merior - Liked it better than the first book in the series.
Warhost of Vastmark - Sequel to Ships of Merior and a good ending to the story arc.
The Blue World - Very good SF, short but sweet.

[Lynda]

Stefan wrote: "Please let us know what other SF&F books you're reading this month! It's a fun way to pick up recommendations and discover new authors and titles."

Reading my way through a box of old titles picked up at a sci-fi con. Just finished Robert Silverberg's The Book of Skulls but can't recommend it. Bit of a psychological cesspool. Also reading titles acquired from Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy and other people I know from con-going. I enjoyed Green Music by Ursula Pflug. It's a meditative sort of magic-realism type story which isn't something I'm generally keen on but can get fond of particular examples.

[Deedee]

Hello all!
I completely missed the BOTM's of October because I was reading Julian Comstock A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson. I just finished it today. Wow!!!! Julian Constock is one of those novels where you slow down reading at the end because you don't want the novel to end, it's that good.

Now I have to decide what to read next: last month's BOTM To Ride Hell's Chasm or this month's Blindsight . What to do, what to do :0)

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Deedee, I'm so glad you found Julian Comstock - easily my favorite SF novel this year! There are scenes in that novel that I will never forget. I plan to nominate it for BotM here once it's available in paperback.

[Jon]

Finished The Gathering Storm (my review) last night.

I'm picking Blindsight back up and will start a re-read of The Hobbit this week as well.

[Sandi]

Stefan wrote: "Deedee, I'm so glad you found Julian Comstock - easily my favorite SF novel this year! There are scenes in that novel that I will never forget. I plan to nominate it for BotM here once it's avail..."

Everybody I know who has read it has loved it. I just started it.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

There's a scene in that book that has to be one of the most moving things I've ever read. (Won't spoil it now - ask me later.) I loved that book!

I just realize I haven't posted in this thread in a while, so here's what I've been reading:

- All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear --- very original, but not quite as enjoyable as it could have been.
- Makers by Cory Doctorow --- fun book, but not as good as Little Brother IMO.
- In Between by R. A. MacAvoy - a good novella; read my review here
- and now I'm reading By the Mountain Bound, prequel to All the Windwracked Stars. So far so good.

[Ron]

I started 'Nation' by Terry Pratchett; it seems pretty good. I'm not yet really clear on whether it's one of his Young Adult novels yet.

i also accidentally started reading Jack McDevitt's new paperback, "Devil's Eye". McDevitt tells a good enough story that one can ignore the glaring logical flaws.

[Christine]

Ron wrote: "I started 'Nation' by Terry Pratchett; it seems pretty good. I'm not yet really clear on whether it's one of his Young Adult novels yet.

i also accidentally started reading Jack McDevitt's new pap..."


Nation is supposedly YA.

[Jim]

For November I'm reading "The Family tree" by Sheri S. Tipper, in the 3rd Chapter. First book of Tipper's I've read, so far. It's slow going but it passed my 50 page chuck rule. Later once I'm done reading this I hope to get into Vernor Vinge "Rainbows end"

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Finished reading By the Mountain Bound by Elizabeth Bear. Didn't like it much.

Then I tore through How to Make Friends with Demons by Graham Joyce in one day. Excellent.

Right now I'm about 150 pages into Nightchild by James Barclay, which (so far) is considerably better than the first 2 books in the trilogy.

[Jim]

^ A couple of years ago I read Elizabeth Bear's "Undertow" and really enjoyed it. I don't know about "Mountain" though

[Sandi]

I just finished Julian Comstock A Story of 22nd-Century America and am going to give it five stars. It's the fourth book I've read by Robert Charles Wilson. (How long ago was it that we read The Chronoliths on the Yahoo group?) So many authors get stale and keep writing variations on the same book, but Wilson just keeps getting better and better.

I'm starting Dracula The Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker tonight. It's due next Saturday and I suspect I may not be able to renew it. It's getting good buzz in the press and I was really surprised to find it in the library. I'm afraid that someone will be reserving it, thus preventing my renewal.

[Ron]

Finished "The Devil's Eye" by Jack McDevitt. Flaws, loose ends, but still a decent timekiller.
Started rereading "The Stars My Destination" by Alfred Bester. I had completely forgotten this story, really a retelling of "The Count of Monte Cristo". This is great science fiction.
Next: the rest of "Nation", and "Ethan of Athos".

[Nick]

I just realized that I am in the middle of reading "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman and "Eifelheim" by Michael Flynn, both of which were book-of-the-month selections for this group -- back in JANUARY! Well, I didn't join the group until June, so I don't feel tardy or anything...maybe just behind the times.

I'm reading Gaiman for a "real life" book club, and "Eifelheim because of the recent thread started here in the "Past BOTM's" threads. (Realizing that "Eifelheim" was about the 14th century hooked me, as I adore Eco's "The Name of the Rose" as a blend of modernist murder mystery with 14th century flavor; I figured a blend of sci-fi with 14th century flavor would be every bit as interesting, and so far, I am glad to say, it is!)

[Kerry]

At the moment I'm slowly reading my way through Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. It's my first book by the author and I'm really enjoying it. It's not always an easy read, but I'm finding it deft, all internally consistent and satisfying.

A good friend raved about how good the fourth book, Heir to Sevenwaters, was and I was interested, but being me I had to start at the beginning. I'm feeling it was worth it. I have the book from the library, but I think I'll buy my own copies of the series in paperback.

I'm books and books behind you in the Bujold series, which is very frustrating as I love all the books and was so looking forward to rereading them. But somehow it just hasn't happened. Maybe I just need to load up Cordelia's Honor on the iPhone and dive into reading Barrayar regardless of the fact I'm currently reading other books as well.

[Janny]

Kerry - Juliet Marillier writes quality stuff. I haven't read anything by her that didn't reach a satisfying conclusion. Some works are a bit deeper than others - all are well done. I believe Daughter of the Forest was her first novel....I gave her a quote for it, which says a lot. I do that extremely sparingly. Only if I truly love the story and the language, both.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I finished Pride and Prejudice and Zombies over the weekend, which I enjoyed, and now I'm almost finished Soulless, which I'm also enjoying. It's sort of like the Sookie Stackhouse books but, you know, good. ;)

[Sarah]

Janny wrote: "Kerry - Juliet Marillier writes quality stuff. I haven't read anything by her that didn't reach a satisfying conclusion. Some works are a bit deeper than others - all are well done. I believe [book..."

I agree. Daughter of the Forest was positively unusual. So imotional and intense, with greart characters I could easily sympathise with.
I'm about to read the last volume of The Sevenwaters trilogy, I missed that world....

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

I finished reading Nightchild by James Barclay (the review was just posted at FanLit), then re-read Ethan of Athos for the discussion here, as well as the novella Labyrinth. Started reading Iorich by Steven Brust last night and already almost finished it (hard to put down!). I'm also about to start reading Under in the Mere, a new novella by Catherynne M. Valente.

[Ken]

Stefan wrote: "Started reading Iorich by Steven Brust last night and already almost finished it (hard to put down!). "

Iorich? Its out already?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

No, in January - I'm reading an ARC.

[Ken]

No fair

[Kerry]

I finished up Daughter of the Forest and thought it was a wonderful book.

I've since read Nightlife by Rob Thurman and reread Barrayar.

I love the Vorkosigan books and was delighted when the group decided to read them, but because I was struggling with reading, I quickly got behind. I'm trying to catch up so I can join in with the conversation, and have started The Warrior's Apprentice.

Of course, as soon as I made that plan a bunch of requests arrived for me at the library, so I've also started Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld and hope to get both of them read over the next week.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Kerry, all the threads about the Vorkosigan books are still up, so you can jump into the discussion about the past books at any time. (Please do!)

[Sandi]

I was reading Dracula The Un-Dead, but have briefly paused to read The Sons of Heaven by Kage Baker because I just have to know what happens in 2355. The Dracula book is really awful.

[Jon]

I finished The Hobbit yesterday. It was wonderful to return to a more innocent Middle Earth.

I started Ethan of Athos yesterday afternoon and it is proving to be a very quick read.

In planning for my trip to Texas this week, I'll take my three library books - City of Jade, Blindsight and the second Imager novel. I'll throw in a couple more paperbacks and maybe an audio book or two (for the long drive to Denton/Plano).

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Sandi wrote: "I was reading Dracula The Un-Dead, but have briefly paused to read... The Dracula book is really awful."

Ooh - thanks for the warning.

[Janny]

Jon wrote: "I finished The Hobbit yesterday. It was wonderful to return to a more innocent Middle Earth.

I started Ethan of Athos yesterday afternoon and it is proving to be a very quick read.

In planni..."

Jon, I've got City of Jade - for a fun read. Let me know how you like it. (I've been entranced with Aravan and his elven ship since Voyage of the Fox Rider. I've also wished like crazy to see the sequel to McKiernan's SF book, Caverns of Socrates, which I thought numbered among his best ever.