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[Wrey]

Hello to you all,

I've dropped a few thoughts here and there in different discussions but I've not made a formal introduction. My name is Reinaldo (Ray, if the full version gives you tongue cramps) and I live in Puerto Rico. I'm 42 and, like many of you, a struggling writer. I work as an interpreter and translator for the USDOJ to put food on the table and I have a profoundly deep passion for Language as a phenomenon. I speak English, Spanish, Russian, some Czech, Slovak and Polish as well. Puerto Rican by birth, World Citizen by choice. I don't have enough fingers to tic off the authors whom I love, but I currently give literary worship to Octavia Butler and the stunningly competent China Mieville.

Science Fiction as a genre is not much beloved where I live for reasons of other genres filling its place and for strangely sociopolitical reasons. Science Fiction is a genre espoused by classically industrialized cultures and the Latin cultural is largely pastoral/agricultural which leads to a zeitgeist that views Science fiction with nervous suspicion.

[H.M.]

Hi there, thanks for setting up this group and being here.

My real world name is Eric, though Goodreads shows my nom de plume. I come from Scarborough on the north east coast of England and have been reading sci-fi and fantasy since the early 1970s. John Wyndham, Isaac Asimov and JRR Tolkien were probably the first to turn me on to the genres.

[Melody]

Hello,

My name is Melody and I am publicist to . I am pretty open in my genre preferences, but Ms. Scriva's series is Science Fiction/Fantasy and I say this in the most genuine way possible, I adore it and I hope that it gets enough of an audience one day that we may discuss the brilliance of it; anyways,

I am a 24 year old Floridian studying to be a registered dietitian and I am new to Goodreads and just trying to find my footing here :)

[Amy *Waitforit*]

Hello all,

My Name's Amy and I'm from England. I will read pretty much anything but i'm really into Science Fiction and Fantasy right now.
I adore the Dresden Files and am currently listening to the audiobooks, ready for Cold Days later this year. Right now I am reading Midnight Riot (UK title Rivers of London) which I like, mainly because I know the area where it is set really well. I've joined this group to find new books in the genre and to find fellow fans. :)

[Dante]

Hello, hello, hello. Dante D'Anthony here. Great group, great idea. Looking forward to reading you all. Thanks.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi all, welcome.

[Michael]

I've been a member of this group for a very long time, but I went through my posts and didn't find an "introduce yourself" post so here I go.

Like many, I suspect, it was The Hobbit followed by Lord of the Rings that got me started reading...period...and while I read in a wide variety of genres fantasy still holds a place in my heart.

While I have enjoyed by Martin, Abercrombie, Weeks, Lynch I'm not a big fan of the "darkness" that has crept into fantasy. I want to escape into a world that is "better" than the one I live in so fantasy that is more adventurous and dare I say even heroic is more appealing to me than those works that are so dire that I feel a need to take a few Prozac before I start reading. Any recommendations along that line I would be eternally grateful for.

[Sharon]

Michael wrote: "I want to escape into a world that is "better" than the one I live in so fantasy that is more adventurous and dare I say even heroic is more appealing to me than those works that are so dire that I feel a need to take a few Prozac before I start reading. "

Glad to get to know someone else with the exact same attitude as mine. If I want dark/depressing/dire all I have to do is turn on the TV and listen to any news program. I want books that entertain ... not depress.
You might take a quick look at the fantasy books in my 'read' books list. Many of them are long time favorites that I actually own and have on my personal bookshelves to re-read when I want a 'sure thing' to read.

Mercedes Lackey has three fantasy series that I follow, the "500 Kingdom" series, Elemental Mages and the Valdemar series. Lois Bujold's "Chalion" series is particularly good. Robin McKinley has several books I re-read often.

I find urban fantasy particularly prone to the dark/grim side of things but two series I've found that are not as depressing are the "Right Hand/Left Hand" magic series by Nancy Collins and the Jane Yellowrock series, a really fun urban fantasy/action series by Faith Hunter.

[Peter]

hi all,
I'm a new Science Fiction author and new to Goodreads also.
I read the guidelines and so forth so here is my name rank and security number only.

My name is Peter James West.
I'm 43 with a few grey hairs just starting to poke through.
I've read a fair bit of science fiction but always looking to see what is new and find great fiction.
I read Stephen Donaldson's The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and I really enjoyed that. I also read Robert Jordan's 718 volume The Wheel of Time and am hoping the last book will be published before I die.

Well I can hope.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Peter welcome.

Michael, welcome. It looks like we may share a taste in fantasy where there is a striving good. My friends here already know what I'm going to recommend, LOL as I recommend it a lot. One of my all time favorite "novels" is The Deed of Paksenarrion. This is the one volume version of the trilogy. It says it's books 3-5 of the "saga" but the first 2 books are simply prequels. They don't concern the protagonist of the trilogy directly.

Anyway, if you haven't read it you might want to try it.

Again, welcome.

[Michael]

@Shannon - thanks so much - I did look at your list - and started adding books...but then thought I would ask...of the three Mercedes Lackey series - which would you recommend me to pickup first (I'm a slow reader so doing all three will take me a LONG time)

As to Urban fantasy - Have you tried Jim Butcher's Dresden Series - I've been enjoying that.

@Mike - That's a completely new one to me - so I've added it right away - Thanks for the recommendation. - I was SHOCKED to find there is no ebook of it!! Oh well I ordered a print copy.

I find it interesting that both you and Shannon have recommended women authors - which might be saying a lot ;-)

[Will]

I'm no good at introductions, so I'll make this quick.
Hi I'm Will, i'm 26 (27 after this weekend), aspiring author, loves to read (and write) fantasy, sci-fi and some horror,and I'm new. I think that sums it up lol.

[Jaime]

Hey all - longtime sf & fantasy geek, although I read Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock before I got to Tolkien. My interests and fave authors are too numerous to succinctly list, but a trip to my personal Goodreads page will give you an inkling. Glad to be here.

[Michael]

Welcome Martin...The best books I can recommend presently in contemporary would be Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid series asnd Jim Butcher's Dresden files. Let me know what you think.

[Sharon]

Michael wrote: "of the three Mercedes Lackey series - which would you recommend me to pickup first "

Personally, I rather like the lighter touch she has with the "500 Kingdoms" series and you do need to start with the first in the series, The Fairy Godmother. After that you can pretty much read them as stand alones.

The other one I would highly recommend is the first in Lois Bujold's "Chalion" series The Curse of Chalion It is more traditionally fantasy, I'd say and not as much 'fairy tale' ... but these two are very high on my personal 'must have if I'm abandoned on a desert island the rest of my life' list.

Also, if you like urban fantasy with a touch of humor and no 'grim/dark' issues, a recent find for me is the series by Stephany Simmons that starts with Voodoo Dues. I've read both in the series and am waiting (not patiently) for the next one to come out. I mean really ... a chubby, nerdy vampire with a pocket protector?

[Bob]

Hi, everybody.

I started reading SF&F years and years and years ago. The best writer of science fiction I ever found, in a literary sense, was Roger Zelazny; in a conceptual sense, it was Frank Herbert. In fact if anyone wants to talk about Frank Herbert, I'm up for it.

Over the years my reading choices have expanded, in parallel, perhaps, to my professional pursuits. At one time or another I've been a cell biologist, a phycologist (Spirogyra, Procloron), an oceanographer (light- and scanning electron-microscopy, photography, Antarctic diatoms, Eucampia), a clinical chemist (robot repairman), a histocompatability technologist (the Frankenstein business, epitope investigator at large), a reluctant hematologist (counting to 100 repeatedly, robot repairman), a microbiologist (normal flora detective, antibiotic resistance, virology, genomics, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, bioweaponry, West Nile Virus), a transfusion medicine technologist, a father (sub-roles too numerous to itemize), an appreciator of psychedelic and impressionist art, a Dylanologist, an aficionado of Frank Herbert, Ernest Hemingway, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Thomas Pynchon and James Joyce, and a life-long writer.

Most of my professional training was at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where I blog compulsively about my most recent novel (American South, the blues, jazz, the Civil War, Civil Rights, New Orleans, Savannah, the Mississippi River basin, etc.).

Did I mention I'm always up to talk about Frank Herbert?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome.

[Michael]

Martin wrote: "Thanks, Michael. I've sent a sample of both of your recommendations to my Kindle.

Glad to hear it - I hope you enjoy.

[Michael]

Sharon wrote: "Michael wrote: "of the three Mercedes Lackey series - which would you recommend me to pickup first "

Personally, I rather like the lighter touch she has with the "500 Kingdoms" series and you do n..."

Thanks Sharon!

[David]

Hello,

Im David, a writer by trade and education. Fell in love with science fiction due to many episodes of Star Trek TNG with my dad, and fantasy with The Hobbit.

Currently Im trying to explore what I want to do with my writing and reading a variety of books to do so.

[D.L.]

Hello everyone. My name is Daniel Silverman and I am new here. I'm a middle aged mad (46) who has loved science-fiction and fantasy since he was but a child. I love the ideas and the creative imagery. I've recently become and author myself and my book is due out in about a week or two. As you might guess, I am very, very excited.

I find life to be very interesting and have had the privilege of living in a few countries besides the USA. I love learning about other cultures and meeting people from a variety of places. I'm also an artist and spend a good deal of my time doodling away on this project or that.

I look forward to getting to know the people here in this group. :)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi D. welcome.... so, just wondering are you really a "middle aged mad" or is that a typo????? :)

[D.L.]

Haha. Yeah. I am mad (a little loose in the noodle), but I did mean "man". ;) I suppose I need to hire an editor for my posts now. :D

[Mike (the Paladin)]

No biggy. Every time I reread a review here I find typos.

[Scott]

Hi everyone. I'm Scott. I'm 45 and have loved sci fi since I was a teen. I've moved around North America a lot and have read quite a few books over the years, and have recently been rediscovering my love for sci fi, most especially Philip K Dick. I look forward to engaging in discussions in this group. Oh, I currently live in Chattanooga with my girlfriend and our two crazy cats....

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Scott, welcome.

(I live in Nashville with 4 cats, though only a couple of them are crazy.)

[Scott]

Hey Mike! Thanks for welcoming me. Nashville's a nice city. How do your two non-crazy cats manage with your two crazy cats? ;-)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Mostly they ignore them. Martha tends to sleep on top of a book shelf and then LEAP onto you as a step down to the floor. She also knocks things off late at night. Luna was my wife's cat (my wife passed in 2009) and she's a bit timid. She'll come out of my bedroom but if someone moves quickly she moves so fast it's like she dematerialized (actually I think cats can dematerialize). The 2 Toms are more laid back. They find a place and settle down. The only thing that excites them is meal time or cat treats.

[Scott]

Henry has feline separation anxiety -- literally -- and has to be in my presence at all times. Toby is part Maine Coon and lives to take showers with us. He drinks the shower water while he's in the shower. They're both so darn weird, it's not even funny. But we love them. :)

So, what are you reading? What would you recommend for a decent read these days?

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Reading the last in a YA series...jury's still out. Also reading The Man Who Never Missed, okay so far but I own it so it has to wait for library book reads, LOL. Rereading To Kill a Mockingbird for a group read and finishing up Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left from Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning.

I tend to have audio books that I can listen to when I'm doing other things as well as print books.

[Scott]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Reading the last in a YA series...jury's still out. Also reading The Man Who Never Missed, okay so far but I own it so it has to wait for library book reads, LOL. Rereading To Kill a Mockingbird fo..."

Thanks for listing what you're reading. Sounds interesting. I used to do audio a lot more than I do now. Part of my work involves audio, so I tire of it these days. I like having a good old book in my hands, I guess....

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I do to, but I got started listening back when I was driving a service vehicle. My wife's health wasn't good for a long time and also she was an artist so she liked to listen to books. I searched the library for books on tape (back then) she liked and now and then I'd take one to work and listen to it as I drove or even as I did some maintenance that required little thought. So I got used to them and still like them if the reader is good.

Also sometimes if I want a book (say one in a series) right away I can simply download it from Audible. LOL.

[John]

Hello, been a member of this group for a while but never really participated in any of discussions. My name is John, I'm 22 and live in Washington DC. I've been a fan of SFF books since high school after a friend introduced me to Robin Hobb. I've read most of her books and really enjoy GGK as well. I also read Asimov's and various other SF publications as time permits. I'm a web developer currently and spend lots of time working on open source software.

Currently reading The Wise Man's Fear. I look forward to participating in the monthly book club as well. Cheers!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi John, welcome.

[Maryam]

Hi All, My name is Maryam, I'm 42 years old and I'm new to goodreads. I currently live in Cleveland OH, and have lived in the midwest for all my life. I work for a small engineering firm and at the end of this quarter I will hopefully have my Master's in Comp Sci.

I'm looking forward to being able to get back into reading now that I will have more free time. I've had a Kindle for 2 years now - and I have 2 years’ worth of Asimov & Analog magazines stored on it and tons of books & samples I downloaded because they looked interesting. But I'm always looking for something new to read - correction - something new to buy so I eventually can read it.

I read anything – but I love science fiction and fantasy. The list of books I’ve read this year would be pretty short, even though I did just finish reading/scanning Ready Player One – I couldn’t help myself – that book was like mountain dew & Doritos for the geeky soul. I’ve read tons of books though – everything from the Foundation Trilogy to Red Mars to the first couple books of Wheel of Time, before I got tired of it, to Cordelia’s Honor to Ender’s Game. I’m always looking for something new, engaging, funny, preferably a semi-good / happy ending. I know real life isn’t like that – but I like the good beating evil, happily ever after kind of stories.

Anywho - I look forward to being a part of this group.

[Bryn]

I guess I ought to introduce myself. - Before I forget, Mike, you mentioned The Deed of Paksenarrion, that is unforgotten by me.

I'm forties now, read most of my sf in teens/twenties but it never leaves you. My worshipped authors were M. John Harrison in his Viriconium days; Samuel R. Delany; James Tiptree Jr; lesser idols included Moorcock.

Early George R.R. Martin - Dying of the Light - was massive for me, but so far have failed to like his opus now.

Mad fan of Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica, not to mention older TV... I was heavily into Blake's 7 fandom.

[Alan]

Greetings
I guess I am going to count as one of the old guys here - freshly retired from teaching and University tutoring! I have been reading SF & Fantasy for about as long as I can remember (which is almost back to what SF people, including Asimov, defined as The Golden Age) and for some years have been collaborating with an old friend to try to write some (check out "Denham and Buckby" on Amazon).
As for what I've been reading . . .
Pratchett - totally wonderful! All of them!
David Brin - I wish he would write more!
Charles Stross - ditto
And Larry Niven, William Gibson, Greg Bear, Stephen Baxter, Julian May, R.A. MacAvoy, Neal Asher, Neal Stephenson, and recently Jonathon Stroud, K.J. Parker. . .
There aren't enough hours in the day!
More about me on the website at www.planetnuome.co.uk

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Alan, welcome. Don't feel lonely, I'm a child of the '50s and cut my science fiction teeth on Tom Swift, found A.E. van Vogt, Poul Anderson Theodore Sturgeon and others. Then I found Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars books and was off. Enjoy.

Welcome to you to NYKen. I see you mention Gary Gygax, were you one of we early D&D players? :)

Hi Bryn, welcome to you to...and I'm still a Deed of Paksenarrion fan.

Maryam, welcome to you to. Glad you're here. Again enjoy.

[Al "Tank"]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "...Also reading The Man Who Never Missed, okay so far but I own it so it has to wait for library book reads, LOL...."

Had the entire series of The Man Who Never Missed trilogy, but Matadora seems to have disappeared. Love it! Now that you've mentioned it, I want to pick it up again, but it's not due up for re-reading for at least a 1/2 year (darn!).

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Look up the series... According to what I saw the series goes on several volumes past the first 3 now. I'll see how I feel about running them down after I read these 3, LOL.

[Jeffery]

Hi everyone,

I am a writer and also a composer (although I have pretty much retired from music at this point). I've been writing short fiction for years, but am now working on my first novel -- if all goes well it is book 1 of a fantasy trilogy.

Live and work in Philadelphia -- a beautiful, wonderful city to be in. My day job is working in IT for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. IT has been very good to me over the years, given me the flexibility and resources to be able to pursue my passions. And it's good to be doing work that so clearly helps people.

Look forward to getting to know all of you!

Jeff
www.jefferycotton.com

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome Jeffery.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Oh yeah, the "choose your own adventure" books. My kids liked those.

[Alan]

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Hi Alan, welcome. Don't feel lonely, I'm a child of the '50s
The '40s, actually - but only just, I don't remember them! Memories start in the early 50s with the cessation of sweet rationing. (UK!)
Your reply included another member and mention of Gary Gygax - Ah, the good old days - when D&D was played mostly inside your own head, no computers to get in the way. I haven't played for almost 30 years, but the memories stay with you!
Cheers!

[Rinn]

Hey, I'm a 21 year old student of Archaeology, graduating this summer. I'll have more time for fiction in a week, when my exams are over!
I've always loved fantasy and have been getting more into sci-fi lately. I've always enjoyed it, but recently it's all I've wanted to read. I admit it was inspired by finishing Mass Effect 3, but it's gotten me to read some books I might not have considered before =)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Izzy, welcome.

Alan, my wife was born in '45 I was born in '52. Not that big a difference we were the leading edge of the post war generation.

When I get the chance I still play table top D&D (second edition, don't care for the present dumbed down version [4th edition]). I do play some single player computer RPGs. I think guys our age may be "proto-nerds".

[Dan]

Hey everyone!

New to goodreads but not new to sci-fi! I especially love MG/YA sci-fi. I'm a fifth grade teacher in Denver, CO and love to keep up with what my kids are reading in class.

I especially love the Ender saga, which originally got me into the genre.

I look forward to posting with you all!

[Maarten]

Hi There,

I am Maarten, 31yo from Belgium.

I am mainly interested in Science fiction.
My favorite authors are Ben Bova, Orson Scott Card and Saxon Andrew.
I like to read series like The Ender Saga.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Maarten, welcome.

[J]

I've been reading SF and Fantasy since my parents handed me Ann McCaffrey's DragonSong and DragonSinger when I got bored with kids books. I was in about 6th grade. I spent my teen & college years actively involved in the SCA and Fandom, including helping run a college Con, but gafiated after graduation and kids. So now I just read and in many genres: mystery, food, Jewish fiction, non-fiction, urban fantasy, as wells as SF and Fantasy.

My current challenge is trying to find books that appeal to my grade-school-age kids. The younger one is turning into a Fantasy and SF fan. He's currently devouring chapter books about the Bionicles, along with the entire output of Erin Hunter (intelligent cat warriors count as fantasy in my book). While he reads well above his 2nd grade level, emotionally, he is a young 8 and far from ready for the later books in the Harry Potter Series, or even Percy Jackson. (We've made the decision to wait 2 years until older brother is 11 before we introduce Harry).

Most of the books I remember and would recommend, are really much more appropriate to middle-school (6th grade) and up. Anyone have a suggestion for books about a boy protagonist suitable for an 8 year old? Bonus points if there is a wizard around.

Ari