Former Introduction Thread Showing 2,751-2,800 of 6,846

[[deleted user]]

Welcome, Paul :)

[Eric]

Hey everyone, my name's Eric (b. 1967) and I'm a graphic designer from northern Virginia. I've been an avid reader of sci-fi, fantasy (dark, urban, contemporary, historical) and horror now for a few years--not having read much of it since I was a teenager.

My favorite authors are Robert Charles Wilson, Tim Powers, Dan Simmons, Terry Pratchett, H.P. Lovecraft, and Peter Straub. Currently reading Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Julian Comstock and just started Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Eric :)

[Barry]

Hey everyone. My name is Barry Gibbons. I'm an author of fantasy novels. My personal favorite author is David Eddings. He is a huge influence on my writings.

[[deleted user]]

Alyssa wrote: "I am Alyssa & when I am not doing anything I am normally reading! I am going through some troubles though.....
My grandmother has brain & lung cancer and she is going to die.

Check out my book clu..."

Sorry to hear, Alyssa. My Grandmother had lung cancer too. It feels as if the world around you should stop, but it doesn't. It's a hard time. Thoughts with you and your family.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Barry and Alyssa


Sorry to hear about your grandma, Alyssa.

[Chris]

Hi. Just joined today 2/20/2012. I'm just learning my way around. I think goodreads is a fantasitic idea and I wish I had found it sooner. Posted my Sci Fi book Above Us Only Sky here. I will read through some of your recommendations for books to read. Thanks
Chris Volkay

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Chris :)

[Jay]

Hi there. Jay Caselberg here, an Australian author based in Europe. I was browsing around and just happened to stumble onto the group. I write much short fiction and poetry and novels as well. They run the spectrum of science fiction, fantasy, horror, literary and many things between. Never know what a tale is going to turn into until it's there on the paper/screen/back of my head. I grew up devouring genre, one of those flashlight under the blankets boys. I only started seriously writing in around 1996 but still doing it and continue doing it. You can find a list of some of my stuff on my profile, but, working at short fiction length, quite a bit of it comes and goes.

Anyway, pleased to be here and will be interested in the ongoing discussions.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Jay :)

[Caron]

Hey All, I have been reading sci fi and fantasy since I was young, starting with Andre Norton's stuff. I love, love Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, Tolkien, Koontz, etc. etc. etc. Way too many to name. I've always worked 2 and sometimes 3 jobs to make ends meet but my dad got sick and I had to move to help him out. Needless to say, I lost my jobs. But on the up side it gave me time to write, which I find that I love almost as much as reading. I really look forward to the group discussions because that's something I've always wanted to participate in but never had the time! So hi ho, it's off to funtime we go... :)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Belle :)

[Jeroen]

Hello, my name is Jeroen, I'm from Holland, where I work in an English language bookstore as the SF/Fantasy-buyer. I really love my job and it gives me a good excuse to read lots of sf and fantasy in my sprare time :) I'm a grouchy reader though, not quick to like something.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Jeroen :)

As a grouchy reader, what's your recent most favorite book?

[Jeroen]

Ah, to be honest my recent most favorite book wasn't a sf/fantasy-title, but Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick; an account of the lives of regular people in North Korea. Although, in a way it has a medievalish setting, and fantasy is a great part of people's lives there (as in all the propaganda they have to swallow). But I also just finished The Conqueror's Shadow by Ari Marmell, which I liked more than I thought I would. The best fantasy I read recently would have to be A Feast for Crows; Best SF The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi.

[Marjorie]

I'm Friday (officially known as Marjorie F. Baldwin but we're going to be friends, right? So call me Friday)

Yeah, that's a pen name :) I'm not really the protagonist character from Robert A. Heinlein's book Friday. It's one of my favorites, though, and it was the inspiration for my SciFi Thriller/Mystery set of books, The Phoenician Series. I wrote 4 books of the series back in the 1980s, right when Friday came out. I've just finished my own edits of what was Book 1 (now it'll be Book 2) and sent my manuscript off to an editorial team of First Readers (2 of whom are professional editors) so I'll have a book out soon. Not soon enough!

I write under another name in the Romantic Suspense genre so my SciFi seems to have a lot of sex (which is always explicit in any genre I write) but I'm really against gratutious sex. Or gratuitous violence. Then again, humans are sexual animals and we are an amazingly violent animal. We enslave each other and torture and kill each other and generally are not a nice species most of the time. I like SciFi for the freedom of imagining better things.

I've been reading and writing SciFi since I was 9. I'm 51 now so ...been at it a few years. I haven't added books to my profile yet and between the two writing careers I'm launching simultaneously and working a day job, as well as blogging for sale, I'm kind of lacking on the time for pleasure reading. I miss it!

The last really great set of books I read was John Scalzi's Old Man's War series. LOVED that series of books (and thought Scalzi's versions were WAY better than Cameron's "Avatar" movie interpretation though I enjoyed the movie--always love seeing pretty boy Sam Worthington on screen).

I don't really like fantasy genre at all; in fact, I've been known to say I loathe it. One author has changed my mind (a little) about that: Lois McMaster Bujold. She's just so darn good at weaving a plot and texturing a world, I can't help but be caught up on page one. I tried the classic dragonslayer stories growing up and I dunno, I just don't get dragons. I don't like mages. I thought Heinlein's Glory Road was fun but thought the magic parts of it were the comic relief. Maybe I just have no taste. You be the judge.

I shall lurk a lot, post occasionally and I hereby apologize if it seems like I'm a fly-by poster. I am prolific whenever I open my mouth so if I say anything at all, it won't be short and sweet but I might not come back to finish the discussion. It's not a lack of interest, just a lack of time!

Once I start releasing and selling books, of course, I can quit the day job and talk all the time ^_^ Yeah, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

-Friday

[Steve]

Hi I'm Steve and I read :) sounds like AA!

Born in 1962 and grew up reading all the classic sci-fi authors and still have a collection of close to 1000 paperbacks. I read a book or 2 a week and have done ever since I was able to read, scarily enough I had to because TV wasn't available where I lived until the late 60's. I've worked in IT for the past 30 years (since card decks and stacks of lineflo!) and still a techie geek, albeit an oldish techie geek!

I'll read almost anything and cover classics, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, humour, name your genre I'll read it... whatever happens to be lying around when I get desperate, I've never been without a book by the bed in 40 years!

Currently rereading the Illiad, just finished 'of mice and men', not sure what will be next ...

I've been trying to fill in my list of read books on here and there are a lot of gaps ... 600 odd books added today and still finding a lot. What I'm after if anyone knows is a series of 4 books 1 per 'season' on a planet that had 1000 (or so) year seasons, first one starts out in 'spring' with effectively cave men, the only survivors of the previous 100 year winter ... it's bugging me that I can't remember what it is!

Anyway, just saying hello mostly.

[Marjorie]

Steve that 1000 yr season 4book series sounds interesting...and vaguely familiar (like the Jewish mythology *haha*) I've never heard of a SciFi series like that but wouldn't mind knowing what it is to add to my TBR shelf....for one of these days when I have time to breathe and read again!

-Friday

[Steve]

See I knew if I posted asking for it my next search would toss it up .... just to make me look like an idiot ... it's the Helliconia series (only 3 books, but it's been a while) by Brian Aldiss, written in the early 80s, which is probably when I read them.

Now I'll just post a question for all the old books I remember then I'll go search for them and they will magically appear ... this seems like an interesting extension of Murphy's Law!

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Steve :)

[Marjorie]

Steve wrote: "See I knew if I posted asking for it my next search would toss it up .... just to make me look like an idiot ... it's the Helliconia series (only 3 books, but it's been a while) by Brian Aldiss, wr..."

Murphy's Corrollary or not, thank you for posting the answer, Steve :)

-Friday

[Thaddeus]

Hi, I'm Thaddeus, but go by Ted. Not sure how that nickname comes about, but that was how my grandfather was known and the rest is history (or at least parental decisions).

I've been writing on and off for more than 25 years, but got really serious last year and finally decided to write something that had been in my head since I started this obsession and Mother's Curse was the result.

I wish I know where to attribute this bit of advice, but somewhere a couple years back I read that you should write a bad novel, just to get it out of your system and prove to yourself it can be done. Before Mother's Curse, I did that with another novel I had been working on for most of those 20+ years. It turned out to be about 200k words and rambled a bit too much. Though it taught me a lot and when I was done, I finally said "wow, I can do this."

When I am not writing, I tend to read quite a bit (my one guilty pleasure is buying books and it used to be Saturday date night was dinner and a book store).

And if not reading or writing, I try to get outside and spend time hiking and taking pictures; often combining the two activities. Spending a week or more near the mountains and getting in as much hiking as I can is how I like to spend my vacations. Although I do like traveling abroad as well (London is one of my favorite cities). I want to go to Norway one day (my mother's familiar is from there) and go back to Germany (I was born there, but left when I was still a baby, so doesn't really count as I don't remember it). Australia is anther destination on my list (many of my favorite authors are from Australia).

I'm fairly new to goodreads in general, but I'm definitely enjoying the site and this group, as my heart has always been with sci-fi and fantasy.

-Ted

[Closerx]

Hello everyone!

My name is Gary, I'm 26 and I am very excited to have found this group. I have always been into fantasy/scifi/fiction but never really had the time to read much. Idk.. I just thought it would be rude to my fiance if I was to seclude myself with a book after getting home from working such long days. We already don't get to spend enough time together.

This all changed a while back when I discovered how great audio books are when it comes to passing time while I drive for work. Let me tell you... I have been HOOKED!

One of the main reasons I joined this group was to find others with the same interests as me. None of my friends/family are into the whole fantasy/scifi genre. I would love to have some friends to talk to about these amazing stories I have been reading as well as get suggestions on new books to check out.

So far I have listened to these books (in this order):

-The Name Of The Wind (amazing!)
-The Wise Mans Fears (also amazing!)

-The blade itself (I tried SO hard to get into it but quit after about half way through. I will probably try this one again)

-The whole Song Of Ice And Fire series. (I loved the series but thought it got weaker as it went)

-Mistborn Trilogy. (I cant even put into words how much I loved these books.

-The Hunger Games Trilogy. (I was hooked from the beginning = )

I am currently reading:
-The Lies Of Locke Lamora
-The Way of Kings

**Also, I have read all of the standard books assigned to one in school as well as the LOTR series**

If any of you have any suggestions as to which books I should read next, I would GREATLY appreciate it!

So far I have these books on my next to read list:
-The Farseer books
-The Ask And The Answer/Knife Of Never Letting Go
-The Malazan books
-The Dark Tower books

Lastly, I have always been into writing stories/poetry. I am currently working on writing my first novel but am having a VERY hard time with sticking with specific ideas. I keep coming up with ideas and loving them one day but then wanting to change them the next. Maybe I am just trying too hard with my first one. My girlfriend keeps telling me just to roll with it and not worry about making my first one amazing.

As easy as that sounds.. I am sort of a perfectionist and can't stand the idea of making something less than the best I am capable of... Have any of you guys experienced this problem?

Anyways!.. That's about all I can think of writing about myself right now. Thanks for reading this and I cant wait to meet some of you! Take care!

[Darrell]

i must confess this is not my first group.although sci fi is tied for first place in the fave genre category.the sci fi series i keep reading every few years[thankfully as i get older my memory gets worse]is Duneand all things dune.especially the prequels.i once kept a worm in a large aquarium to see if it would get big enough to ride.it died.

[Donna]

Closerx wrote: "Hello everyone!
My name is Gary, I'm 26 and I am very excited to have found this group... If any of you have any suggestions as to which books I should read next, I would GREATLY appreciate it! ..."

I just got into audiobooks the last couple of years and have gotten hooked myself. Here are the SciFi/Fantasy audiobooks that I have given 4 or 5 stars:
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
Gateway by Frederik Pohl
The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov
Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein

Happy listening!

[Judy]

Closerx wrote: "Hello everyone!

My name is Gary, I'm 26 and I am very excited to have found this group. I have always been into fantasy/scifi/fiction but never really had the time to read much. Idk.. I just thou..."

Welcome, Gary! I love audiobooks, they allow me to read while driving, while cleaning house, while standing in line somewhere. I usually listen to one while grocery shopping! I have not listened o=to a great deal of sci fi (my favorite genre) on audio, but recent audio books I thought were wonderful include
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, and When the Killing's Done by T.C. Boyle.

[Marjorie]

Gary,

I don't know if Lilith's Brood can be found/had in audiobook format but it came out in 1989 so it's quite possible. I just started reading it (got a paperback from my local library) and I'm wow'd.

I don't like fantasy genre--typically say I loathe it--so I never bothered reading any of Octavia E. Butler's work but I had to know who she was. Between the fact she wrote in a male-dominated genre as one of the first female authors ever to do so (successfully) and the fact she was black in a white-only world of the genre in the 50s and 60s, well, she paved the way for me (I'm white but totally following in her footsteps and know it!!)

I know Orson Scott Card always likes to quote from Octavia Butler's books as the examples of "perfect" first 13 lines (if you don't know about OSC's first 13 lines gig, check out Hatrack River). So I always knew she was an extremely talented wordsmith. I just figured I wouldn't like her stuff. I was referred to Lilith's Brood because it is considered Science Fiction rather than Fantasy. I'm not sure I'd go quite that far but it is soft SF if it is SF at all. I don't see any explanations of actual science here yet but maybe she has them somewhere. I don't care; I don't read Science Fiction to learn science. I like to recognize the science and I especially like to recognize the speculation and extension of the science from the author's view but Butler doesn't seem to do any of that. Again, I don't seem to really care. I am enjoying her story so much it doesn't seem to really matter!

I've only posted a little comment for the segment I've read, not an entire review, but so far, I can see why I was referred to this work. She was writing this at the same time I was writing my Phoenician Series and we both did a lot of the same things. I like this trilogy because it reminds me of my own stuff ((smirk))

If you can find it on tape/MP3, you'll probably really like it. Most of the book is narrative (my style is usually mostly dialog so I don't translate to audiobook quite as well -- hard to tell who's talking in an audiobook) so there's little confusion as the story unfolds. I love the way she inserts her philosophical messages without being "in your face" about it, too.

-Friday

[Closerx]

Thank you for your replies everyone! A lot of those books look great and I will definitely check them out!

I am a little bummed though. After reading what you had to say about Octavia Butler, I checked into it further and REALLY wanted to read Lilith's Brood. Unfortunately there isn't an audio version of the book on any of the sites I use. Maybe I'll just buy the book and read it for real lol. It's just hard for me to find the time for it. Just like you Judy, I listen to books while I do just about everything lol. You will also see me at the grocery story with my 1 headphone in haha.

Hmmm well.. I now have a very long list of books to listen to but am having trouble deciding which to listen to first lol.

Thanks again for your help!

*Oh and BTW Friday - I will definitely check out your Phoenician Series. I really enjoy female scifi authors, I don't feel as if there are enough. The female authors I have read, tend to pay more attention to the emotional aspect of the story. I enjoy this because it lets me understand the characters/story line in a much deeper way. In some of the books I have read by male authors there can be a lack of emotional detail; that's not to say, I cant emotionally connect with any male authors. I just feel the perspective is a little different.

One last thing.. I have a few questions regarding the book I am working on writing. You have much more experience with writing than me. Would you mind if I asked you a few writing questions?

[Marjorie]

Hey, Closerx, Lilith's Brood is totally worth buying! Reminds me of OSC's Treason - did you ever read that one? OSC released it early in his career (and it was crap, even had internal contradictions and head-hopping) but then he rewrote it 20 years later and rereleased it and wow, it was awesome! I'm not sure which version that is that I just linked to. Get the one that came out in the 2000s, not the early 90s.

Characters are my forte; I write character-centered and character-driven stories. I think women put more emotional content into storytelling because we are wired that way, physically. Men can THINK themselves into a different mood but for women, we FEEL ourselves into a different mindset. Our brains are wired exactly opposite. That's why many women (myself included LOL) get so pissy when a man tells us what we're feeling or to just calm down when we start talking about our feelings. We verbalize the feelings and "feel" out way into a new way of thinking--usually we're trying to "feel" our way into agreeing with the man so having him tell us we're feeling A when we're trying to talk ourselves into feeling B is kind of aggravating ;) Maybe it's just a male / female thing.

Coincidentally, Octavia Butler describes an alien race in Lilith's Brood with THREE genders and one of the criticisms a lot of readers have with her about it is that the male and female genders are so stereotypical. I don't think people realize how dated the book is -- or how hard it was for a Black woman in the 50s, 60s and 70s to be taken seriously, let alone read with high regard. Butler did a great job--for her day and age. Actually for any age. I'm really enjoying her male/female and "ooloi" genders but I'm a little sexist I guess (see above comments generalizing myself and my fellow females LOL)

Regarding writing related discussions, this is definitely NOT the thread for it, but I'm sure there must be somewhere in this group -- and if not, there are a LOT of groups here on Goodreads for writers to gather and discuss writing, especially Indie Authors who want to discuss publishing. A busy and very open group is one called ROBUST. An fairly successful author named Andre Jute started / runs it. I am not a member of that group but I probably know over 20 Indie Authors who are--they chat there All. The. Time. I don't have time for it personally.

Check out writing groups on Goodreads for one where you can ask random questions and get tons of answers. Loads of them exist! Or ask me in this group but not on this thread. Be respectful of the discussion a little bit ;)

-Friday

[Marjorie]

Closerx, I just took a quick look at this group's discussion structure and it seems like not only could you create a thread in the Member's Chat discussion but there's already an "Anything goes" thread where you could ask writing questions and not be "off topic."

I haven't had time yet to really explore all my Goodreads groups yet. Still working on getting my first book out. Got feedback from 4 of my 5 editors and am down to the final weeks (while working 2 jobs). Yay. BTW, I got 2 of my 5 editorial readers just by participating in groups on Goodreads. You only get out of this site what you put in but wow, does this site have a lot to offer anyone who invests time and effort into using it! Such nice people here (why are all the cranky-heads hanging on Amazon? LOL)

-Friday

[EggSalad]

Hello:

I've been lurking in here for a while, after this post I will probably go back into lurk mode.. This been a great group to observe, get recommendations from, and I will try to add useful information if I ever have any.

I am a 40ish semiconductor engineer in Portland, OR and I've loved SciFi and Fantasy since I could first read. I have a wife and kid, and I don't get as much time to read as I might wish (but I love being a dad and husband, so no worries..)

I started with many of the classic SciFi / Fantasy authors like Clarke, Asimov, Tolkien ... Recently, I've been reading Bujold, Weber and Elizabeth Moon and have (mostly) enjoyed them a lot.

I do try to branch out to, so I've also been reading some historical fiction, mystery, and non-fiction (science and math stuff, mostly).

EggSalad (Mike)

[Francesca]

Hi everybody :)
I’m Francesca from Italy and I’m 33.

I do love reading (science fiction, fantasy, weird, ect., but many other genres too) – I’m biblioaholic! :)

Hope to find people to talk about great books and fiction. :)

PS: My complete library is on aNobii, here I’ll add only my books in English.

[Paul]

Welcome Francesca and Mike (EggSalad). I was totally thrown by that last nick as I thought us Brits had a monopoly on egg salad and it's uses, even as board names.

I seem to remember being offered vegetables to go in my sandwiches in the US and was confused until I realised they meant cucumber and lettuce, what we would call salad. The only other mention of salad seemed to be in gangster shows.

[Zero]

Hi,

First off I'll admit I was introduced to Goodreads just a couple of days ago when a friend told me about it, and that he'd put my new novel MetaMagik on his favourites list. However, since semi-cynicaly joining to help promote my book I've learned two things.

One is that I've read a hell of a lot of books. I've been adding books erratically to 'My Books' and still haven't scratched the surface of the pile of titles I've read so far in my life.

The second thing I've learned is, there is a like minded group of bibliophiles out there on the internet, and how grateful I am to have found them.

You can read the bio on my author's page, all of which is true, but it is there to help me sell books. The me behind the public face is a middle aged man with health problems. I suffer from Chronic Pain Syndrome, which in recent years has effected my mobility, to the extent that I have to spend most of my life lying on my bed here in Brighton, England. The upside to this is that I have a lot of time to read, and write of course.

As you can imaging, it would be very difficult for me to attend a book club, so this site is a great way for me to discuss books.

I have a very wide taste in literature, but have a special fondness for SciFi and Fantasy. I was reading the likes of HG Wells, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars books as a kid. I still like classic authors like Jules Verne and Lovecraft, Tolkien of course, and I'm a very big Philip K Dick fan. This is just a tiny sample of what I've read and enjoyed, lately I've been introduced to the excellent Hyperion by Dan Simmons, just to show you I'm not stuck in the past.

The love of my reading life is magical realism, Jorge Luis Borges is my favourite author, and the genre in which I write (this is the last time I'll plug my book, if you want to know more about it please check it out on this site). I look forward to sharing our joint love of literature with you all.

Love & peace,

Zero

[Zeynep]

Hi there! :)

I'm originally from Istanbul, Turkey, but for the last 5 years I've been living in Germany. I'm a clinical psychologist and work at a day clinic. I was an industrial engineer first, then got a degree in economics and last of all switched to psychology. Now finally I've found my calling.. lol.

I'm an absolute book lover, in any form (audio, e-book, paper). I love Ursula Le Guin's books, anyone else? My favorites are "The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia" and "The Left Hand of Darkness". Especially "The Dispossessed" had deeply influenced me at the time I'd read it. And my friends (who also had to read it, since I wanted to discuss it with them, lol:) were just as much struck by it as I was. It's really a book that makes you think about how we live and which values we adhere to, etc.

Anyway, I recently read "The Name of the Wind" and really liked it. I'm planning to go on to "The Wise Man's Fear", but the first book was a real obsessive read for me, I just couldn't put it down. So now I'm a bit cautious, waiting for a vacation to start it. :))

I just finished the first book in the Dark Elf Trilogy, "Homeland" by R.A. Salvatore. I liked it, it was quite fun to read, not too deep, but enjoyable.

I also just have to mention the almost unputtownable and really long (I found) fantasy books by Donaldson R. Stephen, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever and The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. I don't know if it was enjoyment or suffering or a combination of the two which led me on and on to read these books, but it was certainly an experience, lol. Has anyone felt the same way?

[Francesca]

Zeynep wrote: "Hi there! :)

Hi Zeynep!
Le Guin is one of my favourite writers!
Have you read the Earthsea books? A fantasy masterpiece in my opinion.

I finished “The Name of the Wind” last week, I enjoyed it very much, couldn’t stop reading till the end! Kvothe is such a great and amazing character. :)

[Amunhotep]

Hello my name is Amunhotep El Bey. I'm 33 years old. I do some of everything, but I mostly write and blog about good ebooks. I have two kids and I'm separated. The marriage was 8 years. If I had to do it all over again I would, because I love our kids. I'm the author of 5 ebooks and working on number 6. I ghostwrite and do some stand-up comedy from time-to-time. It's a pleasure to be apart of this group and I wish you all peace and blessings.

[Jeff]

Hello everybody! My name is Jeff, and this is my first ever group on Goodreads. I live in Portland, OR and in addition to work and school, I am ALWAYS looking for more books to read. Some of my favorite authors are Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Gail Carriger, and Cherie Priest. I look forward to meeting you all!

[Marjorie]

I'm new, too, but welcome Jeff, Amunhotep, Francesca, Zeynep (where do we get these usernames??), Zero and EggSalad Mike.

What are you reading right now? I just finished Lilith's Brood by Octavia Butler (check out my in-line reviews posted with my statuses...the rating went down the further I went into it but it was an enjoyable read overall). I definitely got sucked into the world she created.

-Friday

[Zeynep]

Friday wrote: "I'm new, too, but welcome Jeff, Amunhotep, Francesca, Zeynep (where do we get these usernames??), Zero and EggSalad Mike.

What are you reading right now?..."

Hello Friday! Actually my user IS my real name.. :D

I just finished the Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A.Salvatore and I liked it (well obviously, otherwise why read 3 books, right? :) I'm not sure what I should read now. I want to read "The Wise Man's Fear" but it's been awhile since I've read "The Name of the Wind", so I forgot quite a bit of it and that's deterring me..

[Jeff]

Friday wrote: "I'm new, too, but welcome Jeff, Amunhotep, Francesca, Zeynep (where do we get these usernames??), Zero and EggSalad Mike.

What are you reading right now? I just finished [book:Lilith's Brood|60926..."

Just finished Leviathan by Scott Westerfield. Pretty cool alternate history/steampunk sort of story.

[E.J.]

Jeff wrote: "Friday wrote: "I'm new, too, but welcome Jeff, Amunhotep, Francesca, Zeynep (where do we get these usernames??), Zero and EggSalad Mike.

What are you reading right now? I just finished [book:Lilit..."

You should read the sequels... I actually liked the series quite a bit.

[Marjorie]

Zeynep wrote: "Friday wrote: "I'm new, too, but welcome Jeff, Amunhotep, Francesca, Zeynep (where do we get these usernames??), Zero and EggSalad Mike.

What are you reading right now?..."

Hello Friday! Actually my user IS my real name.. :D

Oops, major foot-in-mouth disease on me! Sorry about that :) Leviathan sounded interesting but I don't really like steampunk so I never got excited enough to read it--esp. given there's a series ;) If there's a series, I like to read the whole thing, not stop at one, y'know? I mean you invest all that time and effort getting to know the make-believe universe and characers, the least the author can do is give you more than one story (LOL) I'm a series writer, what can I say? I'm biased in favor of series (plus who can complain about something like Foundation forex - still generating fanfic decades after Asimov's death!)

-Friday

[Abhijit]

Hey there!

I guess we're all hardcore sci-fi fans here so I can comfortably consider myself one of you.

I've been reading nothing but sci-fi, fantasy and science non fiction since I was 12 years old. That makes it 20 solid years now. I've only departed from this as an exception.

My most recent discovery is author Olaf Stapledon. I have been blown away by Last & First Men and Star Maker. What an astounding imagination brought across by incomparable eloquence. I recommend these books to anyone who hasn't read them yet. Magnificent!

I'm currently reading The Atheist's Guide To Christmas (yes, one of my departures) and am finding it quite enjoyable. It's light-hearted and amusing. Great fun.

Chat with all of you soon!

Abhijit

Olaf StapledonLast and First Men/Star Maker

[Aqiul]

Good to have you here Abhijit :)

[Traci]

After reading fantasy and only fantasy for a full year I realized something was missing in my life...science fiction. Lol. I'm a fan of both but lately I've definitely have been in a sci-fi mood. I mostly like the classics so I'm hoping this club might clue me in on some contemporary authors.

Some of my favorite fantasy authors are, Stephen Erikson, Robin Hobb, Brandon Sanderson, George RR Martin, Guy Gavriel Kay, Terry Pratchett, Joe Abercrombie, and hopefully I'm not forgetting a biggie that I'll remember five minutes from now.

My favorite science fiction authors are, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Poul Anderson, Henry Kuttner, CL Moore, Leigh Brackett, Fritz Leiber (although I like his fantasy more), and I'm a new fan of Robert Charles Wilson.

Oh well, ... *wave*

[Abhijit]

It's good to be here, Aqiul!

Hullo Traci! Check out the books I posted above. Sure you'll enjoy them.

[Bob]

Hello, I've been a member of this group for a few months and I don't think I ever posted here in the Introduce Yourself thread. I enjoy Sci-Fi and have been trying my best to get into Fantasy stories. So far I've found some really good books through this group and hope to find more. Thanks to everyone for the good reads!

[Sharon]

The first bedtime stories I remember being read to me were from Greek and Roman mythology. I've been reading fantasy and sci-fi ever since, with the sci-fi probably beginning with H. G. Wells and going on with Heinlein, Simak and more currently, Bujold, Weber, Drake and Stirling ... which is certainly not a full list of all of my favorites.

[Sharon]

KG wrote: "There's nothing else like getting lost in a book. "

Welcome and I'm sure many of us feel the same way.

I'm sure it's kept me sane at times in my life. I grew up on a western ranch with the nearest neighbor a mile away and the nearest town 60 miles away. I LIKE solitude. The two times I lived in an apartment complex (with two children and a husband underfoot) the first thing I found was the nearest library.