What Else Are You Reading? - May 2012

[Joseph]

I finished House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds -- excellent! -- and decided to try one of Jack Vance's mystery novels, specifically The Dark Ocean.

[Dharmakirti]

I am reading John Crowley's Aegypt. I expect a shipment from Amazon today which will contain a collection of essays titled Pointing at the Moon. I will be starting that tonight.

[Brandon]

I am in the middle of The Black Lung Captain, which is the scecond book of the series. This is a good series for anyone who likes steakpunk(though the author doesn't drone on about every invention/device like some do). Or if you like serenity/firefly it has a similar feel.

[Michael]

I am about to finish up Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. It's a really fascinating read that dips into science fiction, but being told over a period of centuries, also involves past and present narrators. Hard to describe, but I'm digging it.

[Kim]

This month I plan on reading at least The Yiddish Policemen's Union, Weaveworld, The Dark Lord of Derkholm, Deep Secret, Fantasti*Con, The Exile Kiss, The Lies of Locke Lamora and some more Tintin.

[Aloha]

I've been wanting to read that one, but forgot about it with all the book distractions. I'll move it up my list since your description sounds great.

Mike wrote: "I am about to finish up Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. It's a really fascinating read that dips into science fiction, but being told over a period of centuries, also involves past and present narr..."

[Aloha]

I finished The Sound and the Fury. It's now tops of my favorite books. Still nibbling on Only Revolutions. I need to find undisturbed and focused time to read that.

This month, I'm pushing other books aside to do a marathon Dark Tower catch up, starting with book one, The Gunslinger. I'm hoping to catch up to the latest release The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King fan forum's May read.

[Charles]

Book huggling the following:

Love and Romanpunk

Supernatural Noir

Creatures: Thirty Years of Monsters

The Year of Yes (nonfiction)

[Amy]

Had a really busy April, and so read mostly graphic novels, but finally getting back into the swing of things. Currently reading Redemption in Indigo and "Conspiracy" by Lindsay Buroker.

Since I have to play catch-up a bit (WHEN did my Kindle To-Be-Read folder get to 26 items?!), I'm planning on zooming through some of the shorter ones. It'll probably be Tricked or The Killing Moon next.

I'm also reading the graphic novel adaptation of The Last Unicorn on my iPad.

[[deleted user]]

Currently reading Unclean Spirits.

Over halfway and it's not bad as far as UF goes.

[Aloha]

My to read next (1st priority) has 65 items, My to read soon (2nd priority) has 79 items, and my to read (some day maybe) has 1,701 items. Don't try to reason with me. I tried. It didn't work.

Amy wrote: "Since I have to play catch-up a bit (WHEN did my Kindle To-Be-Read folder get to 26 items?!)."

[[deleted user]]

What about your "To-Read(Never Gonna Happen But I'm Addicted To Adding Books)" shelf?

[Aloha]

I don't bother with those because I'm never going to read them. I'm planning to read all of the 2,784 books I've listed.

[Amy]

Oh, the 26 books are just the ones I have bought for the Kindle, but still need to read. The stack of things I'd like to read eventually is much larger, but hasn't cost me money yet. ^^

Aloha wrote: "My to read next (1st priority) has 65 items, My to read soon (2nd priority) has 79 items, and my to read (some day maybe) has 1,701 items. Don't try to reason with me. I tried. It didn't work. ..."

[Aloha]

We hoarders have bags of things hidden everywhere. That 2,784 books listed are not all I have. I haven't gotten around to listing all I've got. *boast of a crazy book hoarder*

Oh, it's only 1,871 books that are to be read. I read the rest of the 2,784. Not too bad.

[Brad]

I'm in the middle of The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson, which will probably contend for the saddest book I'll read all year. Then I have Ready Player One, Empire State, and The Power of the Dog lined up in queue. There was quite a bit of a pitch for Old Man's War for this month's book, so if there's room in the queue, I'll do that one. It'll most likely wait until next month.

[Rik]

I've read the entire Hyperion series a few times so I haven't decided if I'm going to do the whole thing again or not. I just finished reading the first three Donovan Creed novels by John Locke. They were cheap on Amazon and apparently sell well so I thought I'd try them. They are all short, quick, entertaining reads. Basically they are about a hit man with a heart of bronze. He makes you feel really conflicted as a reader since Creed as the protagonist sometimes does good things but then will turn around and do something very evil by killing someone for no reason other than he got paid to do so.

[Mike]

I've picked up Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed after hearing about him on the videocast this week. Terrific so far.

I've got a general goal of reminding myself to read more by authors who fall outside my broad demographic category: straight, white men. It's a modest amount of liberal guilt balanced by my desire to really push out from the same perspective. No quotas or anything, but just a reminder that I track in my reading lists.

Even keeping that in mind, I slack off, with only about 1/3 of my reading in that category. But I think it's served me well so far, especially since familiar works are so easy to cling to and there's so much more out there.

[Aloha]

I know it's a historical American thing, but I'm starting to get sick of reading about a mindset that is mired in Jesus. In the past few weeks, I've read The Devil All the Time, a horror about hillbilly serial killer with Jesus voodoo attitude, The Recognitions about the perversion of Christian religion and art, and The Sound and the Fury, a very American book with American south attitudes. Then I saw that the next book I'm to read for the point of view study after The Sound and the Fury is Omensetter's Luck, about a Reverend in a small ohio town and has a church on its cover.

I'm starting Life. The beginning starts right away with the Rolling Stones almost being annihilated just for being different and sitting too long at a small Arkansas town's diner. No wonder Americans sometimes came with an image as egocentric, ignorant Jesus crazies carrying around shot guns and screaming patriotic fervors.

[Valentin]

Just finished Red Mars, so it's just logical to follow up with Green Mars and then Blue Mars.
Also, I was recommended Whitechapel Gods, so that'll have to follow, too.
As non-fiction book, Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future ist enhancing the mix.
Blackout is coming out soon, too, so that will then be read.
My collection of Iain M. Banks novels is waiting to be read by me, but that will have to wait until the weather's getting worse.

[Kristoffer]

I just read the novel The Mountains Of Mourning, which is available as a free ebook from Baen books, and I highly recommend it. Went on to start reading Cordelia's Honor by the same author, set in the same world.
Before that I read The Separation which isn't really sword or laser, there's a bit of alternative history going on, but a great read nonetheless, a real mind bender.
I've got The Magicians as an audiobook but hasn't gotten around to actually start listening to it; I can't keep up with the book club when I keep getting dragged into other books...

[Fresno Bob]

Aloha wrote: "I finished The Sound and the Fury. It's now tops of my favorite books. "

Caddie smells like trees

[Fresno Bob]

I finished The Gameslast night, which I found somewhat underwhelming, Scott Sigler's Ancestorcovers roughly the same territory better IMO. Trying to finish A History of the World in 100 Objectswhich has been fabulous, especially since we are going on a family vacation to London in June, and I'm about 80 pages into Bitter Seeds

[AndrewP]

After reading King Solomon's Mines a few weeks back I am following it up with Allan Quatermain but am not finding it as good and keep drifting off while reading it.

Reading Hyperion for S&L and really enjoying it so far. The first 50 pages has about 10 times more creativity and imagination than the whole of the The Magicians. My only disappointment here is that it's not full of space ships - as Tom promised us:) Next Laser pick - Space Opera anyone?

Also half way through John Ringo's A Hymn Before Battle. I started reading this for a bit of entertainment when the Magician's bogged down.

[Adrian]

Currently half way through Accelerando by Charles Stross. Excellent, loving it! Cannot beat a bit of cyberpunk (or post-cyberpunk)

[Been]

Been fairly contemplative about my current job and careers in general recently, so I've decided to put Cryptonomicon on hold for a while and start really digging into Being Geek: The Software Developer's Career Handbook instead. Seems good so far.

[Kate]

I think I'm going to sit out Hyperion, there's a lot of stuff in my to read pile this month.

I'm kicking off with Subtle Bodies: A Fantasia on Voice, History and Rene Crevel which is a strange little book.

[Aloha]

Subtle Bodies: A Fantasia on Voice, History and Rene Crevel look really good. I added it. I'd like to see how the biography is pulled off.

[Aloha]

It's available on Amazon for $1.99. I went ahead and got it. It sounds really intriguing. I like concepts like that.

http://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Bodies-F...

[Kate]

Aloha wrote: " I'd like to see how the biography is pulled off."

that's what attracted me, I'm now trying desperately to remember anything I learned about the Surrealists in college.

[Aloha]

Have you read The Lost Ones? That's a great little book of abstract imagery.

[Aloha]

I'm at the very end of the first book in the Dark Tower series The Gunslinger. I like the little speech The Man in Black gave about infinity, the blade of grass and the dark tower, although a physicist would have chuckled at the concept. They all have sentimental resonances with me, infinity, blade of grass, and the Dark Tower (Mordor meme). I think he started this book at 19. He did give the vastness of a western spaghetti, which he said was inspired by The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly movie, but I don't think the book had the wonderful surreal power of Neil Gaiman's work. I heard it gets better and I'm still sticking with May as my Dark Tower month. Stephen King is a terrific writer.

[Kate]

Aloha wrote: "Have you read The Lost Ones? That's a great little book of abstract imagery."

Oh, Beckett, I have him n a mental list of people to give another chance to someday.

[Nancy]

I'm currently about 80 pages into Timeless by Gail Carriger. It's her final book in the Parasol Protectorate Series. So far, it's fun. I wish I had more time to read it.

On the audiobook front, I'm halfway through Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, the first book in an alternate history series. It took me a little time to get into it. The world building is top notch, but there seemed to be a lot of running around without accomplishing all that much at first. Now that the two main characters have met, things are really picking up.

[Joseph]

Finished The Dark Ocean, the first Jack Vance mystery I've ever read. It was not my usual thing, but I enjoyed it. Now I'm starting Sword of Fire and Sea by Erin Hoffman -- I think I came across this one on one of the SFSignal megapanel podcasts about sword & sorcery fiction. Those things are dangerous!

[Joanna]

I'm reading Mistborn: The Final Empire after many, many recommendations. So far so good!

[kvon]

I was listening to Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers but I had the nagging feeling that I've read it before (how many examinations of putrefaction can there be?) and started on Across the Nightingale Floor instead. I'm also still enjoying An Artificial Night, and picked up Embassytown from the library.

[Aloha]

I enjoyed the Tales of the Otori series before I hit more books and developed a taste for more complexity, and plot twists. That was also when I was in my sword phase.

[Kris]

Started The Mongoliad: Book One and so far I really am enjoying it. After this it is back to the Malazan Empire for book 5 Midnight TidesMidnight Tides.

[Rik]

Aloha wrote: "I'm at the very end of the first book in the Dark Tower series The Gunslinger. I like the little speech The Man in Black gave about infinity, the blade of grass and the dark tower, although a phys..."

Maybe you know this, maybe you don't but to truly read the Dark Tower series you also have to read a few of King's other non-Dark Tower books. Insomnia is probably the most important even though when you read the back cover you won't understand why. It has major importance though as it features the Big Bad of the DT series and explains why he's doing what he's going to do. Next is Black House which unfortunately for you is the sequel to the Talisman meaning you have to read it too even though it has little to do with the DT. Black House is vital though.

You could get by with just those two but if you really want to understand the DT Universe you also need to read Eyes of the Dragon. Its set in Roland's world before Roland is born and you'll see connections. Salems Lot is also important though you won't understand why until book five.

And last but not least you must read the first novella in Hearts in Atlantis as it has major implications for Roland and his crew even though they'll never appear in it.

Most of King's works, as you might know, connect to the DT in some way but the ones I mention are vital to the series. The connections are more subtle in other books so they can be skipped if you want Best time to read all these other books is probably between books four and five.

[Matthew]

I just purchased Control Point and I'd like to finish it before the next month.

[Joseph]

Listening to Cormac McCarthy's The Road, first time I've listened to a whole book via audio that's not Roald Dahl :P.

A beautiful, shocking and depressing book, almost done and truly amazing.

[Keith]

About halfway through Excession, part of Iain M. Banks's Culture series.

[Aloha]

Thanks, Rik. I'm finished with Gunslinger and am working on the 2nd book in the series. I like this one better. It has more of the Stephen King doing fantasy feel, instead of him figuring out what he wants to be as a fantasy writer. There's no comparison to Neil Gaiman because the style is different. Salem's Lot has been on my list to read for a long time. This looks like it'd be a good time to read it. I have all the books you listed. Boy, what a way to get people to read all of your books. LOL.

Rik wrote: "Aloha wrote: "I'm at the very end of the first book in the Dark Tower series The Gunslinger. I like the little speech The Man in Black gave about infinity, the blade of grass and the dark tower, a..."

[Aloha]

Mongoliad and the Malazan series is on my soon to read. It looks like my fantasy list is filled up for this year.

Kris wrote: "Started The Mongoliad: Book One and so far I really am enjoying it. After this it is back to the Malazan Empire for book 5 Midnight TidesMidnight Tides."

[Micah]

Joseph wrote: "Listening to Cormac McCarthy's The Road, first time I've listened to a whole book via audio that's not Roald Dahl :P.

A beautiful, shocking and depressing book, almost done and truly amazing."

I felt the same way while listening to that one. Tough to get through but worth it.

[Stuart]

I am reading

[Jonathan]

I finished up The Hero of Ages and started up on The Alloy of Law. I haven't decided what I'm going to read afterwards.

[Justin]

I as well just finished up The Hero of Ages. It was the tail ends of a lot of epic fantasy I'd been reading. Between that and this month's book being a big time sci-fi book, I went with a slightly different direction and am also working through Hounded now as a change of pace.

[Tom]

I am just starting the second book of the Gentlemen Bastard series by Scott Lynch, Red Seas Under Red Skies and I am listening to one of my all time favorites, A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin.

I just finished The Magicians by Lev Grossman which after a very promising start got a pretty solid "Meh".

I also recently finished Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, also a pretty solid "meh", although an interesting look at time dilation.