Former Introduction Thread Showing 2,401-2,450 of 6,846

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Sonia, feel free to jump into any discussions ya want :)

[Tracey]

Hi, all; I just looked through one thread and my TBR list grew about a page. Of SF & F I read mostly fantasy (my favorites are the usual suspects, from Tolkien to Dresden), but I love a good science fiction too; anything I say against the genre is purely to provoke Ala.

[[deleted user]]

Another heathen, great. Just what I needed.

:P

[Marian]

Hi, there! I am Marian. From Romania.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome, Marian

[Douglas]

A.R. wrote: "Hi. I've been silently stalking the group for a bit and getting a feel for it before stepping in.

I've been a SF Junkie (or geek if you will) since sixth grade's reading of The Time Machine. I'..."

Hello A.R., we share some characteristics, I too love reading stories of space and humanities direction (I tend to believe the Bladerunner type stories more than the Star Trek types though - call me a pessimist). But the thing that caught my attention is the lack of an inner compass.

Among my family there is a running joke about me: "Don't let him drive or you'll end up in Iowa." The joke is not quite unfounded because three times I have been headed for parts other than Iowa and I've ended up in Iowa. I don't know what it is about that state, but it seems to magically call me in - like The Devils Tower in Close Encounters. I have no interest in it, I just end up there.

Even on short, local trips, my wife is afraid to let me go out driving by myself for fear she will never see me again.

I can't even IMAGINE what it would be like to have to navigate in a 3-dimentional medium like outer space when I have such a hard time navigating in a single plane.

Nice to meet you, I'm glad you spoke up.

[[deleted user]]

Iowa? Of all the places to get called to, it wouldn't be my first choice.

[A.R.]

Love it Allan!

Just make sure to stay away from the mash potatoes or next thing you know the pile will be in the shape of Iowa.

My hubby has the same worry when I go anywhere solo too. Maybe we need to get GPS chipped...so we can be located.

[Robert J.]

Allan wrote: "A.R. wrote: "Hi. I've been silently stalking the group for a bit and getting a feel for it before stepping in.

I've been a SF Junkie (or geek if you will) since sixth grade's reading of The Time ..."

After reading your post, I had to check your picture to make sure it wasn't me. I thought I'd been sleep-typing. I once went to Misquamicut Beach in Rhode Island and we ended up in Worcester.

I was reassured when I saw you had been to Iowa - I haven't. Although my wife did ask, "Are you sure?"

[Douglas]

Ala wrote: "Iowa? Of all the places to get called to, it wouldn't be my first choice."

Trust me, Ala, it's not even on my list (no offense intended to Iowans) but I've ended up there anyway.

[Douglas]

A.R. wrote: "Love it Allan!

Just make sure to stay away from the mash potatoes or next thing you know the pile will be in the shape of Iowa.

My hubby has the same worry when I go anywhere solo too. Maybe we n..."

OOOhhh... maybe that's it: I Love potatoes! Maybe instead of Children of the Corn I'm a Child of the potato patch and just never knew it. That would explain a lot. I can't believe I never saw that connection before!

[Douglas]

Robert J. wrote: "Allan wrote: "A.R. wrote: "Hi. I've been silently stalking the group for a bit and getting a feel for it before stepping in.

I've been a SF Junkie (or geek if you will) since sixth grade's readin..."

(Grin) Glad I'm not alone in this, Robert. Sometimes I can claim innocence; it's the trucks fault. This afternoon we were coming from town, heading for a picnic on the parkway via the Interstate. We had to pass exit 440-which is the way home and I had to physically wrestle with our pick-up truck to keep it from turning onto the exit. It knows the way home, but we were going beyond today. I won, but it was a tussle!

[Douglas]

A.R. wrote: "Love it Allan!

Just make sure to stay away from the mash potatoes or next thing you know the pile will be in the shape of Iowa.

My hubby has the same worry when I go anywhere solo too. Maybe we n..."

That might just work, A.R. I recently read a story about a cat that had been missing for 5 years, traveled across the country, was found and identified by it's chip. That would at least help insure we'd get returned once found. Including GPS capability would speed the process.

I've thought about carrying a cell phone, but I'm forever laying things down and walking off without it. I'd have to duct tape the phone to my head to keep track of the durn thing.

I'm sure one day we will got to where doctors will implant a cell-phone chip next to every new-born's skull. This chip will connect the child to the rest of humanity and we'll be one step closer to being The Borg.

[Gef]

Hey, all. Just signed onto this group, since I can always use another good place to get recommendations on what sci-fi books I ought to read. For as much as I enjoy sci-fi films, I'm woefully under-nourished when it comes to literature of the same genre.

I believe my New Year's reading resolution heading into 2012 will be to read a boatload more science fiction. I've already got a bunch of titles recommended to me from places like SF Signal and Adventures in SciFi Publishing.

One thing in particular I'd like to get a bead on some good horror novels within the scifi genre.

[Susan]

Hello everyone! My name is Susan, and I am 28. I have always loved to read, and I enjoy reading a lot of different genres. I am kind of new to the Sci-FI and Fantasy genre so I am looking for some new books to read. Authors that I have read and enjoyed so far are Terry Goodkind, George RR Martin, Jacqueline Carey, Mira Grant and JRR Tolkien.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Gef and Susan :)

Gef: I'm not big on horror myself, but there is a group called Horror Afficianados that might be able to give you some great picks. :)

Susan: Here are a few to look at: Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Brent Weeks, Patrick Rothfuss, Robin Hobb.

[[deleted user]]

What's up yall. I'm Ala's less hairy bro. I saw that MrsJ and Denae and Tracey had hauled tail over here and I got jealous so here I be :)


Oh...I enjoy fantasy novels for what it's worth. I've read...like...all of them :) Okay, not all of them but probably most of em.

Oh and I just watched Star Wars for the first time like a month ago per a challenge with Ala so you could say I'm pretty noob when it comes to Scifi. I'm starting to dig it tho :)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Bro :)

Pia, there are only 3 Star Wars :P

He started with ANH.

[[deleted user]]

Hiya Pia. Yup...like Ala said. I started with A New Hope...the original version. It vas gud.

I watched the one after that too. I enjoyed it more :)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome :)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Brandon! I was all about the Dragonlance novels when I was your age. Give em a shot :)

[[deleted user]]

Lol...you may be deeper than I was at 13 ;) I still enjoy reading them on occasion even these days tho and I'm quite the fantasy snob (or so I'm told). They're certainly not works of art but they've brought ridiculous amounts of folks my age to fantasy and that has to count for something. I'll be curious to know what ya think if you ever get around to em, bud :)

[Knurek]

Hello, Greg at the keyboard, 30 years old at the moment.

I tend to gravitate towards hard sci-fi end of the book spectrum, but I enjoy and appreciate all good stories, no matter the genre.

I'm getting kind of too old for pulp or YA type of books, I hope I will get some worthwhile suggestions for new reads from this group. :)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Greg :)

You should never be too old for a good book, even if it is a bit pulpy :P

[Bernard]

I'm from North Carolina. I enjoy all kinds of books, but I do have a fondness for fantasy and science fiction. A few of my favorite authors are J.R.R. Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, George R.R. Martin, Stanislaw Lem, Robert Sheckley, and Brian Aldiss.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Bernard :)

[Tim]

Hi, all. I have been into science-fiction/fantasy since I first started reading as a kid in the early 70s. began with Dahl, Sendak, Baum and L'Engle and then graduated to Verne, Wells, Anthony, Tolkien, Howard, Burroughs and more. Have been into Dystopia stories lately, but am reading Lord Foul's Bane(Thomas Covenant Chronicles) for the first time right now(I know, I am late to that game, but at least I am reading them now. lol). I don't limit myself by genre, but sci-fi/fantasy runs deep through my bones so I never roam too far from it.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Tim :)

How're you liking the Thomas Covenant series?

[Tim]

Ala wrote: "Welcome Tim :)

How're you liking the Thomas Covenant series?"

I am really enjoying it! Donaldson has created quite a fascinating protagonist and secondary universe.

[[deleted user]]

I like the universe, but dislike Covenant himself :P

[Tim]

Ala wrote: "I like the universe, but dislike Covenant himself :P"

What's not to like about such a charming, personable character?

[[deleted user]]

He's just too much of a good thing, I think. :P

[Bee]

Morning all, Bernard/Bee/Ben here. Been reading fantasy since discovering Pratchett and Tolkien when I was about 11. Almost 30 now and mostly reading hard SciFi and space Opera (Iain M Banks, Hamilton, Vinge, Herbet, Heinlein), wih one most notable exception, the only real fasntasy I've been able to read in the last decade or so (except Pratchett) is Steen Erikson, the man blows my mind.

I don't get nearly as much time to read now-a-days, spend most of my tme using my Audible to listen to audiobooks, I'm so used to it I can't remember if I'd read or listened to a book.

[[deleted user]]

Sorry for the late welcome, Bee. Goodreads has been kinda iffy lately and I didn't see your post until now.

At any rate, welcome to the group :)

[James]

Hello all,

I have to admit I delurked recently to join a discussion about a book I wrote. This seems, in retrospect, not the best way to jump into the community.

So:

My name is Ty. I'm half of the team that writes as James S.A. Corey. We split up the responsibilities on reader and community interaction, and he was willing to take Twitter (I hate Twitter), so I'm the one that follows Goodreads. I admit, I think I got the better deal by far. I really enjoy using this site.

I'm a lifelong SF fan, and a fairly regular member of the fannish community. I go to the cons, I know most of the big name SF writers on a first name basis, all that. It's odd, now, being a writer and being on the programming after years of sitting in the audience.

I have a contract with the publisher Orbit, who now basically own me for the next five years. It's good company, though. Alistair Reynold's is one of my favorites, and he's part of the stable as well.

My favorite SF novel of all time is Alfred Bester's The Stars my Destination. My second is Zelazny's Lord of Light, though there is an argument to be made that it reads more like Fantasy. I generally don't read fantasy with a few exceptions.

Other than that, I just plan to prowl the group looking for SF recommendations for gems I somehow missed. Thanks!

[Sebastian]

hello, i'm Sebastian and i'm from Germany. I like to read - a lot - momentarily more english novels then german ones. Last book i read was G.R.R. Martins Dance of Dragons I love this series. I also like Terry Pratchett, Glen Cook, Eric Flint, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch and Christopher Paolini, Besides books i'm into TV Series and Films, Music and Computer games. I am 25 years old and a student of social sciences.
Ciao,
Sebastian

[Tim]

Guten Tag, Sebastian! Welcome to the group. I love Martin's series, as well, and I am also waiting impatiently for Paolini's latest. lol.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Ty and Sebastian :)

Goodreads seems to be acting up again. No notifications of new posts. Bah.

[Bee]

Hi Sebastian, Welcome, I'm pretty new myself. I love Abercrombie, and actually prefer him to Martin, simply because Martin bloody well kills everyone off!
Pratchett is just great! A true hero among men.

[Al "Tank"]

James wrote: "Hello all,

I have to admit I delurked recently to join a discussion about a book I wrote. This seems, in retrospect, not the best way to jump into the community.

So:

My name is Ty. I'm half of..."

It's okay to promote yourself, you just have to do it in the right places. In this group, there is an author's section where you can start a thread for your book, or list it on a thread I created (for new books, less than 3 months old).

So, welcome, Ty. We'll look forward to your input on the various discussions floating around here (there's plenty to choose from).
---------------
And welcome Sebastian. Is English your first or second language? (You handle it quite well). I've always envied people who could learn multiple languages. My attempts were dashed when I got a "D" in German while in school. Had the accent down pat, but not the actual words. Pretty much showed I have no talent for languages other than my own.

[James]

Al wrote: "James wrote: "Hello all,

I have to admit I delurked recently to join a discussion about a book I wrote. This seems, in retrospect, not the best way to jump into the community.

So:

My name is Ty..."

Hey Al,

I actually have no intention to do any promotion here. I joined a discussion about my book to answer a few questions and to say thanks. I sort of have an embarrassment of riches on the promotional end right now, so I'd rather use this group to find good books than use it to flail my own crap around. :)

[Al "Tank"]

Your choice, Ty. It's always nice to have the original author of a book involved in a discussion of the work. Gives the readers a chance to "get inside your mind" or give you strokes (or brickbats -- but we hope not).

There's no greater authority on a work (and students can blow their English/literature teachers out of the water with a direct quote from the author when the teacher looks for "deeper meanings" that aren't really there -- I always hated that when I was in school).

Have a ball!

[Sebastian]

I did learn english in school. In my experience, learning languages is only sensible if you have a expectation to use them. So because I read english books and watch movies in english, my english is okay. But other languages i did learn or did attempt to learn, like french, italian or spanish, well, let's just say i might master to say my name and where i come from, and nothing more.

[Ann]

I've been lurking for a bit and thought I'd throw into the mix. First scifi book read in 4th grade, A Wrinkle in Time. Went on to read as much as I could find until I was finally turned loose in the Adult Library and started at "A". Favorites include Ray Bradbury, Terry Goodwind, Robert Jordan, Stephen King, Diana Galbradon and too many to list.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Ann :)

[Jennifer]

I'm fairly new to Good Reads, but not SF/Fantasy. Right now I'm reding After Obsession by Carrie Jones. She is a good palate cleansing after reading some heavier things. Last year I started a list (actually an excel spreadsheet) with all the books I can remember reading. I'm over 500 now. Anyone else do the same. It's been a fun exercise. Glad to join the group.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Jennifer :)

[Bee]

Hi Jennifer, I guess Goodreads is my excel list of what I've read. it's been an interesting experience filling in this site with all my reads, and I'm not even half way done with the list, only the most memorable and important books have made it so far. The best part of it is the recommendations, I've already started reading two books based o recommendations, and have been pleasantly surprised.

[Jennifer]

I find myself remembering books I have read when i stroll through the book store, am at the library, or sometimes, totally random places.

[Ann]

Have anyone tried the scanner on the mobile app? I'm wondering what store owners will think. It sure would speed up additions to the list!