What are you reading in September 2011?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Shel - what I sometimes do is just re-read the first chapter, and then the last chapter or last few chapters. It takes much less time and usually is a perfect way to refresh my (famously bad) memory.

[Bookbrow]

It's very stressful at work of late, thus sci fi and fantasy become very good for my well being. I finished a couple of first contact books The Listeners byJames Edwin Gunn and Contact by Carl Sagan and I working my way through a non-genre book Open by Lisa Moore which is very poetic and a different read for me, and I finally have started Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson which I have been told is awesome.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Bookbrow - Gardens of the Moon is ... okay. Steven Erikson became a much better writer between that book and the next one in the series. Too many people have given up on this impressive series because the first book is, unfortunately, not the strongest part of it. So - if it doesn't click 100%, make sure to at least give book 2 a try! (You could actually even read that one first, as it takes place simultaneously with book 1.)

[Hélène]

Andrea wrote: "I've discovered Mark Hodder - have finished The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (was fabulous), and will read The Curious Case Of The Clockwork Man next.

I also plan to start the Liaden Unive..."

Never mind how many! They're so pleasant and addictive to read. Plus these are not very long books (around 300 pages - unless you picked up an omnibus ?). I hope you'll enjoy them.

[Marty]

The Liaden books are quick reads if you like them. But in my opinion, best salted with other things or too sweet.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Finished the second book in our Honor Harrington series read. Now debating... back to the Fortress series with the 3rd book or something completely different? Maybe a quick "who dunnit".

[Helen]

Stefan wrote: "Shel - what I sometimes do is just re-read the first chapter, and then the last chapter or last few chapters. It takes much less time and usually is a perfect way to refresh my (famously bad) memory."

That's a good idea, I shall remember that.

[Shannon]

Just started reading Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Decided to visit Camelot before heaing back into the Fortress series, so I'm reading The Book of Mordred.

[Bill]

I'm currently reading Neverwhere. It's fun, but it's no American Gods

[Bookbrow]

Marty wrote: "The Liaden books are quick reads if you like them. But in my opinion, best salted with other things or too sweet."

Hey Marty that is wonderfully put, we all have our guilty pleasures...

[Bookbrow]

Stefan wrote: "Bookbrow - Gardens of the Moon is ... okay. Steven Erikson became a much better writer between that book and the next one in the series. Too many people have given up on this impressive series beca..."

Great advice, I must admit that the style of writing is a bit chaotic, at least from what I have read so far, I just may read the 2nd book first, revisit the first book when I have a firm grip on the series. Thanks Stefan.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Completed The Book of Mordred in a day. I did post a review but I'll sum it up here... enjoyable (but then, I enjoy almost anything related to Camelot and the Arthurian legend) but quite superficial, I thought. That may have been because it's a YA book but still, I expect more depth. I wanted to understand the relationships described in the story, and by the end, I still didn't. That, and the rather abrupt introduction of a major character near the end, left me unsatisfied.

Back to Tristen's world--I'm now reading Fortress of Owls.

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Bookbrow wrote: "Great advice, I must admit that the style of writing is a bit chaotic, at least from what I have read so far, I just may read the 2nd book first, revisit the first book when I have a firm grip on the series. Thanks Stefan. "

You're welcome. It's really an impressive series, probably the most complex fantasy universe I've ever encountered. Erikson just didn't make it easy to get into it with GotM. Books 1, 2 and 5 all take place (more or less) simultaneously but on different continents. I always recommend reading series in order of publication, but in this case it can help to try book 2 before book 1, just to see if this is a series you'd like.

[Helen]

Kathy, that's the one that isn't out for kindle (UK at least).

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Helen wrote: "Kathy, that's the one that isn't out for kindle (UK at least)."

Helen, I have old SFBC editions of the first several and then paperbacks of the last couple.

[Helen]

It doesn't make sense that the others in the series are available to me!

[Shel, Moderator]

I finished The Hidden Goddess last night, and liked it, but not as much as the first book. Now I'm starting Little, Big, which I've been meaning to read for years.

[Jensownzoo]

I'm re-reading the Dresden series. I'm a couple of books behind, so I thought I'd refresh my memory and catch up this month.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Go Dresden! Enjoy Jensownzee.

[Ken]

Finished Eighth Doctor Who book The Banquo Legacy and it was disappointing. It was a short of the good doctor and that kinda sucks if I am reading a Doctor Who book.

Started next months book
American Gods

So far pretty good (Only 12 pages into it)

[Ron]

Continuing my CJ Cherryh frenzy I just read Port Eternity (Age of Exploration, #1) which answers the musical question, "What do you get if you cross 'Cyteen' with 'Morte d'Arthur'?" Fascinating, fun, a very enjoyable short read. Next in the omnibus (Alternate Realities): "Voyager in Night" which looks more philosophical in nature.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I finished Fortress of Owls last night and am taking a SF/F break to read a gothic romance.

[Helen]

I finished Fortress in the Eye of Time, wierd coincidence! I'm reading The Power of Six for 2 other groups, then I want to read book 2, Robin Hobb and Honor 2.

[Janny]

Ron wrote: "Continuing my CJ Cherryh frenzy I just read Port Eternity (Age of Exploration, #1) which answers the musical question, "What do you get if you cross 'Cyteen' with 'Morte d'Arthur'?" F..."

You're in for a downright creepy read, with Voyager in Night!

[Ron]

You are absolutely right, Janny, it was quite quite creepy and it was wonderful. Cherryh's aliens are always fascinating, whether they are quite similar to humans, like perhaps the Hani of the Chanur books, or almost beyond human ken, like the unique creatures in "Voyager" or the Caliban, the lizardy things in "40,000 in Gehenna". It's worth pointing out, too, that "Voyager" came out in 1984, making it one of the earliest novels involving human (or other) minds running on computer substrates, long before the rash of such books clustered around notions of the information singularity.

And so, I think, straight on into "Wave Without a Shore" which also promises some extremely weird alien fun. After that, my old dad says he's sending me a copy of Samuel Pepys' diary, but I don't know yet if it's complete or has had the racy bits removed. It'll be fun either way, but obviously more fun with the racy bits (Pepys was apparently a very naughty fellow).

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Well, it was a quick diversion into gothic romance, just the break my brain needed. Back to Cherryh with Fortress of Dragons!

[Helen]

We are so in tune, I'm back to Fortress of Eagles! Still chasing Owls.

[Traci]

Finishing up On Basilisk Station today. Don't know if I'll continue with The Honor of the Queen or take a small break first. Will probably continue I really like this series so far. Also reading Sheepfarmer's Daughter.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Traci wrote: "Also reading Sheepfarmer's Daughter."

That series by Elizabeth Moon is one of my favorites!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

:)

[Traci]

Have you read her science fiction books? Are they any good?

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I have not read any of her science fiction, so I couldn't say. She's a good storyteller, though, so I'd be willing to try them.

[Candiss]

Traci wrote: "Have you read her science fiction books? Are they any good?"

I read and really enjoyed Remnant Population. It's a psychological/sociological sf about an elderly woman on a corporate-run colony planet who decides she's tired of being seen as past-usefulness and of being pushed around by her son and his wife, so she chooses to neglect to board when the colony is moved off-world. She has the colony to herself and re-discovers both her self-sufficiency and sense of self. She also discovers she's not actually alone... Anyhow, it was a fun, thought-provoking, and unconventional story. (It was a BotM here back in December, 2009. The spoiler-free and spoilery discussion topics are both archived in the Previous Books of the Month folder, but as it was December, folks didn't generate much conversation.)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Remnant Population isn't like her Space Operas. I've read one and have others waiting. So far I haven't found the sci/fi as good as the Paks books, we'll see.

The Speed of Dark on the other hand is a totally different book and I'd call it interesting. Totally different kind of read.

[Shel, Moderator]

I *loved* The Speed of Dark. It's the only book of Moon's I've read. Kathi, it was an *Official* book discussion back in the Amazon days, if you remember? If you didn't read it back then, you should read it now, I think you'd really like it.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Shel wrote: "I *loved* The Speed of Dark. It's the only book of Moon's I've read. Kathi, it was an *Official* book discussion back in the Amazon days, if you remember? If you didn't read it back..."

Shel, I didn't read it back then but I'll keep my eyes open for it now.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Black Light and Countdown: M Day...for now.

[Bookbrow]

Candiss wrote: "Traci wrote: "Have you read her science fiction books? Are they any good?"

I read and really enjoyed Remnant Population. It's a psychological/sociological sf about an elderly woman o..."

I agree a different kind of science fiction with an unusual protagonist, just a great read. One of my favourite books of the year. I bought a bunch of her books at a books sale so based upon Remnant population I will read these down the line.

[Shannon]

Starting Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

[Random]

Bookbrow wrote: "Candiss wrote: "Traci wrote: "Have you read her science fiction books? Are they any good?"

I read and really enjoyed Remnant Population. It's a psychological/sociological sf about an..."

Remnant Population was my first book by Elizabeth Moon and one of my all time favorites. The Speed of Dark isn't far behind. :)

[Bookbrow]

Random wrote: "Bookbrow wrote: "Candiss wrote: "Traci wrote: "Have you read her science fiction books? Are they any good?"

I read and really enjoyed Remnant Population. It's a psychological/sociolo..."

Thanks for the heads up!