What Else Are You Reading - January 2012 Edition

[Bree]

Joseph wrote: "Bree wrote: "I like my spaceships full of warrior princesses, telepathic dragons, and legions of the undead."

I would buy at least ten copies of this book."

I will NaNoWriMo it this year. :D

[terpkristin]

Tom wrote: "I'm not agains Canticle, but I also believe it has been cartoon long since we had a book with actual freaking spaceships in it."

Really? Is there a movie/tv show/cartoon based on it? I wonder if I've seen it and never known...

[AndrewP]

Tom wrote: "I'm not agains Canticle, but I also believe it has been cartoon long since we had a book with actual freaking spaceships in it."

Ah ha... that sounds like another vote for On Basilisk Station to me :)

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

As long as the spaceships don't have vampires....

[Joseph]

Jenny wrote: "As long as the spaceships don't have vampires...."

Or at least as long as the vampires aren't sparkly.

[Jenny]

I'm reading The Night Circus. It's really good and I'm speeding right thought it.

[Been]

AndrewP wrote: "Tom wrote: "I'm not agains Canticle, but I also believe it has been cartoon long since we had a book with actual freaking spaceships in it."

Ah ha... that sounds like another vote for [book:On Bas..."

It's also include in Baen's free ebook library, so that's a definite plus for those with less than optimal monies (like me).

edit: And the link http://www.baenebooks.com/p-304-on-ba...

[Lindsay]

by M.G. Wells

This is an indie book by a goodreads author. So far my kids like it and so do I. It's a unique book.

[Mark]

Hi everyone. I've been a member of the group for a while but haven't introduced myself until now. At last they've updated the android Goodreads application so I can actually get to the end of each discussion without manually scrolling down all the way.
Anyway I've always gone by the name of BilltheBloody on the net, no prizes for getting the reference! I live in Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK and work as an electronic engineer. I've been an avid reader of fantasy and sci-fi since my grandparents bought me both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was about 12.

I am a big fan of The Black Library's Warhammer 40,000 novels - licensed fiction based on Games Workshop's tabletop miniature wargame of the same name - particularly anything by Dan Abnett or Aaron Dembski-Bowden.

I love the Dresden Files by Dan Butcher and have recently got the first of the Codex Aldera novels to try. I'm also a big fan of Peter F Hamilton, Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson ( just read Alloy of Law - brilliant), Alistair Reynolds ( House of Sun's is his best IMO), George RR Martin, Orson Scott Card, David Gemmell, Paul Hoffman, Patrick Rothfuss, Kevin J Anderson and of course Terry Pratchett to name a few. I have also recently discovered Chris Wooding's Tales of the Kerry Jay's which I find hugely enjoyable, (especially good if you're also a fan of the Firefly TV series like me).

Outside of sci-fi & fantasy I also enjoys the books from Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Val McDermid.

[Kate]

I started Among Others this morning, I was highly suspicious of it but I'm really enjoying it so far, despite having read none of the classic sff she's referencing.

[AndrewP]

terpkristin wrote: "I think that now I'm going to read the Dunk and Egg stories from Legends, Legends II, and Warriors. Then I'll probably read the rest of the stories from Legends. I like the idea of a book of short stories, to fill in the gaps between the next S&L pick and audiobooks. "

I wonder why GRRM is not mentioned on the cover of any of the editions of Legends? Is his contribution really small compared to the others or something.

[Joseph]

AndrewP wrote: "I wonder why GRRM is not mentioned on the cover of any of the editions of Legends? Is his contribution really small compared to the others or something."

He was on the back cover of the original Legends hardcover and on the front of Legends II. The first one came out in 1998, so maybe at that point he just wasn't as big as the authors they chose for the front cover?

(Legends was where I read my first Discworld story.)

[Kate]

I read Legends when it first came out for the Robert Jordan story, which I remember as being great but can't really separate in my head from the novel he expanded it into. I remember we Wheel of Time fans were pretty annoyed at the time that he was frittering about with prequels when we wanted sequels. And then he died much too young and the other prequels he had planned will probably never see the light of day.

Anyway, I finished Among Others and am preparing to throw my hands up in defeat, admit I can't get enough of vampires and start Enter, Night.

[terpkristin]

Upon seeing that SFFaudio did a read-along, I started listening to Immortality, Inc. (it's less than 6 hours long).

I'm not very far in (only about an hour) but it reminds me a lot of things shown in Futurama.

[Aethelberga]

Partway through The Rookie by Scott Sigler. I know nothing about football and care even less, but this book is pretty good despite how very football heavy it is. Interesting characters, and very interesting universe.

[Tamahome]

I'm halfway through the old version of The Stand . You know, the version that's half as long? This is where I stopped reading it as a kid, and I can understand why. It's pretty dull when Harold is not around.

[Been]

Finished Playing with Fire, the 2nd book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. I'm going to start on The Faceless Ones next, the 3rd in the series, then give the series a short break for a while. I'm certainly enjoying it, but I don't want to burn myself out on the series by reading all 6 in one massive lump.

[Joseph]

Finished The End Of The Story: The Collected Fantasies Of Clark Ashton Smith Volume 1 and started The Waters of Eternity by Howard Andrew Jones -- I do love me some Arabian adventures.

[Will]

Reading The Help now

[Tracy]

Finished up Empire State, which I very much enjoyed, last night and started Phoenix Rising this morning.

[Joseph]

Finished the short story collection The Waters of Eternity (it's relatively short) and moved into The Desert of Souls, the novel featuring the same two characters, Dabir and Asim.

[Gregg]

Currently around 80% into The Black Prism and closing in on the end of Ready Player One. Course I'm sure I will be moving on to a couple of new books in the next day or two.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Just finished Moxyland by Lauren Beukes, a rather quick read along the lines of Little Brother, set in the near future of South Africa, dystopian, etc.

Also recently read a galley of Alif the Unseen which I highly recommend when it comes out in a few months - hackers, muslims, djinns, magical texts, and a very realistic near future middle east.

[Arroyo0]

Read Halting State before reading Rule 34.
Just finished 11/22/63 by Stephen King, it was okay but nothing spectacular.

[Kate]

Finished Enter, Night yesterday. Brilliant. Highly recommended for anyone who misses the days of vampires being credible threats, rather than sparkly boyfriends.

Kicking off The Poison Master today. Liz Williams is the GoH at a con I'm helping run in October. I've never read any of her stuff before. Hope it's good.

[terpkristin]

I finished listening to Immortality, Inc. this morning. It was pretty good. It also became obvious that either Matt Groening or one of his writers read it, as many parts of Futurama are lifted from its pages.

I totally thought we were picking a new S&L book this week, only to realize that it's not happening until the 13th. As such, I guess I'll dive into Inheritance to finish out that series, and hope to be done by the time the next S&L book is selected. In "print" I'm reading The Hedge Knight, the first of the Tales of Dunk and Egg (George R.R. Martin ASOIAF world stories). I'm also reading The Game Games Bowl, the 2102 "Winter-een-mas" story arc "novella" written by Tim Buckley, creator of the Ctrl+Alt+Delete comic.

[Tamahome]

I finished the 2nd Peter F. Hamilton old Mandel series book A Quantum Murder. The sophomore effort seemed lackluster.

[Kevin]

Arroyo0 wrote: "Read Halting State before reading Rule 34.
Just finished 11/22/63 by Stephen King, it was okay but nothing spectacular."

Yeah, I agree with you on 11/22/63, but most people loved the book.

[JRush]

Finished Empire State last night and on to The Last Colony. On audible I'm listen/reading to Reamde, about half way through it and liking it ok.

[Melissa]

Just finished the Steve Jobs biography. I think I will now move on to the Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham.

[John]

just started Bitter Seeds

[Bree]

Just started The Blade Itself on audiobook, still working on Leviathan and The Briar King in dead trees, and Rule 34 and assorted mystery and romance trash on Kindle. Something is missing from my media stew, though. Maybe I'm just longing for another Scott Lynch book . . .

[Jenny]

I'm in the mood for a lot of different things right now so I'm reading Elizabeth The Queen: The Life Of A Modern Monarch, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1, and Sojourn.

[Kevin]

I'm starting the second and third book in the Foreigner series, Invader and Inheritor.

[Kevin]

Jenny wrote: "I'm in the mood for a lot of different things right now so I'm reading Elizabeth The Queen: The Life Of A Modern Monarch, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1..."

Nice, you are starting Sojourn. Hope you continue, and read The Crystal Shard soon.

[kvon]

Having read both Anathem and A Canticle for Leibowitz in the past, they share a setting (monastery), some themes (societal changes over time), but are two very different worthwhile books. In Canticle (view spoiler)[there is a spaceship at the end (hide spoiler)].

I'm rereading The Sun Sword to see how it tied in with her most recent book, and I've forgotten how refreshing it is to have lots of characters who are honorable and noble and trying to improve themselves in a doorstop epic fantasy.

[Warren]

NPR's top 100-- Scifi & fantasy flow chart
http://goo.gl/JsDzf

There are some I missed this month.
;-}

[Keith]

I'm trying to read The Children of the Sky but it's just not clicking with me, even though I absolutely love both A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky. So with that one on temporary hold, I'm moving on to Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks.

Also wrapped up the first three Dresden Files books. I know people compare them to old hardboiled detective fiction, but for me, they read exactly like the sleazy spy novels of the 60s and 70s -- Nick Carter, Sam Durrell, those sorts fo Bond cash ins -- complete with all the hero getting captured, the hero coming up with really half-assed plans, gore, and gratuitous sex and nudity that peppers the old espionage potboilers.

[AndrewP]

Keith wrote: "really half-assed plans, gore, and gratuitous sex and nudity"

I remember Nick Carter :) Must have read 20 or so of those books way back when. If I ever get around to completing my goodreads past reads it might be difficult to find those books available anywhere.

[Kris]

Keith wrote: "I'm trying to read The Children of the Sky but it's just not clicking with me, even though I absolutely love both A Fire Upon the Deep and [book:A Deepness in the Sky|2..."

Keith I agree with you on Childfren of the Sky...slow going....Like to hear what you think of Use of weapons....

[Arroyo0]

Now I'm reading Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey book #1 of the Space Opera Expanse series.
James S.A. Corey a pen name for a collaboration between Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Daniel Abraham is the author of the Fantasy series Long Price Quartet and others and Ty Franck is George R.R. Martin's assistant.
Perhaps not surprisingly, George R.R. Martin gave this book a glowing recommendation.

[Bob]

Checked out The Magicians and now reading The Magician King. I can't enough of these books.

[Arroyo0]

Finished Leviathan Wakes (gave it 4 stars), started Grave Witch.
I'm only in the beginning so far it has the vibe of a female Harry Dresden, which is a good thing.

[Keith]

Kris wrote: "Keith I agree with you on Children of the Sky...slow going....Like to hear what you think of Use of weapons.... "

It's hard to follow up Player of Games, which I didn't expect a lot from but ended up loving. I thought Use of Weapons was a bit more indulgent and meandering than the first two books, but mostly enjoyable. Then I got to the last page, which is just a total emotional gutting. Now I'm going to be depressed for the rest of the day. I should remedy with some Gail Carriger or something

[Kris]

Keith wrote: "Kris wrote: "Keith I agree with you on Children of the Sky...slow going....Like to hear what you think of Use of weapons.... "

It's hard to follow up Player of Games, which I didn't expect a lot f..."

The last page just blows the book up into another level...agree about the meadering nature but I still enoyed it....Banks is a author I never know what to expect from but I usually like it...

[Cap'n Jack]

Since I last posted, I finished the unabridged audiobooks of Childhood's End and Heir to the Empire 20th Anniversary Edition. I liked Heir because they included music and sound effects, and the reader did a great job of imitating the characters' voices. But Childhood's End was really amazing and seemed like good old far-out scifi!

My wife has been reading the Hunger Games trilogy, so I'm starting that.