Science Fiction Aficionados discussion
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What are you currently reading?
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D.L.
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Feb 19, 2015 08:02AM
Just started The Country of Ice Cream Star, really enjoying it so far
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Dark Confluence:Book One of The Darkening Trilogy by Rosemary Fryth. It's mature, very well written, the characters are beautifully crafted, it's realistic and unique, and highly enjoyable. It's about an invasion of a small Australian town by renegade Fae. Not the kind I usually read but I am very pleased.
I just started Bubble, the third in the Game series. It's actually not too bad. It's not rollicking fun, but it's fairly good reading. (I know, a tepid review, eh?)
Being from SoCal and knowing most of setting being discussed, is making this book feel like a very personal experience of the apocalypse. Definitely bumps it up to a surreal experience so far. It's well written, the characters seem very human and like real people. It seems to create a very realistic portrayal of what could happen if a commit got to close and partially collided with Earth. You certainly don't need to be Californian to enjoy this book, but it's a positive that they used the southern California/ central California topography well enough to paint this nightmare scenario of the end of civilization. Goodread.
Inanna Rising: Women Forged by Fire by Amanda M. Lyons. She is one of our members and a Goodreads friend. It's fun!
Hi, I'm new here, eager to get involved and read with everyone. I'm wondering: Why are there two books for this month in this group?
This group always has two books for each month. Each one comes from a different theme or nominating process. The two this month come from a best-of list generated by this group, and from a list of women-authored sci-fi. (Frequently one is a stand-alone nomination, while the other is from some sort of series.) Does that help?
Mordechai wrote: (view spoiler)Most of the books I've read from this group have been excellent Mordechai. Just try a few out. I didn't see Old Man's War on your read list. It's a good place to start. I'm actually looking forward to reading this months reads The City and the Stars and Remnant Population. I can't help but be skeptical on whether I'll enjoy more Arthur C. Clarke. The first two books of his I've read Rendezvous with Rama and Childhood's End. I thought both of those books haven't aged well and felt antiquated. I'm certainly missing any nostalgia since my first read was last year for any Clarke. I'm keeping my hopes up though. He always has some great quotes and phrases that have a way of sticking with you. As for Elizabeth Moon, I've been wanting to read one of her books since I first saw her mentioned, so March has some strong titles that I want to read.
Alexa wrote: "This group always has two books for each month. Each one comes from a different theme or nominating process. The two this month come from a best-of list generated by this group, and from a list of women-authored sci-fi. (Frequently one is a stand-alone nomination, while the other is from some sort of series.) Does that help? "Indeed it does, thanks!
Rion wrote: "Mordechai wrote: [spoilers removed]Most of the books I've read from this group have been excellent Mordechai. Just try a few out. I didn't see Old Man's War on your read list. It's a..."
I just added Old Man's War to my "Want to Read" list, as well as a few of the others you mentioned. Some of them I can't get at my library, and am trying at other libraries. I am also a bit of a Clarke fan, so thanks for telling me about "Rendezvous with Rama."
"Childhood's End" I have already read several times, and I believe I own it and I think I have it somewhere in this black hole of a house I live in.
Elizabeth Moon I first heard about here. How long has she been writing?
I finished Pet Sematary. I loved the ending.Now I'm reading Seven Deadly Wonders. This is the first book I've read from him. I've heard good things.
She published Paksenarrion in '89.
Mordechai wrote: "Elizabeth Moon I first heard about here. How long has she been writing? ..."AFAIK her first published novel is Sheepfarmer's Daughter (1988).
She writes fairly widely. A lot of her books have a military component and most are in the fantasy and SF subgenres. She does both very well.
Clyde wrote: "Mordechai wrote: "Elizabeth Moon I first heard about here. How long has she been writing? ..."AFAIK her first published novel is Sheepfarmer's Daughter (1988).
She writes fairly wide..."
Hmm, and I can't recall the name. I'll bet I've read some of her writing and have simply forgotten the name. Having a senior moment, perhaps...
The Deed of Paksenarrion in one of my favorite novels (actually a trilogy beginning with the above mentioned Sheepfarmer's Daughter in one volume). She's since written widely, mostly science fiction/space opera. Lately she's added another series to her "Pak's World" books. I like most of her stuff.
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "The Deed of Paksenarrion in one of my favorite novels (actually a trilogy beginning with the above mentioned Sheepfarmer's Daughter in one volume). She's since written wid..."Indeed, The Deed of Paksenarrion is a great read. I also really like her Vatta's War series. Moon tends to feature smart and tough female protagonists.
Now I am reading "Police Your Planet" by Lester Del Rey... I give it an average rating so far. Hopefully it´ll pick up soon. Anybody read this book? Thoughts?
I finished Seven Deadly Wonders. Then I tried to start two different books but I just couldn't get into them. So I read the short story from King: A Face in the Crowd.Now I'm reading The Name of the Wind.
I'm almost finished with The Smoke Ring. It's okay but I'm not liking it as much as its predecessor.
The Mote in God´s Eye... this has been a huge disappointment. I am glad that it is almost over. Any thoughts on this "classic" work from the 70´s?
Javier wrote: "The Mote in God´s Eye... this has been a huge disappointment. I am glad that it is almost over. Any thoughts on this "classic" work from the 70´s?"I was not crazy about it. All three books I've read from him have been just average. I think he has great ideas and good science but his characterization is lean and cursory. I just don't care much about anyone in the books.
I like the first...not so much the sequels.
Scott wrote: "Javier wrote: "The Mote in God´s Eye... this has been a huge disappointment. I am glad that it is almost over. Any thoughts on this "classic" work from the 70´s?"
I was not crazy about it. All th..."
...I finished reading it and I actually enjoyed the last 60 pages or so. I just think that it didn't need to be so long. 300 pages could have done the job. Maybe I'll check out the sequel.
I was not crazy about it. All th..."
...I finished reading it and I actually enjoyed the last 60 pages or so. I just think that it didn't need to be so long. 300 pages could have done the job. Maybe I'll check out the sequel.
Javier wrote: "The Mote in God´s Eye... this has been a huge disappointment. I am glad that it is almost over. Any thoughts on this "classic" work from the 70´s?"I loved this book. It was one of my "required" reading assignments from my Dad. I should re-read it one of these days.
Just finished reading the first Lord Peter Wimsey mystery, Whose Body?
by Dorothy L. Sayers.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Javier wrote: "The Mote in God´s Eye... this has been a huge disappointment. I am glad that it is almost over. Any thoughts on this "classic" work from the 70´s?"I have more or less given up on classic scifi. It is so dated, especially in its attitudes to women and the characterization wooden. Mostly it seems to focus on the science not the fiction.
Just finished reading Imperfect Strangers
by David M. Staniforthhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Andreas wrote: "Gateway by Frederik Pohl: New Wave meets pulpish space opera at a BDO. Great read!"
One of my favs... great book lots of fun!
One of my favs... great book lots of fun!
Just finished reading The State Counsellor: Further Adventures of Fandorin
by Boris Akuninhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Kirsten wrote: "Just finished reading The State Counsellor: Further Adventures of Fandorin by Boris Akuninhttps..."
When I worked in the library our Russian patrons were crazy over Akunin.
Esther wrote: "Javier wrote: "The Mote in God´s Eye... this has been a huge disappointment. I am glad that it is almost over. Any thoughts on this "classic" work from the 70´s?"
I have more or less given up on cl..."
...It´s still important to read where the genre came from. Most of the elements of modern Sci-Fi are just copies and reworkings of things that have already been done. New stuff is mostly just a reimagining for a modern audience, not really anything new. Truly original works are very few and far between these days.
I have more or less given up on cl..."
...It´s still important to read where the genre came from. Most of the elements of modern Sci-Fi are just copies and reworkings of things that have already been done. New stuff is mostly just a reimagining for a modern audience, not really anything new. Truly original works are very few and far between these days.
Just finished listening to Firestorm by Nevada Barr, an Anna Pigeon mystery.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just finished reading The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins. Incredible!!https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Started reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas this morning.Just finished reading The Boat of A Million Years
by Poul Anderson.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Totally unplanned, but it seems I am reading a lot of lady authors recently.Just finished City of Ruins by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Currently reading Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon and just started A Passage of Stars by Kate Elliott.
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