Science Fiction Aficionados discussion
Books
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What are you currently reading?
Just about to start "The Creator" by Clifford D. Simak. By the way, anyone familiar with Colin Wilson? Thoughts, opinions?
Thanks
Robert wrote: "Just about to start "The Creator" by Clifford D. Simak. By the way, anyone familiar with Colin Wilson? Thoughts, opinions?
Thanks"
I have read some short fiction and his novel "The Mind Parasites". If my memory serves I enjoyed his stuff, but it was a long time ago.
Robert wrote: "By the way, anyone familiar with Colin Wilson? Thoughts, opinions?"The Space Vampires was dreadful, pseudo-scientific, philosophical nonsense.
I’m getting near the end of The Robots of Gotham by Todd McAulty, which I started several months ago but had to put down for a while due to work and health issues. Once I picked up where I left off, it’s been a joy to read! I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. It has turned out to be a fast paced and gripping read, way above my expectations. Unless the author totally blows it at the end, I think this will earn a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating from me.
In the last couple weeks, I've finished The Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher (decent fantasy), Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets, Trail of Lightning (2019 Hugo/Nebula nominee). In another group, someone posed an eco-fiction challenge for Earth Day, so I read both This Immortal (Zelazny) and The Genocides (Disch), plus I started an "Apocalypse 2019" challenge in Worlds Without End, if anyone wants to join in. I've got Borderline by Mishell Baker going on audio and Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling on phone Kindle. I read Burning Chrome early, so it's probably a good time to catch up on The Academy challenge and books 2 and 3 of Imperial Radch.
I just finished
by Gordon R. DicksonMan, he was a good author, I have not read anything of his since I was a teenager, the speculative element was really impressive and the science he used for it was unusual and interesting. I must keep an eye out for more of Dickson's work and revisit the Dorsai books too.
I also reviewed it, if you are interested https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Ed wrote: "I'm reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and discussing it with the group The Evolution of Science Fiction.It is considered SF by some, but not by all. Either way, it..."
The evolution of sci-fi you say? that sounds interesting.
Deborah wrote: "The evolution of sci-fi you say? that sounds interesting."Our group discussion is here.
There are many interesting things to say about that book.
Ed wrote: "Deborah wrote: "The evolution of sci-fi you say? that sounds interesting."Our group discussion is here.
There are many interesting things to say about that book."
Thanks Ed; checking it out now.
Recently finished
by Michael Kurland.Read this one as part of a European reading challenge. I figure the Duchy of Normandy cand stand in for France.
I have
and
Sitting there staring at me; my next read will be one of them, I just need to find my reading mojo. It is a bit lost, I fear it may have rolled under the couch or something....
Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them by Nancy Marie Brown
Currently into Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson.It's ok so far but it's hard to gain any emotional connection because of the format it's been written in. Short disjointed segments with no common characters.
I've been reading Three Novels: Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Round the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
I finished the Imperial Radch trilogy, but I now have way too many books going and way too may queued up! I'm 2/3 through The Three-Body Problem, and 30%-50% through Schismatrix, Have Space Suit Will Travel, Nova Express, and Guernica Night. For myself and for various challenges, I've got Blackfish City, Startide Rising, Seveneves, Islandia, and the other two books of Cixin Liu's trilogy.
I can sympathize with that. I just recently removed a book from my currently reading shelf because it has been borrowed from the library and they no longer had it.
Hey there Kristen.I've been wanting to read some Jules Verne for a long time, but I always seem to end up choosing something else instead.
I only have one of his books at the moments, The Underground City.
Kirsten "Ghost Deserved Better" wrote: "I've been reading Three Novels: Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Round the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne"
Holy smokes Allan! I can bearly cope with one book at a time. Haha.
Recently finished:The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Nebula Awards Showcase 2016 (Mercedes Lackey, Ed.)
Now reading:
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
At minimum, I usually have a paper book, a phone Kindle book, and an audio book going. I focus most on paper but listen when I'm driving and open Kindle when I'm waiting somewhere. But I have a bad habit of starting new books that catch my attention.....ooo look, a squirrel!
Just Finished:Embers of War by Gareth L. Powell
Pretty good story. I will read the sequel, Fleet of Knives, eventually. Not quite in the same league as Hamilton, Reynolds, Banks, Corey, et al, but fast-paced and entertaining enough to hook me early and make me want to finish. 3.5 stars.
Paul wrote: "Recently finished:The Long War by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Nebula Awards Showcase 2016 (Mercedes Lackey, Ed.)
..."
I'll be digging into The Long War before long, since I'm a huge Pratchett fan. Are you enjoying The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.? I haven't read it yet.
Brick wrote: "Are you enjoying The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.? I haven't read it yet."Yes! At first the magic and witches made me skeptical since I’m not really into that sort of thing, but ended up really enjoying the book. Stephenson is one of my favorites so I should have known better than to doubt him. Lol!
I am reading our monthly read Cauldron which is okay so far.I am also reading Noir Fatale which...had a couple good stories so far, but also some really mediocre to poor ones. I'm going to try to finish it, since I paid full cover price for it (what was I thinking?)
I've spent the last couple weeks trying to close out all the books I was 25%-50% through, 5 of them. I threw in a couple fast readers too, The Haunting of Hill House and the first book of The Dresden Files, Storm Front. Then got cracking on Startide Rising and Charles Stross's Glasshouse, which I found at the library. I was listening to Blackfish City on audio, but it had to go back so I started Jade City until I can get it back.
I liked Glasshouse a lot. That was the first Stross I read.
Paul wrote: "Brick wrote: "Are you enjoying The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.? I haven't read it yet."Yes! At first the magic and witches made me skeptical since I’m not really into that sort of thing, but ended ..."
Good deal! I love Stephenson's wring. I read Snow Crash a few years ago and enjoyed the heck out of it. Thanks for the info, I'll add that book to my list of books to buy so when I go to Half Price Books I'll begin the search.
Finished Glasshouse, really enjoyed it. I will be taking up more of Stross's books when I can fit them in. I had paused on Startide Rising but now I'll finish that - about a quarter through it. I've got Downbelow Station queued up after that.Several months ago, I started reading the classic Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon. It's really creative and interesting but a bit tougher to read; given the time it was written (1937) there's a fair amount of injected societal philosophy. I stalled about 40% through and now I'm striving to finish it.
About a third through Jade City on audio. Kind of a combination of The Godfather, Shogun & anime. Enjoyable, good for audio. Blackfish City just came back to me, but I'll finish Jade City first.
Allan wrote: "Several months ago, I started reading the classic Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon...."That is good, but a tough read. I enjoyed the last section the best, where it gets into some religious ideas. It is amazing how many ideas are packed into that book. Too many ideas for one book, really, which is part of why it is hard to read.
We read it in "The Evolution of Science Fiction" group last month. You can join our discussion here if you want to.
I’m only about halfway through Outpost, but my library hold for Fall, or Dodge in Hell just came in, so naturally I’ve dropped everything and started that last night!
The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter by Joseph Henrich
I just finished re-reading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. I read it years ago and was pleasantly surprised at how well it holds up. All the elements for Blade Runner are there, except handled in a much different way in the movie.
Just finished rereading the Infected trilogy by Sigler. Epic alien invasion story with lots of gory details.
I just started Aftershocks by Marko Kloos. I read the first 1/4 at dinner! Wow! So glad I picked it up!!
Re-reading Slaves of the Klau by Jack Vance and Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg, two books I just have to read once every few years.
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It is considered SF by some, but not by all. Either way, it is a fun read. I also read the shorter, similar book The Fortunate Island which may have inspired Twain's tale.